UNITED STATES
|
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
|
Washington, D.C. 20549
|
SCHEDULE 13D
|
Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(Amendment No. 4)*
|
Carter’s, Inc.
|
(Name of Issuer)
|
Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share
|
(Title of class of securities)
|
146229109
|
(CUSIP number)
|
Sharlyn C. Heslam
Berkshire Partners LLC
200 Clarendon St., 35th Floor
Boston, MA 02116
(617) 227-0050
|
(Name, address and telephone number of person authorized to receive notices and communications)
|
September 28, 2012
|
(Date of event which requires filing of this statement)
|
1.
|
NAME OF REPORTING PERSON: Berkshire Fund VII, L.P.
|
||||
2.
|
CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP:
|
(a) [ ]
(b) [X]
|
|||
3.
|
SEC USE ONLY
|
||||
4.
|
SOURCE OF FUNDS:
|
OO
|
|||
5.
|
CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEM
2(d) OR 2(e): [ ]
|
||||
6.
|
CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION:
|
Delaware
|
|||
NUMBER OF SHARES
BENEFICIALLY
OWNED BY
EACH
REPORTING
PERSON WITH
|
7.
|
SOLE VOTING POWER:
|
3,826,155 (see Item 5)
|
||
8.
|
SHARED VOTING POWER:
|
0
|
|||
9.
|
SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER:
|
3,826,155 (see Item 5)
|
|||
10.
|
SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER:
|
0
|
|||
11.
|
AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON:
|
3,826,155 (see Item 5)
|
|||
12.
|
CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES:
|
[ ]
|
|||
13.
|
PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11):
|
6.5% (see Item 5)*
|
|||
14.
|
TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON:
|
PN
|
1.
|
NAME OF REPORTING PERSON: Berkshire Fund VII-A, L.P.
|
||||
2.
|
CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP:
|
(a) [ ]
(b) [X]
|
|||
3.
|
SEC USE ONLY
|
||||
4.
|
SOURCE OF FUNDS:
|
OO
|
|||
5.
|
CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEM
2(d) OR 2(e): [ ]
|
||||
6.
|
CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION:
|
Delaware
|
|||
NUMBER OF SHARES
BENEFICIALLY
OWNED BY
EACH
REPORTING
PERSON WITH
|
7.
|
SOLE VOTING POWER:
|
715,311 (see Item 5)
|
||
8.
|
SHARED VOTING POWER:
|
0
|
|||
9.
|
SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER:
|
715,311 (see Item 5)
|
|||
10.
|
SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER:
|
0
|
|||
11.
|
AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON:
|
715,311 (see Item 5)
|
|||
12.
|
CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES:
|
[ ]
|
|||
13.
|
PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11):
|
1.2% (see Item 5)*
|
|||
14.
|
TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON:
|
PN
|
1.
|
NAME OF REPORTING PERSON: Berkshire Investors IV LLC
|
||||
2.
|
CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP:
|
(a) [ ]
(b) [X]
|
|||
3.
|
SEC USE ONLY
|
||||
4.
|
SOURCE OF FUNDS:
|
OO
|
|||
5.
|
CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEM
2(d) OR 2(e): [ ]
|
||||
6.
|
CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION:
|
Delaware
|
|||
NUMBER OF SHARES
BENEFICIALLY
OWNED BY
EACH
REPORTING
PERSON WITH
|
7.
|
SOLE VOTING POWER:
|
132,625 (see Item 5)
|
||
8.
|
SHARED VOTING POWER:
|
0
|
|||
9.
|
SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER:
|
132,625 (see Item 5)
|
|||
10.
|
SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER:
|
0
|
|||
11.
|
AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON:
|
132,625 (see Item 5)
|
|||
12.
|
CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES:
|
[ ]
|
|||
13.
|
PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11):
|
0.2% (see Item 5)*
|
|||
14.
|
TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON:
|
PN
|
1.
|
NAME OF REPORTING PERSON: Berkshire Investors III LLC
|
||||
2.
|
CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP:
|
(a) [ ]
(b) [X]
|
|||
3.
|
SEC USE ONLY
|
||||
4.
|
SOURCE OF FUNDS:
|
OO
|
|||
5.
|
CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEM
2(d) OR 2(e): [ ]
|
||||
6.
|
CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION:
|
Massachusetts
|
|||
NUMBER OF SHARES
BENEFICIALLY
OWNED BY
EACH
REPORTING
PERSON WITH
|
7.
|
SOLE VOTING POWER:
|
52,957 (see Item 5)
|
||
8.
|
SHARED VOTING POWER:
|
0
|
|||
9.
|
SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER:
|
52,957 (see Item 5)
|
|||
10.
|
SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER:
|
0
|
|||
11.
|
AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON:
|
52,957 (see Item 5)
|
|||
12.
|
CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES:
|
[ ]
|
|||
13.
|
PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11):
|
less than 0.1% (see Item 5)*
|
|||
14.
|
TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON:
|
PN
|
1.
|
NAME OF REPORTING PERSON: Stockbridge Fund, L.P.
|
||||
2.
|
CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP:
|
(a) [ ]
(b) [X]
|
|||
3.
|
SEC USE ONLY
|
||||
4.
|
SOURCE OF FUNDS:
|
OO
|
|||
5.
|
CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEM
2(d) OR 2(e): [ ]
|
||||
6.
|
CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION:
|
Delaware
|
|||
NUMBER OF SHARES
BENEFICIALLY
OWNED BY
EACH
REPORTING
PERSON WITH
|
7.
|
SOLE VOTING POWER:
|
500,802 (see Item 5)
|
||
8.
|
SHARED VOTING POWER:
|
0
|
|||
9.
|
SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER:
|
500,802 (see Item 5)
|
|||
10.
|
SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER:
|
0
|
|||
11.
|
AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON:
|
500,802 (see Item 5)
|
|||
12.
|
CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES:
|
[ ]
|
|||
13.
|
PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11):
|
0.9% (see Item 5)*
|
|||
14.
|
TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON:
|
PN
|
1.
|
NAME OF REPORTING PERSON: Stockbridge Absolute Return Fund, L.P.
|
||||
2.
|
CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP:
|
(a) [ ]
(b) [X]
|
|||
3.
|
SEC USE ONLY
|
||||
4.
|
SOURCE OF FUNDS:
|
OO
|
|||
5.
|
CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEM
2(d) OR 2(e): [ ]
|
||||
6.
|
CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION:
|
Delaware
|
|||
NUMBER OF SHARES
BENEFICIALLY
OWNED BY
EACH
REPORTING
PERSON WITH
|
7.
|
SOLE VOTING POWER:
|
2,668 (see Item 5)
|
||
8.
|
SHARED VOTING POWER:
|
0
|
|||
9.
|
SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER:
|
2,668 (see Item 5)
|
|||
10.
|
SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER:
|
0
|
|||
11.
|
AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON:
|
2,668 (see Item 5)
|
|||
12.
|
CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES:
|
[ ]
|
|||
13.
|
PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11):
|
less than 0.1% (see Item 5)*
|
|||
14.
|
TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON:
|
PN
|
1.
|
NAME OF REPORTING PERSON: Stockbridge Partners LLC
|
||||
2.
|
CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP:
|
(a) [ ]
(b) [X]
|
|||
3.
|
SEC USE ONLY
|
||||
4.
|
SOURCE OF FUNDS:
|
OO
|
|||
5.
|
CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEM
2(d) OR 2(e): [ ]
|
||||
6.
|
CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION:
|
Delaware
|
|||
NUMBER OF SHARES
BENEFICIALLY
OWNED BY
EACH
REPORTING
PERSON WITH
|
7.
|
SOLE VOTING POWER:
|
0
|
||
8.
|
SHARED VOTING POWER:
|
127,471 (see Item 5)
|
|||
9.
|
SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER:
|
127,471 (see Item 5)
|
|||
10.
|
SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER:
|
0
|
|||
11.
|
AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON:
|
127,471 (see Item 5)
|
|||
12.
|
CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES:
|
[ ]
|
|||
13.
|
PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11):
|
0.2% (see Item 5)*
|
|||
14.
|
TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON:
|
PN
|
1.
|
NAME OF REPORTING PERSON: Berkshire Partners LLC
|
||||
2.
|
CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP:
|
(a) [ ]
(b) [X]
|
|||
3.
|
SEC USE ONLY
|
||||
4.
|
SOURCE OF FUNDS:
|
OO
|
|||
5.
|
CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEM
2(d) OR 2(e): [ ]
|
||||
6.
|
CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION:
|
Massachusetts
|
|||
NUMBER OF SHARES
BENEFICIALLY
OWNED BY
EACH
REPORTING
PERSON WITH
|
7.
|
SOLE VOTING POWER:
|
0 (see Item 5)
|
||
8.
|
SHARED VOTING POWER:
|
0
|
|||
9.
|
SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER:
|
0 (see Item 5)
|
|||
10.
|
SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER:
|
0
|
|||
11.
|
AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON:
|
0 (see Item 5)
|
|||
12.
|
CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES:
|
[ ]
|
|||
13.
|
PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11):
|
0.0% (see Item 5)*
|
|||
14.
|
TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON:
|
PN
|
1.
|
NAME OF REPORTING PERSON: Stockbridge Fund M, L.P.
|
||||
2.
|
CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP:
|
(a) [ ]
(b) [X]
|
|||
3.
|
SEC USE ONLY
|
||||
4.
|
SOURCE OF FUNDS:
|
OO
|
|||
5.
|
CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEM
2(d) OR 2(e): [ ]
|
||||
6.
|
CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION:
|
Delaware
|
|||
NUMBER OF SHARES
BENEFICIALLY
OWNED BY
EACH
REPORTING
PERSON WITH
|
7.
|
SOLE VOTING POWER:
|
94,094 (see Item 5)
|
||
8.
|
SHARED VOTING POWER:
|
0
|
|||
9.
|
SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER:
|
94,094 (see Item 5)
|
|||
10.
|
SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER:
|
0
|
|||
11.
|
AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON:
|
94,094 (see Item 5)
|
|||
12.
|
CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES:
|
[ ]
|
|||
13.
|
PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11):
|
0.2% (see Item 5)*
|
|||
14.
|
TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON:
|
PN
|
1.
|
NAME OF REPORTING PERSON: Stockbridge Master Fund (OS), L.P.
|
||||
2.
|
CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP:
|
(a) [ ]
(b) [X]
|
|||
3.
|
SEC USE ONLY
|
||||
4.
|
SOURCE OF FUNDS:
|
OO
|
|||
5.
|
CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEM
2(d) OR 2(e): [ ]
|
||||
6.
|
CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION:
|
Delaware
|
|||
NUMBER OF SHARES
BENEFICIALLY
OWNED BY
EACH
REPORTING
PERSON WITH
|
7.
|
SOLE VOTING POWER:
|
53,517 (see Item 5)
|
||
8.
|
SHARED VOTING POWER:
|
0
|
|||
9.
|
SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER:
|
53,517 (see Item 5)
|
|||
10.
|
SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER:
|
0
|
|||
11.
|
AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON:
|
53,517 (see Item 5)
|
|||
12.
|
CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES:
|
[ ]
|
|||
13.
|
PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11):
|
less than 0.1% (see Item 5)*
|
|||
14.
|
TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON:
|
PN
|
(a) and (b)
|
The responses of the Reporting Persons to Rows (7) through (13) of the cover pages of this Amendment No. 4 are incorporated herein by reference. As of close of business on September 28, 2012, after giving effect to the distribution described in Item (c) below, the Reporting Persons beneficially owned in the aggregate 5,505,600 shares of Common Stock, representing approximately 9.3% of the shares of Common Stock outstanding (based on the number of shares outstanding as of July 25, 2012, being 58,986,724 shares of Common Stock, as reported in the Issuer’s Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2012).
|
As the sole general partner of Fund VII and Fund VII-A, 7BA may be deemed to beneficially own the shares of Common Stock held by Fund VII and Fund VII-A. However, 7BA disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares of Common Stock, and the filing of this Amendment No. 4 shall not be construed as an admission that 7BA is, for the purpose of Section 13(d) of the Act (or any other purpose), the beneficial owner of such shares held by Fund VII and Fund VII-A. As the sole general partner of SF, SARF, SFM and SOS, SA may be deemed to beneficially own shares of Common Stock held by SF, SARF, SFM and SOS. However, SA disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares of Common Stock, and the filing of this Amendment No. 4 shall not be construed as an admission that SA is, for the purpose of Section 13(d) of the Act (or any other purpose), the beneficial owner of such shares held by SF, SARF, SFM and SOS.
|
|
By virtue of the relationships described herein, the Reporting Persons may be deemed a “group” within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) of the Act. As a member of a group, each Reporting Person may be deemed to share voting and dispositive power with respect to, and therefore beneficially own, the shares beneficially owned by members of the group as a whole. The filing of Schedule 13D and this Amendment No. 4 shall not be construed as an admission that the Reporting Persons beneficially own those shares held by any other members of the group. By virtue of their positions as managing members of 7BA, Investors IV, Investors III, SA and BP, the Berkshire Principals may be deemed to possess indirect beneficial ownership of the shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by Fund VII, Fund VII-A, Investors IV, Investors III, SF, SARF, SFM, SOS and SP. However, none of the Berkshire Principals, acting alone, has voting or investment power with respect to shares beneficially owned by Fund VII, Fund VII-A, Investors IV, Investors III, SF, SARF, SFM, SOS and SP, and, as a result, each Berkshire Principal disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares of Common Stock.
|
|
(c)
|
On September 28, 2012, certain of the Reporting Persons made a pro-rata distribution of 3,022,682 shares of Common Stock to their respective partners or members.
|
BERKSHIRE FUND VII, L.P.
|
||
By:
|
Seventh Berkshire Associates LLC,
its general partner
|
|
By:
|
/s/ Sharlyn C. Heslam
|
|
Name: Sharlyn C. Heslam
Title: Managing Director
|
||
BERKSHIRE FUND VII-A, L.P.
|
||
By:
|
Seventh Berkshire Associates LLC,
its general partner
|
|
By:
|
/s/ Sharlyn C. Heslam
|
|
Name: Sharlyn C. Heslam
Title: Managing Director
|
||
BERKSHIRE INVESTORS IV LLC
|
||
By:
|
/s/ Sharlyn C. Heslam
|
|
Name: Sharlyn C. Heslam
Title: Managing Director
|
||
BERKSHIRE INVESTORS III LLC
|
||
By:
|
/s/ Sharlyn C. Heslam
|
|
Name: Sharlyn C. Heslam
Title: Managing Director
|
||
STOCKBRIDGE FUND, L.P.
|
||
By:
|
Stockbridge Associates LLC,
its general partner
|
|
By:
|
/s/ Sharlyn C. Heslam
|
|
Name: Sharlyn C. Heslam
Title: Managing Director
|
||
STOCKBRIDGE ABSOLUTE RETURN FUND, L.P.
|
||
By:
|
Stockbridge Associates LLC,
its general partner
|
|
By:
|
/s/ Sharlyn C. Heslam
|
|
Name: Sharlyn C. Heslam
Title: Managing Director
|
||
STOCKBRIDGE PARTNERS LLC
|
||
By:
|
Berkshire Partners LLC,
its sole managing member
|
|
By:
|
Berkshire Partners Holdings LLC,
its managing member
|
|
By:
|
/s/ Sharlyn C. Heslam
|
|
Name: Sharlyn C. Heslam
Title: Managing Director
|
||
BERKSHIRE PARTNERS LLC
|
||
By:
|
Berkshire Partners Holdings LLC,
its managing member
|
|
By:
|
/s/ Sharlyn C. Heslam
|
|
Name: Sharlyn C. Heslam
Title: Managing Director
|
STOCKBRIDGE FUND M, L.P.
|
||
By:
|
Stockbridge Associates LLC,
its general partner
|
|
By:
|
/s/ Sharlyn C. Heslam
|
|
Name: Sharlyn C. Heslam
Title: Managing Director
|
||
STOCKBRIDGE MASTER FUND (OS), L.P.
|
||
By:
|
Stockbridge Associates LLC,
its general partner
|
|
By:
|
/s/ Sharlyn C. Heslam
|
|
Name: Sharlyn C. Heslam
Title: Managing Director
|
||