The Denver-based company said the withdrawal request was ''consistent with the public interest and the protection of investors,'' according to a filing made with the Securities and Exchange Commission. It did not elaborate.

The withdrawal comes at a time when retail sales online is growing in selected areas and the sale of toys, video games, software and videos on the Internet is a fiercely competitive market.

Last month the Walt Disney Co.'s Toysmart.com abruptly stopped taking orders and Viacom Inc.'s RedRocket.com also shuttered its Web site.

At the moment, Toys R Us Inc.'s toysrus.com appears to be leading the marketplace with eToys Inc. following.

PC Data recently reported that toysrus.com drew more shoppers than any other Internet toy store in April, reversing eToys' past lead.

KBkids.com had planned to use the proceeds from the IPO for working capital, capital spending, marketing and sales activities as well as product development, according to a prospectus filed in January.

The company had not set the number of shares it planned to sell or the projected price range, though it had expected to list its shares on Nasdaq under the symbol KBKD once it had gone public.

Credit Suisse First Boston, Merrill Lynch & Co., Deutsche Banc Alex. Brown and E+Offering were the underwriters.

Consolidated Stores shares were up 1/4 to 13-1/8 in mid-afternoon trading on the New York Stock Exchange.

Source: Reuters

[Posted 6/13/2000]