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The information in this preliminary prospectus supplement is not complete and may be changed. This preliminary prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus are part of an effective registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The preliminary prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus are not an offer to sell these securities nor a solicitation of an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer and sale is not permitted.
 
Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(5)
Registration No. 333-152733
Subject to completion, dated November 30, 2009
 
Preliminary prospectus supplement
(To prospectus dated August 1, 2008)
 
(HBL LOGO)
 
$500,000,000
     % Senior Notes due 2016
 
We are offering $500,000,000 of our     % Senior Notes due 2016, which we refer to as the notes. The notes will mature on          , 2016. We will pay interest on the notes on each           and          , beginning on          , 2010.
 
We may redeem some or all of the notes at any time on or after          , 2013 at the redemption prices set forth under “Description of notes—Optional redemption” and prior to such date at a “make-whole” redemption price. We may also redeem up to 35% of the notes prior to 2012 with cash proceeds we receive from certain equity offerings. If we sell certain assets and do not reinvest the proceeds or repay senior indebtedness or if we experience specific kinds of changes of control, we must offer to repurchase the notes.
 
The notes will be our senior unsecured obligations and will rank equally in right of payment with all of our existing and future senior unsecured indebtedness and senior in right of payment to all of our future subordinated indebtedness. The notes will be effectively subordinated to any of our existing and future secured debt to the extent of the value of the collateral securing such indebtedness, including all borrowings under our new senior secured credit facilities. The notes will be structurally subordinated to all liabilities of any of our subsidiaries that do not issue guarantees of the notes.
 
The obligations under the notes will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed by substantially all of our current domestic subsidiaries and by certain of our future restricted subsidiaries. The guarantee of any subsidiary will be released when such entity is no longer a subsidiary of ours (including as a result of a sale of a majority of the capital stock of such entity) if such entity no longer guarantees certain specified indebtedness, or when such entity is designated an unrestricted subsidiary under the terms of the indenture. The guarantees will rank equally in right of payment with the existing and future senior unsecured indebtedness of the guarantors and will rank senior to any future subordinated indebtedness of the guarantors. The guarantees will be effectively subordinated to all existing and future secured indebtedness of the guarantors, including guarantees of our borrowings under our new senior secured credit facilities to the extent of the value of the collateral securing such indebtedness.
 
Investing in the notes involves risk. See “Risk factors” beginning on page S-11 of this prospectus supplement.
 
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
 
             
        Underwriting
  Proceeds, before
    Price to
  discounts
  expenses, to
    public1   and commissions   Hanesbrands Inc.
 
Per note
            %             %             %
Total
  $   $   $
 
(1) Plus accrued interest, if any, from          , 2009.
 
The notes will not be listed on a securities exchange. Currently, there is no public market for the notes.
 
The underwriters expect to deliver the notes on or about          , 2009 in book-entry form through The Depository Trust Company for the account of its participants, including Clearstream Banking société anonyme and Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V.
 
 
Joint book-running managers
 
J.P. Morgan BofA Merrill Lynch HSBC Goldman, Sachs & Co.
 
 
Co-managers
 
Barclays Capital BB&T Capital Markets RBC Capital Markets
 
          , 2009


 

 
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About this prospectus supplement
 
This document is in two parts. The first part is the prospectus supplement and the documents incorporated herein, which describes the specific terms of this offering of the notes. The second part is the accompanying prospectus, which gives more general information, some of which may not apply to the notes or this offering. If the information relating to the offering varies between the prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, you should rely on the information in this prospectus supplement.
 
You should rely only on the information contained in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and any related free writing prospectus filed by us with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). We have not, and the underwriters have not, authorized any dealer, salesman or other person to provide you with additional or different information. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus are not an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities other than the securities to which they relate and are not an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy securities in any jurisdiction to any person to whom it is unlawful to make an offer or solicitation in that jurisdiction. You should not assume that the information contained in this prospectus supplement is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front cover of this prospectus supplement, or that the information contained in the accompanying prospectus, any document incorporated by reference and any such free writing prospectus is accurate as of any date other than their respective dates, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus supplement or any sale of a security. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.
 
Unless otherwise indicated or the context otherwise requires, all references in this prospectus supplement to “we,” “our,” “us,” “the Company” or “Hanesbrands” are to Hanesbrands Inc., a Maryland corporation, and its subsidiaries.
 
Where you can find more information
 
We file annual, quarterly and special reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. You can inspect, read and copy these reports, proxy statements and other information at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. You can obtain information regarding the operation of the SEC’s Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. The SEC also maintains a Web site at www.sec.gov that makes available reports, proxy statements and other information regarding issuers that file electronically.
 
We make available free of charge at www.hanesbrands.com (in the “Investors” section) copies of materials we file with, or furnish to, the SEC. By referring to our website and the SEC’s website, we do not incorporate such websites or their contents into this prospectus.
 
The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” information that we file with them, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to documents previously filed with the SEC. The information incorporated by reference is an important part of this prospectus supplement, and the information that we later file with the SEC will automatically update and supersede this information. This prospectus incorporates by reference the documents and reports listed below (other than portions of these documents deemed to be “furnished” or not deemed to be “filed,” including the portions of these documents that are


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either (1) described in paragraphs (d)(1), (d)(2), (d)(3) or (e)(5) of Item 407 of Regulation S-K promulgated by the SEC or (2) furnished under Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of a Current Report on Form 8-K, including any exhibits included with such Items):
 
•  our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 3, 2009;
 
•  our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarters ended April 4, 2009, July 4, 2009 and October 3, 2009;
 
•  our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed on March 16, 2009, April 27, 2009, July 30, 2009, September 21, 2009 and October 28, 2009; and
 
•  our Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed on March 12, 2009.
 
We also incorporate by reference the information contained in all other documents we file with the SEC pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) (other than portions of these documents deemed to be “furnished” or not deemed to be “filed,” including the portions of these documents that are either (1) described in paragraphs (d)(1), (d)(2), (d)(3) or (e)(5) of Item 407 of Regulation S-K promulgated by the SEC or (2) furnished under Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of a Current Report on Form 8-K, including any exhibits included with such Items, unless otherwise specifically indicated therein) after the date of this prospectus supplement and prior to the termination of this offering. The information contained in any such document will be considered part of this prospectus supplement from the date the document is filed with the SEC.
 
Any statement contained in this prospectus supplement or in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement will be deemed to be modified or superseded to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement modifies or supersedes that statement. Any statement so modified or superseded will not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this prospectus supplement.
 
We undertake to provide without charge to any person, including any beneficial owner, to whom a copy of this prospectus is delivered, upon oral or written request of such person, a copy of any or all of the documents that have been incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement, other than exhibits to such other documents (unless such exhibits are specifically incorporated by reference therein). We will furnish any exhibit not specifically incorporated by reference upon the payment of a specified reasonable fee, which fee will be limited to our reasonable expenses in furnishing such exhibit. All requests for such copies should be directed to Corporate Secretary, Hanesbrands Inc., 1000 East Hanes Mill Road, Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27105.
 
Cautionary statement regarding forward-looking statements
 
This prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus, any related free writing prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference therein include forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 (the “Securities Act”) and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. Forward-looking statements include all statements that do not


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relate solely to historical or current facts, and can generally be identified by the use of words such as “may,” “believe,” “will,” “expect,” “project,” “estimate,” “intend,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “continue” or similar expressions. In particular, information appearing under “Description of our business,” “Risk factors” and “Management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations” includes forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements inherently involve many risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in these statements. Where, in any forward-looking statement, we express an expectation or belief as to future results or events, such expectation or belief is based on the current plans and expectations of our management and expressed in good faith and believed to have a reasonable basis, but there can be no assurance that the expectation or belief will result or be achieved or accomplished. The following include some but not all of the factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated:
 
•  our ability to execute our consolidation and globalization strategy, including migrating our production and manufacturing operations to lower-cost locations around the world;
 
•  our ability to successfully manage social, political, economic, legal and other conditions affecting our foreign operations and supply chain sources, such as disruption of markets, changes in import and export laws, currency restrictions and currency exchange rate fluctuations;
 
•  current economic conditions;
 
•  consumer spending levels;
 
•  the risk of inflation or deflation;
 
•  financial difficulties experienced by, or loss of or reduction in sales to, any of our top customers or groups of customers;
 
•  gains and losses in the shelf space that our customers devote to our products;
 
•  our debt and debt service requirements that restrict our operating and financial flexibility and impose interest and financing costs;
 
•  the financial ratios that our debt instruments require us to maintain;
 
•  future financial performance, including availability, terms and deployment of capital;
 
•  failure to protect against dramatic changes in the volatile market price of cotton;
 
•  the impact of increases in prices of other materials used in our products and increases in other costs;
 
•  the impact of increases in prices of oil-related materials and other costs such as energy and utility costs;
 
•  our ability to effectively manage our inventory and reduce inventory reserves;
 
•  retailer consolidation and other changes in the apparel essentials industry;
 
•  the highly competitive and evolving nature of the industry in which we compete;
 
•  our ability to keep pace with changing consumer preferences;


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•  our ability to continue to effectively distribute our products through our distribution network as we continue to consolidate our distribution network;
 
•  our ability to comply with environmental and occupational health and safety laws and regulations;
 
•  costs and adverse publicity from violations of labor or environmental laws by us or our suppliers;
 
•  our ability to attract and retain key personnel;
 
•  new litigation or developments in existing litigation; and
 
•  possible terrorist attacks and ongoing military action in the Middle East and other parts of the world.
 
There may be other factors that may cause our actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements. Our actual results, performance or achievements could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, the forward-looking statements. We can give no assurances that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will occur or, if any of them does, what impact they will have on our results of operations and financial condition. You should carefully read the factors described in the “Risk factors” section of this prospectus supplement for a description of certain risks that could, among other things, cause our actual results to differ from these forward-looking statements.
 
All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this prospectus supplement and are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements included in this prospectus supplement. We undertake no obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements that may be made to reflect events or circumstances that arise after the date made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, other than as required by law.


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Summary
 
This summary highlights selected information contained elsewhere in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and the documents we incorporate by reference. It does not contain all of the information you should consider before making an investment decision. You should read the entire prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus, the documents incorporated by reference and the other documents to which we refer for a more complete understanding of our business and this offering. Please read the section entitled “Risk factors” and additional information contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended January 3, 2009 and our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended October 3, 2009, July 4, 2009 and April 4, 2009 incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement for more information about important factors you should consider before investing in the notes in this offering.
 
Our company
 
We are a consumer goods company with a portfolio of leading apparel brands, including Hanes, Champion, C9 by Champion, Playtex, Bali, L’eggs, Just My Size, barely there, Wonderbra, Stedman, Outer Banks, Zorba, Rinbros and Duofold. We design, manufacture, source and sell a broad range of apparel essentials such as t-shirts, bras, panties, men’s underwear, kids’ underwear, casualwear, activewear, socks and hosiery.
 
The apparel essentials sector of the apparel industry is characterized by frequently replenished items, such as t-shirts, bras, panties, men’s underwear, kids’ underwear, socks and hosiery. Growth and sales in the apparel essentials industry are not primarily driven by fashion, in contrast to other areas of the broader apparel industry. We focus on the core attributes of comfort, fit and value, while remaining current with regard to consumer trends. The majority of our core styles continue from year to year, with variations only in color, fabric or design details. Some products, however, such as intimate apparel, activewear and sheer hosiery, do have an emphasis on style and innovation. We continue to invest in our largest and strongest brands to achieve our long-term growth goals. In addition to designing and marketing apparel essentials, we have a long history of operating a global supply chain that incorporates a mix of self-manufacturing, third-party contractors and third-party sourcing.
 
Our products are sold through multiple distribution channels. During the year ended January 3, 2009, approximately 44% of our net sales were to mass merchants, 18% were to national chains and department stores, 9% were direct to consumers, 11% were in our International segment and 18% were to other retail channels such as embellishers, specialty retailers, warehouse clubs and sporting goods stores. We have strong, long-term relationships with our top customers, including relationships of more than ten years with each of our top ten customers as of January 3, 2009. The size and operational scale of the high-volume retailers with which we do business require extensive category and product knowledge and specialized services regarding the quantity, quality and planning of product orders. We have organized multifunctional customer management teams, which has allowed us to form strategic long-term relationships with these customers and efficiently focus resources on category, product and service expertise. We also have customer-specific programs such as the C9 by Champion products marketed and sold through Target stores.


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Our brands
 
Our brands have a strong heritage in the apparel essentials industry. According to The NPD Group/Consumer Tracking Service, or “NPD,” our brands hold either the number one or number two U.S. market position by sales value in most product categories in which we compete, for the 12 month period ended November 30, 2008. In 2008, Hanes was number one for the fifth consecutive year on the Women’s Wear Daily “Top 100 Brands Survey” for apparel and accessory brands that women know best and was number one for the fifth consecutive year as the most preferred men’s, women’s and children’s apparel brand of consumers in Retailing Today magazine’s “Top Brands Study.” Additionally, we had five of the top ten intimate apparel brands preferred by consumers in the Retailing Today study—Hanes, Playtex, Bali, Just My Size and L’eggs.
 
Our competitive strengths
 
Strong brands with leading market positions. According to NPD, our brands hold either the number one or number two U.S. market position by sales value in most product categories in which we compete, for the 12 month period ended November 30, 2008. According to NPD, our largest brand, Hanes, is the top-selling apparel brand in the United States by units sold, for the 12 month period ended November 30, 2008.
 
High-volume, core essentials focus. We sell high-volume, frequently replenished apparel essentials. The majority of our core styles continue from year to year, with variations only in color, fabric or design details, and are frequently replenished by consumers. We believe that our status as a high-volume seller of core apparel essentials creates a more stable and predictable revenue base and reduces our exposure to dramatic fashion shifts often observed in the general apparel industry.
 
Significant scale of operations. According to NPD, we are the largest seller of apparel essentials in the United States as measured by sales value for the 12 month period ended November 30, 2008. Most of our products are sold to large retailers that have high-volume demands. We believe that we are able to leverage our significant scale of operations to provide us with greater manufacturing efficiencies, purchasing power and product design, marketing and customer management resources than our smaller competitors.
 
Strong customer relationships. We sell our products primarily through large, high-volume retailers, including mass merchants, department stores and national chains. We have strong, long-term relationships with our top customers, including relationships of more than ten years with each of our top ten customers as of January 3, 2009. We have aligned significant parts of our organization with corresponding parts of our customers’ organizations. We also have entered into customer-specific programs such as the C9 by Champion products marketed and sold through Target stores.
 
Key business strategies
 
Sell more, spend less and generate cash are our broad strategies to build our brands, reduce our costs and generate cash.


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Sell more. Through our “sell more” strategy, we seek to drive profitable growth by consistently offering consumers brands they love and trust and products with unsurpassed value. Key initiatives we are employing to implement this strategy include:
 
•  Build big, strong brands in big core categories with innovative key items. Our ability to react to changing customer needs and industry trends is key to our success. Our design, research and product development teams, in partnership with our marketing teams, drive our efforts to bring innovations to market. We seek to leverage our insights into consumer demand in the apparel essentials industry to develop new products within our existing lines and to modify our existing core products in ways that make them more appealing, addressing changing customer needs and industry trends. We also support our key brands with targeted, effective advertising and marketing campaigns.
 
•  Foster strategic partnerships with key retailers via “team selling.” We foster relationships with key retailers by applying our extensive category and product knowledge, leveraging our use of multi-functional customer management teams and developing new customer-specific programs such as C9 by Champion for Target. Our goal is to strengthen and deepen our existing strategic relationships with retailers and develop new strategic relationships.
 
•  Use Kanban concepts to have the right products available in the right quantities at the right time. Through Kanban, a multi-initiative effort that determines production quantities, and in doing so, facilitates just-in-time production and ordering systems, we seek to ensure that products are available to meet customer demands while effectively managing inventory levels.
 
Spend less. Through our “spend less” strategy, we seek to become an integrated organization that leverages its size and global reach to reduce costs, improve flexibility and provide a high level of service. Key initiatives we are employing to implement this strategy include:
 
•  Globalizing our supply chain by balancing across hemispheres into “economic” clusters with fewer, larger facilities. As a provider of high-volume products, we are continually seeking to improve our cost-competitiveness and operating flexibility through supply chain initiatives. Through our consolidation and globalization strategy, which is discussed in more detail below, we will continue to transition additional parts of our supply chain to lower-cost locations in Asia, Central America and the Caribbean Basin in an effort to optimize our cost structure. As part of this process, we are using Kanban concepts to optimize the way we manage demand, to increase manufacturing flexibility to better respond to demand variability and to simplify our finished goods and the raw materials we use to produce them. We expect that these changes in our supply chain will result in significant cost efficiencies and increased asset utilization.
 
•  Leverage our global purchasing and manufacturing scale. Historically, we have had a decentralized operating structure with many distinct operating units. We are in the process of consolidating purchasing, manufacturing and sourcing across all of our product categories in the United States. We believe that these initiatives will streamline our operations, improve our inventory management, reduce costs and standardize processes.
 
Generate cash. Through our “generate cash” strategy, we seek to effectively generate and invest cash at or above our weighted average cost of capital to provide superior returns for both


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our equity and debt investors. Key initiatives we are employing to implement this strategy include:
 
•  Optimizing our capital structure to take advantage of our business model’s strong and consistent cash flows. Maintaining appropriate debt leverage and utilizing excess cash to, for example, pay down debt, invest in our own stock and selectively pursue strategic acquisitions are keys to building a stronger business and generating additional value for investors.
 
•  Continuing to improve turns for accounts receivables, inventory, accounts payable and fixed assets. Our ability to generate cash is enhanced through more efficient management of accounts receivables, inventory, accounts payable and fixed assets.
 
Our ability to react to changing customer needs and industry trends will continue to be key to our success. Our design, research and product development teams, in partnership with our marketing teams, drive our efforts to bring innovations to market. We seek to leverage our insights into consumer demand in the apparel essentials industry to develop new products within our existing lines and to modify our existing core products in ways that make them more appealing, addressing changing customer needs and industry trends. Examples of our recent innovations include:
 
•  Hanes no ride up panties, specially designed for a better fit that helps women stay “wedgie-free” (2008).
 
•  Hanes Lay Flat Collar Undershirts and Hanes No Ride Up Boxer briefs, the brand’s latest innovation in product comfort and fit (2008).
 
•  Bali Concealers bras, the first and only bra with revolutionary concealing petals for complete modesty (2008).
 
•  Hanes Comfort Soft T-shirt (2007).
 
•  Bali Passion for Comfort bra, designed to be the ultimate comfort bra, features a silky smooth lining for a luxurious feel against the body (2007).
 
•  Hanes All-Over Comfort Bra, which features stay-put straps that don’t slip, cushioned wires that don’t poke and a tag-free back (2006).
 
One of our key initiatives is to globalize our supply chain by balancing across hemispheres into “economic” clusters with fewer, larger facilities. We expect to continue our restructuring efforts through the end of 2009 as we continue to execute our consolidation and globalization strategy. We have closed plant locations, reduced our workforce, and relocated some of our manufacturing capacity to lower cost locations in Asia, Central America and the Caribbean Basin. We have restructured our supply chain over the past three years to create more efficient production clusters that utilize fewer, larger facilities and to balance our production capability between the Western Hemisphere and Asia. With our global supply chain restructured, we are now focused on optimizing our supply chain to further enhance efficiency, improve working capital and asset turns and reduce costs. We are focused on optimizing the working capital needs of our supply chain through several initiatives, such as supplier-managed inventory for raw materials and sourced goods ownership relationships.


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Company information
 
We were incorporated in Maryland on September 30, 2005 and became an independent public company following our spin off from Sara Lee Corporation (“Sara Lee”) on September 5, 2006. Our principal executive offices are located at 1000 East Hanes Mill Road, Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27105. Our main telephone number is (336) 519-8080.
 
The transactions
 
As used in this prospectus supplement, the term “Transactions” refers to the financing transactions described below.
 
We will use the proceeds from this offering, together with the borrowings under the term loan and revolving loan facilities under our existing senior secured first lien credit facility (the “Senior Secured Credit Facilities”) that will be amended and restated concurrently with the consummation of this offering (as amended and restated, the “New Senior Secured Credit Facilities”), including borrowings under the revolving credit facility of the New Senior Secured Credit Facilities, to (i) refinance all borrowings outstanding under the Senior Secured Credit Facilities, (ii) repay all borrowings outstanding under our existing senior secured second lien credit facility (the “Second Lien Credit Facility” and, together with the Senior Secured Credit Facilities,” the “Existing Credit Facilities”) and (iii) to pay the fees and expenses related to the Transactions. The Second Lien Credit Facility will be paid in full and terminated concurrently with the closing of this offering. See “Use of proceeds.”


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The offering
 
The following summary contains basic information about the notes and is not intended to be complete. For a more complete understanding of the notes, please refer to the section in this prospectus supplement entitled “Description of notes” and the section in the accompanying prospectus entitled “Description of debt securities.”
 
Issuer Hanesbrands Inc.
 
The notes $500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of     % Senior Notes due 2016.
 
Maturity           , 2016.
 
Interest payment dates Interest is payable on the notes on           and          of each year, beginning on          , 2010.
 
Optional redemption We may, at our option, redeem all or part of the notes at any time prior to          , 2013 at a make-whole price, and at any time on or after          , 2013 at fixed redemption prices, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of redemption, as described under “Description of notes—Optional redemption.” In addition, prior to          , 2012, we may, at our option, redeem up to 35% of the notes with the proceeds of certain equity offerings.
 
Guarantees The payment of the principal, premium and interest on the notes will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed on a senior unsecured basis by substantially all of our existing domestic subsidiaries and by certain of our future restricted subsidiaries. In the future, the guarantees may be released or terminated under certain circumstances. See “Description of notes—Guarantees.”
 
Ranking The notes and the guarantees will be our and the guarantors’ senior unsecured obligations and will:
 
• rank equally in right of payment with all our and the guarantors’ existing and future senior unsecured indebtedness;
 
• rank senior in right of payment to all our and the guarantors’ future senior subordinated and subordinated indebtedness;
 
• be effectively subordinated in right of payment to all our and the guarantors’ existing and future secured indebtedness to the extent of the value of the collateral securing such indebtedness (including all of our borrowings and the guarantors’ guarantees under our New Senior Secured Credit Facilities); and
 
• be structurally subordinated in right of payment to all existing and future indebtedness and other liabilities of any of our subsidiaries that is not also a guarantor of the notes.


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As of October 3, 2009, after giving effect to the Transactions and the application of the estimated net proceeds therefrom as set forth under “Use of proceeds,” we would have had total consolidated indebtedness of $2,087.7 million, consisting of $845.0 million of secured indebtedness outstanding under our New Senior Secured Credit Facilities, $500.0 million of the notes offered hereby, $493.7 million of our floating rate senior notes and $249.0 million outstanding under accounts receivable securitization facility that we entered into on November 27, 2007 (the “Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility”). The subsidiary guarantors would have guaranteed total indebtedness of $1,838.7 million, consisting of $845.0 million of secured guarantees under our New Senior Secured Credit Facilities, $500.0 million of unsecured guarantees of the notes offered hereby and $493.7 million of unsecured guarantees of our floating rate senior notes, excluding intercompany indebtedness, and we would have been able to incur an additional $305.0 million of secured indebtedness under our New Senior Secured Credit Facilities. Our non-guarantor subsidiaries would have had $249.0 million of total indebtedness, consisting of the amounts outstanding under the Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility. For further discussion, see “Description of other indebtedness.”
 
Covenants The indenture governing the notes will contain covenants that, among other things, limit our ability and the ability of our restricted subsidiaries to:
 
• incur additional debt;
 
• make certain investments or pay dividends or distributions on our capital stock or purchase, redeem or retire capital stock (‘’restricted payments”);
 
• sell assets, including capital stock of our restricted subsidiaries;
 
• restrict dividends or other payments by restricted subsidiaries;
 
• create liens that secure debt;
 
• enter into transactions with affiliates; and
 
• merge or consolidate with another company.
 
These covenants are subject to a number of important limitations and exceptions, including a provision allowing us to make restricted payments in an amount calculated pursuant to a formula based upon 50% of our adjusted consolidated net income (as defined in the indenture) since October 1, 2006. As of October 3, 2009, after giving effect to the Transactions, we would have had approximately $391.9 million of available restricted payment capacity pursuant to that provision, in addition to the restricted payment capacity available under other exceptions. See “Description of notes—Covenants.”


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In addition, most of the covenants will be suspended if both Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services and Moody’s Investors Service, Inc., assign the notes an investment grade rating and no default exists with respect to the notes.
 
Change of control offer If we experience certain kinds of changes of control, we must give the holders of the notes the opportunity to sell us their notes at 101% of their principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the repurchase date.
 
No public market The notes are a series of securities for which there is currently no established trading market. The underwriters have advised us that they presently intend to make a market in the notes. However, you should be aware that they are not obligated to make a market in the notes and may discontinue their market-making activities at any time without notice. As a result, a liquid market for the notes may not be available if you try to sell your notes. We do not intend to apply for a listing of the notes on any securities exchange or any automated dealer quotation system.
 
Use of proceeds We will use the estimated net proceeds from this offering of approximately $485.2 million to repay or refinance a portion of the borrowings under our Existing Credit Facilities. See “Use of proceeds.”
 
Form The notes will be represented by one or more registered global securities registered in the name of Cede & Co., the nominee of the depositary, The Depository Trust Company. Beneficial interests in the notes will be shown on, and transfers of beneficial interests will be effected through, records maintained by The Depository Trust Company and its participants.
 
Original issue discount The notes may be issued with original issue discount, or OID, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, in which case, U.S. holders generally will be required to include the OID in gross income for U.S. federal income tax purposes in advance of the receipt of cash attributable to that income regardless of the holders’ method of tax accounting. See “U.S. federal income tax consequences—United States holders—Original issue discount.”
 
Risk factors
 
Investing in the notes involves substantial risk. You should carefully consider the risk factors set forth in the section entitled “Risk factors” and the other information contained in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference therein, prior to making an investment in the notes. See “Risk factors” beginning on page S-11.


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Summary financial data
 
Set forth below is our summary consolidated historical financial data for the periods indicated. The historical financial data for the periods ended January 3, 2009 and December 29, 2007 and the balance sheet data as of January 3, 2009 and December 29, 2007 have been derived from our audited financial statements incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement. Our historical financial data as of October 3, 2009 and September 27, 2008 and for the nine months ended October 3, 2009 and September 27, 2008 are derived from our unaudited financial statements. You should read the following summary financial data in conjunction with “Management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations” and our historical financial statements and related notes thereto incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement.
 
                                 
 
    Nine months ended     Years ended  
    October 3,
    September 27,
    January 3,
    December 29,
 
(in thousands)   2009     2008     2009     2007  
 
 
Statement of Income Data:
                               
Net sales
  $ 2,902,536     $ 3,213,653     $ 4,248,770     $ 4,474,537  
Cost of sales
    1,960,589       2,145,949       2,871,420       3,033,627  
     
     
Gross profit
    941,947       1,067,704       1,377,350       1,440,910  
Selling, general and administrative expenses
    702,204       776,267       1,009,607       1,040,754  
Gain on curtailment of postretirement benefits
                      (32,144 )
Restructuring
    46,319       32,355       50,263       43,731  
     
     
Operating profit
    193,424       259,082       317,480       388,569  
Other (income) expense
    6,537             (634 )     5,235  
Interest expense, net
    124,548       115,282       155,077       199,208  
     
     
Income before income tax expense (benefit)
    62,339       143,800       163,037       184,126  
Income tax expense (benefit)
    9,974       34,512       35,868       57,999  
     
     
Net income
  $ 52,365     $ 109,288     $ 127,169     $ 126,127  
 
 
 


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    October 3,
    September 27,
    January 3,
    December 29,
 
(in thousands)   2009     2008     2009     2007  
 
 
Balance Sheet Data:
                               
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 38,617     $ 86,212     $ 67,342     $ 174,236  
Total assets
    3,491,913       3,627,638       3,534,049       3,439,483  
Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility
    249,043             45,640        
Noncurrent liabilities:
                               
Long-term debt
    1,793,680       2,315,250       2,130,907       2,315,250  
Other noncurrent liabilities
    481,425       159,870       469,703       146,347  
Total noncurrent liabilities
    2,275,105       2,475,120       2,600,610       2,461,597  
Total stockholders’ equity
    293,184       380,934       185,155       288,904  
 

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Risk factors
 
An investment in the notes involves risk. In addition to the risks described below, you should also carefully read all of the other information included in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and the documents we have incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement in evaluating an investment in the notes. If any of the described risks actually were to occur, our business, financial condition or results of operations could be affected materially and adversely. In that case, our ability to fulfill our obligations under the notes could be materially affected and you could lose all or part of your investment.
 
The risks described below are not the only ones facing our company. Additional risks not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial individually or in the aggregate may also impair our business operations.
 
This prospectus supplement and documents incorporated by reference also contain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, some of which are described in the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. Our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including the risks and uncertainties faced by us described below or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus.
 
Risks related to our business
 
We are continuing to execute our consolidation and globalization strategy and this process involves significant costs and the risk of operational interruption.
 
Since becoming an independent company, we have undertaken a variety of restructuring efforts in connection with our consolidation and globalization strategy designed to improve operating efficiencies and lower costs. As a result of this strategy, we expected to incur approximately $250 million in restructuring and related charges over the three year period following the spin off from Sara Lee on September 5, 2006, of which approximately half was expected to be noncash. As of October 3, 2009, we have recognized approximately $262 million and announced approximately $253 million in restructuring and related charges related to this strategy since September 5, 2006, approximately half of which have been noncash. This process may also result in operational interruptions, which may have an adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.
 
Our supply chain relies on an extensive network of foreign operations and any disruption to or adverse impact on such operations may adversely affect our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.
 
We have an extensive global supply chain in which a significant portion of our products are manufactured in or sourced from locations in Asia, Central America, the Caribbean Basin and Mexico and we are continuing to add new manufacturing capacity in Asia, Central America and the Caribbean Basin. Potential events that may disrupt our foreign operations include:
 
•  political instability and acts of war or terrorism or other international events resulting in the disruption of trade;
 
•  other security risks;


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•  disruptions in shipping and freight forwarding services;
 
•  increases in oil prices, which would increase the cost of shipping;
 
•  interruptions in the availability of basic services and infrastructure, including power shortages;
 
•  fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates resulting in uncertainty as to future asset and liability values, cost of goods and results of operations that are denominated in foreign currencies;
 
•  extraordinary weather conditions or natural disasters, such as hurricanes, earthquakes, tsunamis, floods or fires; and
 
•  the occurrence of an epidemic, the spread of which may impact our ability to obtain products on a timely basis.
 
Disruptions in our foreign supply chain could negatively impact our business by interrupting production in facilities outside the United States, increasing our cost of sales, disrupting merchandise deliveries, delaying receipt of the products into the United States or preventing us from sourcing our products at all. Depending on timing, these events could also result in lost sales, cancellation charges or excessive markdowns. All of the foregoing can have an adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.
 
Current economic conditions may adversely impact demand for our products, reduce access to credit and cause our customers and others with which we do business to suffer financial hardship, all of which could adversely impact our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.
 
Worldwide economic conditions have recently deteriorated significantly in many countries and regions, including the United States, and may remain depressed for the foreseeable future. Although the majority of our products are replenishment in nature and tend to be purchased by consumers on a planned, rather than on an impulse, basis, our sales are impacted by discretionary spending by our customers. Discretionary spending is affected by many factors, including, among others, general business conditions, interest rates, inflation, consumer debt levels, the availability of consumer credit, currency exchange rates, taxation, electricity power rates, gasoline prices, unemployment trends and other matters that influence consumer confidence and spending. Many of these factors are outside of our control. Our customers’ purchases of discretionary items, including our products, could decline during periods when disposable income is lower, when prices increase in response to rising costs, or in periods of actual or perceived unfavorable economic conditions. For example, we experienced a spike in oil related commodity prices during the summer of 2008. Increases in our product costs may not be offset by comparable rises in the income of consumers of our products. These consumers may choose to purchase fewer of our products or lower-priced products of our competitors in response to higher prices for our products, or may choose not to purchase our products at prices that reflect our domestic price increases that become effective from time to time. If any of these events occur, or if unfavorable economic conditions continue to challenge the consumer environment, our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows could be adversely affected.
 
In addition, economic conditions, including decreased access to credit, may result in financial difficulties leading to restructurings, bankruptcies, liquidations and other unfavorable events for our customers, suppliers of raw materials and finished goods, logistics and other service


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providers and financial institutions which are counterparties to our credit facilities and derivatives transactions. In addition, the inability of these third parties to overcome these difficulties may increase. For example, one of our customers, Mervyn’s, a regional retailer in California and the Southwest that originally filed for reorganization under Chapter 11 in July 2008, announced in October 2008 its intention to wind down its business and conduct going-out-of-business sales at remaining store locations. If third parties on which we rely for raw materials, finished goods or services are unable to overcome difficulties resulting from the deterioration in worldwide economic conditions and provide us with the materials and services we need, or if counterparties to our credit facilities or derivatives transactions do not perform their obligations, our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows could be adversely affected.
 
Our customers generally purchase our products on credit, and as a result, our results of operations, financial condition and cash flows may be adversely affected if our customers experience financial difficulties.
 
During the past several years, various retailers, including some of our largest customers, have experienced significant difficulties, including restructurings, bankruptcies and liquidations, and the inability of retailers to overcome these difficulties may increase due to the recent deterioration of worldwide economic conditions. This could adversely affect us because our customers generally pay us after goods are delivered. Adverse changes in a customer’s financial position could cause us to limit or discontinue business with that customer, require us to assume more credit risk relating to that customer’s future purchases or limit our ability to collect accounts receivable relating to previous purchases by that customer. Any of these occurrences could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.
 
Our substantial indebtedness subjects us to various restrictions and could decrease our profitability and otherwise adversely affect our business.
 
We have, and following the consummation of this offering continue to have, a substantial amount of indebtedness. As described in “Management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations—Liquidity and capital resources,” our indebtedness includes the $2.1 billion existing Senior Secured Credit Facilities, the $450 million existing Second Lien Credit Facility, our $500 million Floating Rate Senior Notes due 2014 (the “Floating Rate Senior Notes”) and the $250 million Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility. Simultaneous with the closing of this offering, we expect to refinance the Senior Secured Credit Facilities and to repay and terminate the Second Lien Credit Facility. As of October 3, 2009, after giving effect to the Transactions, our total debt would have been $2,087.7 million, excluding $305.0 million of unused commitments under the revolving loan facility of the New Senior Secured Credit Facilities. See “Use of proceeds.” The Existing Credit Facilities and the indenture governing the Floating Rate Senior Notes contain, and the New Senior Secured Credit Facilities and the indenture governing the notes offered hereby will contain, restrictions that affect, and in some cases significantly limit or prohibit, among other things, our ability to borrow funds, pay dividends or make other distributions, make investments, engage in transactions with affiliates, or create liens on our assets.
 
Our leverage also could put us at a competitive disadvantage compared to our competitors that are less leveraged. These competitors could have greater financial flexibility to pursue strategic


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acquisitions, secure additional financing for their operations by incurring additional debt, expend capital to expand their manufacturing and production operations to lower-cost areas and apply pricing pressure on us. In addition, because many of our customers rely on us to fulfill a substantial portion of their apparel essentials demand, any concern these customers may have regarding our financial condition may cause them to reduce the amount of products they purchase from us. Our leverage could also impede our ability to withstand downturns in our industry or the economy.
 
If we are unable to maintain financial ratios associated with our indebtedness, such failure could cause the acceleration of the maturity of such indebtedness which would adversely affect our business.
 
Covenants in the Existing Credit Facilities and the Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility require us to maintain a minimum interest coverage ratio and a maximum total debt to EBITDA (earnings before income taxes, depreciation expense and amortization), or leverage ratio. The recent deterioration of worldwide economic conditions could impact our ability to maintain the financial ratios contained in these agreements. If we fail to maintain these financial ratios, that failure could result in a default that accelerates the maturity of the indebtedness under such facilities, which could require that we repay such indebtedness in full, together with accrued and unpaid interest, unless we are able to negotiate new financial ratios or waivers of our current ratios with our lenders. Even if we are able to negotiate new financial ratios or waivers of our current financial ratios, we may be required to pay fees or make other concessions that may adversely impact our business. Any one of these options could result in significantly higher interest expense in 2009 and beyond. In addition, these options could require modification of our interest rate derivative portfolio, which could require us to make a cash payment in the event of terminating a derivative instrument or impact the effectiveness of our interest rate hedging instruments and require us to take non-cash charges. For information regarding our compliance with these covenants, see “Management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations—Liquidity and capital resources—Trends and uncertainties affecting liquidity.” We expect that the New Senior Secured Credit Facilities will contain similar restrictions. See “Description of other indebtedness—New senior secured credit facilities.”
 
If we fail to meet our payment or other obligations, the lenders could foreclose on, and acquire control of, substantially all of our assets.
 
In connection with our incurrence of indebtedness under the Existing Credit Facilities, the lenders under those facilities have received a pledge of substantially all of our existing and future direct and indirect subsidiaries, with certain customary or agreed-upon exceptions for foreign subsidiaries and certain other subsidiaries. Additionally, these lenders generally have a lien on substantially all of our assets and the assets of our subsidiaries, with certain exceptions. The financial institutions that are party to the Accounts Receivable Securization Facility have a lien on certain of our domestic accounts receivables. As a result of these pledges and liens, if we fail to meet our payment or other obligations under the Existing Credit Facilities, the New Senior Secured Credit Facilities or the Accounts Receivable Securization Facility, the lenders under those facilities will be entitled to foreclose on substantially all of our assets and, at their option, liquidate these assets.


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Our indebtedness restricts our ability to obtain additional capital in the future.
 
The restrictions contained in the Existing Credit Facilities, the New Senior Secured Credit Facilities and in the indentures governing the Floating Rate Senior Notes and the notes offered hereby could limit our ability to obtain additional capital in the future to fund capital expenditures or acquisitions, meet our debt payment obligations and capital commitments, fund any operating losses or future development of our business affiliates, obtain lower borrowing costs that are available from secured lenders or engage in advantageous transactions that monetize our assets, or conduct other necessary or prudent corporate activities.
 
If we need to incur additional debt or issue equity in order to fund working capital and capital expenditures or to make acquisitions and other investments, debt or equity financing may not be available to us on acceptable terms or at all. If we are not able to obtain sufficient financing, we may be unable to maintain or expand our business. If we raise funds through the issuance of debt or equity, any debt securities or preferred stock issued will have rights, preferences and privileges senior to those of holders of our common stock in the event of a liquidation, and the terms of the debt securities may impose restrictions on our operations. If we raise funds through the issuance of equity, the issuance would dilute the ownership interest of our stockholders.
 
To service our debt obligations, we may need to increase the portion of the income of our foreign subsidiaries that is expected to be remitted to the United States, which could increase our income tax expense.
 
The amount of the income of our foreign subsidiaries that we expect to remit to the United States may significantly impact our U.S. federal income tax expense. We pay U.S. federal income taxes on that portion of the income of our foreign subsidiaries that is expected to be remitted to the United States and be taxable. In order to service our debt obligations, we may need to increase the portion of the income of our foreign subsidiaries that we expect to remit to the United States, which may significantly increase our income tax expense. Consequently, our income tax expense has been, and will continue to be, impacted by our strategic initiative to make substantial capital investments outside the United States.
 
Significant fluctuations and volatility in the price of cotton and other raw materials we purchase may have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.
 
Cotton is the primary raw material used in the manufacturing of many of our products. Our costs for cotton yarn and cotton-based textiles vary based upon the fluctuating cost of cotton, which is affected by weather, consumer demand, speculation on the commodities market, the relative valuations and fluctuations of the currencies of producer versus consumer countries and other factors that are generally unpredictable and beyond our control. While we attempt to protect our business from the volatility of the market price of cotton through short-term supply agreements and hedges from time to time, our business can be adversely affected by dramatic movements in cotton prices. The cotton prices reflected in our results were 58 cents per pound for the nine months ended October 3, 2009 and 62 cents per pound for the nine months ended September 27, 2008. After taking into consideration the cotton costs currently included in inventory, we expect our cost of cotton to average 55 cents per pound for the full year of 2009 compared to 65 cents per pound for 2008. The ultimate effect of these pricing levels on our earnings cannot be quantified, as the effect of movements in cotton prices on industry selling


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prices are uncertain, but any dramatic increase in the price of cotton could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.
 
We are not always successful in our efforts to protect our business from the volatility of the market price of cotton through short-term supply agreements and hedges, and our business can be adversely affected by dramatic movements in cotton prices. For example, we estimate that a change of $0.01 per pound in cotton prices would affect our annual raw material costs by $3 million, at levels of production as of January 3, 2009. The ultimate effect of this change on our earnings cannot be quantified, as the effect of movements in cotton prices on industry selling prices are uncertain, but any dramatic increase in the price of cotton would have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.
 
In addition, during the summer of 2008 we experienced a spike in oil related commodity prices and other raw materials used in our products, such as dyes and chemicals, and increases in other costs, such as fuel, energy and utility costs. These costs may fluctuate due to a number of factors outside our control, including government policy and regulation and weather conditions.
 
Current market returns have had a negative impact on the return on plan assets for our pension and other postemployment plans, which may require significant funding.
 
As widely reported, financial markets in the United States, Europe and Asia have been experiencing extreme disruption in recent months. As a result of this disruption in the domestic and international equity and bond markets, our pension plans and other postemployment plans had a decrease in asset values of approximately 32% during the year ended January 3, 2009. We are unable to predict the severity or the duration of the current disruptions in the financial markets and the adverse economic conditions in the United States, Europe and Asia. The funded status of these plans, and the related cost reflected in our financial statements, are affected by various factors that are subject to an inherent degree of uncertainty, particularly in the current economic environment. Under the Pension Protection Act of 2006 (the “Pension Protection Act”), continued losses of asset values may necessitate increased funding of the plans in the future to meet minimum federal government requirements. The continued downward pressure on the asset values of these plans may require us to fund obligations earlier than we had originally planned, which would have a negative impact on cash flows from operations.
 
The loss of one or more of our suppliers of finished goods or raw materials may interrupt our supplies and materially harm our business.
 
As of January 3, 2009, we purchase all of the raw materials used in our products and approximately 34% of the apparel designed by us from a limited number of third-party suppliers and manufacturers. Our ability to meet our customers’ needs depends on our ability to maintain an uninterrupted supply of raw materials and finished products from our third-party suppliers and manufacturers. Our business, financial condition or results of operations could be adversely affected if any of our principal third-party suppliers or manufacturers experience financial difficulties that they are not able to overcome resulting from the deterioration in worldwide economic conditions, reproduction problems, lack of capacity or transportation disruptions. The magnitude of this risk depends upon the timing of any interruptions, the materials or products that the third-party manufacturers provide and the volume of production.
 
Our dependence on third parties for raw materials and finished products subjects us to the risk of supplier failure and customer dissatisfaction with the quality of our products. Quality failures


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by our third-party manufacturers or changes in their financial or business condition that affect their production could disrupt our ability to supply quality products to our customers and thereby materially harm our business.
 
If we fail to manage our inventory effectively, we may be required to establish additional inventory reserves or we may not carry enough inventory to meet customer demands, causing us to suffer lower margins or losses.
 
We are faced with the constant challenge of balancing our inventory with our ability to meet marketplace needs. We continually monitor our inventory levels to best balance current supply and demand with potential future demand that typically surges when consumers no longer postpone purchases in our product categories. Inventory reserves can result from the complexity of our supply chain, a long manufacturing process and the seasonal nature of certain products. Increases in inventory levels may also be needed to service our business as we continue to execute our consolidation and globalization strategy. As a result, we could be subject to high levels of obsolescence and excess stock. Based on discussions with our customers and internally generated projections, we produce, purchase and/or store raw material and finished goods inventory to meet our expected demand for delivery. However, we sell a large number of our products to a small number of customers, and these customers generally are not required by contract to purchase our goods. If, after producing and storing inventory in anticipation of deliveries, demand is lower than expected, we may have to hold inventory for extended periods or sell excess inventory at reduced prices, in some cases below our cost. There are inherent uncertainties related to the recoverability of inventory, and it is possible that market factors and other conditions underlying the valuation of inventory may change in the future and result in further reserve requirements. Excess inventory charges can reduce gross margins or result in operating losses, lowered plant and equipment utilization and lowered fixed operating cost absorption, all of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition or cash flows.
 
Conversely, we also are exposed to lost business opportunities if we underestimate market demand and produce too little inventory for any particular period. Because sales of our products are generally not made under contract, if we do not carry enough inventory to satisfy our customers’ demands for our products within an acceptable time frame, they may seek to fulfill their demands from one or several of our competitors and may reduce the amount of business they do with us. Any such action could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.
 
We rely on a relatively small number of customers for a significant portion of our sales, and the loss of or material reduction in sales to any of our top customers would have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.
 
During the year ended January 3, 2009, our top ten customers accounted for 65% of our net sales and our top customers, Wal-Mart and Target, accounted for 27% and 16% of our net sales, respectively. We expect that these customers will continue to represent a significant portion of our net sales in the future. In addition, our top customers are the largest market participants in our primary distribution channels across all of our product lines. Any loss of or material reduction in sales to any of our top ten customers, especially Wal-Mart and Target, would be difficult to recapture, and would have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.


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We generally do not sell our products under contracts, and, as a result, our customers are generally not contractually obligated to purchase our products, which causes some uncertainty as to future sales and inventory levels.
 
We generally do not enter into purchase agreements that obligate our customers to purchase our products, and as a result, most of our sales are made on a purchase order basis. If any of our customers experiences a significant downturn in its business, or fails to remain committed to our products or brands, the customer is generally under no contractual obligation to purchase our products and, consequently, may reduce or discontinue purchases from us. In the past, such actions have resulted in a decrease in sales and an increase in our inventory and have had an adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows. If such actions occur again in the future, our business, results of operations and financial condition will likely be similarly affected.
 
Our existing customers may require products on an exclusive basis, forms of economic support and other changes that could be harmful to our business.
 
Customers increasingly may require us to provide them with some of our products on an exclusive basis, which could cause an increase in the number of stock keeping units, or “SKUs,” we must carry and, consequently, increase our inventory levels and working capital requirements. Moreover, our customers may increasingly seek markdown allowances, incentives and other forms of economic support which reduce our gross margins and affect our profitability. Our financial performance is negatively affected by these pricing pressures when we are forced to reduce our prices without being able to correspondingly reduce our production costs.
 
We operate in a highly competitive and rapidly evolving market, and our market share and results of operations could be adversely affected if we fail to compete effectively in the future.
 
The apparel essentials market is highly competitive and evolving rapidly. Competition is generally based upon price, brand name recognition, product quality, selection, service and purchasing convenience. Our businesses face competition today from other large corporations and foreign manufacturers. These competitors include Berkshire Hathaway Inc. through its subsidiary Fruit of the Loom, Inc., Warnaco Group Inc., Maidenform Brands, Inc. and Gildan Activewear, Inc. in our Innerwear business segment and Gildan Activewear, Inc., Berkshire Hathaway Inc. through its subsidiaries Russell Corporation and Fruit of the Loom, Inc., Nike, Inc., adidas AG through its adidas and Reebok brands and Under Armour Inc. in our Outerwear business segment. We also compete with many small manufacturers across all of our business segments, including our International segment. Additionally, department stores, specialty stores and other retailers, including many of our customers, market and sell apparel essentials products under private labels that compete directly with our brands. These customers may buy goods that are manufactured by others, which represents a lost business opportunity for us, or they may sell private label products manufactured by us, which have significantly lower gross margins than our branded products. We also face intense competition from specialty stores that sell private label apparel not manufactured by us, such as Victoria’s Secret, Old Navy and The Gap. Increased competition may result in a loss of or a reduction in shelf space and promotional support and reduced prices, in each case decreasing our cash flows, operating margins and profitability. Our ability to remain competitive in the areas of price, quality, brand recognition, research and product development, manufacturing and distribution will, in large part, determine our future


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success. If we fail to compete successfully, our market share, results of operations and financial condition will be materially and adversely affected.
 
Sales of and demand for our products may decrease if we fail to keep pace with evolving consumer preferences and trends, which could have an adverse effect on net sales and profitability.
 
Our success depends on our ability to anticipate and respond effectively to evolving consumer preferences and trends and to translate these preferences and trends into marketable product offerings. If we are unable to successfully anticipate, identify or react to changing styles or trends or misjudge the market for our products, our sales may be lower than expected and we may be faced with a significant amount of unsold finished goods inventory. In response, we may be forced to increase our marketing promotions, provide markdown allowances to our customers or liquidate excess merchandise, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our net sales and profitability. Our brand image may also suffer if customers believe that we are no longer able to offer innovative products, respond to consumer preferences or maintain the quality of our products.
 
We are prohibited from selling our Wonderbra and Playtex intimate apparel products in the EU, as well as certain other countries in Europe and South Africa, and therefore are unable to take advantage of business opportunities that may arise in such countries.
 
In February 2006, Sara Lee sold its European branded apparel business to an affiliate of Sun Capital Partners, Inc. (“Sun Capital”). In connection with the sale, Sun Capital received an exclusive, perpetual, royalty-free license to manufacture, sell and distribute apparel products under the Wonderbra and Playtex trademarks in the member states of the European Union (“EU”), as well as Russia, South Africa, Switzerland and certain other nations in Europe. Due to the exclusive license, we are not permitted to sell Wonderbra and Playtex branded products in these nations and Sun Capital is not permitted to sell Wonderbra and Playtex branded products outside of these nations. Consequently, we will not be able to take advantage of business opportunities that may arise relating to the sale of Wonderbra and Playtex products in these nations. For more information on these sales restrictions see “Description of our business—Intellectual property.”
 
Our business could be harmed if we are unable to deliver our products to the market due to problems with our distribution network.
 
We distribute our products from facilities that we operate as well as facilities that are operated by third-party logistics providers. These facilities include a combination of owned, leased and contracted distribution centers. We are in the process of consolidating our distribution network to fewer larger facilities, including the recent opening of a 1.3 million square foot facility in Perris, California. This consolidation of our distribution network will involve significant change, including movement of product during the transitional period, implementation of new warehouse management systems and technology, and opening of new distribution centers and new third-party logistics providers to replace parts of our legacy distribution network. Because substantially all of our products are distributed from a relatively small number of locations, our operations could also be interrupted by extraordinary weather conditions or natural disasters, such as hurricanes, earthquakes, tsunamis, floods or fires near our distribution centers. We maintain business interruption insurance, but it may not adequately protect us from the adverse


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effects that could be caused by significant disruptions to our distribution network. In addition, our distribution network is dependent on the timely performance of services by third parties, including the transportation of product to and from our distribution facilities. If we are unable to successfully operate our distribution network, our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows could be adversely affected.
 
Any inadequacy, interruption, integration failure or security failure with respect to our information technology could harm our ability to effectively operate our business.
 
Our ability to effectively manage and operate our business depends significantly on our information technology systems. As part of our efforts to consolidate our operations, we also expect to continue to incur costs associated with the integration of our information technology systems across our company over the next several years. This process involves the consolidation or possible replacement of technology platforms so that our business functions are served by fewer platforms, and has resulted in operational inefficiencies and in some cases increased our costs. We are subject to the risk that we will not be able to absorb the level of systems change, commit the necessary resources or focus the management attention necessary for the implementation to succeed. Many key strategic initiatives of major business functions, such as our supply chain and our finance operations, depend on advanced capabilities enabled by the new systems and if we fail to properly execute or if we miss critical deadlines in the implementation of this initiative, we could experience serious disruption and harm to our business. The failure of these systems to operate effectively, problems with transitioning to upgraded or replacement systems, difficulty in integrating new systems or systems of acquired businesses or a breach in security of these systems could adversely impact the operations of our business.
 
If we experience a data security breach and confidential customer information is disclosed, we may be subject to penalties and experience negative publicity, which could affect our customer relationships and have a material adverse effect on our business.
 
We and our customers could suffer harm if customer information were accessed by third parties due to a security failure in our systems. The collection of data and processing of transactions through our direct-to-consumer internet and catalog operations require us to receive and store a large amount of personally identifiable data. This type of data is subject to legislation and regulation in various jurisdictions. Recently, data security breaches suffered by well-known companies and institutions have attracted a substantial amount of media attention, prompting state and federal legislative proposals addressing data privacy and security. If some of the current proposals are adopted, we may be subject to more extensive requirements to protect the customer information that we process in connection with the purchases of our products. We may become exposed to potential liabilities with respect to the data that we collect, manage and process, and may incur legal costs if our information security policies and procedures are not effective or if we are required to defend our methods of collection, processing and storage of personal data. Future investigations, lawsuits or adverse publicity relating to our methods of handling personal data could adversely affect our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows due to the costs and negative market reaction relating to such developments.


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Compliance with environmental and other regulations could require significant expenditures.
 
We are subject to various federal, state, local and foreign laws and regulations that govern our activities, operations and products that may have adverse environmental, health and safety effects, including laws and regulations relating to generating emissions, water discharges, waste, product and packaging content and workplace safety. Noncompliance with these laws and regulations may result in substantial monetary penalties and criminal sanctions. Future events that could give rise to manufacturing interruptions or environmental remediation include changes in existing laws and regulations, the enactment of new laws and regulations, a release of hazardous substances on or from our properties or any associated offsite disposal location, or the discovery of contamination from current or prior activities at any of our properties. While we are not aware of any proposed regulations or remedial obligations that could trigger significant costs or capital expenditures in order to comply, any such regulations or obligations could adversely affect our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.
 
International trade regulations may increase our costs or limit the amount of products that we can import from suppliers in a particular country, which could have an adverse effect on our business.
 
Because a significant amount of our manufacturing and production operations are located, or our products are sourced from, outside the United States, we are subject to international trade regulations. The international trade regulations to which we are subject or may become subject include tariffs, safeguards or quotas. These regulations could limit the countries in which we produce or from which we source our products or significantly increase the cost of operating in or obtaining materials originating from certain countries. Restrictions imposed by international trade regulations can have a particular impact on our business when, after we have moved our operations to a particular location, new unfavorable regulations are enacted in that area or favorable regulations currently in effect are changed. The countries in which our products are manufactured or into which they are imported may from time to time impose additional new regulations, or modify existing regulations, including:
 
•  additional duties, taxes, tariffs and other charges on imports, including retaliatory duties or other trade sanctions, which may or may not be based on World Trade Organization (“WTO”) rules, and which would increase the cost of products produced in such countries;
 
•  limitations on the quantity of goods which may be imported into the United States from a particular country, including the imposition of further “safeguard” mechanisms by the U.S. government or governments in other jurisdictions, limiting our ability to import goods from particular countries, such as China;
 
•  changes in the classification of products that could result in higher duty rates than we have historically paid;
 
•  modification of the trading status of certain countries;
 
•  requirements as to where products are manufactured;
 
•  creation of export licensing requirements, imposition of restrictions on export quantities or specification of minimum export pricing; or
 
•  creation of other restrictions on imports.


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Adverse international trade regulations, including those listed above, would have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.
 
Due to the extensive nature of our foreign operations, fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates could negatively impact our results of operations.
 
We sell a majority of our products in transactions denominated in U.S. dollars; however, we purchase many of our raw materials, including cotton, our primary raw material, pay a portion of our wages and make other payments in our supply chain in foreign currencies. As a result, when the U.S. dollar weakens against any of these currencies, our cost of sales could increase substantially. Outside the United States, we may pay for materials or finished products in U.S. dollars, and in some cases a strengthening of the U.S. dollar could effectively increase our costs where we use foreign currency to purchase the U.S. dollars we need to make such payments. We use foreign exchange forward and option contracts to hedge material exposure to adverse changes in foreign exchange rates. We are also exposed to gains and losses resulting from the effect that fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates have on the reported results in our financial statements due to the translation of operating results and financial position of our foreign subsidiaries.
 
We had approximately 45,200 employees worldwide as of January 3, 2009, and our business operations and financial performance could be adversely affected by changes in our relationship with our employees or changes to U.S. or foreign employment regulations.
 
We had approximately 45,200 employees worldwide as of January 3, 2009. This means we have a significant exposure to changes in domestic and foreign laws governing our relationships with our employees, including wage and hour laws and regulations, fair labor standards, minimum wage requirements, overtime pay, unemployment tax rates, workers’ compensation rates, citizenship requirements and payroll taxes, which likely would have a direct impact on our operating costs. Approximately 35,000 of those employees were outside of the United States. A significant increase in minimum wage or overtime rates in countries where we have employees could have a significant impact on our operating costs and may require that we relocate those operations or take other steps to mitigate such increases, all of which may cause us to incur additional costs, expend resources responding to such increases and lower our margins.
 
In addition, some of our employees are members of labor organizations or are covered by collective bargaining agreements. If there were a significant increase in the number of our employees who are members of labor organizations or become parties to collective bargaining agreements, we would become vulnerable to a strike, work stoppage or other labor action by these employees that could have an adverse effect on our business.
 
We may suffer negative publicity if we or our third-party manufacturers violate labor laws or engage in practices that are viewed as unethical or illegal, which could cause a loss of business.
 
We cannot fully control the business and labor practices of our third-party manufacturers, the majority of whom are located in Asia, Central America and the Caribbean Basin. If one of our own manufacturing operations or one of our third-party manufacturers violates or is accused of violating local or international labor laws or other applicable regulations, or engages in labor or other practices that would be viewed in any market in which our products are sold as unethical, we could suffer negative publicity, which could tarnish our brands’ image or result in a loss of


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sales. In addition, if such negative publicity affected one of our customers, it could result in a loss of business for us.
 
Our business depends on our senior management team and other key personnel.
 
Our success depends upon the continued contributions of our senior management team and other key personnel, some of whom have unique talents and experience and would be difficult to replace. The loss or interruption of the services of a member of our senior management team or other key personnel could have a material adverse effect on our business during the transitional period that would be required for a successor to assume the responsibilities of the position. Our future success will also depend on our ability to attract and retain key managers, sales people and others. We may not be able to attract or retain these employees, which could adversely affect our business.
 
The success of our business is tied to the strength and reputation of our brands, including brands that we license to other parties. If other parties take actions that weaken, harm the reputation of or cause confusion with our brands, our business, and consequently our sales, results of operations and cash flows, may be adversely affected.
 
We license some of our important trademarks to third parties. For example, we license Champion to third parties for athletic-oriented accessories. Although we make concerted efforts to protect our brands through quality control mechanisms and contractual obligations imposed on our licensees, there is a risk that some licensees may not be in full compliance with those mechanisms and obligations. In that event, or if a licensee engages in behavior with respect to the licensed marks that would cause us reputational harm, we could experience a significant downturn in that brand’s business, adversely affecting our sales and results of operations. Similarly, any misuse of the Wonderbra or Playtex brands by Sun Capital could result in negative publicity and a loss of sales for our products under these brands, any of which may have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition or cash flows.
 
We design, manufacture, source and sell products under trademarks that are licensed from third parties. If any licensor takes actions related to their trademarks that would cause their brands or our company reputational harm, our business may be adversely affected.
 
We design, manufacture, source and sell a number of our products under trademarks that are licensed from third parties such as our Polo Ralph Lauren men’s underwear. Because we do not control the brands licensed to us, our licensors could make changes to their brands or business models that could result in a significant downturn in a brand’s business, adversely affecting our sales and results of operations. If any licensor engages in behavior with respect to the licensed marks that would cause us reputational harm, or if any of the brands licensed to us violates the trademark rights of another or are deemed to be invalid or unenforceable, we could experience a significant downturn in that brand’s business, adversely affecting our sales and results of operations, and we may be required to expend significant amounts on public relations, advertising and, possibly, legal fees.


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Businesses that we may acquire may fail to perform to expectations, and we may be unable to successfully integrate acquired businesses with our existing business.
 
From time to time, we may evaluate potential acquisition opportunities to support and strengthen our business. We may not be able to realize all or a substantial portion of the anticipated benefits of acquisitions that we may consummate. Newly acquired businesses may not achieve expected results of operations, including expected levels of revenues, and may require unanticipated costs and expenditures. Acquired businesses may also subject us to liabilities that we were unable to discover in the course of our due diligence, and our rights to indemnification from the sellers of such businesses, even if obtained, may not be sufficient to offset the relevant liabilities. In addition, the integration of newly acquired businesses may be expensive and time-consuming and may not be entirely successful. Integration of the acquired businesses may also place additional pressures on our systems of internal control over financial reporting. If we are unable to successfully integrate newly acquired businesses or if acquired businesses fail to produce targeted results, it could have an adverse effect on our results of operations or financial condition.
 
Our historical financial information and operations for periods prior to the spin off are not necessarily indicative of our results as a separate company and therefore may not be reliable as an indicator of our future financial results.
 
Our historical financial statements for periods prior to the spin off on September 5, 2006 were created from Sara Lee’s financial statements using our historical results of operations and historical bases of assets and liabilities as part of Sara Lee. Accordingly, historical financial information for periods prior to the spin off is not necessarily indicative of what our financial position, results of operations and cash flows would have been if we had been a separate, stand alone entity during those periods. Our historical financial information for periods prior to the spin off is also not necessarily indicative of what our results of operations, financial position and cash flows will be in the future and, for periods prior to the spin off, does not reflect many significant changes in our capital structure, funding and operations resulting from the spin off. While our results of operations for periods prior to the spin off include all costs of Sara Lee’s branded apparel business, these costs and expenses do not include all of the costs that would have been incurred by us had we been an independent company during those periods. In addition, we have not made adjustments to our historical financial information to reflect changes, many of which are significant, that occurred in our cost structure, financing and operations as a result of the spin off, including the substantial debt we incurred and pension liabilities we assumed in connection with the spin off. In addition, our effective income tax rate as reflected in our historical financial information for periods prior to the spin off has not been and may not be indicative of our future effective income tax rate.
 
If the Internal Revenue Service determines that our spin off from Sara Lee does not qualify as a “tax-free” distribution or a “tax-free” reorganization, we may be subject to substantial liability.
 
Sara Lee has received a private letter ruling from the Internal Revenue Service, or the “IRS,” to the effect that, among other things, the spin off qualifies as a tax-free distribution for U.S. federal income tax purposes under Section 355 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or the “Code,” and as part of a tax-free reorganization under Section 368(a)(1)(D) of the Code, and the transfer to us of assets and the assumption by us of liabilities in connection


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with the spin off will not result in the recognition of any gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes to Sara Lee.
 
Although the private letter ruling relating to the qualification of the spin off under Sections 355 and 368(a)(1)(D) of the Code generally is binding on the IRS, the continuing validity of the ruling is subject to the accuracy of factual representations and assumptions made in connection with obtaining such private letter ruling. Also, as part of the IRS’s general policy with respect to rulings on spin off transactions under Section 355 of the Code, the private letter ruling obtained by Sara Lee is based upon representations by Sara Lee that certain conditions which are necessary to obtain tax-free treatment under Section 355 and Section 368(a)(1)(D) of the Code have been satisfied, rather than a determination by the IRS that these conditions have been satisfied. Any inaccuracy in these representations could invalidate the ruling.
 
If the spin off does not qualify for tax-free treatment for U.S. federal income tax purposes, then, in general, Sara Lee would be subject to tax as if it has sold the common stock of our company in a taxable sale for its fair market value. Sara Lee’s stockholders would be subject to tax as if they had received a taxable distribution equal to the fair market value of our common stock that was distributed to them, taxed as a dividend (without reduction for any portion of a Sara Lee’s stockholder’s basis in its shares of Sara Lee common stock) for U.S. federal income tax purposes and possibly for purposes of state and local tax law, to the extent of a Sara Lee’s stockholder’s pro rata share of Sara Lee’s current and accumulated earnings and profits (including any arising from the taxable gain to Sara Lee with respect to the spin off). It is expected that the amount of any such taxes to Sara Lee’s stockholders and to Sara Lee would be substantial.
 
Pursuant to a tax sharing agreement we entered into with Sara Lee in connection with the spin off, we agreed to indemnify Sara Lee and its affiliates for any liability for taxes of Sara Lee resulting from: (1) any action or failure to act by us or any of our affiliates following the completion of the spin off that would be inconsistent with or prohibit the spin off from qualifying as a tax-free transaction to Sara Lee and to Sara Lee’s stockholders under Sections 355 and 368(a)(1)(D) of the Code, or (2) any action or failure to act by us or any of our affiliates following the completion of the spin off that would be inconsistent with or cause to be untrue any material, information, covenant or representation made in connection with the private letter ruling obtained by Sara Lee from the IRS relating to, among other things, the qualification of the spin off as a tax-free transaction described under Sections 355 and 368(a)(1)(D) of the Code. Our indemnification obligations to Sara Lee and its affiliates are not limited in amount or subject to any cap. We expect that the amount of any such taxes to Sara Lee would be substantial.
 
Anti-takeover provisions of our charter and bylaws, as well as Maryland law and our stockholder rights agreement, may reduce the likelihood of any potential change of control or unsolicited acquisition proposal that our investors might consider favorable.
 
Our charter permits our Board of Directors, without stockholder approval, to amend the charter to increase or decrease the aggregate number of shares of stock or the number of shares of stock of any class or series that we have the authority to issue. In addition, our Board of Directors may classify or reclassify any unissued shares of common stock or preferred stock and may set the preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers and other terms of the classified or reclassified shares. Our Board of Directors could establish a series of preferred stock that could have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a transaction or a change in


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control that might involve a premium price for our common stock or otherwise be in the best interest of our stockholders. Our Board of Directors also is permitted, without stockholder approval, to implement a classified board structure at any time.
 
Our bylaws, which only can be amended by our Board of Directors, provide that nominations of persons for election to our Board of Directors and the proposal of business to be considered at a stockholders meeting may be made only in the notice of the meeting, by our Board of Directors or by a stockholder who is entitled to vote at the meeting and has complied with the advance notice procedures of our bylaws. Also, under Maryland law, business combinations between us and an interested stockholder or an affiliate of an interested stockholder, including mergers, consolidations, share exchanges or, in circumstances specified in the statute, asset transfers or issuances or reclassifications of equity securities, are prohibited for five years after the most recent date on which the interested stockholder becomes an interested stockholder. An interested stockholder includes any person who beneficially owns 10% or more of the voting power of our shares or any affiliate or associate of ours who, at any time within the two-year period prior to the date in question, was the beneficial owner of 10% or more of the voting power of our stock. A person is not an interested stockholder under the statute if our Board of Directors approved in advance the transaction by which he otherwise would have become an interested stockholder. However, in approving a transaction, our Board of Directors may provide that its approval is subject to compliance, at or after the time of approval, with any terms and conditions determined by our board. After the five-year prohibition, any business combination between us and an interested stockholder generally must be recommended by our Board of Directors and approved by two supermajority votes or our common stockholders must receive a minimum price, as defined under Maryland law, for their shares. The statute permits various exemptions from its provisions, including business combinations that are exempted by our Board of Directors prior to the time that the interested stockholder becomes an interested stockholder.
 
In addition, we have adopted a stockholder rights agreement which provides that in the event of an acquisition of or tender offer for 15% of our outstanding common stock, our stockholders, other than the acquiror, shall be granted rights to purchase our common stock at a certain price. The stockholder rights agreement could make it more difficult for a third-party to acquire our common stock without the approval of our Board of Directors.
 
These and other provisions of Maryland law or our charter and bylaws could have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a transaction or a change in control that might involve a premium price for our common stock or otherwise be considered favorably by our investors.
 
Risks relating to the notes
 
We and the guarantors have significant indebtedness and may incur substantial additional indebtedness in the future, including indebtedness ranking equal to the notes and the guarantees.
 
At October 3, 2009, after giving effect to the Transactions and the application of the estimated net proceeds therefrom as set forth under “Use of proceeds,” we would have had total consolidated indebtedness of $2,087.7 million, (including $845.0 million of secured indebtedness and guarantees under our New Senior Secured Credit Facilities) and we would have been able to incur an additional $305.0 million of secured indebtedness under our New Senior Secured Credit Facilities. For further discussion, see “Description of other indebtedness—New senior secured credit facilities.”


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Subject to the restrictions in the indenture governing the notes and in other instruments governing our other outstanding indebtedness (including our New Senior Secured Credit Facilities), we and our subsidiaries may incur substantial additional indebtedness (including secured indebtedness) in the future. Although the indenture governing the notes and the instruments governing certain of our other outstanding indebtedness contain restrictions on the incurrence of additional indebtedness, these restrictions are subject to waiver and a number of significant qualifications and exceptions, and indebtedness incurred in compliance with these restrictions could be substantial.
 
If we or any subsidiary guarantor incurs any additional indebtedness that ranks equally with the notes (or with the guarantee thereof), including trade payables, the holders of that indebtedness will be entitled to share ratably with noteholders in any proceeds distributed in connection with any insolvency, liquidation, reorganization, dissolution or other winding-up of us or such subsidiary guarantor. This may have the effect of reducing the amount of proceeds paid to noteholders in connection with such a distribution and we may not be able to meet some or all of our debt obligations, including repayment of notes.
 
Any increase in our level of indebtedness will have several important effects on our future operations, including, without limitation:
 
•  we will have additional cash requirements in order to support the payment of interest on our outstanding indebtedness;
 
•  increases in our outstanding indebtedness and leverage will increase our vulnerability to adverse changes in general economic and industry conditions, as well as to competitive pressure; and
 
•  depending on the levels of our outstanding indebtedness, our ability to obtain additional financing for working capital, capital expenditures, general corporate and other purposes may be limited.
 
Our debt instruments have restrictive covenants that could limit our financial flexibility.
 
The indentures related to the notes offered hereby and to our existing Floating Rate Senior Notes and the Existing Credit Facilities and the New Senior Secured Credit Facilities contain or will contain restrictive covenants that limit our ability to engage in activities that may be in our long-term best interests. Our ability to borrow under these credit facilities is subject to compliance with certain financial covenants, including total leverage and interest coverage ratios. The Existing Credit Facilities and the New Senior Secured Credit Facilities also include or will include other restrictions that, among other things, limit our ability to incur certain additional indebtedness and certain types of liens, to effect mergers and sales or transfer of assets and to pay cash dividends.
 
The indenture governing the notes will contain covenants that, among other things, limit our ability and the ability of our restricted subsidiaries to:
 
•  incur additional debt;
 
•  make certain investments or pay dividends or distributions on our capital stock or purchase, redeem or retire capital stock;
 
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•  restrict dividends or other payments by restricted subsidiaries;
 
•  create liens that secure debt;
 
•  enter into transactions with affiliates; and
 
•  merge or consolidate with another company.
 
These restrictions could, among other things, limit our ability to finance our future operations or capital needs, make acquisitions or pursue available business opportunities.
 
These covenants are subject to a number of important limitations and exceptions, including a provision allowing us to make restricted payments in an amount calculated pursuant to a formula based upon 50% of our adjusted consolidated net income (as defined in the indenture) since October 1, 2006. As of October 3, 2009, after giving effect to the Transactions, we would have had approximately $391.9 million of available restricted payment capacity pursuant to that provision, in addition to the restricted payment capacity available under other exceptions. See “Description of notes—Covenants.”
 
In addition, most of the covenants will be suspended if both Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services and Moody’s Investors Service, Inc., assign the notes an investment grade rating and no default exists with respect to the notes.
 
See “Description of other indebtedness” and “Description of notes.” Our failure to comply with these covenants could result in an event of default that, if not cured or waived, could result in the acceleration of all of our indebtedness. We do not have sufficient working capital to satisfy our debt obligations in the event of an acceleration of all or a significant portion of our outstanding indebtedness.
 
We may not be able to generate sufficient cash to service all of our indebtedness, including the notes, and may be forced to take other actions to satisfy our obligations under our indebtedness, which may not be successful.
 
Our ability to make scheduled payments on or to refinance our debt obligations depends on our financial condition and operating performance, which is subject to prevailing economic and competitive conditions and to certain financial, business and other factors beyond our control. We may not be able to maintain a level of cash flows from operating activities sufficient to permit us to pay the principal, premium, if any, and interest on our indebtedness, including the notes.
 
If our cash flows and capital resources are insufficient to fund our debt service obligations, we may be forced to reduce or delay planned investments and capital expenditures, or to sell assets, seek additional financing in the debt or equity markets or restructure or refinance our indebtedness, including the notes. Our ability to restructure or refinance our debt will depend on the condition of the capital markets and our financial condition at such time. Any refinancing of our debt could be at higher interest rates and may require us to comply with more onerous covenants, which could further restrict our business operations. The terms of existing or future debt instruments and the indenture governing the notes may restrict us from adopting some of these alternatives. In addition, any failure to make payments of interest and principal on our outstanding indebtedness on a timely basis would likely result in a reduction of our credit rating, which could harm our ability to incur additional indebtedness. We could also face substantial liquidity problems and might be required to dispose of material assets or operations


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to meet our debt service and other obligations. Our credit facilities and the indentures governing the notes offered hereby and our existing Floating Rate Senior Notes restrict our ability to dispose of assets and use the proceeds from the disposition. We may not be able to consummate those dispositions or to obtain the proceeds that we could have realized from them and any proceeds may not be adequate to meet any debt service obligations then due. These alternative measures may not be successful and may not permit us to meet our debt service obligations.
 
An increase in interest rates would increase the cost of servicing our debt and could reduce our profitability.
 
Our debt under our New Senior Secured Credit Facilities will bear and our existing Floating Rate Senior Notes bear interest at variable rates. We may also incur indebtedness with variable interest rates in the future. As a result, an increase in market interest rates could increase the cost of servicing our debt and could materially reduce our profitability and cash flows.
 
Your right to receive payments on the notes is effectively subordinated to the right of lenders who have a security interest in our assets to the extent of the value of those assets.
 
Our obligations under the notes and the guarantors’ obligations under their guarantees of the notes will be unsecured, but our obligations under our New Senior Secured Credit Facilities and each guarantor’s obligations under its guarantee of our New Senior Secured Credit Facilities will be secured by a security interest in substantially all of our assets and the ownership interests of all of our subsidiaries. If we are declared bankrupt or insolvent, or if we default under our New Senior Secured Credit Facilities the funds borrowed thereunder, together with accrued interest, could become immediately due and payable. If we were unable to repay such indebtedness, the lenders under our New Senior Secured Credit Facilities could foreclose on the pledged assets to the exclusion of holders of the notes, even if an event of default exists under the indenture governing the notes at such time. Furthermore, if the lenders foreclose and sell the pledged equity interests in any guarantor in a transaction permitted under the terms of the indenture governing the notes, then such guarantor will be released from its guarantee of the notes automatically and immediately upon such sale. In any such event, because the notes are not secured by any of such assets or by the equity interests in any such guarantor, it is possible that there would be no assets from which your claims could be satisfied or, if any assets existed, they might be insufficient to satisfy your claims in full.
 
As of October 3, 2009, after giving effect to the Transactions and the application of the estimated net proceeds therefrom as set forth under “Use of proceeds,” we would have had total consolidated indebtedness of $2,087.7 million, consisting of $845.0 million of secured indebtedness outstanding under the New Senior Secured Credit Facilities, $500.0 million of the notes offered hereby, $493.7 million of the Floating Rate Senior Notes and $249.0 million outstanding under our Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility. The subsidiary guarantors would have guaranteed total indebtedness of $1,838.7 million, consisting of $845.0 million of secured guarantees under our New Senior Secured Credit Facilities $500.0 million of guarantees of the notes offered hereby and $493.7 million of guarantees of the Floating Rate Senior Notes, excluding intercompany indebtedness, and we would have been able to incur an additional $305.0 million of secured indebtedness under our New Senior Secured Credit Facilities. For further discussion, see “Description of other indebtedness.”


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Our ability to repay our debt, including the notes, is affected by the cash flow generated by our subsidiaries.
 
Our subsidiaries own a portion of our assets and conduct a portion of our operations. Accordingly, repayment of our indebtedness, including the notes, will be dependent on the generation of cash flow by our subsidiaries and their ability to make such cash available to us, by dividend, debt repayment or otherwise. Substantially all of our existing domestic subsidiaries on the date of completion of this offering will guarantee our obligations under the notes. Unless they guarantee the notes, any of our future subsidiaries will not have any obligation to pay amounts due on the notes or to make funds available for that purpose. Our subsidiaries may not be able to, or may not be permitted to, make distributions to enable us to make payments in respect of our indebtedness, including the notes. Each subsidiary is a distinct legal entity and, under certain circumstances, legal and contractual restrictions may limit our ability to obtain cash from our subsidiaries. While the indenture governing the notes limits the ability of our subsidiaries to incur consensual encumbrances or restrictions on their ability to pay dividends or make other intercompany payments to us, these limitations are subject to waiver and certain qualifications and exceptions. In the event that we do not receive distributions from our subsidiaries, we may be unable to make required principal, premium, if any, and interest payments on our indebtedness, including the notes. If we are unable to obtain sufficient funds from our subsidiaries, we may have to undertake alternative financing plans, such as refinancing or restructuring our debt, selling assets, reducing or delaying capital investments or seeking to raise additional capital. We cannot guarantee that such alternative financing would be possible or successful. Our inability to generate sufficient cash flow to satisfy our debt obligations, or to refinance our obligations on commercially reasonable terms would have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flow as well as on our ability to pay interest or principal on the notes when due, or redeem the notes upon a change of control.
 
Claims of noteholders will be structurally subordinated to claims of creditors of any of our future subsidiaries that do not guarantee the notes.
 
We conduct a portion of our operations through our subsidiaries. Subject to certain limitations, the indenture governing the notes permits us to form or acquire certain subsidiaries that are not guarantors of the notes and to permit such non-guarantor subsidiaries to acquire assets and incur indebtedness, and noteholders would not have any claim as a creditor against any of our non-guarantor subsidiaries to the assets and earnings of those subsidiaries. The claims of the creditors of those subsidiaries, including their trade creditors, banks and other lenders, would have priority over any of our claims or those of our other subsidiaries as equity holders of the non-guarantor subsidiaries. Consequently, in any insolvency, liquidation, reorganization, dissolution or other winding-up of any of the non-guarantor subsidiaries, creditors of those subsidiaries would be paid before any amounts would be distributed to us or to any of the guarantors as equity, and thus be available to satisfy our obligations under the notes and other claims against us or the guarantors.
 
If we default on our obligations to pay our other indebtedness, we may not be able to make payments on the notes.
 
Any default under the agreements governing our indebtedness, including a default under our New Senior Secured Credit Facilities and the indentures governing our existing Floating Rate Senior Notes and the notes offered hereby, that is not waived, and the remedies sought by the


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holders of such indebtedness, could prevent us from paying principal, premium, if any, and interest on the notes and substantially decrease the market value of the notes. If we are unable to generate sufficient cash flow and are otherwise unable to obtain funds necessary to meet required payments of principal, premium, if any, and interest on our indebtedness, or if we otherwise fail to comply with the various covenants in the instruments governing our indebtedness, including covenants in our New Senior Secured Credit Facilities and the indentures governing the notes offered hereby and our existing Floating Rate Senior Notes, we could be in default under the terms of the agreements governing such indebtedness, including our New Senior Secured Credit Facilities and the indentures governing the notes offered hereby and our existing Floating Rate Senior Notes. In the event of such default:
 
•  the holders of such indebtedness could elect to declare all the funds borrowed thereunder to be due and payable, together with accrued and unpaid interest;
 
•  the lenders under our New Senior Secured Credit Facilities could elect to terminate their commitments thereunder, cease making further loans and institute foreclosure proceedings against our assets; and
 
•  we could be forced into bankruptcy or liquidation.
 
If our operating performance declines, we may in the future need to obtain waivers under our New Senior Secured Credit Facilities to avoid being in default. If we breach our covenants under our New Senior Secured Credit Facilities and seek a waiver, we may not be able to obtain a waiver from the required lenders. If this occurs, we would be in default under our New Senior Secured Credit Facilities, the lenders could exercise their rights, as described above, and we could be forced into bankruptcy or liquidation.
 
We may not be able to repurchase the notes upon a change of control.
 
Upon the occurrence of specific kinds of change of control events, we may be required to offer to repurchase all outstanding notes offered hereby and our existing Floating Rate Senior Notes at 101% of their principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any. The source of funds for any such purchase of such notes will be our available cash or cash generated from the operations of our subsidiaries or other sources, including borrowings, sales of assets or sales of equity or debt securities. We may not be able to repurchase such notes upon a change of control because we may not have sufficient financial resources to purchase all of the notes that are tendered upon a change of control. Our failure to repurchase the notes offered hereby and our existing Floating Rate Senior Notes upon a change of control could cause a default under the indentures governing the notes offered hereby and our existing Floating Rate Senior Notes and could lead to a cross default under our New Senior Secured Credit Facilities.
 
The change of control put right might not be enforceable.
 
In a recent decision, the Chancery Court of Delaware raised the possibility that a change of control put right occurring as a result of a failure to have “continuing directors” comprising a majority of a board of directors might be unenforceable on public policy grounds.


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Federal bankruptcy and state fraudulent transfer laws and other limitations may preclude the recovery of payments under the guarantees.
 
Initially, substantially all of our domestic subsidiaries will guarantee the notes. Federal bankruptcy and state fraudulent transfer laws permit a court, if it makes certain findings, to avoid all or a portion of the obligations of the guarantors pursuant to their guarantees of the notes, or to subordinate any such guarantor’s obligations under such guarantee to claims of its other creditors, reducing or eliminating the noteholders’ ability to recover under such guarantees. Although laws differ among these jurisdictions, in general, under applicable fraudulent transfer or conveyance laws, a guarantee could be voided as a fraudulent transfer or conveyance if (1) the guarantee was incurred with the intent of hindering, delaying or defrauding creditors; or (2) the guarantor received less than reasonably equivalent value or fair consideration in return for incurring the guarantee and, in the case of (2) only, one of the following is also true:
 
•  the guarantor was insolvent or rendered insolvent by reason of the incurrence of the guarantee or subsequently become insolvent for other reasons;
 
•  the incurrence of the guarantee left the guarantor with an unreasonably small amount of capital to carry on the business; or
 
•  the guarantor intended to, or believed that it would, incur debts beyond its ability to pay such debts as they mature.
 
A court would likely find that a guarantor did not receive reasonably equivalent value or fair consideration for its guarantee if the guarantor did not substantially benefit directly or indirectly from the issuance of the notes. If a court were to void a guarantee, you would no longer have a claim against the guarantor. Sufficient funds to repay the notes may not be available from other sources, including the remaining guarantors, if any. In addition, the court might direct you to repay any amounts that you already received from the guarantor.
 
The measures of insolvency for purposes of fraudulent transfer laws vary depending upon the governing law. Generally, a guarantor would be considered insolvent if:
 
•  the sum of its debts, including contingent liabilities, was greater than the fair saleable value of all its assets;
 
•  the present fair saleable value of its assets was less than the amount that would be required to pay its probable liability on its existing debts, including contingent liabilities, as they became absolute and mature; or
 
•  it could not pay its debts as they became due.
 
Each guarantee will contain a provision intended to limit the guarantor’s liability to the maximum amount that it could incur without causing the incurrence of obligations under its guarantee to be a fraudulent transfer. This provision may not be effective to protect the guarantees from being voided under fraudulent transfer law.
 
An active trading market for the notes may not develop.
 
There is no existing market for the notes. The notes will not be listed on any securities exchange. There can be no assurance that a trading market for the notes will ever develop or will be maintained. Further, there can be no assurance as to the liquidity of any market that may develop for the notes, your ability to sell your notes or the price at which you will be able to sell your


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notes. Future trading prices of the notes will depend on many factors, including prevailing interest rates, our financial condition and results of operations, the then-current ratings assigned to the notes and the market for similar securities. Any trading market that develops would be affected by many factors independent of and in addition to the foregoing, including the:
 
•  time remaining to the maturity of the notes;
•  outstanding amount of the notes;
•  terms related to optional redemption of the notes; and
•  level, direction and volatility of market interest rates generally.
 
If an active market does not develop or is not maintained, the market price and liquidity of the notes may be adversely affected.
 
The notes may be issued with OID for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
 
The notes may be issued with OID for U.S. federal income tax purposes. If this is the case and if you are a U.S. holder, you generally will be required to accrue OID on a current basis as ordinary income and pay tax accordingly, even before you receive cash attributable to that income and regardless of your method of tax accounting. For further discussion of the computation and reporting of OID, see “U.S. federal income tax consequences—United States holders—Original issue discount.”
 
If a bankruptcy petition were filed by or against us, holders of the notes may receive a lesser amount for their claim than they would have been entitled to receive under the indenture governing the notes.
 
If a bankruptcy petition were filed by or against us under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code after the issuance of the notes, the claim by any holder of the notes for the principal amount of the notes may be limited to an amount equal to the sum of:
 
•  the original issue price for the notes; and
 
•  that portion of any OID that does not constitute “unmatured interest” for purposes of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code.
 
Any OID that was not amortized as of the date of the bankruptcy filing would constitute unmatured interest. Accordingly, holders of the notes under these circumstances may receive a lesser amount than they would be entitled to receive under the terms of the indenture governing the notes, even if sufficient funds are available.
 
Many of the covenants contained in the indenture will be suspended if the notes are rated investment grade by both of Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services and Moody’s Investors Service, Inc.
 
Many of the covenants in the indenture governing the notes will be suspended if the notes are rated investment grade by both of Standard & Poor’s Ratings Service and Moody’s Investors Service, Inc., provided at such time no default under the indenture has occurred and is continuing. These covenants restrict, among other things, our ability to pay dividends, to incur debt and to enter into certain other transactions. There can be no assurance that the notes will ever be rated investment grade, or that if they are rated investment grade, that the notes will maintain such ratings. However, suspension of these covenants would allow us to engage in certain transactions that would not be permitted while these covenants were in force. Please see “Description of notes—Covenants—Changes in covenants when notes rated investment grade.”


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Ratio of earnings to fixed charges
 
                                                         
 
    Nine months
                   
    ended     Years ended     Six months ended     Years ended  
    October 3,
    January 3,
    December 29,
    December 30,
    July 1,
    July 2,
    July 3,
 
    2009     2009     2007     2006     2006     2005     2004  
 
 
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges(1)
    1.35       1.91       1.83       2.24       10.37       7.64       8.71  
 
 
 
(1) The Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges should be read in conjunction with our financial statements and Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement. The interest expense included in the fixed charges calculation above excludes interest expense relating to the Company’s uncertain tax positions. The percentage of rent included in the calculation is a reasonable approximation of the interest factor.
 
Use of proceeds
 
We expect the net proceeds of this offering to be approximately $485.2 million, after deducting underwriting discounts and estimated expenses payable by us (assuming no discount relating to the notes).
 
We intend to use the net proceeds from this offering, together with the proceeds from the borrowings under our New Senior Secured Credit Facilities to refinance the borrowings under our existing Senior Secured Credit Facilities, to repay the borrowings under our existing Second Lien Credit Facility and to pay fees and expenses relating to the Transactions. Our Second Lien Credit Facility will be terminated concurrently with the closing of this offering. In connection with the Transactions, we expect to recognize cash and non-cash expenses relating to the unamortized portion of the deferred financing fees relating to our Existing Credit Facilities and expenses related to this offering and our New Senior Credit Facilities. We also expect to recognize an expense of approximately $30.0 million relating to the termination of a portion of the hedging arrangements relating to our Existing Credit Facilities. The expense related to the termination of the hedging arrangements could change based on changes in interest rates and overall market conditions.
 
The revolving credit facility under our Senior Secured Credit Facilities matures on September 5, 2011 and the term A loan facility and the term B loan facility under our Senior Secured Credit Facilities mature on September 5, 2012 and September 5, 2013, respectively. The Second Lien Credit Facility matures on March 5, 2014.
 
As of October 3, 2009, borrowings under the revolving credit facility of our Senior Secured Credit Facilities would bear interest at 6.75% and borrowings under the term A loan facility and the term B loan facility of our Senior Secured Credit Facilities bore interest at 5.00% and 5.25%, respectively. Borrowings under the Second Lien Credit Facility bore interest at 4.25%. See “Description of other indebtedness—Senior Secured Credit Facilities” and “Description of other indebtedness—Second Lien Credit Facility,” for additional information.
 
We used borrowings under our Existing Credit Facilities for payments to Sara Lee in connection with our spin off and for general corporate purposes.


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Capitalization
 
The following table sets forth our cash and cash equivalents and capitalization on a historical basis as of October 3, 2009, on an actual basis and as adjusted to give effect to the Transactions. This table should be read in conjunction with “Use of proceeds,” “Selected historical financial data,” “Management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations,” and our financial statements and corresponding notes incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement.
 
                 
 
    October 3, 2009  
(in thousands)   Actual     As adjusted(6)  
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 38,617     $ 38,617  
     
     
Debt, including current and long-term
Senior Secured Credit Facilities:(1)
               
Term A loan facility
    139,000        
Term B loan facility
    711,000        
Revolving credit facility(2)
           
Second Lien Credit Facility(3)
    450,000        
New Senior Secured Credit Facilities:(4)
               
Term loan facility
          750,000  
Revolving credit facility
          95,000  
Notes offered hereby(5)
          500,000  
Floating Rate Senior Notes
    493,680       493,680  
Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility
    249,043       249,043  
     
     
Total debt
  $ 2,042,723     $ 2,087,723  
     
     
Total stockholders’ equity
  $ 293,184     $ 293,184  
     
     
Total capitalization
  $ 2,335,907     $ 2,380,907  
 
 
 
(1) The Senior Secured Credit Facilities consist of a term loan A facility, a term loan B facility and a revolving credit facility and provide for aggregate borrowings of up to $2.15 billion. As of October 3, 2009, we had $139.0 million outstanding under the term loan A facility, $711.0 million outstanding under the term loan B facility and no amounts outstanding under the revolving credit facility. See “Description of other indebtedness” for additional information.
 
(2) As of November 27, 2009, we had approximately $30.0 million outstanding under the revolving credit facility, excluding approximately $26.0 million in letters of credit outstanding.
 
(3) The Second Lien Credit Facility provides for aggregate borrowings of $450.0 million by our wholly-owned subsidiary, HBI Branded Apparel Limited, Inc. As of October 3, 2009, we had $450.0 million outstanding under the Second Lien Credit Facility. See “Description of other indebtedness” for additional information.
 
(4) The New Senior Secured Credit Facilities will consist of a term loan facility and a revolving credit facility, provide for aggregate borrowings of up to $1.15 billion, subject to certain conditions, and will have a six-year maturity for the term loan facility and a four-year maturity for the revolving credit facility. See “Description of other indebtedness—New senior secured credit facilities.”
 
(5) Represents the aggregate principal amount of the notes. The fees and expenses and any discount related to this offering will accrete over the life of the notes and will be amortized into interest expense.
 
(6) Actual amounts may vary from estimated amounts depending on several factors, including the actual size of this offering, any discounts to the stated principal amount of the notes in connection with this offering, fluctuations in cash on hand between October 3, 2009 and the actual closing date of the Transactions, payments of accrued interest subsequent to October 3, 2009 and differences from our estimated fees and expenses. Any changes in these amounts may affect the amount of cash required for the Transactions.


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Selected historical financial data
 
The following table presents our selected historical financial data. The statement of income data for the years ended January 3, 2009 and December 29, 2007, the six-month period ended December 30, 2006 and the years ended July 1, 2006, July 2, 2005 and July 3, 2004, and the balance sheet data as of January 3, 2009, December 29, 2007, December 30, 2006, July 1, 2006, July 2, 2005 and July 3, 2004 have been derived from our audited Consolidated Financial Statements. The statement of income data for the nine months ended October 3, 2009 and September 27, 2008 and the balance sheet data as of October 3, 2009 and September 27, 2008 have been derived from our unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and, in our opinion, have been prepared on a basis consistent with our audited financial statements. The results for any interim period are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for a full fiscal year.
 
In October 2006, our Board of Directors approved a change in our fiscal year end from the Saturday closest to June 30 to the Saturday closest to December 31. As a result of this change, our financial statements include presentation of the transition period beginning on July 2, 2006 and ending on December 30, 2006.
 
Our historical financial data for periods prior to our spin off from Sara Lee on September 5, 2006 is not necessarily indicative of our future performance or what our financial position and results of operations would have been if we had operated as a separate, stand alone entity during all of the periods shown. The data should be read in conjunction with our historical financial statements and “Management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations” included elsewhere or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement.
 
                                                                 
 
                            Six months
                   
    Nine months ended     Years ended     ended
    Years ended  
    October 3,
    September 27,
    January 3,
    December 29,
    December 30,
    July 1,
    July 2,
    July 3,
 
(in thousands)   2009     2008     2009     2007     2006     2006     2005     2004  
 
 
Statement of Income Data:
                                                               
Net sales
  $ 2,902,536     $ 3,213,653     $ 4,248,770     $ 4,474,537     $ 2,250,473     $ 4,472,832     $ 4,683,683     $ 4,632,741  
Cost of sales
    1,960,589       2,145,949       2,871,420       3,033,627       1,530,119       2,987,500       3,223,571       3,092,026  
     
     
Gross profit
    941,947       1,067,704       1,377,350       1,440,910       720,354       1,485,332       1,460,112       1,540,715  
Selling, general and administrative expenses
    702,204       776,267       1,009,607       1,040,754       547,469       1,051,833       1,053,654       1,087,964  
Gain on curtailment of postretirement benefits
                      (32,144 )     (28,467 )                  
Restructuring
    46,319       32,355       50,263       43,731       11,278       (101 )     46,978       27,466  
     
     
Operating profit
    193,424       259,082       317,480       388,569       190,074       433,600       359,480       425,285  
Other (income) expense
    6,537             (634 )     5,235       7,401                    
Interest expense, net
    124,548       115,282       155,077       199,208       70,753       17,280       13,964       24,413  
     
     
Income before income tax expense (benefit)
    62,339       143,800       163,037       184,126       111,920       416,320       345,516       400,872  
Income tax expense (benefit)
    9,974       34,512       35,868       57,999       37,781       93,827       127,007       (48,680 )
 
 
Net income
  $ 52,365     $ 109,288     $ 127,169     $ 126,127     $ 74,139     $ 322,493     $ 218,509     $ 449,552  
 
 
 


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    October 3,
    September 27,
    January 3,
    December 29,
    December 30,
    July 1,
    July 2,
    July 3,
 
(in thousands)   2009     2008     2009     2007     2006     2006     2005     2004  
 
 
Balance Sheet Data:
                                                               
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 38,617     $ 86,212     $ 67,342     $ 174,236     $ 155,973     $ 298,252     $ 1,080,799     $ 674,154  
Total assets
    3,491,913       3,627,638       3,534,049       3,439,483       3,435,620       4,903,886       4,257,307       4,402,758  
Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility
    249,043             45,640             NA       NA       NA       NA  
Noncurrent liabilities:
                                                               
Long-term debt
    1,793,680       2,315,250       2,130,907       2,315,250       2,484,000                    
Other noncurrent liabilities
    481,425       159,870       469,703       146,347       271,168       49,987       53,559       35,934  
Total noncurrent liabilities
    2,275,105       2,475,120       2,600,610       2,461,597       2,755,168       49,987       53,559       35,934  
Total stockholders’ or parent companies’ equity
    293,184       380,934       185,155       288,904       69,271       3,229,134       2,602,362       2,797,370  
 
 

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Management’s discussion and analysis of
financial condition and results of operations
 
This management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations, or MD&A, contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Please see “Cautionary statement regarding forward-looking statements” and “Risk factors” in this prospectus supplement for a discussion of the uncertainties, risks and assumptions associated with these statements. This discussion should be read in conjunction with our historical financial statements and related notes thereto and the other disclosures contained elsewhere in this prospectus supplement. On October 26, 2006, our Board of Directors approved a change in our fiscal year end from the Saturday closest to June 30 to the Saturday closest to December 31. We refer to the resulting transition period from July 2, 2006 to December 30, 2006 in this prospectus supplement as the six months ended December 30, 2006. The results of operations for the periods reflected herein are not necessarily indicative of results that may be expected for future periods, and our actual results may differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including but not limited to those listed under “Risk factors” in this prospectus supplement and included elsewhere in this prospectus supplement.
 
MD&A is a supplement to our financial statements and notes thereto incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement, and is provided to enhance your understanding of our results of operations and financial condition. Our MD&A is organized as follows:
 
•  Overview. This section provides a general description of our company and operating segments, business and industry trends, our key business strategies, our consolidation and globalization strategy, and background information on other matters discussed in this MD&A.
 
•  Components of net sales and expense. This section provides an overview of the components of our net sales and expense that are key to an understanding of our results of operations.
 
•  Highlights from the year ended January 3, 2009. This section discusses some of the highlights of our performance and activities during 2008.
 
•  Consolidated results of operations and operating results by business segment. These sections provide our analysis and outlook for the significant line items on our statements of income, as well as other information that we deem meaningful to an understanding of our results of operations on both a consolidated basis and a business segment basis.
 
•  Liquidity and capital resources. This section provides an analysis of trends and uncertainties affecting liquidity, cash requirements for our business, sources and uses of our cash and our financing arrangements.
 
•  Critical accounting policies and estimates. This section discusses the accounting policies that we consider important to the evaluation and reporting of our financial condition and results of operations, and whose application requires significant judgments or a complex estimation process.
 
•  Recently issued accounting pronouncements. This section provides a summary of the most recent authoritative accounting pronouncements and guidance that we will be required to adopt in a future period.


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Overview
 
Our company
 
We are a consumer goods company with a portfolio of leading apparel brands, including Hanes, Champion, C9 by Champion, Playtex, Bali, L’eggs, Just My Size, barely there, Wonderbra, Stedman, Outer Banks, Zorba, Rinbros and Duofold. We design, manufacture, source and sell a broad range of apparel essentials such as t-shirts, bras, panties, men’s underwear, kids’ underwear, casualwear, activewear, socks and hosiery.
 
According to NPD, our brands hold either the number one or number two U.S. market position by sales value in most product categories in which we compete, for the 12 month period ended November 30, 2008. In 2008, Hanes was number one for the fifth consecutive year on the Women’s Wear Daily “Top 100 Brands Survey” for apparel and accessory brands that women know best and was number one for the fifth consecutive year as the most preferred men’s, women’s and children’s apparel brand of consumers in Retailing Today magazine’s “Top Brands Study.” Additionally, the company had five of the top ten intimate apparel brands preferred by consumers in the Retailing Today study—Hanes, Playtex, Bali, Just My Size and L’eggs.
 
Our distribution channels include direct-to-consumer sales at our outlet stores, national chains and department stores and warehouse clubs, mass-merchandise outlets and international sales. For the year ended January 3, 2009, approximately 44% of our net sales were to mass merchants, 18% were to national chains and department stores, 9% were direct to consumers, 11% were in our International segment and 18% were to other retail channels such as embellishers, specialty retailers, warehouse clubs and sporting goods stores.
 
Our segments
 
Our operations are managed in five operating segments, each of which is a reportable segment for financial reporting purposes: Innerwear, Outerwear, Hosiery, International and Other. These segments are organized principally by product category and geographic location. Management of each segment is responsible for the operations of these segments’ businesses but share a common supply chain and media and marketing platforms.
 
•  Innerwear. The Innerwear segment focuses on core apparel essentials, and consists of products such as women’s intimate apparel, men’s underwear, kids’ underwear, socks and thermals, marketed under well-known brands that are trusted by consumers. We are an intimate apparel category leader in the United States with our Hanes, Playtex, Bali, barely there, Just My Size and Wonderbra brands. We are also a leading manufacturer and marketer of men’s underwear and kids’ underwear under the Hanes, Champion, C9 by Champion and Polo Ralph Lauren brand names. Our direct-to-consumer retail operations are included within the Innerwear segment. The retail operations include our value-based (“outlet”) stores, internet operations and catalogs which sell products from our portfolio of leading brands. As of October 3, 2009 and January 3, 2009, we had 228 and 213 outlet stores, respectively. Net sales for the nine months ended October 3, 2009 from our Innerwear segment were $1.71 billion, representing approximately 58% of total segment net sales. Net sales for the year ended January 3, 2009 from our Innerwear segment were $2.4 billion, representing approximately 56% of total segment net sales.
 
•  Outerwear. We are a leader in the casualwear and activewear markets through our Hanes, Champion and Just My Size brands, where we offer products such as t-shirts and fleece. Our


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casualwear lines offer a range of quality, comfortable clothing for men, women and children marketed under the Hanes and Just My Size brands. The Just My Size brand offers casual apparel designed exclusively to meet the needs of plus-size women. In addition to activewear for men and women, Champion provides uniforms for athletic programs and includes an apparel program, C9 by Champion, at Target stores. We also license our Champion name for collegiate apparel and footwear. We also supply our t-shirts, sportshirts and fleece products, including brands such as Hanes, Champion, Outer Banks and Hanes Beefy-T, to customers, primarily wholesalers, who then resell to screen printers and embellishers. Net sales for the nine months ended October 3, 2009 from our Outerwear segment were $776 million, representing approximately 26% of total segment net sales. Net sales for the year ended January 3, 2009 from our Outerwear segment were $1.2 billion, representing approximately 28% of total segment net sales.
 
•  Hosiery. We are the leading marketer of women’s sheer hosiery in the United States. We compete in the hosiery market by striving to offer superior values and executing integrated marketing activities, as well as focusing on the style of our hosiery products. We market hosiery products under our L’eggs, Hanes and Just My Size brands. Net sales for the nine months ended October 3, 2009 from our Hosiery segment were $139 million, representing approximately 5% of total segment net sales. Net sales for the year ended January 3, 2009 from our Hosiery segment were $228 million, representing approximately 5% of total segment net sales. We expect the trend of declining hosiery sales to continue consistent with the overall decline in the industry and with shifts in consumer preferences.
 
•  International. International includes products that span across the Innerwear, Outerwear and Hosiery reportable segments and are primarily marketed under the Hanes, Wonderbra, Champion, Stedman, Playtex, Zorba, Rinbros, Kendall, Sol y Oro, Ritmo and Bali brands. Net sales for the nine months ended October 3, 2009 from our International segment were $295 million, representing approximately 10% of total segment net sales. Net sales for the year ended January 3, 2009 from our International segment were $460 million, representing approximately 11% of total segment net sales and included sales in Latin America, Asia, Canada and Europe. Canada, Europe, Japan and Mexico are our largest international markets, and we also have sales offices in India and China.
 
•  Other. Our Other segment primarily consists of sales of yarn to third parties in the United States and Latin America that maintain asset utilization at certain manufacturing facilities and are intended to generate approximate break even margins. Net sales for the nine months ended October 3, 2009 in our Other segment were $12 million, representing less than 1% of total segment net sales. Net sales for the year ended January 3, 2009 in our Other segment were $22 million, representing less than 1% of total segment net sales. Net sales from our Other segment are expected to continue to decline and to ultimately become insignificant to us as we complete the implementation of our consolidation and globalization efforts. In September 2009, we announced that we will cease making our own yarn and that we will source all of our yarn requirements from large-scale yarn suppliers, which is expected to further reduce net sales of our Other segment.
 
Business and industry trends
 
We are operating in an uncertain and volatile economic environment, which could have unanticipated adverse effects on our business. The current retail environment has been impacted by recent volatility in the financial markets, including declines in stock prices, and by uncertain


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economic conditions. Increases in food and fuel prices, changes in the credit and housing markets leading to the current financial and credit crisis, actual and potential job losses among many sectors of the economy, significant declines in the stock market resulting in large losses to consumer retirement and investment accounts, and uncertainty regarding future federal tax and economic policies have all added to declines in consumer confidence and curtailed retail spending.
 
The apparel essentials market is highly competitive and evolving rapidly. Competition is generally based upon price, brand name recognition, product quality, selection, service and purchasing convenience. The majority of our core styles continue from year to year, with variations only in color, fabric or design details. Some products, however, such as intimate apparel, activewear and sheer hosiery, do have an emphasis on style and innovation. Our businesses face competition today from other large corporations and foreign manufacturers, as well as smaller companies, department stores, specialty stores and other retailers that market and sell apparel essentials products under private labels that compete directly with our brands.
 
Our top ten customers accounted for 65% of our net sales and our top customer, Wal-Mart, accounted for over $1.1 billion of our sales for the year ended January 3, 2009. Our largest customers in the year ended January 3, 2009 were Wal-Mart, Target and Kohl’s, which accounted for 27%, 16% and 6% of total sales, respectively. The growth in retailers can create pricing pressures as our customers grow larger and seek to have greater concessions in their purchase of our products, while they can be increasingly demanding that we provide them with some of our products on an exclusive basis. To counteract these effects, it has become increasingly important to leverage our national brands through investment in our largest and strongest brands as our customers strive to maximize their performance especially in today’s challenging economic environment. In addition, during the past several years, various retailers, including some of our largest customers, have experienced significant difficulties, including restructurings, bankruptcies and liquidations, and the ability of retailers to overcome these difficulties may increase due to the recent deterioration of worldwide economic conditions.
 
Anticipating changes in and managing our operations in response to consumer preferences remains an important element of our business. In recent years, we have experienced changes in our net sales, revenues and cash flows in accordance with changes in consumer preferences and trends. For example, we expect the trend of declining hosiery sales to continue consistent with the overall decline in the industry and with shifts in consumer preferences. The Hosiery segment only comprised 5% of our net sales in the year ended January 3, 2009 however, and as a result, the decline in the Hosiery segment has not had a significant impact on our net sales, revenues or cash flows. Generally, we manage the Hosiery segment for cash, placing an emphasis on reducing our cost structure and managing cash efficiently.
 
Our key business strategies
 
Sell more, spend less and generate cash are our broad strategies to build our brands, reduce our costs and generate cash.


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Sell more
 
Through our “sell more” strategy, we seek to drive profitable growth by consistently offering consumers brands they love and trust and products with unsurpassed value. Key initiatives we are employing to implement this strategy include:
 
•  Build big, strong brands in big core categories with innovative key items. Our ability to react to changing customer needs and industry trends is key to our success. Our design, research and product development teams, in partnership with our marketing teams, drive our efforts to bring innovations to market. We seek to leverage our insights into consumer demand in the apparel essentials industry to develop new products within our existing lines and to modify our existing core products in ways that make them more appealing, addressing changing customer needs and industry trends. We also support our key brands with targeted, effective advertising and marketing campaigns.
 
•  Foster strategic partnerships with key retailers via “team selling.” We foster relationships with key retailers by applying our extensive category and product knowledge, leveraging our use of multi-functional customer management teams and developing new customer-specific programs such as C9 by Champion for Target. Our goal is to strengthen and deepen our existing strategic relationships with retailers and develop new strategic relationships.
 
•  Use Kanban concepts to have the right products available in the right quantities at the right time. Through Kanban, a multi-initiative effort that determines production quantities, and in doing so, facilitates just-in-time production and ordering systems, we seek to ensure that products are available to meet customer demands while effectively managing inventory levels.
 
Spend less
 
Through our “spend less” strategy, we seek to become an integrated organization that leverages its size and global reach to reduce costs, improve flexibility and provide a high level of service. Key initiatives we are employing to implement this strategy include:
 
•  Globalizing our supply chain by balancing across hemispheres into “economic” clusters with fewer, larger facilities. As a provider of high-volume products, we are continually seeking to improve our cost-competitiveness and operating flexibility through supply chain initiatives. Through our consolidation and globalization strategy, which is discussed in more detail below, we will continue to transition additional parts of our supply chain to lower-cost locations in Asia, Central America and the Caribbean Basin in an effort to optimize our cost structure. As part of this process, we are using Kanban concepts to optimize the way we manage demand, to increase manufacturing flexibility to better respond to demand variability and to simplify our finished goods and the raw materials we use to produce them. We expect that these changes in our supply chain will result in significant cost efficiencies and increased asset utilization.
 
•  Leverage our global purchasing and manufacturing scale. Historically, we have had a decentralized operating structure with many distinct operating units. We are in the process of consolidating purchasing, manufacturing and sourcing across all of our product categories in the United States. We believe that these initiatives will streamline our operations, improve our inventory management, reduce costs and standardize processes.


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Generate cash
 
Through our “generate cash” strategy, we seek to effectively generate and invest cash at or above our weighted average cost of capital to provide superior returns for both our equity and debt investors. Key initiatives we are employing to implement this strategy include:
 
•  Optimizing our capital structure to take advantage of our business model’s strong and consistent cash flows. Maintaining appropriate debt leverage and utilizing excess cash to, for example, pay down debt, invest in our own stock and selectively pursue strategic acquisitions are keys to building a stronger business and generating additional value for investors.
 
•  Continuing to improve turns for accounts receivables, inventory, accounts payable and fixed assets. Our ability to generate cash is enhanced through more efficient management of accounts receivables, inventory, accounts payable and fixed assets.
 
Consolidation and globalization strategy
 
We expect to continue our restructuring efforts through the end of 2009 as we continue to execute our consolidation and globalization strategy. We have closed plant locations, reduced our workforce, and relocated some of our manufacturing capacity to lower cost locations in Asia, Central America and the Caribbean Basin.
 
During the nine months of 2009, we announced that we will cease making our own yarn and that we will source all of our yarn requirements from large-scale yarn suppliers. We entered into an agreement with Parkdale America, LLC (“Parkdale America”) under which we agreed to sell or lease assets related to operations at our four yarn manufacturing facilities to Parkdale America. The transaction closed in October 2009 and resulted in Parkdale America operating three of the four facilities. We approved an action to close the fourth yarn manufacturing facility, as well as a yarn warehouse and a cotton warehouse, all located in the United States, which will result in the elimination of approximately 175 positions. We also entered into a yarn purchase agreement with Parkdale America and Parkdale Mills, LLC (together with Parkdale America, “Parkdale”). Under this agreement, which has an initial term of six years, Parkdale will produce and sell to us a substantial amount of our Western Hemisphere yarn requirements. During the first two years of the term, Parkdale will also produce and sell to us a substantial amount of the yarn requirements of our Nanjing, China textile facility.
 
We have restructured our supply chain over the past three years to create more efficient production clusters that utilize fewer, larger facilities and to balance our production capability between the Western Hemisphere and Asia. With our global supply chain restructured, we are now focused on optimizing our supply chain to further enhance efficiency, improve working capital and asset turns and reduce costs. We are focused on optimizing the working capital needs of our supply chain through several initiatives, such as supplier-managed inventory for raw materials and sourced goods ownership relationships.
 
In addition to the actions discussed above relating to our yarn operations, during the nine months ended October 3, 2009, in furtherance of our consolidation and globalization strategy, we approved actions to close four manufacturing facilities and two distribution centers in the Dominican Republic, the United States, Honduras, Puerto Rico and Canada, and eliminate an aggregate of approximately 2,925 positions in those countries and El Salvador. In addition, approximately 300 management and administrative positions were eliminated, with the majority of these positions based in the United States. We also have recognized accelerated depreciation


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with respect to owned or leased assets associated with manufacturing facilities and distribution centers which closed during 2009 or we anticipate closing in the next year as part of our consolidation and globalization strategy.
 
During the year ended January 3, 2009, in furtherance of our consolidation and globalization strategy, we approved actions to close 11 manufacturing facilities and three distribution centers and eliminate approximately 6,800 positions in Mexico, the United States, Costa Rica, Honduras and El Salvador. In addition, approximately 200 management and administrative positions were eliminated, with the majority of these positions based in the United States. We also have recognized accelerated depreciation with respect to owned or leased assets associated with manufacturing facilities and distribution centers which closed during 2008 or we anticipate closing in the next several years as part of our consolidation and globalization strategy.
 
While we believe that this strategy has had and will continue to have a beneficial impact on our operational efficiency and cost structure, we have incurred significant costs to implement these initiatives. In particular, we have recorded charges for severance and other employment-related obligations relating to workforce reductions, as well as payments in connection with lease and other contract terminations. In addition, we incurred charges for one-time write-offs of stranded raw materials and work in process inventory determined not to be salvageable or cost-effective to relocate related to the closure of manufacturing facilities. These amounts are included in the “Cost of sales,” “Restructuring” and “Selling, general and administrative expenses” lines of our statements of income.
 
Our significant supply chain capital spending and acquisition actions during 2008 include:
 
•  During the second quarter of 2008, we added three company-owned sewing plants in Southeast Asia—two in Vietnam and one in Thailand—giving us four sewing plants in Asia.
 
•  In October 2008, we acquired a 370-employee embroidery facility in Honduras. For the past eight years, these operations have produced embroidered and screen-printed apparel for us. This acquisition better positions us for long-term growth in these segments.
 
•  During the fourth quarter of 2008, we commenced production at our 500,000 square foot socks manufacturing facility in El Salvador. This facility, co-located with textile manufacturing operations that we acquired in 2007, provides a manufacturing base in Central America from which to leverage our production scale at a lower cost location.
 
•  We continued construction of a textile production plant in Nanjing, China, which is our first company-owned textile production facility in Asia. We commenced production in the fourth quarter of 2009. The Nanjing textile facility will enable us to expand and leverage our production scale in Asia as we balance our supply chain across hemispheres.
 
We have made significant progress in our multiyear goal of generating gross savings that could approach or exceed $200 million. As a result of the restructuring actions taken since our spin off from Sara Lee on September 5, 2006, our cost structure was reduced and efficiencies improved, generating savings of $62 million during the nine months ended October 3, 2009 and during the year ended January 3, 2009. In addition to the savings generated from restructuring actions, we benefited from $21 million in savings related to other cost reduction initiatives during the nine months ended October 3, 2009, and we benefited from $14 million in savings related to other cost reduction initiatives during the year ended January 3, 2009. Of the seven manufacturing facilities and distribution centers approved for closure in 2006, two were closed in 2006 and five were closed in 2007. Of the 19 manufacturing facilities and distribution centers approved


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for closure in 2007, 10 were closed in 2007 and nine were closed in 2008. Of the 14 manufacturing facilities and distribution centers approved for closure in 2008, nine were closed in 2008 and five are expected to close in 2009. For more information about our restructuring actions, see Note 5, titled “Restructuring” to our Consolidated Financial Statements for the year ended January 3, 2009 and Note 4 to our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for the period ended October 3, 2009 incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement.
 
The continued implementation of our globalization and consolidation strategy, which is designed to improve operating efficiencies and lower costs, has resulted and is likely to continue to result in significant costs in the short-term and generate savings as well as higher inventory levels for the next 12 to 15 months. As further plans are developed and approved, we expect to recognize additional restructuring costs as we eliminate duplicative functions within the organization and transition a significant portion of our manufacturing capacity to lower-cost locations. As a result of this strategy, we expect to incur approximately $250 million in restructuring and related charges over the three year period following the spin off from Sara Lee on September 5, 2006, of which approximately half is expected to be noncash. As of January 3, 2009, we have recognized approximately $209 million and announced approximately $219 million in restructuring and related charges related to these efforts since September 5, 2006. Of these charges, approximately $84 million relates to accelerated depreciation of buildings and equipment for facilities that have been or will be closed, approximately $79 million relates to employee termination and other benefits, approximately $19 million relates to write-offs of stranded raw materials and work in process inventory determined not to be salvageable or cost-effective to relocate, approximately $17 million relates to lease termination and other costs and approximately $10 million related to impairments of fixed assets.
 
Seasonality and other factors
 
Our operating results are subject to some variability. Generally, our diverse range of product offerings helps mitigate the impact of seasonal changes in demand for certain items. Sales are typically higher in the last two quarters (July to December) of each fiscal year. Socks, hosiery and fleece products generally have higher sales during this period as a result of cooler weather, back-to-school shopping and holidays. Sales levels in any period are also impacted by customers’ decisions to increase or decrease their inventory levels in response to anticipated consumer demand. Our customers may cancel orders, change delivery schedules or change the mix of products ordered with minimal notice to us. For example, we have experienced a shift in timing by our largest retail customers of back-to-school programs between June and July the last two years. Our results of operations are also impacted by fluctuations and volatility in the price of cotton and oil-related materials and the timing of actual spending for our media, advertising and promotion expenses. Media, advertising and promotion expenses may vary from period to period during a fiscal year depending on the timing of our advertising campaigns for retail selling seasons and product introductions.
 
Although the majority of our products are replenishment in nature and tend to be purchased by consumers on a planned, rather than on an impulse, basis, our sales are impacted by discretionary spending by our customers. Discretionary spending is affected by many factors, including, among others, general business conditions, interest rates, inflation, consumer debt levels, the availability of consumer credit, currency exchange rates, taxation, electricity power rates, gasoline prices, unemployment trends and other matters that influence consumer confidence and spending. Many of these factors are outside of our control. Our customers’ purchases of discretionary items, including our products, could decline during periods when disposable


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income is lower, when prices increase in response to rising costs, or in periods of actual or perceived unfavorable economic conditions. These consumers may choose to purchase fewer of our products or to purchase lower-priced products of our competitors in response to higher prices for our products, or may choose not to purchase our products at prices that reflect our price increases that become effective from time to time.
 
Inflation and changing prices
 
Inflation can have a long-term impact on us because increasing costs of materials and labor may impact our ability to maintain satisfactory margins. For example, a significant portion of our products are manufactured in other countries and declines in the value of the U.S. dollar may result in higher manufacturing costs. Similarly, the cost of the materials that are used in our manufacturing process, such as oil related commodity prices, rose during the summer of 2008 as a result of inflation and other factors. In addition, inflation often is accompanied by higher interest rates, which could have a negative impact on spending, in which case our margins could decrease. Moreover, increases in inflation may not be matched by rises in income, which also could have a negative impact on spending. If we incur increased costs that we are unable to recoup, or if consumer spending continues to decrease generally, our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows may be adversely affected. In an effort to mitigate the impact of these incremental costs on our operating results, we raised domestic prices effective February 2009. We implemented an average gross price increase of four percent in our domestic product categories. The range of price increases varies by individual product category.
 
Our costs for cotton yarn and cotton-based textiles vary based upon the fluctuating cost of cotton, which is affected by weather, consumer demand, speculation on the commodities market, the relative valuations and fluctuations of the currencies of producer versus consumer countries and other factors that are generally unpredictable and beyond our control. While we do enter into short-term supply agreements and hedges from time to time in an attempt to protect our business from the volatility of the market price of cotton, our business can be affected by dramatic movements in cotton prices, although cotton historically represents only 8% of our cost of sales. The cotton prices reflected in our results were 58 cents per pound for the nine months ended October 3, 2009, 62 cents per pound for the nine months ended September 27, 2008, 65 cents per pound for the year ended January 3, 2009 and 56 cents per pound for the year ended December 29, 2007. After taking into consideration the cotton costs currently included in inventory, we expect our cost of cotton to average 55 cents per pound for the full year of 2009 compared to 65 cents per pound for 2008. In addition, during the summer of 2008 we experienced a spike in oil-related commodity prices and other raw materials used in our products, such as dyes and chemicals, and increases in other costs, such as fuel, energy and utility costs. Costs incurred for materials and labor are capitalized into inventory and impact our results as the inventory is sold. Our results in the nine months of 2009 were impacted by higher costs for cotton and oil-related materials, however we started to benefit in the second quarter of 2009 from lower cotton costs and in the third quarter of 2009 from lower oil-related material costs and other manufacturing costs.


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Components of net sales and expense
 
Net sales
 
We generate net sales by selling apparel essentials such as t-shirts, bras, panties, men’s underwear, kids’ underwear, socks, hosiery, casualwear and activewear. Our net sales are recognized net of discounts, coupons, rebates, volume-based incentives and cooperative advertising costs. We recognize revenue when (i) there is persuasive evidence of an arrangement, (ii) the sales price is fixed or determinable, (iii) title and the risks of ownership have been transferred to the customer and (iv) collection of the receivable is reasonably assured, which occurs primarily upon shipment. Net sales include an estimate for returns and allowances based upon historical return experience. We also offer a variety of sales incentives to resellers and consumers that are recorded as reductions to net sales.
 
Cost of sales
 
Our cost of sales includes the cost of manufacturing finished goods, which consists of labor, raw materials such as cotton and petroleum-based products and overhead costs such as depreciation on owned facilities and equipment. Our cost of sales also includes finished goods sourced from third-party manufacturers that supply us with products based on our designs as well as charges for slow moving or obsolete inventories. Rebates, discounts and other cash consideration received from a vendor related to inventory purchases are reflected in cost of sales when the related inventory item is sold. Our costs of sales do not include shipping costs, comprised of payments to third party shippers, or handling costs, comprised of warehousing costs in our distribution facilities, and thus our gross margins may not be comparable to those of other entities that include such costs in cost of sales.
 
Selling, general and administrative expenses
 
Our selling, general and administrative expenses include selling, advertising, costs of shipping, handling and distribution to our customers, research and development, rent on leased facilities, depreciation on owned facilities and equipment and other general and administrative expenses. Also included for periods presented prior to the spin off on September 5, 2006 are allocations of corporate expenses that consist of expenses for business insurance, medical insurance, employee benefit plan amounts and, because we were part of Sara Lee those periods, allocations from Sara Lee for certain centralized administration costs for treasury, real estate, accounting, auditing, tax, risk management, human resources and benefits administration. These allocations of centralized administration costs were determined on bases that we and Sara Lee considered to be reasonable and take into consideration and include relevant operating profit, fixed assets, sales and payroll. Selling, general and administrative expenses also include management payroll, benefits, travel, information systems, accounting, insurance and legal expenses.
 
Restructuring
 
We have from time to time closed facilities and reduced headcount, including in connection with previously announced restructuring and business transformation plans. We refer to these activities as restructuring actions. When we decide to close facilities or reduce headcount, we take estimated charges for such restructuring, including charges for exited non-cancelable leases and other contractual obligations, as well as severance and benefits. If the actual charge is


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different from the original estimate, an adjustment is recognized in the period such change in estimate is identified.
 
Other (income) expenses
 
Our other (income) expenses include charges such as losses on early extinguishment of debt and certain other non-operating items.
 
Interest expense, net
 
As part of the spin off from Sara Lee on September 5, 2006, we incurred $2.6 billion of debt. Since the spin off, we have made changes in our financing structuring and have repaid some of our debt. In December 2006, we issued $500 million of Floating Rate Senior Notes and the proceeds were used to repay a portion of the debt incurred at the spin off. In November 2007, we entered into the Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility which provides for up to $250 million in funding accounted for as a secured borrowing, all of which we borrowed and used to repay a portion of the Senior Secured Credit Facilities. In addition, we have amended the terms of our Senior Secured Credit Facilities and Second Lien Credit Facility to provide more flexibility to change our financial structure in the future.
 
Our interest expense is net of interest income. Interest income is the return we earned on our cash and cash equivalents and, historically, on money we loaned to Sara Lee as part of its corporate cash management practices. Our cash and cash equivalents are invested in highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less.
 
Income tax expense (benefit)
 
Our effective income tax rate fluctuates from period to period and can be materially impacted by, among other things:
 
•  changes in the mix of our earnings from the various jurisdictions in which we operate;
 
•  the tax characteristics of our earnings;
 
•  the timing and amount of earnings of foreign subsidiaries that we repatriate to the United States, which may increase our tax expense and taxes paid; and
 
•  the timing and results of any reviews of our income tax filing positions in the jurisdictions in which we transact business.
 
Highlights from the third quarter and nine months ended October 3, 2009
 
•  Total net sales in the third quarter of 2009 were $1.06 billion, compared with $1.15 billion in the same quarter of 2008. Total net sales in the nine-month period in 2009 were $2.90 billion, compared with $3.21 billion in the same nine-month period of 2008.
 
•  Operating profit was $93 million in the third quarter of 2009, compared with $58 million in the same quarter of 2008. Operating profit was $193 million in the nine-month period in 2009, compared with $259 million in the same nine-month period of 2008.


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•  Diluted earnings per share were $0.43 in the third quarter of 2009, compared with $0.17 in the same quarter of 2008. Diluted earnings per share were $0.55 in the nine-month period in 2009, compared with $1.14 in the same nine-month period of 2008.
 
•  During the first nine months of 2009, we approved actions to close five manufacturing facilities, two distribution centers and two warehouses in the Dominican Republic, the United States, Honduras, Puerto Rico and Canada, and eliminate an aggregate of approximately 3,100 positions in those countries and El Salvador. In addition, approximately 300 management and administrative positions were eliminated, with the majority of these positions based in the United States. In addition, we completed several such actions in 2009 that were approved in 2008.
 
•  We announced that we will cease making our own yarn and that we will source all of our yarn requirements from large-scale yarn suppliers. We entered into an agreement with Parkdale America under which we agreed to sell or lease assets related to operations at our four yarn manufacturing facilities to Parkdale America. The transaction closed in October 2009 and resulted in Parkdale America operating three of the four facilities. We also entered into a yarn purchase agreement with Parkdale. Under this agreement, which has an initial term of six years, Parkdale will produce and sell to us a substantial amount of our Western Hemisphere yarn requirements. During the first two years of the term, Parkdale will also produce and sell to us a substantial amount of the yarn requirements of our Nanjing, China textile facility.
 
•  Gross capital expenditures were $100 million during the first nine months of 2009 as we continued to build out our textile and sewing network in Asia, Central America and the Caribbean Basin and were lower by $24 million compared to the nine months of 2008.
 
•  In September 2009, we made a prepayment of $140 million of principal on the Senior Secured Credit Facilities.
 
•  We ended the third quarter of 2009 with $474 million of borrowing availability under our existing $500 million revolving loan facility (the “Revolving Loan Facility”), $39 million in cash and cash equivalents and $71 million of borrowing availability under our international loan facilities.
 
•  In March 2009, we amended our Senior Secured Credit Facilities and Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility to provide for additional cushion for the leverage ratio and interest coverage ratio covenant requirements.
 
Highlights from the year ended January 3, 2009
 
•  Diluted earnings per share were $1.34 in the year ended January 3, 2009, compared with $1.30 in the year ended December 29, 2007.
 
•  Operating profit was $317 million in the year ended January 3, 2009, compared with $389 million in the year ended December 29, 2007.
 
•  Total net sales in the year ended January 3, 2009 was $4.25 billion, compared with $4.47 billion in the year ended December 29, 2007.
 
•  During the year ended January 3, 2009, we approved actions to close 11 manufacturing facilities and three distribution centers in Mexico, the United States, Costa Rica, Honduras and El Salvador. The production capacity represented by the manufacturing facilities has been relocated to lower cost locations in Asia, Central America and the Caribbean Basin. The


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distribution capacity has been relocated to our West Coast distribution facility in California in order to expand capacity for goods we source from Asia. In addition, we completed several such actions in the year ended January 3, 2009 that were approved in 2008.
 
•  Gross capital expenditures were $187 million during the year ended January 3, 2009 as we continued to build out our textile and sewing network in Asia, Central America and the Caribbean Basin.
 
•  During the second quarter of 2008, we added three company-owned sewing plants in Southeast Asia—two in Vietnam and one in Thailand—giving us four sewing plants in Asia. In addition, during the fourth quarter of 2008, we acquired an embroidery facility in Honduras.
 
•  We repurchased $30 million of company stock during the year ended January 3, 2009.
 
•  We ended 2008 with $463 million of borrowing availability under our $500 million Revolving Loan Facility, $67 million in cash and cash equivalents and $67 million of borrowing availability under our international loan facilities, compared to $430 million, $174 million and $89 million, respectively, at the end of 2007.
 
Condensed consolidated results of operations—Nine months ended October 3, 2009 compared with nine months ended September 27, 2008
 
                                 
 
    Nine months ended              
    October 3,
    September 27,
    Higher
    Percent
 
(dollars in thousands)   2009     2008     (lower)     change  
 
 
Net sales
  $ 2,902,536     $ 3,213,653     $ (311,117 )     (9.7% )
Cost of sales
    1,960,589       2,145,949       (185,360 )     (8.6 )
             
             
Gross profit
    941,947       1,067,704       (125,757 )     (11.8 )
Selling, general and administrative expenses
    702,204       776,267       (74,063 )     (9.5 )
Restructuring
    46,319       32,355       13,964       43.2  
             
             
Operating profit
    193,424       259,082       (65,658 )     (25.3 )
Other expenses
    6,537             6,537       NM  
Interest expense, net
    124,548       115,282       9,266       8.0  
             
             
Income before income tax expense
    62,339       143,800       (81,461 )     (56.6 )
Income tax expense
    9,974       34,512       (24,538 )     (71.1 )
             
             
Net income
  $ 52,365     $ 109,288     $ (56,923 )     (52.1% )
 
 
 
Net sales
 
                                 
 
    Nine months ended              
    October 3,
    September 27,
    Higher
    Percent
 
(dollars in thousands)   2009     2008     (lower)     change  
 
 
Net sales
  $ 2,902,536     $ 3,213,653     $ (311,117 )     (9.7% )
 
 


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Consolidated net sales were lower by $311 million or 10% in the nine months of 2009 compared to 2008. The net sales decline in the nine months of 2009 was primarily attributed to the recessionary environment that continued into the first nine months of 2009. Overall retail sales for apparel continued to decline during 2009 at most of our larger customers as the continuing recession constrained consumer spending. Our sales incentives were higher in the nine months of 2009 compared to 2008 as we made significant investments, especially in back-to-school programs and promotions, in this recessionary environment to support retailers and position ourselves for future sales opportunities. Excluding the cost of these investments, our net sales would have declined by 9%.
 
Innerwear, Outerwear, Hosiery and International segment net sales were lower by $120 million (7%), $105 million (12%), $27 million (16%) and $57 million (16%), respectively, in the nine months of 2009 compared to 2008. Our Other segment net sales were lower, as expected, by $8 million in the nine months of 2009 compared to 2008.
 
Innerwear segment net sales were lower (7%) in the nine months of 2009 compared to 2008, primarily due to lower net sales of intimate apparel (13%) and socks (12%) primarily due to weak sales at retail in this difficult economic environment, partially offset by stronger net sales (2%) in our male underwear product category.
 
Outerwear segment net sales were lower (12%) in the nine months of 2009 compared to 2008, primarily due to the lower casualwear net sales in both the retail (27%) and wholesale (21%) channels. The wholesale channel has been highly price competitive especially in this recessionary environment. The lower casualwear net sales in the retail and wholesale channels were partially offset by higher net sales (8%) of our Champion brand activewear. The results for the first half of 2009 were negatively impacted by losses of seasonal programs in the retail casualwear channel that are not impacting our results in the second half of 2009.
 
Hosiery segment net sales were lower (16%) in the nine months of 2009 compared to 2008. The net sales decline rate over the most recent two consecutive quarters has improved compared to the net sales decline rate for the second half of 2008 and the first quarter of 2009 in each of which net sales declined by more than 20%. Hosiery products in all channels continue to be more adversely impacted than other apparel categories by reduced consumer discretionary spending.
 
International segment net sales were lower (16%) in the nine months of 2009 compared to 2008, primarily attributable to an unfavorable impact of $31 million related to foreign currency exchange rates and weak demand globally primarily in Europe, Japan and Canada which are experiencing recessionary environments similar to that in the United States. Excluding the impact of foreign exchange rates on currency, International segment net sales declined by 8% in the nine months of 2009 compared to 2008.
 
Gross profit
 
                                 
 
    Nine months ended              
    October 3,
    September 27,
    Higher
    Percent
 
(dollars in thousands)   2009     2008     (lower)     change  
 
 
Gross profit
  $ 941,947     $ 1,067,704     $ (125,757 )     (11.8% )
 
 


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Our gross profit was lower by $126 million in the nine months of 2009 compared to 2008. As a percent of net sales, our gross profit was 32.5% in the nine months of 2009 compared to 33.2% in 2008, declining as a result of the items described below.
 
Gross profit was lower due to lower sales volume of $139 million, unfavorable product sales mix of $53 million and higher sales incentives of $31 million. Our sales incentives were higher as we made significant investments, especially in back-to-school programs and promotions, in this recessionary environment to support retailers and position ourselves for future sales opportunities. Other factors contributing to lower gross profit were higher production costs of $21 million related to higher energy and oil-related costs, including freight costs, higher other manufacturing costs of $16 million primarily related to lower volume partially offset by cost reductions at our manufacturing facilities, other vendor price increases of $13 million, higher cost of finished goods sourced from third party manufacturers of $12 million primarily resulting from foreign exchange transaction losses, an $11 million unfavorable impact related to foreign currency exchange rates and $3 million of higher start-up and shutdown costs associated with the consolidation and globalization of our supply chain. The unfavorable impact of foreign currency exchange rates in our International segment was primarily due to the strengthening of the U.S. dollar compared to the Mexican peso, Canadian dollar, Brazilian real and Euro partially offset by the strengthening of the Japanese yen compared to the U.S. dollar during the nine months of 2009 compared to 2008.
 
Our gross profit was positively impacted by higher product pricing of $91 million before increased sales incentives, savings from our prior restructuring actions of $38 million, lower on-going excess and obsolete inventory costs of $18 million and lower cotton costs of $8 million. The higher product pricing was due to the implementation of an average gross price increase of four percent in our domestic product categories in February 2009. The range of price increases varies by individual product category. The lower excess and obsolete inventory costs in the first nine months of 2009 are attributable to both our continuous evaluation of inventory levels and simplification of our product category offerings. We realized these benefits by driving down obsolete inventory levels through aggressive management and promotions.
 
The cotton prices reflected in our results were 58 cents per pound in the nine months of 2009 as compared to 62 cents per pound in 2008. After taking into consideration the cotton costs currently included in inventory, we expect our cost of cotton to average 55 cents per pound for the full year of 2009 compared to 65 cents per pound for 2008. Energy and oil-related costs were higher due to a spike in oil-related commodity prices during the summer of 2008. Our results in the nine months of 2009 were impacted by higher costs for cotton and oil-related materials, however we started to benefit in the second quarter of 2009 from lower cotton costs and in the third quarter of 2009 from lower oil-related material costs and other manufacturing costs.
 
We incurred lower one-time restructuring related write-offs of $11 million in the nine months of 2009 compared to 2008 for stranded raw materials and work in process inventory determined not to be salvageable or cost-effective to relocate. Accelerated depreciation was lower by $9 million in the nine months of 2009 compared to 2008.
 
Selling, general and administrative expenses
 
                                 
 
    Nine months ended              
    October 3,
    September 27,
    Higher
    Percent
 
(dollars in thousands)   2009     2008     (lower)     change  
 
 
Selling, general and administrative expenses
  $ 702,204     $ 776,267     $ (74,063 )     (9.5% )
 
 


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Our selling, general and administrative expenses were $74 million lower in the nine months of 2009 compared to 2008. Our continued focus on cost reductions resulted in lower expenses in the nine months of 2009 compared to 2008 related to savings of $24 million from our prior restructuring actions for compensation and related benefits, lower technology expenses of $21 million, lower bad debt expense of $7 million primarily due to a customer bankruptcy in 2008, lower selling and other marketing related expenses of $5 million, lower consulting related expenses of $3 million and lower non-media related media, advertising and promotion (“MAP”) expenses of $1 million. In addition, our distribution expenses were lower by $12 million in the nine months of 2009 compared to 2008, which was primarily attributable to lower sales volume that reduced our labor, postage and freight expenses and lower rework expenses in our distribution centers.
 
Our media related MAP expenses were $34 million lower in the nine months of 2009 compared to 2008 as we chose to reduce our spending. MAP expenses may vary from period to period during a fiscal year depending on the timing of our advertising campaigns for retail selling seasons and product introductions.
 
Our pension and stock compensation expenses, which are noncash, were higher by $24 million and $5 million, respectively, in the nine months of 2009 compared to 2008. The higher pension expense is primarily due to the lower funded status of our pension plans at the end of 2008, which resulted from a decline in the fair value of plan assets due to the stock market’s performance during 2008 and a higher discount rate at the end of 2008.
 
We also incurred higher expenses of $4 million in the nine months of 2009 compared to 2008 as a result of opening retail stores. We opened 17 retail stores during the nine months of 2009. In addition, we incurred higher other expenses of $2 million related to amending the terms of all outstanding stock options granted under the Hanesbrands Inc. Omnibus Incentive Plan of 2006 (the “Omnibus Incentive Plan”) that had an original term of five or seven years to the tenth anniversary of the original grant date. Changes due to foreign currency exchange rates, which are included in the impact of the changes discussed above, resulted in lower selling, general and administrative expenses of $9 million in the nine months of 2009 compared to 2008.
 
Restructuring
 
                                 
 
    Nine months ended              
    October 3,
    September 27,
    Higher
    Percent
 
(dollars in thousands)   2009     2008     (lower)     change  
 
 
Restructuring
  $ 46,319     $ 32,355     $ 13,964     $ 43.2%  
 
 
 
During the nine months of 2009, we announced that we will cease making our own yarn and that we will source all of our yarn requirements from large-scale yarn suppliers. We entered into an agreement with Parkdale America under which we agreed to sell or lease assets related to operations at our four yarn manufacturing facilities to Parkdale America. The transaction closed in October 2009 and resulted in Parkdale America operating three of the four facilities. We approved an action to close the fourth yarn manufacturing facility, as well as a yarn warehouse and a cotton warehouse, all located in the United States, which will result in the elimination of approximately 175 positions. We also entered into a yarn purchase agreement with Parkdale. Under this agreement, which has an initial term of six years, Parkdale will produce and sell to us a substantial amount of our Western Hemisphere yarn requirements. During the first two years of the term, Parkdale will also produce and sell to us a substantial amount of the yarn requirements of our Nanjing, China textile facility.


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In addition to the actions discussed above, during the nine months of 2009 we approved actions to close four manufacturing facilities and two distribution centers in the Dominican Republic, the United States, Honduras, Puerto Rico and Canada which will result in the elimination of an aggregate of approximately 2,925 positions in those countries and El Salvador. The production capacity represented by the manufacturing facilities will be relocated to lower cost locations in Asia, Central America and the Caribbean Basin. The distribution capacity has been relocated to our West Coast distribution facility in California in order to expand capacity for goods we source from Asia. In addition, approximately 300 management and administrative positions were eliminated, with the majority of these positions based in the United States.
 
During the nine months of 2009, we recorded charges related to employee termination and other benefits of $21 million recognized in accordance with benefit plans previously communicated to the affected employee group, charges related to contract obligations of $12 million, other exit costs of $7 million related to moving equipment and inventory from closed facilities and fixed asset impairment charges of $6 million.
 
In the nine months of 2009, we recorded one-time write-offs of $4 million of stranded raw materials and work in process inventory related to the closure of manufacturing facilities and recorded in the “Cost of sales” line. The raw materials and work in process inventory was determined not to be salvageable or cost-effective to relocate. In addition, in connection with our consolidation and globalization strategy, we recognized noncash charges of $2 million and $11 million in nine months of 2009 and the nine months of 2008, respectively, in the “Cost of sales” line and a noncash charge of $1 million and a noncash credit of $1 million in the “Selling, general and administrative expenses” line in the nine months of 2009 and nine months of 2008, respectively, related to accelerated depreciation of buildings and equipment for facilities that have been closed or will be closed.
 
These actions, which are a continuation of our consolidation and globalization strategy, are expected to result in benefits of moving production to lower-cost manufacturing facilities, leveraging our large scale in high-volume products and consolidating production capacity.
 
During the nine months of 2008, we incurred $32 million in restructuring charges which primarily related to employee termination and other benefits and charges related to exiting supply contracts associated with plant closures approved during that period.
 
Operating profit
 
                                 
 
    Nine months ended              
    October 3,
    September 27,
    Higher
    Percent
 
(dollars in thousands)   2009     2008     (lower)     change  
 
 
Operating profit
  $ 193,424     $ 259,082     $ (65,658 )     (25.3% )
 
 
 
Operating profit was lower in the nine months of 2009 compared to 2008 as a result of lower gross profit of $126 million and higher restructuring and related charges of $14 million, partially offset by lower selling, general and administrative expenses of $74 million. Changes in foreign currency exchange rates had an unfavorable impact on operating profit of $2 million in the nine months of 2009 compared to 2008.


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Other expenses
 
                                 
 
    Nine months ended              
    October 3,
    September 27,
    Higher
    Percent
 
(dollars in thousands)   2009     2008     (lower)     change  
 
 
Other expenses
  $ 6,537     $     $ 6,537       NM  
 
 
 
During the nine months of 2009, we incurred costs of $4 million to amend the Senior Secured Credit Facilities and the Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility. In March 2009, we amended these credit facilities to provide for additional cushion in our financial covenant requirements. These amendments delay the most restrictive debt-leverage ratio requirements from the fourth quarter of 2009 to the third quarter of 2011. In April 2009, we amended the Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility to generally increase over time the amount of funding that will be available under the facility as compared to the amount that would be available pursuant to the amendment to that facility that we entered into in March 2009. In addition, during the nine months of 2009 we incurred a $2 million loss on early extinguishment of debt related to unamortized debt issuance costs resulting from the prepayment of $140 million of principal in September 2009.
 
Interest expense, net
 
                                 
 
    Nine months ended              
    October 3,
    September 27,
    Higher
    Percent
 
(dollars in thousands)   2009     2008     (lower)     change  
 
 
Interest expense, net
  $ 124,548     $ 115,282     $ 9,266       8.0%  
 
 
 
Interest expense, net was higher by $9 million in the nine months of 2009 compared to 2008. The amendments of our Senior Secured Credit Facilities and Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility, which increased our interest-rate margin by 300 basis points and 325 basis points, respectively, increased interest expense in the nine months of 2009 compared to 2008 by $24 million, which was partially offset by a lower London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) and lower outstanding debt balances that reduced interest expense by $15 million. Our weighted average interest rate on our outstanding debt was 6.84% during the nine months of 2009 compared to 6.17% in 2008.
 
At October 3, 2009, we had outstanding interest rate hedging arrangements whereby we have capped the LIBOR interest rate component on $400 million of our floating rate debt at 3.50% and have fixed the LIBOR interest rate component on $1.4 billion of our floating rate debt at approximately 4.16%. Approximately 88% of our total debt outstanding at October 3, 2009 was at a fixed or capped LIBOR rate.
 
Income tax expense
 
                                 
 
    Nine months ended              
    October 3,
    September 27,
    Higher
    Percent
 
(dollars in thousands)   2009     2008     (lower)     change  
 
 
Income tax expense
  $ 9,974     $ 34,512     $ (24,538 )     (71.1% )
 
 


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Our estimated annual effective income tax rate was 16% in the nine months of 2009 compared to 24% in 2008. The lower effective income tax rate is attributable primarily to a higher proportion of our earnings attributed to foreign subsidiaries which are taxed at rates lower than the U.S. statutory rate. Our estimated annual effective tax rate reflects our strategic initiative to make substantial capital investments outside the United States in our global supply chain in 2009.
 
Net income
 
                                 
 
    Nine months ended              
    October 3,
    September 27,
    Higher
    Percent
 
(dollars in thousands)   2009     2008     (lower)     change  
 
 
Net income
  $ 52,365     $ 109,288     $ (56,923 )     (52.1% )
 
 
 
Net income for the nine months of 2009 was lower than 2008 primarily due to lower operating profit of $66 million, higher interest expense of $9 million and higher other expenses of $7 million, partially offset by lower income tax expense of $25 million.


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Operating results by business segment—Nine months ended October 3, 2009 compared with nine months ended September 27, 2008
 
                                 
 
    Nine months ended              
    October 3,
    September 27,
    Higher
    Percent
 
(dollars in thousands)   2009     2008     (lower)     change  
 
 
Net sales:
                               
Innerwear
  $ 1,710,920     $ 1,830,437     $ (119,517 )     (6.5% )
Outerwear
    776,282       880,809       (104,527 )     (11.9 )
Hosiery
    139,300       166,672       (27,372 )     (16.4 )
International
    294,674       352,120       (57,446 )     (16.3 )
Other
    12,022       20,064       (8,042 )     (40.1 )
             
             
Total segment net sales
    2,933,198       3,250,102       (316,904 )     (9.8 )
Intersegment
    (30,662 )     (36,449 )     (5,787 )     (15.9 )
             
             
Total net sales
  $ 2,902,536     $ 3,213,653     $ (311,117 )     (9.7% )
Segment operating profit (loss):
                               
Innerwear
  $ 210,443     $ 204,714     $ 5,729       2.8%  
Outerwear
    23,269       55,587       (32,318 )     (58.1 )
Hosiery
    42,678       52,944       (10,266 )     (19.4 )
International
    28,089       47,662       (19,573 )     (41.1 )
Other
    (4,395 )     304       (4,699 )     NM  
             
             
Total segment operating profit
    300,084       361,211       (61,127 )     (16.9 )
Items not included in segment operating profit:
                               
General corporate expenses
    (44,602 )     (37,128 )     7,474       20.1  
Amortization of trademarks and other intangibles
    (9,293 )     (8,683 )     610       7.0  
Restructuring
    (46,319 )     (32,355 )     13,964       43.2  
Inventory write-off included in cost of sales
    (3,516 )     (14,027 )     (10,511 )     (74.9 )
Accelerated depreciation included in cost of sales
    (2,392 )     (11,202 )     (8,810 )     (78.6 )
Accelerated depreciation included in selling, general and administrative expenses
    (538 )     1,266       1,804       142.5  
             
             
Total operating profit
    193,424       259,082       (65,658 )     (25.3 )
Other expenses
    (6,537 )           6,537       NM  
Interest expense, net
    (124,548 )     (115,282 )     9,266       8.0  
             
             
Income before income tax expense
  $ 62,339     $ 143,800     $ (81,461 )     (56.6% )
 
 


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Innerwear
 
                                 
 
    Nine months ended              
    October 3,
    September 27,
    Higher
    Percent
 
(dollars in thousands)   2009     2008     (lower)     change  
 
 
Net sales
  $ 1,710,920     $ 1,830,437     $ (119,517 )     (6.5% )
Segment operating profit
    210,443       204,714       5,729       2.8  
 
 
 
Overall net sales in the Innerwear segment were lower by $120 million or 7% in the nine months of 2009 compared to 2008 as we continued to be negatively impacted by weak consumer demand related to the recessionary environment. Total intimate apparel net sales were $96 million lower in the nine months of 2009 compared to 2008 and represents 80% of the total segment net sales decline. We believe our lower net sales in our Hanes brand of $34 million, our smaller brands (barely there, Just My Size and Wonderbra) of $29 million and our Playtex brand of $28 million were primarily attributable to weaker sales at retail. Our Bali brand intimate apparel net sales in the nine months of 2009 were flat compared to 2008.
 
Total male underwear net sales were $13 million higher in the nine months of 2009 compared to 2008 which reflect higher net sales in our Hanes brand of $19 million, partially offset by lower net sales of our Champion brand of $6 million. The higher Hanes brand male underwear sales reflect growth in key segments of this category such as crewneck and V-neck T-shirts and boxer briefs and product innovations like the Comfort Fit waistbands. Lower net sales in our socks product category of $28 million in the nine months of 2009 compared to 2008 reflect a decline in Hanes and Champion brand net sales in our men’s and kids’ product category. Net sales in our thermals business were lower by $2 million in the nine months of 2009 compared to 2008. Net sales in our direct-to-consumer retail business were flat due to higher sales at our outlet stores resulting from the addition of recently opened retail stores offset by lower internet sales.
 
The Innerwear segment gross profit was lower by $39 million in the nine months of 2009 compared to 2008. The lower gross profit was due to lower sales volume of $74 million, higher sales incentives of $19 million due to investments made with retailers, unfavorable product sales mix of $18 million, higher production costs of $12 million related to higher energy and oil-related costs, including freight costs, other vendor price increases of $9 million and higher other manufacturing costs of $3 million. Higher costs were partially offset by higher product pricing of $64 million before increased sales incentives, savings from our prior restructuring actions of $19 million, lower on-going excess and obsolete inventory costs of $11 million and lower cotton costs of $2 million.
 
As a percent of segment net sales, gross profit in the Innerwear segment was 37.4% in the nine months of 2009 compared to 37.1% in 2008, increasing as a result of the items described above.
 
The higher Innerwear segment operating profit in the nine months of 2009 compared to 2008 was primarily attributable to lower media related MAP expenses of $31 million, savings of $14 million from prior restructuring actions primarily for compensation and related benefits, lower technology expenses of $11 million, lower distribution expenses of $5 million and lower bad debt expense of $4 million primarily due to a customer bankruptcy in 2008, partially offset by lower gross profit, higher pension expense of $14 million, higher expenses of $4 million as a result of opening retail stores and higher other non-media related MAP expenses of $2 million.


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A significant portion of the selling, general and administrative expenses in each segment is an allocation of our consolidated selling, general and administrative expenses, however certain expenses that are specifically identifiable to a segment are charged directly to such segment. The allocation methodology for the consolidated selling, general and administrative expenses for the nine months of 2009 is consistent with 2008. Our consolidated selling, general and administrative expenses before segment allocations was $74 million lower in the nine months of 2009 compared to 2008.
 
Outerwear
 
                                 
 
    Nine months ended              
    October 3,
    September 27,
    Higher
    Percent
 
(dollars in thousands)   2009     2008     (lower)     change  
 
 
Net sales
  $ 776,282     $ 880,809     $ (104,527 )     (11.9% )
Segment operating profit
    23,269       55,587       (32,318 )     (58.1 )
 
 
 
Net sales in the Outerwear segment were lower by $105 million or 12% in the nine months of 2009 compared to 2008, primarily as a result of lower casualwear net sales in our retail and wholesale channels of $66 million and $65 million, respectively. The lower retail casualwear net sales reflect an $89 million impact due to the losses of seasonal programs not renewed for 2009 that only impacted the first half of 2009, partially offset by additional sales resulting from an exclusive long-term agreement entered into with Wal-Mart in April 2009 that significantly expanded the presence of our Just My Size brand in all Wal-Mart stores. The wholesale channel has been highly price competitive especially in this recessionary environment. These decreases were partially offset by higher net sales of our Champion brand activewear of $25 million. Our Champion brand sales continue to benefit from our marketing investment in the brand.
 
The Outerwear segment gross profit was lower by $48 million in the nine months of 2009 compared to 2008. The lower gross profit is due to unfavorable product sales mix of $30 million, lower sales volume of $28 million, higher sales incentives of $13 million due to investments made with retailers, higher production costs of $9 million related to higher energy and oil-related costs, including freight costs, higher other manufacturing costs of $8 million and other vendor price increases of $4 million. Higher costs were partially offset by savings of $19 million from our prior restructuring actions, higher product pricing of $12 million before increased sales incentives, lower on-going excess and obsolete inventory costs of $7 million and lower cotton costs of $6 million.
 
As a percent of segment net sales, gross profit in the Outerwear segment was 20.0% in the nine months of 2009 compared to 23.1% in 2008, declining as a result of the items described above.
 
The lower Outerwear segment operating profit in the nine months of 2009 compared to 2008 was primarily attributable to lower gross profit and higher pension expense of $6 million, partially offset by savings of $7 million from our prior restructuring actions, lower technology expenses of $6 million, lower non-media related MAP expenses of $3 million, lower distribution expenses of $3 million and lower bad debt expense of $2 million primarily due to a customer bankruptcy in 2008.
 
A significant portion of the selling, general and administrative expenses in each segment is an allocation of our consolidated selling, general and administrative expenses, however certain expenses that are specifically identifiable to a segment are charged directly to such segment.


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The allocation methodology for the consolidated selling, general and administrative expenses for the nine months of 2009 is consistent with 2008. Our consolidated selling, general and administrative expenses before segment allocations was $74 million lower in the nine months of 2009 compared to 2008.
 
Hosiery
 
                                 
 
    Nine months ended              
    October 3,
    September 27,
    Higher
    Percent
 
(dollars in thousands)   2009     2008     (lower)     change  
 
 
Net sales
  $ 139,300     $ 166,672     $ (27,372 )     (16.4% )
Segment operating profit
    42,678       52,944       (10,266 )     (19.4 )
 
 
 
Net sales in the Hosiery segment declined by $27 million or 16%, which was primarily due to lower sales of our L’eggs brand to mass retailers and food and drug stores and our Hanes brand to national chains and department stores. Hosiery products continue to be more adversely impacted than other apparel categories by reduced consumer discretionary spending, which contributes to weaker retail sales and lowering of inventory levels by retailers. We expect the trend of declining hosiery sales to continue consistent with the overall decline in the industry and with shifts in consumer preferences. Generally, we manage the Hosiery segment for cash, placing an emphasis on reducing our cost structure and managing cash efficiently.
 
The Hosiery segment gross profit was lower by $17 million in the nine months of 2009 compared to 2008. The lower gross profit for the nine months of 2009 compared to 2008 was the result of lower sales volume of $19 million and higher other manufacturing costs of $4 million, partially offset by higher product pricing of $8 million.
 
As a percent of segment net sales, gross profit in the Hosiery segment was 46.1% in the nine months of 2009 compared to 48.6% in 2008, declining as a result of the items described above.
 
The lower Hosiery segment operating profit in the nine months of 2009 compared to 2008 is primarily attributable to lower gross profit, partially offset by lower distribution expenses of $3 million, savings of $2 million from our prior restructuring actions and lower technology expenses of $2 million.
 
A significant portion of the selling, general and administrative expenses in each segment is an allocation of our consolidated selling, general and administrative expenses, however certain expenses that are specifically identifiable to a segment are charged directly to such segment. The allocation methodology for the consolidated selling, general and administrative expenses for the nine months of 2009 is consistent with 2008. Our consolidated selling, general and administrative expenses before segment allocations was $74 million lower in the nine months of 2009 compared to 2008.


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International
 
                                 
 
    Nine months ended              
    October 3,
    September 27,
    Higher
    Percent
 
(dollars in thousands)   2009     2008     (lower)     change  
 
 
Net sales
  $ 294,674     $ 352,120     $ (57,446 )     (16.3% )
Segment operating profit
    28,089       47,662       (19,573 )     (41.1 )
 
 
 
Overall net sales in the International segment were lower by $57 million or 16% in the nine months of 2009 compared to 2008 primarily attributable to an unfavorable impact of $31 million related to foreign currency exchange rates and weak demand globally primarily in Europe, Japan and Canada, which are experiencing recessionary environments similar to that in the United States. Excluding the impact of foreign exchange rates on currency, International segment net sales declined by 8% in the nine months of 2009 compared to 2008. The unfavorable impact of foreign currency exchange rates in our International segment was primarily due to the strengthening of the U.S. dollar compared to the Mexican peso, Canadian dollar, Brazilian real and Euro partially offset by the strengthening of the Japanese yen compared to the U.S. dollar during the nine months of 2009 compared to 2008. During the nine months of 2009, we experienced lower net sales, in each case excluding the impact of foreign currency exchange rates, in our casualwear business in Europe of $21 million, in our casualwear business in Puerto Rico of $7 million resulting from moving the distribution capacity to the United States, in our male underwear and activewear businesses in Japan of $6 million and in our intimate apparel business in Canada of $3 million. Lower segment net sales were partially offset by higher sales in our intimate apparel and male underwear businesses in Mexico of $6 million and in our male underwear business in Brazil of $2 million.
 
The International segment gross profit was lower by $32 million in the nine months of 2009 compared to 2008. The lower gross profit was a result of lower sales volume of $13 million, higher cost of finished goods sourced from third party manufacturers of $12 million primarily resulting from foreign exchange transaction losses, an unfavorable impact related to foreign currency exchange rates of $11 million and an unfavorable product sales mix of $6 million. Higher costs were partially offset by higher product pricing of $8 million.
 
As a percent of segment net sales, gross profit in the International segment was 37.9% in the nine months of 2009 compared to 2008 at 40.9%, declining as a result of the items described above.
 
The lower International segment operating profit in the nine months of 2009 compared to 2008 is primarily attributable to the lower gross profit, partially offset by lower selling and other marketing related expenses of $5 million, lower media related MAP expenses of $2 million, lower distribution expenses of $1 million, lower non-media related MAP of $1 million and savings of $1 million from our prior restructuring actions. The changes in foreign currency exchange rates, which are included in the impact on gross profit above, had an unfavorable impact on segment operating profit of $2 million in the nine months of 2009 compared to 2008.


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Other
 
                                 
 
    Nine months ended              
    October 3,
    September 27,
    Higher
    Percent
 
(dollars in thousands)   2009     2008     (lower)     change  
 
 
Net sales
  $ 12,022     $ 20,064     $ (8,042 )     (40.1% )
Segment operating profit
    (4,395 )     304       (4,699 )     NM  
 
 
 
Sales in our Other segment primarily consist of sales of yarn to third parties which are intended to maintain asset utilization at certain manufacturing facilities and generate approximate break even margins. We expect sales of our Other segment to continue to be insignificant to us as we complete the implementation of our consolidation and globalization efforts. In September 2009, we announced that we will cease making our own yarn and that we will source all of our yarn requirements from large-scale yarn suppliers, which is expected to further reduce net sales of our Other segment.
 
General corporate expenses
 
General corporate expenses were $7 million higher in the nine months of 2009 compared to 2008 primarily due to higher start-up and shut-down costs of $5 million associated with our consolidation and globalization of our supply chain, $3 million of higher foreign exchange transaction losses and higher other expenses of $2 million related to amending the terms of all outstanding stock options granted under the Hanesbrands Inc. Omnibus Incentive Plan of 2006 that had an original term of five or seven years to the tenth anniversary of the original grant date, partially offset by $3 million of higher gains on sales of assets.


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Consolidated results of operations—year ended January 3, 2009 (“2008”) compared with year ended December 29, 2007 (“2007”)
 
                                 
 
    Years ended              
    January 3,     December 29,     Higher     Percent  
(dollars in thousands)   2009     2007     (lower)     change  
 
 
Net sales
  $ 4,248,770     $ 4,474,537     $ (225,767 )     (5.0% )
Cost of sales
    2,871,420       3,033,627       (162,207 )     (5.3 )
             
             
Gross profit
    1,377,350       1,440,910       (63,560 )     (4.4 )
Selling, general and administrative expenses
    1,009,607       1,040,754       (31,147 )     (3.0 )
Gain on curtailment of postretirement benefits
          (32,144 )     (32,144 )     NM  
Restructuring
    50,263       43,731       6,532       14.9  
             
             
Operating profit
    317,480       388,569       (71,089 )     (18.3 )
Other (income) expense
    (634 )     5,235       (5,869 )     (112.1 )
Interest expense, net
    155,077       199,208       (44,131 )     (22.2 )
             
             
Income before income tax expense
    163,037       184,126       (21,089 )     (11.5 )
Income tax expense
    35,868       57,999       (22,131 )     (38.2 )
             
             
Net income
  $ 127,169     $ 126,127     $ 1,042       0.8%  
 
 
 
Net sales
 
                                 
 
    Years ended              
    January 3,     December 29,     Higher     Percent  
(dollars in thousands)   2009     2007     (lower)     change  
 
 
Net sales
  $ 4,248,770     $ 4,474,537     $ (225,767 )     (5.0% )
 
 
 
Consolidated net sales were lower by $226 million or 5% in 2008 compared to 2007 primarily due to weak sales at retail, which reflect a difficult economic and retail environment in which the ultimate consumers of our products have been significantly limiting their discretionary spending and visiting retail stores less frequently. The economic recession continued to impact consumer spending, resulting in one of the worst holiday shopping seasons in 40 years as retail sales fell for the sixth straight month in December. Our Innerwear, Outerwear, Hosiery and Other segment net sales were lower by $154 million (6%), $41 million (3%), $38 million (14%) and $35 million (62%), respectively, and were partially offset by higher net sales in our International segment of $38 million (9%). Although the majority of our products are replenishment in nature and tend to be purchased by consumers on a planned, rather than on an impulse, basis, weakness in the retail environment can impact our results in the short-term, as it did in 2008. The total impact of the 53rd week in 2008, which is included in the amounts above, was a $54 million increase in sales.
 
The lower net sales in our Innerwear segment were primarily due to a decline in the intimate apparel, socks, thermals and sleepwear product categories. Total intimate apparel net sales were $102 million lower in 2008 compared to 2007. We experienced lower intimate apparel sales in


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our smaller brands (barely there, Just My Size and Wonderbra) of $49 million, our Hanes brand of $42 million and our private label brands of $10 million which we believe was primarily attributable to weaker sales at retail as noted above. In 2008 compared to 2007, our Playtex brand intimate apparel net sales were higher by $10 million and our Bali brand intimate apparel net sales were lower by $11 million. Net sales in our male underwear product category were $8 million lower, which includes the impact of exiting a license arrangement for a boys’ character underwear program in early 2008 that lowered sales by $15 million. In addition, net sales of socks, thermals and sleepwear product categories were lower in 2008 compared to 2007 by $32 million, $10 million and $4 million, respectively.
 
In our Outerwear segment, net sales of our Champion brand activewear were $34 million higher in 2008 compared to 2007, and were offset by lower net sales of our casualwear product categories of $79 million. Net sales in our Hosiery segment declined substantially more than the long-term trend primarily due to lower sales of the Hanes brand to national chains and department stores and our L’eggs brand to mass retailers and food and drug stores in 2008 compared to 2007. We expect the trend of declining hosiery sales to continue consistent with the overall decline in the industry and with shifts in consumer preferences.
 
The overall lower net sales were partially offset by higher net sales in our International segment that were driven by a favorable impact of $22 million related to foreign currency exchange rates and by the growth in our casualwear businesses in Europe and Asia. The favorable impact of foreign currency exchange rates was primarily due to the strengthening of the Japanese yen, Euro and Brazilian real.
 
The decline in net sales for our Other segment is primarily due to the continued vertical integration of a yarn and fabric operation acquisition from 2006 with less focus on sales of nonfinished fabric and yarn to third parties. We expect this decline to continue and sales for this segment to ultimately become insignificant to us as we complete the implementation of our consolidation and globalization efforts.
 
Gross profit
 
                                 
 
    Years ended              
    January 3,
    December 29,
    Higher
    Percent
 
(dollars in thousands)   2009     2007     (lower)     change  
 
 
Gross profit
  $ 1,377,350     $ 1,440,910     $ (63,560 )     (4.4% )
 
 
 
As a percent of net sales, our gross profit percentage was 32.4% in 2008 compared to 32.2% in 2007. While the gross profit percentage was higher, gross profit dollars were lower due to lower sales volume of $85 million, unfavorable product sales mix of $35 million, higher cotton costs of $30 million, higher production costs of $20 million related to higher energy and oil related costs including freight costs and other vendor price increases of $12 million. The cotton prices reflected in our results were 65 cents per pound in 2008 as compared to 56 cents per pound in 2007. Energy and oil related costs were higher due to a spike in oil related commodity prices during the summer of 2008. Our results will continue to reflect higher costs for cotton and oil related materials until these costs cease to be reflected on our balance sheet in the first half of 2009 and we will start to benefit in the second half of 2009 from lower commodity costs. In addition, in connection with the consolidation and globalization of our supply chain, we incurred one-time restructuring related write-offs of stranded raw materials and work in process


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inventory determined not to be salvageable or cost-effective to relocate of $19 million in 2008, which were offset by lower accelerated depreciation of $13 million.
 
These higher expenses were primarily offset by savings from our cost reduction initiatives and prior restructuring actions of $41 million, lower other manufacturing overhead costs of $24 million primarily related to better volumes earlier in the year, lower on-going excess and obsolete inventory costs of $14 million, lower sales incentives of $11 million, $10 million of lower duty costs primarily related to higher refunds of $9 million, a $9 million favorable impact related to foreign currency exchange rates, $8 million of favorable one-time out of period cost recognition related to the capitalization of certain inventory supplies to be on a consistent basis across all business lines, $4 million of lower start-up and shut down costs associated with our consolidation and globalization of our supply chain and higher product sales pricing of $3 million. Our duty refunds were higher in 2008 primarily due to the final passage of the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement in Costa Rica as a result of which we can, on a one-time basis, recover duties paid since January 1, 2004 totaling approximately $15 million. The lower excess and obsolete inventory costs in 2008 are attributable to both our continuous evaluation of inventory levels and simplification of our product category offerings since the spin off. We realized the benefits of driving down obsolete inventory levels through aggressive management and promotions and realized the benefits from decreases in style counts ranging from 7% to 30% in our various product category offerings. The quality of our inventory remained good with obsolete inventory down 23% from last year. The favorable foreign currency exchange rate impact in our International segment was primarily due to the strengthening of the Japanese yen, Euro and Brazilian real.
 
Selling, general and administrative expenses
 
                                 
 
    Years ended              
    January 3,     December 29,     Higher     Percent  
(dollars in thousands)   2009     2007     (lower)     change  
 
 
Selling, general and administrative expenses
  $ 1,009,607     $ 1,040,754     $ (31,147 )     (3.0% )
 
 
 
Our selling, general and administrative expenses were $31 million lower in 2008 compared to 2007. Our cost reduction efforts resulted in lower expenses in 2008 compared to 2007 related to savings of $21 million from our prior restructuring actions for compensation and related benefits, lower consulting expenses related to various areas of $5 million, lower non-media related MAP expenses of $3 million, lower accelerated depreciation of $3 million, lower postretirement healthcare and life insurance expense of $2 million and lower stock compensation expense of $2 million.
 
Our media related MAP expenses were $11 million lower in 2008 as compared to 2007. While our spending for media related MAP was down in 2008, it was the second highest spending level in our history. We supported our key brands with targeted, effective advertising and marketing campaigns such as the launch of Hanes No Ride Up Panties and marketing initiatives for Champion and Playtex in the first half of 2008 and significantly lowered our overall spending during the second half of 2008. In contrast, in 2007, our media related MAP spending was spread across multiple product categories and brands. MAP expenses may vary from period to period during a fiscal year depending on the timing of our advertising campaigns for retail selling seasons and product introductions.


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In addition, spin off and related charges of $3 million recognized in 2007 did not recur in 2008. Our pension income of $12 million was higher by $9 million, which included an adjustment that reduced pension expense in 2007 related to the final separation of our pension assets and liabilities from those of Sara Lee.
 
We experienced higher bad debt expense of $7 million primarily related to the Mervyn’s bankruptcy, higher computer software amortization costs of $5 million, higher technology consulting and related expenses of $4 million and higher distribution expenses of $4 million in 2008 compared to 2007. The higher technology consulting and computer software amortization costs are related to our efforts to integrate our information technology systems across our company which involves reducing the number of information technology platforms serving our business functions. The higher distribution expenses in 2008 compared to 2007 were primarily related to higher volumes in our international business, higher postage and freight costs and higher rework expenses in our distribution centers. We also incurred higher expenses of $3 million in 2008 compared to 2007 as a result of opening 10 retail stores over the last 12 months. In addition, we incurred $7 million in amortization of gain on curtailment of postretirement benefits in 2007 which did not recur in 2008.
 
Gain on curtailment of postretirement benefits
 
                                 
 
    Years ended              
    January 3,     December 29,     Higher     Percent  
(dollars in thousands)   2009     2007     (lower)     change  
 
 
Gain on curtailment of postretirement benefits
  $     $ (32,144 )   $ (32,144 )     NM  
 
 
 
In December 2006, we notified retirees and employees of the phase out of premium subsidies for early retiree medical coverage and move to an access-only plan for early retirees by the end of 2007. In December 2007, in connection with the termination of the postretirement medical plan, we recognized a final gain on curtailment of plan benefits of $32 million. Concurrently with the termination of the existing plan, we established a new access only plan that is fully paid by the participants.
 
Restructuring
 
                                 
 
    Years ended              
    January 3,     December 29,     Higher     Percent  
(dollars in thousands)   2009     2007     (lower)     change  
 
 
Restructuring
  $ 50,263     $ 43,731     $ 6,532       14.9%  
 
 
 
During 2008, we approved actions to close 11 manufacturing facilities and three distribution centers and eliminate approximately 6,800 positions in Mexico, the United States, Costa Rica, Honduras and El Salvador. The production capacity represented by the manufacturing facilities has been relocated to lower cost locations in Asia, Central America and the Caribbean Basin. The distribution capacity has been relocated to our West Coast distribution facility in California in order to expand capacity for goods we source from Asia. In addition, approximately 200 management and administrative positions were eliminated, with the majority of these positions based in the United States. We recorded a charge of $34 million related to employee termination and other benefits recognized in accordance with benefit plans previously communicated


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to the affected employee group, fixed asset impairment charges of $9 million and charges related to exiting supply contracts of $11 million, which was partially offset by $4 million of favorable settlements of contract obligations for lower amounts than previously estimated.
 
In 2008, we recorded $19 million in one-time write-offs of stranded raw materials and work in process inventory determined not to be salvageable or cost-effective to relocate related to the closure of manufacturing facilities in the “Cost of sales” line. In addition, in connection with our consolidation and globalization strategy, in 2008 and 2007, we recognized non-cash charges of $24 million and $37 million, respectively, in the “Cost of sales” line and a non-cash charge of $3 million in the “Selling, general and administrative expenses” line in 2007 related to accelerated depreciation of buildings and equipment for facilities that have been closed or will be closed.
 
These actions, which are a continuation of our consolidation and globalization strategy, are expected to result in benefits of moving production to lower-cost manufacturing facilities, leveraging our large scale in high-volume products and consolidating production capacity.
 
During 2007, we incurred $44 million in restructuring charges which primarily related to a charge of $32 million related to employee termination and other benefits associated with plant closures approved during that period and the elimination of certain management and administrative positions, a $10 million charge for estimated lease termination costs associated with facility closures and a $2 million impairment charge associated with facility closures.
 
Operating profit
 
                                 
 
    Years ended              
    January 3,     December 29,     Higher     Percent  
(dollars in thousands)   2009     2007     (lower)     change  
 
 
Operating profit
  $ 317,480     $ 388,569     $ (71,089 )     (18.3% )
 
 
 
Operating profit was lower in 2008 compared to 2007 as a result of lower gross profit of $64 million, a $32 million gain on curtailment of postretirement benefits recognized in 2007 which did not recur in 2008 and higher restructuring and related charges for facility closures of $7 million partially offset by lower selling, general and administrative expenses of $31 million. The lower gross profit was primarily the result of lower sales volume, unfavorable product sales mix and increases in manufacturing input costs for cotton and energy and other oil related costs, all of which exceeded our savings from executing our consolidation and globalization strategy during 2008. The total impact of the 53rd week in 2008, which is included in the amounts above, was a $6 million increase in operating profit.
 
Other (income) expense
 
                                 
 
    Years ended              
    January 3,     December 29,     Higher     Percent  
(dollars in thousands)   2009     2007     (lower)     change  
 
 
Other (income) expense
  $ (634 )   $ 5,235     $ (5,869 )     (112.1% )
 
 
 
During 2008, we recognized a gain of $2 million related to the repurchase of $6 million of our Floating Rate Senior Notes for $4 million. This gain was partially offset by a $1 million loss on early extinguishment of debt related to unamortized debt issuance costs on the Senior Secured


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Credit Facilities for the prepayment of $125 million of principal in December 2008. During 2007, we recognized losses on early extinguishment of debt related to unamortized debt issuance costs on the Senior Secured Credit Facilities for prepayments of $428 million of principal in 2007, including a prepayment of $250 million that was made in connection with funding from the Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility we entered into in November 2007.
 
Interest expense, net
 
                                 
 
    Years ended              
    January 3,     December 29,     Higher     Percent  
(dollars in thousands)   2009     2007     (lower)     change  
 
 
Interest expense, net
  $ 155,077     $ 199,208     $ (44,131 )     (22.2% )
 
 
 
Interest expense, net was lower by $44 million in 2008 compared to 2007. The lower interest expense is primarily attributable to a lower weighted average interest rate, $32 million of which resulted from a lower LIBOR and $4 million of which resulted from reduced interest rates achieved through changes in our financing structure such as the February 2007 amendment to our Senior Secured Credit Facilities and the Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility that we entered into in November 2007. In addition, interest expense was reduced by $8 million as a result of our net prepayments of long-term debt during 2007 and 2008 of $303 million. Our weighted average interest rate on our outstanding debt was 6.09% during 2008 compared to 7.74% in 2007.
 
At January 3, 2009, we had outstanding interest rate hedging arrangements whereby we have capped the interest rate on $400 million of our floating rate debt at 3.50% and had fixed the interest rate on $1.4 billion of our floating rate debt at 4.16%. Approximately 82% of our total debt outstanding at January 3, 2009 was at a fixed or capped LIBOR rate.
 
Income tax expense
 
                                 
 
    Years ended              
    January 3,     December 29,     Higher     Percent  
(dollars in thousands)   2009     2007     (lower)     change  
 
 
Income tax expense
  $ 35,868     $ 57,999     $ (22,131 )     (38.2% )
 
 
 
Our annual effective income tax rate was 22.0% in 2008 compared to 31.5% in 2007. The lower income tax expense is attributable primarily to lower pre-tax income and a lower effective income tax rate. The lower effective income tax rate is primarily due to higher unremitted earnings from foreign subsidiaries in 2008 taxed at rates less than the U.S. statutory rate. Our annual effective tax rate reflects our strategic initiative to make substantial capital investments outside the United States in our global supply chain in 2008.
 
Net income
 
                                 
 
    Years ended              
    January 3,     December 29,     Higher     Percent  
(dollars in thousands)   2009     2007     (lower)     change  
 
 
Net income
  $ 127,169     $ 126,127     $ 1,042       0.8%  
 
 


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Net income for 2008 was higher than 2007 primarily due to lower interest expense, lower selling, general and administrative expenses and a lower effective income tax rate offset by lower gross profit resulting from lower sales volume and higher manufacturing input costs, a gain on curtailment of postretirement benefits recognized in 2007 which did not recur in 2008 and higher restructuring charges. The total impact of the 53rd week in 2008 was a $3 million increase in net income.
 
Operating results by business segment—year ended January 3, 2009 (“2008”) compared with year ended December 29, 2007 (“2007”)
 
                                 
 
    Years ended              
    January 3,     December 29,     Higher     Percent  
(dollars in thousands)   2009     2007     (lower)     change  
 
 
Net sales:
                               
Innerwear
  $ 2,402,831     $ 2,556,906     $ (154,075 )     (6.0% )
Outerwear
    1,180,747       1,221,845       (41,098 )     (3.4 )
Hosiery
    227,924       266,198       (38,274 )     (14.4 )
International
    460,085       421,898       38,187       9.1  
Other
    21,724       56,920       (35,196 )     (61.8 )
             
             
Total segment net sales
    4,293,311       4,523,767       (230,456 )     (5.1 )
Intersegment
    (44,541 )     (49,230 )     (4,689 )     (9.5 )
             
             
Total net sales
  $ 4,248,770     $ 4,474,537     $ (225,767 )     (5.0 )
Segment operating profit (loss):
                               
Innerwear
  $ 277,486     $ 305,959     $ (28,473 )     (9.3 )
Outerwear
    68,769       71,364       (2,595 )     (3.6 )
Hosiery
    71,596       76,917       (5,321 )     (6.9 )
International
    57,070       53,147       3,923       7.4  
Other
    (472 )     (1,361 )     889       65.3  
             
             
Total segment operating profit
    474,449       506,026       (31,577 )     (6.2 )
Items not included in segment operating profit:
                               
General corporate expenses
    (52,143 )     (60,213 )     (8,070 )     (13.4 )
Amortization of trademarks and other intangibles
    (12,019 )     (6,205 )     5,814       93.7  
Gain on curtailment of postretirement benefits
          32,144       (32,144 )     NM  
Restructuring
    (50,263 )     (43,731 )     6,532       14.9  
Inventory write-off included in cost of sales
    (18,696 )           18,696       NM  
Accelerated depreciation included in cost of sales
    (23,862 )     (36,912 )     (13,050 )     (35.4 )
Accelerated depreciation included in selling, general and administrative expenses
    14       (2,540 )     (2,554 )     (100.6 )
             
             
Total operating profit
    317,480       388,569       (71,089 )     (18.3 )
Other income (expense)
    634       (5,235 )     5,869       112.1  
Interest expense, net
    (155,077 )     (199,208 )     (44,131 )     (22.2 )
             
             
Income before income tax expense
  $ 163,037     $ 184,126     $ (21,089 )     (11.5% )
 
 


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Innerwear
 
                                 
 
    Years ended              
    January 3,     December 29,     Higher     Percent  
(dollars in thousands)   2009     2007     (lower)     change  
 
 
Net sales
  $ 2,402,831     $ 2,556,906     $ (154,075 )     (6.0% )
Segment operating profit
    277,486       305,959       (28,473 )     (9.3 )
 
 
 
Overall net sales in the Innerwear segment were lower by $154 million or 6% in 2008 compared to 2007. The difficult economic and retail environment significantly impacted consumers’ discretionary spending which resulted in lower sales in our intimate apparel, socks, thermals and sleepwear product categories. Total intimate apparel net sales were $102 million lower in 2008 compared to 2007. We experienced lower intimate apparel sales in our smaller brands (barely there, Just My Size and Wonderbra) of $49 million, our Hanes brand of $42 million and our private label brands of $10 million which we believe was primarily attributable to weaker sales at retail. In 2008 compared to 2007, our Playtex brand intimate apparel net sales were higher by $10 million and our Bali brand intimate apparel net sales were lower by $11 million. The growth in our Playtex brand sales was supported by successful marketing initiatives in the first half of 2008. Net sales in our male underwear product category were $8 million lower, which includes the impact of exiting a license arrangement for a boys’ character underwear program in early 2008 that lowered sales by $15 million. The lower net sales in our socks product category reflects a decline in kids’ and men’s Hanes brand net sales of $19 million and Champion brand net sales of $11 million primarily related to the loss of a men’s program for one of our customers. In addition, net sales of thermals and sleepwear product categories were lower in 2008 compared to 2007 by $10 million and $4 million, respectively. The total impact of the 53rd week in 2008, which is included in the amounts above, was a $34 million increase in sales for the Innerwear segment.
 
As a percent of segment net sales, gross profit percentage in the Innerwear segment was 36.9% in 2008 compared to 36.8% in 2007. While the gross profit percentage was higher, gross profit dollars were lower due to lower sales volume of $67 million, unfavorable product sales mix of $28 million, higher cotton costs of $12 million, higher production costs of $10 million related to higher energy and oil related costs including freight costs, other vendor price increases of $7 million and lower product sales pricing of $4 million. These higher costs were offset by savings from our cost reduction initiatives and prior restructuring actions of $27 million, lower sales incentives of $21 million, $11 million of lower duty costs primarily related to higher refunds and $8 million of favorable one-time out of period cost recognition related to the capitalization of certain inventory supplies to be on a consistent basis across all business lines. In addition, we incurred lower on-going excess and obsolete inventory costs of $8 million arising from realizing the benefits of driving down obsolete inventory levels through aggressive management and promotions and simplifying our product category offerings which reduced our style counts ranging from 7% to 30% in our various product category offerings.
 
The lower Innerwear segment operating profit in 2008 compared to 2007 is primarily attributable to lower gross profit and higher bad debt expense of $4 million primarily related to the Mervyn’s bankruptcy. We also incurred higher expenses of $3 million in 2008 compared to 2007 as a result of opening 10 retail stores over the last 12 months. These higher costs were partially offset by savings of $15 million from prior restructuring actions primarily for compensation and related benefits, lower media related MAP expenses of $8 million and lower non-media related


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MAP expenses of $7 million. A significant portion of the selling, general and administrative expenses in each segment is an allocation of our consolidated selling, general and administrative expenses, however certain expenses that are specifically identifiable to a segment are charged directly to each segment. The allocation methodology for the consolidated selling, general and administrative expenses for 2008 is consistent with 2007. Our consolidated selling, general and administrative expenses before segment allocations was $31 million lower in 2008 compared to 2007.
 
Outerwear
 
                                 
 
    Years ended              
    January 3,     December 29,     Higher     Percent  
(dollars in thousands)   2009     2007     (lower)     change  
 
 
Net sales
  $ 1,180,747     $ 1,221,845     $ (41,098 )     (3.4% )
Segment operating profit
    68,769       71,364       (2,595 )     (3.6 )
 
 
 
Net sales in the Outerwear segment were lower by $41 million or 3% in 2008 compared to 2007, primarily as a result of higher net sales of Champion brand activewear of $34 million offset by lower net sales of retail casualwear of $55 million and lower net sales through our embellishment channel of $24 million, primarily in promotional t-shirts and sportshirts. Our Champion brand sales continued to benefit from our investment in the brand through our marketing initiatives. Our “How You Play” marketing campaign has received a very positive response from consumers. The lower retail casualwear net sales of $55 million reflect a $6 million impact related to the loss of seasonal programs continuing into the first half of 2009. We expect the impact on 2009 net sales of losing these programs, which consist of recurring seasonal programs that were renewed in prior years but were not renewed for 2009, to occur primarily in the first half of 2009; losses may be offset by any new seasonal programs we may add. The total impact of the 53rd week in 2008, which is included in the amounts above, was a $14 million increase in sales for the Outerwear segment.
 
As a percent of segment net sales, gross profit percentage in the Outerwear segment was 22.1% in 2008 compared to 21.6% in 2007. While the gross profit percentage was higher, gross profit dollars were lower due to higher cotton costs of $18 million, higher production costs of $10 million related to higher energy and oil related costs including freight costs, lower sales volume of $9 million, higher sales incentives of $8 million and other vendor price increases of $3 million. These higher costs were partially offset by lower other manufacturing overhead costs of $23 million, savings of $11 million from our cost reduction initiatives and prior restructuring actions, higher product sales pricing of $7 million, lower on-going excess and obsolete inventory costs of $2 million and favorable product sales mix of $2 million.
 
The lower Outerwear segment operating profit in 2008 compared to 2007 is primarily attributable to lower gross profit, higher distribution expenses of $5 million, higher technology consulting and related expenses of $3 million, higher non-media related MAP expenses of $3 million and higher bad debt expense of $2 million primarily related to the Mervyn’s bankruptcy. These higher costs were partially offset by savings of $6 million from our cost reduction initiatives and prior restructuring actions and lower media-related MAP expenses of $5 million. A significant portion of the selling, general and administrative expenses in each segment is an allocation of our consolidated selling, general and administrative expenses, however certain expenses that are specifically identifiable to a segment are charged directly to


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each segment. The allocation methodology for the consolidated selling, general and administrative expenses for 2008 is consistent with 2007. Our consolidated selling, general and administrative expenses before segment allocations was $31 million lower in 2008 compared to 2007.
 
Hosiery
 
                                 
 
    Years ended              
    January 3,     December 29,     Higher     Percent  
(dollars in thousands)   2009     2007     (lower)     change  
 
 
Net sales
  $ 227,924     $ 266,198     $ (38,274 )     (14.4% )
Segment operating profit
    71,596       76,917       (5,321 )     (6.9 )
 
 
 
Net sales in the Hosiery segment declined by $38 million or 14%, which was substantially more than the long-term trend primarily due to lower sales of the Hanes brand to national chains and department stores and the L’eggs brand to mass retailers and food and drug stores. In addition, we experienced lower sales of $4 million related the Donna Karan and DKNY license agreement and lower sales of our Just My Size brand of $3 million. We expect the trend of declining hosiery sales to continue consistent with the overall decline in the industry and with shifts in consumer preferences. Generally, we manage the Hosiery segment for cash, placing an emphasis on reducing our cost structure and managing cash efficiently. The total impact of the 53rd week in 2008, which is included in the amounts above, was a $4 million increase in sales for the Hosiery segment.
 
As a percent of segment net sales, gross profit percentage was 47.1% in 2008 compared to 47.2% in 2007. The lower gross profit percentage for 2008 compared to 2007 is the result of unfavorable product sales mix of $17 million and lower sales volume of $10 million, offset by savings of $4 million from our cost reduction initiatives and prior restructuring actions, lower sales incentives of $4 million and lower other manufacturing overhead costs of $2 million.
 
The lower Hosiery segment operating profit in 2008 compared to 2007 is primarily attributable to lower gross profit partially offset by lower distribution expenses of $5 million, savings of $2 million from our cost reduction initiatives and prior restructuring actions, lower non-media related MAP expenses of $2 million and lower spending of $3 million in numerous areas. A significant portion of the selling, general and administrative expenses in each segment is an allocation of our consolidated selling, general and administrative expenses, however certain expenses that are specifically identifiable to a segment are charged directly to each segment. The allocation methodology for the consolidated selling, general and administrative expenses for 2008 is consistent with 2007. Our consolidated selling, general and administrative expenses before segment allocations was $31 million lower in 2008 compared to 2007.
 
International
 
                                 
 
    Years ended              
    January 3,     December 29,     Higher     Percent  
(dollars in thousands)   2009     2007     (lower)     change  
 
 
Net sales
  $ 460,085     $ 421,898     $ 38,187       9.1%  
Segment operating profit
    57,070       53,147       3,923       7.4  
 
 


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Overall net sales in the International segment were higher by $38 million or 9% in 2008 compared to 2007. During 2008, we experienced higher net sales, in each case including the impact of foreign currency and the 53rd week, in Europe of $20 million, Asia of $18 million and Canada of $2 million. The growth in our European casualwear business was driven by the strength of the Stedman brand that is sold in the embellishment channel. Higher sales in our Champion brand casualwear business in Asia and our Champion and Hanes brands male underwear business in Canada also contributed to the sales growth. Changes in foreign currency exchange rates had a favorable impact on net sales of $22 million in 2008 compared to 2007. The favorable impact was primarily due to the strengthening of the Japanese yen, Euro and Brazilian real. The total impact of the 53rd week in 2008 was a $2 million increase in sales for the International segment.
 
As a percent of segment net sales, gross profit percentage was 40.8% in 2008 compared to 2007 at 41.3%. While the gross profit percentage was lower, gross profit dollars were higher for 2008 compared to 2007 as a result of a favorable impact related to foreign currency exchange rates of $9 million, favorable product sales mix of $7 million and lower on-going excess and obsolete inventory costs of $3 million partially offset by higher sales incentives of $6 million.
 
The higher International segment operating profit in 2008 compared to 2007 is primarily attributable to the higher gross profit partially offset by higher distribution expenses of $3 million, higher media-related MAP expenses of $2 million and higher non-media related MAP expenses of $2 million. Changes in foreign currency exchange rates, which are included in the impact on gross profit above, had a favorable impact on segment operating profit of $4 million in 2008 compared to 2007.
 
Other
 
                                 
 
    Years ended              
    January 3,     December 29,     Higher     Percent  
(dollars in thousands)   2009     2007     (lower)     change  
 
 
Net sales
  $ 21,724     $ 56,920     $ (35,196 )     (61.8% )
Segment operating profit
    (472 )     (1,361 )     889       65.3  
 
 
 
The decline in net sales in our Other segment is primarily due to the continued vertical integration of a yarn and fabric operation acquisition from 2006 with less focus on sales of nonfinished fabric and yarn to third parties. We expect this decline to continue and sales for this segment to ultimately become insignificant to us as we complete the implementation of our consolidation and globalization efforts. Net sales in this segment are generated for the purpose of maintaining asset utilization at certain manufacturing facilities and generating break even margins.
 
General corporate expenses
 
General corporate expenses were lower in 2008 compared to 2007 primarily due to $11 million of higher foreign exchange transaction gains, $6 million of higher gains on sales of assets, $3 million of lower start-up and shut-down costs associated with our consolidation and globalization of our supply chain and $3 million of spin off and related charges recognized in 2007 which did not recur in 2008. These lower expenses were partially offset by $7 million in amortization of gain on curtailment of postretirement benefits in 2007 which did not recur in


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2008, $7 million in losses from foreign currency derivatives and a $3 million adjustment that reduced pension expense in 2007 related to the final separation of our pension assets and liabilities from those of Sara Lee.
 
Liquidity and capital resources
 
Trends and uncertainties affecting liquidity
 
Our primary sources of liquidity are cash generated by operations and availability under our Revolving Loan Facility and our international loan facilities. At October 3, 2009, we had $474 million of borrowing availability under our $500 million Revolving Loan Facility (after taking into account outstanding letters of credit), $39 million in cash and cash equivalents and $71 million of borrowing availability under our international loan facilities. As of October 3, 2009, after giving effect to the Transactions and the application of the estimated net proceeds therefrom as set forth under “Use of proceeds,” we would have had total consolidated indebtedness of $2,087.7 million, consisting of $845.0 million of secured indebtedness outstanding under the New Senior Secured Credit Facilities, $500.0 million of the notes offered hereby, $493.7 million of the Floating Rate Senior Notes and $249.0 million outstanding under our Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility. We currently believe that our existing cash balances and cash generated by operations, together with our available credit capacity, will enable us to comply with the terms of our indebtedness and meet foreseeable liquidity requirements.
 
The following has or is expected to impact liquidity:
 
•  we have principal and interest obligations under our long-term debt;
 
•  we expect to continue to invest in efforts to improve operating efficiencies and lower costs;
 
•  we expect to continue to add new lower-cost manufacturing capacity in Asia, Central America and the Caribbean Basin;
 
•  we could increase or decrease the portion of the income of our foreign subsidiaries that is expected to be remitted to the United States, which could significantly impact our effective income tax rate; and
 
•  our Board of Directors has authorized the repurchase of up to 10 million shares of our stock in the open market over the next few years (2.8 million of which we have repurchased as of October 3, 2009 at a cost of $75 million), although we may choose not to repurchase any stock and instead focus on the repayment of our debt in the next 12 months in light of the current economic recession.
 
We have restructured our supply chain over the past three years to create more efficient production clusters that utilize fewer, larger facilities and to balance our production capability between the Western Hemisphere and Asia. With our global supply chain restructured, we are now focused on optimizing our supply chain to further enhance efficiency, improve working capital and asset turns and reduce costs. We are focused on optimizing the working capital needs of our supply chain through several initiatives, such as supplier-managed inventory for raw materials and sourced goods ownership relationships.
 
We are operating in an uncertain and volatile economic environment, which could have unanticipated adverse effects on our business. The retail environment has been impacted by recent volatility in the financial markets, including stock prices, and by uncertain economic


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conditions. Increases in food and fuel prices, changes in the credit and housing markets leading to the current financial and credit crisis, actual and potential job losses among many sectors of the economy, significant declines in the stock market resulting in large losses to consumer retirement and investment accounts, and uncertainty regarding future federal tax and economic policies have all added to declines in consumer confidence and curtailed retail spending.
 
In the third quarter of 2009, we have not seen a sustained consistent rebound in consumer spending but rather mixed results. We expect the weak retail environment to continue and do not expect macroeconomic conditions to be conducive to growth in 2009. We also expect substantial pressure on profitability due to the economic climate, increased pension costs and increased costs associated with implementing our price increase which became effective in February 2009, including repackaging costs. Our results in the first nine months of 2009 were impacted by higher costs for cotton and oil-related materials incurred in 2008, however we started to benefit in the second quarter of 2009 from lower cotton costs and in the third quarter of 2009 from lower oil-related material costs and other manufacturing costs. In addition, hosiery products continue to be more adversely impacted than other apparel categories by reduced consumer discretionary spending, which contributes to weaker sales and lowering of inventory levels by retailers. The Hosiery segment comprised only 5% of our net sales in the first nine months of 2009; therefore the decline in the Hosiery segment has not had a significant impact on our net sales or cash flows. Generally, we manage the Hosiery segment for cash, placing an emphasis on reducing our cost structure and managing cash efficiently.
 
We expect to be able to manage our working capital levels and capital expenditure amounts to maintain sufficient levels of liquidity. Factors that could help us in these efforts include the domestic gross price increase of 4% which became effective in February 2009, lower commodity costs in the remainder of 2009, the ability to execute previously discussed discretionary spending cuts and the realization of additional cost benefits from previous restructuring and related actions. Depending on conditions in the capital markets and other factors, we will from time to time consider other financing transactions, the proceeds of which could be used to refinance current indebtedness or for other purposes. We continue to monitor the impact, if any, of the current conditions in the credit markets on our operations. Our access to financing at reasonable interest rates could become influenced by the economic and credit market environment.
 
Cash requirements for our business
 
We rely on our cash flows generated from operations and the borrowing capacity under our Revolving Loan Facility and international loan facilities to meet the cash requirements of our business. The primary cash requirements of our business are payments to vendors in the normal course of business, restructuring costs, capital expenditures, maturities of debt and related interest payments, contributions to our pension plans and repurchases of our stock. We believe we have sufficient cash and available borrowings for our liquidity needs. In light of the current economic environment and our outlook for 2009, we expect to use excess cash flows to pay down long-term debt of approximately $300 million rather than to repurchase our stock or make discretionary contributions to our pension plans. In September 2009, we made a prepayment of $140 million of principal on the Senior Secured Credit Facilities.
 
The implementation of our consolidation and globalization strategy, which is designed to improve operating efficiencies and lower costs, has resulted and is likely to continue to result in significant costs in the short-term and generate savings in future years. As further plans are developed and approved, we expect to recognize additional restructuring costs as we eliminate


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duplicative functions within the organization and transition a significant portion of our manufacturing capacity to lower-cost locations. We expect that restructuring charges related to our consolidation and globalization strategy will be completed by the end of 2009. During the nine months of 2009 we recognized $53 million in restructuring and related charges for our restructuring actions.
 
Capital spending has varied significantly from year to year as we have executed our supply chain consolidation and globalization strategy and completed the integration and consolidation of our technology systems. We spent $100 million on gross capital expenditures during the nine months of 2009 which represents approximately 80% of planned expenditures for the full year in 2009. We will place emphasis in the near term on careful management of our capital expenditures for the rest of 2009 as we complete our supply chain consolidation and globalization strategy. During 2010, we expect our annual gross capital spending to be relatively comparable to our annual depreciation and amortization expense.
 
Pension plans
 
Since the spin off, we have voluntarily contributed $98 million to our pension plans as of January 3, 2009. Additionally, during 2007 we completed the separation of our pension plan assets and liabilities from those of Sara Lee in accordance with governmental regulations, which resulted in a higher total amount of pension plan assets of approximately $74 million being transferred to us than originally was estimated prior to the spin off. Prior to spin off, the fair value of plan assets included in the annual valuations represented a best estimate based upon a percentage allocation of total assets of the Sara Lee trust.
 
As widely reported, financial markets in the United States, Europe and Asia have been experiencing extreme disruption in recent months. As a result of this disruption in the domestic and international equity and bond markets, our pension plans had a decrease in asset values of approximately 32% during the year ended January 3, 2009.
 
In March 2009, the IRS published guidance regarding pension funding requirements for 2009, which allowed for the selection of a monthly discount rate from any month within a five-month lookback period prior to the pension plan year-end as compared to the use of the December 2008 monthly discount rate in the valuation of liabilities. Applying the October 2008 monthly discount rate in accordance with this new IRS guidance, the funded status of our U.S. qualified pension plans as of January 3, 2009, the date as of which pension contributions are determined for 2009, was 86% rather than 75% as calculated under the previous guidance and previously reported. In connection with closing a manufacturing facility in early 2009, we, as required, notified the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (the “PBGC”) of the closing and requested a liability determination under section 4062(e) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 with respect to the National Textiles, L.L.C. Pension Plan. In September 2009, we entered an agreement with the PBGC under which we contributed $7 million to the plan in September 2009 and agreed to contribute an additional $7 million to the plan by September 2010. In addition, in September 2009 we made a voluntary contribution of $2 million to the plan to maintain a funding level sufficient to avoid certain benefit payment restrictions under the Pension Protection Act. We do not expect to make any more contributions to our plan in 2009.
 
Share repurchase program
 
On February 1, 2007, we announced that our Board of Directors granted authority for the repurchase of up to 10 million shares of our common stock. Share repurchases are made periodically


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in open-market transactions, and are subject to market conditions, legal requirements and other factors. Additionally, management has been granted authority to establish a trading plan under Rule 10b5-1 of the Exchange Act in connection with share repurchases, which will allow us to repurchase shares in the open market during periods in which the stock trading window is otherwise closed for our company and certain of our officers and employees pursuant to our insider trading policy. During 2008, we purchased 1.2 million shares of our common stock at a cost of $30 million (average price of $24.71). Since inception of the program, we have purchased 2.8 million shares of our common stock at a cost of $75 million (average price of $26.33). The primary objective of our share repurchase program is to reduce the impact of dilution caused by the exercise of options and vesting of stock unit awards. In light of the current economic recession, we may choose not to repurchase any stock and focus more on the repayment of our debt in the next twelve months.
 
Off-balance sheet arrangements
 
We do not have any off-balance sheet arrangements within the meaning of Item 303(a)(4) of SEC Regulation S-K.
 
Future contractual obligations and commitments
 
The following table contains information on our contractual obligations and commitments as of January 3, 2009, and their expected timing on future cash flows and liquidity, in each case, without giving effect to the Transactions.
 
                                         
 
          Payments due by period  
    At January 3,     Less than                    
(in thousands)   2009     1 year     1-3 years     3-5 years     Thereafter  
 
 
Long-term debt
  $ 2,176,547     $ 45,640     $ 276,602     $ 910,625     $ 943,680  
Notes payable
    61,734       61,734                    
Interest on debt obligations(1)
    575,778       121,479       224,966       200,063       29,270  
Operating lease obligations
    226,633       43,488       71,840       41,639       69,666  
Purchase obligations(2)
    626,919       507,373       41,149       27,076       51,321  
Other long-term obligations(3)
    76,856       29,460       19,712       14,334       13,350  
     
     
Total
  $ 3,744,467     $ 809,174     $ 634,269     $ 1,193,737     $ 1,107,287  
 
 
 
(1) Interest obligations on floating rate debt instruments are calculated for future periods using interest rates in effect at January 3, 2009.
 
(2) “Purchase obligations,” as disclosed in the table, are obligations to purchase goods and services in the ordinary course of business for production and inventory needs (such as raw materials, supplies, packaging, and manufacturing arrangements), capital expenditures, marketing services, royalty-bearing license agreement payments and other professional services. This table only includes purchase obligations for which we have agreed upon a fixed or minimum quantity to purchase, a fixed, minimum or variable pricing arrangement, and an approximate delivery date. Actual cash expenditures relating to these obligations may vary from the amounts shown in the table above. We enter into purchase obligations when terms or conditions are favorable or when a long-term commitment is necessary. Many of these arrangements are cancelable after a notice period without a significant penalty. This table omits purchase obligations that did not exist as of January 3, 2009, as well as obligations for accounts payable and accrued liabilities recorded on the Consolidated Balance Sheet at January 3, 2009.
 
(3) Represents the projected payment for long-term liabilities recorded on the Consolidated Balance Sheet at January 3, 2009 for deferred compensation, severance, certain employee benefit claims, capital leases and unrecognized tax benefits.


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Sources and uses of our cash
 
The information presented below regarding the sources and uses of our cash flows for the nine months ended October 3, 2009 and September 27, 2008 and for the years ended January 3, 2009 and December 29, 2007 was derived from our financial statements.
 
                                 
 
    Nine months ended     Years ended  
    October 3,
    September 27,
    January 3,
    December 29,
 
(dollars in thousands)   2009     2008     2009     2007  
 
 
Operating activities
  $ 210,807     $ (18,621 )   $ 177,397     $ 359,040  
Investing activities
    (83,885 )     (109,644 )     (177,248 )     (101,085 )
Financing activities
    (155,935 )     40,776       (104,738 )     (243,379 )
Effect of changes in foreign currency exchange rates on cash
    288       (535 )     (2,305 )     3,687  
     
     
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
  $ (28,725 )   $ (88,024 )   $ (106,894 )   $ 18,263  
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year
    67,342       174,236       174,236       155,973  
     
     
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
  $ 38,617     $ 86,212     $ 67,342     $ 174,236  
 
 
 
Operating activities
 
Net cash provided by operating activities was $211 million in the nine months of 2009 compared to net cash used in operating activities of $19 million in the nine months of 2008. The net increase in cash from operating activities of $230 million for the nine months of 2009 compared to the nine months of 2008 is primarily attributable to significantly lower uses of our working capital of $272 million, partially offset by lower net income of $57 million.
 
Net inventory decreased $159 million from January 3, 2009 primarily due to decreases in levels as we complete the execution of our supply chain consolidation and globalization strategy, lower input costs such as cotton, oil and freight and lower excess and obsolete inventory levels. We continually monitor our inventory levels to best balance current supply and demand with potential future demand that typically surges when consumers no longer postpone purchases in our product categories. The lower excess and obsolete inventory levels are attributable to both our continuous evaluation of inventory levels and simplification of our product category offerings. We realized these benefits by driving down obsolete inventory levels through aggressive management and promotions.
 
Accounts receivable increased $129 million from January 3, 2009 primarily due to higher sales in the third quarter of 2009 compared to the fourth quarter of 2008 and a longer collection cycle reflecting a more challenging retail environment.
 
With our global supply chain restructured, we are now focused on optimizing our supply chain to further enhance efficiency, improve working capital and asset turns and reduce costs. We are focused on optimizing the working capital needs of our supply chain through several initiatives, such as supplier-managed inventory for raw materials and sourced goods ownership relationships. In September 2009, we announced that we will cease making our own yarn and that we


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will source all of our yarn requirements from large-scale yarn suppliers. We entered into an agreement with Parkdale America under which we agreed to sell or lease assets related to operations at our four yarn manufacturing facilities to Parkdale America. We also entered into a yarn purchase agreement with Parkdale. Under this agreement, which has an initial term of six years, Parkdale will produce and sell to us a substantial amount of our Western Hemisphere yarn requirements. Exiting yarn production and entering into a supply agreement is expected to generate a $100 million of working capital improvements from reduced raw material requirements, reduced inventory, and sale proceeds. During the first two years of the term, Parkdale will also produce and sell to us a substantial amount of the yarn requirements of our Nanjing, China textile facility.
 
Net cash provided by operating activities was $177 million in 2008 compared to $359 million in 2007. The net change in cash from operating activities of $182 million for 2008 compared to 2007 is attributable to the higher uses of our working capital, primarily driven by changes in inventory. Inventory grew $183 million from December 29, 2007 primarily due to increases in levels needed to service our business as we continued to execute our consolidation and globalization strategy which had an impact of approximately $112 million. In addition, cost increases for inputs such as cotton, oil and freight were approximately $53 million and other factors such as reserves had an impact of approximately $18 million. We continually monitor our inventory levels to best balance current supply and demand with potential future demand that typically surges when consumers no longer postpone purchases in our product categories. Accounts receivable was lower in 2008 compared to 2007 primarily as a result of lower sales volume in the fourth quarter of 2008.
 
Investing activities
 
Net cash used in investing activities was $84 million in the nine months of 2009 compared to $110 million in the nine months of 2008. The lower net cash used in investing activities of $26 million for the nine months of 2009 compared to the nine months of 2008 was primarily the result of lower net spending on capital expenditures in the nine months of 2009 compared to the nine months of 2008 and an acquisition of a sewing operation in Thailand for $10 million in the nine months of 2008. During the nine months of 2009, gross capital expenditures were $100 million as we continued to build out our textile and sewing network in Asia, Central America and the Caribbean Basin and approximated 80% of our planned spending for all of 2009.
 
Net cash used in investing activities was $177 million in 2008 compared to $101 million in 2007. The higher net cash used in investing activities of $76 million for 2008 compared to 2007 was primarily the result of higher capital expenditures. During 2008 gross capital expenditures were $187 million as we continued to build out our textile and sewing network in Asia, Central America and the Caribbean Basin and invest in our technology strategic initiatives which were offset by cash proceeds from sales of assets of $25 million, primarily from dispositions of plant and equipment associated with our restructuring initiatives. In addition, we acquired a sewing operation in Thailand and an embroidery operation in Honduras for an aggregate cost of $15 million during 2008.
 
Financing activities
 
Net cash used in financing activities was $156 million in the nine months of 2009 compared to cash provided by financing activities of $41 million in the nine months of 2008. The lower net


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cash from financing activities of $197 million for the nine months of 2009 compared to the nine months of 2008 was primarily the result of the prepayment of $140 million of principal in September 2009 and payments of $22 million for debt amendment fees associated with the amendments of the Senior Secured Credit Facilities and the Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility in 2009. Lower net borrowings on notes payable of $51 million partially offset by higher net borrowings of $6 million on the Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility also contributed to the higher net cash used in financing activities in the nine months of 2009 compared to the nine months of 2008. In addition, we received $18 million in cash from Sara Lee in the nine months of 2008 which was offset by stock repurchases of $30 million in the nine months of 2008.
 
Net cash used in financing activities was $105 million in 2008 compared to $243 million in 2007. The lower net cash used in financing activities of $138 million for 2008 compared to 2007 was primarily the result of lower repayments of $303 million under the Senior Secured Credit Facilities, higher net borrowings on notes payable of $65 million, the receipt from Sara Lee of $18 million in cash in 2008 and lower stock repurchases of $14 million, partially offset by borrowings of $250 million of principal under the Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility in 2007, repayments of $7 million under the Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility in 2008 and cash paid to repurchase $4 million of Floating Rate Senior Notes in 2008.
 
Cash and cash equivalents
 
As of October 3, 2009 and January 3, 2009, cash and cash equivalents were $39 million and $67 million, respectively. The lower cash and cash equivalents as of October 3, 2009 was primarily the result of cash provided by operating activities of $211 million, partially offset by net cash used in financing activities of $156 million and net cash used in investing activities of $84 million
 
As of January 3, 2009 and December 29, 2007, cash and cash equivalents were $67 million and $174 million, respectively. The lower cash and cash equivalents as of January 3, 2009 was primarily the result of net capital expenditures of $162 million, net principal payments on debt of $139 million, $30 million of stock repurchases, the acquisitions of a sewing operation in Thailand and an embroidery operation in Honduras for an aggregate cost of $15 million partially offset by $178 million related to other uses of working capital, $43 million of net borrowings on notes payable and the receipt from Sara Lee of $18 million in cash.
 
Material financing arrangements
 
We believe our financing structure provides a secure base to support our ongoing operations and key business strategies. Depending on conditions in the capital markets and other factors, we will from time to time consider other financing transactions, the proceeds of which could be used to refinance current indebtedness or for other purposes. We continue to monitor the impact, if any, of the current conditions in the credit markets on our operations. Our access to financing at reasonable interest rates could become influenced by the economic and credit market environment. Deterioration in the capital markets, which has caused many financial institutions to seek additional capital, merge with larger and stronger financial institutions and, in some cases, fail, has led to concerns about the stability of financial institutions. We currently hold interest rate cap and swap derivative instruments to mitigate a portion of our interest rate risk and hold foreign exchange rate derivative instruments to mitigate the potential impact of currency fluctuations. Credit risk is the exposure to nonperformance of another party to these


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arrangements. We mitigate credit risk by dealing with highly rated bank counterparties. We believe that our exposures are appropriately diversified across counterparties and that these counterparties are creditworthy financial institutions.
 
Moody’s Investors Service’s (“Moody’s”) corporate credit rating for our company is Ba3 and Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services’ (“Standard & Poor’s”) corporate credit rating for us is BB-. In November 2009, Moody’s changed our rating outlook to “stable” from “negative” and affirmed certain of our ratings, including the Ba3 corporate credit and probability of default ratings and the speculative grade liquidity rating of SGL-2. Moody’s also upgraded its ratings on some of the Senior Secured Credit Facilities and the Second Lien Credit Facility. Moody’s indicated that the outlook revision reflects the progress we have made toward deleveraging our balance sheet. In September 2009, Standard & Poor’s changed our current outlook to “negative” and placed our corporate credit rating and all issue-level ratings for us on “Creditwatch with negative implications.” Standard & Poor’s cited its concern that our operating performance and credit metrics had weakened materially through the second quarter of 2009.
 
In connection with the spin off, on September 5, 2006, we entered into the $2.15 billion Senior Secured Credit Facilities (which include the $500 million Revolving Loan Facility that was undrawn at the time of the spin off), the $450 million Second Lien Credit Facility and the $500 million Bridge Loan Facility. We paid $2.4 billion of the proceeds of these borrowings to Sara Lee in connection with the consummation of the spin off. The Bridge Loan Facility was paid off in full through the issuance of the $500 million of Floating Rate Senior Notes issued in December 2006. On November 27, 2007, we entered into the Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility which provides for up to $250 million in funding accounted for as a secured borrowing, limited to the availability of eligible receivables, and is secured by certain domestic trade receivables. The proceeds from the Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility were used to pay off a portion of the Senior Secured Credit Facilities.
 
As of October 3, 2009, we were in compliance with all covenants under our credit facilities. We continue to monitor our debt covenant compliance carefully in this difficult economic environment. We expect to maintain compliance in the fourth quarter of 2009 with all of our covenant ratios. Maintaining future compliance with our leverage ratio covenant, which was amended earlier in 2009, requires generating sufficient EBITDA and reducing debt. As previously stated, it is our goal to reduce debt by approximately $300 million by the end of fiscal year 2009.
 
We intend to use a portion of the net proceeds from the Transactions to refinance outstanding borrowings under the Senior Secured Credit Facilities and to repay outstanding borrowings under the Second Lien Credit Facility. We will terminate the Second Lien Credit Facility concurrently with the closing of this offering. See “Use of proceeds.”
 
Senior secured credit facilities
 
The Senior Secured Credit Facilities initially provided for aggregate borrowings of $2.15 billion, consisting of: (i) a $250.0 million Term A loan facility (the “Term A Loan Facility”); (ii) a $1.4 billion Term B loan facility (the “Term B Loan Facility”); and (iii) the $500 million Revolving Loan Facility that was undrawn as of January 3, 2009. Issuances of letters of credit reduce the amount available under the Revolving Loan Facility.
 
The Senior Secured Credit Facilities are guaranteed by substantially all of our existing and future direct and indirect U.S. subsidiaries, with certain customary or agreed-upon exceptions for certain subsidiaries.


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The Term A Loan Facility matures on September 5, 2012. The Term B Loan Facility matures on September 5, 2013. The Revolving Loan Facility matures on September 5, 2011. All borrowings under the Revolving Loan Facility must be repaid in full upon maturity. Outstanding borrowings under the Senior Secured Credit Facilities are prepayable without penalty.
 
We intend to use a portion of the net proceeds from the Transactions to refinance outstanding borrowings under the Senior Secured Credit Facilities. We will amend and restate the Senior Secured Credit Facilities concurrently with the closing of this offering. See “Use of proceeds” and “—New senior secured credit facilities.”
 
Second lien credit facility
 
The Second Lien Credit Facility provides for aggregate borrowings of $450 million by Hanesbrands’ wholly-owned subsidiary, HBI Branded Apparel Limited, Inc. The Second Lien Credit Facility is unconditionally guaranteed by Hanesbrands and each entity guaranteeing the Senior Secured Credit Facilities, subject to the same exceptions and exclusions provided in the Senior Secured Credit Facilities. The Second Lien Credit Facility and the guarantees in respect thereof are secured on a second-priority basis (subordinate only to the Senior Secured Credit Facilities and any permitted additions thereto or refinancings thereof) by substantially all of the assets that secure the Senior Secured Credit Facilities (subject to the same exceptions).
 
The Second Lien Credit Facility matures on March 5, 2014, and includes premiums for prepayment of the loan prior to September 5, 2009 based on the timing of the prepayment. The Second Lien Credit Facility will not amortize and will be repaid in full on its maturity date.
 
We intend to use a portion of the net proceeds from the Transactions to repay outstanding borrowings under the Second Lien Credit Facility and to terminate the Second Lien Credit Facility concurrently with the closing of this offering. See “Use of proceeds.”
 
New senior secured credit facilities
 
Simultaneously with the closing of this offering, we expect to amend and restate our Senior Secured Credit Facilities to provide for the $1.15 billion New Senior Secured Credit Facilities. We intend to use a portion of the net proceeds from this offering and the New Senior Secured Credit Facilities to refinance outstanding borrowings under the Senior Secured Credit Facilities and repay the outstanding borrowings under the Second Lien Credit Facility. See “Use of proceeds.”
 
The New Senior Secured Credit Facilities initially provides for aggregate borrowings of $1.15 billion, consisting of: (i) a $750.0 million term loan facility (the “New Term Loan Facility”) and (ii) a $400 million revolving loan facility (the “New Revolving Loan Facility”). A portion of the New Revolving Loan Facility is available for the issuances of letters of credit and the making of swingline loans, and any such issuance of letters of credit or making of a swingline loan will reduce the amount available under the New Revolving Loan Facility. At our option, at any time after the effective date of the New Senior Secured Credit Facilities, we may add one or more term loan facilities or increase the commitments under the New Revolving Loan Facility in an aggregate amount of up to $300 million so long as certain conditions are satisfied, including, among others, that no default or event of default is in existence and that we are in pro forma compliance with the financial covenants set forth below.


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The proceeds of the New Term Loan Facility will be used to refinance all of the loans outstanding under the existing Term A Loan Facility and Term B Loan Facility. The proceeds of the New Revolving Loan Facility will be used to pay fees and expenses in connection with the transaction, for general corporate purposes and working capital needs.
 
The New Senior Secured Credit Facilities are guaranteed by substantially all of our existing and future direct and indirect U.S. subsidiaries, with certain customary or agreed-upon exceptions for certain subsidiaries. We and each of the guarantors under the New Senior Secured Credit Facilities have granted the lenders under the New Senior Secured Credit Facilities a valid and perfected first priority (subject to certain customary exceptions) lien and security interest in the following:
 
•  the equity interests of substantially all of our direct and indirect U.S. subsidiaries and 65% of the voting securities of certain first tier foreign subsidiaries; and
 
•  substantially all present and future property and assets, real and personal, tangible and intangible, of Hanesbrands and each guarantor, except for certain enumerated interests, and all proceeds and products of such property and assets.
 
The New Term Loan Facility matures in December 2015. The New Term Loan Facility will be repaid in equal quarterly installments in an amount equal to 1% per annum, with the balance due on the maturity date. The New Revolving Loan Facility matures in December 2013. All borrowings under the New Revolving Loan Facility must be repaid in full upon maturity. Outstanding borrowings under the New Senior Secured Credit Facilities are prepayable without penalty. There are mandatory prepayments of principal in connection with (i) the incurrence of certain indebtedness, (ii) non-ordinary course asset sales or other dispositions (including as a result of casualty or condemnation) that exceed certain thresholds in any period of twelve-consecutive months, with customary reinvestment provisions, and (iii) excess cash flow, which percentage will be based upon our leverage ratio during the relevant fiscal period.
 
At our option, borrowings under the New Senior Secured Credit Facilities may be maintained from time to time as (a) Base Rate loans, which shall bear interest at the highest of (i) 1/2 of 1% in excess of the federal funds rate, (ii) the rate publicly announced by JPMorgan Chase Bank as its “prime rate” at its principal office in New York City and (iii) the LIBO Rate (as defined in the New Senior Secured Credit Facilities and adjusted for maximum reserves) for LIBOR-based loans with a one-month interest period plus 1.0%, in each case in effect from time to time, plus the applicable margin (which is 2.50% for the New Term Loan Facility and 3.50% for the New Revolving Loan Facility), or (b) LIBOR-based loans, which shall bear interest at the LIBO Rate, as determined by reference to the rate for deposits in dollars appearing on the Reuters Screen LIBOR01 Page for the respective interest period plus the applicable margin in effect from time to time (which is 3.50% for the New Term Loan Facility and 4.50% for the New Revolving Loan Facility).
 
The New Senior Secured Credit Facilities requires us to comply with customary affirmative, negative and financial covenants. The New Senior Secured Credit Facilities requires that we maintain a minimum interest coverage ratio and a maximum total debt to EBITDA (earnings before income taxes, depreciation expense and amortization), or leverage ratio. The interest coverage ratio covenant requires that the ratio of our EBITDA for the preceding four fiscal quarters to our consolidated total interest expense for such period shall not be less than a specified ratio for each fiscal quarter beginning with the fourth fiscal quarter of 2009. This ratio is 2.50 to 1 for the fourth fiscal quarter of 2009 and will increase over time until it reaches 3.25 to 1 for the third fiscal quarter of 2011 and thereafter. The leverage ratio covenant requires that


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the ratio of our total debt to our EBITDA for the preceding four fiscal quarters will not be more than a specified ratio for each fiscal quarter beginning with the fourth fiscal quarter of 2009. This ratio is 4.50 to 1 for the fourth fiscal quarter of 2009 and will decline over time until it reaches 3.75 to 1 for the second fiscal quarter of 2011 and thereafter. The method of calculating all of the components used in the covenants is included in the New Senior Secured Credit Facilities.
 
The New Senior Secured Credit Facilities contains customary events of default, including nonpayment of principal when due; nonpayment of interest after stated grace period, fees or other amounts after stated grace period; material inaccuracy of representations and warranties; violations of covenants; certain bankruptcies and liquidations; any cross-default to material indebtedness; certain material judgments; certain events related to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, or “ERISA,” actual or asserted invalidity of any guarantee, security document or subordination provision or non-perfection of security interest, and a change in control (as defined in the New Senior Secured Credit Facilities).
 
Notes offered hereby
 
The indenture governing the notes offered hereby, among other restrictions, will limits our ability and the ability of our restricted subsidiaries to:
 
•  incur additional indebtedness;
•  pay dividends or make other distributions or repurchase or redeem our capital stock;
•  make loans and investments;
•  transfer or sell assets;
•  incur certain liens;
•  enter into transactions with affiliates;
•  alter the businesses we conduct;
•  enter into agreements restricting our subsidiaries’ ability to pay dividends;
•  consolidate, merge or sell all or substantially all of our assets; and
•  enter into sale and leaseback transactions.
 
These covenants are subject to a number of important limitations and exceptions, including a provision allowing us to make restricted payments in an amount calculated pursuant to a formula based upon 50% of our adjusted consolidated net income (as defined in the indenture) since October 1, 2006. As of October 3, 2009, after giving effect to the Transactions, we would have had approximately $391.9 million of available restricted payment capacity pursuant to that provision, in addition to the restricted payment capacity available under other exceptions. See “Description of notes—Covenants.”
 
In addition, most of the covenants will be suspended if both Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services and Moody’s Investors Service, Inc., assign the notes an investment grade rating and no default exists with respect to the notes.
 
Subject to certain exceptions, the indenture governing the notes offered hereby will also permit us and our restricted subsidiaries to incur additional indebtedness, including senior indebtedness and secured indebtedness. For more details, see “Description of notes” and “Description of other indebtedness.”


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Floating rate senior notes
 
On December 14, 2006, we issued $500 million aggregate principal amount of the Floating Rate Senior Notes. The Floating Rate Senior Notes are senior unsecured obligations that rank equal in right of payment with all of our existing and future unsubordinated indebtedness. The Floating Rate Senior Notes bear interest at an annual rate, reset semi-annually, equal to LIBOR plus 3.375%. Interest is payable on the Floating Rate Senior Notes on June 15 and December 15 of each year. The Floating Rate Senior Notes will mature on December 15, 2014. The net proceeds from the sale of the Floating Rate Senior Notes were approximately $492 million. As noted above, these proceeds, together with our working capital, were used to repay in full the $500 million outstanding under the Bridge Loan Facility. The Floating Rate Senior Notes are guaranteed by substantially all of our domestic subsidiaries.
 
We may redeem some or all of the Floating Rate Senior Notes at any time on or after December 15, 2008 at a redemption price equal to the principal amount of the Floating Rate Senior Notes plus a premium of 2% if redeemed during the 12-month period commencing on December 15, 2008, 1% if redeemed during the 12-month period commencing on December 15, 2009 and no premium if redeemed after December 15, 2010, as well as any accrued and unpaid interest as of the redemption date. We repurchased $6 million of the Floating Rate Senior Notes for $4 million resulting in a gain of $2 million during the year ended January 3, 2009.
 
Accounts receivable securitization facility
 
On November 27, 2007, we entered into the Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility, which provides for up to $250 million in funding accounted for as a secured borrowing, limited to the availability of eligible receivables, and is secured by certain domestic trade receivables. The Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility will terminate on November 27, 2010. Under the terms of the Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility, the company sells, on a revolving basis, certain domestic trade receivables to HBI Receivables LLC (“Receivables LLC”), a wholly-owned bankruptcy-remote subsidiary that in turn uses the trade receivables to secure the borrowings, which are funded through conduits that issue commercial paper in the short-term market and are not affiliated with us or through committed bank purchasers if the conduits fail to fund. The assets and liabilities of Receivables LLC are fully reflected on our balance sheet, and the securitization is treated as a secured borrowing for accounting purposes. The borrowings under the Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility remain outstanding throughout the term of the agreement subject to our maintaining sufficient eligible receivables by continuing to sell trade receivables to Receivables LLC unless an event of default occurs. Availability of funding under the facility depends primarily upon the eligible outstanding receivables balance. As of January 3, 2009, we had $243 million outstanding under the Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility. The outstanding balance under the Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility is reported on our balance sheet in long-term debt based on the three-year term of the agreement and the fact that remittances on the receivables do not automatically reduce the outstanding borrowings. The Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility contains customary events of default.
 
We used all $250 million of the proceeds from the Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility to make a prepayment of principal under the Senior Secured Credit Facilities. Unless the conduits fail to fund, the yield on the commercial paper is the conduits’ cost to issue the commercial paper plus certain dealer fees, is considered a financing cost and is included in interest expense on the Consolidated Statement of Income. If the conduits fail to fund, the Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility would be funded through committed bank purchasers, and the interest


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rate payable at our option at the rate announced from time to time by JPMorgan as its prime rate or at the LIBO Rate (as defined in the Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility) plus the applicable margin in effect from time to time. The average blended interest rate for the year ended January 3, 2009 was 3.50%.
 
On March 16, 2009, we and Receivables LLC entered into Amendment No. 1 (the “First Amendment”) to the Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility dated as of November 27, 2007. The Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility contains the same leverage ratio and interest coverage ratio provisions as the Senior Secured Credit Facilities. The First Amendment effects the same changes to the leverage ratio and the interest coverage ratio that are effected by the Third Amendment described above. Pursuant to the First Amendment, the rate that would be payable to the conduit purchasers or the committed purchasers party to the Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility in the event of certain defaults is increased from 1% over the prime rate to 3% over the greatest of (i) the one-month LIBO rate plus 1%, (ii) the weighted average rates on federal funds transactions plus 0.5%, or (iii) the prime rate. Also pursuant to the First Amendment, several of the factors that contribute to the overall availability of funding have been amended in a manner that would be expected to generally reduce the amount of funding that will be available under the Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility. The First Amendment also provides for certain other amendments to the Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility, including changing the termination date for the Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility from November 27, 2010 to March 15, 2010, and requiring that Receivables LLC make certain payments to a conduit purchaser, a committed purchaser, or certain entities that provide funding to or are affiliated with them, in the event that assets and liabilities of a conduit purchaser are consolidated for financial and/or regulatory accounting purposes with certain other entities.
 
On April 13, 2009, we and Receivables LLC entered into Amendment No. 2 (the “Second Amendment”) to the Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility. Pursuant to the Second Amendment, several of the factors that contribute to the overall availability of funding have been amended in a manner that is expected to generally increase over time the amount of funding that will be available under the Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility as compared to the amount that would be available pursuant to the First Amendment. The Second Amendment also provides for certain other amendments to the Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility, including changing the termination date for the Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility from March 15, 2010 to April 12, 2010. In addition, HSBC Securities (USA) Inc. replaced JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. as agent under the Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility, PNC Bank, N.A. replaced JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. as a managing agent, and PNC Bank, N.A. and an affiliate of PNC Bank, N.A. replaced affiliates of JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. as a committed purchaser and a conduit purchaser, respectively. On August 17, 2009, we and Receivables LLC entered into Amendment No. 3 to the to the Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility, pursuant to which certain definitions were amended to clarify the calculation of certain ratios that impact reporting under the Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility.
 
Notes payable
 
Notes payable were $62 million at January 3, 2009 and $20 million at December 29, 2007.
 
We have a short-term revolving facility arrangement with a Salvadoran branch of a U.S. bank amounting to $45 million of which $29 million was outstanding at January 3, 2009 which


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accrues interest at 7.38%. We were in compliance with the covenants contained in this facility at January 3, 2009.
 
We have a short-term revolving facility arrangement with a Thai branch of a U.S. bank amounting to THB 600 million ($17 million) of which $15 million was outstanding at January 3, 2009 which accrues interest at 4.35%. We were in compliance with the covenants contained in this facility at January 3, 2009.
 
We have a short-term revolving facility arrangement with a Chinese branch of a U.S. bank amounting to RMB 56 million ($8 million) of which $8 million was outstanding at January 3, 2009 which accrues interest at 5.36%. Borrowings under the facility accrue interest at the prevailing base lending rates published by the People’s Bank of China from time to time less 10%. We were in compliance with the covenants contained in this facility at January 3, 2009.
 
We have a short-term revolving facility arrangement with an Indian branch of a U.S. bank amounting to INR 260 million ($5 million) of which $5 million was outstanding at January 3, 2009 which accrues interest at 16.50%. We were in compliance with the covenants contained in this facility at January 3, 2009.
 
We have other short-term obligations amounting to $4,029 which consisted of a short-term revolving facility arrangement with a Japanese branch of a U.S. bank amounting to JPY 1,100 million ($12 million) of which $2 million was outstanding at January 3, 2009 which accrues interest at 2.42%, and a short-term revolving facility arrangement with a Vietnamese branch of a U.S. bank amounting to $14 million of which $2 million was outstanding at January 3, 2009 which accrues interest at 12.14%. We were in compliance with the covenants contained in the facilities at January 3, 2009.
 
In addition, we have short-term revolving credit facilities in various other locations that can be drawn on from time to time amounting to $27 million of which $0 was outstanding at January 3, 2009.
 
Derivatives
 
Given the recent turmoil in the financial and credit markets, we expanded our interest rate hedging portfolio at what we believe to be advantageous rates that are expected to minimize our overall interest rate risk. In addition, until September 5, 2009, we were required under the Senior Secured Credit Facilities and the Second Lien Credit Facility to hedge a portion of our floating rate debt to reduce interest rate risk caused by floating rate debt issuance. At October 3, 2009, we have outstanding hedging arrangements whereby we capped the LIBOR interest rate component on $400 million of our floating rate debt at 3.50%. We also entered into interest rate swaps tied to the 3-month and 6-month LIBOR rates whereby we fixed the LIBOR interest rate component on an aggregate of $1.4 billion of our floating rate debt at a blended rate of approximately 4.16%. Approximately 88% of our total debt outstanding at October 3, 2009 is at


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a fixed or capped LIBOR rate. The table below summarizes our interest rate derivative portfolio with respect to our long-term debt as of October 3, 2009.
 
                                 
 
                Interest
    Hedge
 
                rate
    expiration
 
    Amount     LIBOR     spreads     dates  
 
 
Debt covered by interest rate caps:
                               
Senior Secured and Second Lien Credit Facilities
  $ 400,000       3.50%       3.75% to 4.75%       October 2009  
Debt covered by interest rate swaps:
                               
Floating Rate Notes
    493,680       4.26%       3.38%       December 2012  
Senior Secured and Second Lien Credit Facilities
    500,000       5.14% to 5.18%       3.75% to 4.75%       October 2009—
October 2011
 
Senior Secured and Second Lien Credit Facilities
    400,000       2.80%       3.75% to 4.75%       October 2010  
Unhedged debt:
                               
Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility
    249,043       Not applicable       Not applicable       Not applicable  
                                 
    $ 2,042,723                          
 
 
 
We use forward exchange and option contracts to reduce the effect of fluctuating foreign currencies for a portion of our anticipated short-term foreign currency-denominated transactions.
 
Cotton is the primary raw material we use to manufacture many of our products. We generally purchase our raw materials at market prices. We use commodity financial instruments, options and forward contracts to hedge the price of cotton, for which there is a high correlation between the hedged item and the hedged instrument. We generally do not use commodity financial instruments to hedge other raw material commodity prices.
 
Critical accounting policies and estimates
 
We have chosen accounting policies that we believe are appropriate to accurately and fairly report our operating results and financial position in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. We apply these accounting policies in a consistent manner. Our significant accounting policies are discussed in Note 2, titled “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies,” to our Consolidated Financial Statements for the year ended January 3, 2009.
 
The application of critical accounting policies requires that we make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and related disclosures. These estimates and assumptions are based on historical and other factors believed


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to be reasonable under the circumstances. We evaluate these estimates and assumptions on an ongoing basis and may retain outside consultants to assist in our evaluation. If actual results ultimately differ from previous estimates, the revisions are included in results of operations in the period in which the actual amounts become known. The critical accounting policies that involve the most significant management judgments and estimates used in preparation of our financial statements, or are the most sensitive to change from outside factors, are the following:
 
Sales recognition and incentives
 
We recognize revenue when (i) there is persuasive evidence of an arrangement, (ii) the sales price is fixed or determinable, (iii) title and the risks of ownership have been transferred to the customer and (iv) collection of the receivable is reasonably assured, which occurs primarily upon shipment. We record provisions for any uncollectible amounts based upon our historical collection statistics and current customer information. Our management reviews these estimates each quarter and makes adjustments based upon actual experience.
 
Note 2(d), titled “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies—Sales Recognition and Incentives,” to our Consolidated Financial Statements for the year ended January 3, 2009 describes a variety of sales incentives that we offer to resellers and consumers of our products. Measuring the cost of these incentives requires, in many cases, estimating future customer utilization and redemption rates. We use historical data for similar transactions to estimate the cost of current incentive programs. Our management reviews these estimates each quarter and makes adjustments based upon actual experience and other available information. We classify the costs associated with cooperative advertising as a reduction of “Net sales” in our statements of income.
 
Accounts receivable valuation
 
Accounts receivable consist primarily of amounts due from customers. We carry our accounts receivable at their net realizable value. We record provisions for any uncollectible amounts based upon our best estimate of probable losses inherent in the accounts receivable portfolio determined on the basis of historical experience, specific allowances for known troubled accounts and other currently available information. Charges to the allowance for doubtful accounts are reflected in the “Selling, general and administrative expenses” line and charges to the allowance for customer chargebacks and other customer deductions are primarily reflected as a reduction in the “Net sales” line of our statements of income. Our management reviews these estimates each quarter and makes adjustments based upon actual experience. Because we cannot predict future changes in the financial stability of our customers, actual future losses from uncollectible accounts may differ from our estimates. If the financial condition of our customers were to deteriorate, resulting in their inability to make payments, a large reserve might be required. The amount of actual historical losses has not varied materially from our estimates for bad debts.
 
Catalog expenses
 
We incur expenses for printing catalogs for our products to aid in our sales efforts. We initially record these expenses as a prepaid item and charge it against selling, general and administrative expenses over time as the catalog is used. Expenses are recognized at a rate that approximates our historical experience with regard to the timing and amount of sales attributable to a catalog distribution.


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Inventory valuation
 
We carry inventory on our balance sheet at the estimated lower of cost or market. Cost is determined by the first-in, first-out, or “FIFO,” method for our inventories. We carry obsolete, damaged, and excess inventory at the net realizable value, which we determine by assessing historical recovery rates, current market conditions and our future marketing and sales plans. Because our assessment of net realizable value is made at a point in time, there are inherent uncertainties related to our value determination. Market factors and other conditions underlying the net realizable value may change, resulting in further reserve requirements. A reduction in the carrying amount of an inventory item from cost to market value creates a new cost basis for the item that cannot be reversed at a later period. While we believe that adequate write-downs for inventory obsolescence have been provided in the financial statements, consumer tastes and preferences will continue to change and we could experience additional inventory write-downs in the future.
 
Rebates, discounts and other cash consideration received from a vendor related to inventory purchases are reflected as reductions in the cost of the related inventory item, and are therefore reflected in cost of sales when the related inventory item is sold.
 
Income taxes
 
Deferred taxes are recognized for the future tax effects of temporary differences between financial and income tax reporting using tax rates in effect for the years in which the differences are expected to reverse. We have recorded deferred taxes related to operating losses and capital loss carryforwards. Realization of deferred tax assets is dependent on future taxable income in specific jurisdictions, the amount and timing of which are uncertain, possible changes in tax laws and tax planning strategies. If in our judgment it appears that we will not be able to generate sufficient taxable income or capital gains to offset losses during the carryforward periods, we have recorded valuation allowances to reduce those deferred tax assets to amounts expected to be ultimately realized. An adjustment to income tax expense would be required in a future period if we determine that the amount of deferred tax assets to be realized differs from the net recorded amount. Prior to spin off on September 5, 2006, all income taxes were computed and reported on a separate return basis as if we were not part of Sara Lee.
 
Federal income taxes are provided on that portion of our income of foreign subsidiaries that is expected to be remitted to the United States and be taxable, reflecting the historical decisions made by Sara Lee with regards to earnings permanently reinvested in foreign jurisdictions. In periods after the spin off, we may make different decisions as to the amount of earnings permanently reinvested in foreign jurisdictions, due to anticipated cash flow or other business requirements, which may impact our federal income tax provision and effective tax rate.
 
We periodically estimate the probable tax obligations using historical experience in tax jurisdictions and our informed judgment. There are inherent uncertainties related to the interpretation of tax regulations in the jurisdictions in which we transact business. The judgments and estimates made at a point in time may change based on the outcome of tax audits, as well as changes to, or further interpretations of, regulations. Income tax expense is adjusted in the period in which these events occur, and these adjustments are included in our statements of income. If such changes take place, there is a risk that our effective tax rate may increase or decrease in any period. A company must recognize the tax benefit from an uncertain tax position only if it is more likely than not that the tax position will be sustained on examination


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by the taxing authorities, based on the technical merits of the position. The tax benefits recognized in the financial statements from such a position are measured based on the largest benefit that has a greater than fifty percent likelihood of being realized upon ultimate resolution.
 
In conjunction with the spin off, we and Sara Lee entered into a tax sharing agreement, which allocates responsibilities between us and Sara Lee for taxes and certain other tax matters. Under the tax sharing agreement, Sara Lee generally is liable for all U.S. federal, state, local and foreign income taxes attributable to us with respect to taxable periods ending on or before September 5, 2006. Sara Lee also is liable for income taxes attributable to us with respect to taxable periods beginning before September 5, 2006 and ending after September 5, 2006, but only to the extent those taxes are allocable to the portion of the taxable period ending on September 5, 2006. We are generally liable for all other taxes attributable to us. Changes in the amounts payable or receivable by us under the stipulations of this agreement may impact our tax provision in any period.
 
Under the tax sharing agreement, within 180 days after Sara Lee filed its final consolidated tax return for the period that included September 5, 2006, Sara Lee was required to deliver to us a computation of the amount of deferred taxes attributable to our United States and Canadian operations that would be included on our opening balance sheet as of September 6, 2006 (“as finally determined”) which has been done. We have the right to participate in the computation of the amount of deferred taxes. Under the tax sharing agreement, if substituting the amount of deferred taxes as finally determined for the amount of estimated deferred taxes that were included on that balance sheet at the time of the spin off causes a decrease in the net book value reflected on that balance sheet, then Sara Lee will be required to pay us the amount of such decrease. If such substitution causes an increase in the net book value reflected on that balance sheet, then we will be required to pay Sara Lee the amount of such increase. For purposes of this computation, our deferred taxes are the amount of deferred tax benefits (including deferred tax consequences attributable to deductible temporary differences and carryforwards) that would be recognized as assets on the Company’s balance sheet computed in accordance with GAAP, but without regard to valuation allowances, less the amount of deferred tax liabilities (including deferred tax consequences attributable to deductible temporary differences) that would be recognized as liabilities on our opening balance sheet computed in accordance with GAAP, but without regard to valuation allowances. Neither we nor Sara Lee will be required to make any other payments to the other with respect to deferred taxes.
 
Our computation of the final amount of deferred taxes for our opening balance sheet as of September 6, 2006 is as follows:
 
         
Estimated deferred taxes subject to the tax sharing agreement included in opening balance sheet on September 6, 2006
  $ 450,683  
Final calculation of deferred taxes subject to the tax sharing agreement
    360,460  
         
Decrease in deferred taxes as of opening balance sheet on September 6, 2006
    90,223  
Preliminary cash installment received from Sara Lee
    18,000  
         
Amount due from Sara Lee
  $ 72,223  
 
 
 
The amount that is expected to be collected from Sara Lee based on our computation of $72 million is included as a receivable in Other Current Assets in the Consolidated Balance Sheet


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as of January 3, 2009 and in Deferred Tax Assets and Other Current Assets in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet as of October 3, 2009.
 
Stock compensation
 
We established the Omnibus Incentive Plan to award stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units, deferred stock units, performance shares and cash to our employees, non-employee directors and employees of our subsidiaries to promote the interest of our company and incent performance and retention of employees. Stock-Based compensation is estimated at the grant date based on the award’s fair value and is recognized as expense over the requisite service period. Estimation of stock-based compensation for stock options granted, utilizing the Black-Scholes option-pricing model, requires various highly subjective assumptions including volatility and expected option life. We use a combination of the volatility of our company and the volatility of peer companies for a period of time that is comparable to the expected life of the option to determine volatility assumptions. We have utilized the simplified method outlined in SEC accounting guidance to estimate expected lives of options granted during the period. The simplified method is used for valuing stock option grants to eligible public companies that do not have sufficient historical exercise patterns on options granted to employees. We estimate forfeitures for stock-based awards granted, which are not expected to vest. If any of these inputs or assumptions changes significantly, our stock-based compensation expense could be materially different in the future.
 
Defined benefit pension plans
 
For a discussion of our net periodic benefit cost, plan obligations, plan assets, and how we measure the amount of these costs, see Note 16 titled “Defined Benefit Pension Plans” to our Consolidated Financial Statements for the year ended January 3, 2009.
 
In conjunction with the spin off from Sara Lee which occurred on September 5, 2006, we established the Hanesbrands Inc. Pension and Retirement Plan, which assumed the portion of the underfunded liabilities and the portion of the assets of pension plans sponsored by Sara Lee that relate to our employees. In addition, we assumed sponsorship of certain other Sara Lee plans and continued sponsorship of the Playtex Apparel Inc. Pension Plan and the National Textiles, L.L.C. Pension Plan. As of January 1, 2006, the benefits under these plans were frozen. Since the spin off, we have voluntarily contributed $98 million to our pension plans. Additionally, during 2007 we completed the separation of our pension plan assets and liabilities from those of Sara Lee in accordance with governmental regulations, which resulted in a higher total amount of pension plan assets of approximately $74 million being transferred to us than originally was estimated prior to the spin off. As a result, our U.S. qualified pension plans were approximately 75% funded as of January 3, 2009. We may elect to make voluntary contributions to obtain an 80% funded level which will avoid certain benefit payment restrictions under the Pension Protection Act. The funded status as of January 3, 2009 reflects a significant decrease in the fair value of plan assets due to the stock market’s performance during 2008.
 
In September 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued new accounting guidance which requires that the funded status of defined benefit postretirement plans be recognized on a company’s balance sheet, and changes in the funded status be reflected in comprehensive income, effective fiscal years ending after December 15, 2006, which we adopted as of and for the six months ended December 30, 2006. The impact of adopting the funded status provisions was an increase in assets of $1 million, an increase in liabilities of $26 million


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and a pretax increase in the accumulated other comprehensive loss of $32 million. The guidance also requires companies to measure the funded status of the plan as of the date of its fiscal year end, effective for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2008. We adopted the measurement date provision during the year ended December 29, 2007, which had an immaterial impact on beginning retained earnings, accumulated other comprehensive income and pension liabilities.
 
The net periodic cost of the pension plans is determined using projections and actuarial assumptions, the most significant of which are the discount rate and the long-term rate of asset return. The net periodic pension income or expense is recognized in the year incurred. Gains and losses, which occur when actual experience differs from actuarial assumptions, are amortized over the average future expected life of participants.
 
Our policies regarding the establishment of pension assumptions are as follows:
 
•  In determining the discount rate, we utilized the Citigroup Pension Discount Curve (rounded to the nearest 10 basis points) in order to determine a unique interest rate for each plan and match the expected cash flows for each plan.
 
•  Salary increase assumptions were based on historical experience and anticipated future management actions. The salary increase assumption applies to the Canadian plans and portions of the Hanesbrands nonqualified retirement plans, as benefits under these plans are not frozen.
 
•  In determining the long-term rate of return on plan assets we applied a proportionally weighted blend between assuming the historical long-term compound growth rate of the plan portfolio would predict the future returns of similar investments, and the utilization of forward looking assumptions.
 
•  Retirement rates were based primarily on actual experience while standard actuarial tables were used to estimate mortality.
 
Trademarks and other identifiable intangibles
 
Trademarks and computer software are our primary identifiable intangible assets. We amortize identifiable intangibles with finite lives, and we do not amortize identifiable intangibles with indefinite lives. We base the estimated useful life of an identifiable intangible asset upon a number of factors, including the effects of demand, competition, expected changes in distribution channels and the level of maintenance expenditures required to obtain future cash flows. As of January 3, 2009, the net book value of trademarks and other identifiable intangible assets was $147 million, of which we are amortizing the entire balance. We anticipate that our amortization expense for 2009 will be $12 million.
 
We evaluate identifiable intangible assets subject to amortization for impairment using a process similar to that used to evaluate asset amortization described below under “—Depreciation and impairment of property, plant and equipment.” We assess identifiable intangible assets not subject to amortization for impairment at least annually and more often as triggering events occur. In order to determine the impairment of identifiable intangible assets not subject to amortization, we compare the fair value of the intangible asset to its carrying amount. We recognize an impairment loss for the amount by which an identifiable intangible asset’s carrying value exceeds its fair value.
 
We measure a trademark’s fair value using the royalty saved method. We determine the royalty saved method by evaluating various factors to discount anticipated future cash flows, including


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operating results, business plans, and present value techniques. The rates we use to discount cash flows are based on interest rates and the cost of capital at a point in time. Because there are inherent uncertainties related to these factors and our judgment in applying them, the assumptions underlying the impairment analysis may change in such a manner that impairment in value may occur in the future. Such impairment will be recognized in the period in which it becomes known.
 
Goodwill
 
As of January 3, 2009, we had $322 million of goodwill. We do not amortize goodwill, but we assess for impairment at least annually and more often as triggering events occur. The timing of our annual goodwill impairment testing is the first day of the third fiscal quarter.
 
In evaluating the recoverability of goodwill, we estimate the fair value of our reporting units. We have determined that our reporting units are at the operating segment level. We rely on a number of factors to determine the fair value of our reporting units and evaluate various factors to discount anticipated future cash flows, including operating results, business plans, and present value techniques. As discussed above under “—Trademarks and other identifiable intangibles,” there are inherent uncertainties related to these factors, and our judgment in applying them and the assumptions underlying the impairment analysis may change in such a manner that impairment in value may occur in the future. Such impairment will be recognized in the period in which it becomes known.
 
We evaluate the recoverability of goodwill using a two-step process based on an evaluation of reporting units. The first step involves a comparison of a reporting unit’s fair value to its carrying value. In the second step, if the reporting unit’s carrying value exceeds its fair value, we compare the goodwill’s implied fair value and its carrying value. If the goodwill’s carrying value exceeds its implied fair value, we recognize an impairment loss in an amount equal to such excess.
 
Depreciation and impairment of property, plant and equipment
 
We state property, plant and equipment at its historical cost, and we compute depreciation using the straight-line method over the asset’s life. We estimate an asset’s life based on historical experience, manufacturers’ estimates, engineering or appraisal evaluations, our future business plans and the period over which the asset will economically benefit us, which may be the same as or shorter than its physical life. Our policies require that we periodically review our assets’ remaining depreciable lives based upon actual experience and expected future utilization. A change in the depreciable life is treated as a change in accounting estimate and the accelerated depreciation is accounted for in the period of change and future periods. Based upon current levels of depreciation, the average remaining depreciable life of our net property other than land is five years.
 
We test an asset for recoverability whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that its carrying value may not be recoverable. Such events include significant adverse changes in business climate, several periods of operating or cash flow losses, forecasted continuing losses or a current expectation that an asset or asset group will be disposed of before the end of its useful life. We evaluate an asset’s recoverability by comparing the asset or asset group’s net carrying amount to the future net undiscounted cash flows we expect such asset or asset group


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will generate. If we determine that an asset is not recoverable, we recognize an impairment loss in the amount by which the asset’s carrying amount exceeds its estimated fair value.
 
When we recognize an impairment loss for an asset held for use, we depreciate the asset’s adjusted carrying amount over its remaining useful life. We do not restore previously recognized impairment losses if circumstances change.
 
Insurance reserves
 
We maintain insurance coverage for property, workers’ compensation and other casualty programs. We are responsible for losses up to certain limits and are required to estimate a liability that represents the ultimate exposure for aggregate losses below those limits. This liability is based on management’s estimates of the ultimate costs to be incurred to settle known claims and claims not reported as of the balance sheet date. The estimated liability is not discounted and is based on a number of assumptions and factors, including historical trends, actuarial assumptions and economic conditions. If actual trends differ from the estimates, the financial results could be impacted. Actual trends have not differed materially from the estimates.
 
Assets and liabilities acquired in business combinations
 
We account for business acquisitions using the purchase method, which requires us to allocate the cost of an acquired business to the acquired assets and liabilities based on their estimated fair values at the acquisition date. We recognize the excess of an acquired business’s cost over the fair value of acquired assets and liabilities as goodwill as discussed below under “Goodwill.” We use a variety of information sources to determine the fair value of acquired assets and liabilities. We generally use third-party appraisers to determine the fair value and lives of property and identifiable intangibles, consulting actuaries to determine the fair value of obligations associated with defined benefit pension plans, and legal counsel to assess obligations associated with legal and environmental claims.
 
Recently issued accounting pronouncements
 
Employers’ disclosures about postretirement benefit plan assets
 
In December 2008, the FASB issued guidance on the disclosure of postretirement benefit plan assets. The guidance expands the disclosure requirements to include more detailed disclosures about an employers’ plan assets, including employers’ investment strategies, major categories of plan assets, concentrations of risk within plan assets, and valuation techniques used to measure the fair value of plan assets. The guidance is effective for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2009. Since the guidance only requires additional disclosures, adoption of the guidance is not expected to have a material impact on our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.
 
Accounting for transfers of financial assets
 
In June 2009, the FASB issued new accounting guidance for transfers of financial assets. The new guidance requires greater transparency and additional disclosures for transfers of financial assets and the entity’s continuing involvement with them and changes the requirements for derecognizing financial assets. The new accounting guidance is effective for financial asset transfers


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occurring after the beginning of our first fiscal year that begins after November 15, 2009. We are evaluating the impact of adoption of this new guidance on our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
 
Consolidation—variable interest entities
 
In June 2009, the FASB issued new accounting guidance related to the accounting and disclosure requirements for the consolidation of variable interest entities. The new accounting guidance is effective for our first fiscal year that begins after November 15, 2009. We are evaluating the impact of adoption of this guidance on our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
 
Quantitative and qualitative disclosures about market risk
 
We are exposed to market risk from changes in foreign exchange rates, interest rates and commodity prices. Our risk management control system uses analytical techniques including market value, sensitivity analysis and value at risk estimations.
 
Foreign exchange risk
 
We sell the majority of our products in transactions denominated in U.S. dollars; however, we purchase some raw materials, pay a portion of our wages and make other payments in our supply chain in foreign currencies. Our exposure to foreign exchange rates exists primarily with respect to the Canadian dollar, European euro, Mexican peso and Japanese yen against the U.S. dollar. We use foreign exchange forward and option contracts to hedge material exposure to adverse changes in foreign exchange rates. A sensitivity analysis technique has been used to evaluate the effect that changes in the market value of foreign exchange currencies will have on our forward and option contracts. At January 3, 2009, the potential change in fair value of foreign currency derivative instruments, assuming a 10% adverse change in the underlying currency price, was $4.5 million.
 
Interest rates
 
Given the recent turmoil in the financial and credit markets, we expanded our interest rate hedging portfolio at what we believe to be advantageous rates that are expected to minimize our overall interest rate risk. In addition, until September 5, 2009, we were required under the Senior Secured Credit Facilities and the Second Lien Credit Facility to hedge a portion of our floating rate debt to reduce interest rate risk caused by floating rate debt issuance. At October 3, 2009, we have outstanding hedging arrangements whereby we capped the LIBOR interest rate component on $400 million of our floating rate debt at 3.50%. We also entered into interest rate swaps tied to the 3-month and 6-month LIBOR rates whereby we fixed the LIBOR interest rate component on an aggregate of $1.4 billion of our floating rate debt at a blended rate of approximately 4.16%. Approximately 88% of our total debt outstanding at October 3, 2009 is at a fixed or capped LIBOR rate. Due to the recent changes in the credit markets, the fair values of our interest rate hedging instruments have increased approximately $18 million during the nine months ended October 3, 2009. As these derivative instruments are accounted for as hedges, the change in fair value has been deferred into Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss in our balance sheets until the hedged transactions impact our earnings.


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Commodities
 
Cotton is the primary raw material we use to manufacture many of our products. While we attempt to protect our business from the volatility of the market price of cotton through short-term supply agreements and hedges from time to time, our business can be adversely affected by dramatic movements in cotton prices. The cotton prices reflected in our results were 58 cents per pound for the nine months ended October 3, 2009. After taking into consideration the cotton costs currently included in our inventory, we expect our cost of cotton to average 55 cents per pound for the full year of 2009 compared to 65 cents per pound for 2008. The ultimate effect of these pricing levels on our earnings cannot be quantified, as the effect of movements in cotton prices on industry selling prices are uncertain, but any dramatic increase in the price of cotton could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.
 
In addition, fluctuations in crude oil or petroleum prices may influence the prices of other raw materials we use to manufacture our products, such as chemicals, dyestuffs, polyester yarn and foam. We generally purchase our raw materials at market prices. We use commodity financial instruments to hedge the price of cotton, for which there is a high correlation between costs and the financial instrument. We generally do not use commodity financial instruments to hedge other raw material commodity prices. As of January 3, 2009, we did not have any cotton commodity derivatives outstanding.


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Description of our business
 
General
 
We are a consumer goods company with a portfolio of leading apparel brands, including Hanes, Champion, C9 by Champion, Playtex, Bali, L’eggs, Just My Size, barely there, Wonderbra, Stedman, Outer Banks, Zorba, Rinbros and Duofold. We design, manufacture, source and sell a broad range of apparel essentials such as t-shirts, bras, panties, men’s underwear, kids’ underwear, casualwear, activewear, socks and hosiery.
 
The apparel essentials sector of the apparel industry is characterized by frequently replenished items, such as t-shirts, bras, panties, men’s underwear, kids’ underwear, socks and hosiery. Growth and sales in the apparel essentials industry are not primarily driven by fashion, in contrast to other areas of the broader apparel industry. We focus on the core attributes of comfort, fit and value, while remaining current with regard to consumer trends. The majority of our core styles continue from year to year, with variations only in color, fabric or design details. Some products, however, such as intimate apparel, activewear and sheer hosiery, do have an emphasis on style and innovation. We continue to invest in our largest and strongest brands to achieve our long-term growth goals. In addition to designing and marketing apparel essentials, we have a long history of operating a global supply chain that incorporates a mix of self-manufacturing, third-party contractors and third-party sourcing.
 
Our fiscal year ends on the Saturday closest to December 31 and, until it was changed during 2006, ended on the Saturday closest to June 30. We refer to the fiscal year ended January 3, 2009 as the year ended January 3, 2009. A reference to a year ended on another date is to the fiscal year ended on that date.
 
Our operations are managed and reported in five operating segments: Innerwear, Outerwear, Hosiery, International and Other. The following table summarizes our operating segments by category:
 
         
Segment   Primary product(s)   Primary brand(s)
 
Innerwear
  Intimate apparel, such as bras, panties and bodywear   Hanes, Playtex, Bali, barely there, Just My Size, Wonderbra, Duofold
    Men’s underwear and kids’ underwear   Hanes, Champion, C9 by Champion, Polo Ralph Lauren*
    Socks   Hanes, Champion, C9 by Champion
Outerwear
  Activewear, such as performance t-shirts and shorts and fleece   Champion, C9 by Champion
    Casualwear, such as t-shirts, fleece and sport shirts   Hanes, Just My Size, Outer Banks, Champion, Hanes Beefy-T
Hosiery
  Hosiery   L’eggs, Hanes, Donna Karan*, DKNY*, Just My Size
International
  Activewear, men’s underwear, kids’ underwear, intimate apparel, socks, hosiery and casualwear   Hanes, Wonderbra**, Champion, Stedman, Playtex**, Zorba, Rinbros, Kendall*,Sol y Oro, Ritmo, Bali
Other
  Nonfinished products, primarily yarn   Not applicable
 
 
 
Brand used under a license agreement.
 
** As a result of the February 2006 sale of the European branded apparel business of Sara Lee, we are not permitted to sell this brand in the member states of “EU” several other European countries and South Africa.


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Our competitive strengths
 
Our brands have a strong heritage in the apparel essentials industry. According to The NPD Group/Consumer Tracking Service, or “NPD,” our brands hold either the number one or number two U.S. market position by sales value in most product categories in which we compete, for the 12 month period ended November 30, 2008. In 2008, Hanes was number one for the fifth consecutive year on the Women’s Wear Daily “Top 100 Brands Survey” for apparel and accessory brands that women know best and was number one for the fifth consecutive year as the most preferred men’s, women’s and children’s apparel brand of consumers in Retailing Today magazine’s “Top Brands Study.” Additionally, we had five of the top ten intimate apparel brands preferred by consumers in the Retailing Today study—Hanes, Playtex, Bali, Just My Size and L’eggs.
 
Our products are sold through multiple distribution channels. During the year ended January 3, 2009, approximately 44% of our net sales were to mass merchants, 18% were to national chains and department stores, 9% were direct to consumers, 11% were in our International segment and 18% were to other retail channels such as embellishers, specialty retailers, warehouse clubs and sporting goods stores. We have strong, long-term relationships with our top customers, including relationships of more than ten years with each of our top ten customers as of January 3, 2009. The size and operational scale of the high-volume retailers with which we do business require extensive category and product knowledge and specialized services regarding the quantity, quality and planning of product orders. We have organized multifunctional customer management teams, which has allowed us to form strategic long-term relationships with these customers and efficiently focus resources on category, product and service expertise. We also have customer-specific programs such as the C9 by Champion products marketed and sold through Target stores.
 
Our ability to react to changing customer needs and industry trends is key to our success. Our design, research and product development teams, in partnership with our marketing teams, drive our efforts to bring innovations to market. We seek to leverage our insights into consumer demand in the apparel essentials industry to develop new products within our existing lines and to modify our existing core products in ways that make them more appealing, addressing changing customer needs and industry trends. Examples of our recent innovations include:
 
•  Hanes no ride up panties, specially designed for a better fit that helps women stay “wedgie-free” (2008).
 
•  Hanes Lay Flat Collar Undershirts and Hanes No Ride Up Boxer briefs, the brand’s latest innovation in product comfort and fit (2008).
 
•  Bali Concealers bras, the first and only bra with revolutionary concealing petals for complete modesty (2008).
 
•  Hanes Comfort Soft T-shirt (2007).
 
•  Bali Passion for Comfort bra, designed to be the ultimate comfort bra, features a silky smooth lining for a luxurious feel against the body (2007).


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•  Hanes All-Over Comfort Bra, which features stay-put straps that don’t slip, cushioned wires that don’t poke and a tag-free back (2006).
 
One of our key initiatives is to globalize our supply chain by balancing across hemispheres into “economic” clusters with fewer, larger facilities. We expect to continue our restructuring efforts through the end of 2009 as we continue to execute our consolidation and globalization strategy. We have closed plant locations, reduced our workforce, and relocated some of our manufacturing capacity to lower cost locations in Asia, Central America and the Caribbean Basin. We have restructured our supply chain over the past three years to create more efficient production clusters that utilize fewer, larger facilities and to balance our production capability between the Western Hemisphere and Asia. With our global supply chain restructured, we are now focused on optimizing our supply chain to further enhance efficiency, improve working capital and asset turns and reduce costs. We are focused on optimizing the working capital needs of our supply chain through several initiatives, such as supplier-managed inventory for raw materials and sourced goods ownership relationships. While we believe that this strategy has had and will continue to have a beneficial impact on our operational efficiency and cost structure, we have incurred significant costs to implement these initiatives. In particular, we have recorded charges for severance and other employment-related obligations relating to workforce reductions, as well as payments in connection with lease and other contract terminations. In addition, we incurred charges for one-time write-offs of stranded raw materials and work in process inventory determined not to be salvageable or cost-effective to relocate related to the closure of manufacturing facilities.
 
We were spun off from Sara Lee on September 5, 2006. In connection with the spin off, Sara Lee contributed its branded apparel Americas and Asia business to us and distributed all of the outstanding shares of our common stock to its stockholders on a pro rata basis. References in this prospectus supplement to our assets, liabilities, products, businesses or activities of our business for periods including or prior to the spin off are generally intended to refer to the historical assets, liabilities, products, businesses or activities of the contributed businesses as the businesses were conducted as part of Sara Lee and its subsidiaries prior to the spin off.
 
Our brands
 
Our portfolio of leading brands is designed to address the needs and wants of various consumer segments across a broad range of apparel essentials products. Each of our brands has a particular consumer positioning that distinguishes it from its competitors and guides its advertising and product development. We discuss some of our most important brands in more detail below.
 
Hanes is the largest and most widely recognized brand in our portfolio. In 2008, Hanes was number one for the fifth consecutive year on the Women’s Wear Daily “Top 100 Brands Survey” for apparel and accessory brands that women know best and was number one for the fifth consecutive year as the most preferred men’s, women’s and children’s apparel brand of consumers in Retailing Today magazine’s “Top Brands Study.” The Hanes brand covers all of our product categories, including men’s underwear, kids’ underwear, bras, panties, socks, t-shirts, fleece and sheer hosiery. Hanes stands for outstanding comfort, style and value. According to Millward Brown Market Research, Hanes is found in over 85% of the United States households that have purchased men’s or women’s casual clothing or underwear in the 12-month period ended December 31, 2008.


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Champion is our second-largest brand. Specializing in athletic and other performance apparel, the Champion brand is designed for everyday athletes. We believe that Champion’s combination of comfort, fit and style provides athletes with mobility, durability and up-to-date styles, all product qualities that are important in the sale of athletic products. We also distribute products under the C9 by Champion brand exclusively through Target stores.
 
Playtex, the third-largest brand within our portfolio, offers a line of bras, panties and shapewear, including products that offer solutions for hard to fit figures. Bali is the fourth-largest brand within our portfolio. Bali offers a range of bras, panties and shapewear sold in the department store channel. Our brand portfolio also includes the following well-known brands: L’eggs, Just My Size, barely there, Wonderbra, Outer Banks and Duofold. These brands serve to round out our product offerings, allowing us to give consumers a variety of options to meet their diverse needs.
 
Design, research and product development
 
At the core of our design, research and product development capabilities is a team of more than 300 professionals as of January 3, 2009. We have combined our design, research and development teams into an integrated group for all of our product categories. A facility located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, is the center of our research, technical design and product development efforts. We also employ creative design and product development personnel in our design center in New York City. During the years ended January 3, 2009 and December 29, 2007, the six months ended December 30, 2006 and the year ended July 1, 2006, we spent approximately $46 million, $45 million, $23 million and $55 million, respectively, on design, research and product development.
 
Customers
 
In the year ended January 3, 2009, approximately 88% of our net sales were to customers in the United States and approximately 12% were to customers outside the United States. Domestically, almost 83% of our net sales were wholesale sales to retailers, 9% were direct to consumers and 8% were wholesale sales to third-party embellishers. We have well-established relationships with some of the largest apparel retailers in the world. Our largest customers are Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., or “Wal-Mart,” Target Corporation, or “Target,” and Kohl’s Corporation, or “Kohl’s,” accounting for 27%, 16% and 6%, respectively, of our total sales in the year ended January 3, 2009. As is common in the apparel essentials industry, we generally do not have purchase agreements that obligate our customers to purchase our products. However, all of our key customer relationships have been in place for ten years or more. Wal-Mart and Target are our only customers with sales that exceed 10% of any individual segment’s sales. In our Innerwear segment, Wal-Mart accounted for 32% of sales and Target accounted for 13% of sales during the year ended January 3, 2009. In our Outerwear segment, Target accounted for 30% of sales and Wal-Mart accounted for 21% of sales during the year ended January 3, 2009.
 
Due to their size and operational scale, high-volume retailers such as Wal-Mart require extensive category and product knowledge and specialized services regarding the quantity, quality and timing of product orders. We have organized multifunctional customer management teams, which has allowed us to form strategic long-term relationships with these customers and efficiently focus resources on category, product and service expertise.


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Smaller regional customers attracted to our leading brands and quality products also represent an important component of our distribution. Our organizational model provides for an efficient use of resources that delivers a high level of category and channel expertise and services to these customers.
 
Sales to the mass merchant channel accounted for approximately 44% of our net sales in the year ended January 3, 2009. We sell all of our product categories in this channel primarily under our Hanes, Just My Size, Playtex and C9 by Champion brands. Mass merchants feature high-volume, low-cost sales of basic apparel items along with a diverse variety of consumer goods products, such as grocery and drug products and other hard lines, and are characterized by large retailers, such as Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart, which accounted for approximately 27% of our net sales during the year ended January 3, 2009, is our largest mass merchant customer.
 
Sales to the national chains and department stores channel accounted for approximately 18% of our net sales during the year ended January 3, 2009. These retailers target a higher-income consumer than mass merchants, focus more of their sales on apparel items rather than other consumer goods such as grocery and drug products, and are characterized by large retailers such as Kohl’s, JC Penney Company, Inc. and Sears Holdings Corporation. We sell all of our product categories in this channel. Traditional department stores target higher-income consumers and carry more high-end, fashion conscious products than national chains or mass merchants and tend to operate in higher-income areas and commercial centers. Traditional department stores are characterized by large retailers such as Macy’s and Dillard’s, Inc. We sell products in our intimate apparel, hosiery and underwear categories through department stores.
 
Sales to the direct to consumer channel, which are included within the Innerwear segment, accounted for approximately 9% of our net sales in the year ended January 3, 2009. We sell our branded products directly to consumers through our 228 outlet stores, as well as our catalogs and our web sites operating under the Hanes, OneHanesPlace, Just My Size and Champion names. Our outlet stores are value-based, offering the consumer a savings of 25% to 40% off suggested retail prices, and sell first-quality, excess, post-season, obsolete and slightly imperfect products. Our catalogs and web sites address the growing direct to consumer channel that operates in today’s 24/7 retail environment, and as of January 3, 2009 we had an active database of approximately three million consumers receiving our catalogs and emails. Our web sites have experienced significant growth and we expect this trend to continue as more consumers embrace this retail shopping channel.
 
Sales in our International segment represented approximately 11% of our net sales during the year ended January 3, 2009, and included sales in Latin America, Asia, Canada and Europe. Canada, Europe, Japan and Mexico are our largest international markets, and we also have sales offices in India and China. We operate in several locations in Latin America including Mexico, Argentina, Brazil and Central America. From an export business perspective, we use distributors to service customers in the Middle East and Asia, and have a limited presence in Latin America. The brands that are the primary focus of the export business include Hanes underwear and Bali, Playtex, Wonderbra and barely there intimate apparel. As discussed below under “Intellectual Property,” we are not permitted to sell Wonderbra and Playtex branded products in the member states of the EU, several other European countries, and South Africa.
 
Sales in other channels represented approximately 18% of our net sales during the year ended January 3, 2009. We sell t-shirts, golf and sport shirts and fleece sweatshirts to third-party embellishers primarily under our Hanes, Hanes Beefy-T and Outer Banks brands. Sales to third-party embellishers accounted for approximately 8% of our net sales during the year ended


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January 3, 2009. We also sell a significant range of our underwear, activewear and socks products under the Champion brand to wholesale clubs, such as Costco, and sporting goods stores, such as The Sports Authority, Inc. We sell primarily legwear and underwear products under the Hanes and L’eggs brands to food, drug and variety stores. We sell products that span across our Innerwear, Outerwear and Hosiery segments to the U.S. military for sale to servicemen and servicewomen.
 
Inventory
 
Effective inventory management is a key component of our future success. Because our customers do not purchase our products under long-term supply contracts, but rather on a purchase order basis, effective inventory management requires close coordination with the customer base. Through Kanban sales and production planning, inventory management, product scheduling, demand prioritization and related initiatives that facilitate just-in-time production and ordering systems, we seek to ensure that products are available to meet customer demands while effectively managing inventory levels. We also employ various other types of inventory management techniques that include collaborative forecasting and planning, vendor-managed inventory, key event management and various forms of replenishment management processes. We have demand management planners in our customer management group who work closely with customers to develop demand forecasts that are passed to the supply chain. We also have professionals within the customer management group who coordinate daily with our larger customers to help ensure that our customers’ planned inventory levels are in fact available at their individual retail outlets. Additionally, within our supply chain organization we have dedicated professionals who translate the demand forecast into our inventory strategy and specific production plans. These individuals work closely with our customer management team to balance inventory investment/exposure with customer service targets.
 
Seasonality and other factors
 
Our operating results are subject to some variability. Generally, our diverse range of product offerings helps mitigate the impact of seasonal changes in demand for certain items. Sales are typically higher in the last two quarters (July to December) of each fiscal year. Socks, hosiery and fleece products generally have higher sales during this period as a result of cooler weather, back-to-school shopping and holidays. Sales levels in any period are also impacted by customers’ decisions to increase or decrease their inventory levels in response to anticipated consumer demand. Our customers may cancel orders, change delivery schedules or change the mix of products ordered with minimal notice to us. For example, we have experienced a shift in timing by our largest retail customers of back-to-school programs between June and July the last two years. Our results of operations are also impacted by fluctuations and volatility in the price of cotton and oil-related materials and the timing of actual spending for our media, advertising and promotion expenses. Media, advertising and promotion expenses may vary from period to period during a fiscal year depending on the timing of our advertising campaigns for retail selling seasons and product introductions.
 
Marketing
 
Our strategy is to bring consumer-driven innovation to market in a compelling way. Our approach is to build targeted, effective multimedia advertising and marketing campaigns to increase awareness of our key brands. Driving growth platforms across categories is a major


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