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Eddie Bauer stores could close amid possible bankruptcy filing: Reports
Eddie Bauer plans to close about 180 North American stores amid a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing, while e-commerce and wholesale operations continue under a new licensee.
Sources say an entity of Catalyst Brands, which operates Eddie Bauer, is preparing a Chapter 11 filing to shutter about 200 North American stores.
Last month, Authentic Brands Group announced it was transitioning Eddie Bauer's manufacturing, e-commerce and wholesale licenses from Catalyst Brands to Outdoor 5, and beginning Monday those operations will move.
Eddie Bauer's North America store footprint includes roughly 180 stores that could be impacted by the Chapter 11 filing, while about 20 stores in Japan would not be affected.
Multiple parties are lining up to bid for a portion of the North American store fleet, with any winning bidder acquiring the operating business and licensing rights from Authentic Brands Group.
Catalyst Brands, formed last year by Simon Property Group, Brookfield Corp., Authentic Brands Group and Shein, had more than $9 billion in sales, operated 1,800 stores and held $1 billion of liquidity.