J.Jill, Inc. is an American retailer that offers women's apparel, accessories, and footwear.
On or about February 10, 2017, the Company filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-1 for the IPO, which was subsequently amended and declared effective on March 8, 2017 (the "Registration Statement"). On March 9, 2017, the Registration Statement was used to sell approximately 12.5 million shares of J.Jill common stock to the investing public at $13 per share.
According to the law firm press release, the Registration Statement communicated that the Company's unique business strategy had insulated it from adverse industry trends and, as a result, J.Jill would be able to continue to grow its gross profits. The Complaint asserts that the statements in the Registration Statement were false and misleading when made because the Company's purportedly unique and superior sales and marketing approach had not insulated the Company from adverse trends affecting the overall retail industry. Moreover, the Company was carrying increasing amounts of slow moving inventory and would need to significantly markdown sale items and increase promotional efforts in an attempt to continue its sales growth, and the Company's brick-and-mortar stores were experiencing difficulty attracting customers and maintaining profitability, which would result in the Company shuttering up to eight stores in fiscal 2017 – thereby diminishing the Company's gross margins and impairing its ability to service its long-term debt. On October 12, 2017, J.Jill common stock closed at $4.86 per share, or more than 62% below its offering price only seven months after the IPO.
Plaintiff seeks to recover damages on behalf of all purchasers of J.Jill common stock in or traceable to the Company's March 9, 2017 IPO (the "Class").
On January 2, 2018, the Court issued an Order appointing Lead Plaintiff and Counsel. On March 9, Lead Plaintiff filed an amended Complaint. Defendants filed Motions to Dismiss the amended Complaint on May 14. On December 20, the Court issued an Order granting Defendants' Motions to Dismiss the amended Complaint.
