SCHEDULE: Royce & Associates LP Discloses 6.43% Stake in J. Jill Inc.

Royce & Associates LP has filed an amended Schedule 13G, reporting a 6.43% beneficial ownership stake in J. Jill Inc. as of June 30, 2025.

Summary

• Royce & Associates LP reported beneficial ownership of 982,885 shares of J. Jill Inc. common stock.
• This ownership represents 6.43% of the total class of J. Jill Inc. securities.
• Royce & Associates LP holds sole voting power and sole dispositive power over all 982,885 shares.
• The filing is an Amendment No. 2 to a Schedule 13G, indicating an update to a previously reported ownership position.
• The securities were acquired and are held in the ordinary course of business, and not for the purpose of changing or influencing control of J. Jill Inc.

Sentiment

Score: 5

Explanation: This filing is a standard disclosure of beneficial ownership and does not contain performance or strategic updates for the issuer, thus maintaining a neutral sentiment.

Positives

• An institutional investment adviser, Royce & Associates LP, maintains a significant beneficial ownership stake of 6.43% in J. Jill Inc., indicating continued institutional interest.
• The filing explicitly states that the shares are held in the ordinary course of business and not for the purpose of changing or influencing control, which suggests a passive investment approach.

Negatives

• No negative information regarding J. Jill Inc.'s operations or financial performance is disclosed in this beneficial ownership filing.

Risks

• The filing does not detail specific risks related to J. Jill Inc.'s business operations or financial health. It primarily focuses on the beneficial ownership stake of Royce & Associates LP.

Future Outlook

This filing is a disclosure of beneficial ownership and does not contain any forward-looking statements or guidance regarding J. Jill Inc.'s business operations or financial performance.

Management Comments

• "By signing below I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the securities referred to above were acquired and are held in the ordinary course of business and were not acquired and are not held for the purpose of or with the effect of changing or influencing the control of the issuer of the securities and were not acquired and are not held in connection with or as a participant in any transaction having that purpose or effect."

Industry Context

J. Jill Inc. operates in the women's apparel and accessories retail sector. This filing is a routine disclosure of a significant institutional ownership stake, which is common practice for publicly traded companies and does not inherently reflect on broader industry trends or competitive positioning.

Related Party Transactions

• Royce & Associates LP (RALP) is an indirect majority-owned subsidiary of Franklin Resources, Inc. (FRI).
• RALP exercises voting and investment powers independently from FRI and its other investment management subsidiaries, with informational barriers in place.
• Beneficial ownership of the securities reported by RALP is not attributed to Charles B. Johnson and Rupert H. Johnson, Jr., who are principal stockholders of FRI.

Stakeholder Impact

• Shareholders: Provides transparency regarding a significant institutional holder's stake in the company, confirming continued institutional interest.

Key Dates

Keywords

J. Jill Inc., Royce & Associates LP, Schedule 13G, beneficial ownership, common stock, investment adviser, retail, apparel