Disney to Reacquire Some Disney Stores

BURBANK, March 20: Almost four years since
offloading the Disney Stores in North America to The Children's Place, The Walt
Disney Company is in advanced discussions to reacquire a portion of the retail
chain.

In a statement, the company said that it
believes “the Disney Stores can be an important extension of the ‘Disney’ brand
and, with the improved economics provided by a smaller store footprint, could
add value to the company in the promotion and monetization of its growing
number of robust franchises.”

According to reports, the deal being discussed
covers about two thirds of the stores across the U.S. The Children’s Place
announced the move as it reported its fourth quarter results, posting a loss of
$58.5 million from a year-ago profit of $44.7 million.

—By Mansha Daswani