MONTRÉAL, May  08, 2024  (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Gildan Activewear Inc. (GIL: TSX and NYSE) ("Gildan" or the "Company") announced today that it has reached an agreement to issue CAD$200 million aggregate principal amount of senior unsecured notes to Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec ("CDPQ") on a private placement basis. The notes will bear interest at a rate of 6.0% per year and will mature 5 years from the issuance date. Gildan intends to use the net proceeds of the issuance to fund its common share repurchase program and for the repayment of maturing outstanding debt.

Gildan has agreed to maintain strong local leadership and its global headquarters in Québec for a minimum of 7 years, and has committed to becoming a Global Minimum Taxpayer.1

"The refreshed Board and the new CEO of Gildan have the right business plan, clear commitments to keeping its headquarters in Québec and to pay Global Minimum Tax. This is why CDPQ has decided to support the growth of this major Québec company. It's a first step to a partnership that will expand with our intention to become an important shareholder of the company in this new context," said Kim Thomassin, Executive Vice-President and Head of Québec at CDPQ.

"We are pleased that given our longstanding relationship, CDPQ, one of Canada's most admired and successful investors, has decided to make this investment in Gildan. We view it as a strong validation of our Board, management team and ongoing commitment to shareholder value creation," said Tim Hodgson, Chairman of Gildan Activewear.

"We believe this investment and partnership with CDPQ is a very positive indicator about the strength and potential of the business as well as the refreshed Board and management team. I look forward to leading Gildan from my new home city of Montréal and creating value for all of Gildan's shareholders," said Vince Tyra, CEO of Gildan Activewear.

Closing of the transaction is expected to occur on or around June 4, 2024, and will be contingent on successful completion of confirmatory due diligence and other customary closing requirements.

The notes are being offered in Canada on a private placement basis in reliance upon exemptions from the prospectus requirements under applicable securities legislation. The notes have not been and will not be qualified for sale to the public under applicable securities laws in Canada and, accordingly, any offer and sale of the notes in Canada will be made on a basis which is exempt from the prospectus requirements of such securities laws. The notes have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or the securities laws of any other jurisdiction, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration under, or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of, the U.S. Securities Act. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy the notes in any jurisdiction where it is unlawful to do so.

1 See the Company's prior disclosure in respect of Global Minimum Tax, including the Company's May 1, 2024 press release under the heading "2024 Outlook", accessible at the following link: Gildan Activewear Reports Results for the First Quarter of 2024.