NATICK, Mass. — The board of directors at BJ’s Wholesale Club Inc. has authorized the repurchase of up to an additional $200 million of the company’s common stock.

The board of directors at BJ’s Wholesale Club Inc. has authorized the repurchase of up to an additional $200 million of the company’s common stock.

The warehouse club retailer said Monday that including the additional authorization, a total of approximately $271.8 million is available for share buybacks.

During BJ’s year-end conference call early this month, management unveiled plans to spend about $100 million on share repurchases in fiscal 2010.

The company said that stock repurchases may be made from time to time at management’s discretion in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions.

BJ’s currently operates 187 warehouse club outlets in 15 states.