J.Jill, Inc. - Quarter Report: 2020 August (Form 10-Q)

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)

For the quarterly period ended August 1, 2020

OR

For the transition period from _____________________ to _____________________

Commission File Number: 001-38026

J.Jill, Inc.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (617) 376-4300

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

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  ☒  No  ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).    Yes  ☒    No  ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

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.  ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes  ☐    No  ☒

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None

As of September 10, 2020, the registrant had 44,819,549 shares of common stock, $0.01 par value per share, outstanding.

Table of Contents

1

Table of Contents

PART I—FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements

J.Jill, Inc.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (UNAUDITED)

(in thousands, except share data)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

2

Table of Contents

J.Jill, Inc.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND

COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) (UNAUDITED)

(in thousands, except share and per share data)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

3

Table of Contents

J.Jill, Inc.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY (UNAUDITED)

(in thousands, except common share data)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

4

Table of Contents

J.Jill, Inc.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED)

(in thousands)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

5

Table of Contents

J.Jill, Inc.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

1. Description of Business

J.Jill, Inc., “J.Jill” or the “Company”, is a premier omnichannel retailer and nationally recognized women’s apparel brand committed to delighting customers with great wear-now product. The brand represents an easy, thoughtful and inspired style that reflects the confidence of remarkable women who live life with joy, passion and purpose. J.Jill offers a guiding customer experience through about 280 stores nationwide and a robust ecommerce platform. J.Jill is headquartered outside Boston.

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation

Our interim consolidated financial statements are unaudited. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) have been omitted, in accordance with the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) associated with reporting of interim period financial information. We consistently applied the accounting policies described in our 2019 Annual Report on Form 10-K ("2019 Form 10-K") in preparing these unaudited interim Consolidated Financial Statements. In the opinion of management, these interim consolidated financial statements contain all normal and recurring adjustments necessary to state fairly the financial position and results of operations of the Company. The consolidated balance sheet as of February 1, 2020 is derived from the audited consolidated balance sheet as of that date. The unaudited results of operations for the thirteen and twenty-six weeks ended August 1, 2020 are not necessarily indicative of future results or results to be expected for the full year ending January 30, 2021 (“Fiscal Year 2020”). You should read these statements in conjunction with our audited consolidated financial statements and related notes in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended February 1, 2020.

Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified for consistency with the current year presentation of store impairment charges on the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive (Income) Loss.

Substantial Doubt about the Company’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern

In accordance with the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2014-15, “Presentation of Financial Statements - Going Concern,” the Company’s management evaluated whether there are conditions or events that raise substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern within one year after the date of issuance of these financial statements. Although the following matters raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern within one year after the date these financial statements have been issued, the Company’s consolidated financial statements have been prepared assuming that it will continue as a going concern.

In December 2019, COVID-19 emerged and has subsequently spread worldwide. The World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic on March 11, 2020 resulting in federal, state and local governments and private entities mandating various restrictions, including travel restrictions, restrictions on public gatherings, stay at home orders and advisories and quarantining of people who may have been exposed to the virus. After close monitoring and taking into consideration the guidance from federal, state and local governments, in an effort to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, effective March 18, 2020, the Company closed all of its stores and its offices with employees working remotely where possible. The Company began reopening its stores in May 2020, with all stores having been reopened by late June 2020; however, operations of the stores may again be restricted by local guidelines.

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Company’s revenues, results of operations and cash flows have been materially adversely impacted, which has resulted in a failure by us to comply with the financial covenants contained in our Asset Based Revolving Credit Agreement (“ABL Facility”) and Term Loan Agreement (“Term Loan”). Additionally, the inclusion of substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern in the report of our independent registered public accounting firm on our financial statements for the fiscal year ended February 1, 2020 resulted in a violation of affirmative covenants under our ABL Facility and Term Loan. On June 15, 2020, the Company entered into two forbearance agreements (the “Forbearance Agreements”) with the lenders under its ABL Facility and Term Loan. The Forbearance Agreements are described in a Current Report on Form 8-K filed by the Company with the SEC on June 16, 2020, and available on the SEC’s Edgar website as well as the Company’s website, which includes the full text of the agreement as an exhibit. Under the Forbearance Agreements, the respective lenders agreed not to exercise any rights and remedies until July 16, 2020 so long as, among other things, the Company otherwise remained in compliance with its credit facilities and complied with the terms of the Forbearance Agreements. Subsequently, the Forbearance Agreements have been extended with the latest extension until September 26, 2020. The extensions of the Forbearance Agreements are described in

6

Table of Contents

Current Reports on Forms 8-K filed by the Company with the SEC, and available on the SEC’s Edgar website as well as the Company’s website, which include the full text of the agreements as exhibits.

On September 1, 2020, the Company announced it entered into a Transaction Support Agreement (“TSA”) with lenders holding greater than 70% of the Company’s term loans (“Consenting Lenders”) and a majority of our shareholders on the principal terms of a financial restructuring (“Transaction”) that would result in a waiver of any past non-compliance with the terms of the Company’s credit facilities and provide the Company with additional liquidity. If the Transaction is consented to by the requisite term loan lenders, the Transaction will be consummated on an out-of-court basis. The out-of-court Transaction would extend the maturity of certain participating debt by two years, through May 2024. The Company is working actively with the Consenting Lenders to obtain the necessary consents.

In the event that the Transaction does not receive the consent of the term loan lenders representing 95% of the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the term loan claims under the Company’s existing Term Loan, the parties to the TSA have agreed to a prepackaged plan of reorganization under Chapter 11 of the United States Code (the “In-Court Transaction”) the key terms of which have been negotiated, including additional financing during the Chapter 11 process. While the Company hopes to receive the required consents to execute the out-of-court Transaction, the Company anticipates that as part of the In-Court Transaction all vendor claims would be unimpaired and paid in full.

The Company could experience other potential impacts as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, including, but not limited to, additional charges from potential adjustments to the carrying amount of its inventory, goodwill, intangible assets, right-of-use assets and long-lived assets as well as additional store closures. Actual results may differ materially from the Company’s current estimates as the scope of the COVID-19 pandemic evolves, depending largely, though not exclusively, on the duration of the disruption to its business. These events contribute to conditions that raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern within one year after the date these financial statements have been issued. Under the terms of the ABL Facility and Term Loan, substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern is considered an event of default which allows the lenders to call the debt in advance of maturity.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we have taken and continue to take aggressive and prudent actions to reduce expenses and defer payment of accounts payables and inventory purchases to preserve cash on-hand. These actions include, but are not limited to:

Additionally, we borrowed $33.0 million under our ABL Facility in March 2020, and currently have an outstanding balance of $31.8 million as of August 1, 2020. We have filed an income tax refund for $6.9 million, of which we have received $1.2 million, with the IRS and multiple state jurisdictions related to the provision under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”) enacted in March 2020 that provides numerous tax provisions and other stimulus measures, including temporary suspension of certain payment requirements for the employer-paid portion of social security taxes, the creation of certain refundable employee retention credits, and technical corrections from prior tax legislation for tax depreciation of certain qualified improvement property. The Company has elected to defer the employer-paid portion of social security taxes beginning with pay dates on and after April 1, 2020. We continue to evaluate the provisions of the CARES Act and the ways in which it could assist our business and improve our liquidity.

In late May 2020, the Company began reopening its stores and as of late June 2020, all of its stores have been reopened in accordance with local government guidelines. There is significant uncertainty around the current and potential future business disruptions related to COVID-19, as well as its impact on the U.S. economy, consumer willingness to visit malls and shopping centers, and employee willingness to staff our stores.

7

Table of Contents

Recently Adopted Accounting Standards

In November 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-18 – Collaborative Arrangements (“Topic 808”), which clarifies the interaction between Topic 808 and Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. The provisions of ASU 2018-18 are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, and interim periods within those fiscal years. ASU 2018-18 had no impact on the consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-12 – Income Tax Accounting (“Topic 740”), which simplifies the accounting for income taxes. The provisions of ASU 2019-12 are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020, and interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company will be required to adopt this standard in the first quarter of Fiscal Year 2021. This standard is not expected to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

3. Revenues

Disaggregation of Revenue

The Company sells its products directly to consumers and the Company earns royalties under its credit card agreement. The following table presents disaggregated revenues by source (in thousands):

Contract Liabilities

The Company recognizes a contract liability when it has received consideration from the customer and has a future obligation to the customer. Total contract liabilities consisted of the following (in thousands):

For the thirteen and twenty-six weeks ended August 1, 2020, the Company recognized approximately $1.8 million and $4.0 million, respectively, of revenue related to gift card redemptions and breakage. For the thirteen and twenty-six weeks ended August 3, 2019, the Company recognized approximately $3.1 million and $6.5 million, respectively, of revenue related to gift card redemptions and breakage. Revenue recognized consists of gift cards that were part of the unredeemed gift card balance at the beginning of the period as well as gift cards that were issued during the period.

Performance Obligations

The Company has a remaining performance obligation of $0.4 million for a signing bonus related to the private label credit card agreement. The Company will recognize revenue over the remaining life of the contract as follows (in thousands):

This disclosure does not include revenue related to performance obligations from unredeemed gift cards, as substantially all gift cards are redeemed in the first year of issuance.

8

Table of Contents

4. Other Income

The Company filed an insurance claim as a result of a cargo vessel fire on or about January 8, 2019, where contents of two containers carried J.Jill inventory. In July 2019, it was determined that the inventory onboard the cargo vessel was nonsalable, and the insurance claim was settled for $3.3 million. The Company recorded a gain of $2.4 million on insurance proceeds in selling, general and administrative expenses in the consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive income (loss) for the period ended August 3, 2019. 

5. Asset Impairments

Long-lived Asset Impairments

In the first quarter of Fiscal Year 2020, the Company reduced the net carrying value of certain long-lived assets to their estimated fair value, which was determined using a discounted cash flows method.  These impairment charges arose from the material adverse effect that the COVID-19 pandemic had on our results of operations, particularly with our store fleet.  The Company incurred non-cash impairment charges of $6.7 million on leasehold improvements and $20.8 million on the right-of-use assets. During the second quarter of Fiscal Year 2020, the Company recorded a $1.3 million non-cash gain on the operating leases liabilities due to its decision to close certain retail stores. Approximately $0.9 million of the benefit related to leases that were included in the impairment on right-of-use assets recorded in the first quarter of Fiscal Year 2020; therefore, the benefit was recorded as a reduction of the previously recorded impairment.

In the second quarter of Fiscal Year 2019, the Company reduced the net carrying value of certain long-lived assets to their estimated fair value, determined using a discounted cash flows method. These impairment charges arose from the Company’s decision to vacate and sublease one floor of the corporate headquarters located in Quincy, Massachusetts. The Company incurred non-cash impairment charges of $0.3 million on leasehold improvements and $1.8 million on the right-of-use asset, which were recorded as impairment of long-lived assets in the consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive income (loss).

Goodwill and Other Intangible Asset Impairments

In the first quarter of Fiscal Year 2020, the Company temporarily closed its retail locations due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which had a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial position and liquidity and led to a significant decline in our net sales for the first quarter of Fiscal Year 2020, as well as an expected decline for the full Fiscal Year 2020. The Company concluded that these factors, as well as the decrease in stock price represented indicators of impairment and required the Company to test goodwill and indefinite-lived and definite-lived intangible assets for impairment during the first quarter of Fiscal Year 2020 (the “Impairment Test”).

The Company performed the Impairment Test using a quantitative approach. The Impairment Test was performed using the income approach (or discounted cash flows method) for goodwill, the relief-from-royalty method for indefinite-lived intangible assets and a recoverability analysis for definite-lived intangible assets. The estimated fair values of goodwill and indefinite-lived and definite-lived intangible assets were below their carrying values resulting in a $17.9 million impairment of goodwill, a $4.0 million impairment of the Company’s tradename (indefinite-lived intangible asset) and a $2.6 million impairment of the Company’s customer list (definite-lived intangible asset). The Company will perform its annual impairment assessment during the fourth quarter of Fiscal Year 2020, or sooner if an indicator of impairment is identified, and may incur further impairments based on the results of that assessment which may be material.

The most significant estimates and assumptions inherent in this approach are the preparation of revenue forecasts, selection of royalty and discount rates and a terminal year multiple. These assumptions are classified as Level 3 inputs. The methodology utilized for the Impairment Test has not changed materially from the prior year. The key assumptions used under the income approach and relief-from-royalty method include the following:

9

Table of Contents

Given that the impairment charge effectively adjusted the carrying value of the net assets to our estimated fair value as of the date of the impairment charge, the Company is at risk of future impairments in Fiscal Year 2020 if actual results differ from forecasted results or there are changes to these key assumptions used in estimating the fair value. Additionally, due to the impairments recorded during the current year, no material amount of cushion exists between the fair values and respective carrying values of the reporting units and tradename. As such, a change in forecasted discounted cash flows driven by changes in relevant assumptions, may result in further impairment charges.

The following table displays a rollforward of the carrying amount of goodwill from February 2, 2019 to August 1, 2020 (in thousands):

The accumulated goodwill impairment losses as of August 1, 2020 are $137.3 million.

The following table reflects the gross carrying amount and accumulated amortization and impairment for each major intangible asset:

The accumulated customer relationship impairment loss as of August 1, 2020 is $2.6 million.

In the second quarter of Fiscal Year 2019, the Company reduced comparable sales outlook for the second quarter that led to a reduced full year forecast of earnings for Fiscal Year 2019. The Company concluded that these factors, as well as the decrease in stock price represented indicators of impairment and required the Company to test goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets for impairment during the second quarter of Fiscal Year 2019 (the “Q2 FY19 Impairment Test”).

The Company performed the Q2 FY19 Impairment Test using a quantitative approach with the assistance of an independent valuation firm. The Q2 FY19 Impairment Test was performed using the income approach (or discounted cash flows method) for goodwill and the relief-from-royalty method for indefinite-lived intangible assets. The estimated fair values of goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets were below carrying values resulting in an $88.4 million impairment of goodwill and a $7.0 million impairment of the Company’s tradename (indefinite-lived intangible asset).

6. Restructuring Costs

In July 2019, the Company implemented a restructuring plan (the “2019 Restructuring Plan”) focused on cost reduction initiatives designed to execute against long-term strategies. The 2019 Restructuring Plan included headcount reductions primarily at the Company’s corporate headquarters in Quincy, Massachusetts and at the facility in Tilton, New Hampshire.

As a result of the 2019 Restructuring Plan, the Company recorded $1.6 million of restructuring costs in selling, general and administrative expenses in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income. All restructuring costs were recognized in the second quarter of Fiscal Year 2019 and payments are anticipated to be complete in the third quarter of Fiscal Year 2020, ending on October 31, 2020.

10

Table of Contents

The following table summarizes the activity of the restructuring costs discussed above and related accruals recorded in accrued other and other current liabilities on the consolidated balance sheet (in thousands):

7. Debt

The components of the Company’s outstanding Term Loan were as follows (in thousands):

Additionally, the Company borrowed $33.0 million under its ABL Facility in March 2020, and currently has an outstanding balance of $31.8 million as of August 1, 2020.

As a result of COVID-19 related store closures, the Company was unable to maintain compliance with certain of its non-financial and financial covenants for the period ended May 2, 2020. Additionally, the inclusion of substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern in the report of our independent registered public accounting firm on our financial statements for the fiscal year ended February 1, 2020 resulted in a violation of affirmative covenants under our ABL Facility and Term Loan. On June 15, 2020, the Company entered into two forbearance agreements (the “Forbearance Agreements”) with the lenders under its ABL Facility and Term Loan. The Forbearance Agreements are described in a Current Report on Form 8-K filed by the Company with the SEC on June 16, 2020, and available on the SEC’s Edgar website as well as the Company’s website, which includes the full text of the agreement as an exhibit. Under the Forbearance Agreements, the respective lenders agreed not to exercise any rights and remedies until July 16, 2020 so long as, among other things, the Company otherwise remained in compliance with its credit facilities and complied with the terms of the Forbearance Agreements.  Subsequently, the Forbearance Agreements were extended with the latest extension until September 26, 2020. The extensions of the Forbearance Agreements are described in Current Reports on Forms 8-K filed by the Company with the SEC, and available on the SEC’s Edgar website as well as the Company’s website, which include the full text of the agreements as exhibits.

On September 1, 2020, the Company announced it entered into a Transaction Support Agreement (“TSA”) with term loan lenders holding greater than 70% of the Company’s term loans (“Consenting Lenders”) and a majority of its shareholders on the principal terms of a financial restructuring (“Transaction”) that would result in a waiver of any past non-compliance with the terms of the Company’s credit facilities and provide the Company with additional liquidity. If the Transaction is consented to by the requisite term loan lenders, the Transaction will be consummated on an out-of-court basis. The out-of-court Transaction would extend the maturity of certain participating debt by two years, through May 2024. The Company is working actively with the Consenting Lenders to obtain the necessary consents.

In the event that the Transaction does not receive the consent of the term loan lenders representing 95.0% of the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the term loan claims under the Company’s existing Term Loan, the parties to the TSA have agreed to a prepackaged plan of reorganization under Chapter 11 of the United States Code (the “In-Court Transaction”) the key terms of which have been negotiated, including additional financing during the Chapter 11 process. While the Company hopes to receive the required consents to execute the out-of-court Transaction, the Company anticipates that as part of the In-Court Transaction all vendor claims would be unimpaired and paid in full. No assurances can be given as to the successful execution of the TSA or the level of consents which may be received from our lenders; therefore, we have classified our Term Loan as a current liability as of August 1, 2020.

8. Income Taxes

The Company recorded an income tax benefit of $7.0 million and $31.2 million for the thirteen and twenty-six weeks ended August 1, 2020, respectively and $3.1 million and $1.6 million during the thirteen and twenty-six weeks ended August 3, 2019, respectively. The effective tax rate was 27.0% and 25.9% for the thirteen and twenty-six weeks ended August 1, 2020, respectively, and 3.1% and 1.7% for the thirteen and twenty-six weeks ended August 3, 2019, respectively.

11

Table of Contents

The effective tax rate for the thirteen and twenty-six weeks ended August 1, 2020 differs from the federal statutory rate of 21% primarily due to the impact of an anticipated benefit from the CARES Act, as well as the impact of state income taxes. These benefits were partially offset by the impact on the effective tax rate from the §162(m) officer compensation limitation on the thirteen and twenty-six weeks ended August 1, 2020, while the impact of the goodwill impairment charge, which has no associated tax benefit, also impacted the twenty-six week period. The CARES Act provides for net operating losses in Fiscal Year 2020 to be carried back to earlier tax years with higher tax rates than the current year. The effective tax rate for the thirteen and twenty-six weeks ended August 3, 2019 is lower than the federal statutory rate of 21% primarily due to goodwill impairment of $88.4 million as well as recurring items including §162(m) officer compensation limitation, stock compensation and state income taxes.

Deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities are recognized based on temporary differences between the financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities using statutory rates. Management of the Company has evaluated the positive and negative evidence bearing upon the realizability of its deferred tax assets. Under the applicable accounting standards, management has considered future reversals of existing taxable temporary differences to conclude there is sufficient positive evidence that it is more likely than not that the Company will not recognize part of the benefits of state net operating losses. Accordingly, a partial valuation allowance has been established against the Company’s state net operating loss carryover.

Among the changes to the U.S. federal income tax rules, the CARES Act modified net operating loss carryback rules that were eliminated by the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, restored 100% bonus depreciation for qualified improvement property, increased the limit on the deduction for net interest expense and accelerated the time frame for refunds of alternative minimum tax (“AMT”) credits. The Company’s ability to elect bonus depreciation for the 2018 and 2019 tax years, carryback net operating losses to earlier years, and immediately refund AMT credits due to the enactment of the CARES Act resulted in an estimated tax refund of $6.9 million of which the Company has received $1.2 million. The Company has elected to defer the employer-paid portion of social security taxes beginning with pay dates on and after April 1, 2020. The Company will continue to evaluate the effects of the CARES Act as additional legislative guidance becomes available.

9. Earnings Per Share

The following table summarizes the computation of basic and diluted net income per share attributable to common shareholders (in thousands, except share and per share data):

The weighted average common shares for the diluted earnings per share calculation exclude the impact of outstanding equity awards if the assumed proceeds per share of the award is in excess of the related fiscal period’s average price of the Company’s common stock. Such awards are excluded because they would have an antidilutive effect due to the Company having a net loss for the thirteen and twenty-six weeks ended August 1, 2020 and August 3, 2019. There were 2,463,688 antidilutive shares for the thirteen weeks ended August 1, 2020, and 4,224,437 antidilutive shares for the thirteen weeks ended August 3, 2019, of such awards excluded. There were 2,533,148 antidilutive shares for the twenty-six weeks ended August 1, 2020, and 2,775,635 antidilutive shares for the twenty-six weeks ended August 3, 2019, of such awards excluded.

10. Equity-Based Compensation

Equity-based compensation expense was $0.6 million for the thirteen weeks ended August 1, 2020, and $1.2 million for the thirteen weeks ended August 3, 2019. Equity-based compensation expense was $1.3 million for the twenty-six weeks ended August 1, 2020, and $2.4 million for the twenty-six weeks ended August 3, 2019.

12

Table of Contents

Special Dividend

On March 6, 2019, the Company’s Board of Directors declared a special cash dividend (the “Special Dividend”) of $1.15 per share payable to shareholders of record as of March 19, 2019, of which $50.2 million was paid on April 1, 2019.

In connection with the Special Dividend, pursuant to anti-dilution provisions in the 2017 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan (the “2017 Plan”), the Company adjusted outstanding equity awards in order to prevent dilution of such awards. Accordingly, the Company adjusted the number of outstanding unvested restricted stock units (“RSUs”) as of the payment date of the dividend with an additional number of RSUs (“Dividend Equivalent Units” or “DEUs”) equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the product of the number of unvested RSUs as of the record date by the amount of the dividend per share, by (y) the fair market value of share on the payment date of the Special Dividend. The DEUs will follow the same vesting pattern as the RSUs. For holders of outstanding options as of March 19, 2019, the option strike price on such options was reduced by the per share amount of the Special Dividend. Holders of unvested Restricted Stock Awards (“RSAs”) received a forfeitable $1.15 per share dividend on unvested RSAs as of March 19, 2019.

11. Related Party Transactions

For the thirteen and twenty-six weeks ended August 1, 2020 and the thirteen and twenty-six weeks ended August 3, 2019, the Company incurred an immaterial amount of related party transactions.

12. Commitments and Contingencies

Legal Proceedings

The Company is subject to various legal proceedings that arise in the ordinary course of business. Although the outcome of such proceedings cannot be predicted with certainty, management does not believe that the Company is presently party to any legal proceedings the resolution of which management believes would have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition, operating results or cash flows. The Company establishes reserves for specific legal matters when the Company determines that the likelihood of an unfavorable outcome is probable, and the loss is reasonably estimable.

13. Operating Leases

As of August 1, 2020, the Company leased certain retail stores, a distribution center, and office space. As of that same date, the Company did not have any finance leases and no operating leases containing material residual value guarantees or material restrictive covenants. Certain of the Company’s retail operating leases include variable rental payments based on a percentage of retail sales over contractual levels.

Some retail leases include one or more options to renew, with renewal terms that can extend the lease term from one to fifteen years. The Company’s distribution center has renewal terms that can extend the lease term up to twenty years. The exercise of lease renewal options is at the Company’s sole discretion. As of August 1, 2020, the Company included options to renew that are reasonably certain to be exercised in the operating lease assets and liabilities.

The components of lease expense were as follows (in thousands):

Additionally, during the first quarter of Fiscal Year 2020, the Company reduced the net carrying value of certain long-lived assets to their estimated fair value, which was determined using a discounted cash flows method. These impairment charges arose from the material adverse effect the COVID-19 pandemic had on our results of operations, particularly with our store fleet. As part of these impairment charges, the Company incurred non-cash impairment charges of $6.7 million on leasehold improvements and $20.8 million on right-of-use assets. During the second quarter of Fiscal Year 2020, the Company recorded a $1.3 million non-cash gain on the operating lease liability due to its decision to close certain retail stores. Approximately $0.9 million of the benefit related to leases that were included in the impairment on right-of-use assets recorded in the first quarter of Fiscal Year 2020; therefore, the benefit was recorded as a reduction of the previously recorded impairment. Approximately $0.4 million of the benefit related to the adjustment to the right-of-use asset and operating lease liability of leases not previously impaired and was recorded in Selling, General and Administrative expenses.

13

Table of Contents

As a result of the COVID-19 related temporary store closures, the Company withheld rent payments for all of its retail locations in April and May 2020 and for some of its retail locations in June 2020. The Company successfully negotiated commercially reasonable lease concessions with the landlords of several of our leases during the second quarter of Fiscal Year 2020, which include combinations of abated and deferred rent payments as well as term extensions. The Company is actively negotiating with the landlords of its other leases, and the withheld rent payments for such leases amounted to approximately $17.1 million as of August 1, 2020, which we have included in accrued expenses and other current liabilities on the consolidated balance sheet. The Company does not anticipate any significant late payment penalties; therefore, we have not accrued any related expenses in the thirteen or twenty-six weeks ended August 1, 2020.

The Company has elected to apply the guidance provided by the FASB pertaining to lease concessions that are a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and accordingly does not evaluate the rights and obligations pertaining to concessions in each lease but rather accounts for them assuming that such provisions exist. For each lease that contains concessions that do not significantly increase our obligations, the Company has remeasured the lease consistent with resolving a contingency and therefore adjusted the timing and amount of the lease payments without changing our assumptions (i.e. discount rate and lease classification). The concessions within the qualifying agreements vary and may include combinations of abated and deferred rent payments as well as term extensions ranging from one to three months. During the thirteen weeks ended August 1, 2020, the Company’s qualifying agreements provided abated rent payments of $0.5 million and deferred rent payments of $0.3 million that are payable over no more than 15 months beginning as early as August 2020.

For the thirteen and twenty-six weeks ended August 1, 2020, total common area maintenance expense was $3.7 million and $7.4 million, respectively. Operating lease liabilities decreased $2.0 million for the thirteen weeks ended August 1, 2020 due to the COVID related lease modifications noted above but increased $1.1 million for the twenty-six weeks ended August 1, 2020 due to obtaining operating lease assets, partially offset by the COVID related lease modifications. For the thirteen and twenty-six weeks ended August 3, 2019, total common area maintenance expense was $3.6 million and $7.1 million, respectively, while operating lease liabilities arising from obtaining operating lease assets was $4.1 million and $9.6 million, respectively.

For the thirteen and twenty-six weeks ended August 1, 2020 total cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of operating lease liabilities was $8.1 million and $12.5 million, respectively. For the thirteen and twenty-six weeks ended August 3, 2019, the total cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of operating lease liabilities was $11.9 million, and $23.7 million, respectively.

Maturities of lease liabilities as of August 1, 2020 were as follows (in thousands):

14. Barter Arrangement

The Company entered into a bartering arrangement with Evergreen Trading, a vendor, where the Company provided inventory in exchange for media credits. During Q3 of Fiscal Year 2019, the Company exchanged $3.3 million of inventory for certain media credits. To account for the exchange, the Company recorded the transfer of the inventory asset as a reduction of inventory offset by a

14

Table of Contents

$2.5 million decrease in reserves and an increase to a prepaid media asset of $2.0 million which is included in “Prepaid and other current assets” and “Other assets” on the accompanying consolidated balance sheet. A gain of $1.3 million was recorded upon shipment of the inventory. The Company had $2.0 million of unused media credits remaining as of August 1, 2020 that will be used over seven years.

The Company accounted for this barter transaction under ASC Topic No. 606 “Revenue from Contracts with Customers.” Barter transactions with commercial substance are recorded at the estimated fair value of the products exchanged unless the products received have a more readily determinable estimated fair value. Revenue associated with a barter transaction is recorded at the time of the exchange of the related assets.

15. Subsequent Event

Forbearance Agreements

On June 15, 2020, the Company entered into two forbearance agreements (the “Forbearance Agreements”) with the lenders under its ABL Facility and Term Loan with respect to the noncompliance mentioned in Note 7. The Forbearance Agreements are described in a Current Report on Form 8-K filed by the Company with the SEC on June 16, 2020, and available on the SEC’s Edgar website as well as the Company’s website, which includes the full text of the agreement as an exhibit. Under the Forbearance Agreements, the respective lenders agreed not to exercise any rights and remedies until July 16, 2020 so long as, among other things, the Company otherwise remained in compliance with its credit facilities and complied with the terms of the Forbearance Agreements.

Subsequently, the Forbearance Agreements have been extended with the latest extension until September 26, 2020. The extensions of the Forbearance Agreements are described in Current Reports on Forms 8-K filed by the Company with the SEC, and available on the SEC’s Edgar website as well as the Company’s website, which include the full text of the agreements as exhibits.

Transaction Support Agreement

On September 1, 2020, the Company announced it entered into a TSA with Consenting Lenders on the principal terms of a Transaction that would result in a waiver of any past non-compliance with the terms of the Company’s credit facilities and provide the Company with additional liquidity.

If the Transaction is consented to by the requisite term loan lenders, the Transaction will be consummated on an out-of-court basis. The out-of-court Transaction would extend the maturity of certain participating debt by two years, or through May 2024, enabling the Company to strengthen its balance sheet and better position itself for long-term growth. The Company is working actively with the Consenting Lenders to obtain the necessary consents. In the event that the Transaction does not receive the required consents, the parties to the TSA have agreed to a prepackaged In-Court Transaction the key terms of which have been negotiated, including additional financing during the Chapter 11 process. While the Company hopes to receive the required consents to execute the out-of-court Transaction, the Company anticipates that as part of the In-Court Transaction all vendor claims would be unimpaired and paid in full.

15

Table of Contents

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and related notes thereto included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. The following discussion contains forward-looking statements that reflect our plans, estimates and assumptions. Our actual results could differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause such differences are discussed in the sections of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q titled “Risk Factors” and “Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements”.

We operate on a 52- or 53-week fiscal year that ends on the Saturday that is closest to January 31. Each fiscal year generally is comprised of four 13-week fiscal quarters, although in the years with 53 weeks, the fourth quarter represents a 14-week period. The fiscal years ending January 30, 2021 (“Fiscal Year 2020”) and fiscal year ended February 1, 2020 (“Fiscal Year 2019”) are both comprised of 52 weeks.

Overview

J.Jill is a premier omnichannel retailer and nationally recognized women’s apparel brand committed to delighting customers with great wear-now product. The brand represents an easy, thoughtful and inspired style that reflects the confidence of remarkable women who live life with joy, passion and purpose. J.Jill offers a guiding customer experience through about 280 stores nationwide and a robust ecommerce platform. J.Jill is headquartered outside Boston.

Our first and second quarter financial results of Fiscal Year 2020 were significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic as our stores were temporarily closed beginning in mid-March 2020 with most of our stores being reopened by mid-June 2020, but with enhanced health and safety protocols. In response to the pandemic, we acted during the period to leverage our Direct channel, while focusing on cost management and improving our liquidity. We drew down $33.0 million on our ABL in the first quarter of Fiscal Year 2020 and ended our current quarter with a cash balance of approximately $32.0 million. After approaching our vendor community, we implemented extended payment terms for nearly all goods and services, and we withheld store rent payments beginning in April of 2020. These extensions and withholdings provided time for us to work on more longer-term solutions to help us through the pandemic. These solutions included cost reductions, including pay reductions for employees in our headquarters, furlough of store and some headquarter and distribution center staff, reductions in Marketing, reductions in Board of Directors fees, and reductions in other general expenses. Additionally, we have eliminated approximately half of our catalogs, which we are considering implementing as a permanent change.  We have also been limiting investments in our ecommerce business to necessary website and supporting functions, and we have significantly reduced planned capital expenditures.

The COVID-19 global pandemic and resulting temporary store closures have had a material adverse effect on our operations, cash flows and liquidity. We have made significant progress reducing cash expenditures and maximizing cash receipts from our direct to consumer business channel such that our current base forecast projects sufficient liquidity over the coming 12 months; however, considerable risk remains related to the performance of stores, the resilience of the customer in an uncertain economic climate, and the possibility of a resurgence of COVID-19 related market impacts in the coming 12 months. If one or more of these risks materialize, we believe that our current sources of liquidity and capital may not be sufficient to finance our continued operations for at least the next 12 months. Under the terms of the asset based revolving credit agreement (“ABL Facility”) and term loan credit agreement (“Term Loan”), substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern is considered an event of default which allows the lenders to call the debt in advance of maturity.

We have also filed an income tax refund for $6.9 million, of which we have received $1.2 million, with the IRS and multiple state jurisdictions related to the provision under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”) enacted in March 2020 that provides numerous tax provisions and other stimulus measures, including temporary suspension of certain payment requirements for the employer-paid portion of social security taxes, the creation of certain refundable employee retention credits, and technical corrections from prior tax legislation for tax depreciation of certain qualified improvement property. The Company has elected to defer the employer-paid portion of social security taxes beginning with pay dates on and after April 1, 2020. We continue to evaluate the provisions of the CARES Act and the ways in which it could assist our business and improve our liquidity.

Factors Affecting Our Operating Results

Various factors are expected to continue to affect our results of operations going forward, including the following:

Overall Economic Trends. Consumer purchases of clothing and other merchandise generally decline during recessionary periods and other periods when disposable income is adversely affected, and consequently our results of operations may be affected by general economic conditions. For example, reduced consumer confidence and lower availability and higher cost of consumer credit may reduce demand for our merchandise and may limit our ability to increase or sustain prices. The growth rate of the market could be affected by macroeconomic conditions in the United States.

16

Table of Contents

Consumer Preferences and Fashion Trends. Our ability to maintain our appeal to existing customers and attract new customers depends on our ability to anticipate fashion trends. During periods in which we have successfully anticipated fashion trends, we have generally had more favorable results.

Competition. The retail industry is highly competitive and retailers compete based on a variety of factors, including design, quality, price and customer service. Levels of competition and the ability of our competitors to more accurately predict fashion trends and otherwise attract customers through competitive pricing or other factors may impact our results of operations.

Our Strategic Initiatives. The ongoing implementation of strategic initiatives will continue to have an impact on our results of operations.  These initiatives include our ecommerce site, which was re-platformed in Fiscal Year 2017, and our initiative to upgrade and enhance our information systems. Although initiatives of this nature are designed to create growth in our business and continuing improvement in our operating results, the timing of expenditures related to these initiatives, as well as our ability to successfully achieve the expected benefits of these initiatives, may affect our results of operations in future periods.

Pricing and Changes in Our Merchandise Mix. Our product offering changes from period to period, as do the prices at which goods are sold and the margins we are able to earn from the sales of those goods. The levels at which we are able to price our merchandise are influenced by a variety of factors, including the quality of our products, cost of production, prices at which our competitors are selling similar products and the willingness of our customers to pay for products.

Potential Changes in Tax Laws and/or Regulations.  Changes in tax laws in any of the multiple jurisdictions in which we operate, or adverse outcomes from tax audits that we may be subject to in any of the jurisdictions in which we operate, could adversely affect our business, financial condition and operating results.  Additionally, any potential changes with respect to tax and trade policies, tariffs and government regulations affecting trade between the U.S. and other countries could adversely affect our business, as we source the majority of our merchandise from manufacturers located outside of the U.S.

How We Assess the Performance of Our Business

In assessing the performance of our business, we consider a variety of financial and operating metrics, including GAAP and non-GAAP measures, including the following:

Net sales consist primarily of revenues, net of merchandise returns and discounts, generated from the sale of apparel and accessory merchandise through our Retail channel and Direct channel. Net sales also include shipping and handling fees collected from customers and royalty revenues and marketing reimbursements related to our private label credit card agreement. Revenue from our Retail channel is recognized at the time of sale and revenue from our Direct channel is recognized upon shipment of merchandise to the customer.

Net sales are impacted by the size of our active customer base, product assortment and availability, marketing and promotional activities and the spending habits of our customers. Net sales are also impacted by the migration of single-channel customers to omnichannel customers who, on average, spend nearly three times more than single-channel customers.

Number of stores reflects all stores open at the end of a reporting period. In connection with opening new stores, we incur pre-opening costs. Pre-opening costs include expenses incurred prior to opening a new store and primarily consist of payroll, travel, training, marketing, initial opening supplies and costs of transporting initial inventory and fixtures to store locations, as well as occupancy costs incurred from the time of possession of a store site to the opening of that store. These pre-opening costs are included in selling, general and administrative expenses and are generally incurred and expensed within 30 days of opening a new store.

Gross profit is equal to our net sales less costs of goods sold. Gross profit as a percentage of our net sales is referred to as gross margin.

Costs of goods sold includes the direct costs of sold merchandise, inventory shrinkage, and adjustments and reserves for excess, aged and obsolete inventory. We review our inventory levels on an ongoing basis to identify slow-moving merchandise and use product markdowns to liquidate these products. Changes in the assortment of our products may also impact our gross profit. The timing and level of markdowns are driven by customer acceptance of our merchandise. As a result, the reporting of our gross profit and gross margin may not be comparable to other companies.

The primary drivers of the costs of goods sold are raw materials, which fluctuate based on certain factors beyond our control, including labor conditions, transportation or freight costs, energy prices, currency fluctuations and commodity prices. We place orders with merchandise suppliers in United States dollars and, as a result, are not exposed to significant foreign currency exchange risk.

Selling, general and administrative expenses include all operating costs not included in costs of goods sold. These expenses include all payroll and related expenses, occupancy costs, information systems costs and other operating expenses related to our stores and to our operations at our headquarters, including utilities, depreciation and amortization. These expenses also include marketing

17

Table of Contents

expense, including catalog production and mailing costs, warehousing, distribution and shipping costs, customer service operations, consulting and software services, professional services and other administrative costs.

Our historical revenue growth has been accompanied by increased selling, general and administrative expenses. The most significant increases were in occupancy costs associated with retail store expansion, and in marketing and payroll investments.

Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin. Adjusted EBITDA represents net income plus net interest expense, provision (benefit) for income taxes, depreciation and amortization, the amortization of the step-up to fair value of merchandise inventory resulting from the application of a purchase accounting adjustment related to the Acquisition, certain Acquisition-related expenses, sponsor fees, equity-based compensation expense, goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets impairment, write-off of property and equipment and other non-recurring expenses, primarily consisting of outside legal and professional fees associated with certain non-recurring transactions and events. We present Adjusted EBITDA on a consolidated basis because management uses it as a supplemental measure in assessing our operating performance, and we believe that it is helpful to investors, securities analysts and other interested parties as a measure of our comparative operating performance from period to period. We also use Adjusted EBITDA as one of the primary methods for planning and forecasting overall expected performance of our business and for evaluating on a quarterly and annual basis actual results against such expectations. Further, we recognize Adjusted EBITDA as a commonly used measure in determining business value and as such, use it internally to report results. Adjusted EBITDA margin represents, for any period, Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of net sales.

While we believe that Adjusted EBITDA is useful in evaluating our business, Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure that has limitations as an analytical tool. Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered an alternative to, or substitute for, net income (loss), which is calculated in accordance with GAAP. In addition, other companies, including companies in our industry, may calculate Adjusted EBITDA differently or not at all, which reduces the usefulness of Adjusted EBITDA as a tool for comparison. We recommend that you review the reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to net income, the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, and the calculation of the resultant Adjusted EBITDA margin below and not rely solely on Adjusted EBITDA or any single financial measure to evaluate our business.

Reconciliation of Net Income to Adjusted EBITDA and Calculation of Adjusted EBITDA Margin

The following table provides a reconciliation of net income to Adjusted EBITDA and the calculation of Adjusted EBITDA margin for the periods presented.

18

Table of Contents

Items Affecting Comparability of Financial Results

Impairment losses. Our Fiscal Year 2020 year-to-date results include impairment charges of $51.1 million for long-lived assets (operating lease right of use asset and leasehold improvements), goodwill and intangible assets. We had $97.5 million of impairment charges in Q2 of Fiscal Year 2019 for goodwill, intangible assets and long-lived assets. See Note 5, Asset Impairments, in Item I, Financial Statements, for additional information on these impairment losses.

COVID-19 impact. Our second quarter and year-to-date Fiscal Year 2020 financial results were significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic as our stores were temporarily closed beginning in mid-March in efforts to stop the spread of the virus. Although the stores were temporarily closed and the Company lost revenues as a result, we continued to incur certain expenses, such as payroll and rent; therefore, ratios and other items may not be comparable to prior periods.

Results of Operations

Thirteen weeks ended August 1, 2020 Compared to Thirteen weeks ended August 3, 2019

The following table summarizes our consolidated results of operations for the periods indicated:

Net Sales

Net sales for the thirteen weeks ended August 1, 2020 decreased $88.1 million, or 48.7%, to $92.6 from $180.7 million for the thirteen weeks ended August 3, 2019.  At the end of those same periods, we operated 281 and 286 retail stores, respectively. The decrease in total net sales versus the prior year was primarily driven by the temporary closure of our stores, particularly at the beginning of the quarter ended August 1, 2020, as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Essentially all of our stores were reopened midway through the second quarter, following local mandates with reduced hours and enhanced health and safety protocols.

Our Retail channel contributed 28.4% of our net sales in the thirteen weeks ended August 1, 2020 and 57.4% in the thirteen weeks ended August 3, 2019. Our Direct channel contributed 71.6% of our net sales in the thirteen weeks ended August 1, 2020 and 42.6% in the thirteen weeks ended August 3, 2019.

Gross Profit and Costs of Goods Sold

Gross profit for the thirteen weeks ended August 1, 2020 decreased $50.3 million, or 47.8%, to $55.0 million from $105.3 million for the thirteen weeks ended August 3, 2019. The gross margin for the thirteen weeks ended August 1, 2020 was 59.4% compared to 58.3% for the thirteen weeks ended August 3, 2019. The gross margin improvement was primarily due to a $2.4 million change in estimate during the thirteen weeks ended August 1, 2020 to reduce an accrual for potential future product liabilities. Additionally, higher promotions and markdown activity in the current year period were substantially offset by liquidation actions taken in the prior year period.

19

Table of Contents

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

Selling, general and administrative expenses for the thirteen weeks ended August 1, 2020 decreased $24.9 million, or 24.3%, to $77.7 million from $102.6 million for the thirteen weeks ended August 3, 2019. The decrease was primarily driven by expense reduction actions taken in the first quarter ended May 2, 2020, which included a reduction in headcount, pay reductions, lower store payroll related to the temporary closure of our stores and lower marketing costs.

As a percentage of net sales, selling, general and administrative expenses were 83.9% for the thirteen weeks ended August 1, 2020 compared to 56.8% for the thirteen weeks ended August 3, 2019, driven by the reduced level of retail sales.

Interest Expense, Net

Interest expense, net, consists of interest expense on the Term Loan and ABL Facility, partially offset by interest earned on cash. Interest expense, net for the thirteen weeks ended August 1, 2020 decreased $0.8 million, or 15.4%, to $4.2 million from $5.0 million for the thirteen weeks ended August 3, 2019.

Income Tax Benefit

The income tax benefit was $7.0 million for the thirteen weeks ended August 1, 2020 compared to $3.1 million for the thirteen weeks ended August 3, 2019, while our effective tax rates for the same periods were 27.0% and 3.1%, respectively. The higher effective tax rate in the current period was driven by the anticipated benefit from the CARES Act, the impact on the effective tax rate and the impact of state income taxes, partially offset by the impact on the effective tax rate from §162(m) officer compensation limitation as well as the goodwill impairment charge, which has no associated tax benefit. The CARES Act provides for net operating losses in Fiscal Year 2020 to be carried back to earlier tax years with higher tax rates than the current year. The difference in the effective tax rates is also partially driven by the treatment of the impairment of goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets in the thirteen weeks ended August 3, 2019.

Twenty-six weeks ended August 1, 2020 Compared to Twenty-six weeks ended August 3, 2019

The following table summarizes our consolidated results of operations for the periods indicated:

Net Sales

Net sales for the twenty-six weeks ended August 1, 2020 decreased $173.6 million, or 48.6%, to $183.6 million from $357.2 million for the twenty-six weeks ended August 3, 2019.  At the end of both of those same periods, we operated 281 and 286 retail stores, respectively. The decrease in total net sales versus the prior year was primarily driven by the temporary closure of our stores, particularly for the second half of the first quarter and the first half of the second quarter of Fiscal Year 2020, as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Essentially all of our stores were reopened midway through the second quarter, following local mandates with reduced hours and enhanced health and safety protocols.

20

Table of Contents

Our Retail channel contributed 33.4% of our net sales in the twenty-six weeks ended August 1, 2020 and 57.7% in the twenty-six weeks ended August 3, 2019. Our Direct channel contributed 66.6% of our net sales in the twenty-six weeks ended August 1, 2020 and 42.3% in the twenty-six weeks ended August 3, 2019.

Gross Profit and Costs of Goods Sold

Gross profit for the twenty-six weeks ended August 1, 2020 decreased $116.4 million, or 52.5%, to $105.2 million from $221.6 million for the twenty-six weeks ended August 3, 2019. The gross margin for the twenty-six weeks ended August 1, 2020 was 57.3% compared to 62.0% for the twenty-six weeks ended August 3, 2019, largely driven by added promotions, markdowns, and liquidation actions to clear certain goods, particularly after the temporary closure of our stores, and a $3.0 million accrual for potential future liability payments to vendors for order cancellations which were issued as part of the Company’s COVID-19 response.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

Selling, general and administrative expenses for the twenty-six weeks ended August 1, 2020 decreased $42.4 million, or 20.4%, to $165.6 million from $208.1 million for the twenty-six weeks ended August 3, 2019. The decrease was primarily driven by expense reduction actions taken in Fiscal Year 2020, which included a reduction in headcount, pay reductions, lower store payroll related to the temporary closure of our stores and the subsequent reopening of the stores at lower staffing rates and reduced hours, and lower marketing costs.

As a percentage of net sales, selling, general and administrative expenses were 90.2% for the twenty-six weeks ended August 1, 2020 compared to 58.3% for the twenty-six weeks ended August 3, 2019, primarily driven by revenue decreases since the temporary closure of the Company’s stores as part of its COVID-19 response.    

Interest Expense, Net

Interest expense, net, consists of interest expense on the Term Loan, partially offset by interest earned on cash. Interest expense for the twenty-six weeks ended August 1, 2020 decreased $1.1 million, or 11.4%, to $8.9 million from $10.0 million for the twenty-six weeks ended August 3, 2019.

Income Tax Benefit

The income tax benefit was $31.2 million for the twenty-six weeks ended August 1, 2020 compared to $1.6 million for the twenty-six weeks ended August 3, 2019. Our effective tax rates for the same periods were 25.9% and 1.7%, respectively. The higher effective tax rate in the current period was driven by the anticipated benefit from the CARES Act, the impact on the effective tax rate and the impact of state income taxes, partially offset by the impact on the effective tax rate from §162(m) officer compensation limitation as well as the goodwill impairment charge, which has no associated tax benefit.  The CARES Act provides for net operating losses in Fiscal Year 2020 to be carried back to earlier tax years with higher tax rates than the current year. The difference in the effective tax rates is also partially driven by the treatment of the impairment of goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets in the twenty-six weeks ended August 3, 2019.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

General

The COVID-19 global pandemic and resulting store closures have had a material adverse effect on our operations, cash flows and liquidity. We have made significant progress reducing cash expenditures and maximizing cash receipts from our direct to consumer business channel such that our current base forecast projects sufficient liquidity over the coming 12 months. However, considerable risk remains related to the performance of stores, the resilience of the customer in an uncertain economic climate, and the possibility of a resurgence of COVID-19 related market impacts in the coming 12 months. In addition, our lenders could instruct the administrative agent under such credit facilities to declare the principal of and accrued interest on all outstanding indebtedness immediately due and payable and terminate all remaining commitments and obligations under the credit facilities. If one or more of these risks materialize, we believe that our current sources of liquidity and capital will not be sufficient to finance our continued operations for at least the next 12 months.

Our primary sources of liquidity and capital resources are cash generated from operating activities and availability under our ABL Facility, dated as of May 8, 2015, by and among Jill Holdings LLC, Jill Acquisition LLC, certain subsidiaries from time to time party thereto, the lenders party thereto and CIT Finance LLC as the administrative agent and collateral agent, as amended on May 27, 2016 by Amendment No. 1 thereto. The ABL Facility was further amended on August 22, 2018 by Amendment No. 2 to reduce the

21

Table of Contents

frequency of borrowing base certificate submissions as long as certain conditions are met. The ABL Facility was further amended on June 12, 2019 by Amendment No. 3 to extend the maturity of the ABL Facility to an initial maturity of May 8, 2023 so long as certain conditions related to the maturity of the term loan are met. On March 16, 2020, we borrowed an aggregate principal amount of $33.0 million under the ABL Facility. Our primary requirements for liquidity and capital are working capital and general corporate needs, including merchandise inventories, marketing, including catalog production and distribution, payroll, store occupancy costs and capital expenditures associated with opening new stores, remodeling existing stores and upgrading information systems and the costs of operating as a public company.

As discussed above, our liquidity has been materially adversely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. We have filed an income tax refund for $6.9 million, of which we have received $1.2 million, with the IRS related to the provision under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”) enacted in March 2020 that provides numerous tax provisions and other stimulus measures, including temporary suspension of certain payment requirements for the employer-paid portion of social security taxes, the creation of certain refundable employee retention credits, and technical corrections from prior tax legislation for tax depreciation of certain qualified improvement property. The Company has elected to defer the employer-paid portion of social security taxes beginning with pay dates on and after April 1, 2020. We continue to evaluate the provisions of the CARES Act and the ways in which it could assist our business and improve our liquidity.

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Company’s revenues, results of operations, and cash flows have been materially adversely impacted, and resulted in a failure by us to comply with the financial covenants contained in our ABL Facility and Term Loan agreements for the period ended August 1, 2020. This has led to substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. The inclusion of substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern in the report of our independent registered public accounting firm on our accompanying financial statements for the fiscal year ended February 1, 2020 resulted in a violation of affirmative covenants under our ABL Facility and Term Loan agreements. As a result of the violation of affirmative covenants, lenders could exercise available remedies including, declaring the principal of and accrued interest on all outstanding indebtedness immediately due and payable and terminating all remaining commitments and obligations under the credit facilities.

On June 15, 2020, the Company entered into two forbearance agreements (the “Forbearance Agreements”) with the lenders under its ABL Facility and Term Loan. The Forbearance Agreements are described in a Current Report on Form 8-K filed by the Company with the SEC on June 16, 2020, and available on the SEC’s Edgar website as well as the Company’s website, which includes the full text of the agreement as an exhibit. Under the Forbearance Agreements, the respective lenders agreed not to exercise any rights and remedies until July 16, 2020 so long as, among other things, the Company otherwise remained in compliance with its credit facilities and complied with the terms of the Forbearance Agreements. Subsequently, the Forbearance Agreements were extended with the latest extension until September 26, 2020. The extensions of the Forbearance Agreements are described in Current Reports on Forms 8-K filed by the Company with the SEC, and available on the SEC’s Edgar website as well as the Company’s website, which include the full text of the agreements as exhibits.

On September 1, 2020, the Company announced it entered into a Transaction Support Agreement (“TSA”) with term loan lenders holding greater than 70% of the Company’s term loans (“Consenting Lenders”) and a majority of its shareholders on the principal terms of a financial restructuring (“Transaction”) that would result in a waiver of any past non-compliance with the terms of the Company’s credit facilities and provide the Company with additional liquidity. If the Transaction is consented to by the requisite term loan lenders, the Transaction will be consummated on an out-of-court basis. The out-of-court Transaction would extend the maturity of certain participating debt by two years, through May 2024. The Company is working actively with the Consenting Lenders to obtain the necessary consents.

In the event that the Transaction does not receive the required consents, the parties to the TSA have agreed to a prepackaged plan of reorganization under Chapter 11 of the United States Code (the “In-Court Transaction”) the key terms of which have been negotiated, including additional financing during the Chapter 11 process. While the Company hopes to receive the required consents to execute the out-of-court Transaction, the Company anticipates that as part of the In-Court Transaction all vendor claims would be unimpaired and paid in full.

The Company could experience other potential impacts as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, including, but not limited to, additional charges from potential adjustments to the carrying amount of its inventory, goodwill, intangible assets, right-of-use assets and long-lived assets. Actual results may differ materially from the Company’s current estimates as the scope of the COVID-19 pandemic evolves, depending largely, though not exclusively, on the duration of the disruption to its business. Our future operating performance and our ability to service or extend our indebtedness will be subject to future economic conditions and to financial, business, and other factors, many of which are beyond our control.

Capital expenditures were $2.7 million for the twenty-six weeks ended August 1, 2020 compared to $7.9 million for the twenty-six weeks ended August 3, 2019.  The decrease in capital expenditures in Fiscal Year 2020 was due primarily to our efforts to reduce cash expenditures and preserve cash on-hand in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

22

Table of Contents

Cash Flow Analysis

The following table shows our cash flows information for the periods presented:

Net Cash (used in) provided by Operating Activities

Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities declined by $40.9 million dollars as compared to the prior year as cash-related income was a use of cash in the current year due to the impact of temporarily closing the stores in response to the COVID-19 pandemic as compared to a source of cash in the prior year.  The use of cash caused by the current year loss was substantially offset by working capital improvements due to withholding April and May 2020 rent payments at all of our retail locations, and June 2020 rent payments at a portion of retail locations, totaling approximately $17.1 million and extending payment terms with merchandising vendors.

Net cash used in operating activities during the twenty-six weeks ended August 1, 2020 was $17.3 million. Key elements of cash used in operating activities were (i) net loss of $89.3 million, (ii) adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities of $55.5 million, primarily driven by impairment of goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets, depreciation and amortization, partially offset by deferred income taxes, and (iii) a source of cash from net operating assets and liabilities of $16.4 million, primarily driven by increases in accounts payable and accrued liabilities.

Net cash provided by operating activities during the twenty-six weeks ended August 3, 2019 was $23.5 million. Key elements of cash provided by operating activities were (i) net loss of $92.4 million, and (ii) adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities of $112.9 million, primarily driven by depreciation and amortization and equity based compensation and noncash amortization of deferred financing and debt discount costs, partially offset by deferred income taxes, and (iii) use of cash from net operating assets and liabilities of $3.0 million, primarily driven by higher inventory, accounts receivable and prepaid expense and other current assets levels, partially offset by higher accrued expense levels.

Net Cash used in Investing Activities