Restoration Attracts Offers

Article Excerpt

RESTORATION HARDWARE INC. $7.15 (Nasdaq symbol RSTO; SI Rating: Extra risk) (415-924-1005; www.restorationhardware.com; Shares outstanding: 38.8 million; Market cap: $277.6 million) jumped for a second time recently after Sears Holdings, symbol SHLD on Nasdaq, reported that it had acquired a 13.7% stake in Restoration Hardware. Sears paid $30.2 million to buy 5.3 million Restoration shares. Just a couple of weeks earlier, Restoration agreed to a $267 million, $6.70 a share, buyout offer from Catterton Partners, a leading U.S. private equity firm. Sears is now seeking access to certain non-public information about Restoration to determine if it wants to make a higher bid for the company. Restoration Hardware sells high-quality home furnishings, linens, bath fixtures and bathware. It operates 103 stores in 30 U.S. states and Canada as well as a direct sales channel, which includes both catalog and Internet sales. Sears already operates a high-end catalog operation through its Land’s End brand. Restoration Hardware is a hold. hold…