The T. Eaton Company Limited: A Case Analysis

The T Eaton company, considered the world's first department store, was named after its founder Timothy Eaton. In 1869, it as a small dry goods business in Toronto. By 1907, at the death of its founder, it was a giant retail store, with a branch in Winnipeg, alongside a country-wide mail-order business. Innovative practices established during his time included sales for cash only and satisfaction guaranteed or money refunded. Eaton's successors extended the Eaton empire across Canada, continuing the tradition of quality goods, prices, customer service and also fair labour practices. It became a Canadian institution.Eaton's filed for protection from its creditors in February 1997 and once again in August 1999 (see Appendix 1 for a chronology of events) under the federalCompanies' Creditors Arrangement Act and the Ontario Business Corporations Act(Closings).The restructuring that followed the first bankruptcy was only partially successful. However, it had a significantly positive impact on Eaton's operations, and seemed to turn things around. Were it not for bad economic news and misfortune in mid-to-late 1998 (CNW 3 and CNW 5), the plan might have worked.Store-closings, employee terminations, and a huge liquidation sale followed the second bankruptcy declared in August 1999, as did the suspension of the trading of Eaton's stock (Chron). Sears Canada Inc. agreed to purchase 16 of the Eaton's stores in September 1999 (Sears 1; Material 1). These will open by the fall of 2000 (Material 2; Sears 1).A compromise was made with Eaton's creditors (including the employees) to give them approximately $0.50 on the dollar (Olijnyk 1). A compromise was also arrived at with Eaton's shareholders whereby the latter would be given participation units in exchange for their common shares (on a one-for-one trade) (Amended; Trachuk). These participation units are to be used in a contingent and conditional settlement based upon the possible utilization of tax credits by Sears acquired as a result of Eaton's $390 million in losses since 1996 (Receivership; Amended; Trachuk). These settlement monies might or might not be realized by the former shareholders (Amended; Trachuk).Today, Eaton's is no more. In its place are many great memories by a former generation of Canadians who used to go to the Eaton's stores to buy big things that were always of high quality. "Agnes Lunn, who was visiting [Edmonton, Calgary,] from Dartmouth, N.S., said she will miss the chain because of its trustworthiness. "If you bought something from Eaton's, you knew it was worth having, you knew it would be quality," she said (Auction)." Perhaps having six of the Eaton's stores open up this fall with the Eaton's name on them will rekindle a loyalty in a new generation of Canadians?