outdoor clothing

Golden Gate Exits Eddie Bauer

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Jos. A. Bank Clothiers and Golden Gate Capital have entered into an agreement under which Jos. A. Bank will acquire Everest Holdings, parent company of the Eddie Bauer brand. Golden Gate acquired Eddie Bauer for $286 million at a bankruptcy auction in 2009.

The purchase price for Eddie Bauer consists of a combination of $564 million in cash and approximately 4.7 million new shares of common stock of Jos. A. Bank. The purchase price represents a multiple of approximately 1x estimated 2013 revenue and 9.5x estimated 2013 Adjusted EBITDA, including $25 million of potential pro forma synergies.

Eddie Bauer is a specialty retailer of sportswear, outerwear, gear and accessories. Products are available at approximately 370 stores throughout the United States, Canada and Japan, through catalog sales, and online at www.eddiebauer.com. For the year ended December 31, 2013, Eddie Bauer has estimated its revenue to be between $885 million and $895 million and adjusted EBITDA to be between $61 million and $65 million. The company was founded in 1920 and is headquartered in Seattle.

“Eddie Bauer is a clear success story, with the potential for significant growth as part of a larger enterprise. It has been an exceptional experience to work with CEO Mike Egeck and his team to enable Eddie Bauer to so dramatically improve its performance, and we are excited to be able to participate in its ongoing growth through our investment in Jos. A. Bank,” said Josh Olshansky, Managing Director at Golden Gate Capital.

Golden Gate Capital targets companies across a range of industries and transaction types, including leveraged buyouts, recapitalizations, corporate divestitures and spin-offs, build-ups and venture stage investing. The firm has approximately $12 billion of capital under management and is based in San Francisco (www.goldengatecap.com).

Jos. A. Bank Clothiers (NASDAQ: JOSB) is a designer, manufacturer and retailer of men’s tailored and casual clothing, sportswear, footwear and accessories. The company sells its products through 629 stores in 44 states and the District of Columbia, a nationwide catalog and online at www.josbank.com. The company was founded in 1905 and is headquartered in Hampstead, MD.

The Eddie Bauer acquisition will be financed by Jos. A. Bank through a combination of cash on its balance sheet, committed debt financing provided by Goldman, Sachs & Co. and an issue of new equity. Goldman, Sachs & Co. and Financo are serving as financial advisors to Jos. A. Bank.

© 2014 PEPD • Private Equity’s Leading News Magazine • 2-20-14

McCarthy Capital Acquires Gerbing’s Heated Clothing

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Gerbing’s Heated Clothing, a manufacturer of heated clothing and accessories, announced today that it has been acquired by Prospect Brands, a joint venture formed by McCarthy Capital and Tom Nolan. Mr. Nolan will serve as President and Chief Executive Officer of Gerbing’s.

Gerbing’s Heated Clothing has two major product lines, one directed at motorcyclists and powersports enthusiasts and another marketed more generally to broader outerwear customers. The company was founded in 1976 and is based in Stoneville, NC (www.gerbing.com).

“We are excited to partner with Tom Nolan and are committed to helping management build a global outerwear business,” said Patrick Duffy, Managing Partner of McCarthy.

McCarthy Capital invests from $10 million to $30 million in middle market companies with operating profits between $3 million and $25 million.  McCarthy partners with existing management teams across a range of industries and is equally comfortable as a minority investor or majority shareholder.  Since 1986, McCarthy has invested in over fifty companies, including Cabela’s, Peak 10, Guild Mortgage Company, and Vornado Air. The firm has approximately $700 million in capital under management and is based in Omaha with an additional office in Boston (www.mccarthygroup.com).

“I am humbled by the opportunity to lead this iconic brand, and I am excited by the prospect of working closely with the team to take this company to the next level. I look forward to the bright future we have ahead of us and working hard to get there,” said Mr. Nolan.

© 2012 PEPD • Private Equity’s Leading News Magazine • 12-7-12