Funco Inc

Electronics Boutique Holdings Corp., a video- and computer-game retailer, agreed to buy Funco Inc. for about $110 million, or $17.50 a share, to become the world's largest specialty retailer of electronic games. Following the cash transaction, the combined company would have annual sales of almost $1 billion and about 7,000 employees. Funco sells new and used video games, along with related hardware and accessories, through 400 retail "FuncoLand" stores and its Web site.

Funco Inc., a seller of new and used video games, said it accepted Electronics Boutique Holdings Corp.'s sweetened offer of $21 a share, or $135 million. Funco said rival Electronics Boutique boosted the $17.50 a share it offered April 3 to match a higher offer made three days later by Barnes & Noble Inc. Funco said April 13 it would accept the higher bid, made through Barnes & Noble's Babbage's Etc.

Funco Inc., a seller of new and used video games, said it accepted Electronics Boutique Holdings Corp.'s sweetened offer of $21 a share, or $135 million. Funco said rival Electronics Boutique boosted the $17.50 a share it offered April 3 to match a higher offer made three days later by Barnes & Noble Inc. Funco said April 13 it would accept the higher bid, made through Barnes & Noble's Babbage's Etc.

Funco Inc., which sells new and used video games, said it received an unsolicited $135-million buyout offer from Barnes & Noble Inc., topping a bid from Electronics Boutique Holdings Corp. Barnes & Noble, the largest U.S. bookseller, offered to pay cash or a combination of cash and stock, at Funco's option. The bid is 23% higher than the cash offer of $110 million, or $17.50 a share, from rival Electronics Boutique that Funco agreed to Monday.

Funco Inc., which sells new and used video games, said it received an unsolicited $135-million buyout offer from Barnes & Noble Inc., topping a bid from Electronics Boutique Holdings Corp. Barnes & Noble, the largest U.S. bookseller, offered to pay cash or a combination of cash and stock, at Funco's option. The bid is 23% higher than the cash offer of $110 million, or $17.50 a share, from rival Electronics Boutique that Funco agreed to Monday.

A frenzy of computerized trading tied to the quarterly expiration of index futures and options sent stock prices sprinting higher on the heaviest volume since the day after the 1987 market crash. But both bonds and the dollar had a dull day, with activity slowing down as the end of the year approaches. A flood of computer-driven trades sent the Dow Jones average up 41.72 points, or 1.1%, to close at 3,807.

Electronics Boutique Holdings Corp., a video- and computer-game retailer, agreed to buy Funco Inc. for about $110 million, or $17.50 a share, to become the world's largest specialty retailer of electronic games. Following the cash transaction, the combined company would have annual sales of almost $1 billion and about 7,000 employees. Funco sells new and used video games, along with related hardware and accessories, through 400 retail "FuncoLand" stores and its Web site.