Hartmarx Corp., which makes the Jack Nicklaus, Bobby Jones and Lyle & Scott golf apparel collections, filed for Chapter 11 protection in an Illinois federal bankruptcy court, citing a “substantial decline” in sales to consumers and retailers as well as liquidity pressures. The 137-year-old company's primary business is making tailored clothing under such names as Hickey-Freeman and Hart Schaffner & Marx.


The Chicago-based company said existing lenders agreed to provide up to $160 million in debtor-in-possession financing to allow it to keep operating as it reorganizes. However, the company said it might consider selling some or all of its assets.

 

In recent years, Hartmarx has struggled as casual dressing eclipsed the need for suits. Tight credit markets and a retreat in consumer spending, especially for luxury clothing, dealt the company its latest blow.

 

What finally pushed the company into bankruptcy was Wachovia’s tightening of Hartmarx’s ability to borrow from its $200 million credit line against its receivables. By Jan. 13, the bank informed Hartmarx that its credit line exceeded its borrowing base by more than $7 million, leaving the company essentially unable to finance its day-to-day operations.

 

The company said it filed to give it time to reorganize, principally by selling off some or all of its assets.

“We believe that today’s filing and our D.I.P. financing provide us with sufficient funding and allows us to operate our business currently as we pursue strategic alternatives,” Homi Patel, Hartmarx’s chairman and chief executive, said in a statement.