Orchard Supply Hardware Stores yesterday won bankruptcy court approval to sell its West Coast chain of hardware and garden stores to Lowe's Cos. for $205 million, Dow Jones Business News reported yesterday. Hon. Christopher Sontchi signed off on the Lowe's offer, which Orchard had in hand when it sought chapter 11 protection in June. Lowe's plans to operate the 72 Orchard stores it acquires as a standalone business, and the stores located in California and Oregon will keep the Orchard name. Orchard was to hold an auction earlier this month, but it didn't receive any rival bids.
