UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 

FORM 8-K
 


CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): April 15, 2020

 

J.JILL, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 


Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)
001-38026
(Commission File Number)
45-1459825
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

4 Batterymarch Park
Quincy, MA 02169
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
(617) 376-4300
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
Not Applicable
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
 


Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class:
 
Trading Symbol(s)
 
Name of each exchange on which registered:
Common Stock, $0.01 par value
 
JILL
 
New York Stock Exchange
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging growth company  ☒
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.  ☐


Item 7.01
Regulation FD Disclosure.
J.Jill, Inc. (the “Company”) is taking additional actions related to the COVID-19 pandemic, including:

As previously disclosed on March 18, 2020, the Company temporarily closed all its stores.  The Company subsequently extended the closure of the stores through April 30, 2020. As similarly noted in prior disclosure, the Company also temporarily closed its Quincy and Tilton offices and its Contact Center through May 4, 2020. The Company has now determined that these stores and offices will remain closed and the Company has not yet determined when some or all of these stores and offices may reopen. The Company is actively planning protocols for how to safely reopen and what that should look like once the time arrives, including developing detailed cleaning and personal protection protocols for all locations.
The Company previously placed the majority of store associates on furlough beginning on April 1, 2020 until further notice. The Company has determined that if it does not have a definitive call back date for an associate on May 30, 2020, the Company will proceed with layoffs. The Company hopes that such layoffs will be temporary and that the Company will rehire associates once stores reopen and business rebounds.
Effective May 3, 2020, the Company will be placing Store, Area and District Managers on furlough.
The Company will continue to follow guidance from local, state and federal officials and the health and safety of its associates will remain its top priority. The Company will continue to closely monitor the situation and will provide updates as soon as decisions are made.
The information in this Current Report on Form 8-K is being furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission and shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) or otherwise subject to liability under that section, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except as expressly set forth by specific reference in such a filing.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This report contains, and oral statements made from time to time by our representatives may contain, “forward-looking statements.” Forward-looking statements include statements regarding the timing of restarting various aspects of it operations, statements regarding the impact of disruptions to its operations caused by the COVID-19 epidemic and statements identified by words such as “could,” “may,” “might,” “will,” “likely,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “plans,” “seeks,” “believes,” “estimates,” “expects,” “continues,” “projects” and similar references to future periods, or by the inclusion of forecasts or projections. Forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations and assumptions regarding capital market conditions, our business, the economy and other future conditions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, by their nature, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict. As a result, our actual results may differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic on the Company and the economy as a whole, the Company’s ability to develop a plan to regain compliance with the continued listing criteria of the NYSE; the NYSE’s acceptance of such plan; the Company’s ability to execute such plan and to continue to comply with applicable listing standards within the available cure period; risks arising from the potential suspension of trading of the Company’s common stock on the NYSE; regional, national or global political, economic, business, competitive, market and regulatory conditions, including risks regarding our ability to manage inventory or anticipate consumer demand; changes in consumer confidence and spending; our competitive environment; our failure to open new profitable stores or successfully enter new markets and other factors set forth under “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 2, 2019. Any forward-looking statement made in this report speaks only as of the date on which it is made. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.

SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
Dated: April 16, 2020
  J.JILL, INC.  
       
       
 
By:
/s/ Mark Webb  
  Name: 
Mark Webb
 
  Title: 
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer