UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT
REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 OR 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) May 3, 2006
Carters, Inc.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
Delaware |
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001-31829 |
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13-3912933 |
(States
or other jurisdiction |
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(Commission |
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(I.R.S.
Employer |
The
Proscenium,
1170 Peachtree Street NE, Suite 900
Atlanta, Georgia 30309
(Address of
principal executive offices, including zip code)
(404)
745-2700
(Registrants
telephone number, including area code)
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
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Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
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Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
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Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
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Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
Item 8.01. Other Events
On May 3, 2006, Berkshire Partners LLC (Berkshire), a private equity firm whose investment funds (the Berkshire Funds) own approximately 12.5% of the common stock of Carters, Inc. (the Company), issued a press release announcing a distribution of all of the approximately 3.6 million shares of Company stock held by the Berkshire Funds to both the general partner and limited partners of the Berkshire Funds. A copy of this press release is being furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this Report on Form 8-K.
Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits:
Exhibit 99.1 |
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Press Release issued by Berkshire on May 3, 2006. |
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
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CARTERS, INC. |
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May 3, 2006 |
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By: |
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/s/ MICHAEL D. CASEY |
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Name: |
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Michael D. Casey |
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Title: |
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Executive Vice President and |
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Chief Financial Officer |
EXHIBIT INDEX
The following exhibit is furnished with this report:
99.1 |
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Press Release issued by Berkshire on May 3, 2006. |
Contact: Berkshire Partners LLC
Jeanine Neumann 617-227-0050
BERKSHIRE PARTNERS
ANNOUNCES A DISTRIBUTION OF
CARTERS COMMON STOCK
Boston, MA May 3, 2006 Berkshire Partners LLC (Berkshire), a Boston-based private equity firm, announced today a distribution of approximately 3.6 million shares of Carters, Inc. (NYSE: CRI) (Carters or the Company) common stock by investment funds Berkshire manages (Berkshire Funds). The shares will be distributed to both the general partner and limited partners of the Berkshire Funds.
Berkshire partnered with Company management in August 2001 to acquire Carters. The Company completed its initial public offering in October 2003 and a secondary offering in September 2004. Prior to the IPO, the Berkshire Funds owned 20.3 million shares, representing approximately 85% of the Company. After the secondary offering in September 2004, the Berkshire Funds owned approximately 10.3 million shares representing approximately 36% of the Company. Berkshire subsequently completed distributions of 3.0 million shares in December 2004 and approximately 3.6 million shares in November 2005. Upon the completion of todays distribution, the Berkshire Funds will have fully exited its investment in Carters and will have realized approximately seven times their original 2001 investment.
The distribution is consistent with Berkshires long-term strategy as a private equity firm to realize value for its investors. The distribution will also increase the market float for Carters stock. Bradley M. Bloom and Ross M. Jones, Managing Directors of Berkshire, serve on the Companys Board of Directors. Mr. Jones has resigned from the Companys Board of Directors effective as of the end of the Board of Directors meeting immediately following the Companys May 11, 2006 annual meeting of stockholders.
About Berkshire Partners LLC
Berkshire Partners
has invested in mid-sized private companies for the past twenty years through
six investment funds with aggregate capital commitments of approximately $3.5
billion. The firms investment strategy is to seek companies that have strong
growth prospects and to partner with talented management teams who are
interested in being owners of the companies they operate. Berkshire has
developed specific industry experience in several areas including consumer
products, industrial manufacturing, transportation, communications, business
services, and retailing and related services. Berkshire has been an investor in
over 85 operating companies with more than $13.0 billion of acquisition value
and combined revenues in excess of $20 billion. Additional information may be
found at www.berkshirepartners.com.
About Carters, Inc.
Carters, Inc.
is the largest branded marketer in the United States of apparel exclusively for babies and
young children. Carters, Inc.
markets the Carters and OshKosh BGosh
brands, two of the most recognized brands in the marketplace. These brands are
sold in more than 4,000 department and national chain stores and through more than 350 Company-operated
stores. The OshKosh BGosh brand is also sold in
more than 50 countries worldwide. Carters Child of Mine
and Just One Year brands are available at
Wal-Mart and Target, respectively. OshKosh BGoshs Genuine Kids
brand is sold at Target. Carters is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. Additional
information may be found at www.carters.com.