
<PAGE>

                                                              Exhibit 99 (a) (9)
[TEFRON LOGO]


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


                   TEFRON ANNOUNCES SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF
                           TENDER FOR ALBA-WALDENSIAN


BNEI-BRAK, ISRAEL and VALDESE, N.C. December 14, 1999 -- Tefron Ltd. (NYSE: TFR)
and Alba-Waldensian, Inc. (AMEX: AWS) today announced the successful completion
of the tender by Tefron's wholly-owned subsidiary, AWS Acquisition Corp. for all
outstanding shares of Alba-Waldensian, at $18.50 per share. Tefron and
Alba-Waldensian announced the terms of the offer on November 12, 1999.

The transaction which joins together Tefron, one of the world's leading
producers of seamless intimate apparel, and Alba-Waldensian, a leading US
manufacturer of seamless apparel and a manufacturer of healthcare products,
significantly reinforces Tefron's position as a leader in the market for
seamless intimate apparel.

Commenting, Sigi Rabinowicz, Chief Executive Officer of Tefron said, "We are
delighted by the successful completion of the tender offer. As we described last
month, Alba brings significant assets to Tefron including significant additional
production capacity, a presence in the United States, direct store distribution
capability, an attractive customer base and, of course, incremental revenues.
The resulting company will begin the new millennium with a combined annualized
revenue run rate of almost a quarter of a billion dollars, a long list of the
world's most prestigious customers, including several new customers announced
recently, and global manufacturing capabilities. This strong base will allow us
to better address the enormous and growing demand for seamless intimate apparel
and position us to better serve our customers.

The tender offer expired at 12:00 midnight, Eastern Standard time, on Monday,
December 13, 1999. Following expiration of the Offer, AWS Acquisition Corp.
accepted for payment all shares validly tendered and not withdrawn pursuant to
the Offer. Tefron has been advised by the depositary for the Offer that as of
the expiration of the Offer 3,136,679 shares of Alba-Waldensian were validly
tendered and now withdrawn (including 45,200 shares tendered pursuant to the
procedures for guaranteed delivery), representing 96.6% of total shares
outstanding. Tefron plans to acquire the remaining Alba-Waldensian shares at
$18.50 per share through a cash merger of AWS Acquisition Corp. into
Alba-Waldensian, expected to be completed shortly.

                                    - more -

                               [GRAPHIC OMITTED]

                                 TEFRON LTD.
                Head Office: 28 CHIDA St. Bnei-Brak 51371 ISRAEL
                      TEL. 972-3-5978701 FAX. 972-3-5798715

        Plant: IND. Center Teradyon P.O. Box 1365 Misgav 20179 ISRAEL
                  TEL. 972-4-9900000 FAX. 972-4-9990051/3/5
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                                      -2-

The waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Anti-Trust Improvements Act
applicable to the acquisition of Alba-Waldensian by a subsidiary of Tefron,
expired on November 27, 1999, as previously reported.

Tefron manufactures boutique-quality everyday seamless intimate apparel sold
throughout the world by such name-brand marketers as Victoria's Secret, Gap,
Banana Republic, DIM, Cacharet, Schiesser, the Benetton Group, B.H.S., as well
as two other well known American designer labels. The Company's product line
includes knitted briefs, tank tops, loungewear, nightwear, bras, T-shirts and
bodysuits, primarily for women.

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements with respect to
the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations. These
forward looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could
cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in such
forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, fluctuations in
product demand, economic conditions as well as certain other risks detailed from
time to time in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange
Commission. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly release any
revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances
after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

                                     # # #


Contact:
Mr. Sigi Rabinowicz, CEO
Tefron Limited
Telephone: 972-3-579-8701
Fax:       972-3-579-8715


Ms. Jennifer Leavitt
Taylor Rafferty Associates
Telephone: 212-889-4350
Fax:       212-683-2614
Email:     tra@taylor-rafferty.com

