SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 20549

 

FORM 6-K

 

REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER
Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16 under
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.

 

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant by furnishing the information contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

If  “Yes” is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the Registrant in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): 82-_N/A_.

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For Immediate Release

 

 

 

 

Gildan Activewear Raises EPS Guidance For Second Fiscal Quarter and 2005 Fiscal Year

Montréal, Wednesday, April 6, 2005 – Gildan Activewear Inc. (GIL; TSX and NYSE) today announced that it expects that its earnings for its second fiscal quarter, ended April 3, 2005, will be above its previous guidance. The Company now expects diluted E.P.S., before the special charge for the closure of its Canadian yarn-spinning facilities, to be at least 10% above the top end of its previously communicated guidance range of U.S. $0.60 – U.S. $0.65 for the quarter. The special charge for the yarn-spinning closure is estimated at approximately U.S. $0.26 per share.

The higher than anticipated growth in E.P.S. is primarily attributable to more favourable selling price realizations for Gildan’s products in the quarter. In addition, Gildan has achieved its planned targets for unit volume growth.

The Company indicated that it now expects full year diluted E.P.S. to be approximately U.S. $2.80, before the special charge, and approximately U.S. $2.54 after the special charge, up from the Company’s prior full year guidance of approximately U.S. $2.60 and U.S. $2.34 respectively. The Company continues to assume sequentially lower unit selling prices in the second half of the fiscal year, together with continuing capacity constraints which are not expected to be alleviated until the first quarter of fiscal 2006. Gildan will report its second quarter results on Thursday, May 5, 2005, before market open, followed by a conference call that morning at 10:00 a.m. At that time, the Company will comment more fully on current business conditions and on its outlook and guidance for the second half of the fiscal year.

Gildan Activewear is a vertically-integrated manufacturer and marketer of premium quality branded basic activewear for sale principally in the wholesale imprinted activewear segment of the Canadian, U.S., European and other international markets. The Company manufactures and sells premium quality 100% cotton and 50% cotton/50% polyester T-shirts, placket collar sport shirts and sweatshirts in a variety of weights, sizes, colours and styles. The Company sells its products as blanks, which are ultimately decorated with designs and logos for sale to consumers. Gildan employs more than 8,000 full-time employees.

Certain statements included in this press release may constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. We refer you to the Company’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and Canadian securities regulatory authorities for a discussion of the various factors that may affect the Company’s future results.

 

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SIGNATURE

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securitiecs Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.