Toys R Us buys retailer EToys.com, related sites

Toy retailer Toys R Us Inc. said Thursday that it had acquired online toy seller EToys.com from Parent Co., which filed for bankruptcy protection in December.

Financial terms weren’t disclosed. The deal includes websites BabyUniverse.com, an e-commerce site, and EPregnancy.com, a parenting-resource website.

Privately held Toys R Us, which operates Toysrus.com and Babiesrus.com, said the deal would enable it to expand its Web portfolio through three established sites.

The sites will continue to operate under their own names.

Currently, the EToys website says it is “revitalizing, re-energizing and relaunching” and allows users to check their order status but not place new orders.

The acquisition comes as toy makers and sellers are suffering amid a consumer spending slowdown.

The top two U.S. toy makers, Hasbro Inc. and Mattel Inc., recently reported significant fiscal fourth-quarter earnings declines, hurt by the weakest holiday season in decades.