Eddie Bauer Is Up for Sale

Eddie Bauer Holdings Inc. has retained Goldman, Sachs & Co. to explore a possible sale, the company announced yesterday.

The retail-catalog firm, which reportedly has 375 stores, became an independent company last year. Previously, it was owned by Spiegel Inc., which filed for bankruptcy protection in 2003.

The Chicago Tribune, citing Women’s Wear Daily, reported possible purchase candidates include VF Corp., the maker of Wrangler jeans and Vanity Fair intimate apparel.