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In October, Men’s Wearhouse was resisting a merger bid by its smaller rival, Jos. A. Bank. Now, the retailer of men’s suits has not only turned the tables on its would-be acquirer, it has raised the stakes.

Men’s Wearhouse made a hostile offer on Monday in its pursuit of Jos. A. Bank, raising its offer to $1.6 billion and taking it directly to the company’s shareholders. Men’s Wearhouse also said that it intended to press for two new directors.

The moves signal a new stage in the takeover battle, one that began last year with Jos. A. Bank in the role of unwanted bidder. Now the pursuer is the pursued, one that has so far deemed the takeover bids too low.

And the onetime target has gone fully hostile, something that Jos. A. Bank was not willing to do in its own aborted merger campaign.

“Although we have made clear our strong preference to work collaboratively with Jos. A. Bank to realize the benefits of this transaction, we are committed to this combination and, accordingly, we are taking our offer directly to shareholders,” Douglas S. Ewert, Men’s Wearhouse’s chief executive, said in a statement.

In its announcement on Monday, Men’s Wearhouse said that it had raised its offer by 4.5 percent, to $57.50 a share, and would start a tender offer for Jos. A. Bank stock that will expire on March 28.

Just as significant, it disclosed plans to push for the election of two directors, John D. Bowlin and Arthur E. Reiner, at Jos. A. Bank’s annual meeting this year. Though they would make up only a fraction of the smaller retailer’s board if elected, they would replace two significant individuals: Neal Black, the chief executive of Jos. A. Bank, and Robert N. Wildrick, its chairman and the point person in its failed merger offer.

The plan was intended to put additional pressure on Jos. A. Bank’s board and management, giving shareholders not one, but two ways, to express their views.

“It’s a referendum on what they are doing,” said a person with knowledge of the thinking of Men’s Wearhouse.

Jos. A. Bank said in a statement that its board was reviewing the new bid and asked shareholders not to participate in the tender offer until its directors had decided on a response.

Investors in both companies have expressed interest in combining the two retailers, creating a juggernaut in men’s suit sales that could better take on the likes of Macy’s and Dillard’s.

Men’s Wearhouse’s biggest shareholder, the hedge fund Eminence Capital, said that it was pleased by the latest development.

“We are encouraged by the increased bid MW made for JOSB and by its commitment to consummate a combination as demonstrated by its tender offer and nomination of a director slate,” Ricky C. Sandler, Eminence’s chief executive, said in a statement, referring to the companies by their’ trading symbols. “We continue to believe that a merger of these two companies is in the best interests of all shareholders.”

Shares in Jos. A. Bank jumped 4.5 percent, to $56.87. Shares in Men’s Wearhouse increased 2.1 percent, to $51.68.

Monday’s moves by Men’s Wearhouse did not come as a surprise. On Friday, Jos. A. Bank amended its takeover defenses, effectively limiting shareholders to owning no more than 10 percent of its stock. That reduced the power that any single investor could wield over its board.

Men’s Wearhouse is being advised by Bank of America Merrill Lynch, JPMorgan Chase, the law firm Willkie Farr & Gallagher and the proxy solicitor MacKenzie Partners.

Jos. A. Bank is being advised by Goldman Sachs; Financo; the law firms Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom and Guilfoil Petzall & Shoemake; and the proxy solicitor Innisfree M&A.