The Acquisition Craze is now more Fashionable

Companies mentioned in this article: Ascena Retail (ASNA), Ann Inc.(ANN), Banjo and Matilda (BANJ), and Urban Outfitters (URBN), and TJX Cos. (TJX)

Considering the overall merger and acquisition craze that's taken over the broader markets, the fashion action has been relatively quiet, but that may have changed with Ann Inc. (ANN) agreeing to Ascena Retail's(ASNA) $2.2 billion, in cash and stock, buyout offer. The agreement combines high profile women's apparel brands like Lane Bryant, dressbarn and Ann Taylor. The deal calls for Ascena Retail to pay a 21% premium, to the previous closing price, with the united company operating nearly 5,000 stores and have $7.3 billion in annual sales.

The deal could place the spotlight on attractive emerging high growth lifestyle brands, like Banjo and Matilda (OTCQB: BANJ). As a designer, producer and marketer of premium contemporary woman's knitwear,Banjo and Matilda incorporated a multipronged sales channel approach, of which global ecommerce has been a major sales driver.

Banjo and Matilda was able to grow its 2015 year-over-year revenues by over 144% and the increase included an 86% rise in e-commerce store sales. In addition to global ecommerce, Banjo and Matilda hit triple digit retail outlet growth, as well was a 150% increase in wholesale sales, and a 102% increase in same store retail sales.

Brendan "Ben" Macpherson grew the Company from a local brand, in Bondi Beach, Australia, to an internationally recognized brand with plans to become a $50-100 million company. The rapidly growing brand is building its loyal global following, by having its "new lux" fashions stocked in major retailers, like Neiman Marcus, and specialty shops around the world, as well as its online store www.banjoandmatilda.com.

For further information on Banjo and Matilda, please go to http://nextlevelstockpicks.com/banj-banjo-matilda/.

J.P. Morgan is downgrading Urban Outfitters Inc. (URBN), after the company's first-quarter results fell short of Wall Street estimates, as a pop in Urban Outfitters's expenses related to its e-commerce business cut into its earnings.

TJX Cos. (TJX) will be reporting its results at 11:00 a.m. ET today, asCarol Meyrowitz, TJX's CEO hosts a conference call with stock analysts. Analysts believe that TJX is likely to post first-quarter earnings of 66 cents a share, an increase of 2 cents per share over last year's results.

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