Mergers & Acquisitions

NEW YORK -- Several bidders, including Dish Network Corp. and billionaire investor Carl Icahn, are ready to battle for Blockbuster at a bankruptcy auction in New York on Monday, the Associated Press reported. The chain, which filed Chapter 11 in February, has received several bids other than the opening bid of $290 million from a group of debtholders made in February.

Dish and Icahn have each submitted a bid, The Wall Street Journal reported Friday.

GRAPEVINE, Texas -- GameStop has acquired Spawn Labs, a streaming technology company. In addition, GameStop announced it has entered into an agreement to purchase Impulse, a subsidiary of Stardock Systems, and a leader in digital distribution. The Impulse acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to close in May.

Charlotte, N.C. - Resale clothing retailer Buffalo Exchange brings the original concept of buy-sell-trade clothing to Charlotte with the opening of its first North Carolina store, located in the Plaza-Midwood neighborhood at 1521 Central Avenue, in mid-April.

PITTSBURGH — General Nutrition Centers Thursday evening announced its initial public offering of 22.5 million shares of its Class A common stock at an opening price of $16 per share.

Of the shares offered, 16 million are being issued and sold by GNC and 6.5 million shares are being sold by selling stockholders.

In addition, selling stockholders have granted the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 3.4 million shares. That offering is expected to close on April 6.

Grapevine, Texas -- GameStop Corp. announced the acquisition of Spawn Labs, a streaming technology company.

In addition, GameStop announced it has entered into an agreement to purchase Impulse, a subsidiary of Stardock Systems, and a leader in digital distribution. The Impulse acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to close in May.

New York City -- Several bidders, including Dish Network Corp. and billionaire investor Carl Icahn, are ready to battle for Blockbuster at a bankruptcy auction in New York on Monday, the Associated Press reported. The chain, which filed Chapter 11 in February, has received several bids other than the opening bid of $290 million from a group of debtholders made in February.

Dish and Icahn have each submitted a bid, The Wall Street Journal reported Friday.

New York City -- Urban Outfitters has been sued by a shareholder who alleges company officials misled investors before the stock declined, Bloomberg reported.

The retailer wrongly led shareholders to believe business was going well until March 7, when it reported earnings of 13% less than analysts had suggested, Edward Koller III claims in a lawsuit filed yesterday in federal court in Philadelphia, the report said. Shares fell 17% the next day, Koller said.

FRAMINGHAM, Mass. -- Staples announced that it has formed a new strategic alliance with one of the leading Swiss office products companies, Büro Schoch Direct AG. Within Switzerland, Staples and Büro Schoch Direct will work together exclusively on international accounts and collaborate to exchange best practices, the company reported.