Gildan Activewear Inc. (GIL; TSX and NYSE) today announced that its
Board of Directors has issued a letter to shareholders in
connection with its upcoming 2024 Annual Meeting of Shareholders
(the “2024 Annual Meeting”) to be held on May 28, 2024.
At the 2024 Annual Meeting, activist investor
Browning West is seeking to replace eight of Gildan’s highly
qualified directors with its own candidates, including its own
Co-Founder, Peter Lee, and reinstall Glenn Chamandy, as CEO of the
Company. Gildan’s Board strongly urges shareholders to vote
“FOR” ALL Gildan nominees as well as Karen Stuckey
and J.P. Towner on the BLUE proxy card. The full
text of the letter follows:
Dear Fellow
Shareholder,
Your vote at Gildan’s
upcoming Annual Meeting on May 28, 2024, is critical to the future
of our Company. Browning West’s attempt to gain control of our
company without paying a premium, with the intention of removing
Vince Tyra as CEO and reinstating Glenn Chamandy, poses a
significant threat to the stability of your investment. The Gildan
Board strongly urges shareholders to protect the value of their
investment by voting “FOR” all Gildan nominees as well as Karen
Stuckey and J.P. Towner on the BLUE proxy
card.
In line with our
commitment to regular and ongoing Board refreshment, we recently
refreshed our Board by appointing Timothy (Tim) Hodgson, Lewis L.
(Lee) Bird III, Jane Craighead, Lynn Loewen, and Les Viner as
independent directors of the Board; recommending the election of
Browning West nominees Karen Stuckey and J.P. Towner at the
upcoming Annual Meeting; and appointing Tim Hodgson as
Non-Executive / Independent Chair of the Board.
Gildan’s newly
refreshed Board contains the right mix of fresh perspectives,
historical continuity, and investor input – including five
newly-refreshed independent directors, and four incumbent
independent directors. Continuing the Board’s track record of
significant refreshment over the past several years, this new slate
is strong, engaged, and diverse, with a balanced mix of experience,
skills, and leadership expertise to execute the Company’s strategy
and enhance value for all shareholders.
Gildan Activewear Director Nominees |
Tim HodgsonNon-Executive / Independent ChairFormer
Special Advisor to Governor Carney at the Bank of Canada and former
CEO of Goldman Sachs CanadaDirector since: May 1, 2024 |
Tim Hodgson is the Non-Executive / Independent Chair of the
Board and has a long and distinguished leadership career in asset
management and finance, as well as public service. He is known for
successfully bringing clarity, focus, collaboration, and value
creation as part of leading the turnaround in several challenging
situations. |
Key Experience / Qualifications:√ History as a value creator –
generating positive average annual total shareholder returns as a
director√ Strong experience serving on boards of institutional
investors including the Ontario Teacher’s Pension Plan and the
Public Sector Pension Investment Board√ Has provided a steady hand
as a board member of several CEO transitions and succession plans,
including as Chair of Hydro One Ltd., where he has overseen +104%
total shareholder return for shareholders1Other Affiliation(s):-
Hydro One (Chair)- Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization
(Chair)- Ontario Teacher’s Pension Plan (Vice Chair, Investment
Committee)- Property and Casualty Insurance Compensation
Corporation (Director) |
Lee BirdIndependent DirectorFormer Chairman and
Chief Executive Officer of At Home Group Inc.Director since: May 1,
2024 |
Lee Bird brings to the Gildan Board deep leadership
experience and relevant industry expertise in consumer, apparel,
and supply chain. |
Key Experience / Qualifications:√ Textile and apparel industry
experience, including senior executive roles at Nike Inc., The Gap
Inc., and Old Navy√ Proven experience as a CEO and director of
public companiesOther Affiliation(s):- Larry H. Miller Company
(Director)- Marriott School of Business at BYU (National Advisory
Committee Member)- Member of the Ownership Advisory Group of the
NHL Dallas Stars |
Dhaval BuchIndependent DirectorCurrent Senior
Advisor with Blackstone Private Equity and to the Mahindra
GroupDirector since: February 2022 |
Dhaval Buch is an accomplished business leader and his
international expertise in supply chain operations and extensive
knowledge in sustainable sourcing makes him an ideal member of the
Gildan Board. |
Key Experience / Qualifications:√ Generated positive annualized
total shareholder return during his tenure as a named executive
officer at Hindustan Unilever Limited√ Deep experience in
supply chain, distribution, and manufacturing operationsOther
Affiliation(s):- Blackstone Private Equity (Senior Advisor)-
Mahindra Group (Senior Advisor)- EPL Limited (Director, Chair of
Risk Management Committee)- Bristlecone Inc. (Chair) |
Marc CairaIndependent DirectorFormer Vice-Chairman
of the Board of Directors of Restaurant Brands International
Inc.Director since: May 2018 |
Marc Caira has extensive international executive experience
as well as public company board experience across a range of
industries. |
Key Experience / Qualifications:√ Generated positive average
annualized total shareholder returns during his director tenure at
Gildan and as CEO of Tim Hortons Inc.√ Experience in sales and
marketing, global growth and operations, human capital management
and compensation, strategy and risk management, and manufacturing
operationsOther Affiliation(s):- Minto Group (Director)- University
Health Network Foundation (Director) |
Jane CraigheadIndependent DirectorFormer Senior
Vice President Global Human Resources at ScotiabankDirector since:
May 1, 2024 |
Jane Craighead has over 20 years of experience with public
companies, including as executive management and an independent
corporate director. Jane is skilled in finance and accounting,
human resource management including executive compensation,
corporate governance, business strategy, and change
management. |
Key Experience / Qualifications:√ Extensive corporate governance
credentials having chaired various key committees at public
companies√ Seasoned human resources professional as both an
executive and board memberOther Affiliation(s):- Crombie Real
Estate Investment Trust (Director, Chair of Governance and
Nominating Committee)- Wajax Corporation (Director, Chair of Human
Resources Committee)- Telesat Corporation (Director, Chair of Human
Resources and Compensation Committee) |
Sharon DriscollIndependent DirectorFormer CFO,
Co-CEO, and Advisor to the CEO at RB GlobalDirector since: October
2023 |
Sharon Driscoll has 15 plus years of C-suite experience
across finance, strategy, and transformation roles in publicly
traded and privately held retail and distribution
environments. |
Key Experience / Qualifications:√ Generated positive average
annualized total shareholder return in her director roles at other
public companies and in her named executive officer roles at other
public companies√ Experience in strategy and risk management,
account and financial, corporate governance and regulatory, digital
and technology, human capital management, and compensationOther
Affiliation(s):- Empire Company Limited (Director)- Imperial Oil
Limited (Director) |
Lynn LoewenIndependent DirectorFormer President of
Minogue Medical Inc.Director since: May 1, 2024 |
Lynn Loewen brings a wealth of valuable experience to the
Board, particularly in executive leadership, governance, risk
management, finance, technology, accounting, and
sustainability/ESG. |
Key Experience / Qualifications:√ Significant experience in
executive and leadership roles in public companies√ Extensive
corporate governance credentials including previous experience in
audit, ESG, health and safety, and risk and technologyOther
Affiliation(s):- National Bank of Canada (Director, Chair of the
Audit Committee)- Emera Incorporated (Director)- Mount Allison
University (Chancellor) |
Anne Martin-VachonIndependent DirectorCurrent
Senior Vice-President, Sales and Chief Retail Officer for Rogers
Communications Inc.Director since: February 2015 |
Anne Martin-Vachon has decades of leadership experience and
relevant industry experience in consumer goods and retail both in
the US and Canada. |
Key Experience / Qualifications:√ Generated positive annualized
total shareholder returns at Gildan and in her executive role at
Nordstrom Inc.√ Experience in digital and technology, sales and
marketing, strategy and risk management, textile and apparel
industry, human capital management, and compensationOther
Affiliation(s):- Retail Council of Canada (Chair) |
Vincent (Vince) J. TyraPresident & CEO;
Non-Independent DirectorFormer Senior Vice-President of Corporate
Strategy and Mergers and Acquisitions at Houchens
IndustriesDirector since: January 2024 |
Vince Tyra brings a wealth of experience and proven
leadership to his role as President and CEO of Gildan, where he
assumed office on January 15, 2024. Vince has held leadership
positions across a broad range of industries and managerial
challenges, while demonstrating strong financial performance
throughout his career. |
Key Experience / Qualifications:√ Most recently served as Senior
Vice-President of Corporate Strategy and Mergers and Acquisitions
at Houchens Industries from 2022 to 2024, spearheading strategic
initiatives that drove growth in the company’s $4-billion revenue
employee-owned portfolio across various sectors, including
manufacturing, consumer products, and retail√ During his six-year
tenure, Broder Bros. EBITDA increased by 223% with a compound
annual growth rate (CAGR) of 26.4%, delivering on the key
objectives for his shareholders√ Strong track record of driving
growth at portfolio companies at Southfield Capital and Houchens
Industries; Vince’s portfolio produced strong returns, with an
internal rate of return of 27% and a multiple on invested capital
of 3.2x√ Early in his career, Vince invested in and grew his own
activewear business, utilizing Gildan as a key supplier√ Joined
Fruit of the Loom from 1997 to 2000 where the Board of Directors
promoted him to President in the company’s darkest hour to develop
and implement a restructuring plan that put Fruit of the Loom back
on sound financial footing ahead of its eventual sale to Berkshire
Hathaway√ Has served on the board of directors at 10 companies and
stepped in as interim Chief Executive Officer at three√ Experience
in strategy and risk management, human capital management, global
growth and operations, sales and marketing, and manufacturing
operationsOther Affiliation(s):- Houchens Industries
(Director) |
Les VinerIndependent DirectorFormer Managing
Partner of Torys LLPDirector since: May 1, 2024 |
Les Viner is a lawyer, Chartered Professional Accountant
(CPA), and seasoned business leader, bringing to the Board
extensive experience in financial and strategic planning, change
management, talent development, risk management, conflict
resolution, business development, and transaction
execution. |
Key Experience / Qualifications:√ Extensive experience as both a
lawyer and a chartered professional accountant√ Business career
includes significant experience in financial and strategic
planning, change management, talent development, and transaction
executionOther Affiliation(s):- NA |
After careful examination of Browning
West’s nominees and extensive engagement with shareholders, the
Board is recommending that shareholders elect Karen Stuckey and
J.P. Towner from Browning West’s slate as we believe their
experience and background will be additive to the Board and the
Company’s growth agenda.
Karen StuckeyFormer Senior Vice President at
Walmart Inc. |
Karen Stuckey brings over 30 years of customer‐driven
leadership at retail and consumer goods companies. She has a wealth
of knowledge spanning merchandising P&L and $40B+ private brand
portfolio and product development leadership, coupled with deep
global sourcing and supply chain expertise. |
Key Experience / Qualifications:√ Extensive apparel experience,
including private label while in her role at Walmart Inc.√
International operations experience including global supply chain
operationsOther Affiliation(s):- NA |
J.P. TownerChief Financial Officer of RONA
inc. |
J.P. Towner has extensive experience working in low-cost
vertically integrated businesses focused on value-oriented consumer
products with successful founders and has a track record of
delivering strong financial results. |
Key Experience / Qualifications: √ Experience highly relevant to
Gildan’s focus on vertical integration and maintaining a low-cost,
vertically integrated business model√ Extensive consumer products
experience and public company executive experienceOther
Affiliation(s):- NA |
Conversely, Gildan’s Board believes
that it would be disruptive to elect any of the remaining 6 members
of the Browning West slate to the Board and does not believe that
these nominees would be additive to deliberations. Specifically,
they would not add any skills or expertise to the Company’s Board
that are not already present in Gildan’s refreshed slate and would
serve to impair continuity and the deliberate and thoughtful
refreshment process already underway at Gildan.
Browning West Nominee |
|
Qualities Detrimental to Gildan |
Glenn Chamandy |
x |
As CEO, Glenn was unable to produce a long-term organic growth plan
and was uninterested in developing organic growth initiatives for
Gildan |
x |
Presented the Gildan Board with risky and dilutive acquisition
targets in an attempt to prolong his tenure as CEO and provided the
Board with the ultimatum: approve a high-risk multi-billion dollar
acquisition strategy predicated on guaranteeing his role as CEO for
several more years to oversee its integration, or, he would leave
the Company immediately and sell his shares. Browning West’s
dissident proxy circular confirms that he executed on this threat;
Mr. Chamandy no longer holds any shares in the company. |
x |
Given his past actions, can he be trusted as a director to put the
interests of the Company ahead of his own? His election would
result in disruption of a necessary leadership transition and
re-energized corporate strategy already underway |
x |
Under Mr. Chamandy’s leadership, while annualized TSR from December
2003 to December 2014 was 21%, from December 2014 through December
2023, it was only 5%. Recently, prior to Mr. Chamandy’s termination
and during the period between Q1 2022 and December 8, 2023,
Gildan’s TSR was (4)%, whereas the median TSR of the same select
Gildan peers was 2%. |
Peter Lee |
x |
Oversaw negative annual total shareholder returns and stock
underperformance (-24%) compared to its relative benchmark2 at his
sole public company director role at Countryside Properties, as
well as significant leadership turmoil |
x |
No public company experience as a named executive officer |
x |
No garment or textile manufacturing experience |
x |
As a Browning West principal and holding only 5% of shares, wants
to take control of the Company and its Board |
Ghislain Houle |
x |
No public company director experience |
x |
No garment and textile manufacturing experience |
x |
No supply chain and distribution experience |
Michael Kneeland |
x |
Served on the board of Monitronics International Inc. when the
company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 2023 |
x |
Served as the Chair of the Compensation Committee at YRC Worldwide
Inc. where Glass Lewis recommended AGAINST their executive
compensation resolution during 3 years of his tenure |
x |
No garment or textile manufacturing experience |
Melanie Kau |
x |
No garment or textile manufacturing experience |
Michener Chandlee |
x |
No public company director experience |
x |
No public company experience as a named executive
officer |
We have sought an amicable resolution
with Browning West consistently over months of engagement. All good
faith efforts by the Company to reach a settlement, as well as
offers to meet and vet their nominees, have been repeatedly
rebuffed by the activist hedge fund, leaving no room for
constructive engagement, let alone a go-forward resolution.
Browning West is not willing to consider any alternative to
reinstating the highly value destructive and disengaged former CEO
Glenn Chamandy, and instead continues to run a costly, disruptive
campaign at the expense of Gildan shareholders that is rooted in
false claims.
Browning West Inaccurate Claims |
The Facts |
“In December 2023, the Board of Directors plunged Gildan into chaos
by abruptly terminating high-performing and long-standing CEO Glenn
Chamandy without cause or credible explanation.” |
- The Board was unanimous in its conviction that retaining Mr.
Chamandy as CEO would have jeopardized the future of Gildan and
destroyed significant shareholder value.
- After agreeing to a formal succession plan in 2021, Mr.
Chamandy recently made clear that he never intended to abide by
that agreement, telling the media in December 2023 that he had no
intention of leaving and would only leave when he thought the time
was right.
- Mr. Chamandy was putting his personal interests ahead of the
Company’s. The business was losing momentum and growth stagnated.
Despite the previously agreed succession plan, Mr. Chamandy
demanded that the Board approve a risky, multi-billion-dollar
acquisitions strategy predicated on him staying CEO for several
more years and threatened that he would quit and sell all his
shares if the Board did not do so.
- The independent Board did not believe that Mr. Chamandy’s
strategy was in the best interests of the Company or its
shareholders. Mr. Chamandy’s ultimatums, his decision to upend the
carefully planned succession plan, his disruptive behavior and his
unwillingness to cooperate, and his concealed taping of a private
and confidential conversation led to an unreconcilable break in the
relationship between the Board and he left the Board no choice but
to terminate him.
- Starting in March 2022, the Board ran a robust process to
identify the next CEO, beginning with a universe list of 515
profiles, progressing to a long list of 37 profiles, to a short
list 21 candidates, to a ranked short list of seven candidates, to
a finalist list comprised of four candidates, narrowed to three
finalists after a first round of interviews, to the selection of
the winning candidate, with an appropriate number of meetings and
interviews held with all finalists.
- The Board’s decision to remove Mr. Chamandy as CEO has also
been affirmed by two leading independent governance experts, Dr.
Richard Leblanc and Peter Dey, both of whom the Board contracted to
conduct separate reviews in connection with the Board’s succession
process which led to Mr. Chamandy’s removal as CEO.
|
“Mr. Tyra lacks the critical qualities that are required to
successfully lead Gildan, namely: (i) best-in-class manufacturing
and vertical integration experience, (ii) a clear and verifiable
track-record of value creation, (iii) a demonstrated ability to
manage an increasingly global business with vast scale, and (iv)
the highest level of integrity.” |
- Throughout Vince’s career, he has demonstrated thoughtful
leadership and clear financial success, underscoring that he is the
right person to move Gildan forward.
- At Southfield Capital, his portfolio produced an internal rate
of return of 27% and a multiple of invested capital of 3.2x.
- In addition, Vince has obvious relevant industry experience.
Early in his career, Vince invested in and grew his own activewear
business, utilizing Gildan as a key supplier.
- At Broder Bros., he successfully engineered the acquisition of
Alpha Shirt Holdings. During his six-year tenure at Broder Bros.,
EBITDA increased by 223% with a CAGR of 26.4%.
- At Fruit of the Loom, Vince was handpicked to take on the role
of President and was instrumental in the implementation of a plan
to stabilize the company and restructure the business, paving the
way for its eventual sale to Berkshire Hathaway.
- Most recently, he served as Senior Vice President of Corporate
Strategy and Mergers and Acquisitions at Houchens Industries, where
he oversaw and developed corporate strategy for the $4 billion
revenue employee-owned holding company. In 2023, Houchens
experienced its second largest share price gain in the last 35
years.
- To suggest that Vince does not operate with the highest level
of integrity is categorically false. Prior to Vince’s hiring, 32
reference checks were carried out on him alone, all of which
suggested that Vince operates with the highest level of integrity.
Underscoring this point, J. David Grissom, the former Vice Chairman
of PNC Financial, who was Chairman of the Board of Trustees at the
University of Louisville when the Board hired Vince, recently
stated: “Vince Tyra has an outstanding reputation as a leader. The
Board of Trustees hired him to clean up the Athletics Program that
had been tarnished by scandal and controversy. He quickly made a
significant difference. Vince listened, evaluated the situation,
and then made the hard decisions needed to restore the integrity of
the program. Vince is a calm, confident and firm leader. He never
looks for headlines. He started every meeting by asking ‘What’s the
right thing to do here?’ His moral compass is in the right place.
Gildan’s Board of Directors will never regret its decision to hire
Vince Tyra as CEO.”
- In contrast, in behavior that is inconsistent with that of a
senior executive, let alone a chief executive, Glenn recorded a
private and confidential phone call on November 24, 2023, with then
Chair of Gildan’s Board, Donald Berg without the Chair’s knowledge.
Upon his departure, he also violated Company policies related to
the safeguarding of corporate information, including wiping data
from his Gildan communication devices.
|
“Considering the Board has a history of diligence failures and
recruiting underqualified executives, it has not earned the right
to hand-select its own replacement directors.” |
- These Board changes were recommended by our Corporate
Governance and Social Responsibility Committee after extensive
conversations with Gildan’s shareholders and the hiring of an
independent search firm. The process was robust.
- One of the consistent themes we heard during shareholder
conversations was the need for more apparel expertise and
experience with value-oriented consumer products on the Board –
which this refreshed slate delivers. That is why we are also
recommending that shareholders vote for two of the nominees on the
dissident slate, Karen Stuckey and J.P. Towner.
- Meanwhile, Browning West continually rebuffed our request to
interview their candidates.
- All of Gildan’s new directors possess the necessary leadership
experience, relevant expertise, and diverse backgrounds to be of
tremendous value to our Board and management team in driving Gildan
forward.
|
“Though the Board has attempted to slander Mr. Chamandy, Gildan’s
recent strong operating and financial results reveal the truth of
his performance.” “UNDER MR. CHAMANDY, GILDAN HAS OUTPERFORMED ON A
2-YEAR, 5-YEAR, AND 10-YEAR PERIOD” |
- In recent years, it became clear to the Board that the business
was losing momentum and growth was stagnating. The removal of Mr.
Chamandy and appointment of Mr. Tyra was the critical change needed
to reverse the stagnation in our sales in order to continue to
outperform relative to Gildan’s peers.
- Browning West has chosen to clearly cherry-pick data favorable
to Mr. Chamandy’s performance and the information they have put
forth is obviously misleading.
|
TSR Performance Under Mr. Chamandy |
- Under Mr. Chamandy’s leadership, while annualized TSR from
December 2003 to December 2014 was 21%, from December 2014 through
December 2023, it was only 5%.3
- Recently, prior to Mr. Chamandy’s termination and during the
period between Q1 2022 and December 8, 2023, Gildan’s TSR was (4)%,
whereas the median TSR of the same select Gildan peers was 2%.
|
Write-downs and M&A Performance Under Mr. Chamandy |
- To highlight M&A missteps by Mr. Chamandy, since 2013,
Gildan accrued over ~$450 million of write-downs, including
restructuring and acquisition related-costs, impairment of
intangible assets and impact of strategic product line initiatives.
More than half of the $450 million resulted from acquisitions and
strategy decisions that did not meet expectations.
- These costs are associated primarily with a failed acquisition
strategy of several brands, including Peds (acquired in July 2016),
Doris (acquired in June 2014), Gold Toe Moretz (acquired in April
2011), V.I. Prewett & Son (acquired in September 2007), and
Kentucky Derby Hosiery (acquired in June 2006).
|
“We are naturally concerned that the Board has initiated a sale
process in order to avoid accountability following continuous and
growing support for Browning West’s calls for significant Board
reconstitution.”“…we believe that today’s announcement was likely
triggered by the collapse of the Board’s reactive sale process…It
is time for Gildan’s Board to immediately cease its excessive and
wasteful spending of shareholder capital on its misguided sale
process and numerous entrenchment tactics.” |
- To suggest the sale process is misguided and/or has collapsed
is entirely inaccurate. There continues to be external interest in
acquiring the Company and the process is ongoing.
- This process began in response to the receipt of a confidential
non-binding expression of interest to acquire Gildan. The Board was
adhering to its fiduciary duty to the Company and has been acting
in the best interest of shareholders by trying to maximize
value.
- Despite Browning West’s public stance against considering any
alternative, its attempts to disrupt the process, and their
portraying the review of alternatives as an entrenchment strategy
for the Board, the process is robust and will be measured against
the value creation potential of our compelling current strategic
plan.
- Regarding wasteful spending of shareholder capital, Browning
West has a clear track record of hand-picking CEOs and then
excessively spending shareholder capital for their pay packages.
For instance, Browning West reportedly proposed instituting an
incentive package for Vistry management, which would have seen the
CEO pocket a bonus of up to £60 million. In addition, Tempur Sealy,
a company where Usman Nabi, Browning West’s Co-founder ran a proxy
contest with his prior firm H Partners in 2014, and one that is
reportedly Browning West’s largest current holding, has excessively
paid its CEO the following amounts:
- 2020: $31.62 million (USD)
- 2021: $96.04 million (USD)
- 2022: $18.11 million (USD)
- 2023: $51.81 million (USD)
|
“...the Board has spent the last five months using its legal and PR
machines to entrench itself and fight its own shareholders…” |
- Gildan retained advisors for several reasons:
- to respond to Browning West’s aggressive activist campaign,
which falsely attacked both the Board and the Company in its
attempt to take control of Gildan without paying a premium;
- to litigate Browing West’s apparent violation of U.S. law when
it increased its stake in its effort to call a Special
Meeting;
- to evaluate any expression of interest to acquire Gildan;
and
- to allow management to remain focused on running the business
and creating shareholder value.
- Over the last several months, the Company has repeatedly tried
to reach a settlement agreement with Browning West. However, those
efforts were all rebuffed as the activist hedge fund pressed on
with its needless and wasteful proxy contest.
|
The Board is fully behind Vince Tyra
as CEO and looks forward to supporting him and Gildan’s talented
management team as we continue to execute and enhance the Company’s
long-term strategy. In addition to launching his refreshed
strategic priorities, Vince has hit the ground running and is
highly visible and transparent among employees, investors,
customers, and all of Gildan’s stakeholders.
- Investors: In just his first few months on the
job, Vince has played a key role in the Board’s outreach to
shareholders, including many of the 98 meetings across Gildan’s top
25 shareholders. Those meetings greatly influenced the Board’s
refreshment process and Vince’s revamped Gildan Sustainable Growth
strategy.
- Employees: He also visited 18 Gildan offices
and manufacturing sites in his first 90 days as CEO, has held over
100 meetings with Gildan leaders, and held several interactive town
halls while interacting with over 2,000 employees to create
openness and start a two-way dialogue.
- Customers and Partners: Vince has been highly
present, frequently attending trade shows to reconnect with
customers and is in regular dialogue with Gildan’s major partners
to better understand their challenges and opportunities for the
Company.
We encourage Gildan shareholders to
support Vince in executing our long-term vision as well as our
highly skilled, diverse, proven, and recently refreshed Board.
VOTE
THE BLUE PROXY CARD
TODAY
We look forward to
seeing you at the 2024 Annual Meeting and for the opportunity to
answer your questions, but if you cannot attend, it is important
that your shares be represented. Whether or not you plan to attend
the 2024 Annual Meeting, we urge you to read the Management
Information Circular carefully and to vote FOR ALL
the recommended Gildan director nominees by using the enclosed
BLUE proxy and NOT to vote for Browning West’s
director nominees other than Karen Stuckey and J.P. Towner. We
encourage shareholders to disregard any gold proxy card sent to you
by Browning West. Only the latest dated proxy card will count at
the Annual Meeting. As Gildan is using a “universal” proxy
containing all the Gildan nominees as well as the other nominees
proposed by Browning West, there is no need to use any other proxy
regardless of how you propose to vote.
Thank you for your
continued support of Gildan and please vote the
BLUE proxy card today.
Sincerely,The Gildan
Board of Directors
Questions? Need help
Voting?
Contact Kingsdale Advisors at 1-888-518-6813 or
by email at contactus@kingsdaleadvisors.com
Don’t wait – Vote your BLUE proxy today!
1 As of May 6, 2024.2 Underperformance
calculated as the CSP stock price return during Mr. Lee’s tenure as
a Board member vs. the index performance of FSTE 100 based on the
closing price of January 21, 2022, and closing price of November
11, 20223 Source: FactSet as of 08-Dec-2023.4 Peer group includes
G-III apparel, Kontoor Brands, Oxford Industries, Columbia
Sportswear, Carter’s, Under Armour, Ralph Lauren, V.F. Corporation,
PVH and Hanesbrands.
Caution Concerning Forward-Looking
StatementsCertain statements included in this press
release constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning
of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and
Canadian securities legislation and regulations and are subject to
important risks, uncertainties, and assumptions. This
forward-looking information includes, amongst others, information
with respect to our objectives and strategies to achieve these
objectives. Forward-looking statements generally can be identified
by the use of conditional or forward-looking terminology such as
“may,” “will,” “expect,” “intend,” “estimate”, “project”, “assume”,
“anticipate”, “plan”, “foresee”, “believe”, or “continue”, or the
negatives of these terms or variations of them or similar
terminology. We refer you to the Company’s filings with the
Canadian securities regulatory authorities and the U.S. Securities
and Exchange Commission, as well as the risks described under the
“Financial risk management”, “Critical accounting estimates and
judgments”, and “Risks and uncertainties” sections of the Company’s
Management’s Discussion and Analysis for the year ended December
31, 2023 (“FY2023 MD&A”) for a discussion of the various
factors that may affect these forward-looking statements. Material
factors and assumptions that were applied in drawing a conclusion
or making a forecast or projection are also set out throughout such
document.
Forward-looking information is inherently
uncertain and the results or events predicted in such
forward-looking information may differ materially from actual
results or events. Material factors, which could cause actual
results or events to differ materially from a conclusion or
projection in such forward-looking information, include, but are
not limited to changes in general economic, financial or
geopolitical conditions globally or in one or more of the markets
we serve, including the pricing and inflationary environment, and
our ability to implement our growth strategies and plans, as well
as those factors listed in the FY2023 MD&A under the “Risks and
uncertainties” section and “Caution regarding forward-looking
statements” sections. These factors may cause the Company’s actual
performance in future periods to differ materially from any
estimates or projections of future performance expressed or implied
by the forward-looking statements included in this press
release.
There can be no assurance that the expectations
represented by our forward-looking statements will prove to be
correct. The purpose of the forward-looking statements is to
provide the reader with a description of management’s expectations
regarding the Company’s future financial performance and may not be
appropriate for other purposes. Furthermore, unless otherwise
stated, the forward-looking statements contained in this press
release are made as of the date of this press release, and we do
not undertake any obligation to update publicly or to revise any of
the included forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new
information, future events, or otherwise unless required by
applicable legislation or regulation. The forward-looking
statements contained in this press release are expressly qualified
by this cautionary statement.
About GildanGildan is a leading
manufacturer of everyday basic apparel. The Company’s product
offering includes activewear, underwear and socks, sold to a broad
range of customers, including wholesale distributors,
screenprinters or embellishers, as well as to retailers that sell
to consumers through their physical stores and/or e-commerce
platforms and to global lifestyle brand companies. The Company
markets its products in North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and
Latin America, under a diversified portfolio of Company-owned
brands including Gildan®, American Apparel®, Comfort Colors®,
GOLDTOE® and Peds®.
Gildan owns and operates vertically integrated, large-scale
manufacturing facilities which are primarily located in Central
America, the Caribbean, North America, and Bangladesh. Gildan
operates with a strong commitment to industry-leading labour,
environmental and governance practices throughout its supply chain
in accordance with its comprehensive ESG program embedded in the
Company's long-term business strategy. More information about the
Company and its ESG practices and initiatives can be found at
www.gildancorp.com.
Media Relations Team
(514) 343-8814
communications@gildan.com
Grafico Azioni Gildan Activewear (NYSE:GIL)
Storico
Da Nov 2024 a Dic 2024
Grafico Azioni Gildan Activewear (NYSE:GIL)
Storico
Da Dic 2023 a Dic 2024