Uniqlo Bids For Barneys

[Mulboyne]

Bloomberg: Jones Receives Higher $900 Million Bid for Barneys
Jones Apparel Group Inc. received an unsolicited $900 million offer for its Barneys New York chain from Japan-based Fast Retailing Co., topping an earlier bid from a Dubai investment firm by 9.1 percent...The retailer said it expressed interest in Barneys New York last year because of its "attractive long-term growth potential through its leadership position in the luxury segment in the U.S." Sales at older Fast Retailing stores declined in June, the second-straight monthly drop, as fewer customers visited, the company said yesterday...more...

[gkanai]

There is no real strategy behind this maneuver. If Jones Apparel couldn't be profitable with Barneys, there's less of a chance for Fast to be successful with this brand.

[Mulboyne]

They've given up.

Brisbane Times: Dubai firm to take Barneys as Japanese bidder quits

...Fast Retailing spokesman Terunobu Aono said the company was concerned about overpaying for the business. A higher offer "is no longer rational from an economic standpoint," he said...

[Taro Toporific]

They've given up.

Brisbane Times: Dubai firm to take Barneys as Japanese bidder quits

I somehow think Fast Retailing's attempt was either:
[INDENT]1) Just a lowball bid by Fast Retailing to see if they could buy Barneys at a firesale price.
2) A slick collusionary scam to create "bidding fever" to increase the price of Barneys. [/INDENT]