Jos. A. Bank Cos., the menswear retailer, is in preliminary talks to buy Eddie Bauer, according to reports.
Reuters and the Wall Street Journal cited unnamed sources who are close to the negotiations.
The news comes as Jos. A. Bank and Men's Wearhouse have each made hostile bids to acquire each other.
Eddie Bauer is owned by private equity firm Golden Gate Capital. The WSJ story said Golden Gate acquired Eddie Bauer in 2009 for $286 million cash plus the assumption of hundreds of millions of dollar in debt.
Eddie Bauer has declined to comment on the rumored talks.
