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Claire’s Stores to be acquired

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From Reuters

Jewelry and accessories retailer Claire’s Stores Inc. said Tuesday that it would be acquired by private equity firm Apollo Management for about $3.1 billion.

Apollo would pay $33 a share for Claire’s, which targets girls and young women with its baubles. Shares of Pembroke Pines, Fla.-based Claire’s rose $1.12 to $31.88 after the announcement.

Claire’s said members of its founding family, who own about one-third of the company’s voting shares, would support the deal.

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The retailer put itself up for sale in December and hired Goldman Sachs to help it explore its options. The company has suffered from weak international sales and a shift to lower-priced accessories.

“The decision to sell the company that our father founded was reached after an enormous amount of soul-searching,” said Bonnie Schaefer and Marla Schaefer, Claire’s co-chief executives.

Claire’s, which operates about 3,000 stores, said the deal with Apollo would allow it to expand into a stronger global brand.

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