Cyberian Outpost Inc

Fry's Electronics Inc. offered to buy Internet retailer Cyberian Outpost Inc. for $22.2 million or more in cash, saying its proposal is superior to one made by PC Connection Inc. San Jose-based Fry's said in a regulatory filing that it's prepared to pay 70 cents a share for the operator of the Outpost.com Web store. Merrimack, N.H.-based PC Connection agreed in May to buy Cyberian Outpost for 40 cents to 82 cents a share in stock, or as much as $25.9 million.

* Fry's Electronics Inc., a closely held electronics chain based in San Jose, called off plans to buy Internet retailer Cyberian Outpost Inc. Last month, Fry's bid $22.2 million for Cyberian Outpost, saying its proposal was superior to a proposed stock-swap by PC Connection Inc. * * Bridge Information Systems Inc. is dismantling its news operations as part of its bankruptcy proceedings. Dow Jones & Co. agreed to buy contracts to deliver Bridge's commodities and company news for $6.

* Fry's Electronics Inc., a closely held electronics chain based in San Jose, called off plans to buy Internet retailer Cyberian Outpost Inc. Last month, Fry's bid $22.2 million for Cyberian Outpost, saying its proposal was superior to a proposed stock-swap by PC Connection Inc. * * Bridge Information Systems Inc. is dismantling its news operations as part of its bankruptcy proceedings. Dow Jones & Co. agreed to buy contracts to deliver Bridge's commodities and company news for $6.

Fry's Electronics Inc. offered to buy Internet retailer Cyberian Outpost Inc. for $22.2 million or more in cash, saying its proposal is superior to one made by PC Connection Inc. San Jose-based Fry's said in a regulatory filing that it's prepared to pay 70 cents a share for the operator of the Outpost.com Web store. Merrimack, N.H.-based PC Connection agreed in May to buy Cyberian Outpost for 40 cents to 82 cents a share in stock, or as much as $25.9 million.

PC Connection Inc. said it will buy fellow Internet computer retailer Cyberian Outpost Inc. The deal combines two of the Internet's best known computer and software resellers and could be worth $12.6 million to $25.9 million. Merrimack, N.H.-based PC Connection said the deal is expected to be completed by September, pending approval by shareholders of from Kent, Conn.-based Cyberian. PC Connection closed off $1.53 at $14.50 and Cyberian dropped 19 cents to 61 cents, both on Nasdaq.

Wit Capital Corp., the brokerage that pioneered the sale of stock over the Internet, said Thursday it hired Merrill Lynch & Co. analyst Jonathan Cohen as its research director. Cohen followed Internet companies for the largest U.S. securities firm. He was named to Institutional Investor's All-America Research Team the last three years, Wit Capital said. Wit Capital has helped underwrite more than 50 stock sales, including MarketWatch.com Inc., EarthWeb Inc., Tweeter Home Entertainment Group Inc.

Compaq Computer Corp., the world's No. 2 computer company, said it suspended agreements with 10 companies that sell Compaq's Presario computers over the Internet as it looks to revamp its online marketing. Compaq said the companies, including Cyberian Outpost Inc. of Kent, Conn., weren't selling the computers effectively. Compaq declined to be more specific. The Presario is the best-selling personal computer in the U.S.

Wit Capital Group Inc., an online securities firm, said it plans an initial public stock offering in the second quarter of this year. New York-based Wit Capital was started in 1996 by Andrew Klein, after selling shares of his Spring Street Brewing Co. in the first online initial public offering. In the last year, Salomon Smith Barney Inc.'s former vice chairman, Robert Lessin, and other investment bankers joined the company to help build its business.

The big boys of e-tailing had a lot to cheer about at the start of the traditional holiday shopping season Friday, even though the day didn't pass without some technological glitches. Excited about an expected double-digit gain in online shopping this season, investors sharply bid up the depressed shares of many e-tailers. EToys Inc., the largest Internet-only toy store, rose 49%, or 59 cents, to $1.81 in abbreviated Friday trading. Amazon.com Inc.

For much of the past year, Internet superstore Buy.com Inc. has been nudging up its prices ever so carefully in a bid to make money without losing customers. "It's like boiling a frog," said Chief Financial Officer Mitch Hill. Now, the real test of the Aliso Viejo company's strategy has arrived. The holiday shopping season will tell how many consumers stay with Buy.com's newly sober-eyed, more mature business plan and how many bolt.

PC Connection Inc. said it will buy fellow Internet computer retailer Cyberian Outpost Inc. The deal combines two of the Internet's best known computer and software resellers and could be worth $12.6 million to $25.9 million. Merrimack, N.H.-based PC Connection said the deal is expected to be completed by September, pending approval by shareholders of from Kent, Conn.-based Cyberian. PC Connection closed off $1.53 at $14.50 and Cyberian dropped 19 cents to 61 cents, both on Nasdaq.