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New Albany based Tween Brands was acquired by Dress Barn for $157 million in a stock swap.

Tween and their Justice chain will operate as a subsidiary of Dress Barn.

The merged companies will now have a total of nearly 2500 locations and Dress Barn will also assume Tween’s $165 million debt.

Tween Brand headquarters and distribution will remain in New Albany.

Shares for both companies rose sharply in morning trading.