Toys R Us, GSI Commerce coming to TRIC

Toys R Us and GSI Commerce, Inc., which was acquired by EBay Inc. on Monday, have plans to open distribution centers at the Tahoe Reno Industrial Center this year, according to Storey County officials.

In an announcement for the county's April 5 commission meeting, the two companies, as well as Schluter Systems L.P., will request state incentives such as tax abatements and deferral, modified business taxes, personal property tax abatements and training grant funds.

The Northern Nevada Development Authority of Carson City is assisting the companies' moves to the region.

"NNDA and the county are very excited to welcome and support three companies that will have the potential of collectively creating more than 200 jobs in the next several months with possibly over 500 seasonal positions later in the year," said Pat Whitten, Storey County manager.

Online marketplace operator EBay said Monday that it will pay $2.4 billion for GSI Commerce, which operates websites for retailers like Toys R Us and Bath & Body Works.

Meanwhile, EBay, which runs its namesake site where users buy and sell items through auctions and fixed-price "Buy it Now" formats as well as online payments service PayPal, hopes the acquisition of GSI Commerce will bolster its ability to connect buyers and sellers around the world. It could also help it become more of a threat to Amazon.com Inc.

GSI runs websites, packs and ships products and offers interactive marketing services to a variety of retailers. It has long-term contracts with 180 retailers, including Radio Shack, Ace Hardware and American Eagle Outfitters.

Shares of GSI, which is based in King of Prussia, Pa., surged 50.1 percent, or $9.71, to $29.09 in afternoon trading.

EBay has been working on improving its eBay.com website by doing things such as revamping its home page, cutting upfront listing fees it charges sellers and bolstering its search engine. In an interview, eBay CEO John Donahoe said the GSI deal fits in with his company's efforts to help retailers grow.

"Commerce is at an inflection point where the lines between online and offline commerce are blurring," he said. "We see retailers of all sizes, merchants of all sizes, looking for partners that can help them grow their businesses."

- The Associated Press contributed to this report.