[8-K] CARTERS INC Reports Material Event

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Carter's, Inc. adopted a stockholder rights plan to deter takeover attempts and preserve long-term value for shareholders. The board declared a dividend of one Right for each outstanding share of common stock to holders of record at the close of business on October 3, 2025. Each Right permits its holder, under the Rights Agreement, to buy one ten-thousandth of a share of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock at an initial exercise price of $160.00 per Right, subject to adjustment.

The Rights Agreement, dated September 22, 2025, names Equiniti Trust Company, LLC as Rights Agent and includes a flip-in feature. If a person or group becomes an "Acquiring Person," most Rights held by that Acquiring Person and certain affiliates automatically become null and void, while other holders may exercise Rights to receive Common Stock valued at two times the exercise price. Related documents include the Certificate of Designation for the Preferred Stock and a press release dated September 24, 2025.

Positive

• Board adoption of a Rights Agreement explicitly intended to deter unwanted control purchases and to preserve long-term shareholder value
• One Right per outstanding share declared as a dividend to holders of record on October 3, 2025
• Clear exercise mechanics: each Right allows purchase of 1/10,000 of a share of Series A Preferred at an initial exercise price of $160.00
• Flip-in provision provides that non-acquiring holders may receive Common Stock valued at two times the exercise price if an Acquiring Person triggers the event
• Equiniti Trust Company, LLC named as Rights Agent and related documentation (Certificate of Designation and Rights Agreement) incorporated by reference

Negative

• None.

Insights

Corporate Governance Expert

TL;DR: The board adopted a classic shareholder rights plan to deter accumulations that could effect control and to protect long-term shareholder value.

The Rights Agreement establishes a one-for-one dividend of Rights, a $160 exercise price per Right, and a flip-in provision that dilutes an acquiring party by allowing other holders to purchase Common Stock at a substantial benefit (two times the exercise price in value). The plan names Equiniti Trust Company as Rights Agent and incorporates a Certificate of Designation for the Series A Preferred. This action is a defensive measure commonly used to discourage unsolicited control attempts and to provide the board time to evaluate proposals.

M&A Specialist

TL;DR: This is a material anti-takeover measure that can alter the economics of any potential accumulation or transaction.

The Rights create significant acquisition friction by granting non-acquiring holders the ability to obtain Common Stock valued at twice the exercise price upon a flip-in triggering event, while Rights held by the Acquiring Person become void. The specified exercise price ($160.00) and the tiny fractional Preferred share conversion (one ten-thousandth per Right) should be reviewed relative to market price to assess deterrent strength. Documentation filed includes the Rights Agreement and Certificate of Designation, which are central to enforcement and mechanics.

CARTERS INC false 0001060822 --01-03 0001060822 2025-09-22 2025-09-22

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): September 22, 2025

Carter’s, Inc.

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware		001-31829		13-3912933
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)		(Commission   File Number)		(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

Phipps Tower,

3438 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1800

Atlanta, Georgia 30326

(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

(678) 791-1000

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the Registrant under any of the following provisions:

☐ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

☐ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class		Trading Symbol(s)		Name of each exchange on which registered
Common stock, par value $0.01 per share		CRI		New York Stock Exchange

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 ((§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ((§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Item 1.01. Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

The information set forth in Item 3.03 of this Current Report is incorporated into this Item 1.01 by reference.

Item 3.03. Material Modification to Rights of Security Holders.

On September 22, 2025, the board of directors (the “Board”) of Carter’s, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), authorized the Company’s entry into a stockholder rights agreement and declared a dividend of one right (a “Right”) for each outstanding share of common stock of the Company, par value $0.01 per share (“Common Stock”), to stockholders of record at the close of business on October 3, 2025 (the “Record Date”). Each Right entitles its holder, subject to the terms of the Rights Agreement (as defined below), to purchase from the Company one ten-thousandth of a share of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share (“Preferred Stock”), of the Company at an exercise price of $160.00 per Right, subject to adjustment. The description and terms of the Rights are set forth in a stockholder rights agreement, dated as of September 22, 2025 (the “Rights Agreement”), between the Company and Equiniti Trust Company, LLC, a New York limited liability trust company, as rights agent (and any successor rights agent, the “Rights Agent”). The Rights Agreement was adopted to deter the acquisition of actual, de facto or negative control of the Company by any person or group through open market accumulation and to preserve the long-term value for the Company’s stockholders.

The Rights Agreement is not expected to interfere with any merger or other business combination approved by the Board.

The Rights. The Rights will attach to any shares of Common Stock that become outstanding after the Record Date and prior to the earlier of the Distribution Time (as defined below) and the Expiration Time (as defined below), and in certain other circumstances described in the Rights Agreement.

Until the Distribution Time, the Rights are associated with Common Stock and evidenced by Common Stock certificates or, in the case of uncertificated shares of Common Stock, the book-entry account that evidences record ownership of such shares, which will contain a notation incorporating the Rights Agreement by reference, and the Rights are transferable with and only with the underlying shares of Common Stock.

Until the Distribution Time, the surrender for transfer of any shares of Common Stock will also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with those shares. As soon as practicable after the Distribution Time, separate rights certificates will be mailed to holders of record of Common Stock as of the Distribution Time. From and after the Distribution Time, the separate rights certificates alone will represent the Rights.

The Rights are not exercisable until the Distribution Time. Until a Right is exercised, its holder will have no rights as a stockholder of the Company, including the right to vote or to receive dividends.

Separation and Distribution of Rights; Exercisability. Subject to certain exceptions, the Rights become exercisable and trade separately from Common Stock only upon the “Distribution Time,” which occurs upon the earlier of:

• the close of business on the tenth (10th) day after the “Stock Acquisition Date” (which is defined as (a) the first date of public announcement that any person or group has become an “Acquiring Person,” which is defined as a person or group that, together with its affiliates and associates, beneficially owns the Specified Percentage (as defined below) or

more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (with certain exceptions, including those described below) or (b) such other date, as determined by the Board, on which a person or group has become an Acquiring Person) or

• the close of business on the tenth (10th) business day (or such later date as may be determined by the Board prior to such time as any person or group becomes an Acquiring Person) after the commencement of a tender offer or exchange offer that, if consummated, would result in a person or group becoming an Acquiring Person, unless such tender or exchange offer is conditioned on the redemption of the Rights or termination of this Agreement.

“Specified Percentage” means (a) 20% (twenty percent) when referring to the beneficial ownership of any person that is a passive investor but only for so long as such person is a passive investor and (b) 15% (fifteen percent) when referring to the beneficial ownership of any person that is not a passive investor.

An Acquiring Person does not include:

• the Company or any subsidiary of the Company;

• any officer, director or employee of the Company or any subsidiary of the Company in his or her capacity as such;

• any employee benefit plan of the Company or of any subsidiary of the Company or any entity or trustee holding (or acting in a fiduciary capacity in respect of) shares of capital stock of the Company for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan or for the purpose of funding other employee benefits for employees of the Company or any subsidiary of the Company; or

• any person or group that, together with its affiliates and associates, as of immediately prior to the first public announcement of the adoption of the Rights Agreement, beneficially owns the Specified Percentage or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, so long as such person or group continues to beneficially own at least the Specified Percentage of the outstanding shares of Common Stock and does not acquire shares of Common Stock to beneficially own an amount equal to or greater than the greater of the Specified Percentage and the sum of the lowest beneficial ownership of such person or group since the public announcement of the adoption of the Rights Agreement plus one share of Common Stock.

In addition, the Rights Agreement provides that no person or group will become an Acquiring Person as a result of security purchases or issuances directly from the Company or through an underwritten offering approved by the Board. Also, a person or group will not be an Acquiring Person if the Board determines that such person or group has become an Acquiring Person inadvertently and such person or group has already divested or divests as promptly as practicable a sufficient number of shares of Common Stock so that such person or group would no longer be an Acquiring Person.

Certain synthetic interests in securities created by derivative positions, whether or not such interests are considered to be ownership of the underlying Common Stock or are reportable for purposes of Regulation 13D of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, are treated as beneficial ownership of the number of shares of Common Stock equivalent to the economic exposure created by the derivative position, to the extent actual shares of Common Stock are directly or indirectly held by counterparties to the derivatives contracts.

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Expiration Time. The Rights will expire on the earliest to occur of (a) the close of business on September 21, 2026 (the “Final Expiration Time”), unless prior to such date stockholder approval has been obtained to extend the term of the Rights, (b) the time at which the Rights are redeemed or exchanged by the Company (as described below), or (c) upon the closing of any merger or other acquisition transaction involving the Company pursuant to a merger or other acquisition agreement that has been approved by the Board before any person or group becomes an Acquiring Person (the earliest of (a), (b) and(c) being herein referred to as the “Expiration Time”).

Flip-in Event. In the event that any person or group (other than certain exempt persons) becomes an Acquiring Person (a “Flip-in Event”), each holder of a Right (other than such Acquiring Person, any of its affiliates or associates or certain transferees of such Acquiring Person or of any such affiliate or associate, whose Rights automatically become null and void) will have the right to receive, upon exercise, Common Stock having a value equal to two (2) times the exercise price of the Right.

Flip-over Event. In the event that, at any time following the Stock Acquisition Date, any of the following occurs (each, a “Flip-over Event”):

• the Company consolidates with, or merges with and into, any other entity, and the Company is not the continuing or surviving entity;

• any entity engages in a share exchange with or consolidates with, or merges with or into, the Company, and the Company is the continuing or surviving entity and, in connection with such share exchange, consolidation or merger, all or part of the outstanding shares of Common Stock are changed into or exchanged for stock or other securities of any other entity or cash or any other property; or

• the Company sells or otherwise transfers, in one transaction or a series of related transactions, fifty percent (50%) or more of the Company’s assets, cash flow or earning power,

each holder of a Right (except Rights which previously have been voided as described above) will have the right to receive, upon exercise, common stock of the acquiring company having a value equal to two times the exercise price of the Right.

Preferred Stock Provisions. Each share of Preferred Stock, if issued: will not be redeemable, will entitle the holder thereof, when, as and if declared, to quarterly dividend payments equal to the greater of $1.00 per share and 10,000 times the amount of all cash dividends plus 10,000 times the amount of non-cash dividends or other distributions paid on one share of Common Stock, will entitle the holder thereof to receive $10,000 plus accrued and unpaid dividends per share upon liquidation, will have the same voting power as 10,000 shares of Common Stock and, if shares of Common Stock are exchanged via merger, consolidation or a similar transaction, will entitle the holder thereof to a per share payment equal to the payment made on 10,000 shares of Common Stock.

Anti-dilution Adjustments. The exercise price payable, and the number of shares of Preferred Stock or other securities or property issuable, upon exercise of the Rights are subject to adjustment from time to time to prevent dilution:

• in the event of a stock dividend on, or a subdivision, combination or reclassification of, the Preferred Stock;

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• if holders of the Preferred Stock are granted certain rights, options or warrants to subscribe for Preferred Stock or convertible securities at less than the current market price of the Preferred Stock; or

• upon the distribution to holders of the Preferred Stock of evidences of indebtedness or assets (excluding regular quarterly cash dividends) or of subscription rights or warrants (other than those referred to above).

With certain exceptions, no adjustment in the exercise price will be required until cumulative adjustments amount to at least one percent (1%) of the exercise price. No fractional shares of Preferred Stock will be issued and, in lieu thereof, an adjustment in cash will be made based on the market price of the Preferred Stock on the last trading day prior to the date of exercise.

Redemption; Exchange. At any time prior to the earlier of (i) such time as any person becomes an Acquiring Person or (ii) the Final Expiration Time, the Company may redeem the Rights in whole, but not in part, at a price of $0.0001 per Right (subject to adjustment and payable in cash, Common Stock or other consideration deemed appropriate by the Board). Immediately upon the action of the Board authorizing any redemption or at a later time as the Board may establish for the effectiveness of the redemption, the Rights will terminate and the only right of the holders of Rights will be to receive the redemption price.

At any time after any person or group becomes an Acquiring Person but before any Acquiring Person, together with all of its affiliates and associates, becomes the beneficial owner of fifty percent (50%) or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, the Company may exchange the Rights (other than Rights owned by the Acquiring Person, any of its affiliates or associates or certain transferees of Acquiring Person or of any such affiliate or associate, whose Rights will have become null and void), in whole or in part, at an exchange ratio of one share of Common Stock, or one ten-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock (or of a share of a class or series of the Company’s preferred stock having equivalent rights, preferences and privileges), per Right (subject to adjustment).

Amendment of the Rights Agreement. The Company and the Rights Agent may from time to time amend or supplement the Rights Agreement without the consent of the holders of the Rights. However, on or after the Stock Acquisition Date, no amendment can materially adversely affect the interests of the holders of the Rights (other than the Acquiring Person, any of its affiliates or associates or certain transferees of Acquiring Person or of any such affiliate or associate).

Miscellaneous. While the distribution of the Rights will not be taxable to stockholders or to the Company, stockholders may, depending upon the circumstances, recognize taxable income in the event that the Rights become exercisable for Common Stock (or other consideration) or for common stock of the acquiring company or in the event of the redemption of the Rights as described above.

* * * * *

The foregoing description of the Rights Agreement and the Rights does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Rights Agreement, which is filed as Exhibit 4.1 to this Current Report and is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 5.03. Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year.

In connection with the adoption of the Rights Agreement described in Item 3.03 of this Current Report, the Board approved a Certificate of Designation of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, which designates the rights, preferences and privileges of 15,000 shares of a series of the Company’s preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share, designated as Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock. The information set forth in Item 3.03 of this Current Report is incorporated into this Item 5.03 by reference.

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The Certificate of Designation was filed with the Delaware Secretary of State and became effective on September 24, 2025. A copy of the Certificate of Designation has been filed as Exhibit 3.1 to this Current Report and is incorporated herein by reference.

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Item 7.01. Regulation FD Disclosure.

On September 24, 2025, the Company issued a press release announcing the adoption of the Rights Agreement. A copy of that press release is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report and incorporated herein by reference.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits:

Exhibit No.				Description
	3.1			Certificate of Designation of the Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock of the Company, dated September 24, 2025 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form 8-A, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 24, 2025, File No. 001-31829)
	4.1			Stockholder Rights Agreement, dated as of September 22, 2025, by and between the Company and Equiniti Trust Company, LLC, as rights agent (which includes the Form of Rights Certificate as Exhibit B thereto) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form 8-A, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 24, 2025, File No. 001-31829)
	99.1			Press Release issued by the Company on September 24, 2025
	104			Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)

Signature

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Carter’s, Inc. has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

September 24, 2025				CARTER’S, INC.
				By:		/s/ Antonio D. Robinson
				Name: Title:		Antonio D. Robinson Chief Legal & Compliance Officer and Secretary

FAQ

What did Carter's (CRI) announce in the Form 8-K?

The company adopted a stockholder rights agreement and declared a dividend of one Right per outstanding share, effective for holders of record on October 3, 2025.

What does each Right issued by Carter's allow a holder to do?

Each Right permits its holder to purchase one ten-thousandth of a share of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock at an initial exercise price of $160.00, subject to adjustment.

Who is the Rights Agent named in Carter's rights agreement?

The Rights Agreement, dated September 22, 2025, names Equiniti Trust Company, LLC as Rights Agent.

What happens when a 'Flip-in Event' occurs under Carter's Rights Agreement?

Upon a Flip-in Event, Rights held by an Acquiring Person and certain affiliates become void, while other holders may exercise Rights to receive Common Stock valued at two times the exercise price.

Where can investors find the full legal documents for the rights plan?

The Summary references the Certificate of Designation and the Stockholder Rights Agreement, both incorporated by reference to exhibits filed with the SEC on September 24, 2025.