CONE MILLS CORPORATION 3101 NORTH ELM STREET GREENSBORO, NC 27408 June 16, 2000 VIA EDGAR Securities and Exchange Commission 450 5th ST NW Washington, D.C. 20001 RE: Cone Mills Corporation (the "Registrant") - Form 11K The 401(k) Program of Cone Mills Corporation Cone Mills Corporation Employee Equity Plan Gentlemen: On behalf of the Registrant and pursuant to Rule 15d of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. I hereby file the annual report on Form 11-K of Cone Mills Corporation The 401(k) Program of Cone Mills Corporation/Cone Mills Corporation Employee Equity Plan. These reports are being transmitted by EDGAR pursuant to General Instruction E of Form 11-K and Rule 101(b)(3) of Regulation S-T. If there are any questions or comments regarding the contents of the materials in this transmission, please contact the undersigned, telephone 336.379.6568. Sincerely, CONE MILLS CORPORATION /s/ Neil W. Koonce Title: Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary Enclosures c: Schell Bray Aycock Abel & Livingston, LLP (w/enclosures) McGladrey & Pullen, LLP (w/enclosures) New York Stock Exchange (w/enclosures) UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549 FORM 11-K (Mark One) (X) ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 [NO FEE REQUIRED, EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 7, 1996] For the fiscal year ended December 31, 1999 OR ( ) TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 [NO FEE REQUIRED] For the transition period from to Commission file number 1-3634 A. Full title of the plan and the address of the plan, if different from that of the issuer named above: The 401(k) Program of Cone Mills Corporation Cone Mills Corporation Employee Equity Plan B. Name of issuer of the securities held pursuant to the plan and the address of its principal executive office. CONE MILLS CORPORATION 3101 North Elm Street Greensboro, NC 27408 THE 401(k) PROGRAM OF CONE MILLS CORPORATION FINANCIAL REPORT DECEMBER 31, 1999 Contents INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT 1 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Statements of net assets available for benefits 2-3 Statements of changes in net assets available for benefits 4-5 Notes to financial statements 6-12 McGLADREY & PULLEN, LLP CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTS INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT To the Advisory Committee The 401(k) Program of Cone Mills Corporation Greensboro, North Carolina We have audited the accompanying statements of net assets available for benefits of The 401(k) Program of Cone Mills Corporation (Plan #003) as of December 31, 1999, and 1998, and the related statements of changes in net assets available for benefits for the year ended December 31, 1999 and for the period June 1, 1998 through December 31, 1998. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Plan'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 net assets available for benefits of The 401(k) Program of Cone Mills Corporation as of December 31, 1999 and 1998, and the changes in net assets available for benefits for the year ended December 31, 1999 and the period June 1, 1998 through December 31, 1998 in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles. Our audit was made for the purpose of forming an opinion on the basic financial statements taken as a whole. The Fund Information in the statements of net assets available for benefits and changes in net assets available for benefits is presented for purposes of additional analysis rather than to present the net assets available and changes in net assets available of each fund. The Fund Information has been subject to the auditing procedures applied in the audit of the basic financial statements and in our opinion, is fairly stated in all material respects in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole. /s/ McGladrey & Pullen, LLP McGLADREY & PULLEN, LLP Greensboro, North Carolina April 27, 2000 The 401(k) Program of Cone Mills Corporation Statement of Net Assets Available for Benefits With Fund Information December 31, 1999 ------------------------------------------------------------------ Vanguard Vanguard Vanguard Vanguard Vanguard International LifeStrategy Small-Cap Total Bond 500 Index Growth Moderate Index Market Index Fund Fund Growth Fund Fund Fund - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Assets: Investments, at fair value, trust funds (Note 6) $ 1,522,991 $ 224,416 $ 113,336 $ 216,861 $ 444,857 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Receivables: Employer contributions 1,432 211 107 204 418 Employee contributions 4,766 703 355 678 1,392 ------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------- 6,198 914 462 882 1,810 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Total assets $ 1,529,189 $ 225,330 $ 113,798 $ 217,743 $ 446,667 =============--==================================================== Net assets available for benefits: Amounts allocated to persons who have withdrawn from participation in the earnings and operations of the Plan $ 416,598 $ 61,386 $ 31,002 $ 59,320 $ 121,686 Other 1,112,591 163,944 82,796 158,423 324,981 ------------------------------------------------------------------- $ 1,529,189 $ 225,330 $ 113,798 $ 217,743 $ 446,667 =================================================================== --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Vanguard Vanguard Vanguard Retirement US Growth Wellington Savings Cone Mills Participant Fund Fund Trust Stock Fund Loans Total - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Assets: Investments, at fair value, trust funds (Note 6) $ 24,913,016 $ 9,198,095 $ 9,468,413 $ 9,464,296 $ 679,840 $ 56,246,121 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Receivables: Employer contributions 23,424 8,648 8,902 8,899 -- 52,245 Employee contributions 77,959 28,783 29,629 29,616 -- 173,881 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 101,383 37,431 38,531 38,515 -- 226,126 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total assets $ 25,014,399 $ 9,235,526 $ 9,506,944 $ 9,502,811 $ 679,840 $ 56,472,247 ================================================================================= Net assets available for benefits: Amounts allocated to persons who have withdrawn from participation in the earnings and operations of the Plan $ 6,814,691 $ 2,516,041 $ 2,589,984 $ 2,588,858 $ -- $ 15,199,566 Other 18,199,708 6,719,485 6,916,960 6,913,953 679,840 41,272,681 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- $ 25,014,399 $ 9,235,526 $ 9,506,944 $ 9,502,811 $ 679,840 $ 56,472,247 ================================================================================= See Notes to Financial Statements. The 401(k) Program of Cone Mills Corporation Statement of Net Assets Available for Benefits With Fund Information December 31, 1998 ------------------------------------------------------------------ Vanguard Vanguard Vanguard Vanguard Vanguard International LifeStrategy Small-Cap Total Bond 500 Index Growth Moderate Index Market Index Fund Fund Growth Fund Fund Fund - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Assets: Investments, at fair value, trust fund (Note 6) $ 617,077 $ 42,743 $ 46,581 $ 31,344 $ 855,041 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Receivables: Employer contributions 3,438 484 346 375 754 Employee contributions 11,464 1,615 1,155 1,249 2,515 ------------------------------------------------------------------- 14,902 2,099 1,501 1,624 3,269 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Total assets $ 631,979 $ 44,842 $ 48,082 $ 32,968 $ 858,310 =================================================================== Net asssets available for benefits: Amounts allocated to persons who have withdrawn from participation in the earnings and operations of the Plan $ 23,929 $ 827 $ -- $ 1,100 $ -- Other 608,050 44,015 48,082 31,868 858,310 ------------------------------------------------------------------- $ 631,979 $ 44,842 $ 48,082 $ 32,968 $ 858,310 =================================================================== --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Vanguard Vanguard Vanguard Retirement US Growth Wellington Savings Cone Mills Participant Fund Fund Trust Stock Fund Loans Total - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Assets: Investments, at fair value, trust fund (Note 6) $ 24,178,515 $ 11,312,650 $ 8,105,570 $ 12,300,898 $ 395,413 $ 57,885,832 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Receivables: Employer contributions 33,700 13,664 8,347 18,472 -- 79,580 Employee contributions 112,375 45,563 27,832 61,598 -- 265,366 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 146,075 59,227 36,179 80,070 -- 344,946 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total assets $ 24,324,590 $ 11,371,877 $ 8,141,749 $ 12,380,968 $ 395,413 $ 58,230,778 ================================================================================= Net asssets available for benefits: Amounts allocated to persons who have withdrawn from participation in the earnings and operations of the Plan $ 2,376,093 $ 1,745,903 $ 2,018,898 $ 1,432,535 $ -- $ 7,599,285 Other 21,948,497 9,625,974 6,122,851 10,948,433 395,413 50,631,493 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- $ 24,324,590 $ 11,371,877 $ 8,141,749 $ 12,380,968 $ 395,413 $ 58,230,778 ================================================================================= See Notes to Financial Statements. The 401(k) Program of Cone Mills Corporation Statement of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits With Fund Information Year Ended December 31, 1999 ------------------------------------------------------------------ Vanguard Vanguard Vanguard Vanguard Vanguard International LifeStrategy Small-Cap Total Bond 500 Index Growth Moderate Index Market Index Fund Fund Growth Fund Fund Fund ------------------------------------------------------------------- Investments income (loss): Gain(loss) on sale of investments $ 27,051 $ 545 $ 3,361 $ 2,291 $ (37,466) Unrealized appreciation (depreciation) in fair value of investments 153,453 27,260 5,606 15,711 (16,740) Dividends 22,152 11,114 4,988 18,759 44,002 Interest -- -- -- -- -- ------------------------------------------------------------------- 202,656 38,919 13,955 36,761 (10,204) ------------------------------------------------------------------- Contributions: Employer 50,605 7,199 6,539 4,922 5,500 Employee 216,539 26,878 35,345 18,845 33,578 Participant loan repayments 5,944 207 2,655 344 721 ------------------------------------------------------------------- 273,088 34,284 44,539 24,111 39,799 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Transfers with other funds 601,977 120,418 34,082 160,012 (384,172) ------------------------------------------------------------------- Total additions (reductions) 1,077,721 193,621 92,576 220,884 (354,577) ------------------------------------------------------------------- Benefits paid directly to participants 177,756 12,311 16,474 33,766 56,199 Participant loan withdrawals 1,724 707 10,207 1,202 679 Other deductions 1,031 115 179 1,141 188 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Total deductions 180,511 13,133 26,860 36,109 57,066 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Net increase (decrease) 897,210 180,488 65,716 184,775 (411,643) Net assets available for benefits: December 31, 1998 631,979 44,842 48,082 32,968 858,310 ------------------------------------------------------------------- December 31, 1999 $ 1,529,189 $ 225,330 $ 113,798 $ 217,743 $ 446,667 =================================================================== --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Vanguard Vanguard Vanguard Retirement US Growth Wellington Savings Cone Mills Participant Fund Fund Trust Stock Fund Loans Total --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Investments income (loss): Gain(loss) on sale of investments $ 433,428 $ 8,136 $ -- $ (81,672) $ -- $ 355,674 Unrealized appreciation (depreciation) in fair value of investments 3,228,340 (444,976) -- (2,306,526) -- 662,128 Dividends 1,256,834 865,671 -- 8,889 -- 2,232,409 Interest -- -- 509,447 -- 48,308 557,755 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4,918,602 428,831 509,447 (2,379,309) 48,308 3,807,966 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Contributions: Employer 316,050 135,705 80,667 215,732 -- 822,919 Employee 1,109,166 470,445 265,500 644,845 -- 2,821,141 Participant loan repayments 82,665 39,404 15,368 31,225 (178,533) -- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1,507,881 645,554 361,535 891,802 (178,533) 3,644,060 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Transfers with other funds (1,942,277) (1,543,173) 3,653,884 (700,751) -- -- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total additions (reductions) 4,484,206 (468,788) 4,524,866 (2,188,258) (130,225) 7,452,026 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Benefits paid directly to participants 3,549,804 1,572,470 3,125,095 586,122 43,410 9,173,407 Participant loan withdrawals 230,078 88,463 28,684 96,318 (458,062) -- Other deductions 14,515 6,630 5,892 7,459 -- 37,150 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total deductions 3,794,397 1,667,563 3,159,671 689,899 (414,652) 9,210,557 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net increase (decrease) 689,809 (2,136,351) 1,365,195 (2,878,157) 284,427 (1,758,531) Net assets available for benefits: December 31, 1998 24,324,590 11,371,877 8,141,749 12,380,968 395,413 58,230,778 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- December 31, 1999 $ 25,014,399 $ 9,235,526 $ 9,506,944 $ 9,502,811 $ 679,840 $ 56,472,247 ================================================================================= See Notes to Financial Statements. The 401(k) Program of Cone Mills Corporation Statement of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits With Fund Information Period June 1, 1998 through December 31, 1998 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Vanguard Vanguard Vanguard Vanguard Vanguard International LifeStrategy Small-Cap Total Bond 500 Index Growth Moderate Index Market Index Fund Fund Growth Fund Fund Fund ------------------------------------------------------------------- Investments income (loss): Gain(loss) on sale of investments $ (329) $ 38 $ (220) $ (2,550) $ 14 Unrealized appreciation (depreciation) in fair value of investments 83,508 2,273 3,251 131 6,609 Dividends 5,729 5,071 1,510 2,297 22,449 Interest -- -- -- -- -- ------------------------------------------------------------------- 88,908 7,382 4,541 (122) 29,072 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Contributions: Employer 13,811 1,842 1,488 1,466 2,781 Employee 45,892 7,047 5,076 5,328 9,276 Participant loan repayments 370 -- 71 -- 72 ------------------------------------------------------------------- 60,073 8,889 6,635 6,794 12,129 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Transfers: To merge net assets from Cone Mills Corporation Employee Equity Plan-Hourly (Note 2) -- -- -- -- -- With other funds 487,312 28,593 39,851 26,634 824,356 ------------------------------------------------------------------- 487,312 28,593 39,851 26,634 824,356 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Total additions 636,293 44,864 51,027 33,306 865,557 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Benefits paid directly to participants -- -- -- 95 -- Participant loan withdrawals 4,109 -- 2,906 -- 7,199 Other deductions 205 22 39 243 48 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Total deductions 4,314 22 2,945 338 7,247 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Net increase (decrease) 631,979 44,842 48,082 32,968 858,310 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Net assets available for benefits: June 1, 1998 -- -- -- -- -- ------------------------------------------------------------------- December 31, 1999 $ 631,979 $ 44,842 $ 48,082 $ 32,968 $ 858,310 =================================================================== --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Vanguard Vanguard Vanguard Retirement US Growth Wellington Savings Cone Mills Participant Fund Fund Trust Stock Fund Loans Total --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Investments income (loss): Gain(loss) on sale of investments $ 82,045 $ (147,247) $ -- $ (242,057) $ -- $ (310,306) Unrealized appreciation (depreciation) in fair value of investments 2,584,588 (786,718) -- (8,528,272) -- (6,634,630) Dividends 1,516,106 1,226,690 -- -- -- 2,779,852 Interest -- -- 313,743 -- 1,842 315,585 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4,182,739 292,725 313,743 (8,770,329) 1,842 (3,849,499) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Contributions: Employer 229,408 95,363 59,052 146,181 -- 551,392 Employee 884,632 350,723 213,516 447,871 -- 1,969,361 Participant loan repayments 3,402 1,142 397 1,154 (6,608) -- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1,117,442 447,228 272,965 595,206 (6,608) 2,520,753 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Transfers: To merge net assets from Cone Mills Corporation Employee Equity Plan-Hourly (Note 2) -- -- -- 21,632,540 -- 21,632,540 With other funds (578,654) (886,957) (17,433) 76,298 -- -- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (578,654) (886,957) (17,433) 21,708,838 -- 21,632,540 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total additions 4,721,527 (147,004) 569,275 13,533,715 (4,766) 20,303,794 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Benefits paid directly to participants 2,172,484 1,731,140 1,832,887 1,105,913 -- 6,842,513 Participant loan withdrawals 205,068 90,454 47,845 42,598 (400,179) -- Other deductions 7,247 3,472 2,895 4,236 -- 18,407 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total deductions 2,384,799 1,825,066 1,883,627 1,152,747 (400,179) 6,860,920 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net increase (decrease) 2,336,728 (1,972,070) (1,314,352) 12,380,968 395,413 13,442,874 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net assets available for benefits: June 1, 1998 21,987,862 13,343,947 9,456,101 -- -- 44,787,910 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- December 31, 1999 $ 24,324,590 $11,371,877 $ 8,141,749 $ 12,380,968 $ 395,413 $ 58,230,784 ================================================================================= See Notes to Financial Statements. THE 401(k) PROGRAM OF CONE MILLS CORPORATION NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Note 1. Significant Accounting Policies Accounting principles and practices: The Plan's investments are held in a trust fund administered by The Vanguard Group, Inc. ("Vanguard"). The accounting records with respect to financial transactions are maintained by Vanguard. Vanguard invests the participant's accounts, as elected by the participant, among nine investment alternatives. Participants may change their investment options on a daily basis. The financial statements of the Plan are presented under the accrual method of accounting. Note 2. Description of the Plan The Plan is a qualified, defined contribution plan which became effective on January 1, 1947 under the name Supplemental Retirement Plan of Cone Mills Corporation ("SRP"). In 1992, the Plan was amended effective January 1, 1993, to include hourly employees as members in the Plan and to cause other changes which updated and improved the Plan. In 1993, the Plan was amended effective January 1, 1994, to allow members to contribute up to 15% of adjusted total compensation on a before-tax (Section 401(k)) basis. The Supplemental Retirement Plan-Hourly became effective as of January 1, 1994, at which time all hourly employees transferred their account balances to this new plan. On June 1, 1998, the Cone Mills Corporation Employee Equity Plan ("EEP") was merged into the Plan with all of the EEP's net assets being transferred into the Plan at that date. Immediately thereafter, the EEP was terminated with the Plan being the survivor. On that same date, the Plan assumed its current name in conjunction with the change to Vanguard as Plan trustee and administrator. Assets: Assets of the Plan are included with assets of "The 401(k) Program - Hourly of Cone Mills Corporation" in a master trust. Eligibility: Salaried employees who have attained age 21 and have completed one year of service are eligible for the Plan. Member contributions: Members may contribute from 2% to 15% of compensation on a before-tax (Section 401(k)) basis. Company contributions: Matching contributions are required in an amount equal to 40% of each member's contributions not in excess of 6% of his compensation. Additional matching contributions may be made at the discretion of Cone Mills Corporation. Benefits: The accumulated value of a member's individual account is paid after retirement or other separation from service. Benefits are ordinarily paid in a lump-sum distribution in the year following the year of retirement Note 2. Description of the Plan (continued) Benefits (continued or other termination of employment; however, installment distributions may be made at the election of the participant. Member accounts: Individual accounts are maintained for each participant which record the accumulated value of Company contributions allocated to such participant, the participant's contributions and investment earnings thereon. Participants receive statements showing the value of their accounts quarterly. Valuation of assets: The Plan's investments are stated at fair value. Shares of registered investment companies are valued at quoted market prices which represent the net asset value of shares held by the Plan at year-end. Units of the Retirement Savings Trust are valued at net asset value at year-end. The Company stock fund is valued at its year-end unit closing price (comprised of year-end market price plus uninvested cash portion.) Participant loans are valued at cost which approximates fair value. Vesting: All members' accounts are 100% vested. Investment alternatives: Participants must direct their salary deferral contributions to selected investments as made available and determined by the Plan Administrator. Participants may change their investment options any time throughout the year via direct phone or internet access to Vanguard. Each member has the following nine investment alternatives: Vanguard 500 Index Fund - Primarily invested in all of the 500 stocks that make up the unmanaged Standard & Poor's 500 Composite Stock Price Index. Vanguard International Growth Fund - Primarily invested in stocks of high-quality, seasoned companies based outside the United States. Vanguard LifeStrategy Moderate Growth Fund - Primarily invested in a domestic stock fund, an international stock fund, a bond fund, and an asset allocation fund. Vanguard Small-Cap Index Fund - Primarily invested in a sample of small stocks in the Russell 2000 Index, an unmanaged index of smaller companies. Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund - Primarily invested in a sample of bonds in the unmanaged Lehman Brothers Aggregate Bond Index. Vanguard U.S. Growth Fund - Primarily invested in common stocks of various public companies. Vanguard Wellington Fund - Primarily invested in common and preferred stocks and corporate and government bonds. Vanguard Retirement Savings Trust- Primarily invested in fixed income securities such as investment contracts issued by insurance companies and commercial banks, interest-bearing accounts, certificates of deposit and money market investments. Cone Mills Stock Fund - Primarily invested in the common stock of Cone Mills Corporation. Note 2. Description of the Plan (continued) Estimates: The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and the accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Note 3. Plan Termination If the Plan is terminated, each member would be entitled to the total amount in his account, payable under the terms of the Plan. Note 4. Withdrawals and Loans From the Plan Under the provisions of the Plan relating to financial hardship, a participant may receive an in-service withdrawal of funds from his plan account. Loans from the Plan are also permitted for up to 50% (maximum of $25,000) of the member's account balance. Note 5. Income Tax Status The Plan is intended to meet the qualification requirements of Section 401(k) and related provisions of the Internal Revenue Code. As long as the Plan meets these requirements, the Plan will not be subject to income taxes and members will not recognize taxable income for federal income tax purposes upon receipt to their individual accounts of contributions, dividends, interest or investment gains. Taxation of the amounts credited to a member's individual account is deferred until the member receives a distribution. The Plan has received a determination letter from the Internal Revenue Service affirming that the Plan is a qualified trust exempt from income taxes. Note 6. Investments The following tables present the cost and fair values of the Plan's investments at December 31, 1999 and 1998, respectively: 1999 Cost Fair Value Vanguard Funds: *500 Index ($135.33/unit; 11,253.908 units) $ 1,323,986 $ 1,522,991 *International Growth ($22.49/unit; 9,978.467 units) 195,635 224,416 *LifeStrategy Moderate Growth ($18.18/unit; 6,234.105 units) 104,968 113,336 *Small-Cap Index ($23.60/unit; 9,189.040 units) 201,662 216,861 *Total Bond Market Index ($9.56/unit; 46,533.201 units) 460,791 444,857 *U.S. Growth ($43.53/unit; 572,318.317 units) 19,702,730 24,913,016 *Wellington ($27.96/unit); 328,973.360 units) 10,207,698 9,198,095 *Vanguard Retirement Savings Trust ($1.00/unit; 9,468,413 units) 9,468,413 9,468,413 *Cone Mills Stock Fund ($4.37/unit;2,165,742.679 units) 14,254,224 9,464,296 *Participant Loans 679,840 679,840 ---------- ---------- $ 56,599,947 $ 56,246,121 ========== ========== * Designates party-in-interest 1998 Cost Fair Value Vanguard Funds: *500 Index ($113.95/unit; 5,415.333 units) $ 533,569 $ 617,077 *International Growth ($18.77/unit; 2,277.224 units) 40,470 42,743 *LifeStrategy Moderate Growth ($16.86/unit; 2,762.806 units) 43,330 46,581 *Small-Cap Index ($21.20/unit; 1,478.476 units) 31,213 31,344 *Total Bond Market Index ($10.27/unit; 83,256.157 units) 848,432 855,041 *U.S. Growth ($37.49/unit; 644,932.384 units) 21,593,927 24,178,515 *Wellington ($29.35/unit); 385,439.530 units) 12,099,368 11,312,650 *Vanguard Retirement Savings Trust ($1.00/unit; 8,105,570 units) 8,105,570 8,105,570 *Cone Mills Stock Fund ($5.50/unit; 2,236,526.926 units) 15,149,432 12,300,898 *Participant Loans 395,413 395,413 ---------- ---------- $ 58,840,724 $ 57,885,832 ========== ========== *Designates party-in-interest Note 6. Investments (continued) The following tables present the realized gains (losses) on investments for the years ended December 31, 1999 and 1998, respectively, using the average cost method for determining the cost of the investments sold: 1999 Proceeds Cost Gain(Loss) -------- ------- ---------- Vanguard 500 Index Fund $ 1,675,427 $ 1,648,376 $ 27,051 Vanguard International Growth Fund 60,979 60,434 545 Vanguard LifeStrategy Moderate Growth Fund 265,877 262,516 3,361 Vanguard Small-Cap Index Fund 45,454 43,163 2,291 Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund 881,994 919,460 (37,466) Vanguard U.S. Growth Fund 10,042,985 9,609,557 433,428 Vanguard Wellington Fund 4,697,293 4,689,157 8,136 Vanguard Retirement Savings Trust 8,557,908 8,557,908 - Cone Mills Stock Fund 3,694,116 3,775,788 (81,672) ---------- ---------- ------- $ 29,922,033 $ 29,566,359 $ 355,674 ========== ========== ======= 1998 Proceeds Cost Gain(Loss) -------- ------ ---------- Vanguard 500 Index Fund $ 12,024 $ 12,353 $ ( 329) Vanguard International Growth Fund 1,321 1,283 38 Vanguard LifeStrategy Moderate Growth Fund 3,945 4,165 (220) Vanguard Small-Cap Index Fund 11,168 13,718 (2,550) Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund 19,600 19,586 14 Vanguard U.S. Growth Fund 4,721,591 4,639,546 82,045 Vanguard Wellington Fund 3,300,296 3,447,543 (147,247) Vanguard Retirement Savings Trust 4,331,889 4,331,889 - Cone Mills Stock Fund 1,656,605 1,898,662 (242,057) ---------- ---------- --------- $ 14,058,439 $ 14,368,745 $(310,306) ========== ========== ========= Note 6. Investments (continued) The following tables present the unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments as of June 1, 1998, December 31, 1998 and December 31, 1999, and the increases (decreases) in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) for the periods therein: Unrealized Increase Unrealized Appreciation (Decrease) in Appreciation (Depreciation) Unrealized (Depreciation) December 31, Appreciation December 31, 1998 (Depreciation) 1999 ------------- -------------- -------------- Vanguard 500 Index Fund $ 87,156 $ 153,453 $ 240,609 Vanguard International Growth Fund 9,860 27,260 37,120 Vanguard LifeStrategy Moderate Growth Fund 2,623 5,606 8,229 Vanguard Small-Cap Index Fund 6,343 15,711 22,054 Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund (16,299) (16,740) (33,039) Vanguard U.S. Growth Fund 228,463 3,228,340 3,456,803 Vanguard Wellington Fund (12,297) (444,976) (457,273) Vanguard Retirement Savings Trust - - - Cone Mills Stock Fund (140,763) (2,306,526) (2,447,289) Participant Loans - - - ----------------------------------------------------------- $ 165,086 $ 662,128 $ 827,214 =========================================================== Increase Unrealized Unrealized (Decrease) in Appreciation Appreciation Unrealized (Depreciation) (Depreciation) Appreciation December 31, June 1, 1998 (Depreciation) 1998 ----------------------------------------------------------- Vanguard 500 Index Fund $ 3,648 $ 83,508 $ 87,156 Vanguard International Growth Fund 7,587 2,273 9,860 Vanguard LifeStrategy Moderate Growth Fund (628) 3,251 2,623 Vanguard Small-Cap Index Fund 6,212 131 6,343 Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund (22,908) 6,609 (16,299) Vanguard U.S. Growth Fund (2,356,125) 2,584,588 228,463 Vanguard Wellington Fund 774,421 (786,718) (12,297) Vanguard Retirement Savings Trust - - - Cone Mills Stock Fund 8,387,509 (8,528,272) (140,763) Participant Loans - - - ----------------------------------------------------------- $ 6,799,716 $ (6,634,630) $ 165,086 =========================================================== Note 6. Investments (continued) The following table details the number of participants in each investment program as of December 31, 1999 and 1998, respectively: 1999 1998 ---- ----- Vanguard 500 Index Fund 108 60 Vanguard International Growth Fund 30 18 Vanguard Life Strategy Moderate Growth Fund 25 15 Vanguard Small-Cap Index Fund 30 17 Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund 29 24 Vanguard U.S. Growth Fund 658 734 Vanguard Wellington Fund 501 597 Vanguard Retirement Savings Trust 609 424 Cone Mills Stock Fund 369 707 Note 7. Reconciliation of Differences Between These Financial Statements and the Financial Information Required on Form 5500 December 31, 1999 1998 ----- ----- Net assets available for benefits as presented in these financial statements $ 56,472,247 $ 58,230,778 Adjustment of benefits payable (15,199,566) (7,599,285) --------------------------------------- Net assets available for benefits as presented in Form 5500 $ 41,272,681 $ 50,631,493 ======================================= Net decrease in net assets available for benefits as presented in these financial statements $ (1,758,531) Adjustment of benefits paid (7,600,281) ------------------- Net decrease in net assets available for benefits as presented in Form 5500 $ (9,358,812) =================== CONE MILLS CORPORATION EMPLOYEE EQUITY PLAN FINANCIAL REPORT JUNE 1, 1998 Contents INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT 1 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Statement of financial condition 2 Statements of income and changes in plan equity 3 Notes to financial statements 4-6 McGLADREY & PULLEN, LLP CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT To the Advisory Committee Cone Mills Corporation Employee Equity Plan Greensboro, North Carolina We have audited the accompanying statement of financial condition of the Cone Mills Corporation Employee Equity Plan as of June 1, 1998, and the related statements of income and changes in plan equity for the period January 1, 1998 through June 1, 1998 and the year ended December 31, 1997. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Plan'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 financial condition of the Cone Mills Corporation Employee Equity Plan as of June 1, 1998, and the changes for the period January 1, 1998 through June 1, 1998 and the year ended December 31, 1997, in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles. As discussed in Note 6 to the financial statements, the Plan's net assets were merged into the Cone Mills Corporation Supplemental Retirement Plan ("SRP") on June 1, 1998. Immediately thereafter, the Plan was terminated with the SRP being the survivor. /s/ McGladrey & Pullen, LLP McGLADREY & PULLEN, LLP Greensboro, North Carolina October 23, 1998 STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL CONDITION JUNE 1, 1998 1998 Assets: Money market account, Crestar Bank $ - Investment in Cone Mills Corporation common stock at market value (shares 2,222,096)(cost $14,228,069) - Accounts receivable, Cone Mills Corporation 34,873 Accounts receivable, participants 80,782 Accrued income receivable 832 ------- Total assets 116,487 ------- Liabilities: Amounts due to Cone Mills Supplemental Retirement Plan 116,487 ------- Total liabilities 116,487 ------- Equity: Amounts allocated to persons who have withdrawn from participation in the earnings and operations of the Plan - Other - ------- Net assets available for benefits $ - ======= See Notes to Financial Statements. STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND CHANGES IN PLAN EQUITY PERIOD JANUARY 1, 1998 THROUGH JUNE 1, 1998 AND YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997 1998 1997 Additions: Interest income $ 3,084 $ 10,285 Cone Mills Corporation contributions 190,289 528,492 Participants contributions 455,142 1,264,013 Gains realized on distributions of Cone Mills Corporation common stock to plan participants (market value 1998 $47,095; 1997 $842,820)(cost 1998 $35,684; 1997 $663,657) 11,411 179,163 Gains realized on sales of Cone Mills Corporation common stock (proceeds 1998 $300,544; 1997 $174,015) (cost 1998 $228,250; 1997 $137,145) 72,294 36,870 Transfers from Cone Mills Corporation Employee Equity Plan - Hourly - 29,420 Unrealized appreciation of investments 4,046,432 - ---------- ---------- Total additions 4,778,652 2,048,243 ---------- ---------- Reductions: Benefit payments 398,237 1,444,451 Transfers to Cone Mills Corporation Supplemental Retirement Plan 466,071 598,148 Transfers to Cone Mills Corporation Employee Equity Plan - Hourly 46,534 - Unrealized depreciation of investments - 478,515 Transfer to merge net assets into Cone Mills Corporation Supplemental Retirement Plan (Note 6) 21,632,540 - ---------- ---------- Total reductions 22,543,382 2,521,114 ---------- ---------- Decrease in plan equity (17,764,730) (472,871) Plan equity: Beginning 17,764,730 18,237,601 ---------- ---------- Ending $ - $ 17,764,730 ========== ========== See Notes to Financial Statements. NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Note 1. Accounting Principles and Practices The assets of the Plan were valued at market. Market for Cone Mills Corporation common stock was based upon closing quotations on the New York Stock Exchange Composite Tape. The accrual method of accounting was used. Cost for dispositions of stock was determined by the average cost method. Note 2. Description of the Plan The Plan was a defined contribution plan which became effective on May 1, 1989, and was amended and restated on November 16, 1989. In 1990, the Plan was amended effective January 1, 1989, to redefine "compensation" and "salary" as permitted under Section 414(s) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and to conform such definition to company practices. In 1991, the Plan was amended and restated effective January 1, 1991, to continue compliance under applicable provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. In 1992, the Plan was amended effective January 1, 1993, to include hourly employees as members in the Plan and to cause other changes which updated and improved the Plan. In 1993, the Plan was amended effective January 1, 1994, to allow members to contribute up to 15% of compensation on a before-tax (Section 401(k)) basis. A new plan, the "Employee Equity Plan - Hourly" was adopted and all hourly employees transferred their account balances to that plan on January 1, 1994. A general description of the provisions of the Plan follows: Assets: Assets of the Plan were included with assets of the "Employee Equity Plan-Hourly" in a master trust ("Plans"). Assets were invested primarily in Cone Mills Corporation common stock. A portion of the assets were held in an Other Investments Fund which holds short-term cash or money market investments. The portion held in the Other Investments Fund was used for cash distributions to participants and to enable the Plans to purchase additional Cone Mills Corporation common stock. Members with account balances less than $5,000 were allowed to make a one-time transfer of their account balances to the Cone Mills Corporation Supplemental Retirement Plans. Also, members who had attained 60 years of age as of the last day of the prior plan year, were allowed to transfer in two annual installments their account balances in these Plans to the Cone Mills Corporation Supplemental Retirement Plans. Other members were allowed to transfer their account balances to the Cone Mills Corporation Supplemental Retirement Plans over a four-year period. Otherwise, members of the Plans were not entitled to select the manner in which their individual accounts were invested. Market risk: The Plan invested primarily in Cone Mills Corporation common stock ("Cone stock"). Cone stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange, and therefore its value is subject to the effects of fluctuations in overall market performance. The Plan was potentially subject to heightened levels of market risk attributable to its investment concentration. Note 2. Description of the Plan (continued) Eligibility: Salaried employees who had attained age 21 were eligible after completing one year of service. Member contributions: Members were allowed to contribute from 2% to 15% of compensation on a before-tax (Section 401(k)) basis. Company contributions: Matching contributions were required each period in an amount equal to 50% of each member's contribution not in excess of 6% of his compensation. Additional matching contributions could have been made at the discretion of Cone Mills Corporation. Benefits: The accumulated value of a member's individual account was paid after retirement or other separation from service. Distributions from the Plan must have been paid in cash, except that the receiving member was allowed to receive his distribution in the form of qualifying employer securities unless such a distribution was restricted according to the Company's bylaws and articles of incorporation. The valuation of Cone Mills Corporation common stock used for cash distributions was the closing price of such stock as reported on the sixtieth day following the applicable valuation date. Member accounts: Individual accounts were maintained for each plan participant which recorded the accumulated value of Company contributions allocated to such participant, the participant's contributions and investment earnings thereon. Vesting: All members' accounts were 100% vested. Estimates: The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of additions and reductions during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Note 3. Unrealized Appreciation of Investments The unrealized appreciation of investments as of June 1, 1998, (immediately prior to transfer) and December 31, 1997, is as follows: 1998 1997 ----- ---- $ 7,013,042 $ 2,993,172 ========= ========= Note 4. Federal Income Taxes The Plan was intended to meet the qualification requirements of Sections 401(a) and 401(k) and related provisions of the Internal Revenue Code. As long as the Plan met these requirements, the Plan was not subject to income taxes and members would not recognize taxable income for federal income tax purposes upon receipt to their individual accounts of contributions, dividends, interest or investment gains. Taxation of the amounts credited to a member's individual account was deferred until the member received a distribution. A favorable determination letter had been obtained as of June 1, 1998. Note 5. Reconciliation of Differences Between These Financial Statements and the Financial Information Required on Form 5500 June 1, December 31, 1998 1997 ------- ----- Plan equity as presented in these financial statements $ - $ 17,764,730 Adjustment of benefits payable - (2,277,300) ----------- ---------- Plan equity as presented in Form 5500 $ - $ 15,487,430 =========== ========== Net decrease in plan equity as presented in these financial statements $(17,764,730) $ (472,871) Adjustment of benefits paid 2,277,300 (678,962) ---------- ----------- Net decrease in plan equity as presented in Form 5500 $(15,487,430) $ (1,151,833) ========== ========== Note 6. Plan Merger and Termination The Plan was merged into the Cone Mills Corporation Supplemental Retirement Plan ("SRP") on June 1, 1998. All of the Plan's net assets were transferred into the SRP at that date. Immediately thereafter, the Plan was terminated with the SRP being the survivor.