JJill (1MJ1) Risk Analysis

On June 14, 2024, the Company and TowerBrook, as a selling stockholder, completed the offer and sale 1,300,000 shares of the Company's common stock, which included 300,000 shares sold as a result of the underwriters' full exercise of their option to purchase additional shares (collectively, the "Equity Offering"). The Equity Offering resulted in the dilution of TowerBrook's ownership and voting power in the Company. As a result, TowerBrook no longer controls a majority of the voting power of the Company's outstanding voting stock and, therefore, the Company no longer qualifies as a "controlled company" within the meaning of the NYSE corporate governance standards. While we were a "controlled company" under NYSE rules, we availed ourselves of applicable "controlled company" exemptions, which exempted us from certain requirements, including the requirements that the Compensation Committee of our Board of Directors (the "Compensation Committee") and Nominating, Corporate Governance and ESG Committee of our Board of Directors (the "Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee") be comprised entirely of independent directors. The NYSE rules require that (i) we have at least one independent director on each of the Compensation and Nominating and Governance Committees at the time the Company ceases to be a controlled company; (ii) we have at least a majority of independent directors on each of the Compensation and Nominating and Governance Committees within 90 days of the date that we no longer qualify as a "controlled company"; and (iii) that the Compensation and Nominating and Governance Committees be composed entirely of independent directors within one year of the date that we no longer qualify as a "controlled company." As of the date of this report, we are in compliance with the phase-in requirements described above. Until we are fully subject to these requirements, our stockholders will not have the same protections afforded to stockholders of companies that are subject to all of the corporate governance requirements of the NYSE.

Although we expect to pay regular cash dividends on a quarterly basis, we are not required to pay any dividend and our dividend may be discontinued, accelerated, suspended or delayed at any time without prior notice. Furthermore, the amount of such dividends may be changed, and the amount, timing and frequency of such dividends may vary from historical practice or from our stated expectations. In addition, although our Board of Directors has granted us authority to repurchase our shares under a share repurchase program, we are not required to repurchase any shares, and any previous share repurchases do not necessarily denote our expectations of future share repurchases. Important factors that could cause us to discontinue, limit, suspend, increase or delay our quarterly cash dividends or share repurchase program include market conditions, the market price of our common stock, the nature and timing of other investment and acquisition opportunities, changes in our business strategy, the terms of our financing arrangements, our outlook as to the ability to obtain financing at attractive rates, the impact on our credit ratings, changes in tax laws, and appropriate liquidity.

Our certificate of incorporation provides for the allocation of certain corporate opportunities between us and TowerBrook. Under these provisions, neither TowerBrook, its portfolio companies, funds or other affiliates, nor any of their officers, directors, agents, stockholders, members or partners have any duty to refrain from engaging, directly or indirectly, in the same business activities, similar business activities or lines of business in which we operate. For instance, a director of our company who also serves as a director, officer, partner or employee of TowerBrook or any of its portfolio companies, funds or other affiliates may pursue certain acquisitions or other opportunities that may be complementary to our business and, as a result, such acquisition or other opportunities may not be available to us. These potential conflicts of interest could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations or prospects if attractive corporate opportunities are allocated by TowerBrook to itself or its portfolio companies, funds or other affiliates instead of to us.

Our certificate of incorporation authorizes our Board to issue preferred stock without stockholder approval. If the Board elects to issue preferred stock, it could be more difficult for a third party to acquire us. In addition, some provisions of our certificate of incorporation and bylaws could make it more difficult for a third party to acquire control of us, even if the change of control would be beneficial to our stockholders. Section 203 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the "DGCL") affects the ability of an "interested stockholder" to engage in certain business combinations, for a period of three years following the time that the stockholder becomes an "interested stockholder." We have elected in our certificate of incorporation not to be subject to Section 203 of the DGCL. Nevertheless, our certificate of incorporation contains provisions that have the same effect as Section 203 of the DGCL, except that it provides that affiliates of TowerBrook and their transferees will not be deemed to be "interested stockholders," regardless of the percentage of our voting stock owned by them, and will therefore not be subject to such restrictions. These charter provisions may limit the ability of third parties to acquire control of our company.

We have 14,865,040 outstanding shares of common stock as of January 31, 2026. The number of outstanding shares of common stock includes 7,338,933 shares owned by TowerBrook, as defined under Rule 144 under the Securities Act, and eligible for sale in the public market subject to the requirements of Rule 144. Sales of significant amounts of stock in the public market could adversely affect prevailing market prices of our common stock.

The market price of our common stock could vary significantly as a result of a number of factors, some of which are beyond our control. In the event of a drop in the market price of our common stock, you could lose a substantial part or all of your investment in our common stock. The following factors could affect our stock price: - our operating and financial performance;- quarterly variations in the rate of growth (if any) of our financial indicators, such as net income per share, net income and revenues;- the public reaction to our press releases, our other public announcements and our filings with the SEC;- strategic actions by our competitors;- changes in operating performance and the stock market valuations of other companies;- announcements related to litigation;- our failure to meet revenue or earnings estimates made by research analysts or other investors;- changes in revenue or earnings estimates, or changes in recommendations or withdrawal of research coverage, by equity research analysts;- speculation in the press or investment community;- sales of our common stock by us or our stockholders, or the perception that such sales may occur;- changes in accounting principles, policies, guidance, interpretations or standards;- additions or departures of key management personnel;- actions by our stockholders;- epidemics, pandemics, disease outbreaks, or public health emergencies;- general market conditions;- domestic and international economic, legal and regulatory factors unrelated to our performance; and - the realization of any risks described under this "Risk Factors" section, or other risks that may materialize in the future. The stock markets in general have experienced extreme volatility that has often been unrelated to the operating performance of particular companies. These broad market fluctuations may adversely affect the trading price of our common stock and an active liquid and orderly trading market for our common stock may not be maintained. Active, liquid and orderly trading markets usually result in less price volatility and more efficiency in carrying out investors' purchase and sale orders. We cannot predict the extent to which investor interest in our common stock will lead to the maintenance of an active trading market on the NYSE or otherwise how liquid that market might continue to be. If an active public market for our common stock is not sustained, it may be difficult for you to sell your shares at a price that is attractive to you or at all. Securities class action litigation has often been instituted against companies following periods of volatility in the overall market and in the market price of a company's securities. A securities class action lawsuit, if instituted against us, could result in substantial costs, divert our management's attention and resources and harm our business, financial condition and results of operations.

The trading market for our common stock will be influenced by the research and reports that industry or securities analysts publish about us or our business. If one or more of these analysts cease coverage of our company or fail to publish reports on us regularly, we could lose visibility in the financial markets, which in turn could cause our stock price or trading volume to decline. Moreover, if one or more of the analysts who cover our company downgrades our common stock or if our operating results do not meet their expectations, our stock price could decline.

From time to time in the future, we may register additional shares of our common stock issued or reserved for issuance to our employees, issue additional shares of our common stock or securities convertible into common stock pursuant to a variety of transactions, including acquisitions. The issuance by us of additional shares of our common stock or securities convertible into our common stock would dilute your ownership of us and the sale of a significant amount of such shares in the public market could adversely affect prevailing market prices of our common stock.

Our certificate of incorporation authorizes us to issue, without the approval of our stockholders, one or more classes or series of preferred stock having such designations, preferences, limitations and relative rights, including preferences over our common stock respecting dividends and distributions, as our Board may determine. The terms of one or more classes or series of preferred stock could adversely impact the voting power or value of our common stock. For example, we might grant holders of preferred stock the right to elect some number of our directors in all events or on the happening of specified events or the right to veto specified transactions. Similarly, the repurchase or redemption rights or liquidation preferences we might assign to holders of preferred stock could affect the residual value of the common stock.