Shoppers leave a BJ's store in Virginia
Shoppers leave a BJ's store in Alexandria Virginia in this August 20, 2008 file photo. REUTERS

Shares of BJ's Wholesale Club (NYSE: BJ) are surging this morning after the New York Post reported that a private equity firm may launch a hostile bid for the warehouse retailer.

The stock is up about 6.9 percent as of 10:52 a.m. (EDT).

According to the Post, Los Angeles-based buyout firm Leonard Green & Partners (which revealed it had a 9.5 percent stake in the company in July) is interested in pursuing a takeover bid if an auction doesn’t commence in the coming weeks.

A source told the paper, if it gets to mid-January and a sale has not started, there may be difficult conversations,

In November, BJ’s Wholesale retained Morgan Stanley to explore “strategic alternatives” including a possible sale of the company.

BJ shares are up about 37.5 percent year-to-date through yesterday.

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