Jos. A. Bank Clothiers Inc. (Hampstead, Md.) has made a nonbinding $2.3 billion offer for Men’s Wearhouse Inc. (Houston).
The deal would unite two of the country’s biggest specialists in selling men’s suits. Jos. A. Bank has 520 stores around the country, Men’s Wearhouse more than 1000, including its K&G and Moores stores.
“We believe that Men’s Wearhouse and Jos. A. Bank are ideal partners — the strategic wisdom of this transaction is compelling,” Robert Wildrick, Jos. A. Bank chairman, wrote in a letter to Douglas Ewert, ceo of Men’s Wearhouse. “By combining our two companies, we can together create the best men’s apparel and sportswear designer, manufacturer and retailer in the U.S.”