Restoration Hardware Store

A former Restoration Hardware Inc. vice president agreed to settle U.S. regulatory allegations that he leaked inside information on a takeover bid to two friends while urging them to limit trades to avoid detection. Ciriaco "Eric" Rivor's tips were passed to one friend's father, who ignored the advice and amassed 248,600 shares in the home-furnishing chain before the deal was unveiled in November, the Securities and Exchange Commission said in a lawsuit filed in federal court in San Francisco.

Home furnishings retailer Restoration Hardware Inc. posted a wider first-quarter loss because of a shortfall in outdoor and seasonal sales and the slowdown in home building. The firm reported a loss of $13.8 million, or 35 cents a share, for the quarter ended May 5, compared with a loss of $4.9 million, or 13 cents, a year earlier. Sales rose 7% to $142.1 million. The results matched the expectations of analysts polled by Thomson Financial.

Restoration Hardware Inc., a home-improvement and furnishings retailer, said it swung to a loss in the fiscal second quarter, hurt by weak sales and more promotional selling as housing market problems persist. For the quarter that ended Aug. 4, the company lost $7.9 million, or 20 cents a share, versus a year-ago profit of $236,000, or a penny a share. Revenue rose nearly 3% to $183.8 million.

Restoration Hardware Inc., the Corte Madera, Calif.-based home-furnishings chain, agreed to be acquired by buyout firm Catterton Partners for $267 million. The $6.70-a-share offer is more than double Restoration Hardware's closing price Wednesday, the company said Thursday. The company, which has 110 locations in 30 states, said it would solicit higher offers until Dec. 13. The chain, hurt by the worst U.S.

Sears Holdings Corp., the department store company run by investor Edward Lampert, said it bought a 13.7% stake in Restoration Hardware Inc. Sears disclosed the stake in a regulatory filing and said it held talks with company executives regarding a possible business combination. Restoration Hardware, a Corte Madera, Calif.-based home furnishings chain, agreed to be acquired last week by buyout firm Catterton Partners for $267 million.

Sears Holdings Corp. said Monday it was prepared to buy out the rest of retro-themed retailer Restoration Hardware Inc. for a nickel-a-share premium over a competing offer, a move that could help the iconic chain spruce up its merchandise lines. Sears, which already owns 13.7% of the home-goods company, said it had repeatedly asked for access to Restoration Hardware's confidential financial information and would make a binding offer if those details are provided.

Restoration Hardware Inc., a Corte Madera, Calif.-based home-furnishings chain, said it might consider Sears Holdings Corp.'s $269-million takeover bid and provide confidential financial data if Sears agreed not to start a tender offer for its shares. Sears has so far refused to sign an agreement precluding that from happening, Restoration Hardware said. Sears' revised bid of $6.75 a share is a "vast improvement" over its previous offer of $4, Restoration Hardware said.

Restoration Hardware Inc. posted a net loss for its fiscal fourth quarter as results were weighed down by a $27.9-million tax charge. The Corte Madera, Calif.-based retailer reported a net loss of $19.5 million, or 52 cents a share, contrasted with earnings of $10.6 million, or 28 cents, a year earlier. Sales climbed 2% to $191 million.

Furniture, hardware and bath ware retailer Restoration Hardware Inc. said Monday that it climbed into the black in its fiscal second quarter as sales grew. For the quarter ended July 29, the company earned $236,000, or a penny a share, compared with a net loss of $2.5 million, or 7 cents, a year earlier. Quarterly sales rose 24% to $179.3 million.

Restoration Hardware Inc., the home furnishings retailer, is drawing unwanted scrutiny after one of its senior executives was blamed for poor accounting controls while he had top jobs at Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Inc.