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Zany Brainy to Buy Noodle Kidoodle
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 Zany Brainy Inc. on Monday said it would buy rival speciality toy and childrens' educational products retailer Noodle Kidoodle Inc. for about $40 million in stock.In a statement, the company said the acquisition of Syosett, N.Y.-based Noodle Kidoodle would add 59 stores to its chain and more than $130 million in revenue. Combined, the chains have a current store base of 163 outlets, although expansion plans would push that to more than 190 by year-end. Terms of the deal call for Zany to issue 1.233 shares of its stock for each share of Noodle Kidoodle. The terms value Noodle Kidoodle at $5.28 per share, a premium of nearly 25 percent on Noodle Kidoodle's stock price on Friday. Noodle Kidoodle shares closed Friday at 4-1/4, and Zany Brainy shares closed at 4-9/32, both on Nasdaq. Separately, Zany Brainy said it expected its first quarter loss to exceed last year's largely because of strong sales a year ago of Beanie Baby and Crazy Bones toys. A year ago, the company reported a loss of 6 cents per share. [Updated 4/24/2000]
  
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