OshKosh Joins Carter's

ATLANTA-Carter’s Inc. has closed on the acquisition ofOshKosh B’Gosh Inc., creating a company that boasts$1.3 billion in annual sales from baby and children’sapparel. The new company will market its apparelthrough 352 retail store locations includingdepartment and national chain stores such as Wal-Martand Target.

Carter’s paid $312 million to purchase all of the Oshkosh,WI-based company’s outstanding shares. The pricetranslates to $26 per outstanding share, which wasfinanced by a new $500-million credit facility.

According to several analysts, Carter’s got a gooddeal for Oshkosh, but Oshkosh shareholders weren’t solucky. Before the acquisition announcement, Oshkosh’sstock had reached $29 per share, meaning that Carter’sbought the company at a 12% discount. Carter’s was advised on the transaction by BerkshirePartners LLC, a Boston-based private equity firm whohas been a significant investor in since 2001, as well as Banc ofAmerica Securities LLC, Credit Suisse First Boston andlaw firm Ropes & Gray LLP.