TROPICAL SPORTSWEAR INTERNATIONAL CORP
S-1/A, 1997-10-02
MEN'S & BOYS' FURNISHGS, WORK CLOTHG, & ALLIED GARMENTS
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<PAGE>   1
 
   
    AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON OCTOBER 2, 1997
    
 
   
                                                      REGISTRATION NO. 333-33729
    
================================================================================
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
                             ---------------------
   
                                AMENDMENT NO. 1
    
   
                                       TO
    
 
                                    FORM S-1
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                     UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                             ---------------------
                     TROPICAL SPORTSWEAR INT'L CORPORATION
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                  <C>                                  <C>
              FLORIDA                               2325                              59-3424305
  (State or other jurisdiction of       (Primary Standard Industrial               (I.R.S. Employer
  incorporation or organization)         Classification Code Number)              Identification No.)
</TABLE>
 
                            4902 WEST WATERS AVENUE
                           TAMPA, FLORIDA 33634-1302
                                 (813) 249-4900
  (Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of
                   registrant's principal executive offices)
                             ---------------------
                                 MICHAEL KAGAN
   EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER, TREASURER AND SECRETARY
                     TROPICAL SPORTSWEAR INT'L CORPORATION
                            4902 WEST WATERS AVENUE
                           TAMPA, FLORIDA 33634-1302
                                 (813) 249-4900
 (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code,
                             of agent for service)
                             ---------------------
                                   COPIES TO:
 
<TABLE>
<C>                                                  <C>
              MARTIN A. TRABER, ESQ.                               STEPHEN A. OPLER, ESQ.
               TODD B. PFISTER, ESQ.                               MARK F. MCELREATH, ESQ.
                  FOLEY & LARDNER                                     ALSTON & BIRD LLP
        100 NORTH TAMPA STREET, SUITE 2700                           ONE ATLANTIC CENTER
               TAMPA, FLORIDA 33602                              1201 WEST PEACHTREE STREET
                  (813) 229-2300                                 ATLANTA, GEORGIA 30309-3424
                                                                       (404) 881-7000
</TABLE>
 
                             ---------------------
     APPROXIMATE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROPOSED SALE TO THE PUBLIC: As soon as
practicable after the effective date of this Registration Statement.
 
     If any of the securities being registered on this form are to be offered on
a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of
1933, check the following box.  [ ]
 
     If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering
pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box
and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier
effective registration statement for the same offering. [ ] ____
 
     If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c)
under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act
registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement
for the same offering. [ ] ____
 
     If delivery of this prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to Rule 434,
please check the following box. [ ] ____
   
                             ---------------------
    
     THE REGISTRANT HEREBY AMENDS THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON SUCH DATE OR
DATES AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO DELAY ITS EFFECTIVE DATE UNTIL THE REGISTRANT SHALL
FILE A FURTHER AMENDMENT WHICH SPECIFICALLY STATES THAT THIS REGISTRATION
STATEMENT SHALL THEREAFTER BECOME EFFECTIVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 8(A) OF
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 OR UNTIL THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT SHALL BECOME
EFFECTIVE ON SUCH DATE AS THE COMMISSION, ACTING PURSUANT TO SAID SECTION 8(A),
MAY DETERMINE.
================================================================================
<PAGE>   2
 
        INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS SUBJECT TO COMPLETION OR AMENDMENT. A
       REGISTRATION STATEMENT RELATING TO THESE SECURITIES HAS BEEN FILED WITH
       THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION. THESE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE SOLD
       NOR MAY OFFERS TO BUY BE ACCEPTED PRIOR TO THE TIME THE REGISTRATION
       STATEMENT BECOMES EFFECTIVE. THIS PROSPECTUS SHALL NOT CONSTITUTE AN
       OFFER TO SELL OR THE SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY NOR SHALL THERE BE
       ANY SALE OF THESE SECURITIES IN ANY STATE IN WHICH SUCH OFFER,
       SOLICITATION OR SALE WOULD BE UNLAWFUL PRIOR TO REGISTRATION OR
       QUALIFICATION UNDER THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY SUCH STATE.
 
   
                 SUBJECT TO COMPLETION -- DATED OCTOBER 1, 1997
    
 
PROSPECTUS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                4,000,000 Shares
 
<TABLE>
<S>                          <C>
[TROPICAL
SPORTSWEAR INTL              TROPICAL SPORTSWEAR INT'L CORPORATION
CORPORATION
LOGO(R)]
</TABLE>
 
                                  Common Stock
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
Of the 4,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $.01 per share (the "Common
Stock"), offered hereby, 1,600,000 shares are being sold by Tropical Sportswear
Int'l Corporation (the "Company") and 2,400,000 shares are being sold by certain
selling shareholders of the Company (the "Selling Shareholders"). The Company
will not receive any proceeds from the sale of shares of Common Stock by the
Selling Shareholders. See "Principal and Selling Shareholders."
 
Prior to this offering, there has been no public market for the Common Stock. It
is currently anticipated that the initial public offering price for the Common
Stock will be between $13.00 and $15.00 per share. See "Underwriting" for a
discussion of the factors to be considered in determining the initial public
offering price.
 
The Company has applied for inclusion of the Common Stock in The Nasdaq Stock
Market's National Market (the "Nasdaq National Market") under the symbol "TSIC."
 
SEE "RISK FACTORS" ON PAGES 6 TO 11 FOR A DISCUSSION OF CERTAIN MATERIAL FACTORS
THAT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED IN CONNECTION WITH AN INVESTMENT IN THE COMMON STOCK
OFFERED HEREBY.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
  THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND
 EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS THE SECURITIES
   AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE
ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A
                               CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
==================================================================================================================
                                                          Underwriting                             Proceeds to
                                        Price to          Discounts and        Proceeds to           Selling
                                         Public          Commissions(1)        Company(2)        Shareholders(2)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                <C>                 <C>                 <C>                 <C>
Per Share.........................          $                   $                   $                   $
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total(3)..........................          $                   $                   $                   $
==================================================================================================================
</TABLE>
 
(1) The Company and the Selling Shareholders have agreed to indemnify the
    several Underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities
    under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. See "Underwriting."
(2) Before deducting expenses payable by the Company estimated to be $320,000
    and expenses payable by the Selling Shareholders estimated to be $480,000.
(3) The Selling Shareholders have granted the several Underwriters 30-day
    over-allotment options to purchase, in the aggregate, up to 600,000
    additional shares of Common Stock on the same terms and conditions set forth
    above. If all such additional shares are purchased by the Underwriters, the
    total Price to Public will be $          , the total Underwriting Discounts
    and Commissions will be $          , the total Proceeds to Company will be
    $          and the total Proceeds to Selling Shareholders will be
    $          . See "Underwriting."
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
   
The shares of Common Stock are offered by the several Underwriters subject to
delivery by the Company and the Selling Shareholders and acceptance by the
Underwriters, to prior sale and to withdrawal, cancellation or modification of
the offer without notice. Delivery of the shares to the Underwriters is expected
to be made at the office of Prudential Securities Incorporated, One New York
Plaza, New York, New York, on or about October   , 1997. 
    
 
PRUDENTIAL SECURITIES INCORPORATED                       OPPENHEIMER & CO., INC.
 
   
October   , 1997
    
 
                                        2
<PAGE>   3
 
[Cover of Prospectus: Background picture containing close-up of several pairs of
white pants, one of which bears the TSI logo over the back pocket.]
 
[Cover Flap: Picture of mens' casual shirt bearing the Banana Joe(TM) label. Two
snapshots, one of a PC computer and several pairs of pants and another of the
Company's cutting facility with several stacks of pants in the foreground, are
inlaid on the left-hand and right-hand sides of the shirt. The TSI logo is at
the top of the page.]
 
[Inside Spread Left: Picture of two men wearing casual dress wear standing next
to a seated woman. The TSI logo is above the picture and the Bill Blass(R),
Michelangelo Buonarroti(R), Bay to Bay(R) and Generra(R) labels surround the
picture.]
 
[Inside Spread Right: Picture of two men wearing casual wear standing beside an
off-road vehicle containing a woman reading a map. The TSI logo is above the
picture and the Bay to Bay(R), Flyers(TM), Bill Blass(R), and Authentic Chino
Casuals(R) labels border the other three sides of the picture.]
 
[Inside Back Cover: Picture of man and dog sitting on the front of a truck. The
man is wearing blue jeans and a tee-shirt. The TSI logo is above the picture and
the Bill Blass(R), Texas Jeans(TM) and Two Pepper(TM) jeanswear labels are on
the lower left-hand and right-hand sides of the picture].
 
[Back Cover: Faint background picture of a man and a woman wearing casual
outdoor wear, with tags for Tahoe River Outfitters(TM) and U.S. Trading
Company(TM) in the lower left-hand corner and upper right-hand corner,
respectively. The TSI patch logo is set forth in the upper right-hand corner of
the page.]
 
     CERTAIN PERSONS PARTICIPATING IN THIS OFFERING MAY ENGAGE IN TRANSACTIONS
THAT STABILIZE, MAINTAIN OR OTHERWISE AFFECT THE PRICE OF THE COMMON STOCK,
INCLUDING PURCHASES OF COMMON STOCK TO STABILIZE ITS MARKET PRICE, PURCHASES OF
COMMON STOCK TO COVER SOME OR ALL OF A SHORT POSITION IN THE COMMON STOCK
MAINTAINED BY THE UNDERWRITERS, AND THE IMPOSITION OF PENALTY BIDS. FOR A
DESCRIPTION OF THESE ACTIVITIES, SEE "UNDERWRITING."
 
                                        2
<PAGE>   4
 
                               PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
 
     The following summary is qualified in its entirety by the more detailed
information and consolidated financial statements, including the notes thereto,
appearing elsewhere in this Prospectus. Unless otherwise indicated, the
information in this Prospectus (i) reflects the consummation of a tax-free
reorganization of the Company (the "Reorganization") to become effective prior
to the closing of this offering (the "Offering") and (ii) assumes that the
Underwriters' over-allotment options will not be exercised. See
"Business -- Reorganization."
 
                                  THE COMPANY
 
     The Company produces high quality casual and dress men's apparel and
provides major apparel retailers with comprehensive brand management programs.
The Company's programs currently feature pants, shorts and denim jeans that are
marketed under Company brands, private brands and licensed brand names. The
Company distinguishes itself from traditional private label manufacturers by
providing apparel retailers with customer, product and market analysis, apparel
design, merchandising, and inventory forecasting. The Company markets its
apparel through all major retail distribution channels, including department and
specialty stores, catalog retailers, discount merchants and wholesale clubs. Key
customers include Dayton Hudson, Federated Department Stores (including
Bloomingdale's and Macy's), JC Penney, May Co., Nordstrom, Phillips-Van Heusen,
Price/Costco and Sam's Club (a division of Wal-Mart). The Company's mission is
to provide total customer satisfaction through a combination of quality, value
and technology. Management believes that the Company provides its customers with
high quality apparel and services supported by a commitment to advanced
information, design and production technologies, and unique merchandising and
operating strategies.
 
     The Company's apparel line focuses on basic, recurring styles that the
Company believes are less susceptible to fashion obsolescence and less seasonal
in nature than fashion styles. All of the Company's products are derived from
six production platforms, or "chassis," each of which incorporates basic
features requiring distinct manufacturing processes, such as inclusion of an
elastic waistband, jeansband or button-flap pockets. The six basic chassis are
modified to produce separate styles through variations in cut, fabric and
finish. This process enables the Company to achieve manufacturing simplicity and
efficiencies while producing a wide variety of products through distinctions in
color and style. All products receive customer-specific labeling and packaging
upon receipt of confirmation of a customer order. As a result, a common SKU
(i.e. style, color and size), differentiated only by labeling and packaging, can
be sold by both a high-end department store and a mass merchant at different
retail price points. This merchandising strategy offers quick-response execution
of customer orders without the associated risk of carrying customer-specific
inventories. During the fiscal year ended September 28, 1996 ("Fiscal 1996"),
fifteen styles marketed under approximately 80 labels accounted for over 90% of
the Company's net sales. These labels include Company brands such as Bay to
Bay(R) and Banana Joe(TM), private brands such as Flyers(TM) and Flying A(R) and
licensed brand names such as Bill Blass(R) and Generra(R).
 
     The Company manages the manufacture of substantially all of its products
utilizing its approximately 300,000 square foot state-of-the-art fabric cutting,
product labeling and distribution facilities located in Tampa, Florida, and
independent garment assembly contractors located primarily in the Dominican
Republic. The Company also sources certain finished garments from independent
manufacturers located in Mexico, the Pacific Rim and the Middle East. The
Company believes that its commitment to the use of independent contractors in
the Dominican Republic anticipated the trend in the industry toward the use of
the Caribbean and Mexico for production. The Company believes the establishment
of its name and reputation in this area gives it a distinct competitive
advantage. The Company utilizes advanced technology in all aspects of its
business, including apparel design, materials sourcing, production planning and
logistics, customer order entry and sales demand forecasting. The Company's
dedication to technology produces greater efficiencies throughout the production
process and results in high-quality products, low-cost production and enhanced
customer order execution.
                                        3
<PAGE>   5
 
     The Company seeks to become "The Leader in Private Brand"(TM) by being the
leading marketer of private brand sportswear in its product categories across
all retail channels. The key elements of the Company's business strategy are:
(i) a focus on providing private brand programs to major retailers; (ii) a
commitment to superior quality operations; (iii) an adherence to standard
operating procedures; (iv) the application of advanced technology; (v) a focus
on core production chassis; (vi) the use of low-cost production; (vii) a
commitment to total customer satisfaction; and (viii) the minimization of
inventory risk. The Company intends to grow sales and earnings through both
internal growth and acquisitions. The Company believes that it is well
positioned to take advantage of current industry trends including: (i) greater
demand for high quality private brand apparel; (ii) a shift toward consumer
casual dress; (iii) an inflow of manufacturers into the Dominican Republic in
order to take advantage of relatively inexpensive labor, better quality
production, and shorter transportation periods; and (iv) a trend among retailers
to outsource their inventory management while still demanding quick response
time for their customers.
 
     Over the past five years, the Company has experienced significant financial
growth. The Company's net sales increased from $66.7 million in the fiscal year
ended October 3, 1992 ("Fiscal 1992") to $117.4 million in Fiscal 1996, a
compound annual growth rate of 15.2%. Net sales through the first thirty-nine
weeks of the fiscal year ending September 27, 1997 ("Fiscal 1997") increased
33.5% to $115.6 million from $86.6 million for the comparable period in Fiscal
1996. Net income increased at a compound annual growth rate of 21.2% from $2.4
million in Fiscal 1992 to $5.2 million in Fiscal 1996. Net income through the
first thirty-nine weeks of Fiscal 1997 was $6.2 million as compared to $3.5
million for the comparable period in Fiscal 1996.
 
     The Company was founded in 1927. Pursuant to a tax-free reorganization
consummated prior to the closing of the Offering, the Company was merged into a
newly-formed corporation organized under the laws of the State of Florida on
January 27, 1997. See "Business -- Reorganization." The Company's executive
offices are located at 4902 West Waters Avenue, Tampa, Florida 33634-1302, and
its telephone number is (813) 249-4900.
 
                                  THE OFFERING
 
Common Stock Offered by the Company.........    1,600,000 shares
 
Common Stock Offered by the Selling
Shareholders................................    2,400,000 shares
 
Common Stock to be Outstanding after the
Offering....................................    7,600,000 shares(1)
 
Use of Proceeds.............................    To redeem the Company's
                                                outstanding preferred stock and
                                                to repay outstanding
                                                indebtedness. See "Use of
                                                Proceeds."
 
Proposed Nasdaq National Market Symbol......    TSIC
- ---------------
 
(1) Excludes (i) 60,000 shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of stock
    options granted in December 1996 and January 1997, (ii) 500,000 shares of
    Common Stock reserved for issuance under the Company's 1997 Employee Stock
    Option Plan, pursuant to which options to purchase 300,000 shares will be
    granted immediately upon the completion of the Offering, and (iii) 200,000
    shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance under the Company's 1997
    Non-Employee Director Stock Option Plan, pursuant to which options to
    purchase 60,000 shares will be granted immediately upon the completion of
    the Offering. See "Management -- Stock Option Plans."
                                        4
<PAGE>   6
 
                      SUMMARY CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA
                (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT SHARE AND PER SHARE DATA)
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                     THIRTY-NINE WEEKS
                                                     FISCAL YEAR ENDED                                     ENDED
                            --------------------------------------------------------------------   ---------------------
                            OCTOBER 3,   OCTOBER 2,   OCTOBER 1,   SEPTEMBER 30,   SEPTEMBER 28,   JUNE 29,    JUNE 28,
                             1992(1)        1993         1994          1995            1996          1996        1997
                            ----------   ----------   ----------   -------------   -------------   ---------   ---------
<S>                         <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>             <C>             <C>         <C>
STATEMENT OF INCOME DATA:
Net sales.................  $  66,683     $ 74,271    $ 100,359      $ 110,064       $ 117,355     $  86,593   $ 115,608
Gross profit..............     13,354       16,545       24,682         22,206          26,223        18,626      27,281
Selling, general and
  administrative
  expenses................      9,886       11,071       14,291         15,060          15,189        10,754      14,745
Operating income..........      3,468        5,474       10,391          7,146          11,034         7,872      12,536
Interest expense..........      1,530        1,644        2,115          3,160           2,498         1,880       2,263
Income before income
  taxes...................      1,125        2,314        8,591          2,985           7,916         5,359       9,685
Net income(2).............  $   2,397     $  1,368    $   4,978      $   2,160       $   5,171     $   3,527   $   6,167
Net income per share(2)...  $    0.40     $   0.23    $    0.83      $    0.36       $    0.86     $    0.59   $    1.03
Weighted average number of
  shares used in the
  calculation(3)..........  6,015,000    6,015,000    6,015,000      6,015,000       6,015,000     6,015,000   6,015,000
PRO FORMA DATA:
Pro forma net income per
  share(5)................                                                           $     .81     $     .56   $     .91
                                                                                     =========     =========   =========
Pro forma weighted average
  number of shares used in
  the calculation.........                                                           7,615,000     7,615,000   7,615,000
</TABLE>
    
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                     JUNE 28, 1997
                                                              ----------------------------
                                                                ACTUAL      AS ADJUSTED(4)
                                                              -----------   --------------
<S>                                                           <C>           <C>
BALANCE SHEET DATA:
Working capital.............................................    $33,904        $33,904
Total assets................................................     71,412         71,412
Long-term debt and obligations under capital leases,
  excluding current maturities..............................     29,740         13,091
Total shareholders' equity..................................     24,549         41,198
</TABLE>
    
 
- ---------------
 
(1) Operating results for Fiscal 1992 contain 53 weeks. All other fiscal years
    contain 52 weeks.
(2) Net income for the fiscal year ended October 3, 1992 includes the $350,000
    ($0.06 per share) positive impact of a change in accounting method for
    income taxes.
(3) Computed on the basis described in Notes to Consolidated Financial
    Statements.
(4) As adjusted to give effect to the sale of the 1,600,000 shares of Common
    Stock being offered by the Company hereby (assuming an initial public
    offering price of $14.00 per share) after deducting underwriting discounts
    and commissions and the estimated Offering expenses payable by the Company
    and the application of the net proceeds therefrom. See "Use of Proceeds" and
    "Capitalization."
   
(5) Pro forma net income per share is based on net income per share adjusted for
    a pro forma reduction in interest expense of $1,577,000, $1,183,000 and
    $1,136,000 less the related tax effect ($565,000, $424,000 and $407,000) for
    Fiscal 1996 and the thirty-nine weeks ended June 29, 1996 and June 28, 1997,
    respectively, associated with the portion of proceeds to be used to retire
    indebtedness (see "Use of Proceeds" and "Capitalization"), divided by the
    number of common and common equivalent shares to be outstanding after this
    Offering (7,615,000 shares).
    
                                        5
<PAGE>   7
 
                                  RISK FACTORS
 
     An investment in the shares of Common Stock offered hereby involves a high
degree of risk. Prospective investors should consider carefully the following
risk factors, as well as the other information set forth in this Prospectus, in
evaluating an investment in the Common Stock offered hereby.
 
     This Prospectus contains statements that constitute forward-looking
statements. Those statements appear in a number of places in this Prospectus and
include statements regarding the intent, belief or current expectations of the
Company, its directors or its officers with respect to, among other things: (i)
the Company's backlog and sales; (ii) potential acquisitions by the Company;
(iii) the use of the proceeds of the Offering; (iv) the Company's financing
plans; (v) trends affecting the Company's financial condition or results of
operations; (vi) the Company's growth strategy, operating strategy and financing
strategy; (vii) the declaration and payment of dividends; (viii) regulatory
matters affecting the Company; and (ix) the outcome of certain litigation
involving the Company. Prospective investors are cautioned that any such
forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve
risks and uncertainties, and that actual results may differ materially from
those projected in the forward looking statements as a result of various
factors. The accompanying information contained in this Prospectus, including,
without limitation, the information set forth under the headings "Risk Factors,"
"Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations" and "Business," identifies important factors that could cause such
differences.
 
     RELIANCE ON KEY CUSTOMERS.  Sales to the Company's five largest customers
represented approximately 69.4%, 72.4% and 66.6% of net sales during the
thirty-nine weeks ended June 28, 1997 and the fiscal years ended September 28,
1996 ("Fiscal 1996") and September 30, 1995 ("Fiscal 1995"), respectively. Sales
to Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. ("Wal-Mart"), including its Sam's Clubs Division
("Sam's Club"), Costco Companies, Inc. ("Price/Costco") and Phillips-Van Heusen
Corporation ("Phillips-Van Heusen") accounted for approximately 30.5%, 17.7% and
9.9%, respectively, of net sales during the thirty-nine weeks ended June 28,
1997. Sales to Wal-Mart (including Sam's Club), Price/Costco and Phillips-Van
Heusen accounted for approximately 25.9%, 16.6% and 13.8%, respectively, of net
sales during Fiscal 1996. Sales to Phillips-Van Heusen, Wal-Mart (including
Sam's Club), JC Penney Company, Inc. ("JC Penney") and Price/Costco accounted
for approximately 18.3%, 15.4%, 15.3% and 13.9%, respectively, of net sales
during Fiscal 1995. The Company does not have long-term contracts with any of
its customers, and sales to customers generally occur on an order-by-order
basis. These customer orders are subject to certain rights of cancellation and
rescheduling by the customer or by the Company. Accordingly, the level of
unfilled orders at any given time may not be indicative of eventual actual
shipments. In addition, the Company's inability to timely fulfill customer
orders may cause it to cancel or reschedule such orders, which may materially
and adversely affect the Company's relationships with its customers. A decrease
in business from, or the loss of, any of its major customers could have a
material adverse effect on the Company's business and results of operations. The
Company's future financial condition and results of operations will depend to a
significant extent upon the commercial success of its major customers and their
continued willingness to purchase the Company's products. Any significant
downturn in the business of the Company's major customers or their commitment to
the Company's programs could cause those customers to reduce or discontinue
their purchases from the Company, which could have a material adverse effect on
the Company's business and results of operations. See "Business -- Customers and
Customer Service."
 
     APPAREL INDUSTRY.  The apparel industry has historically been subject to
cyclical variations, and a recession in the general economy or uncertainties
regarding future economic prospects that affect consumer spending habits could
have a material adverse effect on the Company's business and results of
operations. The Company believes that its success depends in large part upon its
ability to anticipate, gauge and respond to changing consumer demands and
fashion trends in a timely manner. Failure by the Company to identify and
respond appropriately to changing consumer demands and fashion trends could
adversely affect consumer acceptance of the Company's products and may have a
material adverse effect on the Company's business and results of operations.
Additionally, apparel retailers have experienced significant changes and
difficulties over the past several years, including consolidation of ownership,
increased centralization of buying decisions, restructurings, bankruptcies and
liquidations. During past years, various apparel retailers, including some of
the Company's customers, have experienced financial problems that have increased
the risk of extending
 
                                        6
<PAGE>   8
 
credit to such retailers. Financial problems with respect to any of the
Company's customers could cause the Company to reduce or discontinue business
with such customers or require the Company to assume more credit risk relating
to such customers' receivables, either of which could have a material adverse
effect on the Company's business and results of operations. See
"Business -- Industry."
 
     COMPETITION.  The apparel industry is highly competitive and the Company
competes with numerous apparel manufacturers, including brand name and private
label producers, and retailers that have established, or may establish, internal
product development and sourcing capabilities. The Company's products also
compete with a substantial number of designer and non-designer product lines.
Many of the Company's competitors and potential competitors have greater
financial, manufacturing and distribution resources than the Company. Although
factors may differ by product line, the Company believes that it competes
primarily on the basis of quality of design and workmanship, price and customer
service. Any increased competition from manufacturers or retailers, or any
increased success by existing competition, could result in reductions in unit
sales or prices, or both, which could have a material adverse effect on the
Company's business and results of operations.
 
   
     DEPENDENCE ON INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY; RISK OF INFRINGEMENT CLAIMS.  The
Company uses a number of trademarks, certain of which the Company has registered
with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. The Company believes that
its registered and common law trademarks and other proprietary rights are
important to its success and its competitive position. The Company experiences,
from time to time, challenges to the use or registration of certain of its
trademarks. A major manufacturer and retailer of sportswear recently brought
suit against the Company alleging, among other things, that a Company trademark
and the trade dress used in the labeling and packaging of certain of the
Company's products infringe upon certain of such third party's proprietary
trademark and trade dress rights. Although the outcome of the litigation cannot
be determined at this time and the Company would consider reasonable settlement
opportunities, the Company currently intends to vigorously defend against the
alleged infringement. Nevertheless, in an attempt to limit the Company's
liability, if any, with respect to such alleged infringement, the Company has
unilaterally altered the trademark and trade dress which are the subject of this
lawsuit. There can be no assurance, however, that the modifications made to the
subject trademark and trade dress do not infringe upon such third party's rights
or that such third party will not continue to seek to recover damages and
attorneys' fees from the Company with respect to the use of this modified
trademark and trade dress, or with respect to the trademark and trade dress
prior to modification. See "Business -- Legal Proceedings." Additionally, there
can be no assurance that the Company's other trademarks and proprietary rights
do not or will not violate the proprietary rights of others, that they would be
upheld if challenged or that the Company would not be prevented, in such an
event, from using its trademarks or other proprietary rights, any of which could
have a material adverse effect on the Company's business and results of
operations. In the event of litigation arising from alleged infringement, any
claiming party may have significantly greater resources than the Company to
pursue litigation of such claims, and the Company could be forced to incur
substantial costs to defend legal actions taken against it relating to the
Company's use of trademarks or other proprietary rights. In addition, if any
such third party is successful in challenging the Company's trademarks or use of
trade dress, the Company could be forced to pay significant damages or required
to enter into expensive royalty or licensing arrangements with such third party.
Accordingly, the Company's involvement in such litigation could have a material
adverse effect on the Company's business and results of operations.
    
 
     In addition, the Company uses various trademarks owned by other companies
in the promotion, distribution and sale of its products. It uses these
trademarks pursuant to licensing agreements. There can be no assurance that any
of the licensing agreements will not be terminated or will be renewed in the
future. In the event the Company is unable to use the trademarks of such other
companies in the future, the Company's business and results of operations may be
materially and adversely effected. See "Business -- Trademarks and Licenses."
 
     DEPENDENCE ON KEY PERSONNEL.  The Company is dependent on its executive
officers, in particular William W. Compton, the Company's Chairman of the Board
and Chief Executive Officer, Richard J. Domino, the Company's President, and
Michael Kagan, the Company's Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer,
Treasurer and Secretary. These executives are each a party to an employment
agreement
 
                                        7
<PAGE>   9
 
   
with the Company. The employment agreement for each of Messrs. Compton and Kagan
provides for an initial term of five years from the completion of the Offering,
with automatic renewals, and further provides that, during the two-year period
immediately following termination of employment other than as a result of
disability, Mr. Compton or Mr. Kagan, as the case may be, will not engage in or
have any impermissible financial interest in or have any impermissible financial
interest in any business that is engaged in the merchandising, manufacturing,
distribution or marketing of men's casual pants, shorts and jeans. The
employment agreement for Mr. Domino provides for an initial term of three years,
with automatic renewals, and further provides that, if Mr. Domino resigns or is
terminated for cause (as defined in the employment agreement), he will not,
during the one-year period immediately following such termination, engage in or
have any impermissible financial interest in any business that is engaged in the
merchandising, manufacturing, distribution or marketing of men's casual pants,
shorts and jeans. The Company maintains $5.0 million in key man insurance on the
life of Mr. Compton and $2.5 million in key man insurance on the life of each of
Messrs. Domino and Kagan. The Company's continued success is also dependent upon
its ability to attract and retain qualified management, administrative and sales
personnel to support its future growth. The loss of the services of any of these
individuals, or the inability to attract and retain other qualified personnel,
could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business and results of
operations. See "Management."
    
 
   
     RAPID EXPANSION OF THE BUSINESS.  During the past five years, the Company
has experienced rapid growth in sales, expansion of its product offerings and an
increase in its customer base. Any future growth will require increasing amounts
of working capital and financing and may place a significant strain on the
Company's management and on its financial resources and information processing
systems. The failure to recruit additional staff and key personnel, to obtain
additional financing, to maintain or upgrade its information systems, or to
respond effectively to other difficulties associated with rapid expansion could
have a material adverse effect on the Company's business and results of
operations. The Company currently intends to make capital expenditures of up to
$5.0 million during the fiscal year ending October 3, 1998 ("Fiscal 1998") to
upgrade or replace certain of its existing computer systems, computer hardware
and software and for consulting and training relating to the new systems.
Although the Company does not intend to cease operations of its existing systems
until the new or upgraded systems are functional, if the Company were to
encounter unforseen difficulties or delays in implementing these new or upgraded
computer systems, such difficulties or delays could have a material adverse
effect on the Company's business and results of operations. The Company depends
on independent manufacturers for the assembly and/or production of all of its
products. Accordingly, the Company's ability to expand is dependent upon the
capacity and availability of suitable independent manufacturers. The Company's
ability to continue to grow in the future will also be dependent upon its
ability to expand into new product lines and categories, such as men's shirts.
No assurances can be given that such efforts, if made, will be successful. See
"Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations" and "Business -- Growth Strategy" and "-- Facilities."
    
 
     PRICE AND AVAILABILITY OF RAW MATERIALS.  The principal fabrics used in the
Company's apparel consist of cotton, wool, synthetic and blended fabrics. These
fabrics, with the quality the Company requires, are available from a limited
number of suppliers. The prices paid by the Company for such fabrics are largely
dependent on the market prices for the raw materials used to produce them,
namely cotton, wool, rayon and polyester. The price and availability of such raw
materials and, in turn, the fabrics used in the Company's apparel may fluctuate
significantly, depending on a variety of factors, including crop yields and
weather patterns. In the event that the Company is required to obtain fabrics
from sources other than its current suppliers, the quality of available fabrics
also may fluctuate significantly. Fluctuations in the price, availability and
quality of the fabrics or other raw materials used by the Company could have a
material adverse effect on the Company's cost of sales or its ability to meet
its customers' demands and, as a result, could have a material adverse effect on
the Company's business and results of operations. There also can be no assurance
that the Company will be able to pass along to its customers all, or any portion
of, any future increases in the prices paid for the fabrics used in the
manufacture of the Company's products. See "Business -- Operations."
 
     DEPENDENCE ON INDEPENDENT MANUFACTURERS.  The Company utilizes independent
manufacturers to assemble or produce all of its products. The Company is
dependent upon the ability of its independent manufacturers to adequately
finance the assembly or production of goods ordered and maintain sufficient
manufacturing capacity. The use of independent manufacturers to assemble or
produce finished goods and the
 
                                        8
<PAGE>   10
 
resulting lack of direct control could subject the Company to difficulty in
obtaining timely delivery of products of acceptable quality. The Company does
not have contracts with any of its independent manufacturers. Alternative
manufacturers, if available, may not be able to provide the Company with
products or services of a comparable quality at an acceptable price. There can
be no assurance that there will not be disruption in the supply of the Company's
products from its independent manufacturers or, in the event of a disruption,
that the Company would be able to locate suitable alternative manufacturers, and
therefore the failure of any independent manufacturer to perform or the loss of
any independent manufacturer could have a material adverse effect on the
Company's business and results of operations. See "Business -- Operations."
 
     INTERNATIONAL SOURCING.  During Fiscal 1996 and the thirty-nine weeks ended
June 28, 1997, all of the Company's products were assembled or produced by
independent manufacturers operating outside the United States. During Fiscal
1996, approximately 88.2%, 10.2% and 1.6% of the Company's products were
assembled or produced in the Dominican Republic, Mexico and Costa Rica,
respectively. During the thirty-nine weeks ended June 28, 1997, approximately
81.6%, 12.5% and 5.9% of the Company's products were assembled or produced in
the Dominican Republic, Mexico and the Pacific Rim, respectively. In addition,
the Company is beginning to use independent suppliers in the Middle East and
other regions of the world. Because all of the Company's products are assembled
or produced abroad, the Company is required to order products further in advance
to account for additional transportation time. If the Company overestimates
customer demand, it may be required to hold goods in inventory which it may be
unable to sell at historical margins; if it underestimates customer demand, the
Company may not be able to fill orders on a timely basis.
 
     The Company currently uses approximately 25 manufacturers in the Dominican
Republic and has, in effect, exclusive arrangements with 12 of them. In several
cases, the manufacturer's operating facility carries the Company's name and/or
contains equipment that is owned by the Company. In addition, the Company
previously has loaned funds to certain developers and operators of manufacturing
facilities in the Dominican Republic and may guarantee loans to such developers
from time to time. The Company's involvement with and support of these
manufacturers could result in claims against the Company from vendors, employees
or other customers of such manufacturers. Any such claims could have a material
adverse effect on the Company's business and results of operations.
 
     International manufacturing is subject to a number of other risks including
work stoppages, transportation delays and interruptions, delays and
interruptions resulting from natural disasters, political instability, economic
disruptions, the imposition of tariffs and import and export controls, changes
in governmental policies and other events. Any such adverse change could result
in loss of revenues, customer orders and customer goodwill and could have a
material adverse effect on the Company's business and results of operations.
Although the Company has historically contracted to assemble or produce
substantially all of its goods in U.S. dollars, reductions in the value of the
U.S. dollar could increase the prices that the Company pays for its products,
which increases the Company may not be able to pass on to its customers and,
therefore, could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business and
results of operations. See "Business -- Operations."
 
   
     IMPORTS AND IMPORT RESTRICTIONS.  Substantially all of the Company's import
operations are subject to the terms of bilateral textile agreements between the
United States and a number of countries, which agreements impose quotas on the
amount and type of goods that can be imported into the United States from these
countries. These agreements allow the United States to impose restraints at any
time on the importation of certain categories of merchandise. The Company's
imported products are also subject to United States customs duties, which in
Fiscal 1996 and the thirty-nine weeks ended June 28, 1997, represented
approximately 7.3% and 6.6%, respectively, of the Company's cost of sales. The
United States and the countries in which the Company's products are manufactured
may from time to time impose new quotas, duties, tariffs or other restrictions
or adversely adjust presently prevailing quotas, duties or tariffs. In addition,
the United States may impose penalties on imported products that are found to
have been manufactured by convict, forced or indentured labor and may withdraw
the "most favored nation" status of certain countries, which could result in the
imposition of reduced quotas and/or higher tariffs on products imported from
such countries. Any such new or adjusted restrictions could have a material
adverse effect on the Company's business and results of operations. See
"Business -- Imports and Import Regulations."
    
 
                                        9
<PAGE>   11
 
   
     CONTROL BY PRINCIPAL SHAREHOLDERS; ANTI-TAKEOVER CONSIDERATIONS.  After the
Offering, William W. Compton, the Company's Chairman of the Board and Chief
Executive Officer, and Michael Kagan, the Company's Executive President and
Chief Financial Officer, will own or control approximately 12.4% and 7.5%,
respectively, of the outstanding shares of Common Stock. Moreover, Accel, S.A.
de C.V., a Mexican corporation ("Accel"), will own approximately 21.1% of the
outstanding shares of the Common Stock (19.7%, assuming that the Underwriters'
over-allotment options are exercised in full) and Shakale Internacional, S.A., a
corporation organized under the laws of Costa Rica ("Shakale"), will own
approximately 6.6% of the outstanding shares of the Common Stock (0.0%, assuming
that the Underwriters' over-allotment options are exercised in full). In
addition, pursuant to the Company's Amended and Restated Articles of
Incorporation, Accel currently has the right to nominate two persons to stand
for election to the Company's eight-member Board of Directors, and Shakale and
separate family limited partnerships controlled by Messrs. Compton and Kagan,
respectively, each currently has the right to nominate one person to stand for
election to the Company's eight-member Board of Directors. (In the event the
Underwriters' over-allotment options are exercised to such an extent that
Shakale's ownership falls below 5.0% of the outstanding Common Stock, the
Company's Board of Directors will be reduced automatically to seven members and
Shakale will not have any special nomination rights. As a result of such
reduction in the size of the Board, the seat presently occupied by David Garza
would cease to exist and, hence, Mr. Garza would no longer be a director of the
Company.) Moreover, Accel, Shakale and Messrs. Compton and Kagan and their
respective family limited partnerships have entered into a shareholder's
agreement pursuant to which, among other things, each of them has agreed to vote
the shares of Common Stock owned or controlled thereby for the election as
directors of the nominees of the other parties pursuant to their special
nomination rights. In light of the foregoing, such persons will effectively have
the ability to significantly influence the election of the Company's directors
and the outcome of all other issues submitted to the Company's shareholders.
Such persons, together with the staggered Board of Directors and the
anti-takeover effects of certain provisions contained in the Florida Business
Corporation Act and in the Company's Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws
(including, without limitation, the ability of the Board of Directors of the
Company to issue shares of Preferred Stock and to fix the rights and preferences
thereof), also may have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing an
unsolicited change in the control of the Company, which may adversely affect the
market price of the Common Stock or the ability of shareholders to participate
in a transaction in which they might otherwise receive a premium for their
shares. See "Management," "Principal and Selling Shareholders" and "Description
of Capital Stock."
    
 
     CREDIT FACILITIES.  The Company needs significant working capital to
purchase inventory and finance accounts receivable and, consistent with industry
practice, is often required to post letters of credit when placing an order with
certain international manufacturers. Currently, a substantial portion of the
Company's working capital requirements are met through a $48 million credit
agreement with a bank (the "Credit Agreement"), which expires on September 30,
1998. Although the Company intends to use the proceeds that it receives from the
Offering to reduce the outstanding indebtedness under the Credit Agreement, the
Company's inability to extend or renew the Credit Agreement, or its inability to
secure similar credit arrangements or letters of credit in the future, could
have a material adverse effect on the Company's business or results of
operations. See "Use of Proceeds" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations."
 
     DEPENDENCE ON FACTORING OF ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE.  Historically, the Company
has sold substantially all of its trade accounts receivable to a factor which
assumes virtually all of the credit risk with respect to collection of such
accounts. The factor pays the Company the receivable amount upon the earlier of
(i) receipt by the factor of payment from the Company's customer or (ii) 120
days past the due date for such payment. The factor approves the credit of the
Company's customers prior to sale. If the factor disapproves a sale to a
customer and the Company decides to proceed with the sale, the Company bears the
credit risk. The factoring agreement expires on September 30, 1998. The
expiration of such agreement could have a material adverse effect on the
Company's business and results of operations if it could not be replaced
promptly. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
Results of Operations -- Liquidity and Capital Resources."
 
   
     SEASONALITY.  Historically, the Company's business has been seasonal, with
slightly higher sales and income in the second and fourth fiscal quarters, just
prior to and during the two peak retail selling seasons for
    
 
                                       10
<PAGE>   12
 
spring and fall merchandise. In addition, certain of the Company's products,
such as shorts and corduroy pants, tend to be seasonal in nature. In the event
such products represent a greater percentage of the Company's sales in the
future, the seasonality of the Company's sales may be increased. See
"Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operation -- Seasonality."
 
     SHARES ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE.  Upon completion of the Offering, the
Company will have a total of 7,600,000 shares of Common Stock outstanding. Of
these shares, the 4,000,000 shares of Common Stock offered hereby (4,600,000
shares if the Underwriters' over-allotment options are exercised in full) will
be freely tradeable without restriction or registration under the Securities Act
by persons other than "affiliates" of the Company, as defined under the
Securities Act. The remaining shares of Common Stock outstanding will be
"restricted securities" as that term is defined by Rule 144 as promulgated under
the Securities Act. Upon completion of the Offering, the Company will have
options outstanding to purchase 420,000 shares of Common Stock. In addition,
options for the purchase of 200,000 and 140,000 additional shares will remain
available for issuance under the Company's Employee Stock Option Plan and
Non-Employee Director Stock Option Plan, respectively. See "Management -- Stock
Option Plans" and "Shares Eligible for Future Sale."
 
     Under Rule 144 (and subject to the conditions thereof, including volume
limitations), all 3,600,000 restricted shares (3,000,000 restricted shares if
the Underwriters' over-allotment options are exercised in full) will become
eligible for sale after the Offering. However, all of such restricted shares are
also subject to lockup restrictions as described below. The holders of these
shares, which include certain of the Company's executive officers and directors,
have agreed that they will not, without the prior written consent of Prudential
Securities Incorporated, on behalf of the Underwriters, directly or indirectly,
offer, sell, offer to sell, contract to sell, pledge, grant any option to
purchase or otherwise dispose of or transfer (or announce any offer, sale, offer
of sale, contract of sale, pledge, grant of any option to purchase or other
disposition or transfer of) any shares of Common Stock or any other securities
convertible into, or exercisable or exchangeable for, shares of Common Stock or
other similar securities of the Company, currently beneficially owned or
hereafter acquired by such holders, for a period of 180 days from the date of
this Prospectus. After such 180-day period, this restriction will expire and
shares permitted to be sold under Rule 144 would be eligible for sale.
Prudential Securities Incorporated, on behalf of the Underwriters, may, in its
sole discretion, at any time and without prior notice, release all or any
portion of the shares of Common Stock subject to such agreements.
 
     Prior to the Offering, there has been no public market for the Common Stock
and no predictions can be made of the effect, if any, that the sale or
availability for sale of additional shares of Common Stock will have on the
market price of the Common Stock. Nevertheless, sales of substantial amounts of
such shares in the public market, or the perception that such sales could occur,
could materially and adversely affect the market price of the Common Stock and
could impair the Company's future ability to raise capital through an offering
of its equity securities. See "Shares Eligible for Future Sale."
 
     NO PRIOR PUBLIC MARKET; VOLATILITY OF STOCK PRICE.  Prior to the Offering,
there has been no public market for the Common Stock, and there can be no
assurance that an active trading market will develop or continue following the
Offering, or that the market price of the Common Stock will not decline below
the initial public offering price. The initial public offering price for the
Common Stock will be determined by negotiations among the Company, the Selling
Shareholders and the Underwriters based on several factors, and may not be
indicative of the market price for the Common Stock after the Offering. See
"Underwriting." The Company believes that various factors unrelated to the
Company's performance, such as general economic conditions, changes or
volatility in the financial markets and changing market conditions in the
apparel industry, as well as various factors related to the Company's
performance, such as quarterly or annual variations in the Company's financial
results, could cause the market price of the Common Stock to fluctuate
substantially.
 
     DILUTION.  Purchasers of the Common Stock offered hereby will experience
immediate and substantial dilution in the net tangible book value per share of
Common Stock from the initial public offering price set forth on the cover of
this Prospectus. Assuming an initial offering price of $14.00 per share, such
dilution to new investors will be $8.65 per share, while the net tangible book
value of the shares of Common Stock owned by the existing shareholders will
increase by $1.99 per share. See "Dilution."
 
                                       11
<PAGE>   13
 
                                USE OF PROCEEDS
 
     The net proceeds to the Company from the sale of 1,600,000 shares of Common
Stock offered by the Company hereby (assuming an initial public offering price
of $14.00 per share), after deducting the underwriting discounts and commissions
and estimated Offering expenses payable by the Company, are estimated to be
approximately $20.5 million. The Company will not receive any proceeds from the
sale of shares of Common Stock by the Selling Shareholders. See "Principal and
Selling Shareholders."
 
     The Company intends to use the net proceeds of the Offering as follows: (a)
approximately $3.9 million to redeem the Company's outstanding preferred stock;
and (b) the remaining approximately $16.6 million to repay amounts outstanding
under the $40 million revolving credit line (the "Facility") constituting part
of the Credit Agreement. The Credit Agreement, including the Facility, expires
on September 30, 1998. As of August 2, 1997, $17.3 million was outstanding under
the Facility, and the Company had approximately $11.5 million available for
additional borrowings. The interest rate on unpaid principal amounts outstanding
under the Facility is prime plus 0.50% or LIBOR plus 2.75%. Pending such uses,
the net proceeds will be invested in short-term, investment grade,
interest-bearing securities. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations -- Liquidity and Capital
Resources" and "Business -- Growth Strategy."
 
                                DIVIDEND POLICY
 
   
     The Company has not declared or paid any cash dividends on the Common Stock
since 1989. The Company currently anticipates that all of its earnings will be
retained for development and expansion of the Company's business and does not
anticipate declaring or paying any cash dividends in the foreseeable future.
Moreover, the Credit Agreement contains a covenant expressly prohibiting the
payment of any cash dividends.
    
 
                                       12
<PAGE>   14
 
                                 CAPITALIZATION
 
     The following table sets forth the capitalization of the Company (i) as of
June 28, 1997, and (ii) as adjusted to reflect the receipt and application of
the proceeds (after deducting the underwriting discounts and commissions and
estimated Offering expenses payable by the Company) from the issuance and sale
by the Company of 1,600,000 shares of Common Stock in the Offering (assuming an
initial public offering price of $14.00 per share). See "Use of Proceeds."
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                    JUNE 28, 1997
                                                              -------------------------
                                                                ACTUAL      AS ADJUSTED
                                                              -----------   -----------
                                                                   (IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                                           <C>           <C>
Current installments of long-term debt and obligations under
  capital leases(1).........................................    $ 1,511       $ 1,511
Long-term debt and obligations under capital leases, less
  current installments(1)...................................     29,740        13,091
Shareholders' equity:
  Preferred Stock, $.01 par value; 10,000,000 shares
     authorized; 38,630 shares issued and outstanding; no
     shares issued and outstanding as adjusted(2)...........      3,863            --
  Common Stock, $.01 par value; 50,000,000 shares
     authorized; 6,000,000 shares issued and outstanding;
     7,600,000 shares issued and outstanding as
     adjusted(2)(3).........................................         60            76
  Additional paid-in capital................................         --        20,496
  Retained earnings.........................................     20,626        20,626
                                                                -------       -------
          Total shareholders' equity........................     24,549        41,198
                                                                -------       -------
          Total capitalization..............................    $55,800       $55,800
                                                                =======       =======
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------
 
(1) See Notes 6 and 7 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
(2) See Note 13 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
(3) Excludes an aggregate of 60,000 shares of Common Stock issuable upon the
    exercise of outstanding stock options and an aggregate of 360,000 shares of
    Common Stock issuable upon stock options to be granted upon the completion
    of the Offering. See "Management -- Stock Option Plans."
 
                                       13
<PAGE>   15
 
                                    DILUTION
 
     Purchasers of the Common Stock offered hereby will experience an immediate
and substantial dilution in the net tangible book value of their Common Stock
from the initial public offering price. The net tangible book value of the
Company (excluding outstanding preferred stock) as of June 28, 1997 was $20.2
million, or $3.36 per share of Common Stock. Net tangible book value per share
represents the amount of the Company's tangible net worth divided by the total
number of shares of Common Stock outstanding as of June 28, 1997. After giving
effect to the sale of 1,600,000 shares of Common Stock by the Company in the
Offering (assuming an initial public offering price of $14.00 per share) and the
application of the net proceeds therefrom (after deduction of underwriting
discounts and commissions and estimated Offering expenses payable by the
Company), the pro forma net tangible book value of the Company as of June 28,
1997 would have been $40.7 million or $5.35 per share of Common Stock. This
represents an immediate increase in net tangible book value of $1.99 per share
to existing shareholders and an immediate dilution of $8.65 per share to
purchasers of shares in the Offering. The following table illustrates the per
share dilution:
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                                           <C>     <C>
Assumed initial public offering price.......................          $14.00
  Net tangible book value per common share before the
     Offering...............................................  $3.36
  Increase attributable to new investors....................   1.99
Pro forma net tangible book value after the Offering........            5.35
                                                                      ------
Dilution in net tangible book value to new investors........          $ 8.65
                                                                      ======
</TABLE>
 
     The following table sets forth on a pro forma basis as of June 28, 1997 the
number of shares of Common Stock purchased from the Company, the total
consideration paid and the average price per share paid by the Company's
existing shareholders and to be paid by new investors in the Offering (assuming
an initial public offering price of $14.00 per share) and before deduction of
underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated Offering expenses:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                    SHARES PURCHASED(1)     TOTAL CONSIDERATION      AVERAGE
                                    -------------------    ---------------------      PRICE
                                     NUMBER     PERCENT      AMOUNT      PERCENT    PER SHARE
                                    ---------   -------    -----------   -------    ---------
<S>                                 <C>         <C>        <C>           <C>        <C>
Existing shareholders.............  6,000,000     78.9%    $     1,000       --%     $.00017
New investors.....................  1,600,000     21.1      22,400,000    100.0      $ 14.00
                                    ---------    -----     -----------    -----
Total.............................  7,600,000    100.0%    $22,401,000    100.0%
                                    =========    =====     ===========    =====
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------
 
(1) Does not reflect the sale of 2,400,000 shares of Common Stock by the Selling
    Shareholders in the Offering and does not include 60,000 shares of Common
    Stock issuable upon the exercise of outstanding stock options and an
    aggregate of 360,000 shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of
    stock options to be granted upon the completion of the Offering. See
    "Management -- Stock Option Plans."
 
     Sales by the Selling Shareholders in the Offering will reduce the number of
shares held by existing shareholders to 3,600,000, or approximately 47.4% of the
total number of shares of Common Stock outstanding after the Offering, and will
increase the number of shares held by new investors to 4,000,000, or
approximately 52.6% of the total number of shares of Common Stock outstanding
after the Offering.
 
                                       14
<PAGE>   16
 
                      SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA
       (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA AND SELECTED OPERATING DATA)
 
   
    The following table sets forth selected income statement, operating and
balance sheet data of the Company. The selected income statement and balance
sheet data for each of the five fiscal years in the period ended September 28,
1996 and the thirty-nine weeks ended June 28, 1997 are derived from the audited
financial statements of the Company, which in the case of the three most recent
fiscal years and the thirty-nine weeks ended June 28, 1997 appear elsewhere
herein. The financial statements for each of the five years in the period ended
September 28, 1996 and the thirty-nine weeks ended June 28, 1997 were audited by
Ernst & Young LLP. The selected income statement and balance sheet data for the
thirty-nine weeks ended June 29, 1996 are derived from unaudited financial
statements prepared by the Company. In the opinion of management, the unaudited
financial data for the thirty-nine weeks ended June 29, 1996 include all
adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a
fair presentation of such data. Operating results for the thirty-nine weeks
ended June 28, 1997 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be
expected for the entire fiscal year. The data presented below should be read in
conjunction with the consolidated financial statements of the Company, including
the related notes thereto, included elsewhere in this Prospectus.
    
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                       FISCAL YEAR ENDED                               THIRTY-NINE WEEKS ENDED
                              --------------------------------------------------------------------   ---------------------------
                              OCTOBER 3,   OCTOBER 2,   OCTOBER 1,   SEPTEMBER 30,   SEPTEMBER 28,     JUNE 29,       JUNE 28,
                               1992(1)        1993         1994          1995            1996            1996           1997
                              ----------   ----------   ----------   -------------   -------------   ------------   ------------
<S>                           <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>             <C>             <C>            <C>
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
  DATA:
Net sales...................  $  66,683    $  74,271    $ 100,359      $ 110,064       $ 117,355      $  86,593      $ 115,608
Cost of goods sold..........     53,329       57,726       75,677         87,858          91,132         67,967         88,327
                              ---------    ---------    ---------      ---------       ---------      ---------      ---------
Gross profit................     13,354       16,545       24,682         22,206          26,223         18,626         27,281
Selling, general and
  administrative expenses...      9,886       11,071       14,291         15,060          15,189         10,754         14,745
                              ---------    ---------    ---------      ---------       ---------      ---------      ---------
Operating income............      3,468        5,474       10,391          7,146          11,034          7,872         12,536
Interest expense............      1,530        1,644        2,115          3,160           2,498          1,880          2,263
Factoring expense...........        501          463          668            708             373            409            589
Other, net..................        312        1,053         (983)           293             247            224             (1)
                              ---------    ---------    ---------      ---------       ---------      ---------      ---------
Income before income
  taxes.....................      1,125        2,314        8,591          2,985           7,916          5,359          9,685
Provision for income
  taxes.....................       (922)         946        3,613            825           2,745          1,832          3,518
Change in accounting
  method....................        350           --           --             --              --             --             --
                              ---------    ---------    ---------      ---------       ---------      ---------      ---------
Net income..................  $   2,397    $   1,368    $   4,978      $   2,160       $   5,171      $   3,527      $   6,167
                              =========    =========    =========      =========       =========      =========      =========
Net income per common
  share(2)..................  $    0.40    $    0.23    $    0.83      $    0.36       $    0.86      $    0.59      $    1.03
                              =========    =========    =========      =========       =========      =========      =========
Weighted average number of
  shares used in the
  calculation...............  6,015,000    6,015,000    6,015,000      6,015,000       6,015,000      6,015,000      6,015,000
PRO FORMA DATA:
Pro forma net income per
  share(4)..................                                                           $     .81      $     .56      $     .91
                                                                                       =========      =========      =========
Pro forma weighted average
  number of shares used in
  the calculation...........                                                           7,615,000      7,615,000      7,615,000
SELECTED OPERATING DATA:
Average number of days in
  the production cycle......          *            *           64             52              43             42             39
Average inventory days......         96          115          103             94              90             80             65
Net sales per employee
  (000's)...................  $     101    $      97    $     112      $     116       $     151      $     111      $     177
Customer returns (000's)....  $   2,276    $     770    $   1,998      $   2,258       $   1,230      $     888      $   1,627
Units shipped, net
  (000's)...................      6,273        7,006        9,125         10,402          10,452          8,090         10,491
</TABLE>
    
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                          JUNE 28, 1997
                           OCTOBER 3,   OCTOBER 2,   OCTOBER 1,   SEPTEMBER 30,   SEPTEMBER 28,   ------------------------------
                              1992         1993         1994          1995            1996           ACTUAL      AS ADJUSTED(3)
                           ----------   ----------   ----------   -------------   -------------   ------------   ---------------
<S>                        <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>             <C>             <C>            <C>
BALANCE SHEET DATA:
Working capital..........   $ 5,130      $ 4,714      $23,600        $31,655         $25,483        $33,904          $33,904
Total assets.............    21,763       41,522       52,023         55,237          63,415         71,412           71,412
Long-term debt and
  obligations under
  capital leases,
  excluding current
  maturities.............     2,790        1,677       20,973         27,175          24,162         29,740           13,091
Total shareholders'
  equity.................     4,705        6,073       11,050         13,211          18,382         24,549           41,198
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------
  * Not available
(1) Operating results for Fiscal 1992 contain 53 weeks. All other fiscal years
    contain 52 weeks.
(2) Computed on the basis described in Notes to Consolidated Financial
    Statements.
(3) As adjusted to give effect to the sale of the 1,600,000 shares of Common
    Stock being offered by the Company hereby (assuming an initial public
    offering price of $14.00 per share) after deducting underwriting discounts
    and commissions and the estimated Offering expenses payable by the Company
    and the application of the net proceeds therefrom. See "Use of Proceeds" and
    "Capitalization."
   
(4) Pro forma net income per share is based on net income per share adjusted for
    a pro forma reduction in interest expense of $1,577,000, $1,183,000 and
    $1,136,000, less the related tax effect ($565,000, $424,000 and $407,000)
    for Fiscal 1996 and the thirty-nine weeks ended June 29, 1996 and June 28,
    1997, respectively, associated with the portion of proceeds to be used to
    retire indebtedness (see "Use of Proceeds" and "Capitalization"), divided by
    the number of common and common equivalent shares to be outstanding after
    this Offering (7,615,000 shares).
    
 
                                       15
<PAGE>   17
 
                    MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
                 FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
 
GENERAL
 
     The Company manages the production of substantially all of its products
utilizing Company-owned facilities in Tampa, Florida and independent assembly
manufacturers located in the Dominican Republic and Mexico. The Company also
sources a limited volume of finished goods from independent suppliers located in
Mexico, the Pacific Rim and the Middle East. With respect to goods assembled by
independent manufacturers, the Company purchases and inventories all of its raw
materials and cuts all of its fabric in its Tampa cutting facility based on
customer orders. The Company ships cut fabric parts and other product components
via common carrier to the Dominican Republic and Mexico. Independent
manufacturers assemble components into finished garments (except for labeling
and packaging) and perform certain finishing processes. The Company pays its
independent manufacturers based on a specified unit price for actual
first-quality units produced. Accordingly, a substantial portion of the
Company's production labor and overhead is variable. The Company has no material
contractual arrangements with its manufacturers. The Company ships assembled
goods from the Dominican Republic and Mexico to its Tampa distribution center
via common carrier. Upon receipt of a customer order confirmation, the Company
attaches designated labels and point-of-sale packaging and ships orders F.O.B.
Tampa.
 
     The apparel retail market experienced a down cycle during Fiscal 1995 and
the first thirteen weeks of Fiscal 1996, with a recovery beginning in the second
thirteen weeks of Fiscal 1996. The Company observed a weakening apparel market
beginning in October 1994 and, as a result, began to reduce its inventories. In
Fiscal 1995 and the first thirteen weeks of Fiscal 1996, the Company received a
significant number of order cancellations. In an effort to control the cost of
rising inventories and in anticipation of a continued weak retail market,
management decided to offer products at amounts below normal selling prices and,
in some cases, below cost. In addition, the Company recorded markdown reserves
for remaining excess inventory. The result of the weak retail market was only
small sales increases from the fiscal year ended October 1, 1994 ("Fiscal 1994")
to Fiscal 1995 and from Fiscal 1995 to Fiscal 1996. In addition, the Company's
gross margin weakened in Fiscal 1995 but improved slightly in Fiscal 1996. The
Company believes that historical market conditions have resumed during 1997.
 
     The following discussion of the Company's results of operations and
financial condition should be read in conjunction with the Company's
consolidated financial statements and notes thereto.
 
                                       16
<PAGE>   18
 
RESULTS OF OPERATION
 
     The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, selected items
in the Company's consolidated statements of operations expressed as a percentage
of net sales:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                     THIRTY-NINE WEEKS
                                                   FISCAL YEAR ENDED                       ENDED
                                       ------------------------------------------   -------------------
                                       OCTOBER 1,   SEPTEMBER 30,   SEPTEMBER 28,   JUNE 29,   JUNE 28,
                                          1994          1995            1996          1996       1997
                                       ----------   -------------   -------------   --------   --------
<S>                                    <C>          <C>             <C>             <C>        <C>
Net sales............................    100.0%         100.0%          100.0%       100.0%     100.0%
Cost of goods sold...................     75.4           79.8            77.7         78.5       76.4
                                         -----          -----           -----        -----      -----
Gross profit.........................     24.6           20.2            22.3         21.5       23.6
Selling, general and administrative
  expenses...........................     14.2           13.7            12.9         12.4       12.8
                                         -----          -----           -----        -----      -----
Operating income.....................     10.4            6.5             9.4          9.1       10.8
Interest expense.....................      2.1            2.9             2.1          2.2        2.0
Factoring expense....................      0.7            0.6             0.3          0.5        0.5
Other (income) expense, net..........     (1.0)           0.3             0.3          0.2         --
                                         -----          -----           -----        -----      -----
Income before income taxes...........      8.6            2.7             6.7          6.2        8.3
Provision for income taxes...........      3.6            0.7             2.3          2.1        3.0
                                         -----          -----           -----        -----      -----
          Net income.................      5.0%           2.0%            4.4%         4.1%       5.3%
                                         =====          =====           =====        =====      =====
</TABLE>
 
THIRTY-NINE WEEKS ENDED JUNE 28, 1997 COMPARED TO THIRTY-NINE WEEKS ENDED JUNE
29, 1996
 
     Net Sales.  Net sales through the first thirty-nine weeks of Fiscal 1997
were $115.6 million as compared to net sales of $86.6 million for the comparable
period in Fiscal 1996, an increase of $29.0 million, or 33.5%. This increase was
attributable to a 29.7% increase in the number of units shipped and a 3.0%
increase in the average selling price per unit. These increases were primarily
the result of increased market penetration and brand acceptance coupled with the
recovery of the soft retail market during the second quarter of Fiscal 1996.
 
     Gross Profit.  Gross profit through the first thirty-nine weeks of 1997 was
$27.3 million, or 23.6% of net sales, as compared with $18.6 million, or 21.5%
of net sales, during the comparable period in Fiscal 1996. The increase in gross
profit percentage resulted primarily from a significant reduction in the level
of markdowns that were required during the first thirteen weeks of Fiscal 1996.
During the first several weeks of Fiscal 1996, a significant number of orders
were canceled due to the soft retail market experienced by most major retailers.
In an effort to control the cost of rising inventories and in anticipation of a
continued weak retail market, the Company sold products below its normal selling
prices and in some cases below its cost. Also, the Company recorded additional
markdown allowances for any remaining excess inventory. During the latter part
of Fiscal 1996, the retail market strengthened and the level of markdowns
decreased significantly. This trend continued during the first thirty-nine weeks
of Fiscal 1997 and the gross profit percentage returned to historical levels.
 
   
     Selling, General and Administrative Expenses.  Selling, general and
administrative expenses through the first thirty-nine weeks of Fiscal 1997 were
$14.7 million, or 12.8% of net sales, as compared to $10.8 million, or 12.4% of
net sales, during the comparable period in Fiscal 1996. The increase in selling,
general and administrative expenses was principally due to the overall increase
in the level of operations of the Company. The principal components of the $3.9
million increase included a $958,000 increase in distribution center labor, an
$800,000 increase in accrued incentive based compensation for key employees and
a $500,000 increase in amortization and depreciation related to the Company's
new distribution center and cutting facility. The increase in selling, general
and administrative expenses as a percentage of net sales was primarily due to
the foregoing increases in certain costs, increases in the provision for
doubtful accounts and consulting fees related to improvements in the Company's
information systems.
    
 
     Interest Expense.  Interest expense through the first thirty-nine weeks of
Fiscal 1997 was $2.3 million as compared to $1.9 million for the comparable
period in Fiscal 1996. The increase in interest expense was the result of higher
average outstanding borrowings, offset in part by a lower average interest rate
due to a re-negotiation of the Credit Agreement in November 1996.
 
                                       17
<PAGE>   19
 
   
     Factoring Expense.  Factoring expense for the thirty-nine weeks ended June
29, 1996 was $409,000, or 0.5% of net sales, as compared to $589,000, or 0.5% of
net sales, for the thirty-nine weeks ended June 28, 1997.
    
 
     Income Taxes.  The Company's effective income tax rate through the first
thirty-nine weeks of Fiscal 1997 was 36.3% as compared with 34.2% in the
comparable period in Fiscal 1996. The lower effective rate in the Fiscal 1996
period was due to the Company receiving the remaining benefit of previously
unrecognized losses of an international subsidiary which was closed in Fiscal
1995.
 
     Net Income.  As a result of the above factors, net income was $6.2 million
through the first thirty-nine weeks of Fiscal 1997 as compared to $3.5 million
for the comparable period in Fiscal 1996.
 
FISCAL 1996 COMPARED TO FISCAL 1995
 
   
     Net Sales.  Net sales for Fiscal 1996 were $117.4 million as compared to
net sales of $110.1 million for Fiscal 1995, an increase of $7.3 million, or
6.6%. The increase was primarily the result of a 5.8% increase in the average
selling price per unit. The provision for returns and allowances was $3.0
million in Fiscal 1996, which was consistent with the $3.1 million for Fiscal
1995. During the final thirty-nine weeks of Fiscal 1996, the retail market
strengthened and the Company was able to significantly reduce the level of
markdown and close out sales experienced during Fiscal 1995 and the first
thirteen weeks of Fiscal 1996.
    
 
   
     Gross Profit.  Gross profit for Fiscal 1996 was $26.2 million, or 22.3% of
net sales, as compared to $22.2 million, or 20.2% of net sales, during Fiscal
1995. The increase in gross profit percentage was primarily attributable to an
increase in the average selling price per unit without a corresponding increase
in the average cost per unit. As a result of a progressive weakening of the
retail market in 1995, the Company sold selected products at selling prices
below normal sales prices. These markdowns were concentrated in the first
thirteen weeks of Fiscal 1996 when significant amounts of orders were canceled.
In limited cases, to control the costs of rising inventories, the Company sold
products at prices that were below its costs. Also, the Company recorded
additional markdown allowances for any remaining excess inventory. The provision
recorded by the Company for such losses increased from $468,000 in Fiscal 1995
to $798,000 in Fiscal 1996. In addition, during Fiscal 1995, the Company
incurred an increased amount of labor expense, including significant overtime,
due to a shift toward smaller individual orders from customers. During the
latter part of Fiscal 1996, order sizes returned to historical levels, which
increased the average order size and led to a favorable impact on gross profit.
    
 
     Selling, General and Administrative Expenses.  Selling, general and
administrative expenses for Fiscal 1996 were $15.2 million, or 12.9% of net
sales, as compared to $15.1 million, or 13.7% of net sales, for Fiscal 1995.
Selling, general and administrative expenses as a percentage of net sales
decreased slightly due to the Company's ability to leverage certain fixed
overhead costs against the increased level of sales.
 
     Interest Expense.  Interest expense for Fiscal 1996 was $2.5 million as
compared to $3.2 million for Fiscal 1995. The decrease was due principally to
lower average outstanding borrowings resulting from the reduction of working
capital requirements, caused primarily by the reduction in average inventory
levels throughout the year.
 
     Factoring Expense.  Factoring expense for Fiscal 1996 was $373,000, or 0.3%
of net sales, as compared to $708,000, or 0.6% of net sales, for Fiscal 1995.
The decrease was primarily the result of a more favorable factoring arrangement
entered into in October 1995.
 
     Income Taxes.  The Company's effective income tax rate for Fiscal 1996 was
34.7% as compared with 27.6% for Fiscal 1995. The lower effective rate during
Fiscal 1995 was primarily the result of the Company receiving the benefit of
previously unrecognized losses of an international subsidiary. Management made
the decision to cease the operation of this subsidiary in September 1995. Prior
to this decision, these losses were not deductible for U.S. income tax purposes.
 
     Net Income.  As a result of the above factors, net income for Fiscal 1996
was $5.2 million, or 4.4% of net sales, as compared to $2.2 million, or 2.0% of
net sales, for Fiscal 1995.
 
                                       18
<PAGE>   20
 
FISCAL 1995 COMPARED TO FISCAL 1994
 
   
     Net Sales.  Net sales for Fiscal 1995 were $110.1 million as compared to
$100.4 million for Fiscal 1994, an increase of $9.7 million, or 9.7%. The
increase was primarily due to a 15.9% increase in the number of units shipped
which was offset, in part, by a 5.4% decrease in the average selling price per
unit. Management believes that the increase in the number of units shipped was
due to a combination of increased market penetration due to increased brand
recognition, a trend of major retailers towards private label products as well
as a shift in consumer preferences towards a more casual lifestyle. The Company
also experienced a significant increase in the level of product sales at prices
below its normal selling prices, which in turn caused a decrease in the average
selling price per unit. Net sales in Fiscal 1995 were negatively impacted by a
significant increase in the level of returns and allowances. Due primarily to
the progressive weakening of the retail market late in Fiscal 1994, which
continued through early Fiscal 1995, the Company's provisions for returns and
allowances increased from $711,000 in Fiscal 1994 to $3.1 million in Fiscal
1995.
    
 
   
     Gross Profit.  Gross profit for Fiscal 1995 was $22.2 million, or 20.2% of
net sales, as compared to $24.7 million, or 24.6% of net sales, during Fiscal
1994. A progressive weakening of the retail market in 1995 had an adverse impact
on gross profit by forcing the Company to offer more products at prices below
normal selling prices. In an effort to control the cost of rising inventories
and in anticipation of a continued weak retail market, the Company recorded near
the end of Fiscal 1994 a provision of $1.3 million for anticipated losses to be
incurred upon the sale of selected products below cost. Although the similar
loss provision recorded by the Company in Fiscal 1995 decreased to $468,000, the
Company offered significantly more of its products at prices below normal
selling prices (but not necessarily below cost) because of the continued weak
retail market. In addition, during Fiscal 1995, the Company incurred an
increased amount of labor expense, including significant overtime, due to a
shift toward smaller individual orders from customers.
    
 
     Selling, General and Administrative Expense.  Selling, general and
administrative expenses for Fiscal 1995 were $15.1 million, or 13.7% of net
sales, as compared to $14.3 million, or 14.2% of net sales, for Fiscal 1994. The
increase in selling, general and administrative expenses was principally due to
increased expenses in the areas of distribution center labor, overhead cost, and
other general and administrative expenses due to the increased level of sales.
Selling, general and administrative expenses as a percentage of net sales
decreased slightly due to the Company's ability to leverage certain fixed
overhead costs against the increased level of sales.
 
     Interest Expense.  Interest expense for Fiscal 1995 was $3.2 million as
compared to $2.1 million for Fiscal 1994. The increase was due to higher average
outstanding borrowings due to the increase in working capital requirements,
primarily caused by the increase in inventory levels.
 
   
     Factoring Expense.  Factoring expense for Fiscal 1995 was $708,000, or 0.6%
of net sales, as compared to $668,000, or 0.7% of net sales, for Fiscal 1994.
    
 
     Other (Income) Expense.  Other expense for Fiscal 1995 was $293,000, or
0.3% of net sales, as compared to other income of $983,000, or (1.0%) of net
sales, for Fiscal 1994. The approximately $1.3 million change from Fiscal 1994
to Fiscal 1995 was primarily the result of a $1.1 million gain recorded in
Fiscal 1994 related to the settlement of arbitration proceedings related to the
original purchase of the Company.
 
     Income Taxes.  The Company's effective income tax rate for Fiscal 1995 was
27.6% as compared with 42.1% for Fiscal 1994. During Fiscal 1994, the Company's
effective tax rate was negatively impacted by the non-deductible nature of
certain expenses related to the arbitration settlement. During Fiscal 1995, the
Company's effective rate was positively impacted by its ability to deduct
previously unrecognized losses of its international subsidiary.
 
     Net Income.  As a result of the above factors, net income for Fiscal 1995
was $2.2 million, or 2.0% of net sales, as compared to $5.0 million, or 5.0% of
net sales, for Fiscal 1994.
 
                                       19
<PAGE>   21
 
QUARTERLY RESULTS
 
     The following tables set forth, for the periods indicated, certain items in
the Company's income statement in millions of dollars and as a percentage of net
sales:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                               QUARTER ENDED
                              -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                           FISCAL 1995                              FISCAL 1996
                              -------------------------------------   ---------------------------------------
                              DEC. 31   APRIL 1   JULY 1   SEPT. 30   DEC. 30   MARCH 30   JUNE 29   SEPT. 28
                              -------   -------   ------   --------   -------   --------   -------   --------
<S>                           <C>       <C>       <C>      <C>        <C>       <C>        <C>       <C>
Net sales...................   $21.9     $31.6    $27.8     $28.8      $20.4     $32.4      $33.8     $30.8
Gross profit................     5.0       6.7      5.5       5.0        3.1       7.5        8.0       7.6
Operating income............     1.7       2.8      1.7       1.0        0.1       3.8        4.0       3.1
Net income..................     0.5       0.9      0.3       0.5       (0.5)      1.8        2.2       1.7
 
<CAPTION>
                                     QUARTER ENDED
                              ----------------------------
                                      FISCAL 1997
                              ----------------------------
                              DEC. 28   MARCH 28   JUNE 28
                              -------   --------   -------
<S>                           <C>       <C>        <C>
Net sales...................   $30.7     $40.6      $44.3
Gross profit................     6.7      10.0       10.6
Operating income............     2.3       4.9        5.3
Net income..................     0.9       2.5        2.8
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                               QUARTER ENDED
                              -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                           FISCAL 1995                              FISCAL 1996
                              -------------------------------------   ---------------------------------------
                              DEC. 31   APRIL 1   JULY 1   SEPT. 30   DEC. 30   MARCH 30   JUNE 29   SEPT. 28
                              -------   -------   ------   --------   -------   --------   -------   --------
<S>                           <C>       <C>       <C>      <C>        <C>       <C>        <C>       <C>
Net sales...................   100.0%    100.0%   100.0%    100.0%     100.0%    100.0%     100.0%    100.0%
Gross profit................    22.8      21.1     19.8      17.4       15.2      23.1       23.7      24.7
Operating income............     7.8       8.8      6.1       3.5        0.5      11.7       11.8      10.1
Net income..................     2.3       2.8      1.1       1.7       (2.5)      5.6        6.5       5.5
 
<CAPTION>
                                     QUARTER ENDED
                              ----------------------------
                                      FISCAL 1997
                              ----------------------------
                              DEC. 28   MARCH 29   JUNE 28
                              -------   --------   -------
<S>                           <C>       <C>        <C>
Net sales...................   100.0%    100.0%     100.0%
Gross profit................    21.8      24.6       23.9
Operating income............     7.5      12.1       12.0
Net income..................     2.9       6.2        6.3
</TABLE>
 
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
 
     The Company's primary capital requirements have been the funding of the
growth in operations and capital expenditures. The Company has historically
financed its growth in sales and the resulting increase in inventory and
receivables through a combination of operating cash flow and borrowings under
the Credit Agreement.
 
     The Company generated (used) cash flows from operations of $12.6 million,
$(4.8 million) and $4.6 million during Fiscal Years 1996, 1995 and 1994,
respectively. The use of cash from operations during Fiscal 1995 was principally
due to an increase in accounts receivable and a decrease in accounts payable.
During Fiscal 1996, the Company was able to increase the amount of inventory
financed by vendors, with accounts payable increasing $3.8 million while
inventories increased only $848,000. This was due to an effort by management to
decrease the production cycle time.
 
     During the thirty-nine weeks ended June 28, 1997, the Company generated
$826,000 of cash from operations. This was primarily the result of net income of
$6.2 million and a decrease in inventories of $3.7 million, offset by an
increase in accounts receivable of $8.4 million and a decrease in accounts
payable of $3.8 million. The increase in accounts receivable was primarily the
result of a 44% increase in net sales in the thirteen weeks ended June 28, 1997
as compared to the thirteen weeks ended September 28, 1996. The decreases in
accounts payable and inventories were primarily due to a seasonal reduction in
production activity.
 
     The Credit Agreement consists of a $40 million revolving credit line (the
"Facility"), a $3 million term note and a $5 million equipment loan facility.
The amount available for borrowing under the Facility is determined pursuant to
a formula based upon the levels of qualifying accounts receivable and eligible
inventory, subject to the $40 million maximum ($5.5 million of which can be
utilized for the issuance of letters of credit). As of September 28, 1996, $15.1
million, $1.0 million and $1.6 million were outstanding under the Facility, the
term note and the equipment loan facility, respectively. As of September 28,
1996, the Company had approximately $7.2 million and $3.4 million available for
additional borrowings under the Facility and the equipment loan facility,
respectively. No additional borrowings are available under the term note. As of
June 28, 1997, $17.9 million, $250,000 and $2.2 million were outstanding under
the Facility, the term note and the equipment loan facility, respectively. As of
June 28, 1997, the Company had approximately $11.0 million and $2.8 million
available for additional borrowings under the Facility and the equipment loan
facility, respectively. On a pro forma basis as of June 28, 1997, after giving
effect to the Offering, including the application of the net proceeds to the
Company therefrom, the Company would have approximately $27.6 million and $2.8
million available for additional borrowings under the Facility and the equipment
loan facility, respectively. The Company's credit agreements contain significant
financial and operating covenants, including requirements that the Company
maintain minimum net worth levels and certain financial ratios,
 
                                       20
<PAGE>   22
 
   
prohibitions on the ability of the Company to incur certain additional
indebtedness or to pay dividends, and restrictions on its ability to make
capital expenditures. The Company is currently in compliance with all covenants
under its credit agreements. On June 30, 1997, the Credit Agreement was
automatically extended to September 30, 1998.
    
 
   
     The Company has historically financed its capital expenditures through a
combination of operating cash flow and long-term borrowings. Capital
expenditures were $10.1 million and $1.5 million for Fiscal 1996 and Fiscal
1995, respectively. During Fiscal 1996 the Company spent $6.1 million to acquire
the building and land in Tampa, Florida which houses the distribution and
administration functions as well as additional adjacent property for the purpose
of constructing an approximately 110,000 square foot cutting facility. The
resulting consolidated administration, distribution and cutting facilities are
expected to increase efficiencies and accommodate anticipated increases in
volume. The building and land acquisitions and construction of the new cutting
facility were financed primarily through a new construction loan (the "Loan
Agreement"). As of September 28, 1996 and June 28, 1997 outstanding borrowings
under the Loan Agreement amounted to $6.3 million and $9.6 million,
respectively. On July 18, 1997, the Company converted borrowings under the Loan
Agreement to a ten-year term loan, having a 19-year amortization period. The
Company expects capital expenditures to be approximately $6.0 million during
Fiscal 1997, including $4.4 million spent during the first thirty-nine weeks of
Fiscal 1997 primarily on building and land improvements ($2.5 million) and
machinery and equipment additions ($1.3 million). The Company anticipates that
the amounts available under the Credit Agreement will be sufficient to fund its
remaining capital expenditures in Fiscal 1997.
    
 
     Pursuant to a factoring agreement (the "Factoring Agreement"), the Company
factors substantially all of its accounts receivable. The Factoring Agreement
provides that the factor will pay the Company an amount equal to the gross
amount of the Company's accounts receivable from customers reduced by certain
offsets, including among other things, discounts, returns and a commission
payable by the Company to the factor. The commission equals 0.30% of the gross
amount factored. For Fiscal 1996 and the thirty-nine weeks ended June 28, 1997,
the Company paid commissions to the factor aggregating $373,000 and $589,000,
respectively. The factor subjects all sales to its credit review process and
assumes 99.85% of the credit risk for amounts factored. Funds are transferred to
reduce outstanding borrowings under the Credit Agreement once payment is
received from the factor. The factor pays the Company the receivable amount upon
the earlier of (i) receipt by the factor of payment from the Company's customer
or (ii) 120 days past the due date for such payment. The Factoring Agreement
expires on September 30, 1998.
 
   
     At September 28, 1996 and at June 28, 1997, the Company had working capital
of $25.5 million and $33.9 million, respectively. The increase in working
capital was due primarily to an $8.1 million increase in accounts receivable, a
$3.8 million reduction in accounts payable and a $1.1 million reduction in
current installments of long-term debt and obligations under capital lease,
offset, in part, by a $3.7 million reduction in inventories. The Company expects
its working capital needs will continue to fluctuate based on seasonal increases
in sales and accounts receivable and seasonal decreases in trade accounts
payable.
    
 
     Management believes that the combination of existing working capital, funds
anticipated to be generated from operating activities and the borrowing
availability under the current and anticipated credit agreements will be
sufficient to fund both short-term and long-term capital and liquidity needs of
the Company.
 
BACKLOG
 
   
     At September 27, 1997, the Company had unfilled customer orders of
approximately $135.8 million. All of such orders are scheduled for shipment in
Fiscal 1998. At September 28, 1996, the Company had unfilled customer orders of
approximately $117.9 million. All of such orders were scheduled for shipment
during Fiscal 1997. Fulfillment of orders is affected by a number of factors,
including revisions in the scheduling of manufacture and shipment of the product
which, in some instances, depends on the demands of the retail consumer.
Accordingly, a comparison of unfilled orders from period to period is not
necessarily meaningful, and the level of unfilled orders at any given time may
not be indicative of eventual actual shipments. See "Risk Factors -- Reliance on
Key Customers."
    
 
                                       21
<PAGE>   23
 
EFFECTS OF INFLATION AND FOREIGN CURRENCY FLUCTUATIONS
 
     The Company does not believe that inflation has significantly affected its
results of operations. The Company's purchases from foreign suppliers are made
in U.S. dollars. Accordingly, the Company to date has not been materially
adversely affected by foreign currency fluctuations.
 
SEASONALITY
 
     Historically, the Company's business has been seasonal, with slightly
higher sales and income in the second and fourth thirteen week periods, just
prior to and during the two peak retail selling seasons for spring and fall
merchandise.
 
IMPACT OF NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS
 
     In February 1997, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 128, Earnings Per Share. The
overall objective of Statement 128 is to simplify the calculation of earnings
per share ("EPS") and achieve comparability with the recently issued
International Accounting Standard No. 33, Earnings Per Share. Statement 128 is
effective for both interim and annual financial statements for periods ending
after December 15, 1997. Earlier application is not permitted. The new standard,
which will be implemented by the Company in the first thirteen weeks of Fiscal
1998, is not expected to have a significant impact on the Company's EPS.
 
                                       22
<PAGE>   24
 
                                    BUSINESS
 
GENERAL
 
     The Company produces high quality casual and dress men's apparel and
provides major apparel retailers with comprehensive brand management programs.
The Company's programs currently feature pants, shorts and denim jeans that are
marketed under Company brands, private brands and licensed brand names. The
Company distinguishes itself from traditional private label manufacturers by
providing apparel retailers with customer, product and market analysis, apparel
design, production, merchandising, and inventory forecasting. The Company
markets its apparel through all major retail distribution channels, including
department and specialty stores, national chains, catalog retailers, discount
and mass merchants and wholesale clubs. Key customers include Dayton Hudson
Corporation ("Dayton Hudson"), Federated Department Stores, Inc. (including
Bloomingdale's and Macy's) ("Federated Department Stores"), JC Penney, May
Department Stores Company ("May Co."), Nordstrom, Inc. ("Nordstrom"),
Phillips-Van Heusen, Price/Costco and Sam's Club (a division of Wal-Mart). The
Company's mission is to provide total customer satisfaction through a
combination of quality, value and technology. Management believes that the
Company provides its customers with high quality apparel and services supported
by a commitment to advanced information, design and production technologies, and
unique merchandising and operating strategies.
 
     The Company's apparel line focuses on basic, recurring styles that the
Company believes are less susceptible to fashion obsolescence and less seasonal
in nature than fashion styles. All of the Company's products are derived from
six production platforms, or "chassis," each of which incorporates basic
features requiring distinct manufacturing processes, such as inclusion of an
elastic waistband, a jeansband or button-flap pockets. The six basic chassis are
modified to produce separate styles through variations in cut, fabric and
finish. This process enables the Company to achieve both manufacturing
simplicity and efficiencies while producing a wide variety of products through
distinctions in color and style. All products receive customer-specific labeling
and packaging upon receipt of confirmation of a customer order. As a result, a
common SKU, differentiated only by labeling and packaging, can be sold by both a
high-end department store and a mass merchant at different retail price points.
This merchandising strategy offers quick-response execution of customer orders
without the associated risk of carrying customer-specific inventories. In Fiscal
1996, fifteen styles marketed under approximately 80 labels accounted for over
90% of the Company's net sales. These labels include Company brands such as Bay
to Bay(R) and Banana Joe(TM), private brands such as Flyers(TM) and Flying A(R)
and licensed brand names such as Bill Blass(R) and Generra(R).
 
     The Company manages the manufacture of substantially all of its products
utilizing its approximately 300,000 square foot state-of-the-art fabric cutting,
product labeling and distribution facilities located in Tampa, Florida, and
independent garment assembly contractors located primarily in the Dominican
Republic. The Company also sources certain finished garments from independent
manufacturers located in Mexico, the Pacific Rim and the Middle East. The
Company believes that its commitment to the use of independent contractors in
the Dominican Republic anticipated the trend in the industry toward the use of
the Caribbean and Mexico for production. The Company believes the establishment
of its name and reputation in this area gives it a distinct competitive
advantage.
 
     The Company utilizes advanced technology in all aspects of its business,
including apparel design, materials sourcing, production planning and logistics,
customer order entry and sales demand forecasting. The Company's dedication to
technology produces greater efficiencies throughout the production process and
results in high-quality products, low-cost production and enhanced customer
order execution. The Company typically designs its apparel lines and customer
programs by tracking its customers' store-level POS system data and responding
to retail demand and trends on a per SKU basis. Apparel products are developed
using a computer-aided-design ("CAD") system integrated with fabric cutting to
maximize product quality and materials yield. Management believes that the
Company's 92% average fabric utilization rate is among the highest in the
apparel industry. The Company employs stringent quality control procedures
throughout its operations, from raw materials production at supplier mills
through finished goods shipping. In Fiscal 1996, the return rate for quality
defects was less than one percent, evidencing the impact of the Company's
quality control procedures.
 
                                       23
<PAGE>   25
 
     Accurate and timely order execution is achieved through electronic data
interchange ("EDI") order entry and quick replenishment of core SKUs. In Fiscal
1996, substantially all orders were placed via EDI. Orders generally are shipped
to the retailer within three working days of receipt of shipping instructions.
The Company's systems enable it to further assist the retailer by tracking
point-of-sale activity by SKU and forecasting consumer demand and seasonal
inventory requirements on a daily basis.
 
   
     The Company was founded in 1927 and has been in continuous operation for
seventy years. In 1989, the Company was acquired by members of senior management
and an affiliate of the Selling Shareholders. Following the acquisition,
management implemented the Company's current operating strategies. For Fiscal
1996, the Company reported net sales of $117.4 million and operating income of
$11.0 million, representing five-year compound annual growth rates of 21% and
40%, respectively.
    
 
INDUSTRY
 
     According to The NPD Group, Inc., a retail industry research firm, the U.S.
apparel industry totaled approximately $174.9 billion in retail sales in 1996.
The industry grew approximately 2.3% and 5.8% in 1995 and 1996, respectively. In
1996, the men's bottoms (i.e., pants and shorts) business represented
approximately 7.5% of the total apparel market. The men's bottoms segment tends
to be relatively less cyclical than the apparel industry at large. In 1995 and
1996 retail sales of men's bottoms grew approximately 6.0% and 9.1%,
respectively. In Fiscal 1995, Fiscal 1996 and the thirty-nine weeks ended June
28, 1997, the Company's net sales grew 9.7%, 6.6% and 33.5%, respectively, over
comparable prior periods.
 
     Trend Toward High Quality Private Brand Apparel.  The Company believes that
there is an increased trend toward high quality, private brand apparel. Private
brand apparel bears the retailer's own name or a proprietary brand name
exclusive to the retailer. Producers are able to sell these garments at lower
wholesale prices due to certain economies, including lower advertising and
promotional costs, lack of brand name license fees and royalties, and the
absence of "markdown" and other risks and expenses inherent in the brand-name
apparel industry. As a result of the lower wholesale prices, private brand
apparel generally provides higher margins for the retailer than brand name or
designer products. Sales of private brand apparel represented 41.0% of total
sales of men's apparel in Fiscal 1996, up from 39.3% in Fiscal 1995 and 37.0% in
Fiscal 1994. The Company believes that this shift is due primarily to the
education of consumers and retailers as to the benefits of private brand
products. The Company believes consumers increasingly regard private brand
products as less expensive than brand name products, but of equal or better
quality. This increase in consumer demand for private brand garments, coupled
with retailers' demands for higher margins, has resulted in retailers allocating
more space to private brand products.
 
     Trend Toward Casual Dress.  The Company believes that there is a growing
trend in the United States toward casual dress, as reflected in the
implementation of policies such as "casual Fridays." In addition, the Company
believes that the number of people who work at home is increasing substantially
and that outside of the workplace, people's social activities are focusing on a
more casual lifestyle.
 
     Expansion of Caribbean and Mexican Production.  Until recently, apparel was
produced predominantly domestically or in the Pacific Rim countries. Since the
passage of Section 807 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States
(now found under tariff subheading 9802.00.80, but herein referred to as
"Section 807"), American apparel companies have increasingly utilized production
facilities located in the Caribbean Basin, including the Dominican Republic. The
Company believes that the Dominican Republic offers certain competitive
advantages, including favorable pricing and better quality production, a long-
standing and relatively stable production network, and much shorter
transportation periods as compared to goods assembled in the Pacific Rim. Under
Section 807, customs duties on apparel products assembled in the Caribbean Basin
may be offset by the costs incurred in the production of components in the
United States (plus freight and insurance). More recently, the North American
Free Trade Agreement ("NAFTA"), effective 1994, has permitted Mexican
manufacturers to ship finished apparel products into the United States duty-free
or at reduced duties. According to Sandler & Travis Trade Advisory Services,
Inc., 1996 marked the first year in which apparel products exported to the
United States from Mexico exceeded products exported from any other country,
including China.
 
                                       24
<PAGE>   26
 
BUSINESS STRATEGY
 
     The Company seeks to become "The Leader in Private Brand"(TM) by being the
leading marketer of private brand sportswear in its product categories across
all retail channels. The key elements of the Company's business strategy are as
follows:
 
          Focus on Private Brand Programs for Major Retailers.  The apparel
     market is highly competitive, with a trend toward greater emphasis on
     private brand programs to improve retail margins. See
     "Business -- Industry." Retailers are increasingly finding it advantageous
     to outsource many aspects of their private brand programs. The Company
     believes it has positioned itself to take advantage of these trends by
     offering retailers customized comprehensive private brand programs
     encompassing: (i) merchandise planning and support; (ii) consistently high
     quality products; (iii) value-added services, such as custom labeling and
     packaging design, just-in-time electronic order execution, and retail
     profitability analysis; and (iv) access to state-of-the-art sales
     forecasting and inventory management systems. In addition, the Company will
     continue to promote these capabilities to increase sales of Company brands
     and licensed brand name apparel offered to multiple retail accounts.
 
          Commitment to Superior Quality Operations.  The Company adheres to
     strict quality standards in every aspect of its operations, from sourcing
     of raw materials to providing continuing service following shipment to its
     customers. Product content and construction specifications, including the
     generous use of fabric to produce a fuller, more comfortable fit, are
     designed to minimize costly customer returns. The Company believes that its
     use of advanced technology and standard operating procedures results in the
     production of high quality products for its customers.
 
   
          Application of Advanced Technology.  The Company employs advanced
     technology in every aspect of its operations. A CAD system is used to
     develop products and program fabric cutting to ensure color consistency and
     maximize material yield. The Company employs air table handling systems and
     the latest generation Gerber cutters in the cutting process to improve
     efficiency and significantly enhance output volumes. In addition, the
     Company's EDI system significantly enhances customer order execution and
     point-of-sale merchandise tracking. Sales forecasting, production planning
     and logistics and inventory management are performed on a proprietary
     system. The Company's production system is integrated with its customers'
     systems and enables the Company to track store level retail sell-through
     trends by SKU. See "Business -- Operations."
    
 
   
          Adherence to Standard Operating Procedures.  Management has instituted
     comprehensive operating procedures for each stage of operations, from
     customer planning and marketing strategies through apparel design,
     materials costing, production planning and logistics, manufacturing,
     customer order execution, point of sale analysis and accounting and
     financial reporting. These procedures integrate each operating function to
     eliminate inefficiencies and maximize productivity. The Company's detailed
     operating procedures and extensive information systems enable management to
     monitor the performance of most operations on a daily basis, with daily
     exception reporting to identify and resolve deviations from forecast
     results.
    
 
          Focus on Core Production Chassis.  The Company designs a core line of
     products suitable for marketing through virtually every apparel retail
     channel, differentiated among channels and customers only through
     customer-specific labeling, packaging and other brand identification
     techniques. The core line is developed from six standardized production
     chassis that enable the Company to maximize manufacturing productivity and
     product quality and minimize unit production costs and inventory risk. In
     Fiscal 1996, products derived from each of the Company's six production
     chassis were sold to customers in multiple distribution channels under
     approximately 80 different labels and point-of-sale packaging concepts.
 
          Maintain Low-Cost Production.  The Company is committed to
     cost-sensitive, cost-controlled operations. To minimize unit production
     costs and mitigate inventory risks, the Company is organized to effect the
     shortest possible production cycle from receipt of raw materials through
     shipping of a customer order. The Company's unique chassis production
     strategy and focus on core product lines enable it to
 
                                       25
<PAGE>   27
 
     concentrate materials purchases, minimize materials inventories, dedicate
     assembly operations to individual styles and execute cost-effective
     production runs per style. The Company contracts for garment assembly on a
     standard cost-per-unit-produced basis with independent manufacturers that
     adhere to the Company's strict quality specifications and standard
     operating procedures. In Fiscal 1996, the Company's production cycle
     averaged 43 days and average inventory turnover was approximately four
     times.
 
          Commitment to Total Customer Satisfaction.  The Company's key customer
     service capabilities include designing the customer's product line
     composition by SKU; developing brand, packaging and point-of-sale
     merchandising programs; determining the per store sales plan by SKU; and
     automatically replenishing store inventory and recommending changes to
     pricing and planned sales volumes based on store-level retail trends. These
     capabilities, leveraging the chassis-based product strategy, offer quick-
     response execution of customer orders without the cost and risk of carrying
     customer-specific inventories.
 
          Minimize Inventory Risk.  Management regards inventory as a liability
     rather than an asset. The Company minimizes its inventory risks by (i)
     producing a focused line of core products that can be labeled and packaged
     upon receipt of a customer order confirmation, (ii) minimizing the
     production cycle and maximizing production flexibility, and (iii) tracking
     consumer demand trends by SKU on a per store basis. Management uses
     detailed cost specifications to monitor unit production cost variances.
 
GROWTH STRATEGY
 
     Internal Growth.  The Company intends to grow internally through increased
sales of core products to current customers, sales to new customers and
expansion into complementary apparel product lines.
 
          Greater Penetration of Existing Accounts.  The Company believes it has
     a significant opportunity to increase sales to existing customers. The
     Company believes that a majority of its customers are seeking to maintain a
     balance between brand name apparel items and private label items,
     recognizing that brand name items draw customer traffic and private label
     products provide a low-cost, high-quality alternative to brand name
     apparel. The Company believes that it can increase sales to existing
     customers by (i) offering a broader selection of men's casual, dress and
     denim pants, shorts and shirts, and (ii) increasing sales of specific
     proprietary or retailer-owned labels for customers seeking to build the
     breadth of their own private label lines. Management believes that its
     customers place a high degree of value on the Company's quality standards
     as well as the Company's commitment to its customer's inventory management
     and forecasting.
 
          New Account Growth.  The Company currently sells to approximately 75
     national and regional retailers in North America, and believes that there
     is significant opportunity to selectively increase its customer base. The
     Company continually evaluates potential customers based on the customer's
     (i) commitment to retailing high quality apparel, (ii) utilization of
     electronic commerce that will allow the Company's technological advantages
     to be realized, and (iii) potential sales volume of core products. The
     Company believes that retailers increasingly are adding private-brand
     programs and seeking vendor-managed inventory programs. The Company
     believes that its primary overseas competitors are unable to match the
     Company's ability to provide and test samples, respond via EDI, track unit
     production and shipment and monitor SKU sell through.
 
          New Product Introductions.  While the Company is committed to
     providing its customers with a stable "core" product line, management does
     invest significant resources to remain current with the latest colors,
     fabrics and finishes. Management is continuously developing test products
     based on its research, and believes that its efforts to remain current are
     extremely important to building trust between the retailer and the
     retailer's customers. All new product lines are produced using the
     Company's "chassis" production concept and are designed to be complementary
     to existing product lines. In Fiscal 1995, the Company introduced dress
     pants, which through the first thirty-nine weeks of Fiscal 1997 represented
     approximately 6.5% of the Company's total revenues and were sold to
     approximately 26.7% of the Company's active customer base. Product lines
     introduced in Fiscal 1997 include men's casual shirts, which the Company
     believes are an attractive complement to its men's pants and shorts lines.
     Similarly, the Company has introduced a line of coordinated men's shirts,
     pants and shorts under a Company owned
 
                                       26
<PAGE>   28
 
     label, "Banana Joe." The management team has significant previous
     experience running businesses in these complementary product lines.
 
     Growth Through Acquisitions.  A key element of the Company's growth
strategy is to: (i) acquire established brands to expand the distribution of the
Company's core products to existing and new customers; (ii) acquire
complementary new product lines, such as men's shirts, suitable for the
Company's brands and/or customer base; or (iii) enter into newly targeted areas
of the apparel market, such as women's sportswear, through acquisition of
targeted companies. The Company expects to expand into categories of the apparel
market in which it can exploit its business strategies. The Company continually
monitors acquisition opportunities, but currently has no arrangements or
understandings with respect to any acquisitions.
 
PRODUCTS
 
     The Company produces a core line of high quality men's casual and dress
pants, shorts and denim jeans. Most of the Company's apparel line focuses on
basic, recurring styles that the Company believes are less susceptible to
fashion obsolescence and less seasonal in nature than fashion styles. Key
fabrics include 100% cotton and synthetic blends utilizing rayon, wool and
polyester. Key fabric constructions include twill, denim, corduroy and
wrinkle-free fabrication. The table below sets forth sales mix, expressed as a
percentage of net sales, and retail price points per product category:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                       FISCAL                THIRTY-NINE WEEKS ENDED
                               -----------------------    -----------------------------   CURRENT RETAIL
                               1994     1995     1996     JUNE 29, 1996   JUNE 28, 1997    PRICE RANGE
                               -----    -----    -----    -------------   -------------   --------------
<S>                            <C>      <C>      <C>      <C>             <C>             <C>
Casual Pants.................   53.9%    48.5%    56.8%        49.2%           48.8%      $17.99-$39.99
Dress Pants..................     --      0.9      1.7          0.4             6.5        24.99- 39.99
Denim Jeans..................    7.6      7.8      7.1          7.0             5.0        16.99- 24.99
Shorts (including denim).....   38.5     42.8     34.4         43.4            39.7        11.99- 24.99
                               -----    -----    -----        -----           -----
                               100.0%   100.0%   100.0%       100.0%          100.0%
</TABLE>
 
     The Company's design staff examines domestic and international trends in
the apparel industry as well as industries completely outside the sphere of
clothing manufacture, including the automobile, grocery and home furnishings
industries, to determine trends in styling, color, consumer preferences and
lifestyle. Virtually all of the Company's products are designed by its in-house
staff utilizing CAD technology, which enables the Company to produce computer
simulated samples that display how a particular style will look in a given color
and fabric. The Company can quickly generate samples and alter the simulated
samples in response to customer input. The use of CAD technology minimizes the
time and costs associated with producing actual sewn samples prior to customer
approval and allows the Company to create custom designed products meeting the
specific needs of a customer. The Company's product content and construction
specifications require the use of matched finish thread throughout the garment,
surge seaming of all pockets, rigorous attention to seam construction, color
matching of all components and the generous use of fabric to produce a fuller,
more comfortable fit and minimize costly customer returns.
 
CUSTOMERS AND CUSTOMER SERVICE
 
   
     The Company markets its products across all major apparel retail channels
to approximately 75 finer department and specialty stores, catalog retailers,
discount merchants and wholesale clubs. The Company's products are sold at over
6,000 outlets throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico and Central America.
Sales to the Company's five largest customers represented approximately 72.4%
and 69.4% of net sales during Fiscal 1996 and the first thirty-nine weeks of
Fiscal 1997, respectively. Sales to Wal-Mart (including Sam's Club, the nation's
largest chain of wholesale clubs), Price/Costco and Phillips-Van Heusen
accounted for approximately 25.9%, 16.6% and 13.8%, respectively, of net sales
during Fiscal 1996 and 30.5%, 17.7% and 9.9%, respectively, of net sales during
the first thirty-nine weeks of Fiscal 1997. The Company also sells its products
to other major retailers, including Dayton Hudson, Federated Department Stores,
JC Penney, May Co. and Nordstrom. Net sales to the Company's ten largest
customers in Fiscal 1996 increased at a compound annual rate of 13.5% from
Fiscal 1994 to Fiscal 1996, and 25.9% for the thirty-nine weeks ended June 28,
1997 as compared to the corresponding period in Fiscal 1996.
    
 
                                       27
<PAGE>   29
 
     Set forth below are comparative sales mix data, expressed as a percentage
of net sales, by marketing channel:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                   THIRTY-NINE WEEKS ENDED
                                             FISCAL             -----------------------------
                                     -----------------------      JUNE 29,        JUNE 28,
CHANNEL                              1994     1995     1996         1996            1997
- -------                              -----    -----    -----    -------------   -------------
<S>                                  <C>      <C>      <C>      <C>             <C>
Wholesale club.....................   40.0%    29.8%    42.3%        44.6%           48.5%
Discount and mass merchant.........   30.1     31.3     21.4         19.9            20.3
National chain.....................   11.4     20.9     14.5         16.5            14.3
Department store...................    8.2      8.8     14.4         13.7            11.4
Specialty store....................    5.6      4.9      4.7          4.1             4.9
Catalog............................    3.1      2.5      1.1          0.9             0.2
Other..............................    1.6      1.8      1.6          0.3             0.4
                                     -----    -----    -----        -----           -----
                                     100.0%   100.0%   100.0%       100.0%          100.0%
</TABLE>
 
     The Company offers its customers comprehensive brand management programs,
which provide: (i) merchandise planning and support; (ii) consistently high
quality products; (iii) value-added services, such as custom labeling and
packaging design, just-in-time electronic order execution, and retail
profitability analysis; and (iv) access to state-of-the-art sales forecasting
and inventory management systems. In addition, the Company will continue to
promote these capabilities to increase sales of Company brands and licensed
brand name apparel offered to multiple retail accounts. The Company believes
that close collaboration with its customers provides the Company's employees the
opportunity to better understand the fashion, fabric and pricing strategies of
the customer and leads to the generation of products that are more consistent
with each customer's expectations. At the same time, the customer is given the
opportunity, at minimal expense and risk, to benefit from the Company's
substantial expertise in designing, packaging and labeling high quality products
with a brand name look, but at a private label price.
 
PRODUCT LABELING AND PACKAGING
 
   
     The Company differentiates its products through customized labeling,
point-of-sale packaging and other brand identification techniques. For most of
its customers, the Company manages the design and production of labeling and
packaging materials. Management regularly analyzes consumer product labeling and
packaging and consumer targeting trends evident in other retailing formats,
including the automobile, grocery and home furnishings industries. The Company
can ship products directly to its customers' retail stores in floor-ready form
and offers innovative packaging and display techniques, such as the "Big Pack."
A "Big Pack" is a specially designed cardboard carton used to ship pants and
shorts directly to Sam's Club stores. Upon delivery, it opens into a floor-ready
display.
    
 
     For Fiscal 1996, the Company sold products bearing approximately 80
different labels to over 75 different customers. Of the $117.4 million in net
sales for this period, 56.0% represented sales of private brands unique to a
single retail customer and 44.0% represented sales of Company brands and
licensed brand name apparel to multiple customers. Of the approximately 80
labels and brands active during this period, approximately 30 are controlled by
the Company and approximately 50 are controlled by retailers.
 
MARKETING AND SALES
 
     The Company's products are sold by eleven sales representatives located in
California, Florida, Illinois, Kansas, Massachusetts, Ohio, New York,
Pennsylvania and Texas, each of whom has over eight years of experience in the
apparel industry. One of such sales representatives is devoted exclusively to
the sale and marketing of the Company's recently introduced Banana Joe(R) line
of men's sportswear coordinates. The Company also maintains a sales and
marketing support staff of six employees in Tampa dedicated to analyzing sales
and marketing data.
 
     The Company offers each of its existing and prospective customers a
marketing plan tailored to the customer's market niche. Using its marketing data
and industry experience, the Company is able to create for
 
                                       28
<PAGE>   30
 
each existing and prospective customer and each particular product a market plan
that outlines optimum volume, timing and pricing strategies, markdown and
sell-through trends and profit margins.
 
     The Company operates an EDI system, whereby the Company can accept EDI
orders 24 hours a day and typically ship orders within three working days. In
Fiscal 1996, substantially all orders were placed via EDI.
 
OPERATIONS
 
   
     The Company principally cuts its fabric at its Tampa facility for offshore
finishing and assembly. The Company also imports finished goods, principally
denim jeans and shorts from Mexico, the Pacific Rim and the Middle East. The
Company believes that the use of numerous independent international suppliers to
assemble components cut at the Company's facilities enables it to provide
customers with high quality goods at significantly lower prices than if it
operated its own assembly facilities. In Fiscal 1996, products originating from
the Company's Tampa cutting facility and imported finished goods represented
approximately 92.9% and 7.1%, respectively, of the products sourced by the
Company.
    
 
     Overview.  The Company inventories, spreads, marks and cuts virtually all
of the fabric used in the manufacture of its products at its own facility in
Tampa, Florida. The components are then assembled outside the United States,
principally in the Dominican Republic, and shipped back to the Company's Tampa
facilities for labeling, packaging and distribution. In Fiscal 1996, the
production cycle from receipt of raw materials through the availability for
shipping of finished goods averaged 43 days, including raw materials inventory,
transit and assembly. The Company customarily prepares, packs and ships customer
orders within three working days of receipt of shipping instructions.
 
     Raw Materials Sourcing.  The Company purchases raw materials, including
fabrics, thread, trim and labeling and packaging materials, from domestic
sources based on quality, pricing and availability. Prior to shipment, the
Company undertakes a quality audit at its major suppliers to assure that quality
standards are met. An additional quality audit is performed upon receipt of all
raw materials. The Company maintains a laboratory at its Tampa, Florida facility
in order to test the quality of raw materials. The Company has no long-term
agreements with any of its suppliers. The Company projects raw material
requirements through a series of planning sessions taking into account orders
received and future projections by style and color. This data is then translated
to the raw material components needed by production time frame in order to meet
customers' requirements.
 
   
     Cutting.  The Company believes that its domestic cutting facility provides
it with substantial advantages over many of its competitors. Since 1989, the
Company has invested in state-of-the-art computerized equipment for spreading,
marking and cutting fabric. The Company's CAD system positions all component
parts of a single garment in close proximity on the same bolt of fabric to
ensure color consistency. This process also enables the Company to utilize
approximately 92% of the fabric. The Company also has invested in air-table
fabric handling equipment that eases the movement of fabric on the cutting table
by the use of forced air through a grid of air ducts on the table surface. The
use of such air-table fabric handling equipment reduces by more than one-half
the number of workers required to handle a bolt of fabric in the cutting
process. In addition, the Company uses two Gerber-brand computerized cutting
systems, which include state-of-the-art submerged electrical and vacuum
components. The use of such cutting systems significantly enhances the Company's
fabric cutting capacity. Quality audits in the cutting facility are performed
during various stages, from spreading of fabric through preparation for shipment
to independent manufacturers for assembly.
    
 
     Assembly.  After the component parts are marked and cut, they are shipped
by common carrier to independent foreign manufacturers, principally in the
Dominican Republic, for assembly and finishing. The Company currently uses
approximately 25 manufacturers in the Dominican Republic that specialize in
assembling products on one or more chassis and adhere to the Company's specific
operating procedures. The Company has used these manufacturers for an average of
more than three years and enjoys, in effect, exclusive relations with 12 of
them. Several of the Company's independent manufacturers utilize various
equipment, including wrinkle-free processing ovens, owned by the Company. The
Company is among relatively few U.S. apparel companies to use the Dominican
Republic as its principal production base for assembling component parts. The
Company believes that the Dominican Republic offers the Company certain
competitive
 
                                       29
<PAGE>   31
 
advantages, including favorable pricing and better quality production, a
long-standing and relatively stable production network, and much shorter
transportation periods than goods assembled in the Pacific Rim. In addition,
U.S. customs duties programs, such as Section 807, facilitate assembly in the
Caribbean Basin by completely eliminating or substantially reducing the customs
duties on the import of assembled U.S. components.
 
     There are no material formal arrangements between the Company and any of
its contractors, but the Company believes that its relations with its
contractors are generally good. The Company is able to shift its sources of
supply depending upon production and delivery requirements and cost, while at
the same time reducing the need for significant capital expenditures,
work-in-process inventory and a large production work force. The Company
arranges for the assembly or production of its products primarily based on
orders received. The Company has traditionally received a significant portion of
its customers' orders prior to placement of its initial manufacturing orders.
Many of these customer orders may change with respect to colors, sizes,
allotments or assortments prior to the delivery date. The Company utilizes such
orders and its experience to estimate production requirements in order to secure
necessary assembly or manufacturing capacity. The Company inspects prototypes of
each product before production runs are commenced. The Company also performs
random in-line quality control checks during and after assembly before the
garments leave the contractor. The Company currently has 21 full-time quality
control personnel on-site in the Dominican Republic.
 
     Labeling, Packaging and Shipping.  Upon confirmation of a customer order,
the Company picks the appropriate items from its common inventory. Thereafter,
the appropriate tags and labels, such as pocket flashers, jokers, woven labels,
hang tags and leg tape, are sewn on or applied. The product is then packaged
(e.g., placed on hangers or put in plastic packaging) and prepared for shipment
in accordance with the customer's specifications. The Company generally ships
orders within three days of receipt. Orders are shipped F.O.B. Tampa by customer
or common carrier directly to the customer's individual stores or to its
centralized distribution center. The customer pays the applicable freight
charges. Final quality inspections occur when the finished garments are returned
to the Company's Tampa facilities for labeling and packaging. The Company
currently has 24 full-time quality control personnel employed in its Tampa
facilities. As a result of its extensive quality control program, less than one
percent of the products shipped by the Company during Fiscal 1996 were returned
by its customers due to defects.
 
IMPORTS AND IMPORT REGULATIONS
 
     The Company presently imports garments under three separate scenarios
having distinct customs and trade consequences: (i) imports of finished goods
(mostly from the Pacific Rim and the Middle East); (ii) imports from the
Caribbean Basin and Central America; and (iii) imports from Mexico.
 
     For direct importations (mostly from the Pacific Rim and the Middle East),
imported garments are normally taxed at most favored nation ("MFN") tariffs and
are subject to a series of bilateral quotas that regulate the number of garments
that may be imported annually into the United States. The tariffs for most of
the countries from which the Company currently imports or intends to import have
been set by international negotiations under the auspices of the World Trade
Organization ("WTO"). These tariffs generally range between 17% and 35%,
depending upon the nature of the garment (e.g., shirt, pant), its construction
and its chief weight by fiber. The principal sourcing alternatives that do not
enjoy MFN rates in the Far East are Vietnam and Laos.
 
     In addition to these tariff rates, merchandise from virtually all the
countries from which the Company imports is also subject to bilateral quota
restraints, pursuant to U.S. domestic law or the multi-lateral Agreement on
Textile and Clothing, which is under the auspices of the WTO. Most bilateral
quotas are negotiated on a calendar year basis. After the United States and a
particular country agree to a particular level of exports in a particular quota
category (for instance, cotton men's bottoms (category 347)), the country that
receives the quota has the right to determine the method by which such quota is
assigned to its manufacturers. Some jurisdictions, such as Hong Kong, have a
free market under which quotas are bought and sold. Most countries, however,
assign it to the factories that actually produce the garments. Shipments which
are
 
                                       30
<PAGE>   32
 
exported to the United States must, in addition to the usual commercial
documentation, have appropriate and official textile visas, in either an
electronic or paper format, which confirm their quota status. This documentation
must be filed prior to the admission and clearance of the merchandise into the
United States. Accordingly, the Company usually demands that this paperwork be
submitted prior to payment.
 
     The Company also imports garments from countries in the Caribbean Basin and
Central America, most notably the Dominican Republic. Although much merchandise
imported from these jurisdictions is subject to the identical tariff and quota
consequences described above for Far Eastern importations, there are special
circumstances which provide a unique tariff and quota preference for some
merchandise sourced from the Caribbean Basin or Central America. The principal
tariff advantage is the so-called "807" program. Under this program, merchandise
produced under tariff subheading 9802.00.80, HTS, is admitted into the United
States with a substantial tariff reduction. Specifically, this tariff provision
provides a reduction in duty based on the value of exported U.S. components
assembled into a product in a foreign jurisdiction which is subsequently
reimported into the United States. In essence, the duty reduction is equal to
the value of U.S. components incorporated into these assembled goods plus
southbound international freight and insurance. For apparel products, such U.S.
components normally consist of cut-to-shape U.S. fabric parts, finishing and
trim (buttons, thread, etc.). In addition, if the fabric which is cut to create
the cut component parts is also knitted, woven or formed in the United States,
there is a special quota provision which provides for more liberalized access to
the U.S. marketplace. This special quota provision is applicable only to certain
Caribbean Basin, Central American and northern Latin American countries which
have signed special agreements with the United States. Under the terms of these
agreements, such products, known in the trade as "807A" or "Super 807" or
"Guaranteed Access Level" products, are controlled through a much more liberal
quota system. Accordingly, a country such as the Dominican Republic would have a
regular quota for men's cotton bottoms produced through a normal cut, make and
trim operation or through the traditional 807 process; at the same time, it
would have a much bigger and, therefore, more liberal quota for merchandise
produced from U.S. cloth under this Super 807 or 807A program. The Company
produces significant garments under one or both of these particular programs. In
those circumstances where garments qualify for both preferences, "807" and
"807A," the merchandise is accorded both substantial and significant quota and
tariff advantage over Pacific Rim, Middle Eastern or non-qualifying Western
hemisphere goods.
 
     The Company also imports finished goods from Mexico under the North
American Free Trade Agreement, commonly known as NAFTA. Under NAFTA, merchandise
which qualifies is accorded reduced or duty-free access, depending upon the type
of merchandise selected. The key requirement for NAFTA qualification for such
garments is that the yarn, cloth, cut, sew and finish of the garments all take
place within North America. This is commonly known as the "yarn-forward rule."
Merchandise produced pursuant to these rules enters the United States at a
preferential or at a zero rate and is not subject to any quota.
 
     In addition to the regular NAFTA program, certain imports made by the
Company are also subject to a tariff preference which was created and enacted as
part of the NAFTA-enabling legislation. This tariff provision, subheading
9802.00.90, HTS, provides for immediate duty-free and quota-free entry into the
United States from Mexico of garments made from components which are cut to
shape in the United States from U.S. knit, woven or formed cloth. This
duty-free, quota-free entry would be available for pant products sourced from
U.S. components cut from U.S. knitted/woven fabric. This merchandise, therefore,
has an even more favorable treatment than merchandise being imported from the
Caribbean Basin. The Company currently imports a limited amount of such
merchandise from Mexico.
 
     Finally, non-NAFTA qualifying goods may be imported from Mexico. Such
merchandise could be imported at reduced duty rates under the 807 (9802.00.80)
program (cut in the U.S.), or special tariff rate quotas called "TPLs."
Otherwise, it is subject to full duty. Such merchandise may also be subject to
Mexican quotas which are effective for some products until 2004.
 
PERSONNEL
 
   
     At September 27, 1997, the Company had 618 employees, including 21 in the
Dominican Republic. Of the total, approximately 105 hold executive and
administrative positions, approximately 14 are engaged in
    
 
                                       31
<PAGE>   33
 
   
design and merchandising, approximately 320 are engaged in production (e.g.,
marking, cutting and labeling), approximately 17 are engaged in sales,
approximately 125 are engaged in distribution and approximately 37 are engaged
in quality control. None of the Company's employees is subject to a collective
bargaining agreement, and the Company considers its relations with its employees
to be generally good.
    
 
     The Company is committed to developing and maintaining a well-trained
workforce. The Company provides or pays for in excess of 20,000 hours of
continuing education annually for its employees on subjects ranging from
computers to foreign languages. The Company is equally committed to the
well-being of its employees. The Company offers its full-time employees and
their families a comprehensive benefits package that includes a 401(k) plan, a
choice of group health insurance plans, term life insurance (with an option to
purchase additional coverage), a choice of dental plans, and a vision plan. The
Company also offers tuition reimbursement for business-related courses and pays
a retirement bonus to persons employed by the Company for twenty-five years or
more. The Company maintains a recreation area and health club facilities for the
use and enjoyment of its employees and their families. The Company also enjoys
long-standing relationships with certain of its independent assembly contractors
in the Dominican Republic and has contributed financial resources to improving
conditions for their employees.
 
MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMS
 
     The Company believes that advanced information processing is important to
maintain its competitive position. Consequently, the Company continues to
upgrade its management information systems in order to maintain better control
of its inventory and to provide management with information that is both more
current and more accurate than was available previously. The Company's
management information systems provide, among other things, comprehensive order
processing, production, accounting and management information for the marketing,
manufacturing, importing and distribution functions of the Company's business.
The Company has purchased and implemented a software program that enables the
Company to track, among other things, orders, manufacturing schedules, inventory
and unit sales of its products. In addition, to support the Company's flexible
inventory replenishment program, the Company has an EDI system through which
customer inventories can be tracked and orders automatically placed by the
retailer with the Company.
 
COMPETITION
 
     The apparel industry is highly competitive and the Company competes with
numerous apparel manufacturers, including brand name and private label
producers, and retailers which have established, or may establish, internal
product development and sourcing capabilities. The Company's products also
compete with a substantial number of designer and non-designer product lines.
Many of the Company's competitors and potential competitors have greater
financial, manufacturing and distribution resources than the Company. The
Company believes that it competes favorably on the basis of quality and value of
its programs and products, price, the production flexibility that it enjoys as a
result of its cutting and labeling capabilities and its sourcing network, and
the long-term customer relationships it has developed. Nevertheless, any
increased competition from manufacturers or retailers, or any increased success
by existing competition, could result in reductions in unit sales or prices, or
both, which could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business and
results of operations.
 
TRADEMARKS AND LICENSES
 
     The Company holds or has applied for over 75 U.S. trademark registrations
covering its various brand names. The Company believes that its Flyers(TM),
Flying A(R) and Bay to Bay(R) trademarks are material to its business. The word
marks Flying A(R) and Bay to Bay(R) are registered with the United States Patent
and Trademark Office. These registrations expire in 2005 and 2001, respectively,
and are subject to renewal. There are applications pending with the United
States Patent and Trademark Office for trademarks which include the Flyers(TM)
and Flying A(R) names. Two of these applications have been opposed. Pursuant to
separate license agreements, the Company has the exclusive rights to use (i) the
Bill Blass(R) trademark with respect to casual pants and shorts, jeans and
pre-hemmed dress pants distributed or sold in the United States, Mexico and
Canada and (ii) the Generra(R) trademark with respect to the design, manufacture
and wholesale in the United
 
                                       32
<PAGE>   34
 
States and Canada of men's casual pants, shorts and dress slacks (excluding open
bottom construction) and men's jean-constructed bottoms made of denim or heavy
weight fabrics (excluding open bottom construction). These licenses expire in
2000 and 1999, respectively. The license agreement with respect to the
Generra(R) trademark is subject to two renewal options that expire September 30,
2002 and 2005, respectively. The Company believes that it has the exclusive use
of all of its owned and licensed trademarks.
 
FACILITIES
 
   
     The Company's corporate headquarters, cutting and warehouse facilities are
situated on over 18 acres in Tampa, Florida and are owned by the Company. The
Company has recently completed an approximately 110,000 square foot
state-of-the-art cutting facility to provide an environment that will increase
efficiencies and accommodate the Company's increasing volume. The new facility
is located adjacent to the Company's administration and distribution facility
(approximately 190,000 square feet). During Fiscal 1997, the Company's cutting,
and labeling, packaging and shipping facilities operated at approximately 65% of
capacity. During Fiscal 1998, the Company anticipates spending approximately
$410,000 to add a third Gerber cutter and up to $5.0 million to upgrade its
existing computer system. The Company's facilities are subject to a mortgage
securing the Loan Agreement, which had an outstanding balance of $9.6 million at
June 28, 1997. See Note 6 to the Consolidated Financial Statements. The Company
also leases approximately 4,000 square feet of showroom offices in New York
City. This lease expires in April 2004. The Company believes that its existing
facilities are adequate to meet its current and foreseeable needs. The Company
also believes its existing facilities are well maintained and in good operating
condition.
    
 
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
 
   
     On March 21, 1997, Levi Strauss & Co. brought suit against the Company in
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. The complaint
alleges, among other things, that the Company's Flyers(TM) trademark and certain
trade dress used in the labeling and packaging of the Company's Flyers(TM) and
Bay to Bay(R) products infringe upon certain of plaintiff's proprietary
trademark and trade dress rights in violation of the federal Lanham Act and
California law. The complaint seeks injunctive relief, as well as treble damages
and attorneys' fees. Although the outcome of the litigation cannot be determined
at this time and the Company would consider reasonable settlement opportunities,
the Company currently intends to vigorously defend against such allegations.
Nevertheless, in an attempt to limit the Company's liability, if any, with
respect to such alleged infringement, the Company has unilaterally altered the
trademark and trade dress which are the subject of this litigation.
    
 
   
     On July 3, 1997, Out-of-Mexico Apparel, Ltd. brought suit against the
Company in California Superior Court for, among other things, breach of
contract, breach of an implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, and
violation of the California Unfair Business Practices Act. The complaint alleges
that the Company entered into contracts for the manufacture of apparel with
certain manufacturers in contravention of a customer non-disclosure and
non-circumvention agreement between Out-of-Mexico Apparel, Ltd. and the Company.
The complaint seeks compensatory damages and prejudgment interest, punitive
damages and the costs of suit. Although the outcome of the litigation cannot be
determined at this time and the Company would consider reasonable settlement
opportunities, the Company intends to vigorously defend against such
allegations.
    
 
     The Company is not involved in any other pending or threatened legal
proceedings which the Company believes could reasonably be expected to have a
material adverse effect on the Company's business or results of operations.
 
REORGANIZATION
 
     The Company was founded in 1927 under the name Tropical Garment
Manufacturing Company. In 1989, the Company was acquired by William W. Compton,
Michael Kagan and a predecessor in interest to Accel and Shakale through the
purchase of the Company's outstanding capital stock by Tropical Acquisition
Corporation, a Delaware corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of Apparel
International Group, Inc., a
 
                                       33
<PAGE>   35
 
   
Delaware corporation. A majority of Accel's shares are owned by Eloy S.
Vallina-Laguera. See "Management" and "Principal and Selling Shareholders." On
August 22, 1997, Apparel International Group, Inc. was merged into Tropical
Sportswear Int'l Corporation, a Florida corporation incorporated on January 27,
1997. Prior to the consummation of the Offering, the Company and Tropical
Acquisition Corporation will be merged into Tropical Sportswear Int'l
Corporation, which will become the Company.
    
 
                                       34
<PAGE>   36
 
                                   MANAGEMENT
 
DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
 
     The Company's Board of Directors consists of eight members divided into
three classes, with the members of each class serving three-year terms. (The
size of the Board of Directors will be automatically reduced to seven members if
the Underwriters' over-allotment options are exercised to such an extent that
Shakale's ownership falls below 5.0% of the outstanding Common Stock). The
following table sets forth information, as of the date of this Prospectus,
regarding the directors and executive officers of the Company.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                           TERM AS
                                                                                           DIRECTOR
NAME                         AGE                          POSITION                         EXPIRES
- ----                         ---                          --------                         --------
<S>                          <C>   <C>                                                     <C>
William W. Compton.........  53    Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and        2000
                                    Director
Richard J. Domino..........  48    President
Michael Kagan..............  58    Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer,        1998
                                    Treasurer, Secretary and Director
Jesus Alvarez-Morodo.......  51    Director                                                  2000
Eloy S. Vallina-Laguera....  59    Director                                                  1999
Leslie J. Gillock..........  41    Director                                                  1999
Donald H. Livingstone......  54    Director                                                  1999
Leon H. Reinhart...........  55    Director                                                  1998
David Garza................  35    Director*                                                 1998
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------
 
* In the event the Underwriters' over-allotment options are exercised to such an
  extent that Shakale's ownership falls below 5.0% of the issued and outstanding
  shares of Common Stock and the size of the Board of Directors is automatically
  reduced to seven, the seat presently occupied by Mr. Garza would cease to
  exist and, hence, Mr. Garza would no longer be a director.
 
     William W. Compton has served as Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive
Officer and a Director of the Company since November 1989. He also served as
President of the Company from November 1989 to November 1994. Mr. Compton has
over 28 years of experience in the apparel industry. Prior to joining the
Company, he served as President and Chief Operating Officer of Munsingwear,
Inc., an apparel manufacturer and marketer, President/Executive Vice President
of Corporate Marketing for five apparel divisions of McGregor/Faberge
Corporation and President, U.S.A. and a director of Farah Manufacturing
Corporation, a men's apparel manufacturer. Mr. Compton currently serves on the
Board of Directors of the Brigham Young University Marriott School of
Management.
 
     Richard J. Domino joined the Company in 1988 and has served as President of
the Company since November 1994. Mr. Domino served as Senior Vice President of
Sales and Marketing from January 1994 to October 1994 and Vice President of
Sales from December 1989 to December 1993. He has over 23 years experience in
apparel-related sales and marketing. Before joining the Company, Mr. Domino was
employed by Thompson Sportswear, Inc., a men's apparel manufacturer and
marketer, as its Sales Manager for the Northwest Territory, and by Haggar Corp.,
a men's apparel manufacturer and marketer, as its New Jersey Salesman.
 
     Michael Kagan has served as Executive Vice President, Chief Financial
Officer, Treasurer, Secretary and a Director of the Company since November 1989.
Mr. Kagan has more than 30 years experience in the apparel industry. Prior to
joining the Company, Mr. Kagan served as Senior Vice President of Finance for
Munsingwear, Inc. and as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of
Flexnit Company, Inc., a manufacturer of women's intimate apparel.
 
     Jesus Alvarez-Morodo has served as a Director of the Company since November
1989. Mr. Alvarez-Morodo has been Vice Chairman of the Board of Elamex, S.A. de
C.V., a manufacturing company controlled by Accel ("Elamex"), since 1995 and
President and Chief Executive Officer of Accel since 1992. Accel is a publicly
traded Mexican holding company having subsidiaries engaged in warehousing,
distribution and
 
                                       35
<PAGE>   37
 
manufacturing. He has been a director of Elamex since 1990. Mr. Alvarez-Morodo
has held various positions with Accel and its predecessor, Grupo Chihuahua S.A.
de C.V. ("Grupo Chihuahua"), and its subsidiaries since 1982, including Vice
President from 1989 to 1992.
 
     Eloy S. Vallina-Laguera has served as a Director of the Company since
November 1989. Mr. Vallina-Laguera has been Chairman of the Board of Accel and
its predecessor, Grupo Chihuahua, since its inception in 1979, and Chairman of
the Board of Elamex since 1990. He is also Chairman of Kleentex Corp., and an
advisory director of Norwest Bank El Paso. Mr. Vallina-Laguera was Chairman of
Banco Commercial Mexicano, later Multibanco Comermex, one of Mexico's largest
commercial banks at that time, from 1971 until its expropriation in 1982.
 
     Leslie J. Gillock has served as a Director of the Company since August
1997. Ms. Gillock has served in various capacities with Fruit of the Loom, Inc.
since 1978, including Vice President of Marketing since March 1995, Director of
Marketing from January 1993 through February 1995, and Marketing Manager for
Intimate Apparel from January 1989 through December 1992. She has over 19 years
experience in the apparel industry.
 
     Donald H. Livingstone has served as a Director of the Company since August
1997. He has been a Teaching Professor at the Brigham Young University Marriott
School of Management and the Director of its Center for Entrepreneurship since
September 1994. From 1976 through March 1995, he was a partner with Arthur
Andersen LLP. He joined Arthur Andersen LLP in 1966.
 
     Leon H. Reinhart has served as a Director of the Company since August 1997.
Mr. Reinhart has been President, Chief Executive Officer and a director of First
National Bank based in San Diego, California since May 1996. Prior to such time,
he served as Chief Credit Officer and Deputy General Manager of Citibank Mexico
from 1988 through April 1996. Mr. Reinhart's experience includes more than
twenty years as a financial executive with Citibank, N.A. and its affiliates in
a variety of domestic and international positions.
 
     David Garza has served as a Director of the Company since November 1989.
Mr. Garza also has served as Chief Executive Officer of Madisa, S.A., a heavy
equipment distributor, since 1990 and Industrias Intercontinental, S.A., a
manufacturer of glazed tile, since 1986. He currently serves on the boards of
directors of various corporations, including Madisa, S.A. and Industrias
Intercontinental, S.A. since 1983 and Promotora Ambiental, S.A., a waste
management company, and Desarrollos Inmobiliarios Delta, S.A., a real estate
company, since 1991.
 
KEY EMPLOYEES
 
     Paul Anders has served as Senior Vice President of Information Systems of
the Company since May 1992. Mr. Anders has over 23 years experience in
information systems. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Anders was Marketing
Support Manager of Amdahl Corporation and Systems Supporting Manager of
McDonnell Douglas.
 
     Thomas E. Bland, II joined the Company in January 1997 as Senior Vice
President of Corporate Quality. Mr. Bland has over 15 years experience in
strategic planning, quality, reengineering and operations analysis. Prior to
joining the Company, Mr. Bland was a Strategic Operations Practice Leader for
the Management Consulting Division of Grant Thornton, L.L.P. from January 1996
to January 1997. He previously spent seven years with Coopers and Lybrand
L.L.P., where he was responsible for the Quality and Strategic Planning Practice
for Coopers and Lybrand, L.L.P.'s Florida Management Consulting Practice. Mr.
Bland is a past member of the Board of Directors of the Florida Sterling
Council, a Certified Quality Engineer (as awarded by the American Society of
Quality Control), an ISO 9000 Lead Auditor and a member of the Planning Forum.
 
     Garff Bryson has served as Senior Vice President of Sales & Marketing of
the Company since January 1995. From December 1989 to December 1994, he served
as Regional Vice President of Sales & Marketing of the Company. Mr. Bryson has
over 34 years experience in sales and marketing. Prior to joining the Company,
Mr. Bryson was Western Regional Sales Manager of Munsingwear, Inc., President of
Marks Work Wearhouse Ltd. and Vice President of Sales & Marketing of Farah
Manufacturing Corporation.
 
                                       36
<PAGE>   38
 
     Vicki Cortez has served as Vice President of Human Resources of the Company
since February 1990. Ms. Cortez has over 25 years experience in employee and
management development. Prior to joining the Company, Ms. Cortez owned and
operated Cortez and Associates, an employee development consulting firm located
in Phoenix, Arizona. Ms. Cortez also has 10 years experience in banking
management and sales development. Ms. Cortez is the sister-in-law of Mr.
Compton.
 
     Radhames Fernandez has served as Senior Vice President of 807 Operations of
the Company since November 1993. Prior to that time, he served as Vice President
of 807 Operations from 1992 to October 1993, Vice President of Dominican
Operations from 1991 to 1992, and Contract Administrative Manager from 1988 to
1991. Mr. Fernandez joined the Company in 1983 as Quality Auditor in the
Dominican Republic. Mr. Fernandez has over 13 years experience in the apparel
industry.
 
   
     J. Michael Fischer has served as Senior Vice President of Distribution of
the Company since September 1997. Mr. Fischer has over 19 years experience in
manufacturing and distribution facility management. Prior to joining the
Company, Mr. Fischer held various positions with Lee Apparel Co., a division of
VF Corporation, from 1984 to 1997, most recently as Director of Distribution
Engineering and Acting Director of Distribution. He also served as a Project
Engineer for Proctor and Gamble Co. from 1980 to 1984.
    
 
     Sharon L. Perdue has served as Senior Vice President of Finance of the
Company since October 1994. Prior to that time, she served as Vice President of
Finance from October 1993 to September 1994, Vice President and Controller from
June 1993 to September 1993 and Controller from July 1992 to May 1993. Ms.
Perdue joined the Company in October 1990 as Assistant Controller. Prior to
joining the Company, Ms. Perdue was Controller and Business Manager of Westside
Communications/Dial Page and a Senior Auditor with Ernst & Young, LLP. Ms.
Perdue has over 14 years experience in finance.
 
     Michael Straka has served as Senior Vice President of Manufacturing of the
Company since September 1995. Mr. Straka joined the Company in January 1994 as
Senior Vice President of Operations. Mr. Straka has over 26 years experience in
the apparel industry. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Straka was Vice
President of 807 Operations for Perry Manufacturing Co. from December 1992 to
December 1993. He also has served as Executive Vice President of Willis Geiger
Inc. (a division of VF Corp.) and as Director of Product Development, Quality
and Technical Service of Hanes Fabric Company, Inc.
 
     John Taylor has served as Senior Vice President of Operations of the
Company since September 1995. Mr. Taylor has over 18 years experience in all
aspects of manufacturing management, manufacturing automation, computer systems
and software. Mr. Taylor joined the Company in August 1995 as Senior Vice
President of Advance Technology & Logistics. Prior to joining the Company, Mr.
Taylor was an Executive Engineer for Western Atlas, Inc., an automated
production equipment manufacturer, from September 1994 to August 1995, and was
engaged as an independent consultant for Hagans Ziegler Ltd. from December 1991
to September 1994. Mr. Taylor also has worked for Septor Electronics Corp., part
of AEG Aktiengesellschaft, a division of Daimler-Benz, and the Consulting
Division of Arthur Andersen LLP.
 
                                       37
<PAGE>   39
 
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
 
     The following table sets forth certain information concerning compensation
paid to or earned by the Company's Chief Executive Officer and each of the
Company's two other most highly compensated executive officers who earned more
than $100,000 for the fiscal year ended September 28, 1996.
 
                           SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                             ANNUAL COMPENSATION
                                                             -------------------    ALL OTHER
NAME AND PRINCIPAL POSITION                                   SALARY     BONUS     COMPENSATION
- ---------------------------                                  --------   --------   ------------
<S>                                                          <C>        <C>        <C>
William W. Compton
  Chairman of the Board and
  Chief Executive Officer..................................  $336,985   $387,200     $31,522(1)(2)
Richard J. Domino
  President................................................   184,615    200,000          --
Michael Kagan
  Executive Vice President,
  Chief Financial Officer,
  Treasurer and Secretary..................................   192,000    153,600      19,343(2)(3)
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------
 
(1) Includes $25,000 in director's fees and $6,522 in grossed up premiums for
    term life insurance for the benefit of Mr. Compton and his family.
(2) After the completion of the Offering, directors who are executive officers
    of the Company will receive no compensation as such for service as members
    of either the Board of Directors or committees thereof.
(3) Includes $15,000 in director's fees and $4,343 in grossed up premiums for
    term life insurance for the benefit of Mr. Kagan and his family.
 
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS
 
     Prior to the Offering, the Company had separate employment agreements with
each of Messrs. Compton, Kagan and Domino. Under these agreements, Messrs.
Compton, Kagan and Domino were entitled to annual base salaries of $390,000,
$215,000, and $225,000, respectively, in Fiscal 1997. In addition, Mr. Compton
and Mr. Kagan were entitled to receive annual bonuses based on the Company's
earnings before interest payments and income taxes.
 
     The Company has entered into new employment agreements with each of Messrs.
Compton, Kagan and Domino, which shall become effective as of the completion of
the Offering. The employment agreement with Mr. Compton provides for an initial
term of five years, with automatic renewals beginning at the end of the third
year such that there shall remain at all times thereafter a rolling two-year
term of employment. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event the agreement
has not otherwise been terminated, it will terminate automatically at the end of
the Company's fiscal year in which Mr. Compton reaches age 65. The agreement
provides for an initial annual base salary of $390,000, subject to a minimum
annual increase equal to the increase in the Consumer Price Index for all Urban
Consumers -- All Items Index for Tampa, Florida ("CPI") for the immediately
preceding twelve months. Mr. Compton is also entitled to an annual performance
bonus of up to 110% of his base salary based on a comparison of the Company's
average return on total capital employed over a four-year period as compared to
an average target return on total capital as calculated for a select group of
publicly traded apparel companies over the same period. To the extent authorized
by the Board, Mr. Compton also shall be entitled to participate in such bonus
programs and other benefit plans as are generally made available to other
executive officers of the Company.
 
     The agreement may not be terminated by the Company prior to January 1, 1999
for any reason other than cause (as defined therein) or Mr. Compton's death or
disability. If the agreement is terminated by the Company on or after January 1,
1999, for any reason other than cause or Mr. Compton's death or disability, the
Company shall pay Mr. Compton a one-time, lump sum severance payment equal to
the product of (i) the greater of two and the number of years (rounded to the
nearest 1/12th of a year) remaining in the initial five-
 
                                       38
<PAGE>   40
 
   
year term and (ii) the sum of Mr. Compton's average annual base salary and
average annual bonus for the preceding three years. During the two-year period
following termination of employment other than as a result of disability, Mr.
Compton shall not engage in or have any impermissible financial interest in any
business that is engaged in the merchandising, manufacturing, distribution or
marketing of men's casual pants, shorts and jeans.
    
 
     The agreement also provides for a one-time, lump sum severance payment, in
lieu of any other severance payment, if Mr. Compton elects to terminate his
employment with the Company either for "good reason" (as defined therein) or
upon a "change of control" of the Company. Upon termination for "good reason,"
the severance payment will equal the product of (i) the greater of two and the
number of years (rounded to the nearest 1/12th of a year) remaining in the
initial five-year term and (ii) the sum of Mr. Compton's average annual base
salary and average annual bonus for the preceding three years. Upon termination
upon a "change of control," the severance payment will equal, depending on the
extent of the change of control, either (a) two times Mr. Compton's average
annual base salary for the preceding three years or (b) two times the sum of Mr.
Compton's average annual base salary and average annual bonus for the preceding
three years. Under the agreement, a "change of control" shall be deemed to have
occurred if (i) any person (other than certain exempt persons, including Messrs.
Compton and Kagan, Accel, Shakale, the Company and their respective affiliates
and associates) beneficially owns 25% or more of the outstanding shares of
voting capital stock or (ii) immediately following the sale or transfer of
substantially all of the Company's assets, or the merger or consolidation of the
Company with or into another person, any person (other than certain exempt
persons) shall beneficially own 25% or more of the surviving or acquiring
person.
 
     The Company's employment agreement with Mr. Kagan is substantially the same
as Mr. Compton's except that Mr. Kagan's initial annual base salary is $215,000
and his maximum annual performance bonus equals 80% of his base salary.
 
     The Company's employment agreement with Mr. Domino provides for an initial
term of three years, with automatic renewals beginning at the end of the second
year such that there shall remain at all times thereafter a rolling one-year
term of employment. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event the agreement
has not been otherwise terminated, it will terminate automatically at the end of
the Company's fiscal year in which Mr. Domino reaches age 65. The agreement
provides for an initial annual base salary of $225,000, subject to a minimum
annual increase equal to the increase in the CPI for the immediately preceding
twelve months. Mr. Domino is also entitled to an annual performance bonus up to
100% of his base salary. To the extent authorized by the Board, Mr. Domino also
shall be entitled to participate in such bonus programs and other benefit plans
as are generally made available to other executive officers of the Company.
 
   
     The agreement provides that, if Mr. Domino's employment is terminated
without cause (as defined therein) by the Company, he shall be entitled to
severance payments, payable bi-weekly, at his annual base salary rate at the
time of termination until the earlier of (i) the date he obtains new employment
and (ii) the end of the remaining term under the employment agreement. In the
event Mr. Domino obtains new employment prior to the end of the remaining term
under the employment agreement, he shall be entitled to receive bi-weekly from
the Company the difference between his annual base salary rate at the time of
termination and his annual cash compensation rate from his new employment. The
agreement further provides that, if Mr. Domino resigns or is terminated for
cause, he will not, during the one-year period immediately following such
termination, engage in or have any impermissible financial interest in any
business that is engaged in the merchandising, manufacturing, distribution or
marketing of men's casual pants, shorts or jeans.
    
 
STOCK OPTION PLANS
 
   
     The Company currently maintains two stock option plans to attract, motivate
and retain key employees and members of the Board of Directors who are not
employees of the Company. These stock option plans have been adopted by the
Board of Directors and are expected to be approved by the shareholders of the
Company prior to the consummation of the Offering.
    
 
     Employee Stock Option Plan.  The Company's Employee Stock Option Plan (the
"Employee Plan") provides for the grant of incentive or nonqualified stock
options to purchase up to 500,000 shares of Common
 
                                       39
<PAGE>   41
 
   
Stock. Upon the completion of the Offering, the executive officers named in the
Summary Compensation Table will be granted options to purchase a total of
200,800 shares of Common Stock at the initial public offering price as follows:
William W. Compton, 104,400 shares; Michael Kagan, 61,100 shares; and Richard J.
Domino, 35,300 shares. All employees of the Company as a group, including these
executive officers, will be granted options to purchase a total of 300,000
shares of Common Stock at the initial public offering price. All of such options
expire on the tenth anniversary of the date of grant. Options shall become
exercisable over a period of three years in equal amounts.
    
 
   
     Non-Employee Director Stock Option Plan.  The Company's Non-Employee
Director Stock Option Plan (the "Non-Employee Plan") provides for the grant of
nonqualified stock options to purchase up to 200,000 shares of Common Stock to
members of the Board of Directors who are not employees of the Company. As of
the date of this Prospectus, such members held no options under the Non-Employee
Plan. Each non-employee director shall be granted options to purchase 10,000
shares of Common Stock at the initial public offering price as of the effective
date of the registration statement to which the Prospectus relates. Thereafter,
on the date on which an outside director is initially elected or appointed, he
or she shall automatically be granted options to purchase 10,000 shares of
Common Stock. Each outside director also shall be granted options to purchase
10,000 shares of Common Stock on the day following each annual meeting of
shareholders at which such outside director is re-elected. All options granted
will have an exercise price equal to the then fair market value of the Common
Stock and will expire on the tenth anniversary of the date of grant. Options
shall become exercisable over a period of three years in equal amounts. The
Non-Employee Plan is a formula plan and accordingly is intended to be
self-governing. To the extent that questions of interpretation arise, they will
be resolved by the Board of Directors.
    
 
   
     1996 Stock Option Grants.  On December 18, 1996, the Company adopted the
1996 Stock Option Plan (the "1996 Plan"). Pursuant to the 1996 Plan, options to
purchase (after giving effect to the reorganization of the Company) 60,000
shares of Common Stock at a price per share of $10.50 were granted to employees
of the Company, including the executive officers named in the Summary
Compensation Table. The executive officers named in the Summary Compensation
Table received options to purchase a total of 45,300 shares of Common Stock as
follows: William W. Compton, 23,500 shares; Michael Kagan, 13,800 shares; and
Richard J. Domino, 8,000 shares. All of such options will expire on the tenth
anniversary of the date of grant. The options shall become exercisable over a
period of three years in equal amounts.
    
 
DIRECTOR COMPENSATION
 
     Directors who are executive officers of the Company receive no compensation
as such for service as members of either the Board of Directors or committees
thereof. Directors who are not executive officers of the Company receive $1,000
per Board and/or committee meeting attended, plus reimbursement of reasonable
expenses. The outside directors are also eligible to receive options to purchase
Common Stock under the Company's Non-Employee Director Stock Option Plan. See
"Management -- Stock Option Plans -- Non-Employee Director Stock Option Plan."
 
COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD
 
     The Board of Directors has established committees whose responsibilities
are summarized as follows:
 
     Audit Committee.  The Audit Committee is comprised of Messrs.
Alvarez-Morodo and Livingstone and Ms. Gillock, and is responsible for reviewing
the independence, qualifications and activities of the Company's independent
certified public accountants and the Company's financial policies, control
procedures and accounting staff. The Audit Committee recommends to the Board the
appointment of the independent certified public accountants and reviews and
approves the Company's financial statements. The Audit Committee is also
responsible for the review of transactions between the Company and any Company
officer, director or entity in which a Company officer or director has a
material interest.
 
     Compensation Committee.  The Compensation Committee is comprised of Messrs.
Compton, Reinhart and Vallina-Laguera and Ms. Gillock, and is responsible for
establishing the compensation of the Company's
 
                                       40
<PAGE>   42
 
directors, officers and other managerial personnel, including salaries, bonuses,
termination arrangements, and other executive officer benefits.
 
     Stock Option Committee.  The Stock Option Committee is comprised of Ms.
Gillock and Messrs. Reinhart and Vallina-Laguera. The Stock Option Committee is
responsible for the administration of the Employee Plan, including the
recipients, amounts and terms of stock option grants, and the 1996 Plan.
 
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION
 
     The Company's Compensation Committee recently was established in connection
with the Offering. The members of the Compensation Committee are Messrs.
Compton, Reinhart and Vallina-Laguera and Ms. Gillock. Except for Messrs.
Compton and Kagan, no officer or employee of the Company has participated in
deliberations of the Board of Directors prior to the Offering concerning
executive officer compensation.
 
                       PRINCIPAL AND SELLING SHAREHOLDERS
 
     The following table sets forth certain information regarding the beneficial
ownership of Common Stock as of the date of this Prospectus, and as adjusted to
reflect the sale of Common Stock offered hereby, with respect to: (i) each of
the Company's directors and the executive officers named in the Summary
Compensation Table; (ii) all directors and officers of the Company as a group;
(iii) the Selling Shareholders; and (iv) each person known by the Company to own
beneficially more than 5% of the Common Stock. Unless otherwise indicated, each
of the shareholders listed below has sole voting and investment power over the
shares beneficially owned.
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                               SHARES BENEFICIALLY                SHARES BENEFICIALLY
                                                      OWNED                              OWNED
                                                PRIOR TO OFFERING      SHARES       AFTER OFFERING
                                               -------------------      BEING     -------------------
NAME                                            SHARES     PERCENT     OFFERED     SHARES     PERCENT
- ----                                           ---------   -------    ---------   ---------   -------
<S>                                            <C>         <C>        <C>         <C>         <C>
William W. Compton(1)........................    945,333    15.7%            --     945,333    12.4%
Richard J. Domino(2).........................      8,000       *             --       8,000       *
Michael Kagan(3).............................    567,100     9.4             --     567,100     7.5
Jesus Alvarez-Morodo(4)(5)...................         --      --             --          --      --
Eloy S. Vallina-Laguera(4)(5)................  2,250,450    37.5        650,000   1,600,450    21.1
Leslie J. Gillock(4).........................         --      --             --          --      --
Donald H. Livingstone(4).....................         --      --             --          --      --
Leon H. Reinhart(4)..........................         --      --             --          --      --
David Garza(4)(6)............................         --      --             --          --      --
Accel(5).....................................  2,250,450    37.5        650,000   1,600,450    21.1
Shakale(6)...................................  2,249,550    37.5      1,750,000     499,550     6.6
All directors and officers as a group (9
  persons)...................................  3,750,450    62.5%       650,000   3,100,450    40.8%
</TABLE>
    
 
- ---------------
 
   
 *  Less than 1%.
    
   
(1) Includes 228,000 shares held by the Compton Family Limited Partnership.
    Includes 7,833 shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of
    outstanding stock options which become exercisable on December 18, 1997.
    Does not include 15,667 shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of
    outstanding stock options or 104,400 shares of Common Stock issuable upon
    the exercise of stock options to be granted upon completion of the Offering.
    See "Management -- Stock Option Plans." The business address of Mr. Compton
    is 4902 West Waters Avenue, Tampa, Florida 33634.
    
   
(2) Includes 8,000 shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of
    outstanding stock options which become exercisable on December 18, 1997.
    Does not include 35,300 shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of
    stock options to be granted upon the completion of the Offering. See
    "Management -- Stock Option Plans."
    
   
(3) Includes 562,500 shares held in the Kagan Family Limited Partnership.
    Includes 4,600 shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercisable of
    outstanding stock options which become exercisable on December 18, 1997.
    Does not include 9,200 shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of
    outstanding stock options or 61,100 shares of Common Stock issuable upon the
    exercise of stock options to be granted upon the completion of the Offering.
    See "Management -- Stock Option Plans." The business address of Mr. Kagan is
    4902 West Waters Avenue, Tampa, Florida 33634.
    
(4) Does not include 10,000 shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of
    stock options to be granted upon the completion of the Offering. See
    "Management -- Stock Option Plans."
(5) Consists of shares held by Accel. Mr. Vallina-Laguera owns directly
    146,791,192 shares, or 42.1%, of the outstanding common stock of Accel. In
    addition, he controls companies that hold 30,486,616 shares, or 8.8%, of the
    outstanding common stock of Accel. Mr. Alvarez-Morodo is the President and
    Chief Executive Officer of Accel. The business address of Mr.
    Vallina-Laguera is Av. Zarco No. 2401, Col. Zarco, Chihuahua, Chih., Mexico,
    and the business address of Mr. Alvarez-Morodo and Accel is Virginia
    Fabregas No. 80, Col. San Rafael, 06470 Mexico, D.F.
(6) Shakale is controlled by the father of Mr. Garza. The business address of
    Shakale is 1555 de la avenida 3 bis, calles 15 y 17, Apto. 1756-1000, San
    Jose, Costa Rica.
 
                                       41
<PAGE>   43
 
                              CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS
 
     The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors is responsible for reviewing
all transactions between the Company and any officer or director of the Company
or any entity in which an officer or director has a material interest. Any such
transactions must be on terms no less favorable than those that could be
obtained on an arms-length basis from independent third parties.
 
   
     Pursuant to an underwriting agreement by and among the Company, the Selling
Shareholders and the Underwriters, the Company and the Selling Shareholders have
jointly and severally agreed to indemnify the several Underwriters or to
contribute to losses arising out of certain liabilities, including liabilities
under the Securities Act. The Company and the Selling Shareholders intend to
enter into a separate agreement which will allocate between them certain
liabilities which may arise under the underwriting agreement or otherwise in
connection with the Offering. Such liabilities will be allocated to the Company,
except to the extent that such liabilities arise out of certain information
supplied by the Selling Shareholders or their affiliates in writing in
connection with the Offering or out of representations and warranties made by
them in the underwriting agreement.
    
 
                          DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK
 
GENERAL
 
     The authorized capital stock of the Company consists of 50,000,000 shares
of Common Stock, par value $.01 per share, and 10,000,000 shares of Preferred
Stock, par value $.01 per share. As of the date of this Prospectus, there were
issued and outstanding 6,000,000 shares of Common Stock and 38,630 shares of
Preferred Stock.
 
     The following description is qualified in its entirety by reference to the
Company's Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation and Amended and
Restated Bylaws, which are filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement of
which this Prospectus is a part.
 
COMMON STOCK
 
     The holders of Common Stock are entitled to one vote for each share held of
record on all matters submitted to a vote of shareholders. Cumulative voting in
the election of directors is not permitted. Subject to preferences that may be
granted to holders of Preferred Stock, holders of Common Stock are entitled to
receive ratably such dividends as may be declared by the Board of Directors out
of funds legally available therefor. See "Dividend Policy." In the event of
liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, holders of Common Stock
are entitled to share ratably in all assets remaining after payment of
liabilities and the liquidation preference, if any, which may be granted to the
holders of Preferred Stock. Holders of Common Stock have no conversion,
preemptive or other rights to subscribe for additional shares or other
securities, and there are no redemption or sinking fund provisions with respect
to such shares. The issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock are, and the
shares offered hereby will be upon payment therefor, fully paid and
nonassessable.
 
PREFERRED STOCK
 
     The Board of Directors has the authority to issue up to 10,000,000 shares
of Preferred Stock in one or more series and to fix the number of shares
constituting any such series and the rights and preferences thereof, including
dividend rates, terms of redemption (including sinking fund provisions),
redemption price or prices, voting rights, conversion rights and liquidation
preferences of the shares constituting such series, without any further vote or
action by the Company's shareholders. The issuance of Preferred Stock by the
Board of Directors could adversely affect the rights of holders of Common Stock.
For example, an issuance of Preferred Stock could result in a class of
securities outstanding that would have preferences over the Common Stock with
respect to dividends and liquidations, and that could (upon conversion or
otherwise) enjoy all of the rights appurtenant to Common Stock.
 
                                       42
<PAGE>   44
 
     As of the date of this Prospectus, there were issued and outstanding 38,630
shares of Special Preferred Stock. Shares of this Special Preferred Stock are
redeemable at the option of the Company at a redemption price of $100 per share.
The Company intends to use a portion of the net proceeds from the Offering to
redeem all of said shares.
 
CERTAIN ANTI-TAKEOVER EFFECTS
 
     The Florida Business Corporation Act (the "Florida Act"), the Company's
Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation (the "Articles of Incorporation")
and the Company's Amended and Restated Bylaws (the "Bylaws") contain provisions
that could have an anti-takeover effect. These provisions are intended to
enhance the likelihood of continuity and stability in the composition of the
Board and in the policies formulated by the Board and to discourage certain
types of transactions described below, which may involve an actual or threatened
change of control of the Company. The provisions are designed to encourage any
person interested in acquiring the Company to negotiate with and obtain the
approval of the Board in connection with the transaction. However, certain of
these provisions may discourage a future acquisition of the Company not approved
by the Board in which shareholders might receive the maximum value for their
shares or which a substantial number and perhaps even a majority of the
Company's shareholders believes to be in the best interests of all shareholders.
As a result, shareholders who might desire to participate in such a transaction
may not have the opportunity to do so. See "Risk Factors -- Anti-Takeover
Provisions."
 
     Statutory Provisions.  The Company is subject to several anti-takeover
provisions under Florida law that apply to a public corporation organized under
Florida law unless the corporation has elected to opt out of such provisions in
its articles of incorporation or (depending on the provision in question) its
bylaws. The Company has not elected to opt out of these provisions. The Florida
Act contains a provision that prohibits the voting of shares in a publicly held
Florida corporation which are acquired in a "control share acquisition" unless
the board of directors approves the control share acquisition or the holders of
a majority of the corporation's voting shares (exclusive of shares held by
officers of the corporation, inside directors or the acquiring party) approve
the granting of voting rights as to the shares acquired in the control share
acquisition. A control share acquisition is defined as an acquisition that
immediately thereafter entitles the acquiring party to vote in the election of
directors within each of the following ranges of voting power: (i) one-fifth or
more but less than one-third of such voting power; (ii) one-third or more but
less than a majority of such voting power; and (iii) a majority or more of such
voting power. This statutory voting restriction is not applicable in certain
circumstances set forth in the Florida Act.
 
     The Florida Act also contains an "affiliated transaction" provision that
prohibits a publicly-held Florida corporation from engaging in a broad range of
business combinations or other extraordinary corporate transactions with an
"interested shareholder" unless (i) the transaction is approved by a majority of
disinterested directors before the person becomes an interested shareholder,
(ii) the interested shareholder has owned at least 80% of the Company's
outstanding voting shares for at least five years, or (iii) the transaction is
approved by the holders of two-thirds of the Company's voting shares other than
those owned by the interested shareholder. An interested shareholder is defined
as a person who, together with affiliates and associates thereof, beneficially
owns (as defined in Section 607.0901(1)(e), Florida Statutes) more than 10% of
the Company's outstanding voting shares.
 
     Classified Board of Directors.  Under the Company's Articles of
Incorporation and Bylaws, the Board of Directors of the Company is divided into
three classes, with staggered terms of three years each. Each year the term of
one class expires. In addition, pursuant to the Company's Articles of
Incorporation, Accel currently has the right to nominate two persons to stand
for election to the Company's eight-member Board of Directors, and Shakale and
separate family limited partnerships controlled by Messrs. Compton and Kagan,
respectively, each currently has the right to nominate one person to stand for
election to the Company's eight-member Board of Directors. (In the event the
Underwriters' over-allotment options are exercised to such an extent that
Shakale's ownership falls below 5.0% of the outstanding Common Stock, the
Company's Board of Directors will be reduced automatically to seven members and
Shakale will not have any special nomination rights. As a result of such
reduction in the size of the Board, the seat presently occupied by David Garza,
Jr. would cease to exist and, hence, Mr. Garza would no longer be a director of
the Company.) Moreover, Accel,
 
                                       43
<PAGE>   45
 
Shakale and Messrs. Compton and Kagan and their respective family limited
partnerships have entered into a shareholder's agreement pursuant to which,
among other things, each of them has agreed to vote the shares of Common Stock
owned or controlled thereby for the election as directors of the nominees of the
other parties pursuant to their special nomination rights. In light of the
foregoing, such persons will effectively have the ability to significantly
influence the election of the Company's directors and the outcome of all other
issues submitted to the Company's shareholders.
 
     The Company's Articles of Incorporation also provide that any vacancies on
the Board of Directors shall be filled only by the affirmative vote of a
majority of the directors then in office, even if less than a quorum, and that
any director may be removed from office, but only for cause.
 
     Special Voting Requirements.  The Company's Articles of Incorporation
provide that actions by the shareholders may be taken at an annual or special
meeting of the shareholders or by written consents executed by the holders of
outstanding voting shares having not less than the minimum number of votes
necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all voting
shares were present and voted. The Articles of Incorporation provide that
special meetings of the shareholders may be called by only a majority of the
members of the board of directors, the Chairman of the Board, the Chief
Executive Officer of the Company, or the holders of not less than 25% of the
Company's outstanding voting shares. Under the Company's Bylaws, shareholders
will be required to comply with advance notice provisions with respect to any
proposal submitted for shareholder vote, including nominations for elections to
the Board of Directors. The Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws of the Company
contain provisions requiring the affirmative vote of the holders of at least
two-thirds of the Common Stock to amend certain provisions thereof.
 
     The foregoing provisions of the Florida Act and the Company's Amended and
Restated Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws could have the effect of
preventing or delaying a person from acquiring or seeking to acquire a
substantial equity interest in, or control of, the Company.
 
TRANSFER AGENT AND REGISTRAR
 
     The transfer agent and registrar for the Common Stock is Firstar Trust
Company, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
 
                                       44
<PAGE>   46
 
                        SHARES ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE
 
     Upon the completion of the Offering, the Company will have 7,600,000 shares
of Common Stock outstanding. Of these shares, the 4,000,000 shares of Common
Stock sold in the Offering (4,600,000 shares if the Underwriters' over-allotment
options are exercised in full) will be freely tradeable by persons other than
affiliates of the Company, without restriction under the Securities Act.
 
     The remaining 3,600,000 shares of Common Stock (3,000,000 shares if the
Underwriters' over-allotment options are exercised in full) will be "restricted"
securities within the meaning of Rule 144 under the Securities Act and may not
be sold in the absence of registration under the Securities Act unless an
exemption from registration is available, including the exemptions contained in
Rule 144. All 3,600,000 (3,000,000 if the Underwriters' over-allotment options
are exercised in full) of the restricted shares will be beneficially owned by
persons who are affiliates of the Company and after the date of this Prospectus,
will be eligible for public sale pursuant to Rule 144, subject to the volume
restrictions discussed below. However, all of such restricted shares are subject
to lockup restrictions. Pursuant to these restrictions the holders of these
restricted shares, including certain of the Company's executive officers and
directors, have agreed that they will not, without the prior written consent of
Prudential Securities Incorporated, on behalf of the Underwriters, directly or
indirectly, offer, sell, offer to sell, contract to sell, pledge, grant any
option to purchase or otherwise dispose of or transfer (or announce any offer,
sale, offer of sale, contract of sale, pledge, grant of any option to purchase
or other disposition or transfer of) any shares of Common Stock or any other
securities convertible into, or exercisable or exchangeable for, shares of
Common Stock or other similar securities of the Company, currently beneficially
owned or hereafter acquired by such persons, for a period of 180 days from the
date of this Prospectus. After such 180-day period, this restriction will expire
and shares permitted to be sold under Rule 144 would be eligible for sale.
Prudential Securities Incorporated may, in its sole discretion, at any time and
without prior notice, release all or any portion of the shares of Common Stock
subject to such agreements.
 
     In general, under Rule 144 as currently in effect, a person (or persons
whose shares are aggregated), including an affiliate of the Company, who has
beneficially owned his or her shares for at least one year (including the prior
holding period of any prior owner other than an affiliate) is entitled to sell
within any three-month period that number of shares which does not exceed the
greater of 1% of the outstanding shares of the Common Stock, or the average
weekly trading volume during the four calendar weeks preceding each such sale.
Sales under Rule 144 also are subject to certain manner of sale provisions,
notice requirements and the availability of current public information about the
Company. A person (or persons whose shares are aggregated) who is not or has not
been deemed an "affiliate" of the Company for at least three months, and who has
beneficially owned shares for at least two years (including the holding period
of any prior owner other than an affiliate) would be entitled to sell such
shares under Rule 144 without regard to the limitations discussed above.
 
   
     Upon the completion of the Offering, there will be outstanding options to
purchase 420,000 shares of Common Stock, of which options to purchase 60,000
shares granted under the 1996 Plan are vested and will generally become
exercisable from 1997 through 1999 at $10.50 per share. The remaining 360,000
options to be granted under the Employee Plan and the Non-Employee Plan will
vest and become exercisable from 1998 through 2000 at a price per share equal to
the initial public offering price. In addition, options for the purchase of
200,000 and 140,000 additional shares of Common Stock will remain available for
issuance under the Employee Plan and Non-Employee Plan, respectively, following
the completion of the Offering. The Company intends to file one or more
Registration Statements on Form S-8 to register under the Securities Act all of
the 760,000 shares of Common Stock that are issuable upon the exercise of
outstanding stock options and that may be subject to stock options that are
issuable in the future under the Employee Plan and the Non-Employee Plan. These
registration statements are expected to be filed as soon as practicable after
the Offering and are expected to become effective immediately upon filing.
Shares covered by the registration statements will be eligible for sale in the
public market after the effective date of the registration statements, subject
to Rule 144 limitations applicable to affiliates of the Company. See
"Management -- Stock Option Plans."
    
 
     Prior to the Offering, there has been no public market for the Common Stock
and no predictions can be made of the effect, if any, that the sale or
availability for sale of shares of additional Common Stock will have on the
market price of the Common Stock. Nevertheless, sales of substantial amounts of
such shares in the public market, or the perception that such sales could occur,
could materially and adversely affect the market price of the Common Stock and
could impair the Company's future ability to raise capital through an offering
of its equity securities.
 
                                       45
<PAGE>   47
 
                                  UNDERWRITING
 
     The Underwriters named below (the "Underwriters"), for whom Prudential
Securities Incorporated and Oppenheimer & Co., Inc. are acting as
Representatives, have severally agreed, subject to the terms and conditions
contained in the Underwriting Agreement, to purchase from the Company and the
Selling Shareholders, the number of shares of Common Stock set forth below
opposite their respective names:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                               NUMBER
                        UNDERWRITERS                          OF SHARES
                        ------------                          ---------
<S>                                                           <C>
Prudential Securities Incorporated..........................
Oppenheimer & Co., Inc......................................
 
                                                              ---------
          Total.............................................  4,000,000
                                                              =========
</TABLE>
 
     The Company and the Selling Shareholders are obligated to sell, and the
Underwriters are obligated to purchase, all of the shares of Common Stock
offered hereby if any are purchased.
 
     The Underwriters, through the Representatives, have advised the Company and
the Selling Shareholders that they propose to offer the shares of Common Stock
initially at the public offering price set forth on the cover page of this
Prospectus; that the Underwriters may allow to selected dealers a concession of
$          per share; and that such dealers may reallow a concession of
$          per share to certain other dealers. After the initial public
offering, the offering price and the concessions may be changed by the
Representatives.
 
     The Selling Shareholders have granted to the Underwriters options,
exercisable for 30 days from the date of this Prospectus, to purchase up to
600,000 additional shares of Common Stock at the initial public offering price
less underwriting discounts and commissions, as set forth on the cover page of
this Prospectus. The Underwriters may exercise such options solely for the
purpose of covering over-allotments incurred in the sale of the shares of Common
Stock offered hereby. To the extent such options to purchase are exercised, each
Underwriter will become obligated, subject to certain conditions, to purchase
approximately the same percentage of such additional shares as the number of
shares set forth opposite each Underwriters' name in the preceding table bears
to 4,000,000.
 
     The Company, its executive officers and directors, and the Selling
Shareholders have agreed that they will not, without the prior written consent
of Prudential Securities Incorporated, on behalf of the Underwriters, directly
or indirectly, offer, sell, offer to sell, contract to sell, pledge, grant any
option to purchase, or otherwise dispose of or transfer (or announce any offer,
sale, offer of sale, contract of sale, pledge, grant of any option to purchase
or other disposition or transfer of) any shares of Common Stock or any other
securities convertible into, or exercisable for shares of Common Stock or other
similar securities of the Company, currently beneficially owned or hereafter
acquired by such persons, for a period of 180 days after the date of this
Prospectus. Prudential Securities Incorporated may, in its sole discretion, at
any time and without prior notice, release all or any portion of the shares of
Common Stock subject to such agreements.
 
     The Company and the Selling Shareholders have agreed to indemnify the
several Underwriters or to contribute to losses arising out of certain
liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.
 
     In connection with the Offering, certain Underwriters and selling group
members (if any) and their respective affiliates may engage in transactions that
stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the market price of the Common Stock.
Such transactions may include stabilization transactions effected in accordance
with Rule 104 of Regulation M promulgated by the Securities and Exchange
Commission, pursuant to which such
 
                                       46
<PAGE>   48
 
persons may bid for or purchase Common Stock for the purpose of stabilizing its
market price. The Underwriters also may create a short position for the account
of the Underwriters by selling more Common Stock in connection with the Offering
than they are committed to purchase from the Company, and in such case may
purchase Common Stock in the open market following the closing of the Offering
to cover all or a portion of such short position. The Underwriters may also
cover all or a portion of such short position, up to 600,000 shares of Common
Stock, by exercising the Underwriters' over-allotment options referred to above.
In addition, Prudential Securities Incorporated, on behalf of the Underwriters,
may impose "penalty bids" under contractual arrangements with the Underwriters
whereby it may reclaim from an Underwriter (or selling group member
participating in the Offering) for the account of the other Underwriters, the
selling concession with respect to Common Stock that is distributed in the
Offering but subsequently purchased for the account of the Underwriters in the
open market. Any of the transactions described in this paragraph may result in
the maintenance of the price of the Common Stock at a level above that which
might otherwise prevail in the open market. None of the transactions described
in this paragraph is required, and, if they are undertaken, they may be
discontinued at any time.
 
     The Representatives have informed the Company that the Underwriters do not
intend to confirm sales to any accounts over which they exercise discretionary
authority.
 
     Prior to the Offering, there has been no public market for the Common Stock
of the Company. Consequently, the initial public offering price for the Common
Stock will be determined through negotiation among the Company, the Selling
Shareholders and the Representatives of the Underwriters. Among the factors to
be considered in making such determination will be the prevailing market
conditions, the results of operations of the Company in recent periods relevant
to its prospects and the prospects for its industry in general, the management
of the Company and the market prices of securities for companies in businesses
similar to that of the Company.
 
                                 LEGAL MATTERS
 
     The validity of the issuance of the shares of Common Stock offered hereby
by the Company will be passed upon for the Company by Foley & Lardner, Tampa,
Florida. Certain legal matters in connection with the sale of the Common Stock
offered hereby will be passed upon for the Selling Shareholders by Winthrop,
Stimson, Putnam & Roberts, New York, New York, and for the Underwriters by
Alston & Bird LLP, Atlanta, Georgia.
 
                                    EXPERTS
 
   
     The consolidated financial statements of Tropical Sportswear Int'l
Corporation at June 28, 1997, September 28, 1996 and September 30, 1995, and for
the thirty-nine weeks ended June 28, 1997 and each of the three years in the
period ended September 28, 1996, appearing in this Prospectus and Registration
Statement have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent certified public
accountants, as set forth in their report thereon appearing elsewhere herein,
and are included in reliance upon such report given upon the authority of such
firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
    
 
                                       47
<PAGE>   49
 
                             AVAILABLE INFORMATION
 
     The Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"Commission") a Registration Statement (of which this Prospectus is a part)
under the Securities Act with respect to the securities offered hereby. This
Prospectus does not contain all the information set forth in the Registration
Statement, certain portions of which have been omitted as permitted by the rules
and regulations of the Commission. Statements contained in the Prospectus as to
the contents of any contract or other document are not necessarily complete, and
in each instance reference is made to the copy of such contract or other
document filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, each such statement
being qualified in all respects by such reference and the exhibits and schedules
thereto. For further information regarding the Company and the Common Stock
offered hereby, reference is hereby made to the Registration Statement and such
exhibits and schedules which may be obtained from the Commission at the public
reference facilities maintained by the Commission at 450 Fifth Street, N.W.,
Washington, D.C. 20549, at prescribed rates. The Commission also maintains a web
site that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other
information regarding registrants, including the Company, that file
electronically with the Commission. The address of such web site is
http://www.sec.gov.
 
                                       48
<PAGE>   50
 
                   INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                              PAGE
                                                              ----
<S>                                                           <C>
Report of Independent Certified Public Accountants..........  F-2
Consolidated Balance Sheets.................................  F-3
Consolidated Statements of Income...........................  F-4
Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity.............  F-5
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.......................  F-6
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements..................  F-7
</TABLE>
 
                                       F-1
<PAGE>   51
 
               REPORT OF INDEPENDENT CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
 
The Board of Directors
Tropical Sportswear Int'l Corporation
 
   
     We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Tropical
Sportswear Int'l Corporation as of September 30, 1995, September 28, 1996, and
June 28, 1997 and the related consolidated statements of income, shareholders'
equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended September
28, 1996 and for the thirty-nine weeks ended June 28, 1997. These financial
statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our
responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on
our audits.
    
 
     We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes
assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by
management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.
We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
 
   
     In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly,
in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of Tropical
Sportswear Int'l Corporation at September 30, 1995, September 28, 1996, and June
28, 1997 and the consolidated results of its operations and its cash flows for
each of the three years in the period ended September 28, 1996 and for the
thirty-nine weeks ended June 28, 1997, in conformity with generally accepted
accounting principles.
    
 
                                          ERNST & YOUNG LLP
 
Tampa, Florida
   
August 15, 1997,
except as to the third paragraph of Note 13, as to which the date is October   ,
1997
    
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
     The foregoing report is in the form that will be signed upon the completion
of the restatement of capital accounts described in Note 13 to the financial
statements.
 
                                                     /s/  ERNST & YOUNG LLP
                                          --------------------------------------
 
Tampa, Florida
   
September 29, 1997
    
 
                                       F-2
<PAGE>   52
 
                     TROPICAL SPORTSWEAR INT'L CORPORATION
 
                          CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
               (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT SHARE AND PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                               UNAUDITED
                                                                                               PRO FORMA
                                                   SEPTEMBER 30,   SEPTEMBER 28,   JUNE 28,    JUNE 28,
                                                       1995            1996          1997        1997
                                                   -------------   -------------   --------   -----------
<S>                                                <C>             <C>             <C>        <C>
                                                 ASSETS
Current assets:
  Cash...........................................     $    68         $   261       $   502
  Accounts receivable............................      20,901          20,197        28,294
  Inventories....................................      22,434          23,282        19,546
  Deferred income taxes..........................       1,498           1,816         1,708
  Prepaid income taxes...........................       1,167             269            --
  Prepaid expenses...............................         186             163           564
                                                      -------         -------       -------
          Total current assets...................      46,254          45,988        50,614
Property and equipment...........................      11,004          20,145        24,606
  Less accumulated depreciation and
     amortization................................       2,691           3,475         4,424
                                                      -------         -------       -------
                                                        8,313          16,670        20,182
Other assets.....................................         252             350           219
Excess of cost over fair value of net assets of
  acquired subsidiary, less accumulated
  amortization of $57, $68 and $78 at September
  30, 1995, September 28, 1996 and June 28, 1997,
  respectively...................................         418             407           397
                                                      -------         -------       -------
          Total assets...........................     $55,237         $63,415       $71,412
                                                      =======         =======       =======
                                  LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities:
  Accounts payable...............................     $10,086         $13,949       $10,169
  Accrued expenses...............................       1,654           1,581         2,549
  Accrued incentive compensation.................         789           2,365         1,852
  Income taxes payable...........................          --              --           629
  Current installments of long-term debt.........       1,573           2,155           986
  Current installments of obligations under
     capital leases..............................         497             455           525
                                                      -------         -------       -------
          Total current liabilities..............      14,599          20,505        16,710
Long-term debt...................................      26,231          23,676        28,999
Obligations under capital leases.................         944             486           741
Deferred income taxes............................         252             366           413
Commitments and contingencies
Shareholders' equity:
  Preferred stock, $.01 par value; 10,000,000
     shares authorized; 38,630 shares issued and
     outstanding.................................       3,863           3,863         3,863          --
  Common stock, $.01 par value; 50,000,000 shares
     authorized; 6,000,000 shares issued and
     outstanding.................................          60              60            60          60
  Retained earnings..............................       9,288          14,459        20,626      20,626
                                                      -------         -------       -------     -------
          Total shareholders' equity.............      13,211          18,382        24,549     $20,686
                                                      -------         -------       -------     =======
          Total liabilities and shareholders'
            equity...............................     $55,237         $63,415       $71,412
                                                      =======         =======       =======
</TABLE>
    
 
                            See accompanying notes.
 
                                       F-3
<PAGE>   53
 
                     TROPICAL SPORTSWEAR INT'L CORPORATION
 
                       CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
               (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT SHARE AND PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                        YEAR ENDED                   THIRTY-NINE WEEKS ENDED
                                        ------------------------------------------   -----------------------
                                        OCTOBER 1,   SEPTEMBER 30,   SEPTEMBER 28,    JUNE 29,     JUNE 28,
                                           1994          1995            1996           1996         1997
                                        ----------   -------------   -------------   ----------   ----------
                                                                                     (UNAUDITED)
<S>                                     <C>          <C>             <C>             <C>          <C>
Net sales.............................  $ 100,359      $ 110,064       $ 117,355      $  86,593    $ 115,608
Cost of goods sold....................     75,677         87,858          91,132         67,967       88,327
                                        ---------      ---------       ---------      ---------    ---------
Gross profit..........................     24,682         22,206          26,223         18,626       27,281
Selling, general and administrative
  expenses............................     14,291         15,060          15,189         10,754       14,745
                                        ---------      ---------       ---------      ---------    ---------
Operating income......................     10,391          7,146          11,034          7,872       12,536
Other (income) expense:
  Interest expense....................      2,115          3,160           2,498          1,880        2,263
  Factoring expense...................        668            708             373            409          589
  Other, net..........................       (983)           293             247            224           (1)
                                        ---------      ---------       ---------      ---------    ---------
                                            1,800          4,161           3,118          2,513        2,851
                                        ---------      ---------       ---------      ---------    ---------
Income before income taxes............      8,591          2,985           7,916          5,359        9,685
Provision for income taxes............      3,613            825           2,745          1,832        3,518
                                        ---------      ---------       ---------      ---------    ---------
Net income............................  $   4,978      $   2,160       $   5,171      $   3,527    $   6,167
                                        =========      =========       =========      =========    =========
Net income per common share...........  $    0.83      $    0.36       $    0.86      $    0.59    $    1.03
                                        =========      =========       =========      =========    =========
Weighted average number of shares used
  in the calculation..................  6,015,000      6,015,000       6,015,000      6,015,000    6,015,000
                                        =========      =========       =========      =========    =========
</TABLE>
 
                            See accompanying notes.
 
                                       F-4
<PAGE>   54
 
                     TROPICAL SPORTSWEAR INT'L CORPORATION
 
                CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
                                 (IN THOUSANDS)
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                 PREFERRED STOCK    COMMON STOCK
                                                 ---------------   ---------------   RETAINED
                                                 SHARES   AMOUNT   SHARES   AMOUNT   EARNINGS    TOTAL
                                                 ------   ------   ------   ------   --------   -------
<S>                                              <C>      <C>      <C>      <C>      <C>        <C>
Balance at October 2, 1993.....................    39     $3,863   6,000     $60     $ 2,150    $ 6,073
          Net income...........................    --         --      --      --       4,978      4,978
                                                   --     ------   -----     ---     -------    -------
Balance at October 1, 1994.....................    39      3,863   6,000      60       7,128     11,051
          Net income...........................    --         --      --      --       2,160      2,160
                                                   --     ------   -----     ---     -------    -------
Balance at September 30, 1995..................    39      3,863   6,000      60       9,288     13,211
          Net income...........................    --         --      --      --       5,171      5,171
                                                   --     ------   -----     ---     -------    -------
Balance at September 28, 1996..................    39      3,863   6,000      60      14,459     18,382
          Net income...........................    --         --      --      --       6,167      6,167
                                                   --     ------   -----     ---     -------    -------
Balance at June 28, 1997.......................    39     $3,863   6,000     $60     $20,626    $24,549
                                                   ==     ======   =====     ===     =======    =======
</TABLE>
    
 
                            See accompanying notes.
 
                                       F-5
<PAGE>   55
 
                     TROPICAL SPORTSWEAR INT'L CORPORATION
 
                     CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
                                 (IN THOUSANDS)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                      YEAR ENDED                   THIRTY-NINE WEEKS ENDED
                                      ------------------------------------------   ------------------------
                                      OCTOBER 1,   SEPTEMBER 30,   SEPTEMBER 28,     JUNE 29,     JUNE 28,
                                         1994          1995            1996            1996         1997
                                      ----------   -------------   -------------   ------------   ---------
                                                                                   (UNAUDITED)
<S>                                   <C>          <C>             <C>             <C>            <C>
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net income..........................   $ 4,978        $ 2,160        $  5,171         $ 3,527      $ 6,167
Adjustments to reconcile net income
  to net cash provided (used) by
  operating activities:
  Gain on settlement of purchase
     price..........................    (1,863)            --              --              --           --
  Loss on disposal of property and
     equipment......................        13            215             152             152           47
  Depreciation and amortization.....       953          1,226           1,431           1,027        1,541
  Provision for doubtful accounts...        --             --              --              --          331
  Deferred income taxes.............      (229)           327            (204)           (153)         155
  Changes in operating assets and
     liabilities:
     (Increase) decrease in assets:
       Accounts receivable..........      (882)        (3,396)            704          (3,592)      (8,428)
       Inventories..................    (3,549)         1,060            (848)          4,806        3,736
       Prepaid income taxes.........        --         (1,167)            898           1,235          269
       Prepaid expenses and other
          assets....................      (324)            94            (119)         (1,002)        (296)
     Increase (decrease) in
       liabilities:
       Accounts payable.............     4,621         (4,476)          3,863           1,813       (3,780)
       Accrued expenses.............      (157)           689             (73)             63          968
       Accrued incentive
          compensation..............       709           (758)          1,576             642         (513)
       Income taxes payable.........       335           (732)             --              --          629
                                       -------        -------        --------         -------      -------
Net cash provided (used) by
  operating activities..............     4,605         (4,758)         12,551           8,518          826
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Capital expenditures................    (5,089)        (1,467)        (10,119)         (7,894)      (4,407)
Proceeds from sale of property and
  equipment.........................        19             39             234             234            9
                                       -------        -------        --------         -------      -------
Net cash used by investing
  activities........................    (5,070)        (1,428)         (9,885)         (7,660)      (4,398)
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Proceeds of long-term debt..........     3,104            803           7,330           6,964        4,246
Principal payments of long-term
  debt..............................      (394)        (1,750)         (1,628)         (1,147)      (2,860)
Principal payments of capital
  leases............................      (272)          (540)           (500)           (394)        (341)
Net proceeds from (repayment of)
  long-term revolving credit line
  borrowings........................    (1,897)         7,333          (7,675)         (6,217)       2,768
                                       -------        -------        --------         -------      -------
Net cash provided (used) by
  financing activities..............       541          5,846          (2,473)           (794)       3,813
                                       -------        -------        --------         -------      -------
Net increase (decrease) in cash.....        76           (340)            193              64          241
Cash at beginning of period.........       332            408              68              68          261
                                       -------        -------        --------         -------      -------
Cash at end of period...............   $   408        $    68        $    261         $   132      $   502
                                       =======        =======        ========         =======      =======
</TABLE>
 
                            See accompanying notes.
 
                                       F-6
<PAGE>   56
 
                     TROPICAL SPORTSWEAR INT'L CORPORATION
 
                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                    THREE YEARS ENDED SEPTEMBER 28, 1996 AND
   
                     THIRTY-NINE WEEKS ENDED JUNE 28, 1997
    
                                 (IN THOUSANDS)
 
1.  ORGANIZATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
 
PRINCIPLES OF CONSOLIDATION
 
     The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Tropical
Sportswear Int'l Corporation (the Company) and its wholly-owned subsidiary,
Apparel Network Corporation (see Note 13). All significant intercompany balances
and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
 
NATURE OF OPERATIONS
 
     The Company's principal line of business is the marketing, design,
manufacture and distribution of men's casual pants and shorts. The principal
markets for the Company include major retailers within the United States. The
Company subcontracts the assembly of substantially all of its products with
independent manufacturers in the Dominican Republic and Mexico and, at any point
in time, a majority of the Company's work-in-process inventory is located in
those countries.
 
INTERIM RESULTS
 
   
     The accompanying statements of income and cash flows for the thirty-nine
weeks ended June 29, 1996 are unaudited. In the opinion of management, these
statements have been prepared on the same basis as the annual financial
statements and include all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring
adjustments, necessary for the fair presentation of results of the interim
periods. The data disclosed in these notes to the consolidated financial
statements for those periods are also unaudited. Operating results for the
thirty-nine weeks ended June 28, 1997 are not necessarily indicative of the
results that may be expected for the entire fiscal year.
    
 
ACCOUNTING PERIOD
 
     The Company operates on a 52/53 week annual accounting period ending on the
Saturday nearest September 30th. Each of the years ended October 1, 1994,
September 30, 1995 and September 28, 1996 contains 52 weeks.
 
NET INCOME PER SHARE
 
     Net income per common share is computed by dividing net income by the
weighted average number of common and common equivalent shares outstanding. In
accordance with Securities and Exchange Commission Staff Accounting Bulletin No.
83, common equivalent shares issued by the Company at prices below the public
offering price during the period beginning one year prior to the filing date of
the initial public offering have been included in the calculation as if they
were outstanding for all periods prior to the offering.
 
     In February 1997, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement
of Financial Accounting Standards No. 128, Earnings Per Share (Statement 128).
The overall objective of Statement 128 is to simplify the calculation of
earnings per share (EPS) and achieve comparability with the recently issued
International Accounting Standard No. 33, Earnings Per Share. Statement 128 is
effective for both interim and annual financial statements for periods ending
after December 15, 1997. Earlier application is not permitted. Adoption of the
new standard will have no impact on the Company's EPS for the periods presented
herein.
 
                                       F-7
<PAGE>   57
 
                     TROPICAL SPORTSWEAR INT'L CORPORATION
 
           NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
 
   
PRO FORMA SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY (UNAUDITED)
    
 
   
     The Company's presentation of unaudited pro forma shareholders' equity at
June 28, 1997 reflects the effect of the redemption of all outstanding shares of
the Company's preferred stock, but does not give effect to the receipt of any
proceeds from the Company's initial public offering (Note 13).
    
 
REVENUE RECOGNITION
 
   
     Based on its terms of F.O.B. shipping point, the Company records sales upon
the shipment of finished product to the customer.
    
 
INVENTORIES
 
     Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market. Cost is determined
using the first-in, first-out method.
 
     The Company records provisions for markdowns and losses on excess and
slow-moving inventory to the extent the cost of inventory exceeds estimated net
realizable value.
 
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT
 
     Property and equipment are stated at cost. The Company primarily uses
straight-line depreciation methods over periods that approximate the assets'
estimated useful lives.
 
EXCESS OF COST OVER FAIR VALUE OF NET ASSETS OF ACQUIRED SUBSIDIARY
 
     The excess of cost over fair value of net assets of the acquired subsidiary
is amortized on the straight-line basis over a period of 40 years.
 
USE OF ESTIMATES
 
     The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally
accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and
assumptions that affect the reported amount of assets and liabilities and
disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial
statements and the reported amount of revenues and expenses during the reporting
period. Actual results could differ from the estimates.
 
FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
 
     The Company's financial instruments include cash, accounts receivable,
accounts payable, long-term debt and obligations under capital leases. The
carrying amount of these financial instruments approximate their fair value.
 
STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
 
     Supplemental cash flow information:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                   THIRTY-NINE
                                                        YEAR ENDED                 WEEKS ENDED
                                               -----------------------------   -------------------
                                               SEPTEMBER 30,   SEPTEMBER 28,   JUNE 29,   JUNE 28,
                                                   1995            1996          1996       1997
                                               -------------   -------------   --------   --------
<S>                                            <C>             <C>             <C>        <C>
Cash paid for:
  Interest...................................     $3,160          $2,439        $1,806     $2,263
  Income taxes...............................      2,373           2,051           770      2,462
</TABLE>
 
                                       F-8
<PAGE>   58
 
                     TROPICAL SPORTSWEAR INT'L CORPORATION
 
           NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
 
     Supplemental disclosure of noncash investing and financing activities:
 
          Capital lease obligations of $1,141, $349 and $666 were incurred when
     the Company entered into leases for new equipment in the years ended
     October 1, 1994, September 30, 1995 and the thirty-nine weeks ended June
     28, 1997, respectively.
 
          During the year ended October 1, 1994, the Company incurred debt to
     refinance factor advances of $13,004, and to repay acquisition debt of $181
     and notes payable to $2,200.
 
          In fiscal 1994, the settlement relating to the purchase of the Company
     (Note 2) resulted in a gain of $1,863 comprised of a reduction in the
     original purchase price of $1,730 and a $133 reduction in deferred
     compensation.
 
IMPAIRMENT OF LONG-LIVED ASSETS
 
     In March 1995, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued SFAS No.
121, Accounting for the Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and for Long-Lived
Assets to be Disposed Of (SFAS 121). This pronouncement requires impairment
losses to be recorded on long-lived assets used in operations when impairment
indicators are present and the undiscounted cash flows estimated to be generated
by those assets are less than the assets' carrying amount. The Company adopted
the provisions of SFAS 121 during fiscal 1996 with no impact on the financial
statements.
 
2.  SETTLEMENT OF ACQUISITION CONTINGENCIES
 
     On July 8, 1994, the Company entered into a settlement agreement in
resolution of all claims and differences arising out of the purchase of the
Company on November 15, 1989. Under the settlement agreement, the Company is no
longer obligated to pay deferred compensation of $133 and the original purchase
price was reduced by $1,730. The settlement of these contingencies resulted in a
net gain of $1,113 after deducting arbitration expenses and related professional
fees of $750. The net gain is included in other income for the year ended
October 1, 1994.
 
3.  ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE
 
     Accounts receivable consist of the following:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                      SEPTEMBER 30,   SEPTEMBER 28,   JUNE 28,
                                                          1995            1996          1997
                                                      -------------   -------------   --------
<S>                                                   <C>             <C>             <C>
Receivable from factor..............................     $20,429         $19,627      $28,025
Receivable from trade accounts......................         954           1,094        1,344
Reserve for returns and allowances and bad debts....        (482)           (524)      (1,075)
                                                         -------         -------      -------
                                                         $20,901         $20,197      $28,294
                                                         =======         =======      =======
</TABLE>
 
     On October 1, 1995, the Company entered into a factoring agreement whereby
substantially all of the Company's trade receivables are assigned on an ongoing
basis, without recourse, except for credit losses on the first .15% of amounts
factored. The factoring agreement is with a national company which, in
management's opinion, is highly creditworthy. The purchase price of each
receivable is the net face amount, less a factoring discount of .30%. Prior to
October 1, 1995, the Company factored its trade receivables without recourse and
under this agreement, the purchase price of each receivable was the net face
amount less a factoring discount of .65%.
 
                                       F-9
<PAGE>   59
 
                     TROPICAL SPORTSWEAR INT'L CORPORATION
 
           NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
 
4.  INVENTORIES
 
     Inventories consist of the following:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                      SEPTEMBER 30,   SEPTEMBER 28,   JUNE 28,
                                                          1995            1996          1997
                                                      -------------   -------------   --------
<S>                                                   <C>             <C>             <C>
Raw materials.......................................     $ 2,488         $ 2,399      $ 1,119
Work in process.....................................       6,467           5,946        6,306
Finished goods......................................      13,479          14,937       12,121
                                                         -------         -------      -------
                                                         $22,434         $23,282      $19,546
                                                         =======         =======      =======
</TABLE>
 
     The Company has made provisions for inventory loss of approximately $1,780,
$2,200 and $2,700 at September 30, 1995, September 28, 1996 and June 28, 1997,
respectively, to reflect a write down of excess and slow-moving inventory to net
realizable value.
 
5.  PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT
 
     Property and equipment consist of the following:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                             SEPTEMBER 30,   SEPTEMBER 28,   JUNE 28,    LIFE
                                                 1995            1996          1997     (YEARS)
                                             -------------   -------------   --------   -------
<S>                                          <C>             <C>             <C>        <C>
Land.......................................     $    --         $ 3,976      $ 3,976      --
Land improvements..........................          --               6        1,579      15
Building and improvements..................          --           6,243        9,208     39.5
Machinery and equipment....................       6,970           7,824        9,785       5
Leasehold improvement......................       4,034              64           58    15-39.5
Construction in progress...................          --           2,032           --      --
                                                -------         -------      -------
                                                $11,004         $20,145      $24,606
                                                =======         =======      =======
</TABLE>
 
     During the year ended September 28, 1996 and the thirty-nine weeks ended
June 28, 1997, the Company capitalized $71 and $72 of interest expense,
respectively.
 
6.  DEBT
 
     Long-term debt consists of the following:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                      SEPTEMBER 30,   SEPTEMBER 28,   JUNE 28,
                                                          1995            1996          1997
                                                      -------------   -------------   --------
<S>                                                   <C>             <C>             <C>
Note payable to former owners.......................     $ 2,208         $ 1,827      $    --
Revolving credit line...............................      22,822          15,147       17,915
Equipment loan facility.............................         737           1,557        2,220
Term note...........................................       2,000           1,000          250
Construction and term loan..........................          --           6,292        9,600
Other notes payable.................................          37               8           --
                                                         -------         -------      -------
                                                          27,804          25,831       29,985
Less current maturities.............................       1,573           2,155          986
                                                         -------         -------      -------
                                                         $26,231         $23,676      $28,999
                                                         =======         =======      =======
</TABLE>
 
     The note payable to former owners (the Acquisition Note) was issued on July
8, 1994 in conjunction with the settlement of the final purchase price to be
paid for the Company (Note 2). The Acquisition Note bears no interest and is,
therefore, recorded at its net present value using a discount rate of 9%. The
outstanding face
 
                                      F-10
<PAGE>   60
 
                     TROPICAL SPORTSWEAR INT'L CORPORATION
 
           NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
 
value amounted to $2,550 and $2,000 as of September 30, 1995 and September 28,
1996, respectively. The Acquisition Note was repaid on January 31, 1997.
 
     On September 28, 1994, the Company entered into a secured revolving credit
and term loan agreement (the Credit Agreement). The Credit Agreement, as
amended, consists of a $40,000 revolving credit line ($5,500 of which can be
utilized for letters of credit), a $3,000 term note and a $5,000 equipment loan
facility. The Credit Agreement expires on September 30, 1998, at which time any
outstanding balances become due. Borrowings under the revolving credit line are
limited to the lesser of $40,000 or qualifying accounts receivable and eligible
inventory. Available borrowings under the revolving credit line were
approximately $7,233 and $10,970 at September 28, 1996 and June 28, 1997,
respectively. The revolving credit line bears interest at a variable rate of
prime or LIBOR plus an applicable margin (8.75% and 8.0% at September 28, 1996
and June 28, 1997, respectively).
 
     The equipment loan facility is payable in monthly installments of $31 and
bears interest at a variable rate of prime or LIBOR plus an applicable margin
(9.25% and 8.46% at September 28, 1996 and June 28, 1997, respectively).
Available borrowings under the equipment loan facility were approximately $3,400
and $2,800 at September 28, 1996 and June 28, 1997, respectively.
 
     The term note is payable in monthly installments of $83 and bears interest
at prime plus an applicable margin (11.0% and 10.25% at September 28, 1996 and
June 28, 1997, respectively). No additional borrowings are available under the
term note.
 
     On May 7, 1996, the Company entered into a construction and term loan
agreement (the Loan Agreement). The Loan Agreement consists of a $9,600
construction loan, which is secured by a mortgage. The construction loan was
utilized to purchase the Company's previously leased operating facility and to
finance the construction of a new adjacent cutting facility. Interest is payable
monthly at prime plus an applicable margin (8.75% and 9.0% at September 28, 1996
and June 28, 1997, respectively). On July 18, 1997, the construction loan was
converted to a term loan which will mature on May 7, 2006. Principal and
interest at 8.88% are due monthly based on a 19-year amortization.
 
     The Company's debt agreements contain certain covenants, the most
restrictive of which are as follows: (i) maintenance of consolidated net worth
at specified levels, (ii) achievement of specified adjusted net earnings from
operations, (iii) maintenance of debt service coverage ratio at specified
levels, (iv) limitations on annual capital expenditures, (v) limitations on
liens, and (vi) prohibition of the payment of dividends. The Company is in
compliance with all such covenants. The Credit Agreement is secured by
substantially all of the assets of the Company.
 
     The scheduled maturities of long-term debt as of September 28, 1996 are as
follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FISCAL YEAR                                                   AMOUNT
- -----------                                                   -------
<S>                                                           <C>
1997........................................................  $ 2,155
1998........................................................   17,598
1999........................................................      145
2000........................................................      160
2001........................................................      175
Thereafter..................................................    5,598
</TABLE>
 
                                      F-11
<PAGE>   61
 
                     TROPICAL SPORTSWEAR INT'L CORPORATION
 
           NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
 
7.  LEASES
 
     The Company leases administrative facilities and certain equipment under
noncancelable leases.
 
     Future minimum lease payments under operating leases and the present value
of future minimum capital lease payments are:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                            AS OF                 AS OF
                                                     SEPTEMBER 28, 1996       JUNE 28, 1997
                                                     -------------------   -------------------
                                                     OPERATING   CAPITAL   OPERATING   CAPITAL
FISCAL YEAR                                           LEASES     LEASES     LEASES     LEASES
- -----------                                          ---------   -------   ---------   -------
<S>                                                  <C>         <C>       <C>         <C>
1997...............................................   $  439     $  527     $   96     $  135
1998...............................................      171        304        310        617
1999...............................................      129        226        239        375
2000...............................................      129         --        231        132
2001...............................................      129         --        192        132
Thereafter.........................................      333         --        350         63
                                                      ------     ------     ------     ------
          Total minimum lease payments.............   $1,330      1,057     $1,418      1,454
                                                      ======                ======
Less amount representing interest..................                 116                   188
                                                                 ------                ------
Present value of minimum capital lease payments....                 941                 1,266
Less current installments..........................                 455                   525
                                                                 ------                ------
                                                                 $  486                $  741
                                                                 ======                ======
</TABLE>
 
     The following summarizes the Company's assets under capital leases:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                      SEPTEMBER 30,   SEPTEMBER 28,   JUNE 28,
                                                          1995            1996          1997
                                                      -------------   -------------   --------
<S>                                                   <C>             <C>             <C>
Machinery and equipment.............................     $2,548          $2,253        $2,929
Accumulated amortization............................      1,026           1,242         1,473
</TABLE>
 
     Amortization of assets under capital leases has been included in
depreciation.
 
     Total rental expense for operating leases for the years ended October 1,
1994, September 30, 1995, September 28, 1996, and for the thirty-nine weeks
ended June 28, 1997 was approximately $1,118, $982, $859, and $368,
respectively.
 
8.  CLOSURE OF INTERNATIONAL SUBSIDIARY
 
     In September 1995, a decision was made to close the Company's international
subsidiary, Confecciones Siglo, S.A., and, at September 30, 1995, the Company
had accrued $500 for costs associated with the closing. These costs included
employee severance, relocation of certain equipment and estimated losses on
disposals of property and equipment. During fiscal 1996, the assets of the
subsidiary were liquidated.
 
                                      F-12
<PAGE>   62
 
                     TROPICAL SPORTSWEAR INT'L CORPORATION
 
           NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
 
9.  INCOME TAXES
 
     The provision for income taxes consists of the following:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                  YEAR ENDED                   THIRTY-NINE WEEKS ENDED
                                  ------------------------------------------   ------------------------
                                  OCTOBER 1,   SEPTEMBER 30,   SEPTEMBER 28,   JUNE 29,       JUNE 28,
                                     1994          1995            1996          1996           1997
                                  ----------   -------------   -------------   ---------      ---------
<S>                               <C>          <C>             <C>             <C>            <C>
Current:
  Federal.......................    $3,434        $  375          $2,713         $1,829         $3,094
  State.........................       408           123             236            156            269
                                    ------        ------          ------         ------         ------
                                     3,842           498           2,949          1,985          3,363
Deferred expense (benefit):
  Federal.......................      (190)          309            (188)          (141)           143
  State.........................       (39)           18             (16)           (12)            12
                                    ------        ------          ------         ------         ------
                                      (229)          327            (204)          (153)           155
                                    ------        ------          ------         ------         ------
                                    $3,613        $  825          $2,745         $1,832         $3,518
                                    ======        ======          ======         ======         ======
</TABLE>
 
     Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of temporary differences
between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting
purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes.
 
     A reconciliation of the difference between the effective income tax rate
and the statutory federal tax rate follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                  YEAR ENDED                   THIRTY-NINE WEEKS ENDED
                                  ------------------------------------------   ------------------------
                                  OCTOBER 1,   SEPTEMBER 30,   SEPTEMBER 28,   JUNE 29,       JUNE 28,
                                     1994          1995            1996          1996           1997
                                  ----------   -------------   -------------   ---------      ---------
<S>                               <C>          <C>             <C>             <C>            <C>
Income tax expense at federal
  statutory rate (34%)..........    $2,921        $1,015          $2,691         $1,822         $3,293
State income taxes, net of
  federal benefit...............       269            90             144            105            212
Losses of international
  subsidiary....................        26          (312)           (162)          (162)            --
Amortization of goodwill........         6             4              48             44             --
Arbitration settlement and
  expenses......................       379            --              --             --             --
Other items.....................        12            28              24             23             13
                                    ------        ------          ------         ------         ------
                                    $3,613        $  825          $2,745         $1,832         $3,518
                                    ======        ======          ======         ======         ======
</TABLE>
 
     In fiscal 1995 and 1996, as a result of closing the Company's international
subsidiary, the Company recorded tax benefits for losses of the international
subsidiary which were previously not deductible for income tax purposes.
 
                                      F-13
<PAGE>   63
 
                     TROPICAL SPORTSWEAR INT'L CORPORATION
 
           NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
 
     Significant components of the Company's deferred tax assets and liabilities
are as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                      SEPTEMBER 30,   SEPTEMBER 28,   JUNE 28,
                                                          1995            1996          1997
                                                      -------------   -------------   --------
<S>                                                   <C>             <C>             <C>
Deferred tax assets:
  Inventory related.................................     $1,057          $1,060        $1,148
  Accounts receivable related.......................        157             185           309
  Various accrued expenses..........................        327             599           270
Deferred tax liabilities:
  Depreciation......................................       (252)           (366)         (413)
  Other items.......................................        (43)            (28)          (19)
                                                         ------          ------        ------
Net deferred tax asset..............................     $1,246          $1,450        $1,295
                                                         ======          ======        ======
Classified as follows:
  Current asset.....................................     $1,498          $1,816        $1,708
  Noncurrent liability..............................       (252)           (366)         (413)
                                                         ------          ------        ------
                                                         $1,246          $1,450        $1,295
                                                         ======          ======        ======
</TABLE>
 
10.  SIGNIFICANT CUSTOMERS
 
     In fiscal 1994, the Company had three significant customers who
individually accounted for approximately 25%, 14% and 13% of sales. In fiscal
1995, four customers accounted for approximately 18%, 15%, 15% and 14% of sales.
In fiscal 1996, three customers accounted for approximately 26%, 17% and 14% of
sales.
 
11.  COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
 
     As of September 28, 1996 and June 28, 1997, the Company had approximately
$4,704 and $2,890, respectively, of outstanding letters of credit with various
expiration dates through August 1997.
 
     On March 21, 1997, Levi Strauss & Co. brought suit against the Company in
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. The complaint
alleges, among other things, that the Company's Flyers(TM) trademark and certain
trade dress used in the labeling and packaging of the Company's Flyers(TM) and
Bay to Bay(R) products infringe upon certain of plaintiff's proprietary
trademark and trade dress rights in violation of the federal Lanham Act and
California law. The complaint seeks injunctive relief, as well as treble damages
and attorneys' fees. Although the outcome of the litigation cannot be determined
at this time, the Company believes it has meritorious defenses to, and intends
to vigorously defend against, such allegations. Nevertheless, in an attempt to
limit the Company's liability, if any, with respect to such alleged
infringement, the Company has unilaterally altered the trademark and trade dress
which are the subject of this litigation.
 
     On July 3, 1997, Out-of-Mexico Apparel, Ltd. brought suit against the
Company in California Superior Court for, among other things, breach of
contract, breach of an implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, and
violation of the California Unfair Business Practices Act. The complaint alleges
that the Company entered into contracts for the manufacture of apparel with
certain manufacturers in contravention of a customer non-disclosure and
non-circumvention agreement between Out-of-Mexico Apparel, Ltd. and the Company.
The complaint seeks compensatory damages and prejudgment interest, punitive
damages and the costs of suit. Although the outcome of the litigation cannot be
determined at this time, the Company intends to vigorously defend against such
allegations.
 
     The Company is not involved in any other pending or threatened legal
proceedings which the Company believes could reasonably be expected to have a
material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial position or results
of operations.
 
                                      F-14
<PAGE>   64
 
                     TROPICAL SPORTSWEAR INT'L CORPORATION
 
           NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
 
12.  EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN
 
     The Company has established a 401(k) profit sharing plan under which all
employees are eligible to participate. Employee contributions are voluntary and
subject to Internal Revenue Service limitations. The Company matches, based on
annually determined factors, employee contributions provided the employee
completes 1,000 hours of service annually and is employed as of December 31 of
each plan year. For the years ended October 1, 1994, September 30, 1995 and
September 28, 1996, and for the thirty-nine weeks ended June 28, 1997, the
Company charged to expense $88, $86, $112, and $86, respectively, related to
this plan.
 
13.  SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
 
     The Board of Directors contemplates an initial public offering (the
Offering) of the Company's common stock. In connection with the Offering, the
Board formed a new corporation, Tropical Sportswear Int'l Corporation (the
Company). Outstanding common and preferred stock of the predecessor company,
Apparel International Group, Inc. (AIG), was exchanged for an equal amount of
common and preferred stock of the Company. Immediately preceding the closing of
the Offering, the subsidiaries of AIG, Tropical Acquisition Corporation and
Tropical Sportswear International Corporation, will be merged into the Company.
 
     The preferred stock of AIG had a par value of $100 per share. These shares
were exchanged for a special class of preferred stock which has a $.01 par value
and a $100 per share liquidation preference. These shares are expected to be
redeemed upon the closing of the Offering.
 
   
     Effective October   , 1997, the Board of Directors approved a change in the
Company's capital stock to authorize 50,000,000 shares of $.01 par value common
stock and 10,000,000 shares of $.01 par value preferred stock. At this time, the
Board also authorized a 6,000-for-1 stock split for holders of its common stock.
The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been restated to reflect
this change in capitalization.
    
 
     The Board of Directors has adopted two stock option plans, which are to
take effect upon the closing of the Offering. The Employee Stock Option Plan
(the Employee Plan) and the Non-Employee Director Stock Option Plan (the
Director Plan) reserve 700,000 shares of common stock for future issuance under
the plans. The per share exercise price of each stock option granted under the
plans will be equal to the quoted fair market value of the stock on the date of
grant. Under the Employee Plan, the Board has authorized that upon the closing
of the Offering, options to purchase 300,000 shares of common stock of the
Company at an exercise price equal to the Offering per share price will be
granted to key employees. Under the Director Plan, options to purchase 60,000
shares of common stock of the Company at an exercise price equal to the Offering
per share price will be granted upon the effectiveness of the registration
statement relating to the Offering to non-employee directors.
 
     In December 1996 and January 1997, the Board of Directors granted to key
members of management nonqualified options to purchase 60,000 shares of common
stock of the Company at an exercise price of $10.50 per share, its estimated
fair value at the date of grant. The options vest and become exercisable over a
three-year period.
 
                                      F-15
<PAGE>   65
 
======================================================
 
NO DEALER, SALESPERSON OR OTHER PERSON HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO GIVE ANY
INFORMATION OR TO MAKE ANY REPRESENTATIONS OTHER THAN THOSE CONTAINED IN THIS
PROSPECTUS IN CONNECTION WITH THE OFFER MADE BY THIS PROSPECTUS, AND, IF GIVEN
OR MADE, SUCH INFORMATION AND REPRESENTATIONS MUST NOT BE RELIED UPON AS HAVING
BEEN AUTHORIZED BY THE COMPANY, THE SELLING SHAREHOLDERS OR ANY OF THE
UNDERWRITERS. THIS PROSPECTUS DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR THE
SOLICITATION OF ANY OFFER TO BUY ANY SECURITY OTHER THAN THE SHARES OF COMMON
STOCK OFFERED BY THIS PROSPECTUS, NOR DOES IT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR A
SOLICITATION OF ANY OFFER TO BUY THE SHARES OF COMMON STOCK BY ANYONE IN ANY
JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH OFFER OR SOLICITATION IS NOT AUTHORIZED, OR IN WHICH
THE PERSON MAKING SUCH OFFER OR SOLICITATION IS NOT QUALIFIED TO DO SO, OR TO
ANY PERSON TO WHOM IT IS UNLAWFUL TO MAKE SUCH AN OFFER OR SOLICITATION. NEITHER
THE DELIVERY OF THIS PROSPECTUS NOR ANY SALE MADE HEREUNDER SHALL, UNDER ANY
CIRCUMSTANCES, CREATE ANY IMPLICATION THAT THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS
CORRECT AS OF ANY TIME SUBSEQUENT TO THE DATE HEREOF.
 
UNTIL            , 1997, ALL DEALERS EFFECTING TRANSACTIONS IN THE REGISTERED
SECURITIES, WHETHER OR NOT PARTICIPATING IN THIS DISTRIBUTION, MAY BE REQUIRED
TO DELIVER A PROSPECTUS. THIS IS IN ADDITION TO THE OBLIGATION OF DEALERS TO
DELIVER A PROSPECTUS WHEN ACTING AS UNDERWRITERS AND WITH RESPECT TO THEIR
UNSOLD ALLOTMENTS OR SUBSCRIPTIONS.
 
                             ---------------------
 
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                            PAGE
                                            ----
<S>                                         <C>
Prospectus Summary........................    3
Risk Factors..............................    6
Use of Proceeds...........................   12
Dividend Policy...........................   12
Capitalization............................   13
Dilution..................................   14
Selected Consolidated Financial Data......   15
Management's Discussion and Analysis of
  Financial Condition and Results of
    Operations............................   16
Business..................................   23
Management................................   35
Principal and Selling Shareholders........   41
Certain Transactions......................   42
Description of Capital Stock..............   42
Shares Eligible for Future Sale...........   45
Underwriting..............................   46
Legal Matters.............................   47
Experts...................................   47
Available Information.....................   48
Index to Consolidated Financial
  Statements..............................  F-1
</TABLE>
    
 
             ======================================================
             ======================================================
 
   
                                4,000,000 Shares
    
 
                           [TROPICAL SPORTSWEAR LOGO]
 
                                  Common Stock
 
                             ---------------------
                                   PROSPECTUS
                             ---------------------
                       PRUDENTIAL SECURITIES INCORPORATED
 
                            OPPENHEIMER & CO., INC.
 
   
                                October   , 1997
    
 
             ======================================================
<PAGE>   66
 
                                    PART II
 
                     INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
 
ITEM 13.  OTHER EXPENSES OF INSURANCE AND DISTRIBUTION.
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                                           <C>
Securities and Exchange Commission filing fee...............  $ 21,213.00
NASD filing fee.............................................     7,500.00
Nasdaq listing fee..........................................    25,000.00
Transfer agent expenses and fees............................     2,500.00
Printing and engraving......................................   100,000.00
Accountants' fees and expenses..............................   200,000.00
Legal fees and expenses.....................................   440,000.00
Miscellaneous...............................................     3,787.00
                                                              -----------
          Total.............................................  $800,000.00
                                                              ===========
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------
 
* All of the above fees, costs and expenses above will be paid by the Company
  and the Selling Shareholders in proportion to the respective number of shares
  being offered and sold hereby. Other than the SEC filing fee and NASD filing
  fee, all fees and expenses are estimated.
 
ITEM 14.  INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.
 
     The Florida Business Corporation Act (the "Florida Act") permits a Florida
corporation to indemnify a present or former director or officer of the
corporation (and certain other persons serving at the request of the corporation
in related capacities) for liabilities, including legal expenses, arising by
reason of service in such capacity if such person shall have acted in good faith
and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best
interests of the corporation, and in any criminal proceeding if such person had
no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful. However, in the case of
actions brought by or in the right of the corporation, no indemnification may be
made with respect to any matter as to which such director or officer shall have
been adjudged liable, except in certain limited circumstances.
 
     The Company's Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws provide that the Company
shall indemnify directors and executive officers to the fullest extent now or
hereafter permitted by the Florida Act. In addition, the Company may enter into
Indemnification Agreements with its directors and executive officers in which
the Company agrees to indemnify such persons to the fullest extent now or
hereafter permitted by the Florida Act.
 
     The indemnification provided by the Florida Business Corporation Act and
the Company's Bylaws is not exclusive of any other rights to which a director or
officer may be entitled. The general effect of the foregoing provisions may be
to reduce the circumstances in which an officer or director may be required to
bear the economic burden of the foregoing liabilities and expense.
 
     The Company may obtain a liability insurance policy for its directors and
officers as permitted by the Florida Act which may extend to, among other
things, liability arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"Securities Act").
 
ITEM 15.  RECENT SALES OF UNREGISTERED SECURITIES.
 
   
     On August 12, 1997, the Company issued 100 shares of Common Stock, $1.00
par value, to Apparel International Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("AIG"),
in a transaction exempt under Section 4(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended. On August 22, 1997, AIG was merged with and into the Company as part of
a tax-free restructuring. Pursuant to such merger, holders of issued and
outstanding shares of common stock and preferred stock of AIG received an equal
number of shares of common stock and preferred stock, respectively, of the
Company. Prior to the completion of the Offering, the Company will merge two
wholly-owned subsidiaries, Tropical Acquisition Corporation, a Delaware
corporation, and Tropical Sportswear International Corporation, a Florida
corporation, with and into the Company.
    
 
                                      II-1
<PAGE>   67
 
ITEM 16.  EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES.
 
     (a) Exhibits.
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
EXHIBIT
NUMBER                           EXHIBIT DESCRIPTION
- -------                          -------------------
<C>     <C>  <S>
   1.1  --   Form of Underwriting Agreement.
   2.1  --   Agreement and Plan of Merger by Tropical Sportswear Int'l
             Corporation, as the Surviving Corporation, and Apparel
             International Group, Inc., as the Merging Corporation.*
   2.2  --   Agreement and Plan of Merger by Tropical Sportswear Int'l
             Corporation, as the Surviving Corporation, and Tropical
             Acquisition Corporation and Tropical Sportswear
             International Corporation, as the Merging Corporations.*
   3.1  --   Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of Tropical
             Sportswear Int'l Corporation.*
   3.2  --   Amended and Restated Bylaws of Tropical Sportswear Int'l
             Corporation.*
   4.1  --   Specimen certificate for the Common Stock of Tropical
             Sportswear Int'l Corporation.
   4.2  --   Shareholders' Agreement by and among Tropical Sportswear
             Int'l Corporation, William W. Compton, the Compton Family
             Limited Partnership, Michael Kagan, the Kagan Family Limited
             Partnership, Shakale Internacional, S.A. and Accel, S.A. de
             C.V.
   5.1  --   Opinion of Foley & Lardner.**
  10.1  --   Loan and Security Agreement, dated September 28, 1994,
             between Tropical Sportswear Int'l Corporation and Fleet
             Capital Corporation (Formerly Barclays Business Credit,
             Inc.).*
  10.2  --   Construction and Term Loan Agreement, dated as of May 7,
             1996, by and between Tropical Sportswear Int'l Corporation
             and SouthTrust Bank of Alabama, National Association, as
             amended.*
  10.3  --   Retail -- Domestic Collection Factoring Agreement, dated
             October 1, 1995, by and between Heller Financial, Inc. and
             Tropical Sportswear Int'l Corporation.*
  10.4  --   Employment Agreement between William W. Compton and Tropical
             Sportswear Int'l Corporation.*
  10.5  --   Employment Agreement between Michael Kagan and Tropical
             Sportswear Int'l Corporation.*
  10.6  --   Employment Agreement between Richard J. Domino and Tropical
             Sportswear Int'l Corporation.
  10.7  --   Tropical Sportswear Int'l Corporation Employee Stock Option
             Plan.*
  10.8  --   Tropical Sportswear Int'l Corporation Non-Employee Director
             Stock Option Plan.*
  10.9  --   1996 Apparel International Group, Inc. Stock Option Plan.*
  11.1  --   Statement re: computation of per share earnings.*
  21.1  --   List of subsidiaries of Tropical Sportswear Int'l
             Corporation.
  23.1  --   Consent of Foley & Lardner (included in Exhibit (5.1)).
  23.2  --   Consent of Ernst & Young LLP.
  24.1  --   Power of Attorney relating to subsequent amendments.*
  27.1  --   Financial Data Schedule for the year ended September 28,
             1996 (filed for SEC purposes only).*
  27.2  --   Financial Data Schedule for the thirty-nine weeks ended June
             28, 1997 (filed for SEC purposes only).*
</TABLE>
    
 
- ---------------
 
   
 * Previously filed.
    
   
** To be filed by amendment.
    
 
                                      II-2
<PAGE>   68
 
     (b) Financial Statement Schedules.
 
          Report of Independent Auditors
 
          Schedule II -- Valuation and Qualifying Accounts.
 
ITEM 17.  UNDERTAKINGS.
 
     The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to provide to the underwriters
at the closing specified in the underwriting agreement certificates in such
denominations and registered in such names as required by the underwriters to
permit prompt delivery to each purchaser.
 
     Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act
of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the
registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant
has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission
such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is,
therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against
such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred
or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the
successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such
director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being
registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter
has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate
jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public
policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of
such issue.
 
     The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that:
 
          (1) For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act
     of 1933, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part
     of this registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in
     a form of prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or
     (4) or 497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of this
     registration statement as of the time it was declared effective.
 
          (2) For the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities
     Act of 1933, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of
     prospectus shall be deemed a new registration statement relating to the
     securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that
     time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
 
                                      II-3
<PAGE>   69
 
                                   SIGNATURES
 
   
     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant
has duly caused this Amended Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf
by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Tampa, and State
of Florida, on this 30th day of September, 1997.
    
 
                                          TROPICAL SPORTSWEAR INT'L CORPORATION
 
                                          By:    /s/ WILLIAM W. COMPTON
                                            ------------------------------------
                                                     William W. Compton
                                                 Chairman of the Board and
                                                  Chief Executive Officer
 
   
     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Amended
Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.
    
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                     SIGNATURE                                  TITLE                      DATE
                     ---------                                  -----                      ----
<C>                                                  <S>                           <C>
              /s/ WILLIAM W. COMPTON                 Chairman of the Board, Chief  September 30th, 1997
- ---------------------------------------------------    Executive Officer and
                William W. Compton                     Director (Principal
                                                       Executive Officer)
 
                 /s/ MICHAEL KAGAN                   Executive Vice President,     September 30th, 1997
- ---------------------------------------------------    Chief Financial Officer,
                   Michael Kagan                       Treasurer, Secretary and
                                                       Director
 
                         *                           Director                      September 30th, 1997
- ---------------------------------------------------
              Eloy S. Vallina-Laguera
 
                         *                           Director                      September 30th, 1997
- ---------------------------------------------------
               Jesus Alvarez-Morodo
 
                         *                           Director                      September 30th, 1997
- ---------------------------------------------------
                 Leslie J. Gillock
 
                         *                           Director                      September 30th, 1997
- ---------------------------------------------------
               Donald H. Livingstone
 
                         *                           Director                      September 30th, 1997
- ---------------------------------------------------
                 Leon H. Reinhart
 
                         *                           Director                      September 30th, 1997
- ---------------------------------------------------
                    David Garza
 
              *By: /s/ MICHAEL KAGAN
   ---------------------------------------------
                   Michael Kagan
                 Attorney-In-Fact
</TABLE>
    
 
                                      II-4
<PAGE>   70
 
               REPORT OF INDEPENDENT CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
                                  ON SCHEDULE
 
   
     We have audited the consolidated financial statements of Tropical
Sportswear Int'l Corporation as of June 28, 1997, September 28, 1996 and
September 30, 1995 and for each of the three years in the period ended September
28, 1996 and for the thirty nine weeks ended June 28, 1997, and have issued our
report thereon dated August 15, 1997, except as to the third paragraph of Note
13 as to which the date is October   , 1997 (included elsewhere in this
Registration Statement). Our audits also included the financial statement
schedule listed in Item 16(b) of this Registration Statement. This schedule is
the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express
an opinion based on our audits.
    
 
     In our opinion, the financial statement schedule referred to above, when
considered in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole,
presents fairly in all material respects the information set forth therein.
 
                                          Ernst & Young LLP
 
Tampa, Florida
   
August 15, 1997
    
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
     The foregoing report is in the form that will be signed upon the completion
of the restatement of capital accounts described in Note 13 to the financial
statements.
 
                                          /s/ Ernst & Young LLP
 
Tampa, Florida
   
September 29, 1997
    
<PAGE>   71
 
                     TROPICAL SPORTSWEAR INT'L CORPORATION
 
                                  SCHEDULE II
                       VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS
                                 (IN THOUSANDS)
 
     Reserve for returns and allowances and bad debts:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                  ADDITIONS
                                                           -----------------------
                                              BALANCE AT   CHARGED TO   CHARGED TO                BALANCE AT
                                              BEGINNING    COSTS AND      OTHER                      END
                                              OF PERIOD     EXPENSES     ACCOUNTS    DEDUCTIONS   OF PERIOD
                                              ----------   ----------   ----------   ----------   ----------
<S>                                           <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>
Year ended:
  October 1, 1994...........................     $350        $  711          --        $  145        $916
                                                 ====        ======        ====        ======        ====
  September 30, 1995........................     $916        $3,061          --        $3,495        $482
                                                 ====        ======        ====        ======        ====
  September 28, 1996........................     $482        $3,022          --        $2,980        $524
                                                 ====        ======        ====        ======        ====
</TABLE>
 
     Reserve for Excess and Slow-Moving Inventory:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                  ADDITIONS
                                                           -----------------------
                                              BALANCE AT   CHARGED TO   CHARGED TO                BALANCE AT
                                              BEGINNING    COSTS AND      OTHER                      END
                                              OF PERIOD     EXPENSES     ACCOUNTS    DEDUCTIONS   OF PERIOD
                                              ----------   ----------   ----------   ----------   ----------
<S>                                           <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>
Year ended:
  October 1, 1994...........................    $  600       $1,341          --        $   --       $1,941
                                                ======       ======        ====        ======       ======
  September 30, 1995........................    $1,941       $  468          --        $  629       $1,780
                                                ======       ======        ====        ======       ======
  September 28, 1996........................    $1,780       $  798          --        $  378       $2,200
                                                ======       ======        ====        ======       ======
</TABLE>
<PAGE>   72
 
                                 EXHIBIT INDEX
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
EXHIBIT
NUMBER                           EXHIBIT DESCRIPTION
- -------                          -------------------
<C>     <C>  <S>
   1.1  --   Form of Underwriting Agreement.
   2.1  --   Agreement and Plan of Merger by Tropical Sportswear Int'l
             Corporation, as the Surviving Corporation, and Apparel
             International Group, Inc., as the Merging Corporation.*
   2.2  --   Agreement and Plan of Merger by Tropical Sportswear Int'l
             Corporation, as the Surviving Corporation, and Tropical
             Acquisition Corporation and Tropical Sportswear
             International Corporation, as the Merging Corporations.*
   3.1  --   Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of Tropical
             Sportswear Int'l Corporation.*
   3.2  --   Amended and Restated Bylaws of Tropical Sportswear Int'l
             Corporation.*
   4.1  --   Specimen certificate for the Common Stock of Tropical
             Sportswear Int'l Corporation.
   4.2  --   Shareholders' Agreement by and among Tropical Sportswear
             Int'l Corporation, William W. Compton, the Compton Family
             Limited Partnership, Michael Kagan, the Kagan Family Limited
             Partnership, Shakale Internacional, S.A. and Accel, S.A. de
             C.V.
   5.1  --   Opinion of Foley & Lardner.**
  10.1  --   Loan and Security Agreement, dated September 28, 1994, by
             and between Tropical Sportswear Int'l Corporation and Fleet
             Capital Corporation (formerly Barclays Business Credit,
             Inc.).*
  10.2  --   Construction and Term Loan Agreement, dated as of May 7,
             1996, by and between Tropical Sportswear Int'l Corporation
             and SouthTrust Bank of Alabama, National Association, as
             amended.*
  10.3  --   Retail-Domestic Collection Factoring Agreement, dated
             October 1, 1995, by and between Heller Financial, Inc. and
             Tropical Sportswear Int'l Corporation.*
  10.4  --   Employment Agreement between William W. Compton and Tropical
             Sportswear Int'l Corporation.*
  10.5  --   Employment Agreement between Michael Kagan and Tropical
             Sportswear Int'l Corporation.*
  10.6  --   Employment Agreement between Richard J. Domino and Tropical
             Sportswear Int'l Corporation.
  10.7  --   Tropical Sportswear Int'l Corporation Employee Stock Option
             Plan.*
  10.8  --   Tropical Sportswear Int'l Corporation Non-Employee Director
             Stock Option Plan.*
  10.9  --   1996 Apparel International Group, Inc. Stock Option Plan.*
  11.1  --   Statement re: computation of per share earnings.*
  21.1  --   List of subsidiaries of Tropical Sportswear Int'l
             Corporation.
  23.1  --   Consent of Foley & Lardner (included in Exhibit (5.1)).
  23.2  --   Consent of Ernst & Young LLP.
  24.1  --   Power of Attorney relating to subsequent amendments.*
  27.1  --   Financial Data Schedule for the year ended September 28,
             1996 (filed for SEC purposes only).*
  27.2  --   Financial Data Schedule for the thirty-nine weeks ended June
             28, 1997 (filed for SEC purposes only).*
</TABLE>
    
 
- ---------------
 
   
 * Previously filed.
    
   
** To be filed by amendment.
    
 
                                       S-1

<PAGE>   1
   
                                                                     EXHIBIT 1.1
    


         Tropical Sportswear Int'l Corporation

         4,000,000 Shares(1)

         Common Stock

   
                         FORM OF UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

         October ___, 1997
    

PRUDENTIAL SECURITIES INCORPORATED
OPPENHEIMER & CO., INC.
As Representatives of the several Underwriters
c/o Prudential Securities Incorporated
One New York Plaza
New York, New York 10292

Dear Sirs:

         Tropical Sportswear Int'l Corporation, a Florida corporation (the
"Company"), and the selling securityholders set forth on Schedule 2 hereto (the
"Selling Securityholders") hereby confirm their agreement with the several
underwriters named in Schedule 1 hereto (the "Underwriters"), for whom you have
been duly authorized to act as representatives (in such capacity, the
"Representatives"), as set forth below.

         1. Securities. Subject to the terms and conditions herein contained,
the Company proposes to issue and sell to the several Underwriters an aggregate
of 1,600,000 shares of the Company's Common Stock, par value $.01 per share
("Common Stock"), and the Selling Securityholders propose to sell to the several
Underwriters an aggregate of 2,400,000 shares of Common Stock; any and all of
such shares of Common Stock are hereinafter referred to as the "Firm
Securities." The Selling Securityholders also propose to sell to the several
Underwriters not more than 600,000 additional shares of Common Stock if
requested by the Representatives as provided in Section 3 of this Agreement. Any
and all shares of Common Stock to be purchased by the Underwriters









   (1)   Plus an option to purchase from the Selling Securityholders up to
         600,000 additional shares to cover over-allotments.
<PAGE>   2
pursuant to such option are referred to herein as the "Option Securities," and
the Firm Securities and any Option Securities are collectively referred to
herein as the "Securities."

         2. Representations and Warranties of the Company and the Selling
Securityholders.

         The Company represents and warrants to, and agrees with, each of the
several Underwriters that:

   
                  (a) A registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-33729)
with respect to the Securities, including a prospectus subject to completion,
has been filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"Commission") under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), and one
or more amendments to such registration statement may have been so filed. After
the execution of this Agreement, the Company will file with the Commission
either (i) if such registration statement, as it may have been amended, has been
declared by the Commission to be effective under the Act, either (A) if the
Company relies on Rule 434 under the Act, a Term Sheet (as hereinafter defined)
relating to the Securities, that shall identify the Preliminary Prospectus (as
hereinafter defined) that it supplements containing such information as is
required or permitted by Rules 434, 430A and 424(b) under the Act or (B) if the
Company does not rely on Rule 434 under the Act, a prospectus in the form most
recently included in an amendment to such registration statement (or, if no such
amendment shall have been filed, in such registration statement), with such
changes or insertions as are required by Rule 430A under the Act or permitted by
Rule 424(b) under the Act, and in the case of either clause (i)(A) or (i)(B) of
this sentence as have been provided to and approved by the Representatives prior
to the execution of this Agreement, or (ii) if such registration statement, as
it may have been amended, has not been declared by the Commission to be
effective under the Act, an amendment to such registration statement, including
a form of prospectus, a copy of which amendment has been furnished to and
approved by the Representatives prior to the execution of this Agreement. The
Company may also file a related registration statement with the Commission
pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Act for the purpose of registering certain
additional Securities, which registration shall be effective upon filing with
the Commission. As used in this Agreement, the term "Original Registration
Statement" means the registration statement initially filed relating to the
Securities, as amended at the time when it was or is declared effective,
including all financial schedules and exhibits thereto and including any
information omitted therefrom pursuant to Rule 430A under the Act and included
in the Prospectus (as hereinafter defined); the term "Rule 462(b) Registration
Statement" means any registration statement filed with the Commission pursuant
to Rule 462(b) under the Act (including the Registration Statement and any
Preliminary Prospectus or Prospectus incorporated therein at the time such
Registration Statement becomes effective); the term "Registration Statement"
includes both the Original Registration Statement and any Rule 462(b)
Registration Statement; the term "Preliminary Prospectus" means each prospectus
subject to completion filed with such registration statement or any amendment
thereto (including the prospectus subject to
    


                                      -2-
<PAGE>   3
completion, if any, included in the Registration Statement or any amendment
thereto at the time it was or is declared effective); the term "Prospectus"
means:

                  (A) if the Company relies on Rule 434 under the Act, the Term
         Sheet relating to the Securities that is first filed pursuant to Rule
         424(b)(7) under the Act, together with the Preliminary Prospectus
         identified therein that such Term Sheet supplements;

                  (B) if the Company does not rely on Rule 434 under the Act,
         the prospectus first filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b)
         under the Act; or

                  (C) if the Company does not rely on Rule 434 under the Act and
         if no prospectus is required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) under
         the Act, the prospectus included in the Registration Statement;

and the term "Term Sheet" means any term sheet that satisfies the requirements
of Rule 434 under the Act. Any reference herein to the "date" of a Prospectus
that includes a Term Sheet shall mean the date of such Term Sheet.

                  (b) The Commission has not issued any order preventing or
suspending use of any Preliminary Prospectus. When any Preliminary Prospectus
was filed with the Commission it (i) contained all statements required to be
stated therein in accordance with, and complied in all material respects with
the requirements of, the Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission
thereunder and (ii) did not include any untrue statement of a material fact or
omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements
therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading. When the Registration Statement or any amendment thereto was or is
declared effective, it (i) contained or will contain all statements required to
be stated therein in accordance with, and complied or will comply in all
material respects with the requirements of, the Act and the rules and
regulations of the Commission thereunder and (ii) did not or will not include
any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading. When the Prospectus or
any Term Sheet that is a part thereof or any amendment or supplement to the
Prospectus is filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) (or, if the
Prospectus or part thereof or such amendment or supplement is not required to be
so filed, when the Registration Statement or the amendment thereto containing
such amendment or supplement to the Prospectus was or is declared effective) and
on the Firm Closing Date and any Option Closing Date (both as hereinafter
defined), the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented at any such time, (i)
contained or will contain all statements required to be stated therein in
accordance with, and complied or will comply in all material respects with the
requirements of, the Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission
thereunder and (ii) did not or will not include any untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the
statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading. The foregoing


                                      -3-
<PAGE>   4
   
provisions of this paragraph (b) do not apply to statements or omissions made in
any Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement or any amendment thereto
or the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto in reliance upon and in
conformity with written information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of
any Underwriter through the Representatives specifically for use therein.
    

                  (c) If the Company has elected to rely on Rule 462(b) and the
Rule 462(b) Registration Statement has not been declared effective (i) the
Company has filed a Rule 462(b) Registration Statement in compliance with and
that is effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(b) and has received
confirmation of its receipt and (ii) the Company has given irrevocable
instructions for transmission of the applicable filing fee in connection with
the filing of the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, in compliance with Rule
111 promulgated under the Act or the Commission has received payment of such
filing fee.

   
                  (d) The Company has been incorporated and its status is active
under the laws of the State of Florida. The Company was organized under the
Florida Business Corporation Act ("FBCA").  The Company is duly qualified to
transact business as a foreign corporation and is in good standing under the
laws of all other jurisdictions where the ownership or leasing of its properties
or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, except where the
failure to be so qualified would not result in a material adverse change in the
condition (financial or otherwise), management, business prospects, net worth,
or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole
("Material Adverse Effect").

                  (e) The Company has full corporate power to own or lease its
properties and conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement
and the Prospectus or, if the Prospectus is not in existence, the most recent
Preliminary Prospectus; and the Company has full corporate power to enter into
this Agreement and to carry out all the terms and provisions hereof to be
carried out by it.

                  (f) The Company has an authorized, issued and outstanding
capitalization as set forth in the Prospectus or, if the Prospectus is not in
existence, the most recent Preliminary Prospectus. All of the issued and
outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company as set forth therein have
been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable.
The Firm Securities have been duly authorized and at the Firm Closing Date,
after payment therefor in accordance herewith, will be validly issued, fully
paid and nonassessable. No holders of outstanding shares of capital stock of the
Company are entitled as such to any preemptive or other rights to subscribe for
any of the Securities, and no holder of securities of the Company has any right
which has not been fully exercised or waived to require the Company to register
the offer or sale of any securities owned by such holder under the Act in the
public offering contemplated by this Agreement.

                  (g) The capital stock of the Company conforms to the
description thereof contained under the heading "Description of Capital Stock"
in the Prospectus or, if the Prospectus is not in existence, the most recent
Preliminary Prospectus.
    


                                      -4-
<PAGE>   5
                  (h) Except as disclosed in the Prospectus (or, if the
Prospectus is not in existence, the most recent Preliminary Prospectus), there
are no outstanding (A) securities or obligations of the Company convertible into
or exchangeable for any capital stock of the Company, (B) warrants, rights or
options to subscribe for or purchase from the Company any such capital stock or
any such convertible or exchangeable securities or obligations, or (C)
obligations of the Company to issue any shares of capital stock, any such
convertible or exchangeable securities or obligations, or any such warrants,
rights or options.

   
                  (i) The consolidated financial statements and schedule of the
Company included in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus (or, if the
Prospectus is not in existence, the most recent Preliminary Prospectus) fairly
present the financial position of the Company and the results of operations and
changes in financial condition as of the respective dates or for the respective
periods therein specified. Such financial statements and schedule have been
prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles
consistently applied throughout the periods involved (except as otherwise noted
therein). The selected financial data set forth under the caption "Selected
Consolidated Financial Data" in the Prospectus (or, if the Prospectus is not in
existence, the most recent Preliminary Prospectus) fairly present, on the basis
stated in the Prospectus (or such Preliminary Prospectus), the information
included therein.
    

                  (j) Ernst & Young LLP, who have certified certain financial
statements of the Company and delivered their report with respect to the audited
consolidated financial statements and schedule included in the Registration
Statement and the Prospectus (or, if the Prospectus is not in existence, the
most recent Preliminary Prospectus), are independent public accountants as
required by the Act and the applicable rules and regulations thereunder.

   
                  (k) The execution and delivery of this Agreement have been
duly authorized by the Company, and this Agreement has been duly executed and
delivered by the Company, and is the valid and binding agreement of the Company,
enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms except that the
validity, binding effect and enforceability of this Agreement may be limited by
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, or similar laws generally
affecting the rights of creditors and by general principals of equity, or the
availability of specific performance, injunctive relief, and other equitable
remedies, and except insofar as the indemnification and contribution obligations
hereof may be limited by applicable law.

                  (l) No legal or governmental proceedings are pending to which
the Company is a party or to which the property of the Company is subject that
are required to be described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus and
are not described therein (or, if the Prospectus is not in existence, the most
recent Preliminary Prospectus), and, to the Company's knowledge, no such
proceedings have been threatened against the Company or with respect to any of
its properties; and no contract or other document is required to be described in
the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or to be filed as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement that is not described therein (or, if the Prospectus is
not in existence, the most recent Preliminary Prospectus) or filed as required.
    


                                      -5-
<PAGE>   6
   
                  (m) The issuance, offering and sale of the Securities to the
Underwriters by the Company pursuant to this Agreement, the compliance by the
Company with the other provisions of this Agreement and the consummation of the
other transactions herein contemplated do not (i) require the consent, approval,
authorization, registration or qualification of or with any governmental
authority, except such as have been obtained, such as may be required under
state securities or blue sky laws or to clear the offering and the underwriting
arrangements with the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. ("NASD")
and, if the registration statement filed with respect to the Securities (as 
amended) is not effective under the Act as of the time of execution hereof, 
such as may be required (and shall be obtained as provided in this Agreement) 
under the Act or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the 
"Exchange Act"), or (ii) conflict with or result in a breach or violation of 
any of the terms and provisions of, or constitute a default under, any 
indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, lease or other agreement or instrument to 
which the Company is a party or by which the Company or any of its properties 
is bound, or the charter documents or by-laws of the Company, or any statute or 
any judgment, decree, order, rule or regulation of any court or other 
governmental authority or any arbitrator applicable to the Company, except 
where such conflict, breach, violation or default would not have a Material 
Adverse Effect.

                  (n) Subsequent to the respective dates as of which information
is given in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus or, if the Prospectus
is not in existence, the most recent Preliminary Prospectus, the Company has not
sustained any material loss or interference with its business or properties from
fire, flood, hurricane, accident or other calamity, whether or not covered by
insurance, or from any labor dispute or any legal or governmental proceeding and
there has not been any material adverse change, or, to the Company's knowledge,
any development involving a prospective material adverse change, in the
condition (financial or otherwise), management, business prospects, net worth,
or results of the operations of the Company, except in each case as described in
or contemplated by the Prospectus or, if the Prospectus is not in existence, the
most recent Preliminary Prospectus.

                  (o) The Company has not, directly or indirectly, (i) taken any
action designed to cause or to result in, or that has constituted or which might
reasonably be expected to constitute, the stabilization or manipulation of the
price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the
Securities or (ii) since the filing of the Registration Statement (A) sold, bid
for, purchased, or paid anyone any compensation for soliciting purchases of, the
Securities or (B) paid or agreed to pay to any person any compensation for
soliciting another to purchase any other securities of the Company (except for
the sale of Securities by the Company and the Selling Securityholders under this
Agreement).

                  (p) The Company has not distributed and, prior to the later of
(i) the Firm Closing Date and (ii) the completion of the distribution of the
Securities, will not distribute any offering material in connection with the
offering and sale of the Securities other than the Registration Statement or any
amendment thereto, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus or any amendment
or supplement thereto, or other materials, if any, permitted by the Act.
    


                                      -6-
<PAGE>   7
   
                  (q) The Company has good and marketable title to all property
(real and personal) owned by it, in each case free and clear of any security
interests, liens, encumbrances, equities, claims and other defects, except as
described in the Prospectus or such as do not materially and adversely affect
the value of such property and do not interfere with the use made or proposed to
be made of such property by the Company, and any real property and buildings
held under lease by the Company are held under valid, subsisting and enforceable
leases, except that the validity, binding effect and enforceability of any such
lease may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, or
similar laws generally affecting the rights of creditors and by general
principals of equity, or the availability of specific performance, injunctive
relief, and other equitable remedies, and with such exceptions as are not
material and do not interfere with the use made or proposed to be made of such
property and buildings by the Company, in each case except as described in or
contemplated by the Prospectus (or, if the Prospectus is not in existence, the
most recent Preliminary Prospectus).
    

                  (r) No labor dispute with the employees of the Company or with
the employees of any of the Company's contract manufacturers exists or is
threatened or imminent that could result in a material adverse change in the
condition (financial or otherwise), business prospects, net worth or results of
operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, except as described in or
contemplated by the Prospectus (or, if the Prospectus is not in existence, the
most recent Preliminary Prospectus).

   
                  (s) The Company owns, possesses, or has the right to use, or
can acquire ownership, possession or the right to use on reasonable terms, all
material patents, patent applications, trademarks, service marks, trade names,
licenses, copyrights and proprietary or other confidential information currently
employed by it in connection with its business, and the Company has not received
any notice of infringement of or conflict with asserted rights of any third
party with respect to any of the foregoing which, singly or in the aggregate, if
the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would result in a
material adverse change in the condition (financial or otherwise), business
prospects, net worth or results of operations of the Company, in each case
except as described in or contemplated by the Prospectus (or, if the Prospectus
is not in existence, the most recent Preliminary Prospectus).
    

                  (t) The Company is insured by insurers of recognized financial
responsibility against such losses and risks and in such amounts as are prudent
and customary in the business in which it is engaged; the Company has not been
refused any insurance coverage sought or applied for; and the Company has no
reason to believe that it will not be able to renew its existing insurance
coverage as and when such coverage expires or to obtain similar coverage from
similar insurers as may be necessary to continue its business at a cost that
would not materially and adversely affect the condition (financial or
otherwise), business prospects, net worth or results of operations of the
Company, except as described in or contemplated by the Prospectus (or, if the
Prospectus is not in existence, the most recent Preliminary Prospectus).


                                      -7-
<PAGE>   8
   
                  (u) The Company possesses all certificates, authorizations and
permits issued by the appropriate federal, state or foreign regulatory
authorities necessary to conduct its business (except in any case in which the
absence of any of the foregoing would not have a Material Adverse Effect), and
the Company has not received any notice of proceedings relating to the
revocation or modification of any such certificate, authorization or permit
which, singly or in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable decision,
ruling or finding, would result in a material adverse change in the condition
(financial or otherwise), business prospects, net worth or results of operations
of the Company, in each case except as described in or contemplated by the
Prospectus (or, if the Prospectus is not in existence, the most recent
Preliminary Prospectus).
    

                  (v) The Company will conduct its operations in a manner that
will not subject it to registration as an investment company under the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and this transaction will not cause
the Company to become an investment company subject to registration under such
Act.

   
                  (w) The Company has filed all foreign, federal, state and
local tax returns that are required to be filed by it or has requested
extensions thereof (except in any case in which the failure so to file would not
have a material adverse effect on the Company) and has paid all taxes, tariffs
and duties required to be paid by it and any other assessment, fine or penalty
levied against it, to the extent that any of the foregoing is due and payable,
except for any such assessment, fine or penalty that is currently being
contested in good faith or as described in or contemplated by the Prospectus
(or, if the Prospectus is not in existence, the most recent Preliminary
Prospectus).
    

                  (x) The Company is not in violation of any federal, state or
foreign law or regulation relating to occupational safety and health or to the
storage, handling or transportation of hazardous or toxic materials and the
Company has received all permits, licenses or other approvals required under
applicable federal, state or foreign occupational safety and health and
environmental laws and regulations to conduct its business, and the Company is
in compliance with all terms and conditions of any such permit, license or
approval, except any such violation of law or regulation, failure to receive
required permits, licenses or other approvals or failure to comply with the
terms and conditions of such permits, licenses or approvals which would not,
singly or in the aggregate, result in a material adverse change in the condition
(financial or otherwise), business prospects, net worth or results of operations
of the Company, and except as described in or contemplated by the Prospectus
(or, if the Prospectus is not in existence, the most recent Preliminary
Prospectus).

   
                  (z) Each certificate signed by any officer of the Company and
delivered to the Representatives or counsel for the Underwriters pursuant to
Section 7(f) hereof shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty by the
Company to each Underwriter as to the matters covered thereby.
    


                                      -8-
<PAGE>   9
   
                  (aa) The Company is not in default under and, to the Company's
knowledge no other party is in default under, any indenture, mortgage, deed of
trust, lease or other agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or
by which the Company or any of its property is bound and no event has occurred
that, upon notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute a default by the
Company under any such instrument or agreement, which default would have a
Material Adverse Effect.
    

         Each Selling Securityholder represents and warrants to, and agrees
with, each of the several Underwriters that:

   
                  (a) Such Selling Securityholder has full corporate power to
enter into this Agreement and to sell, assign, transfer and deliver to the
Underwriters the Securities to be sold by such Selling Securityholder hereunder
in accordance with the terms of this Agreement; the execution and delivery of
this Agreement has been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action of
such Selling Securityholder; and this Agreement has been duly executed and
delivered by such Selling Securityholder.

                  (b) Such Selling Securityholder has duly executed and
delivered a power of attorney and custody agreement (with respect to such
Selling Securityholder, the "Power-of-Attorney" and the "Custody Agreement",
respectively), each in the form heretofore delivered to the Representatives,
appointing [insert name of attorney-in-fact] as such Selling Securityholder's
attorney-in-fact (the "Attorney-in-Fact") with authority to execute, deliver
and perform this Agreement on behalf of such Selling Securityholder and
appointing Company, as custodian thereunder (the "Custodian"). Certificates in
negotiable form, endorsed in blank or accompanied by blank stock powers duly
executed, with signatures appropriately guaranteed, representing the Securities
to be sold by such Selling Securityholder hereunder have been deposited with
the Custodian pursuant to the Custody Agreement for the purpose of delivery
pursuant to this Agreement. Such Selling Securityholder has full power
(corporate and other) to enter into the Custody Agreement and the
Power-of-Attorney and to perform its obligations under the Custody Agreement.
The execution and delivery of the Custody Agreement and the Power-of-Attorney
have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action of such Selling
Securityholder; the Custody Agreement and the Power-of-Attorney have been duly
executed and delivered by such Selling Securityholder and, assuming due
authorization, execution and delivery by the Custodian, are the legal, valid,
binding and enforceable instruments of such Selling Securityholder except that
the validity, binding effect and enforceability of this Custody Agreement and
Power of Attorney may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization,
moratorium, or similar laws generally affecting the rights of creditors and by
general principals of equity, or the availability of specific performance,
injunctive relief, and other equitable remedies, and except insofar as the
indemnification and contribution obligations hereof may be limited by
applicable law. Such Selling Securityholder agrees that each of the Securities
represented by the certificates on deposit with the Custodian is subject to the
interests of the Underwriters hereunder, that the arrangements made for such
custody, the appointment of the Attorney-in-Fact and the right, power and
authority of the Attorney-in-Fact to execute and deliver this Agreement, to
agree on the price at which the Securities (including such Selling
Securityholder's Securities) are to be sold to the Underwriters, and to carry
out the terms of this Agreement, are to that extent irrevocable and that the
obligations of such Selling Securityholder hereunder shall not be terminated,
except as provided in this Agreement or the Custody Agreement, by any act of
such Selling Securityholder, by operation of law or otherwise,
    

                                      -9-
<PAGE>   10
   
or in the case of a corporate or partnership Selling Securityholder by its
liquidation or dissolution or by the occurrence of any other event. If any
corporate or partnership Selling Securityholder shall liquidate or dissolve, or
if any other event should occur, before the delivery of such Securities
hereunder, the certificates for such Securities deposited with the Custodian
shall be delivered by the Custodian in accordance with the respective terms and
conditions of this Agreement as if such liquidation or dissolution or other
event had not occurred, regardless of whether or not the Custodian or the
Attorney-in-Fact shall have received notice thereof.

                  (c) Such Selling Securityholder is the lawful owner of the
Securities to be sold by such Selling Securityholder hereunder and upon sale and
delivery of, and payment for, such Securities, as provided herein, such Selling
Securityholder will convey good and valid title to such Securities, free and
clear of any security interests, liens, encumbrances, equities, claims or other
defects.
    

                  (d) Such Selling Securityholder has not, directly or
indirectly, (i) taken any action designed to cause or result in, or that has
constituted or which might reasonably be expected to constitute, the
stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to
facilitate the sale or resale of the Securities or (ii) since the filing of the
Registration Statement (A) sold, bid for, purchased, or paid anyone any
compensation for soliciting purchases of, the Securities or (B) paid or agreed
to pay to any person any compensation for soliciting another to purchase any
other securities of the Company (except for the sale of Securities by the
Selling Securityholders under this Agreement).

                  (e) To the extent that any statements or omissions are made in
the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus or any
amendment or supplement thereto in reliance upon and in conformity with written
information furnished to the Company by such Selling Securityholder specifically
for use therein, such Preliminary Prospectus did, and the Registration Statement
and the Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto, when they become
effective or are filed with the Commission, as the case may be, will conform in
all material respects to the requirements of the Act and the respective rules
and regulations of the Commission thereunder and will not contain any untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the
circumstances under which they are made, not misleading. Such Selling
Securityholder has reviewed the Prospectus (or, if the Prospectus is not in
existence, the most recent Preliminary Prospectus) and the Registration
Statement, and the information regarding such Selling Securityholder set forth
therein under the caption "Principal and Selling Shareholders" is complete and
accurate.


                                      -10-
<PAGE>   11
                  (f) The sale by such Selling Securityholder of Securities
pursuant hereto is not prompted by any adverse information concerning the
Company that is not set forth in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus
(or, if the Prospectus is not in existence, the most recent Preliminary
Prospectus).

   
                  (g) The sale of the Securities to the Underwriters by such
Selling Securityholder pursuant to this Agreement, the compliance by such
Selling Securityholder with the other provisions of this Agreement, the Custody
Agreement and the consummation of the other transactions herein contemplated do
not (i) require the consent, approval, authorization, registration or
qualification of or with any governmental authority, except such as have been
obtained, such as may be required under state securities or blue sky laws or to
clear the offering and the underwriting arrangements with the NASD and, if the
registration statement filed with respect to the Securities (as amended) is not
effective under the Act as of the time of execution hereof, such as may be
required (and shall be obtained as provided in this Agreement) under the Act or
the Exchange Act, or (ii) conflict with or result in a breach or violation of
any of the terms and provisions of, or constitute a default under any indenture,
mortgage, deed of trust, lease or other agreement or instrument to which such
Selling Securityholder or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which such
Selling Securityholder or any of its subsidiaries or any of their respective
properties are bound, or the charter documents or by-laws of such Selling
Securityholder or any of its subsidiaries or any statute or any judgment,
decree, order, rule or regulation of any court or other governmental authority
or any arbitrator applicable to such Selling Securityholder or any of its
subsidiaries.
    

         (h) Such Selling Securityholder has reviewed the Registration Statement
and nothing has come to the attention of such Selling Securityholder that has
caused such Selling Securityholder to believe that (i) when the Registration
Statement or any amendment thereto was or is declared effective, it included or
will include any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or will omit to
state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein not misleading;
or (ii) when the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto is filed with
the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) (or, if the Prospectus or such amendment
or supplement is not required to be so filed, when the Registration Statement or
the amendment thereto containing such amendment or supplement to the Prospectus
was or is declared effective), on the date when the Prospectus is otherwise
amended or supplemented and on the Firm Closing Date, the Prospectus, as amended
or supplemented at any such time, included or will include any untrue statement
of a material fact or omitted or will omit to state any material fact necessary
in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under
which they were made, not misleading. The foregoing provisions of this paragraph
(h) do not apply to statements or omissions made in the Registration Statement
or any amendment thereto or the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement
thereto in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to
the Company by any Underwriter through the Representatives specifically for use
therein.

         (i) The Selling Securityholders have not distributed and, prior to the
later of (i) the Firm Closing Date and (ii) the completion of the distribution
of the securities, will


                                      -11-
<PAGE>   12
not distribute any offering material in connection with the offering and sale of
the securities other than the Registration Statement or any amendment thereto,
any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement
thereto, or other materials, if any, permitted by the Act.

         3. Purchase, Sale and Delivery of the Securities.

   
                  (a) On the basis of the representations, warranties,
agreements and covenants herein contained and subject to the terms and
conditions herein set forth, the Company agrees to issue and sell and the
Selling Securityholders agree to sell to each of the Underwriters, and each of
the Underwriters, severally and not jointly, agrees to purchase from the Company
and the Selling Securityholders, at a purchase price of $________ per share, the
number of Firm Securities set forth opposite the name of such Underwriter in
Schedule 1 hereto. One or more certificates in definitive form for the Firm
Securities that the several Underwriters have agreed to purchase hereunder, and
in such denomination or denominations and registered in such name or names as
the Representatives request upon notice to the Company and the Selling
Securityholders at least 48 hours prior to the Firm Closing Date, shall be
delivered by or on behalf of the Company and the Selling Securityholders to the
Representatives for the respective accounts of the Underwriters, against payment
by or on behalf of the Underwriters of the purchase price therefor by wire
transfer in same-day funds (the "Wired Funds") to the account of the Company and
the Custodian. Such delivery of and payment for the Firm Securities shall be
made at the offices of Alston & Bird LLP, 1201 West Peachtree Street, Atlanta,
Georgia 30309-3424 at 9:30 A.M., New York time, on October __, 1997, or at such
other place, time or date as the Representatives and the Company may agree upon
or as the Representatives may determine pursuant to Section 9 hereof, such time
and date of delivery against payment being herein referred to as the "Firm
Closing Date." The Company and the Selling Securityholders will make such
certificate or certificates for the Firm Securities available for checking and
packaging by the Representatives at the offices in New York, New York of
Prudential Securities Incorporated at least 24 hours prior to the Firm Closing
Date.
    

                  (b) For the purpose of covering any over-allotments in
connection with the distribution and sale of the Firm Securities as contemplated
by the Prospectus, the Selling Securityholders hereby grant to the several
Underwriters option to purchase, severally and not jointly, the Option
Securities. The purchase price to be paid for any Option Securities shall be the
same price per share as the price per share for the Firm Securities set forth
above in paragraph (a) of this Section 3, plus if the purchase and sale of any
Option Securities takes place after the Firm Closing Date and after the Firm
Securities are trading "ex-dividend", an amount equal to the dividends payable
on such Option Securities. The option granted hereby may be exercised as to all
or any part of the Option Securities from time to time within (thirty) days
after the date of the Prospectus (or, if such 30th day shall be a Saturday or
Sunday or a holiday, on the next business day thereafter when the New York Stock
Exchange is open for trading). The Underwriters


                                      -12-
<PAGE>   13
   
shall not be under any obligation to purchase any of the Option Securities prior
to the exercise of such option. The Representatives may from time to time
exercise the option granted hereby by giving notice in writing or by telephone
(confirmed in writing) to the Custodian setting forth the aggregate number of
Option Securities as to which the several Underwriters are then exercising the
option and the date and time for delivery of and payment for such Option
Securities. Any such date of delivery shall be determined by the Representatives
but shall not be earlier than two business days or later than five business days
after such exercise of the option and, in any event, shall not be earlier than
the Firm Closing Date. The time and date set forth in such notice, or such other
time on such other date as the Representatives and the Selling Securityholders
may agree upon or as the Representatives may determine pursuant to Section 9
hereof, is herein called the "Option Closing Date" with respect to such Option
Securities. Upon exercise of the option as provided herein, the Selling
Securityholders shall become obligated to sell to each of the several
Underwriters that number of Option shares as is set forth opposite their name on
Schedule 2 hereto, as adjusted by the Representatives in such manner as they
deem advisable to avoid fractional shares, and, subject to the terms and
conditions herein set forth, each of the Underwriters (severally and not
jointly) shall become obligated to purchase from the Selling Securityholders,
the same percentage of the total number of the Option Securities as to which the
several Underwriters are then exercising the option as such Underwriter is
obligated to purchase of the aggregate number of Firm Securities, as adjusted by
the Representatives in such manner as they deem advisable to avoid fractional
shares; provided, however, unless and until all of the Option Securities to be
sold by Shakale Internacional, S.A. have been purchased by the Underwriters
pursuant to this Section 3(b), no Option Securities shall be purchased from
Accel, S.A. de C.V. by the Underwriters pursuant to this Section 3(b). If the
option is exercised as to all or any portion of the Option Securities, one or
more certificates in definitive form for such Option Securities, and payment
therefor, shall be delivered on the related Option Closing Date in the manner,
and upon the terms and conditions, set forth in paragraph (a) of this Section 3,
except that reference therein to the Firm Securities and the Firm Closing Date
shall be deemed, for purposes of this paragraph (b), to refer to such Option
Securities and Option Closing Date, respectively.
    

                  (c) The Company and the Selling Securityholders hereby
acknowledge that the wire transfer by or on behalf of the Underwriters of the
purchase price for any Securities does not constitute closing of a purchase and
sale of the Securities. Only execution and delivery of a receipt for Securities
by the Underwriters indicates completion of the closing of a purchase of the
Securities from the Company and the Selling Securityholders. Furthermore, in the
event that the Underwriters wire funds to the Company and the Custodian prior to
the completion of the closing of a purchase of Securities, the Company and the
Selling Securityholders hereby acknowledge that until the Underwriters execute
and deliver a receipt for the Securities, by facsimile or otherwise, the Company
and the Custodian will not be entitled to the Wired Funds and shall return the
Wired Funds to the Underwriters as soon as practicable (by wire transfer of
same-day funds) upon demand. In the event that the closing of a purchase of
Securities is not completed and the Wired Funds are not returned by the Company
and the


                                      -13-
<PAGE>   14
Custodian to the Underwriters on the same day the Wired Funds were received by
the Company and the Custodian, the Company and the Selling Securityholders agree
to pay to the Underwriters in respect of each day the Wired Funds are not
returned by them, in same-day funds, interest on the amount of such Wired Funds
in an amount representing the Underwriters' cost of financing as reasonably
determined by Prudential Securities Incorporated.

                  (d) It is understood that any of you, individually and not as
one of the Representatives, may (but shall not be obligated to) make payment on
behalf of any Underwriter or Underwriters for any of the Securities to be
purchased by such Underwriter or Underwriters. No such payment shall relieve
such Underwriter or Underwriters from any of its or their obligations hereunder.

         4. Offering by the Underwriters. Upon your authorization of the release
of the Firm Securities, the several Underwriters propose to offer the Firm
Securities for sale to the public upon the terms set forth in the Prospectus.

         5. Covenants of the Company and the Selling Securityholders.

         The Company covenants and agrees with each of the Underwriters that:

                  (a) The Company will use its best efforts to cause the
Registration Statement, if not effective at the time of execution of this
Agreement, and any amendments thereto to become effective as promptly as
possible. If required, the Company will file the Prospectus or any Term Sheet
that constitutes a part thereof and any amendment or supplement thereto with the
Commission in the manner and within the time period required by Rules 434 and
424(b) under the Act. During any time when a Prospectus relating to the
Securities is required to be delivered under the Act, the Company (i) will
comply with all requirements imposed upon it by the Act and the rules and
regulations of the Commission thereunder to the extent necessary to permit the
continuance of sales of or dealings in the Securities in accordance with the
provisions hereof and of the Prospectus, as then amended or supplemented, and
(ii) will not file with the Commission the Prospectus, Term Sheet or the
amendment referred to in the second sentence of Section 2(a) hereof, any
amendment or supplement to such Prospectus, Term Sheet or any amendment to the
Registration Statement or any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement of which the
Representatives previously have been advised and furnished with a copy for a
reasonable period of time prior to the proposed filing and as to which filing
the Representatives shall not have given their consent. The Company will prepare
and file with the Commission, in accordance with the rules and regulations of
the Commission, promptly upon request by the Representatives or counsel for the
Underwriters, any amendments to the Registration Statement or amendments or
supplements to the Prospectus that may be necessary or advisable in connection
with the distribution of the Securities by the several Underwriters, and will
use its best efforts to cause any such amendment to the Registration Statement
to be declared effective by the Commission as promptly as possible. The Company
will advise the Representatives,


                                      -14-
<PAGE>   15
promptly after receiving notice thereof, of the time when the Registration
Statement or any amendment thereto has been filed or declared effective or the
Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto has been filed and will
provide evidence satisfactory to the Representatives of each such filing or
effectiveness.

                  (b) The Company will advise the Representatives, promptly
after receiving notice or obtaining knowledge thereof, of (i) the issuance by
the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Original
Registration Statement or any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement or any
amendment thereto or any order preventing or suspending the use of any
Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto,
(ii) the suspension of the qualification of the Securities for offering or sale
in any jurisdiction, (iii) the institution, threatening or contemplation of any
proceeding for any such purpose or (iv) any request made by the Commission for
amending the Original Registration Statement or any Rule 462(b) Registration
Statement, for amending or supplementing the Prospectus or for additional
information. The Company will use its best efforts to prevent the issuance of
any such stop order and, if any such stop order is issued, to obtain the
withdrawal thereof as promptly as possible.

   
                  (c) The Company will cooperate with the Representatives and
Counsel to the Underwriters in qualifying or registering the Securities for
offering and sale under the securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions as
the Representatives may designate and will continue such qualifications or
registrations in effect for as long as may be necessary to complete the
distribution of the Securities, provided, however, that in connection therewith
the Company shall not be required to qualify as a foreign corporation or to
execute a general consent to service of process in any jurisdiction.
    

                  (d) If, at any time prior to the later of (i) the final date
when a Prospectus relating to the Securities is required to be delivered under
the Act or (ii) the Option Closing Date, any event occurs as a result of which
the Prospectus, as then amended or supplemented, would include any untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order
to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which
they were made, not misleading, or if for any other reason it is necessary at
any time to amend or supplement the Prospectus to comply with the Act or the
rules or regulations of the Commission thereunder, the Company will promptly
notify the Representatives thereof and, subject to Section 5(a) hereof, will
prepare and file with the Commission, at the Company's expense, an amendment to
the Registration Statement or an amendment or supplement to the Prospectus that
corrects such statement or omission or effects such compliance.

                  (e) The Company will, without charge, provide (i) to the
Representatives and to counsel for the Underwriters a conformed copy of the
registration statement originally filed with respect to the Securities and each
amendment thereto (in each case including exhibits thereto) or any Rule 462(b)
Registration Statement, certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of
the Company to be true and complete copies thereof as filed with the Commission
by electronic transmission, (ii) to each other Underwriter, a conformed copy of
such registration statement or any Rule 462(b)


                                      -15-
<PAGE>   16
   
Registration Statement and each amendment thereto (in each case without exhibits
thereto) and (iii) so long as a Prospectus relating to the Securities is
required to be delivered under the Act, as many copies of each Preliminary
Prospectus or the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto as the
Representatives may reasonably request; without limiting the application of
clause (iii) of this sentence, the Company, not later than (A) 6:00 PM, New York
City time, on the date of determination of the public offering price, if such
determination occurred at or prior to 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on such
date or (B) 2:00 PM, New York City time, on the business day following the date
of determination of the public offering price, if such determination occurred
after 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on such date, will deliver to the
Underwriters, without charge, as many copies of the Prospectus and any amendment
or supplement thereto as the Representatives may reasonably request for purposes
of confirming orders that are expected to settle on the Firm Closing Date.
    

                  (f) The Company, as soon as practicable, will make generally
available to its securityholders and to the Representatives a consolidated
earnings statement of the Company and its subsidiaries that satisfies the
provisions of Section 11(a) of the Act and Rule 158 thereunder.

   
                  (g) The Company will apply the net proceeds from the sale of
the Securities as set forth under "Use of Proceeds" in the Prospectus and shall
report the use of such proceeds in accordance with Rule 463 under the Act.

                  (h) The Company will not, directly or indirectly, without the
prior written consent of Prudential Securities Incorporated, on behalf of the
Underwriters, offer, sell, offer to sell, contract to sell, pledge, grant any
option to purchase or otherwise dispose or transfer (or announce any offer,
sale, offer of sale, contract of sale, pledge, grant of any option to purchase
or other disposition or transfer) of any shares of Common Stock or any
securities convertible into, or exchangeable or exercisable for, shares of
Common Stock for a period of 180 days after the date hereof, except pursuant to
this Agreement and except for issuances pursuant to the exercise of employee
stock options or grants of stock options by the Company each as described in
the Prospectus.

                  (i) The Company will not, directly or indirectly, (i) take any
action designed to cause or to result in, or that has constituted or which might
reasonably be expected to constitute, the stabilization or manipulation of the
price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the
Securities or (ii) (A) sell, bid for, purchase, or pay anyone any compensation
for soliciting purchases of, the Securities or (B) pay or agree to pay to any
person any compensation for soliciting another to purchase any other securities
of the Company (except for the sale of Securities by the Company and the Selling
Securityholders under this Agreement).
    


                                      -16-
<PAGE>   17
                  (j) The Company will obtain the agreements described in
Section 7(h) hereof prior to the Firm Closing Date.

                  (k) If at any time during the 25-day period after the
Registration Statement becomes effective or the period prior to the Option
Closing Date, any rumor, publication or event relating to or affecting the
Company shall occur as a result of which in your opinion the market price of the
Common Stock has been or is likely to be materially affected (regardless of
whether such rumor, publication or event necessitates a supplement to or
amendment of the Prospectus), the Company will, after notice from you advising
the Company to the effect set forth above, forthwith prepare, consult with you
concerning the substance of, and disseminate a press release or other public
statement, reasonably satisfactory to you, responding to or commenting on such
rumor, publication or event.

                  (l) If the Company elects to rely on Rule 462(b), the Company
shall both file a Rule 462(b) Registration Statement with the Commission in
compliance with Rule 462(b) and pay the applicable fees in accordance with Rule
111 promulgated under the Act by the earlier of (i) 10:00 P.M. Eastern time on
the date of this Agreement and (ii) the time confirmations are sent or given, as
specified by Rule 462(b)(2).

                  (m) The Company will cause the Securities to be duly included
for quotation on the Nasdaq Stock Market's National Market (the "Nasdaq National
Market") prior to the Firm Closing Date. The Company will ensure that the
Securities remain included for quotation on the Nasdaq National Market following
the Firm Closing Date.

         Each Selling Securityholder covenants and agrees with each of the
Underwriters that:

                  (a) Each Selling Securityholder will not, directly or
indirectly, without the prior written consent of Prudential Securities
Incorporated, on behalf of the Underwriters, offer, sell, offer to sell,
contract to sell, pledge, grant any option to purchase or otherwise dispose or
transfer(or announce any offer, sale, offer of sale, contract of sale, pledge,
grant of any option to purchase or other disposition or transfer) of any
Securities legally or beneficially owned by such Selling Securityholder or any
securities convertible into, or exchangeable or exercisable for, Securities for
a period of 180 days after the date hereof.

   
                  (b) Each Selling Securityholder will not, directly or
indirectly, (i) take any action designed to cause or result in, or that has
constituted or which might reasonably be expected to constitute, the
stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to
facilitate the sale or resale of the Securities or (ii) (A) sell, bid for,
purchase, or pay anyone any compensation for soliciting purchases of, the
Securities or (B) pay or agree to pay to any person any compensation for
soliciting another to purchase any other securities of the Company (except for
the sale of Securities by the Company and the Selling Securityholders under this
Agreement).
    


                                      -17-
<PAGE>   18
   
         6. Expenses. The Company will pay all costs and expenses incident to
the performance of the obligations under this Agreement, whether or not the
transactions contemplated herein are consummated or this Agreement is terminated
pursuant to Section 11 hereof, including all costs and expenses incident to (i)
the printing or other production of documents with respect to the transactions,
including any costs of printing the registration statement originally filed with
respect to the Securities and any amendment thereto, any Rule 462(b)
Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus and any
amendment or supplement thereto, this Agreement and any blue sky memoranda, (ii)
all arrangements relating to the delivery to the Underwriters of copies of the
foregoing documents, (iii) the fees and disbursements of the counsel, the
accountants and any other experts or advisors retained by the Company, (iv)
preparation, issuance and delivery to the Underwriters of any certificates
evidencing the Securities, including transfer agent's and registrar's fees, (v)
the qualification of the Securities under state securities and blue sky laws,
including filing fees and reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the
Underwriters relating thereto, (vi) the filing fees of the Commission and the
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. relating to the Securities,
(vii) any quotation of the Securities on the Nasdaq National Market, (viii) any
meetings with prospective investors in the Securities (other than as shall have
been specifically approved by the Representatives to be paid for by the
Underwriters), and (ix) advertising relating to the offering of the Securities
(other than as shall have been specifically approved by the Representatives to
be paid for by the Underwriters). The Selling Securityholders have agreed with
the Company to reimburse the Company for a portion of such expenses. The fees
and expenses of legal counsel engaged to represent the Selling Securityholders
shall be borne by such Selling Securityholders. If the sale of the Securities
provided for herein is not consummated because any condition to the obligations
of the Underwriters set forth in Section 7 hereof (other than Section 7(d)) is
not satisfied, because this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 11
hereof or because of any failure, refusal or inability on the part of the
Company to perform all obligations and satisfy all conditions on its part to be
performed or satisfied hereunder other than by reason of a default by any of the
Underwriters, the Company will reimburse the Underwriters severally upon demand
for all out-of-pocket expenses (including counsel fees and disbursements) that
shall have been incurred by them in connection with the proposed purchase and
sale of the Securities. The Company shall not in any event be liable to any of
the Underwriters for the loss of anticipated profits from the transactions
covered by this Agreement.
    

         7. Conditions of the Underwriters' Obligations. The obligations of the
several Underwriters to purchase and pay for the Firm Securities shall be
subject, in the Representatives' sole discretion, to the accuracy of the
representations and warranties of the Company and the Selling Securityholders
contained herein as of the date hereof and as of the Firm Closing Date, as if
made on and as of the Firm Closing Date, to the accuracy of the statements of
the Company's officers made pursuant to the provisions hereof, to the
performance by the Company and the Selling Securityholders of their covenants
and agreements hereunder and to the following additional conditions:


                                      -18-
<PAGE>   19
                  (a) If the Original Registration Statement or any amendment
thereto filed prior to the Firm Closing Date has not been declared effective as
of the time of execution hereof, the Original Registration Statement or such
amendment and, if the Company has elected to rely upon Rule 462(b), the Rule
462(b) Registration Statement shall have been declared effective not later than
the earlier of (i) 11:00 A.M., New York time, on the date on which the amendment
to the registration statement originally filed with respect to the Securities or
to the Registration Statement, as the case may be, containing information
regarding the initial public offering price of the Securities has been filed
with the Commission and (ii) the time confirmations are sent or given as
specified by Rule 462(b)(2), or with respect to the Original Registration
Statement, or such later time and date as shall have been consented to by the
Representatives; if required, the Prospectus or any Term Sheet that constitutes
a part thereof and any amendment or supplement thereto shall have been filed
with the Commission in the manner and within the time period required by Rules
434 and 424(b) under the Act; no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the
Registration Statement or any amendment thereto shall have been issued, and no
proceedings for that purpose shall have been instituted or threatened or, to the
knowledge of the Company or the Representatives, shall be contemplated by the
Commission; and the Company shall have complied with any request of the
Commission for additional information (to be included in the Registration
Statement or the Prospectus or otherwise).

   
                  (b) The Representatives shall have received an opinion, dated
the Firm Closing Date, of Foley & Lardner, counsel for the Company, to the
effect that:

                  (i) the Company has been duly incorporated and its status is
         active under the laws of the State of Florida. The Company was
         organized under the FBCA. The Company is duly registered or qualified
         to transact business as foreign corporation and in good standing under
         the laws of all other jurisdictions where the ownership or leasing of
         its properties or the conduct of its business requires such
         qualification, except where the failure to be so registered or
         qualified would not have a Material Adverse Effect;
    

                  (ii) the Company has corporate power to own or lease its
         properties and conduct its business as described in the Registration
         Statement and the Prospectus, and the Company has corporate power to
         enter into this Agreement and to carry out all the terms and provisions
         hereof to be carried out by it;

   
                  (iii) the Company has an authorized, issued and outstanding
         capitalization as set forth under the heading "Description of Capital
         Stock" in the Prospectus; all of the issued shares of capital stock of
         the Company immediately before the Company's issuance and sale of the
         Firm Securities have been duly authorized and validly issued and are
         fully paid and nonassessable, were 
    


                                      -19-
<PAGE>   20

   
         originally issued in compliance with all applicable federal and state
         securities laws (or any actions thereunder are effectively barred by
         effective waivers or statutes of limitation or similar laws) and were
         not issued in violation of and are not subject to any preemptive rights
         or other rights known to such counsel to subscribe for or purchase
         securities; the Firm Securities to be sold by the Company have been
         duly authorized by all necessary corporate action of the Company and,
         when issued and delivered to and paid for by the Underwriters pursuant
         to and in accordance with this Agreement, will be validly issued, fully
         paid and nonassessable; the Securities have been [duly] included for
         trading on the Nasdaq National Market; no holders of outstanding shares
         of capital stock of the Company are entitled as such to any statutory
         preemptive rights or other rights known to such counsel to subscribe 
         for any of the Securities; and no holders of securities of the Company 
         are entitled to have such securities registered under the Registration
         Statement;

                  (iv) the statements set forth under the heading "Description
         of Capital Stock" in the Prospectus, insofar as such statements purport
         to summarize certain provisions of the capital stock of the Company,
         provide a fair summary of such provisions; and the statements set forth
         under the headings "Business -- Imports and Import Regulations,"
         ["Business -- Trademarks and Licenses,"] "Business -- Legal
         Proceedings," "Risk Factors -- Dependence on Intellectual Property;
         Risk of Infringement Claims," and "Risk Factors -- Imports and Import
         Restrictions." in the Prospectus, insofar as such statements constitute
         a summary of the legal matters, documents or proceedings referred to
         therein, provide a fair summary of such legal matters, documents and
         proceedings;
    

                  (v) the execution and delivery of this Agreement have been
         duly authorized by all necessary corporate action of the Company and
         this Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Company;

   
                  (vi) (A) to such counsel's knowledge, no legal or governmental
         proceedings are pending to which the Company is a party or to which the
         property of the Company is subject that are required to be described in
         the Registration Statement or the Prospectus and are not described
         therein, and no such proceedings have been threatened against the
         Company or with respect to any of its properties and (B) to such
         counsel's knowledge, no contract or other document is required to be
         described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or to be
         filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement that is not described
         therein or filed as required;

                  (vii) the execution and performance of this Agreement by the
         Company and the compliance by the Company with the other provisions of
         this Agreement do not (A) require the consent, approval, authorization,
         registration or qualification of or with any governmental authority,
         except such as have been 
    


                                      -20-
<PAGE>   21

   
         obtained and such as may be required under state securities or blue sky
         laws or to clear the underwriting arrangements with the NASD, or (B)
         conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms
         and provisions of, or constitute a default under, (1) any material
         indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, lease or other agreement or
         instrument, known to such counsel, to which the Company is a party or
         by which the Company or any of its properties are bound and which is
         filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, (2) the charter
         documents or by-laws of the Company, (3) any statute under federal
         or Florida law or (4) any judgment, decree, order, rule or regulation
         of any court or other governmental authority or any arbitrator known to
         such counsel and applicable to the Company, in each case except where
         such conflict, breach, violation or default would not have a Material
         Adverse Effect;

                  (viii) the Registration Statement is effective under the Act;
         any required filing of the Prospectus, or any Term Sheet that
         constitutes a part thereof, pursuant to Rules 434 and 424(b) has been
         made in the manner and within the time period required by Rules 434 and
         424(b); and, to such counsel's knowledge after due inquiry, no stop
         order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any
         amendment thereto has been issued and no proceedings for that purpose
         have been instituted or threatened or are contemplated by the
         Commission;

                  (ix) the Registration Statement as amended by Amendment No. 1
         and any amendment subsequent thereto, any Rule 462(b) Registration
         Statement and the Prospectus (in each case, other than the financial
         statements and other financial information contained therein, as to
         which such counsel need express no opinion) comply as to form in all
         material respects with the applicable requirements of the Act and the
         rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder; and
    

                  (x) if the Company elects to rely on Rule 434, the Prospectus
         is not "materially different", as such term is used in Rule 434, from
         the prospectus included in the Registration Statement at the time of
         its effectiveness or an effective post-effective amendment thereto
         (including such information that is permitted to be omitted pursuant to
         Rule 430A).

   
         Such counsel shall also state that no facts have come to the attention
of such counsel that lead it to believe that the Registration Statement, as of
its effective date, contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted
to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make
the statements therein not misleading or that the Prospectus, as of its date or
the date of such opinion, included or includes any untrue statement of a
material fact or omitted or omits to state a material fact necessary in order to
make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they
were made, not misleading.
    


                                      -21-
<PAGE>   22

         In rendering any such opinion, such counsel may rely, as to matters of
fact, to the extent such counsel deems proper, on certificates of responsible
officers of the Company and public officials. Further, in rendering the opinions
referred to in Section (b)(iv), such counsel may rely, to the extent such
counsel deems proper, on the opinion of other counsel to the Company.

         References to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus in this
paragraph (b) shall include any amendment or supplement thereto at the date of
such opinion.

                  (c) The Representatives shall have received the opinion of
Winthrop, Stimson, Putnam & Roberts, counsel for the Selling Securityholders,
dated the Firm Closing Date, to the effect that:

                  (i) the delivery, for purposes of sale hereunder, by each
Selling Securityholder to the several Underwriters of certificates for the
Securities being so sold hereunder, against payment therefor as provided herein,
and assuming that such certificates are free of any legend, notation or other
notice of any Adverse Claim (as defined in the Uniform Commercial Code of the
state in which the Securities are delivered) and that such Underwriters are bona
fide purchasers under such Uniform Commercial Code, will convey ownership of the
Securities evidenced by such certificates, free and clear of all such Adverse
Claims;

   
                  (ii) the sale of the Securities to the Underwriters by each
Selling Securityholder pursuant to this Agreement, the compliance by each
Selling Securityholder with the other provisions of this Agreement and the
Custody Agreement, and consummation of the other transactions herein
contemplated do not (i) require the consent, approval, authorization,
registration or qualification of or with any federal, state or local
governmental authority of the United States except such as have been obtained,
such as may be required under state securities or blue sky laws or to clear the
offering and the underwriting arrangements with the NASD and, if the
registration statement filed with respect to the Securities (as amended) is not
effective under the Act as of the time of execution hereof, such as may be
required (and shall be obtained as provided in this Agreement) under the Act or
the Exchange Act, or (ii) materially conflict with or result in a breach or
violation of any of the terms and provisions of, or constitute a default under
any federal, state or local statute in the United States or any judgment,
decree, order, rule or regulation applicable to such Securityholder of any
court, arbitrator or other governmental authority of or in any jurisdiction in
the United States and which is known to such counsel.

                  [(iii) each selling Securityholder has full corporate power to
enter into this Agreement, the Custody Agreement and the Power-of-Attorney and
to sell, transfer and deliver the Securities being sold by such Selling
Securityholder hereunder and to perform its obligations under the Custody
Agreement; the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Custody Agreement
and the Power-of-Attorney have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate
action of each Selling Securityholder; this Agreement, the Custody Agreement and
the Power-of-Attorney have been duly executed and delivered by each Selling
Securityholder; and the Power of Attorney and the Custody Agreement, in the case
of the latter assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by the
Custodian, are the legal, valid, binding and enforceable instruments of each
Selling 
    



                                      -22-
<PAGE>   23

   
Securityholder, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency and similar
laws affecting creditors' rights generally and subject to general principles of
equity (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding in equity or
at law);]

                  [(iv) the sale of the Securities to the Underwriters by each
Selling Securityholder pursuant to this Agreement, the compliance by each
Selling Securityholder with the other provisions of this Agreement and the
Custody Agreement, and the consummation of the other transactions herein
contemplated do not (i) require the consent, approval, authorization,
registration or qualification of or with any governmental authority of the
Selling Securityholders' jurisdictions of incorporation except such as have been
obtained, or (ii) materially conflict with or result in a breach or violation of
any of the terms and provisions of, or constitute a default under (A) any
indenture, mortgage, deed of trust or lease, or other material agreement or
instrument known to such counsel, to which a Selling Securityholder is a party
or by which a Selling Securityholder or any of its respective properties are
known by such counsel to be bound, (B) the charter documents or by-laws of a
Selling Securityholder or (C) any statute of the jurisdiction of incorporation
or any judgment, decree, order, rule or regulation applicable to a
Securityholder of any court, arbitrator or other governmental authority of or in
the respective jurisdictions of incorporation and which is known to such
counsel.]

                           In rendering such opinions referred to in Section
         (c), counsel may rely, as to matters of fact, to the extent such
         counsel deems proper, on certificates of responsible officers of the
         Company and public officials and on Statements in the Registration
         Statement and Prospectus. [Further, in rendering the opinions referred
         to in Sections (c)(iii) and (iv), such counsel may rely, to the extent
         such counsel deems proper, on the opinions of counsel for Accel S.A. de
         C.V. and counsel for Shakale Internacional S.A.]

                           References to the Registration Statement and the
         Prospectus in this paragraph shall include any amendment or supplement
         thereto at the date of such opinions.

                  (i)
    


                                      -23-
<PAGE>   24


                  (d) The Representatives shall have received an opinion, dated
the Firm Closing Date, of Alston & Bird LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, with
respect to the issuance and sale of the Firm Securities, the Registration
Statement and the Prospectus, and such other related matters as the
Representatives may reasonably require, and the Company shall have furnished to
such counsel such documents as they may reasonably request for the purpose of
enabling them to pass upon such matters.

                  (e) The Representatives shall have received from Ernst & Young
LLP a letter or letters dated, respectively, the date hereof and the Firm
Closing Date, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives, to the
effect that:

                  (i) they are independent accountants with respect to the
         Company within the meaning of the Act and the applicable rules and
         regulations thereunder;

                  (ii) in their opinion, the audited consolidated financial
         statements and schedules examined by them and included in the
         Registration Statement and the Prospectus comply in form in all
         material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the
         Act and the related published rules and regulations;

                  (iii) on the basis of a reading of the latest available
         interim unaudited consolidated financial statements of the Company,
         carrying out certain specified procedures (which do not constitute an
         examination made in accordance with generally accepted auditing
         standards and that would not necessarily reveal 



                                      -24-
<PAGE>   25

         matters of significance with respect to the comments set forth in this
         paragraph (iii)), a reading of the minute books of the shareholders,
         the board of directors and any committees thereof of the Company, and
         inquiries of certain officials of the Company who have responsibility
         for financial and accounting matters, nothing came to their attention
         that caused them to believe that:

                           (A) the unaudited consolidated financial statements
                  of the Company included in the Registration Statement and the
                  Prospectus do not comply in form in all material respects with
                  the applicable accounting requirements of the Act and the
                  related published rules and regulations thereunder or are not
                  in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles
                  applied on a basis substantially consistent with that of the
                  audited consolidated financial statements included in the
                  Registration Statement and the Prospectus;

   
                           (B) at a specific date not more than five business
                  days prior to the date of such letter, there were any changes
                  in the capital stock or long-term debt of the Company or any
                  decreases in net current assets or stockholders' equity of the
                  Company, in each case compared with amounts shown on the
                  latest audited consolidated balance sheet included in the
                  Registration Statement and the Prospectus, or for the period
                  from June 29, 1997 to such specified date there were any
                  decreases, as compared with the comparable period in the prior
                  Fiscal Year, in net sales, cost of goods sold, net income
                  (loss) before income taxes or total or per share amounts of
                  net income (loss) of the Company, except in all instances for
                  changes, decreases or increases set forth in such letter; and
    

                  (iv) they have carried out certain specified procedures, not
         constituting an audit, with respect to certain amounts, percentages and
         financial information that are derived from the general accounting
         records of the Company and are included in the Registration Statement
         and the Prospectus under the captions "Prospectus Summary," "Risk
         Factors," "Use of Proceeds," "Capitalization," "Dilution," "Business,"
         "Management," "Principal and Selling Shareholders," "Certain
         Transactions," and "Shares Eligible from Future Sale," and in Exhibit
         11 to the Registration Statement, and have compared such amounts,
         percentages and financial information with such records of the Company
         and with information derived from such records and have found them to
         be in agreement, excluding any questions of legal interpretation.

         In the event that the letters referred to above set forth any such
changes, decreases or increases, it shall be a further condition to the
obligations of the Underwriters that (A) such letters shall be accompanied by a
written explanation of the Company as to the significance thereof, unless the
Representatives deem such explanation unnecessary, and (B) such changes,
decreases or increases do not, in the sole judgment of the Representatives, make
it impractical or inadvisable to proceed with the purchase and 



                                      -25-
<PAGE>   26

delivery of the Securities as contemplated by the Registration Statement, as
amended as of the date hereof.

         References to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus in this
paragraph (e) with respect to either letter referred to above shall include any
amendment or supplement thereto at the date of such letter.

                  (f) The Representatives shall have received a certificate,
dated the Firm Closing Date, of the principal executive officer and the
principal financial or accounting officer of the Company to the effect that:

                  (i) the representations and warranties of the Company in this
         Agreement are true and correct as if made on and as of the Firm Closing
         Date; the Registration Statement, as amended as of the Firm Closing
         Date, does not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit
         to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein not
         misleading, and the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented as of the
         Firm Closing Date, does not include any untrue statement of a material
         fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the
         statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they
         were made, not misleading; and the Company has performed all covenants
         and agreements and satisfied all conditions on its part to be performed
         or satisfied at or prior to the Firm Closing Date;

                  (ii) no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the
         Registration Statement or any amendment thereto has been issued, and no
         proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or threatened or, to
         the best of the Company's knowledge, are contemplated by the
         Commission; and

   
                  (iii) subsequent to the respective dates as of which
         information is given in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus,
         the Company has not sustained any material loss or interference with
         its business or properties from fire, flood, hurricane, accident or
         other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor
         dispute or any legal or governmental proceeding, and there has not been
         any material adverse change, or, to his knowledge, any development 
         involving a prospective material adverse change, in the condition
         (financial or otherwise), management, business prospects, net worth or
         results of operations of the Company, except in each case as described
         in or contemplated by the Prospectus (exclusive of any amendment or
         supplement thereto).
    

                  (g) The Representatives shall have received a certificate from
each Selling Securityholder, signed by the principal executive officer and the
principal financial or accounting officer of such Selling Securityholder, dated
the Firm Closing Date, to the effect that:


                                      -26-
<PAGE>   27

                  (i) the representations and warranties of such Selling
         Securityholder in this Agreement are true and correct as if made on and
         as of the Firm Closing Date;

                  (ii) Such Selling Securityholder, after a careful examination
         of the Registration Statement does not know of an untrue statement of a
         material fact included in the Registration Statement or the omission
         from the Registration Statement of any material fact required to be
         stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
         misleading; and

                  (iii) such Selling Securityholder has performed all covenants
         and agreements on its part to be performed or satisfied at or prior to
         the Firm Closing Date.

   
                  (h) The Representatives shall have received from each person
who is a director or executive officer of the Company an agreement to the effect
that such person will not, directly or indirectly, without the prior written
consent of Prudential Securities Incorporated, on behalf of the Underwriters,
offer, sell, offer to sell, contract to sell, pledge, grant any option to
purchase or otherwise dispose of or transfer (or announce any offer, sale, offer
of sale, contract of sale, pledge, grant of an option to purchase or other
disposition or transfer of) any shares of Common Stock or any securities
convertible into, or exchangeable or exercisable for, shares of Common Stock
beneficially owned (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) as
of the effectiveness of the mergers of Apparel International Group, Inc.,
Tropical Acquisition Corporation and Tropical Sportswear International
Corporation with and into Tropical Sportswear Int'l Corporation or thereafter
acquired for a period of 180 days subsequent to the date of the final Prospectus
filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Act promulgated by the
Commission or if no filing under Rule 424(b) is made, the date of the final
Prospectus included in the Registration Statement when declared effective under
the Act; provided, however, that such persons may transfer shares of Common
Stock to members of such person's family provided that such transferees deliver
an agreement to the foregoing effect to the Representatives.
    

                  (i) On or before the Firm Closing Date, the Representatives
and counsel for the Underwriters shall have received such further certificates,
documents or other information as they may have reasonably requested from the
Company.

                  (j) Prior to the commencement of the offering of the
Securities, the Securities shall have been included for trading on the Nasdaq
National Market.

                  (k) Each Selling Securityholder shall have delivered to you on
or prior to the Firm Closing Date a properly completed and executed United
States Treasury Department Form W-9 (or other applicable form or statements
specified by Treasury Department regulations).



                                      -27-
<PAGE>   28

         All opinions, certificates, letters and documents delivered pursuant to
this Agreement will comply with the provisions hereof only if they are
reasonably satisfactory in all material respects to the Representatives and
counsel for the Underwriters. The Company shall furnish to the Representatives
such conformed copies of such opinions, certificates, letters and documents in
such quantities as the Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters shall
reasonably request.

         The respective obligations of the several Underwriters to purchase and
pay for any Option Securities shall be subject, in their discretion, to each of
the foregoing conditions to purchase the Firm Securities, except that all
references to the Firm Securities and the Firm Closing Date shall be deemed to
refer to such Option Securities and the related Option Closing Date,
respectively.

         8.       Indemnification and Contribution.

   
                  (a) The Company and each Selling Securityholder jointly and
severally agree to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter and each person,
if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act
or Section 20 of the Act against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities,
joint or several, to which such Underwriter or such controlling person may
become subject under the Act or otherwise, such losses, claims, damages or
liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon:
    

                  (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement made by
         the Company or such Selling Securityholder in Section 2 of this
         Agreement,

                  (ii) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any
         material fact contained in (A) the Registration Statement or any
         amendment thereto or any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus or
         any amendment or supplement thereto or (B) any application or other
         document, or any amendment or supplement thereto, executed by the
         Company or such Selling Securityholder or based upon written
         information furnished by or on behalf of the Company or such Selling
         Securityholder filed in any jurisdiction in order to qualify the
         Securities under the securities or blue sky laws thereof or filed with
         the Commission or any securities association or securities exchange
         (each an "Application"),

                  (iii) the omission or alleged omission to state in the
         Registration Statement or any amendment thereto, any Preliminary
         Prospectus or the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, or
         any Application a material fact required to be stated therein or
         necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or




                                      -28-
<PAGE>   29

                  (iv) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any
         material fact contained in any audio or visual materials used in
         connection with the marketing of the Securities, including without
         limitation, slides, videos, films, tape recordings,

   
and will reimburse, as incurred, each Underwriter and each such controlling
person for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such Underwriter
or such controlling person in connection with investigating, defending against
or appearing as a third-party witness in connection with any such loss, claim,
damage, liability or action; provided, however, that the Company and such
Selling Securityholder will not be liable in any such case to the extent that
any such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon any
untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission
made in such registration statement or any amendment thereto, any Preliminary
Prospectus or the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, or any
Application in reliance upon and in conformity with written information
furnished to the Company by any Underwriter through the Representatives
specifically for use therein; and provided, further, that the Company will not
be liable to any Underwriter or any person controlling such Underwriter with
respect to any such untrue statement or omission made in any Preliminary
Prospectus that is corrected in the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement
thereto) if the person asserting any such loss, claim, damage or liability
purchased Securities from such Underwriter but was not sent or given a copy of
the Prospectus (as amended or supplemented), other than the documents
incorporated by reference therein, at or prior to the written confirmation of
the sale of such Securities to such person in any case where such delivery of
the Prospectus (as amended or supplemented) is required by the Act, unless such
failure to deliver the Prospectus (as amended or supplemented) was a result of
noncompliance by the Company with Section 5(a) and (d) of this Agreement. This
indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which the Company and
such Selling Securityholder may otherwise have. Neither the Company nor any
Selling Securityholder will, without the prior written consent of the
Underwriter or Underwriters purchasing, in the aggregate, more than fifty
percent (50%) of the Securities, settle or compromise or consent to the entry
of any judgment in any pending or threatened claim, action, suit or proceeding
in respect of which indemnification may be sought hereunder (whether or not any
such Underwriter or any person who controls any such Underwriter within the
meaning of Section 15 of the Act is a party to such claim, action, suit or
proceeding), unless such settlement, compromise or consent includes an
unconditional release of all of the Underwriters and such controlling persons
from all liability arising out of such claim, action, suit or proceeding.
    

                  (b) Each Underwriter will, severally and not jointly,
indemnify and hold harmless the Company, each of its directors, each of its
officers who signed the 



                                      -29-
<PAGE>   30

Registration Statement, each Selling Securityholder and each person, if any, who
controls the Company or such Selling Securityholder within the meaning of
Section 15 of the Act against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities to
which the Company, any such director or officer of the Company, such Selling
Securityholder or any such controlling person of the Company or such Selling
Securityholder may become subject under the Act or otherwise, insofar as such
losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof arise out
of or are based upon (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any
material fact contained in the Registration Statement or any amendment thereto,
any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement
thereto, or any Application or (ii) the omission or the alleged omission to
state therein a material fact required to be stated in the Registration
Statement or any amendment thereto, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus
or any amendment or supplement thereto, or any Application or necessary to make
the statements therein not misleading, in each case to the extent, but only to
the extent, that such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission
or alleged omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with written
information furnished to the Company by any Underwriter through the
Representatives specifically for use therein; and, subject to the limitation set
forth immediately preceding this clause, will reimburse, as incurred, any legal
or other expenses reasonably incurred by the Company, any such director, officer
or controlling person or such Selling Securityholder in connection with
investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or any action
in respect thereof. This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any
liability which such Underwriter may otherwise have.

                  (c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this
Section 8 of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party
will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party
under this Section 8, notify the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof;
but the omission so to notify the indemnifying party will not relieve it from
any liability which it may have to any indemnified party otherwise than under
this Section 8. In case any such action is brought against any indemnified
party, and it notifies the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the
indemnifying party will be entitled to participate therein and, to the extent
that it may wish, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified,
to assume the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to such indemnified
party; provided, however, that if the defendants in any such action include both
the indemnified party and the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall
have reasonably concluded that there may be one or more legal defenses available
to it and/or other indemnified parties which are different from or additional to
those available to the indemnifying party, the indemnifying party shall not have
the right to direct the defense of such action on behalf of such indemnified
party or parties and such indemnified party or parties shall have the right to
select separate counsel to defend such action on behalf of such indemnified
party or parties. After notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified
party of its election so to assume the defense thereof and approval by such
indemnified party of counsel appointed to defend such action, the indemnifying
party will not be liable to such indemnified party under this Section 8 for any
legal or other expenses, other than reasonable costs of investigation,
subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection with the defense
thereof, unless (i) the indemnified party shall have employed separate counsel
in accordance with the proviso to the next preceding sentence (it being
understood, however, that in connection with such action the indemnifying party
shall not be liable for the expenses of more than one separate counsel (in
addition to local counsel) in any one action or separate but substantially
similar actions in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same general
allegations or circumstances, designated by the Representatives in the case of
paragraph (a) of this Section 8, representing the indemnified parties under such
paragraph (a) who are parties to such action or actions) or (ii) the
indemnifying party does not promptly retain counsel satisfactory to the
indemnified party or (iii) the indemnifying party has authorized the 



                                      -30-
<PAGE>   31

employment of counsel for the indemnified party at the expense of the
indemnifying party. After such notice from the indemnifying party to such
indemnified party, the indemnifying party will not be liable for the costs and
expenses of any settlement of such action effected by such indemnified party
without the consent of the indemnifying party.

                  (d) In circumstances in which the indemnity agreement provided
for in the preceding paragraphs of this Section 8 is unavailable or
insufficient, for any reason, to hold harmless an indemnified party in respect
of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof),
each indemnifying party, in order to provide for just and equitable
contribution, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified
party as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in
respect thereof) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect (i) the
relative benefits received by the indemnifying party or parties on the one hand
and the indemnified party on the other from the offering of the Securities or
(ii) if the allocation provided by the foregoing clause (i) is not permitted by
applicable law, not only such relative benefits but also the relative fault of
the indemnifying party or parties on the one hand and the indemnified party on
the other in connection with the statements or omissions or alleged statements
or omissions that resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or
actions in respect thereof), as well as any other relevant equitable
considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand
and the Underwriters on the other shall be deemed to be in the same proportion
as the total proceeds from the offering (before deducting expenses) received by
the Company bear to the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by
the Underwriters. The relative fault of the parties shall be determined by
reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement
of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact
relates to information supplied by the Company or the Underwriters, the parties'
relative intents, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or
prevent such statement or omission, and any other equitable considerations
appropriate in the circumstances. The Company and the Underwriters agree that it
would not be equitable if the amount of such contribution were determined by pro
rata or per capita allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one
entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation that does not take
into account the equitable considerations referred to above in this paragraph
(d). Notwithstanding any other provision of this paragraph (d), no Underwriter
shall be obligated to make contributions hereunder that in the aggregate exceed
the total public offering price of the Securities purchased by such Underwriter
under this Agreement, less the aggregate amount of any damages that such
Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay in respect of the same or any
substantially similar claim, and no person guilty of fraudulent
misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section II (f) of the Act) shall be
entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent
misrepresentation. The Underwriters' obligations to contribute hereunder are
several in proportion to their respective underwriting obligations and not
joint, and contributions among Underwriters shall be governed by the provisions
of the Prudential Securities Incorporated Master Agreement Among Underwriters.
For purposes of this paragraph (d), each person, if any, who controls an
Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the
Exchange Act shall have the 


                                      -31-
<PAGE>   32

same rights to contribution as such Underwriter, and each director of the
Company, each officer of the Company who signed the Registration Statement and
each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15
of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, shall have the same rights to
contribution as the Company.

   
                  (e) The liability of each Selling Securityholder under this
Section 8 shall not exceed an amount equal to the net proceeds of the Securities
sold by such Selling Securityholder to the Underwriters.
    

         9. Default of Underwriters. If one or more Underwriters default in
their obligations to purchase Firm Securities or Option Securities hereunder and
the aggregate number of such Securities that such defaulting Underwriter or
Underwriters agreed but failed to purchase is ten percent or less of the
aggregate number of Firm Securities or Option Securities to be purchased by all
of the Underwriters at such time hereunder, the other Underwriters may make
arrangements satisfactory to the Representatives for the purchase of such
Securities by other persons (who may include one or more of the non-defaulting
Underwriters, including the Representatives), but if no such arrangements are
made by the Firm Closing Date or the related Option Closing Date, as the case
may be, the other Underwriters shall be obligated severally in proportion to
their respective commitments hereunder to purchase the Firm Securities or Option
Securities that such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed to
purchase. If one or more Underwriters so default with respect to an aggregate
number of Securities that is more than ten percent of the aggregate number of
Firm Securities or Option Securities, as the case may be, to be purchased by all
of the Underwriters at such time hereunder, and if arrangements satisfactory to
the Representatives are not made within 36 hours after such default for the
purchase by other persons (who may include one or more of the non-defaulting
Underwriters, including the Representatives) of the Securities with respect to
which such default occurs, this Agreement will terminate without liability on
the part of any non-defaulting Underwriter or the Company other than as provided
in Section 10 hereof. In the event of any default by one or more Underwriters as
described in this Section 9, the Representatives shall have the right to
postpone the Firm Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be,
established as provided in Section 3 hereof for not more than seven business
days in order that any necessary changes may be made in the arrangements or
documents for the purchase and delivery of the Firm Securities or Option
Securities, as the case may be. As used in this Agreement, the term
"Underwriter" includes any person substituted for an Underwriter under this
Section 9. Nothing herein shall relieve any defaulting Underwriter from
liability for its default.

         10. Survival. The respective representations, warranties, agreements,
covenants, indemnities and other statements of the Company, its officers, the
Selling Securityholders and the several Underwriters set forth in this Agreement
or made by or on behalf of them, respectively, pursuant to this Agreement shall
remain in full force and effect, regardless of (i) any investigation made by or
on behalf of the Company, any of its officers or directors, any Selling
Securityholder, any Underwriter or any controlling person referred to in Section
8 hereof and (ii) delivery of and payment for the Securities. 



                                      -32-
<PAGE>   33

The respective agreements, covenants, indemnities and other statements set forth
in Sections 6 and 8 hereof shall remain in full force and effect, regardless of
any termination or cancellation of this Agreement.

         11. Termination. (a) This Agreement may be terminated with respect to
the Firm Securities or any Option Securities in the sole discretion of the
Representatives by notice to the Company and the Selling Securityholders given
prior to the Firm Closing Date or the related Option Closing Date, respectively,
in the event that the Company or any of the Selling Securityholders shall have
failed, refused or been unable to perform all obligations and satisfy all
conditions on their part to be performed or satisfied hereunder at or prior
thereto or, if at or prior to the Firm Closing Date or such Option Closing Date,
respectively,

                  (i) the Company shall have, in the sole judgment of the
         Representatives, sustained any material loss or interference with its
         business or properties from fire, flood, hurricane, accident or other
         calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor
         dispute or any legal or governmental proceeding or there shall have
         been any material adverse change, or any development involving a
         prospective material adverse change (including without limitation a
         change in management or control of the Company), in the condition
         (financial or otherwise), business prospects, net worth or results of
         operations of the Company, except in each case as described in or
         contemplated by the Prospectus (exclusive of any amendment or
         supplement thereto);

                  (ii) trading in the Common Stock shall have been suspended by
         the Commission or the Nasdaq National Market or trading in securities
         generally on the New York Stock Exchange or Nasdaq National Market
         shall have been suspended or minimum or maximum prices shall have been
         established on such exchange or market system;

                  (iii) a banking moratorium shall have been declared by New
         York or United States authorities; or

                  (iv) there shall have been (A) an outbreak or escalation of
         hostilities between the United States and any foreign power, (B) an
         outbreak or escalation of any other insurrection or armed conflict
         involving the United States or (C) any other calamity or crisis or
         material adverse change in general economic, political or financial
         conditions having an effect on the U.S. financial markets that, in the
         sole judgment of the Representatives, makes it impractical or
         inadvisable to proceed with the public offering or the delivery of the
         Securities as contemplated by the Registration Statement, as amended as
         of the date hereof.

                  (b) Termination of this Agreement pursuant to this Section 11
shall be without liability of any party to any other party except as provided in
Section 10 hereof.


                                      -33-
<PAGE>   34

         12. Information Supplied by Underwriters. The statements set forth in
the last paragraph on the front cover page and under the heading "Underwriting"
in any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus (to the extent such statements
relate to the Underwriters) constitute the only information furnished by any
Underwriter through the Representatives to the Company for the purposes of
Sections 2(b) and 8 hereof. The Underwriters confirm that such statements (to
such extent) are correct.

   
         13. Notices. All communications hereunder shall be in writing and, if
sent to any of the Underwriters, shall be delivered or sent by mail and telex or
facsimile transmission and confirmed in writing to Prudential Securities
Incorporated, One New York Plaza, New York, New York 10292, Attention: Equity
Transactions Group; if sent to the Company, shall be delivered or sent by mail,
telex or facsimile transmission and confirmed in writing to the Company at 4902
West Waters Avenue, Tampa, Florida 33634-1302, Attention: Michael Kagan, with a
copy to Todd B. Pfister, Esq., Foley & Lardner, 100 North Tampa Street, Suite
2700, Tampa, Florida 33602; and if sent to any of the Selling Securityholders,
shall be delivered to them at Winthrop, Stimson, Putnam & Roberts, One Battery
Park Place, New York, New York 10004-1490, Attention: Robert N. Gray.

         14. Successors. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and shall
be binding upon the several Underwriters, the Company, the Selling
Securityholders and their respective successors and legal representatives, and
nothing expressed or mentioned in this Agreement is intended or shall be
construed to give any other person any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim
under or in respect of this Agreement, or any provisions herein contained, this
Agreement and all conditions and provisions hereof being intended to be and
being for the sole and exclusive benefit of such persons and for the benefit of
no other person except that (i) the indemnities of the Company and the Selling
Securityholders contained in Section 8 of this Agreement shall also be for the
benefit of any person or persons who control any Underwriter within the meaning
of Section 15 of the Act and (ii) the indemnities of the Underwriters contained
in Section 8 of this Agreement shall also be for the benefit of the directors of
the Company, the officers of the Company who have signed the Registration
Statement, any person or persons who control the Company within the meaning of
Section 15 of the Act, the Selling Securityholders and any person or persons who
control the Selling Securityholders within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act.
No purchaser of Securities from any Underwriter shall be deemed a successor
because of such purchase.
    

         15. Applicable Law. The validity and interpretation of this Agreement,
and the terms and conditions set forth herein, shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without giving
effect to any provisions relating to conflicts of laws.

         16. Consent to Jurisdiction and Service of Process. All judicial
proceedings arising out of or relating to this Agreement may be brought in any
state or federal court of competent jurisdiction in the State of New York, and
by execution and delivery of this 


                                      -34-
<PAGE>   35

Agreement, each Selling Securityholder accepts for itself and in connection with
its properties, generally and unconditionally, the nonexclusive jurisdiction of
the aforesaid courts and waives any defense of forum non conveniens and
irrevocably agrees to be bound by any judgment rendered thereby in connection
with this Agreement. Each Selling Securityholder designates and appoints Robert
N. Gray, and such other persons as may hereafter be selected by each Selling
Securityholder irrevocably agreeing in writing to so serve, as its agent to
receive on its behalf service of all process in any such proceedings in any such
court, such service being hereby acknowledged by each Selling Securityholder to
be effective and binding service in every respect. A copy of any such process so
served shall be mailed by registered mail to each Selling Securityholder at its
address provided in Section 13 hereof; provided, however, that, unless otherwise
provided by applicable law, any failure to mail such copy shall not affect the
validity of service of such process. If any agent appointed by each Selling
Securityholder refuses to accept service, each Selling Securityholder hereby
agrees that service of process sufficient for personal jurisdiction in any
action against the Selling Securityholder in the State of New York may be made
by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, to each Selling
Securityholder at its address provided in Section 13 hereof, and each Selling
Securityholder hereby acknowledges that such service shall be effective and
binding in every respect. Nothing herein shall affect the right to serve process
in any other manner permitted by law or shall limit the right of any Underwriter
to bring proceedings against each Selling Securityholder in the courts of any
other jurisdiction.

         17. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which
together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

         If the foregoing correctly sets forth our understanding, please
indicate your acceptance thereof in the space provided below for that purpose,
whereupon this letter shall constitute an agreement binding the Company and each
of the several Underwriters.

                                        Very truly yours,

                                        TROPICAL SPORTSWEAR
                                        INT'L CORPORATION

                                        By 
                                           ------------------------------
                                                 [Title]

                                        THE SELLING SECURITYHOLDERS

                                        By 
                                           ------------------------------
                                                 Attorney-in-Fact

The foregoing Agreement is hereby 



                                      -35-
<PAGE>   36

confirmed and accepted as of the 
date first above written.

PRUDENTIAL SECURITIES INCORPORATED
OPPENHEIMER & CO., INC.

By PRUDENTIAL SECURITIES INCORPORATED

   
By 
   ------------------------------
         Jean-Claude Canfin
         Managing Director
    

For itself and on behalf of the Representatives.


                                      -36-
<PAGE>   37
                                   SCHEDULE 1

                                  UNDERWRITERS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                                Number of Firm
                                                                                Securities to
Underwriter                                                                     be Purchased
- -----------                                                                     --------------
<S>                                                                             <C>
Prudential Securities Incorporated............................................
Oppenheimer & Co., Inc........................................................
                                                                                --------------
Total.......................................................................... 4,000,000
</TABLE>




                                      -37-
<PAGE>   38


                                   SCHEDULE 2

                             SELLING SECURITYHOLDERS

   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                   Number of Firm                Number of Option
Selling Securityholder                       Securities to be Purchased     Securities to be Purchased
- ----------------------                       --------------------------     --------------------------
<S>                                          <C>                            <C>
Accel, S.A. de C.V.                                     650,000                       100,450

Schakale Internacional, S.A.                          1,750,000                       499,550

                                                      ---------                       -------
                                                      2,400,000                       600,000
                                                      =========                       =======
</TABLE>
    

                                      -38-

<PAGE>   1
                                                                    EXHIBIT 4.1

<TABLE>
<S>                                                                 <C>
COMMON STOCK                                                        COMMON STOCK



INCORPORATED UNDER THE LAWS OF                 TSI
THE STATE OF FLORIDA                 TROPICAL SPORTSWEAR INC.          CUSIP 
                                                         SEE REVERSE FOR CERTAIN DEFINITIONS
</TABLE>

THIS CERTIFIES THAT





IS THE OWNER OF


 FULLY PAID AND NON-ASSESSABLE SHARES OF COMMON STOCK, PAR VALUE OF $0.01 PER
                                   SHARE, OF

=====================TROPICAL SPORTSWEAR INT'L CORPORATION======================

transferable on the books of the Corporation in person or by attorney duly
authorized in writing upon surrender of this certificate properly endorsed. 
This certificate and the shares represented hereby are issued and shall be held
subject to all the provisions of the Corporation's Amended and Restated 
Articles of Incorporation and any amendments thereof, copies of which are on 
file with the Transfer Agent, to all the provisions of which the holder hereof
by acceptance of this certificate assents.

This certificate is not valid until countersigned by the Transfer Agent and
registered by the Registrar.

WITNESS the facsimile signatures of its duly authorized officers.


Dated:  /s/ Michael Kagan                                  
      --------------------------           /s/
          SECRETARY                        CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD

                                           AUTHORIZED SIGNATURE

COUNTERSIGNED AND REGISTERED:

  FIRSTAR TRUST COMPANY
   (MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN)                                                      
                                                            
BY:                                        TRANSFER AGENT   
                                           AND REGISTRAR    
<PAGE>   2





     Tropical Sportswear Int'l Corporation (the "Company") will furnish to any
holder of its Common Stock or Preferred Stock, upon request and without charge, 
a full statement of the designations, preferences and relative participating,
optional or other special rights of each class of stock and the qualifications,
limitations or restrictions of such designations, preferences and/or rights.

     The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription on the face of
this Certificate, shall be construed as though they were written out in full
according to applicable laws or regulations:
<TABLE>
     <S>                                                <C>
     TEN COM -- as tenants in common                    UNIF GIFT MIN ACT -- ____________ Custodian _____________
                                                                                (Cust)                 (Minor)    
     TEN ENT -- as tenants by the entireties                                 under Uniform Gifts to Minors Act

     JT TEN  -- as joint tenants with right of
                survivorship and not as tenants                              ___________________________________
                in common                                                                  (State)

                                                        UNIF TRANS MIN ACT -- ____________ Custodian _____________
                                                                                (Cust)                 (Minor)    
                                                                             under Uniform Transfers to Minors Act
                                                                             _____________________________________
                                                                                           (State) 
</TABLE>

    Additional abbreviations may also be used though not in the above list.

  For value received, ________________ hereby sell, assign and transfer unto

PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR OTHER
   IDENTIFYING NUMBER OF ASSIGNEE
- -----------------------------------------

- -----------------------------------------


- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 (PLEASE PRINT OR TYPEWRITE NAME AND ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, OF ASSIGNEE)


- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------


- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------


- ------------------------------------------------------------------------ shares
of the capital stock represented by the within Certificate, and do hereby
irrevocably constitute and appoint

                                                                        
______________________________________________________________________ Attorney
to transfer the said stock on the books of the within named Corporation with 
full power of substitution in the premises.

Dated _____________

Signature:    ______________________________________________________________
      NOTICE: THE SIGNATURE TO THIS ASSIGNMENT MUST CORRESPOND WITH THE NAME
              AS WRITTEN UPON THE FACE OF THE CERTIFICATE IN EVERY PARTICULAR,
              WITHOUT ALTERATION OR ENLARGEMENT OR ANY CHANGE WHATEVER.

SIGNATURE(S) GUARANTEED:_____________________________________________________
                         THE SIGNATURE(S) SHOULD BE GUARANTEED BY AN ELIGIBLE
                         GUARANTOR INSTITUTION (BANKS, STOCKBROKERS, SAVINGS
                         AND LOAN ASSOCIATIONS AND CREDIT UNIONS WITH 
                         MEMBERSHIP IN AN APPROVED SIGNATURE GUARANTEE
                         MEDALLION PROGRAM) PURSUANT TO S.E.C. RULE 17Ad-15.


<PAGE>   1
                                                                     EXHIBIT 4.2

                             SHAREHOLDERS' AGREEMENT

         THIS SHAREHOLDERS' AGREEMENT ("Agreement"), dated as of September 29,
1997, is made by and among Tropical Sportswear Int'l, Inc., a Florida
Corporation (the "Corporation"), William W. Compton, an individual resident of
the State of Florida ("Compton"); the Compton Family Limited Partnership, a
Nevada limited partnership (the "Compton Partnership"); Michael Kagan, an
individual resident of the State of Florida; the Kagan Family Limited
Partnership, a Nevada limited partnership (the "Kagan Partnership"); Shakale
Internacional, S.A., a company organized under the laws of Costa Rica
("Shakale"); and Accel, S.A. de C.V., a Mexican Corporation ("Accel") (Compton,
the Compton Partnership, Kagan, the Kagan Partnership, Shakale and Accel are
sometimes referred to herein individually as a "Shareholder" and collectively as
the "Shareholders".).

         WHEREAS, the Shareholders together currently own or control all of the
issued and outstanding shares of common stock, $.01 par value (the "Common
Shares"), of the Corporation;

         WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 4.2 of the Corporation's Amended and
Restated Articles of Incorporation (the "Restated Articles"), each of the
Shareholders may become entitled, upon the effectiveness of this Agreement, to
certain special nomination rights with respect to the election of one or more
directors of the Corporation; and

         WHEREAS, the Shareholders deem it advisable and in the best interests
of themselves and the Corporation to enter into this Agreement in order to help
secure the continuity and stability of management of the Corporation by voting
together with respect to the election of the nominees of the respective
Shareholders pursuant to Section 4.2 of the Restated Articles.

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises contained
herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and
sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as
follows:


<PAGE>   2



                                    ARTICLE I

                     VOTING ON ELECTION OF SPECIAL NOMINEES

         Upon the effectiveness of this Agreement, each of the Shareholders
agrees to vote, or cause to be voted, any and all of the Common Shares held
thereby, or by any Affiliate (as hereafter defined) thereof, and eligible to
vote at any meeting of shareholders of the Corporation, or any adjournment
thereof, "for" the election as a director of each nominee of any Shareholder
pursuant to its special nomination rights under Section 4.2 of the Restated
Articles of the Corporation. Notwithstanding the foregoing, each Shareholder (i)
shall not be restricted in any way from voting any and all Common Shares held or
controlled, thereby in its sole discretion on all other matters to be voted on
by the shareholders of the Corporation at any annual or special meeting, and any
adjournments thereof, including the election of directors (other than with
respect to nominees pursuant to Section 4.2 of the Restated Articles), and (ii)
except as otherwise set forth in Article II below, shall be entitled to sell,
pledge or otherwise transfer or dispose of any Common Shares (or the control of
any Common Shares) he or it may now own or hereafter acquire without any
restrictions or limitations whatsoever. For purposes of this Agreement, an
"Affiliate" of any person or entity shall mean any person or entity that
directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries controls, is
controlled by, or is under common control with such person or entity.


                                   ARTICLE II

                            RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER

         Each of the Shareholders covenants and agrees that, in the event he or
it transfers to any Affiliate, whether by sale, gift, assignment, hypothecation
or otherwise, any of his or its Common Shares (or any right or interest
therein), the Affiliate shall hold the Common Shares (or right or interest
therein) subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement. Each Shareholder
agrees to require any Affiliate, prior to effecting any transfer thereto, to
execute and deliver an appropriate addendum to this


                                       2


<PAGE>   3

Agreement pursuant to which such Affiliate agrees to be bound by the terms of
this Agreement. Each Shareholder also agrees to notify the Corporation in
writing of any proposed transfer to an Affiliate of the Shareholder prior to
effecting such transfer to the Affiliate. Upon receipt of such written notice,
the Corporation shall not transfer any such Common Shares on the share transfer
records of the Corporation unless and until such Affiliate has agreed to be
bound by the terms of this Agreement by executing and delivering an appropriate
addendum to this Agreement to such effect.

                                   ARTICLE III

                                  EFFECTIVENESS

         This Agreement shall become effective upon the consummation by the
Corporation of the sale of shares of its capital stock to the underwriters
pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement referred to in the prospectus included in
the registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
covering the Corporation's initial public offering when such registration
statement is declared effective.

                                   ARTICLE IV

                                  MISCELLANEOUS

      a. Termination. This Agreement shall terminate upon the first to occur of
the following:

         (1)      The written agreement of all parties hereto;

         (2)      The termination of Section 4.2 of the Restated Articles of
                  Incorporation of the Corporation by amendment;

         (3)      Such time as only one Shareholder owns Common Shares, the
                  shares of all others having been sold or otherwise
                  transferred;

         (4)      Such time as Section 4.2 of the Restated Articles of
                  Incorporation of the Corporation no longer


                                       3

<PAGE>   4
                  gives rise to any special nomination rights pursuant to the
                  terms thereof; or

         (5)      With respect to a particular party upon the first to occur of
                  (i) such time as Section 4.2 of the Restated Articles of
                  Incorporation no longer gives rise to any special nomination
                  rights in respect of such party, or (ii) the written agreement
                  of all parties; provided, however, that upon such termination,
                  such party shall not be entitled to any further rights
                  hereunder and no party shall have any further obligations to
                  such party hereunder.

         (6)      A consolidation or merger of the Corporation with or into
                  another corporation (other than a merger in which the
                  Corporation is the continuing or surviving corporation) or the
                  sale or conveyance of all or substantially of the assets of
                  the Corporation to a third party.

      b. Further Acts. Each party to this Agreement agrees to perform such
further acts and execute and deliver such further documents as may be reasonably
necessary to carry out the provisions of this Agreement.

      c. Amendments. The provisions of this Agreement may be waived, altered,
amended or repealed, in whole or in part, only upon the written consent of all
parties to this Agreement.

      d. Notices. All notices, requests, demands, and other communications under
this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be delivered either by hand or by
facsimile or overnight courier. All notices, requests, demands and other
communications shall be deemed to have been duly given on the date of service if
served personally on the party to whom notice is to be given, upon delivery if
delivered by overnight courier to the party to whom notice is to be given, or
within seventy-two (72) hours after communication by facsimile, provided that a
copy is mailed promptly to the party to whom notice is to be given, by first
class United States Mail (or the equivalent of such service in the United
Mexican States), registered or certified receipt requested,

                                       4

<PAGE>   5

postage prepaid, and properly addressed to the party at his or its address set
forth on the signature page of this Agreement, or any other address that the
party may designate by written notice in accordance with the provisions of this
Section to the others.

         e. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which
together shall constitute one and the same original instrument.

         f. Entire Agreement. This Agreement contains the entire understanding
between the parties hereto concerning the subject matter hereof. There are no
representations, agreements, arrangements, or understandings, oral or written,
between or among the parties hereto, relating to the subject matter hereof,
which are not fully expressed herein.

         g. Attorney's Fees. In the event that any party hereto shall institute
any litigation or other proceeding in order to construe or enforce this
Agreement, the prevailing party therein shall be entitled to recover its
reasonable attorneys' fees and costs incurred in connection therewith.

            IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of
the 29th day of September, 1997.

                                             THE CORPORATION:

                                             TROPICAL SPORTSWEAR INT'L, INC.

                                             By: /S/ MICHAEL KAGAN
                                                 -------------------------
                                             Name: MICHAEL KAGAN

                                             Title: EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT

                                             Address: 4902 West Waters Avenue
                                                       Tampa, Florida 33634-1302

                                             Fax No.:(813) 249-4904



                                       5


<PAGE>   6


                                             SHAREHOLDERS:

                                             /S/ WILLIAM W. COMPTON
                                                 ---------------------------
                                                 WILLIAM W. COMPTON

                                             Address: 4902 West Waters Avenue
                                                       Tampa, Florida 33634-1302

                                             Fax No.:(813) 249-4904


                                             COMPTON FAMILY LIMITED
                                             PARTNERSHIP

                                             By: /S/ WILLIAM W. COMPTON
                                                 ---------------------------
                                             Name: WILLIAM W. COMPTON

                                             Title: GENERAL PARTNER

                                             Address:

                                             Fax No.:


                                             /S/ MICHAEL KAGAN
                                             -------------------------------
                                             MICHAEL KAGAN

                                             Address: 4902 West Waters Avenue
                                                       Tampa, Florida 33634-1302

                                             Fax No.:(813) 249-4904


                                       6




<PAGE>   7



                                             KAGAN FAMILY LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

                                             By: /S/ MICHAEL KAGAN
                                                 -------------------------
                                             Name: MICHAEL KAGAN

                                             Title: GENERAL PARTNER

                                             Address:

                                             Fax No.:


                                             SHAKALE INTERNACIONAL, S.A.

                                             By: /S/ HELENE S. COHEN
                                                 -------------------------
                                             Name: HELENE S. COHEN

                                             Title:  SECRETARY

                                             Address: 6750 Hillcrest Plaza Drive
                                                       Suite 308
                                                       Dallas, Texas 75230

                                             Fax No.: (972) 233-7311


                                             ACCEL, S.A. de C.V.

                                             By: /S/ JESUS ALVAREZ-MORODO
                                                 -------------------------
                                             Name:  JESUS ALVAREZ-MORODO

                                             Title:  CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

                                             Address: Virginia Fabregas No. 80,
                                                       Col. San Rafael, 06470
                                                       Mexico, D.F.

                                             Fax No.: 52-5-705-5559


                                       7


<PAGE>   1
                                                            EXHIBIT 10.6


                              EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

   
        THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") is entered into as of,
August 8, 1997, to become effective as of the Effective Date (as herein defined)
by and between TROPICAL SPORTSWEAR INT'L CORPORATION, a Florida corporation (the
"Company"), and RICHARD J. DOMINO (the "Employee").
    


                                   RECITALS:

        In entering into this Agreement, the Company desires to provide the
Employee with substantial incentives to serve the Company without distraction
or concern over minimum compensation, benefits or tenure, to develop and
implement the Company's business plan and to manage the Company's future growth
and development and to maximize the returns to the Company's stockholders.

        NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual
provisions contained herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the
parties hereto agree with each other as follows:

1.      EMPLOYMENT
   
        A.      On the terms and subject to the conditions hereinafter set
forth, and beginning as of the Effective Date, the Company will employ the
Employee as President of Company and the Employee will serve in the Company's
employ in that position. The Employee shall perform such duties, and have such
powers, authority, functions, duties and responsibilities for the Company and
corporations Affiliated with the Company as are commensurate and consistent
with the employment as President of the Company. The Employee also shall have
such additional powers, authority, functions, duties and responsibilities as
may be assigned to him by the Chief Executive Officer.

        B.      The Employee shall not, at any time during the Term of
Employment, engage in any other activities unless these activities do not
interfere materially with the Employee's duties and responsibilities for the
Company at that time.

2.      EFFECTIVE DATE

        The Effective Date means the closing date of the sales of shares of the
Common Stock to the underwriters in the Company's initial public offering.
<PAGE>   2
3. TERM OF EMPLOYMENT
   
        The Initial Term of the Employee's Employment shall be for a period of
three (3) years commencing on the Effective Date. The Renewal Term shall
commence two (2) years from the Effective Date and renew each day thereafter for
an additional day without further action from the Company or the Employee, it
being the intention of the parties that from the Effective Date there shall be a
three (3) year duration and from the second (2nd) anniversary of the Effective 
Date there shall be a continuously remaining term of one (1) year duration of 
the Employee's Employment. In the event that Employee's Employment hereunder
shall not have otherwise been terminated, such Employment shall terminate at 
the end of the Company's fiscal year in which the Employee reaches age 
sixty-five (65).

4. COMPENSATION

        A.      BASE SALARY. A Base Salary shall be payable to the Employee by
the Company as a guaranteed minimum annual amount hereunder for each
Compensation Year during the period from the Effective Date to the Termination
Date. That Base Salary shall be payable in the intervals consistent with the
Company's normal payroll schedules (but in no event less frequently than
semi-monthly) and shall be payable initially at the annual rate of $225,000.00.
    

        On the first and each subsequent anniversary of the Company's fiscal
year, the Base Salary shall be increased by the greater of the same percentage
increase (if any) in the CPI for the twelve (12) month period immediately
preceding such anniversary or such amount that the Board of Directors shall
determine. The first such increase will be made on September 30, 1997. "CPI"
means for any period the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers-All Items
Index for Tampa, Florida (or any substantially similar index published for the
same area), as published by the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of
Labor Statistics (or its successor) for that period.

   
        B.      ANNUAL CASH BONUS. The Annual Cash Bonus shall be calculated
as of the end of the Company's fiscal year. (The first such calculation will be
made as of September 30, 1997, the first fiscal year end of the Company after
the Effective Date.) The Annual Cash Bonus shall be paid to the Employee within
one hundred and eighty (180) days of the beginning of each fiscal year. The
Employee's target Annual Cash Bonus shall be fifty percent (50%) of Base
Salary. However, Employee may earn an actual Annual Cash Bonus of between
fifty percent (50%) and two hundred percent (200%) of the target Annual
Cash Bonus. If the Company does not meet the threshold level of performance,
the Annual Cash Bonus will be zero percent (0%) of Base Salary. At the minimum
performance threshold, the Annual Cash Bonus will be fifty percent (50%) of the
target Annual Cash Bonus. If the Company reaches or exceeds the maximum level of
performance, Employee's   
    
<PAGE>   3
Annual Cash Bonus will be two-hundred fifty percent (250%) of the target Annual
Cash Bonus (said 250%) times the aforesaid 40% resulting in a capping of the
Annual Cash Bonus at 100% of Base Salary.

        For purposes of determining the Employee's Annual Cash Bonus, the
Company's average Return on Total Capital Employed (ROCE), as determined over
a four year period, will be calculated and then compared against an average
target ROCE as calculated for a select group of companies over the same period.
The select group of companies shall be those listed on Exhibit B; provided,
however that if the parties agree that one or more of the selected companies
becomes unrepresentative or otherwise unsuitable or unavailable for comparison,
the parties shall select a reasonable substitute. If the parties are unable to
agree upon a reasonable substitute they shall agree on a third party such as a
disinterested and nationally recognized accounting firm that shall make the
recommendation which shall be binding. The average target ROCE for the select
group of twenty (20) publicly traded apparel companies, excluding the Company,
for which financial data are readily available will be calculated by
determining the ROCE each year for each company in the select group and then
determining the average ROCE for each company over the four year period. Next,
the companies are ranked based upon the four year average ROCE for each
company. The seventy-fifth percentile of the four year average ROCE of the
select group is the average ROCE for a company on the list which, excluding the
Company, results in five companies from the select group being above and
fifteen companies for the select group being below the Company's average ROCE.
That average ROCE (i.e. the seventy-fifth percentile) then becomes the target
ROCE ("TROCE") for purposes of comparing the Company's average ROCE.

        A four year average ROCE for the Company is then calculated in the same
fashion that the average ROCE is calculated for the select group of companies.
If the four year average ROCE for the Company is equal to or greater than
eighty-five percent (85%) of the TROCE, Employee's Annual Cash Bonus is fifty
percent (50%) of the target Annual Cash Bonus. If the four year average ROCE
for the Company is at least one-hundred and thirty percent (130%) of the TROCE,
Employee's Annual Cash Bonus is two-hundred fifty percent (250%) of the target
Annual Cash Bonus. If the four year average ROCE for the Company is between
eighty-five percent (85%) of the TROCE and one-hundred and thirty percent
(130%) of the TROCE, the Annual Cash Bonus will be determined by straight line
interpolation (as more particularly described in the formula attached as
Exhibit A and incorporated herein by reference). Exhibit A attached hereto and
incorporated by reference is an example of the foregoing methodology, correctly
applied. The seventy-fifth percentile of the average ROCE's is 16.58. This is
the TROCE. The Company's average ROCE is 20.16% or 122% of the TROCE.
Accordingly, the Employee's Annual Cash Bonus is 94.66% of Base Salary.
<PAGE>   4
ROCE is defined as net income plus tax adjusted interest expense divided by
beginning shareholder equity plus average total debt. The average total debt
will be calculated on an annual basis and will reflect all interest bearing
liabilities, including off balance sheet items. Net income will be final net
income as reported under GAAP and will not exclude any unusual or extraordinary
items such as gains or losses recognized from the sale of assets, write downs,
etc. The interest expense will include all interest paid by the Company and
will be adjusted to reflect the Company's tax rate for the performance year.

        C.      LIMITATIONS ON PAYMENTS. Notwithstanding any other provision of
this Agreement, if any portion of any payment under this Agreement, or under any
other agreement with or plan of the Company or its affiliates (in the aggregate
"Total Payments"), would constitute an "excess parachute payment," then the
Total Payments to be made to the Employee shall be reduced such that the value
of the aggregate Total Payments that the Employee is entitled to receive shall
be One Dollar ($1) less than the maximum amount which the Employee may receive
without becoming subject to the tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code") or which the Company may pay
without loss of deduction under Section 280G(a) of the Code. For purposes of
this Agreement, the terms "excess parachute payment" and "parachute payments"
shall have the meaning assigned to them in Section 280G of the Code, and such
"parachute payments" shall be valued as provided therein. Present value for
purposes of this Agreement shall be calculated in accordance with Section
1274(b)(2) of the Code. Within fifteen (15) days following the Date of
Termination or notice by the Company to the Employee of its belief that there is
a payment or benefit due the Employee which will result in an excess parachute
payment as defined in Section 280G of the Code, the Employee and the Company, at
the Company's expense, shall obtain the opinion (which need not be unqualified)
of nationally recognized tax counsel selected by the Company's independent
auditors and acceptable to the Employee in his sole discretion (which may be
regular outside counsel to the Company), which opinion sets forth (i) the amount
of the Base Period Income, (ii) the amount and present value of Total Payments
and (iii) the amount and present value of any excess parachute payments
determined without regard to the limitations of this paragraph. As used in this
Agreement, the term "Base Period Income" means an amount equal to the Employee's
"annualized includible compensation for the base period" as defined in Section
280G(d)(1) of the Code. For purposes of such opinion, the value of any noncash
benefits or any deferred payment or benefit shall be determined by the Company's
independent auditors in accordance with the principles of Sections 280(G)(d)(3)
and (4) of the Code, which determination shall be evidenced in a certificate of
such auditors addressed to the Company and the Employee. If such opinion
determines that there would be an excess parachute payment, any payment or
benefit determined by such counsel to be includible in Total Payments shall be
reduced or eliminated as specified by the Employee in writing delivered to the
Company within five (5) days of his receipt of such opinion or, if the Employee
fails to so notify the 
<PAGE>   5
Company, then as the Company shall reasonably determine, so that under the
bases of calculations set forth in such opinion there will be excess parachute
payment. If such legal counsel so requests in connection with the opinion
required by this paragraph, the Employee and the Company shall obtain at the
Company's expense, and the legal counsel may rely on in providing the opinion,
the advice of a firm of recognized executive compensation to be received by the
Employee. If the provisions of Sections 280G and 4999 of the Code are repealed
without succession, then this paragraph shall be of no further force or effect.

5.      TERMINATION

        A.      TERMINATION BY COMPANY WITH CAUSE. The Company may terminate
Employee at any time with notice for "cause." "Cause" shall mean and be
limited to

                (1)     any willful and persistent material breach by the
Employee of the performance of his duties pursuant to this Agreement which
continues after written notice from the Company;

                (2)     the Employee's conviction (which, through lapse of time
or otherwise is not subject to appeal) of any crime or offense involving money
or other property of the Company or others or which constitutes a felony in the
jurisdiction involved;

                (3)     any disclosure by the Employee to any person, firm or
corporation other than the Company and its directors, officers, and employees
of any material confidential information or trade secrets of the Company which
is materially detrimental to the interests of the Company and made outside the
scope of the Employee's duties to the Company;

                (4)     engaging by the Employee, without prior consent of the
Board of Directors of the Company, in any other business other than the business
of the Company which interferes in any material respect with the performance of
Employee's duties;

                (5)     fraud on the Company;

                (6)     material misrepresentation by the Employee to any
officer or director of the Company;

                (7)     theft of any property of the Company;

                (8)     chronic alcoholism;
<PAGE>   6
                (9)     or drug addiction.
   
"Cause" does not include substandard performance or nonperformance by the
Employee. If the employment of the Employee is terminated by the Company for
cause, the Employee will not be entitled to any severance or separation benefits
and Employee's salary, bonus, benefits and business expense reimbursements shall
cease as of the date of termination. All salary, bonuses on a prorata basis,
benefits and business expense reimbursements that are due to the Employee
hereunder and not paid up to the date of such termination shall be paid to the
Employee within forty-five (45) days of such termination.

        B.      TERMINATION BY THE COMPANY WITHOUT CAUSE. In the event the
Employee is terminated without cause by the Company, the Employee shall be
entitled to receive Annual Base Salary, at Employee's then present Annual Base
Salary rate, through the first to occur of (1) the date the Employee obtains
subsequent employment (whether self-employment or employment by a third party)
and (2) the remaining term under this Agreement; provided, however, that if the
Employee obtains employment (whether self-employment or employment by a third
party) prior to the expiration of the remaining term under the Agreement, the
Company shall pay to Employee the difference, if any, between (i) Employee's
Annual Base Salary rate at the time of termination by the Company without cause,
minus (ii) Employee's annual cash compensation rate from his new employment. All
such payments under the provision shall be made on a bi-weekly basis. In no
event shall the Company be obligated to make a lump-sum payment to Employee. The
Employee shall also be entitled to the medical benefits he was receiving on the
date of such termination for an additional twelve (12) months from the date of
termination; provided; however, such medical benefits shall cease immediately
upon the subsequent employment or self-employment of the Employee, whichever
first occurs. No other benefits other than those specified herein will be
available to the Employee if the Employee is terminated without cause by the
Company.
 
        C.      TERMINATION BY EMPLOYEE. In the event that the Employee's
employment with the Company hereunder is terminated other than by the Company
(e.g., death, disability or resignation) Employee shall not be entitled to any
severance or other separation benefits and Employee's salary, bonus and other 
benefits shall cease as of termination.
    

        D.      NON-COMPETITION.

                (1)     The Employee shall not divulge or communicate to any
                        person (except in performing his duties under this
                        agreement) or use for his own purpose Confidential
                        Information which is not generally known to the public
                        and shall use his best efforts to prevent the
                        publication or disclosure by any other person of any
                        such Confidential Information. Information shall be
                        deemed not to be Confidential Information if it has
                        become known to the public generally through no act or
                        fault of the Employee. All documents and objects made,
                        complied, received or held or used by Employee in
                        connection with the business of the Company during the
                        employment shall be and remain the Company's property.

<PAGE>   7
   
        (2)     In the event that Employee terminates his employment with
Company or in the event that the Company terminates the Employee for cause, the
Employee agrees that, except as otherwise provided herein, during the Employment
and for a period of one year after the termination of such employee. Employee
will not directly or indirectly, whether or not for compensation and whether or
not as an employee, be engaged in or have any impermissible financial interest
in any business that is engaged in the merchandising, manufacturing,
distribution or marketing of men's casual pants, shorts and jeans (a "competing
business"). For purpose of this Agreement, the Employee shall not be deemed to
be engaged in a competing business if Employee is employed by a division or
subsidiary or similar business unit of a company or other business entity that
would otherwise be deemed a competing business so long as the division,
subsidiary or similar business unit by which the Employee is employed is
accounted for as a separate profit center and does not engage in a competing
business, and Employee's ownership interest, if any is not an impermissible
financial interest. For purposes of this Agreement, the Employee shall be deemed
to be engaged in a competing business if Employee is an employee, officer,
director, partner or consultant of such competing business or has an
impermissible financial interest therein. For purposes of this Agreement, the
Employee shall be deemed to have an impermissible financial interest in
competing business if Employee is a partner or shareholder directly or
indirectly, therein, except as provided hereinafter. Employee shall not be
deemed to have an impermissible financial interest in any competing publicly
traded or privately held business so long as Employee owns less than five
percent (5%) of any class of securities of such publicy-traded or privately
held company and is not an officer, director, partner, employee or consultant
thereto, except as to holding an office or being an employee, as otherwise
provided in the "employed by a division . . ." sentence above. 
    

        (3)     The Employee recognizes that during the Employment and for a
period of two (2) years after the Date of Termination, Employee shall not employ
any person who was employed by the Company or any of its controlled Affiliates
on the Termination Date, or induce such Person to accept employment other than
with the Company or its subsidiaries.

<PAGE>   8
                (4)     The Employee recognizes that a breach of his
obligations under this paragraphs(1) through (3) above would cause irreparable
harm to the Company and, provided that as a pre-condition the Company has
previously tendered all sums that are due and payable to the Employee under the
terms of this Agreement, the Company shall be entitled to preliminary and
permanent injunctions enjoining violations as a non-exclusive remedy.

6.      OTHER EMPLOYEE RIGHTS

        A.      PAID VACATION; HOLIDAYS. The Employee shall be entitled to not
less than four (4) weeks of annual vacation and all legal holidays during which
times his applicable compensation shall be paid in full.

        B.      FRINGE BENEFITS. During the term of this agreement, the
Employee is entitled to the same level of fringe benefits previously and
currently provided to Employee by the Company including but not limited to a
company car for business and personal use, health insurance, dental insurance,
disability insurance, and life insurance.

        C.      BUSINESS EXPENSES. The Employee is authorized to incur, and
will be entitled to receive prompt reimbursement for, all reasonable expenses
incurred by the Employee in performing his duties and carrying out his
responsibilities hereunder, including air fare and hotels, business meals,
entertainment and travel expenses, provided that the Employee complies with the
applicable policies, practices and procedures of the Company relating to the
submission of expense reports, receipts or similar documentation of those
expenses. The Company shall either pay directly or promptly reimburse the
Employee for such expenses not more than twenty (20) days after the submission
to the Company by the Employee from time to time of an itemized accounting of
such expenditures for which direct payment or reimbursement is sought.

7.      GENERAL PROVISION

        A.      GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement shall be construed and regulated
under and by the laws of the State of Florida. Personal jurisdiction for any
proceeding brought pursuant to this Agreement shall be vested in the
appropriate County or Circuit Court of the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit in and
for Hillsborough County, Florida, or the Federal District Court of the Middle 
District of Florida, Hillsborough County Division. Venue for any legal action 
authorized hereunder shall be in Hillsborough County, Florida.
<PAGE>   9
        B.      SEVERABILITY. If any provision of this Agreement is deemed to
be unenforceable in accordance with its term, but would be considered
enforceable if the time period or geographic area of its effect is reduced,
then such provision shall be so reduced with the excessive aspects of the
offending provisions deemed severed and deleted from this Agreement with the
Agreement enforceable in full in accordance with its terms as so modified.

        C.      NOTICES. Whenever notice is required to be given hereunder,
written notice mailed or delivered to the Company at 4902 West Waters Avenue,
Tampa, Florida 33634 (if intended for the Company), or such other address as
the Company shall furnish in writing, shall constitute sufficient notice to the
Company; and written notice mailed or delivered to Employee at 12018 Brewster
Drive, Tampa, FL 33626, or such other place as may be designated by Employee in
writing, shall constitute sufficient notice to Employee. Where "the Company" or
"Employee" consists of more than one party, notice to one shall constitute
notice to all.

        D.      WAIVER OF MODIFICATION. No waiver or modification of this
Agreement or of any covenant, condition, or limitation herein contained shall
be valid unless in writing and duly executed by the party to be charged
therewith. Furthermore, no evidence of any waiver or modification shall be
offered or received in evidence in any proceeding, arbitration or litigation
between the parties arising out of or affecting this Agreement or the rights
or obligations of any party hereunder, unless such waiver or modification is in
writing and duly executed as aforesaid. The provisions of this paragraph may
not be waived except as herein set forth.

        E.      ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement constitutes the entire
agreement of the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter of this
Agreement, and supersedes any and all previous agreements, negotiations and
promises between the parties, whether written or oral, with respect to such
subject matter.

        F.      AMENDMENT. No amendment of any provision of this Agreement
shall be effective unless it is in writing and signed by the party against whom
it is sought to be enforced, and then such waiver or amendment shall be
effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which
it is given.

<PAGE>   10
        G.      ASSIGNMENTS.  Employee may not directly or indirectly transfer
or assign any of its rights or obligations hereunder without prior written
consent of the Company, which consent may be given or withheld in the Company's
sole and exclusive discretion, and any such attempted assignment or transfer by
Employee without the Company's consent shall be void. Except as otherwise
provided herein, this Agreement shall bind and inure to the benefit of the
Company and its successors and assigns and Employee and its successors,
permitted assigns, heirs, devisees and legal representatives, as the case 
may be.

        H.      SECTION HEADINGS.  Section, subsection and similar headings
contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not in
any way affect the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.

        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed and delivered this
Agreement as of the day and year indicated above.

   
                                        TROPICAL SPORTSWEAR INT'L
                                        CORPORATION
    

                                        By: -----------------------------------

                                        Its: ----------------------------------

                                        EMPLOYEE

                                        ---------------------------------------
                                        Richard J. Domino
                                        Employee's Permanent Address:
                                        12018 Brewster Drive
                                        Tampa, FL 33626

<PAGE>   1
                                                                    EXHIBIT 21.1

                                   SUBSIDIARIES OF
                       TROPICAL SPORTSWEAR INT'L CORPORATION*

Name of Entity                              State of Incorporation
- --------------                              -----------------------

Apparel Network Corporation                 Florida
 (dba The Store)

Tropical Sportswear Company, Inc.           Delaware






- -----------
*  Upon consummation of the tax-free restructuring of the Company to be
   effected prior to the completion of the Offering.




<PAGE>   1

                                  EXHIBIT 23.2


              CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS



We consent to the reference to our firm under the caption "Experts" and to the
use of our report dated August 15, 1997, except as to the third paragraph of 
Note 13, as to which the date is October __, 1997, in Amendment No. 1 to the 
Registration Statement (Form S-1 No. 333-33729) and related Prospectus of
Tropical Sportswear Int'l Corporation for the registration of 4,000,000 shares
of its common stock.




                                                       Ernst & Young LLP




Tampa, Florida
October __, 1997

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The foregoing consent is in the form that will be signed upon the completion of
the restatement of capital accounts described in Note 13 to the financial
statements.



                                                       /s/ Ernst & Young LLP


Tampa, Florida
September 29, 1997


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