Gildan Activewear Q1 sales skyrocket 38.5%

Net sales revenues are projected to slightly exceed the Company's previous guidance of approximately U.S. $2.1 billion. Net sales for Printwear are now projected to exceed the previous projection of approximately U.S. $1.4 billion, and net sales for Branded Apparel are still projected to be approximately U.S. $0.7 billion. The EPS impact of the slightly higher than previously projected Printwear sales is projected to be offset by higher than previously projected cotton and manufacturing costs. Other material assumptions are essentially unchanged compared to the Company's previous guidance. Therefore, the Company is continuing to project adjusted EPS of U.S. $2.60-$2.70 for the full fiscal year.

During the second quarter, the Company announced selling price reductions for certain printwear products, and applied the benefit of these selling price reductions to distributor inventories. However, the full financial impact of the price reductions, including the distributor inventory devaluation, had been reflected in the Company's prior guidance. The Company's guidance continues to reflect the possibility of further increases in promotional discounting in the balance of the fiscal year.

The Company has begun shipment of new branded programs for national customers in the second quarter and will begin shipment of further new programs in the third quarter of the fiscal year. The Company believes that it is positioned to secure further new programs for both the Gildan brand and the Gold Toe portfolio of brands. In order to maximize the opportunity provided by the new branded programs, Gildan is increasing its advertising expenditures in support of its brands during fiscal 2013 by over U.S. $15 million compared with fiscal 2012, including a commercial which aired during Super Bowl XLVII on February 3, 2013.

The cost of cotton futures has increased since the Company initiated its fiscal 2013 guidance in November. The Company has not yet purchased all of its cotton requirements for consumption in cost of sales in the balance of fiscal 2013, and is assuming that the balance of its requirements are purchased at approximately current futures prices for cotton.

The Company is projecting adjusted net earnings per share for the second fiscal quarter of U.S. $0.54-$0.57, compared with adjusted EPS of U.S. $0.23 per share in the second quarter of fiscal 2012. Compared with last year, the impact of significantly lower cotton costs, higher unit sales volumes for Printwear, more favourable product-mix for Branded Apparel and the impact of Anvil are projected to be partially offset by lower net selling prices for Printwear, including the U.S. $0.04 per share impact of the distributor inventory devaluation, the impact of short-term manufacturing inefficiencies, the timing of the Easter holiday shutdown which falls this year in the second fiscal quarter compared to the third quarter in fiscal 2012, inflation in certain purchased cost elements and increased selling, general and administrative expenses. Net sales revenues for the second fiscal quarter are projected to be approximately U.S. $520 million, compared with U.S. $483 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2012.