May 14 - Specialty apparel retailer Eddie Bauer Holdings Inc (EBHI.O) posted a wider first-quarter loss, hurt by lower net merchandise sales and gross margins, offsetting its cost savings initiatives.

Eddie Bauer Summer 2009

"The first quarter was a difficult one, as the sharp downturn in the economy took its toll on our sales," Chief Executive Neil Fiske said in a statement.

For the quarter ended April 4, the company posted a net loss of $44.5 million, or $1.44 a share, compared with a loss of $19.3 million, or 63 cents a share, a year ago.

Revenue fell 16 percent to $179.8 million.

Eddie Bauer, which operates 251 retail stores and 119 outlet stores at the end of the first quarter, said same-store sales fell 11.3 percent in the quarter, excluding the effect of Canadian exchange rates.

Gross margin fell to 24.5 percent from 27.6 percent, from the year-ago quarter while selling, general and administrative expenses fell by 15.4 percent.

Shares of Eddie Bauer fell to 49 cents a share in trading after the bell. They closed at $0.64 Thursday 14 May on Nasdaq.

For related alerts, double click (Reporting by Renju Jose in Bangalore; Editing by Jarshad Kakkrakandy)