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<P ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><B>As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 17, 2001  </B></FONT></P>

<P ALIGN="RIGHT"><FONT SIZE=2><B> Registration No. 333-&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</B></FONT></P>

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<P ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=5><B>UNITED STATES<BR>
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION<BR>  </B></FONT><FONT SIZE=2><B>Washington, D.C. 20549  </B></FONT></P>

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<P ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=5><B>FORM S-8<BR>  </B></FONT><FONT SIZE=2><B>REGISTRATION STATEMENT<BR>
UNDER<BR>
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933  </B></FONT></P>

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<P ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=5><B>THE J. JILL GROUP, INC.<BR>  </B></FONT><FONT SIZE=2>(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) </FONT></P>

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<TD WIDTH="50%" ALIGN="CENTER" VALIGN="TOP"><FONT SIZE=2><B>Delaware</B></FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="50%" ALIGN="CENTER" VALIGN="TOP"><FONT SIZE=2><B>04-2973769</B></FONT></TD>
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<TD WIDTH="50%" ALIGN="CENTER" VALIGN="TOP"><FONT SIZE=2>(State or other jurisdiction of<BR>
incorporation or organization)</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="50%" ALIGN="CENTER" VALIGN="TOP"><FONT SIZE=2>(I.R.S. employer identification number)</FONT></TD>
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<TD WIDTH="50%" ALIGN="CENTER" VALIGN="TOP"><BR><FONT SIZE=2><B>4 Batterymarch Park, Quincy, Massachusetts</B></FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="50%" ALIGN="CENTER" VALIGN="TOP"><FONT SIZE=2><B><BR>
02169</B></FONT></TD>
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<TD WIDTH="50%" ALIGN="CENTER" VALIGN="TOP"><FONT SIZE=2>(Address of principal executive offices)</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="50%" ALIGN="CENTER" VALIGN="TOP"><FONT SIZE=2>(Zip code)</FONT></TD>
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<P ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><B>The J. Jill Group,&nbsp;Inc.<BR>
2001 Incentive and Non-Statutory Stock Option Plan<BR>  </B></FONT><FONT SIZE=2>(Full title of the plan) </FONT></P>

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<P ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><B>Gordon R. Cooke<BR>
President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors<BR>
The J. Jill Group,&nbsp;Inc.<BR>
4 Batterymarch Park<BR>
Quincy, Massachusetts 02169<BR>  </B></FONT><FONT SIZE=2>(Name and address of agent for service) </FONT></P>

<P ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><B>(617)&nbsp;376-4300<BR>  </B></FONT><FONT SIZE=2>(Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service) </FONT></P>

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<P ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><B>WITH COPIES TO:<BR>
David R. Pierson, Esq.<BR>
Foley, Hoag&nbsp;&amp; Eliot </B></FONT><FONT SIZE=2><B>LLP</B></FONT><BR><FONT SIZE=2><B>One Post Office Square<BR>
Boston, Massachusetts 02109<BR>
(617)&nbsp;832-1000  </B></FONT></P>

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<P ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><B> CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE  </B></FONT></P>

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<TD WIDTH="35%" ALIGN="CENTER" VALIGN="BOTTOM"><FONT SIZE=1><B>Title of securities to be registered</B></FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="BOTTOM"><FONT SIZE=1>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="15%" ALIGN="CENTER" VALIGN="BOTTOM"><FONT SIZE=1><B>Amount to be registered</B></FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="BOTTOM"><FONT SIZE=1>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="15%" ALIGN="CENTER" VALIGN="BOTTOM"><FONT SIZE=1><B>Proposed maximum offering price per share</B></FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="BOTTOM"><FONT SIZE=1>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="18%" ALIGN="CENTER" VALIGN="BOTTOM"><FONT SIZE=1><B>Proposed maximum aggregate offering price</B></FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="BOTTOM"><FONT SIZE=1>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="15%" ALIGN="CENTER" VALIGN="BOTTOM"><FONT SIZE=1><B>Amount of registration fee</B></FONT></TD>
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<TD WIDTH="35%" VALIGN="BOTTOM"><FONT SIZE=2>common stock, $0.01 par value</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="BOTTOM"><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="15%" ALIGN="CENTER" VALIGN="BOTTOM"><FONT SIZE=2>1,000,000 shares(1)</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="BOTTOM"><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="15%" ALIGN="CENTER" VALIGN="BOTTOM"><FONT SIZE=2>$17.125(2)</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="BOTTOM"><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="18%" ALIGN="CENTER" VALIGN="BOTTOM"><FONT SIZE=2>$17,125,000(2)</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="BOTTOM"><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="15%" ALIGN="CENTER" VALIGN="BOTTOM"><FONT SIZE=2>$4,312.50(2)</FONT></TD>
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<DT><FONT SIZE=2>(1)</FONT></DT><DD><FONT SIZE=2>Represents
shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of stock options available for grant under The J. Jill Group,&nbsp;Inc. 2001 Incentive and Non-Statutory Stock
Option Plan.
<BR><BR></FONT></DD><DT><FONT SIZE=2>(2)</FONT></DT><DD><FONT SIZE=2>Calculated
pursuant to Rules&nbsp;457(c) and (h)(1) under the Securities Act of 1933 based on the average of the high and low sale prices of the common stock as reported on the
Nasdaq National Market on August&nbsp;13, 2001. </FONT></DD></DL>
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<BR></FONT><FONT SIZE=2><B>PART II<BR>  <BR>    INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT    <BR>  </B></FONT></P>


<P><FONT SIZE=2><B>Item 3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference.  </B></FONT></P>

<P><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The following documents filed by The J. Jill Group,&nbsp;Inc. with the Securities and Exchange Commission are incorporated by reference in this registration
statement: </FONT></P>

<UL>
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<DT><FONT SIZE=2>(a)</FONT></DT><DD><FONT SIZE=2>Annual
report on Form&nbsp;10-K for the year ended December&nbsp;30, 2000;
<BR><BR></FONT></DD><DT><FONT SIZE=2>(b)</FONT></DT><DD><FONT SIZE=2>Quarterly
report on Form&nbsp;10-Q for the three months ended March&nbsp;31, 2001;
<BR><BR></FONT></DD><DT><FONT SIZE=2>(c)</FONT></DT><DD><FONT SIZE=2>Quarterly
report on Form&nbsp;10-Q for the three months ended June&nbsp;30, 2001;
<BR><BR></FONT></DD><DT><FONT SIZE=2>(d)</FONT></DT><DD><FONT SIZE=2>Current
reports on Form&nbsp;8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January&nbsp;16, 2001, February&nbsp;13, 2001, February&nbsp;26, 2001,
May&nbsp;2, 2001, July&nbsp;18, 2001 and July&nbsp;31, 2001; and
<BR><BR></FONT></DD><DT><FONT SIZE=2>(e)</FONT></DT><DD><FONT SIZE=2>The
description of The J. Jill Group's common stock contained in the registration statement on Form&nbsp;8-A filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
September&nbsp;27, 1993 under Section&nbsp;12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, including any amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating that description. </FONT></DD></DL>
</UL>

<P><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;All
documents subsequently filed by The J. Jill Group pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act, prior to the filing of a post-effective
amendment which indicates that all securities offered have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this registration
statement and to be a part hereof from the dates of filing of those documents. </FONT></P>

<P><FONT SIZE=2><B>Item 4. Description of Securities.  </B></FONT></P>


<P><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Not applicable. </FONT></P>

<P><FONT SIZE=2><B>Item 5. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.  </B></FONT></P>

<P><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The validity of the securities registered hereby is being passed upon for The J. Jill Group by Foley, Hoag&nbsp;&amp; Eliot </FONT> <FONT SIZE=2>LLP</FONT><FONT SIZE=2>, Boston, Massachusetts. David R. Pierson,
a partner at Foley, Hoag&nbsp;&amp; Eliot, is Secretary of The J. Jill Group. </FONT></P>

<P><FONT SIZE=2><B>Item 6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.  </B></FONT></P>

<P><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Article SIXTH of The J. Jill Group's Certificate of Incorporation provides that The J. Jill Group shall indemnify each person who at any time is, or shall have
been, a director or officer of the company, and is threatened to be or is made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or
investigative, by reason of the fact that he is, or was, a director or officer of The J. Jill Group, or served at its request as a director, officer, employee, trustee, or agent of another
corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement incurred in connection with any such
action, suit or proceeding to the maximum extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law. Article SIXTH further provides that the foregoing right of indemnification is not exclusive of any
other rights of indemnification. Section&nbsp;10 of The J. Jill Group's By-Laws provides that The J. Jill Group shall indemnify its officers and directors to the full extent it is
permitted to do so by the Delaware General Corporation Law. </FONT></P>

<P><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Section&nbsp;10
of The J. Jill Group's By-Laws provides that The J. Jill Group shall advance expenses, including attorneys' fees, incurred by an officer or director of
the company in defending any civil, </FONT></P>

<P ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2>2</FONT></P>

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criminal, administrative or investigative action, suit or proceeding in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such
director or officer to repay such advances if it shall ultimately be determined that such director or officer is not entitled to be indemnified by The J. Jill Group. Section&nbsp;10 further provides
that The J. Jill Group shall have the power to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the company, or who is or was serving at
the company's request as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other
enterprise, against any liability asserted against such person and incurred by such person in any such capacity, or arising out of such person's status as such, whether or not the corporation has the
power to indemnify such person under the General Corporation Law of Delaware. </FONT></P>

<P><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Section&nbsp;102(b)(7)
of the Delaware General Corporation Law gives a Delaware corporation the power to adopt a charter provision eliminating or limiting the personal liability of
directors to the corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as directors, provided that such provision may not eliminate or limit the liability of directors for
(i)&nbsp;any breach of the director's duty of loyalty to the corporation or its stockholders, (ii)&nbsp;acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing
violation of law, (iii)&nbsp;any payment of a dividend or approval of a stock purchase or redemption that is unlawful under Section&nbsp;160 or 173 of the Delaware Corporation Law or
(iv)&nbsp;any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit. Article EIGHTH of The J. Jill Group's Certificate of Incorporation provides that to the maximum extent
permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law, no director of The J. Jill Group shall be personally liable to the company or to any of its stockholders for monetary damages arising out of such
director's breach of fiduciary duty as a director of The J. Jill Group. No amendment to or repeal of the provisions of Article EIGHTH shall apply to or have any effect on the liability or the alleged
liability of any director of The J. Jill Group with respect to any act or failure to act of such director occurring prior to such amendment or repeal. A principal effect of such Article EIGHTH is to
limit or eliminate the potential liability of The J. Jill Group's directors for monetary damages arising from breaches of their duty of care, unless the breach involves one of the four exceptions
described in (i)&nbsp;through (iv)&nbsp;above. Article EIGHTH does not prevent stockholders from obtaining injunctive or other equitable relief against directors, nor does it shield directors from
liability under federal or state securities laws. </FONT></P>

<P><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Section&nbsp;145
of the Delaware General Corporation Law provides that a corporation has the power to indemnify a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation and certain
other persons serving at the request of the corporation in related capacities against amounts paid and expenses incurred in connection with an action or proceeding to which he is or is threatened to
be made a party by reason of such position, if such person shall have acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and,
in any criminal proceeding, if such person had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful; provided that, in the case of actions brought by or in the right of the corporation, no
indemnification shall be made with respect to any matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation unless and only to the extent that the Delaware Court of
Chancery or the adjudicating court determines that such indemnification is proper under the circumstances. </FONT></P>

<P><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Section&nbsp;145
of the Delaware General Corporation Law also affords a Delaware corporation the power to obtain insurance on behalf of its directors and officers against
liabilities incurred by them in those capacities. The J. Jill Group has procured a directors' and officers' liability and company reimbursement liability insurance policy that (a)&nbsp;insures
directors and officers of The J. Jill Group against losses (above a deductible amount) arising from certain claims made against them by reason of certain acts done or attempted by such directors or
officers and (b)&nbsp;insures The J. Jill Group against losses (above a deductible amount) arising from any such claims, but only if The J. Jill Group is </FONT></P>

<P ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2>3</FONT></P>

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required or permitted to indemnify such directors or officers for such losses under statutory or common law or under provisions of The J. Jill Group's Certificate of Incorporation or
By-Laws. </FONT></P>

<P><FONT SIZE=2><B>Item 7. Exemption from Registration Claimed.  </B></FONT></P>

<P><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Not applicable. </FONT></P>

<P><FONT SIZE=2><B>Item 8. Exhibits.  </B></FONT></P>

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<TH WIDTH="10%" ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=1><B>Exhibit<BR>
Number</B></FONT><HR NOSHADE></TH>
<TH WIDTH="3%"><FONT SIZE=1>&nbsp;</FONT></TH>
<TH WIDTH="88%" ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=1><B>Description</B></FONT><HR NOSHADE></TH>
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<TD WIDTH="10%" ALIGN="RIGHT"><FONT SIZE=2>4.1</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%"><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="88%"><FONT SIZE=2>Restated Certificate of Incorporation of The J. Jill Group, Inc. (included as Exhibit 4.2 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September&nbsp;25, 1993, File No.&nbsp;0-22480, and
incorporated herein by reference).</FONT></TD>
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<TD WIDTH="10%" ALIGN="RIGHT"><FONT SIZE=2>4.2</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%"><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="88%"><FONT SIZE=2>Certificate of Amendment of Restated Certificate of Incorporation of The J. Jill Group, Inc., dated June&nbsp;1, 1999 (included as Exhibit 3.2 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form&nbsp;10-Q for the quarter ended
June&nbsp;26, 1999, File No.&nbsp;0-22480, and incorporated herein by reference).</FONT></TD>
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<TD WIDTH="10%" ALIGN="RIGHT"><FONT SIZE=2>4.3</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%"><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="88%"><FONT SIZE=2>Certificate of Amendment of Restated Certificate of Incorporation of The J. Jill Group, Inc., dated June&nbsp;5, 2001 (included as Exhibit 3.3 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
June&nbsp;30, 2001, File No.&nbsp;0-22480, and incorporated herein by reference).</FONT></TD>
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<TD WIDTH="10%" ALIGN="RIGHT"><FONT SIZE=2>4.4</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%"><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="88%"><FONT SIZE=2>By-Laws of the Company, as amended (included as Exhibit 99.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form&nbsp;8-K filed November&nbsp;24, 1999, File No.&nbsp;0-22480, and incorporated herein by reference).</FONT></TD>
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<TD WIDTH="10%" ALIGN="RIGHT"><FONT SIZE=2>4.5</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%"><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="88%"><FONT SIZE=2>2001 Incentive and Non-Statutory Stock Option Plan (included as Exhibit 10.17 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form&nbsp;10-Q for the quarter ended June&nbsp;30, 2001, File No.&nbsp;0-22480, and incorporated herein by
reference).</FONT></TD>
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<TD WIDTH="10%" ALIGN="RIGHT"><FONT SIZE=2>5.1</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%"><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="88%"><FONT SIZE=2>Opinion of Foley, Hoag &amp; Eliot LLP.</FONT></TD>
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<TD WIDTH="10%" ALIGN="RIGHT"><FONT SIZE=2>23.1</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%"><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="88%"><FONT SIZE=2>Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.</FONT></TD>
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<TD WIDTH="10%" ALIGN="RIGHT"><FONT SIZE=2>23.2</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%"><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="88%"><FONT SIZE=2>Consent of Foley, Hoag &amp; Eliot LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1).</FONT></TD>
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<TD WIDTH="10%" ALIGN="RIGHT"><FONT SIZE=2>24.1</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%"><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="88%"><FONT SIZE=2>Power of attorney (contained on the signature page of this registration statement).</FONT></TD>
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<P><FONT SIZE=2><B>Item 9. Undertakings.  </B></FONT></P>

<P><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes: </FONT></P>

<P><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;1.&nbsp;&nbsp;To
file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement: </FONT></P>

<UL>
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<DT><FONT SIZE=2>(i)</FONT></DT><DD><FONT SIZE=2>To
include any prospectus required by Section&nbsp;10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;
<BR><BR></FONT></DD><DT><FONT SIZE=2>(ii)</FONT></DT><DD><FONT SIZE=2>To
reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent
post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high
end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule&nbsp;424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price
represent no more than 20&nbsp;percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the "Calculation of Registration Fee" table in the effective registration statement; and
<BR><BR></FONT></DD><DT><FONT SIZE=2>(iii)</FONT></DT><DD><FONT SIZE=2>To
include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any
material change to such information in the registration statement; </FONT></DD></DL>
</UL>
<P ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2>4</FONT></P>

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<P><FONT SIZE=2><I>provided, however</I></FONT><FONT SIZE=2>, that paragraphs (i)&nbsp;and (ii)&nbsp;do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective
amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to Section&nbsp;13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement; </FONT></P>

<P><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;2.&nbsp;&nbsp;That,
for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new
registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial </FONT><FONT SIZE=2><I>bona
fide</I></FONT><FONT SIZE=2> offering thereof; and </FONT></P>

<P><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;3.&nbsp;&nbsp;To
remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the
offering. </FONT></P>

<P><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;4.&nbsp;&nbsp;That,
for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant's annual report pursuant to Section&nbsp;13(a) or
15(d) of the Exchange Act that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial </FONT><FONT SIZE=2><I>bona fide</I></FONT><FONT SIZE=2> offering thereof. </FONT></P>

<P><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;5.&nbsp;&nbsp;Insofar
as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the
registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public
policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred
or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in
connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate
jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue. </FONT></P>

<P ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2>5</FONT></P>

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<BR></FONT><FONT SIZE=2><B>SIGNATURES    <BR>  </B></FONT></P>

<P><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the
requirements for filing on Form&nbsp;S-8 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Quincy,
Massachusetts, as of August&nbsp;17, 2001. </FONT></P>

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<TD WIDTH="47%"><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%"><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD COLSPAN=3><FONT SIZE=2>THE J. JILL GROUP,&nbsp;INC.</FONT></TD>
</TR>
<TR VALIGN="TOP">
<TD WIDTH="47%"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>
&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="5%"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>
By:</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="45%" ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>
/s/&nbsp;</FONT><FONT SIZE=2>OLGA L. CONLEY</FONT><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT><HR NOSHADE><FONT SIZE=2> Olga L. Conley<BR></FONT> <FONT SIZE=2><I>President&#151;Corporate Services, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer</I></FONT></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
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<P ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><A
NAME="de3128_power_of_attorney"> </A>
<A NAME="toc_de3128_2"> </A>
<BR></FONT><FONT SIZE=2><B>POWER OF ATTORNEY    <BR>  </B></FONT></P>

<P><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;KNOW ALL BY THESE PRESENTS that each individual whose signature appears below hereby constitutes and appoints Gordon R. Cooke and Olga L. Conley, and each of
them, his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents with full power of substitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all
capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this registration statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and all documents in
connection therewith, with the Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and
thing which they, or any of them, may deem necessary or advisable to be done in connection with this registration statement, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person,
hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, or any substitute or substitutes for him, any or all of them, may lawfully do or
cause to be done by virtue hereof. </FONT></P>

<P><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Act, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the indicated capacities on the date indicated. </FONT></P>

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<TR VALIGN="BOTTOM">
<TH WIDTH="44%" ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=1><B>Signature</B></FONT><HR NOSHADE></TH>
<TH WIDTH="2%"><FONT SIZE=1>&nbsp;</FONT></TH>
<TH WIDTH="30%" ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=1><B>Title</B></FONT><HR NOSHADE></TH>
<TH WIDTH="2%"><FONT SIZE=1>&nbsp;</FONT></TH>
<TH WIDTH="21%" ALIGN="LEFT"><FONT SIZE=1>&nbsp;</FONT><BR></TH>
</TR>
<TR VALIGN="BOTTOM">
<TD WIDTH="44%" ALIGN="CENTER" VALIGN="CENTER"><BR><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="2%" VALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="30%" VALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>
&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="2%" VALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="21%" VALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>
&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
</TR>
<TR VALIGN="TOP">
<TD WIDTH="44%" ALIGN="CENTER" VALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2>/s/&nbsp;</FONT><FONT SIZE=2>GORDON R. COOKE</FONT><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT><HR NOSHADE><FONT SIZE=2> Gordon R. Cooke</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="2%" VALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="30%" VALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2>President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors (principal executive officer) and Director</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="2%" VALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="21%" ALIGN="CENTER" VALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2>August 17, 2001</FONT></TD>
</TR>
<TR VALIGN="TOP">
<TD WIDTH="44%" ALIGN="CENTER" VALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>
/s/&nbsp;</FONT><FONT SIZE=2>OLGA L. CONLEY</FONT><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT><HR NOSHADE><FONT SIZE=2> Olga L. Conley</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="2%" VALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="30%" VALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>
President&#151;Corporate Services, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer (principal financial officer)</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="2%" VALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="21%" ALIGN="CENTER" VALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>
August 17, 2001</FONT></TD>
</TR>
<TR VALIGN="TOP">
<TD WIDTH="44%" ALIGN="CENTER" VALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>
/s/&nbsp;</FONT><FONT SIZE=2>PETER J. TULP</FONT><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT><HR NOSHADE><FONT SIZE=2> Peter J. Tulp</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="2%" VALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="30%" VALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>
Vice President/Controller (principal accounting officer)</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="2%" VALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="21%" ALIGN="CENTER" VALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>
August 17, 2001</FONT></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
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<P ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2>6</FONT></P>

<HR NOSHADE>
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<TD WIDTH="44%" ALIGN="CENTER" VALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>
/s/&nbsp;</FONT><FONT SIZE=2>WILLIAM E. ENGBERS</FONT><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT><HR NOSHADE><FONT SIZE=2> William E. Engbers</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="2%" VALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="30%" VALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>
Director</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="2%" VALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="21%" ALIGN="CENTER" VALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>
August 17, 2001</FONT></TD>
</TR>
<TR VALIGN="BOTTOM">
<TD WIDTH="44%" ALIGN="CENTER" VALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>
/s/&nbsp;</FONT><FONT SIZE=2>BRETT D. HEFFES</FONT><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT><HR NOSHADE><FONT SIZE=2> Brett D. Heffes</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="2%" VALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="30%" VALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>
Director</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="2%" VALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="21%" ALIGN="CENTER" VALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>
August 17, 2001</FONT></TD>
</TR>
<TR VALIGN="BOTTOM">
<TD WIDTH="44%" ALIGN="CENTER" VALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>
/s/&nbsp;</FONT><FONT SIZE=2>THOMAS J. LITLE</FONT><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT><HR NOSHADE><FONT SIZE=2> Thomas J. Litle</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="2%" VALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="30%" VALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>
Director</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="2%" VALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="21%" ALIGN="CENTER" VALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>
August 17, 2001</FONT></TD>
</TR>
<TR VALIGN="BOTTOM">
<TD WIDTH="44%" ALIGN="CENTER" VALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>
/s/&nbsp;</FONT><FONT SIZE=2>RUTH M. OWADES</FONT><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT><HR NOSHADE><FONT SIZE=2> Ruth M. Owades</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="2%" VALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="30%" VALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>
Director</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="2%" VALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="21%" ALIGN="CENTER" VALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>
August 17, 2001</FONT></TD>
</TR>
<TR VALIGN="BOTTOM">
<TD WIDTH="44%" ALIGN="CENTER" VALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>
/s/&nbsp;</FONT><FONT SIZE=2>SAMUEL L. SHANAMAN</FONT><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT><HR NOSHADE><FONT SIZE=2> Samuel L. Shanaman</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="2%" VALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="30%" VALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>
Director</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="2%" VALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="21%" ALIGN="CENTER" VALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>
August 17, 2001</FONT></TD>
</TR>
<TR VALIGN="BOTTOM">
<TD WIDTH="44%" ALIGN="CENTER" VALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>
/s/&nbsp;</FONT><FONT SIZE=2>JONATHAN P. WARD</FONT><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT><HR NOSHADE><FONT SIZE=2> Jonathan P. Ward</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="2%" VALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="30%" VALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>
Director</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="2%" VALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="21%" ALIGN="CENTER" VALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>
August 17, 2001</FONT></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
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<P ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2>7</FONT></P>

<HR NOSHADE>
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<P ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><A
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<A NAME="toc_di3128_1"> </A>
<BR></FONT><FONT SIZE=2><B>EXHIBIT INDEX    <BR>  </B></FONT></P>

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<TH WIDTH="10%" ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=1><B>Exhibit Number</B></FONT><HR NOSHADE></TH>
<TH WIDTH="3%"><FONT SIZE=1>&nbsp;</FONT></TH>
<TH WIDTH="88%" ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=1><B>Description</B></FONT><HR NOSHADE></TH>
</TR>
<TR VALIGN="TOP">
<TD WIDTH="10%" ALIGN="RIGHT"><FONT SIZE=2>4.1</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%"><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="88%"><FONT SIZE=2>Restated Certificate of Incorporation of The J. Jill Group, Inc. (included as Exhibit 4.2 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 25, 1993, File No. 0-22480, and incorporated herein
by reference).</FONT></TD>
</TR>
<TR VALIGN="TOP">
<TD WIDTH="10%" ALIGN="RIGHT"><FONT SIZE=2>4.2</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%"><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="88%"><FONT SIZE=2>Certificate of Amendment of Restated Certificate of Incorporation of The J. Jill Group, Inc., dated June 1, 1999 (included as Exhibit 3.2 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 26, 1999,
File No. 0-22480, and incorporated herein by reference).</FONT></TD>
</TR>
<TR VALIGN="TOP">
<TD WIDTH="10%" ALIGN="RIGHT"><FONT SIZE=2>4.3</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%"><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="88%"><FONT SIZE=2>Certificate of Amendment of Restated Certificate of Incorporation of The J. Jill Group, Inc., dated June 5, 2001 (included as Exhibit 3.3 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2001,
File No. 0-22480, and incorporated herein by reference).</FONT></TD>
</TR>
<TR VALIGN="TOP">
<TD WIDTH="10%" ALIGN="RIGHT"><FONT SIZE=2>4.4</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%"><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="88%"><FONT SIZE=2>By-Laws of the Company, as amended (included as Exhibit 99.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed November 24, 1999, File No. 0-22480, and incorporated herein by reference).</FONT></TD>
</TR>
<TR VALIGN="TOP">
<TD WIDTH="10%" ALIGN="RIGHT"><FONT SIZE=2>4.5</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%"><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="88%"><FONT SIZE=2>2001 Incentive and Non-Statutory Stock Option Plan (included as Exhibit 10.17 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2001, File No. 0-22480, and incorporated herein by
reference).</FONT></TD>
</TR>
<TR VALIGN="TOP">
<TD WIDTH="10%" ALIGN="RIGHT"><FONT SIZE=2>5.1</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%"><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="88%"><FONT SIZE=2>Opinion of Foley, Hoag &amp; Eliot LLP.</FONT></TD>
</TR>
<TR VALIGN="TOP">
<TD WIDTH="10%" ALIGN="RIGHT"><FONT SIZE=2>23.1</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%"><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="88%"><FONT SIZE=2>Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.</FONT></TD>
</TR>
<TR VALIGN="TOP">
<TD WIDTH="10%" ALIGN="RIGHT"><FONT SIZE=2>23.2</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%"><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="88%"><FONT SIZE=2>Consent of Foley, Hoag &amp; Eliot LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1).</FONT></TD>
</TR>
<TR VALIGN="TOP">
<TD WIDTH="10%" ALIGN="RIGHT"><FONT SIZE=2>24.1</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%"><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="88%"><FONT SIZE=2>Power of attorney (contained on the signature page of this registration statement).</FONT></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
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<P ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2>8</FONT></P>

<HR NOSHADE>
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<P><br><A NAME="01BOS3128_1">QuickLinks</A><br></P><!-- TOC_BEGIN -->
<FONT SIZE=2><A HREF="#toc_dc3128_1">PART II INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT</A></FONT><BR>
<!-- TOC_BEGIN -->
<FONT SIZE=2><A HREF="#toc_de3128_1">SIGNATURES</A></FONT><BR>
<FONT SIZE=2><A HREF="#toc_de3128_2">POWER OF ATTORNEY</A></FONT><BR>
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<FONT SIZE=2><A HREF="#toc_di3128_1">EXHIBIT INDEX</A></FONT><BR>
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[{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "filename": "a2057264zs-8.htm", "description": "FORM S-8", "secsgml_size_bytes": 39147}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "J JILL GROUP INC", "cik": "0000910721", "assigned-sic": "5961", "irs-number": "042973769", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "1226"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-67832", "film-number": "1718106"}, "business-address": {"street1": "4 BATTERYMARCH PARK", "street2": "STE 200", "city": "QUINCY", "state": "MA", "zip": "02169", "phone": "7817402718"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "4 BATTERY MARCH PARK", "street2": "SUITE 200", "city": "QUINCY", "state": "MA", "zip": "02169"}, "former-company": {"former-conformed-name": "DM MANAGEMENT CO /DE/", "date-changed": "19970404"}}
Prepared by MERRILL CORPORATION
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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 17, 2001
Registration No. 333-
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM S-8
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
THE J. JILL GROUP, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
04-2973769
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
(I.R.S. employer identification number)
4 Batterymarch Park, Quincy, Massachusetts
02169
(Address of principal executive offices)
(Zip code)
The J. Jill Group, Inc.
2001 Incentive and Non-Statutory Stock Option Plan
(Full title of the plan)
Gordon R. Cooke
President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors
The J. Jill Group, Inc.
4 Batterymarch Park
Quincy, Massachusetts 02169
(Name and address of agent for service)
(617) 376-4300
(Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
WITH COPIES TO:
David R. Pierson, Esq.
Foley, Hoag & Eliot
LLP
One Post Office Square
Boston, Massachusetts 02109
(617) 832-1000
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
Title of securities to be registered
Amount to be registered
Proposed maximum offering price per share
Proposed maximum aggregate offering price
Amount of registration fee
common stock, $0.01 par value
1,000,000 shares(1)
$17.125(2)
$17,125,000(2)
$4,312.50(2)
(1)
Represents
shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of stock options available for grant under The J. Jill Group, Inc. 2001 Incentive and Non-Statutory Stock
Option Plan.
(2)
Calculated
pursuant to Rules 457(c) and (h)(1) under the Securities Act of 1933 based on the average of the high and low sale prices of the common stock as reported on the
Nasdaq National Market on August 13, 2001.
PART II
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
Item 3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference.
The following documents filed by The J. Jill Group, Inc. with the Securities and Exchange Commission are incorporated by reference in this registration
statement:
(a)
Annual
report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 30, 2000;
(b)
Quarterly
report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended March 31, 2001;
(c)
Quarterly
report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended June 30, 2001;
(d)
Current
reports on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 16, 2001, February 13, 2001, February 26, 2001,
May 2, 2001, July 18, 2001 and July 31, 2001; and
(e)
The
description of The J. Jill Group's common stock contained in the registration statement on Form 8-A filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
September 27, 1993 under Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, including any amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating that description.
All
documents subsequently filed by The J. Jill Group pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act, prior to the filing of a post-effective
amendment which indicates that all securities offered have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this registration
statement and to be a part hereof from the dates of filing of those documents.
Item 4. Description of Securities.
Not applicable.
Item 5. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.
The validity of the securities registered hereby is being passed upon for The J. Jill Group by Foley, Hoag & Eliot
LLP
, Boston, Massachusetts. David R. Pierson,
a partner at Foley, Hoag & Eliot, is Secretary of The J. Jill Group.
Item 6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.
Article SIXTH of The J. Jill Group's Certificate of Incorporation provides that The J. Jill Group shall indemnify each person who at any time is, or shall have
been, a director or officer of the company, and is threatened to be or is made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or
investigative, by reason of the fact that he is, or was, a director or officer of The J. Jill Group, or served at its request as a director, officer, employee, trustee, or agent of another
corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement incurred in connection with any such
action, suit or proceeding to the maximum extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law. Article SIXTH further provides that the foregoing right of indemnification is not exclusive of any
other rights of indemnification. Section 10 of The J. Jill Group's By-Laws provides that The J. Jill Group shall indemnify its officers and directors to the full extent it is
permitted to do so by the Delaware General Corporation Law.
Section 10
of The J. Jill Group's By-Laws provides that The J. Jill Group shall advance expenses, including attorneys' fees, incurred by an officer or director of
the company in defending any civil,
2
criminal, administrative or investigative action, suit or proceeding in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such
director or officer to repay such advances if it shall ultimately be determined that such director or officer is not entitled to be indemnified by The J. Jill Group. Section 10 further provides
that The J. Jill Group shall have the power to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the company, or who is or was serving at
the company's request as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other
enterprise, against any liability asserted against such person and incurred by such person in any such capacity, or arising out of such person's status as such, whether or not the corporation has the
power to indemnify such person under the General Corporation Law of Delaware.
Section 102(b)(7)
of the Delaware General Corporation Law gives a Delaware corporation the power to adopt a charter provision eliminating or limiting the personal liability of
directors to the corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as directors, provided that such provision may not eliminate or limit the liability of directors for
(i) any breach of the director's duty of loyalty to the corporation or its stockholders, (ii) acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing
violation of law, (iii) any payment of a dividend or approval of a stock purchase or redemption that is unlawful under Section 160 or 173 of the Delaware Corporation Law or
(iv) any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit. Article EIGHTH of The J. Jill Group's Certificate of Incorporation provides that to the maximum extent
permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law, no director of The J. Jill Group shall be personally liable to the company or to any of its stockholders for monetary damages arising out of such
director's breach of fiduciary duty as a director of The J. Jill Group. No amendment to or repeal of the provisions of Article EIGHTH shall apply to or have any effect on the liability or the alleged
liability of any director of The J. Jill Group with respect to any act or failure to act of such director occurring prior to such amendment or repeal. A principal effect of such Article EIGHTH is to
limit or eliminate the potential liability of The J. Jill Group's directors for monetary damages arising from breaches of their duty of care, unless the breach involves one of the four exceptions
described in (i) through (iv) above. Article EIGHTH does not prevent stockholders from obtaining injunctive or other equitable relief against directors, nor does it shield directors from
liability under federal or state securities laws.
Section 145
of the Delaware General Corporation Law provides that a corporation has the power to indemnify a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation and certain
other persons serving at the request of the corporation in related capacities against amounts paid and expenses incurred in connection with an action or proceeding to which he is or is threatened to
be made a party by reason of such position, if such person shall have acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and,
in any criminal proceeding, if such person had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful; provided that, in the case of actions brought by or in the right of the corporation, no
indemnification shall be made with respect to any matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation unless and only to the extent that the Delaware Court of
Chancery or the adjudicating court determines that such indemnification is proper under the circumstances.
Section 145
of the Delaware General Corporation Law also affords a Delaware corporation the power to obtain insurance on behalf of its directors and officers against
liabilities incurred by them in those capacities. The J. Jill Group has procured a directors' and officers' liability and company reimbursement liability insurance policy that (a) insures
directors and officers of The J. Jill Group against losses (above a deductible amount) arising from certain claims made against them by reason of certain acts done or attempted by such directors or
officers and (b) insures The J. Jill Group against losses (above a deductible amount) arising from any such claims, but only if The J. Jill Group is
3
required or permitted to indemnify such directors or officers for such losses under statutory or common law or under provisions of The J. Jill Group's Certificate of Incorporation or
By-Laws.
Item 7. Exemption from Registration Claimed.
Not applicable.
Item 8. Exhibits.
Exhibit
Number
Description
4.1
Restated Certificate of Incorporation of The J. Jill Group, Inc. (included as Exhibit 4.2 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 25, 1993, File No. 0-22480, and
incorporated herein by reference).
4.2
Certificate of Amendment of Restated Certificate of Incorporation of The J. Jill Group, Inc., dated June 1, 1999 (included as Exhibit 3.2 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
June 26, 1999, File No. 0-22480, and incorporated herein by reference).
4.3
Certificate of Amendment of Restated Certificate of Incorporation of The J. Jill Group, Inc., dated June 5, 2001 (included as Exhibit 3.3 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
June 30, 2001, File No. 0-22480, and incorporated herein by reference).
4.4
By-Laws of the Company, as amended (included as Exhibit 99.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed November 24, 1999, File No. 0-22480, and incorporated herein by reference).
4.5
2001 Incentive and Non-Statutory Stock Option Plan (included as Exhibit 10.17 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2001, File No. 0-22480, and incorporated herein by
reference).
5.1
Opinion of Foley, Hoag & Eliot LLP.
23.1
Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.
23.2
Consent of Foley, Hoag & Eliot LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1).
24.1
Power of attorney (contained on the signature page of this registration statement).
Item 9. Undertakings.
The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
1.  To
file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:
(i)
To
include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;
(ii)
To
reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent
post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high
end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price
represent no more than 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the "Calculation of Registration Fee" table in the effective registration statement; and
(iii)
To
include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any
material change to such information in the registration statement;
4
provided, however
, that paragraphs (i) and (ii) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective
amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement;
2.  That,
for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new
registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial
bona
fide
offering thereof; and
3.  To
remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the
offering.
4.  That,
for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or
15(d) of the Exchange Act that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial
bona fide
offering thereof.
5.  Insofar
as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the
registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public
policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred
or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in
connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate
jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
5
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the
requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Quincy,
Massachusetts, as of August 17, 2001.
THE J. JILL GROUP, INC.
By:
/s/
OLGA L. CONLEY
Olga L. Conley
President—Corporate Services, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL BY THESE PRESENTS that each individual whose signature appears below hereby constitutes and appoints Gordon R. Cooke and Olga L. Conley, and each of
them, his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents with full power of substitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all
capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this registration statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and all documents in
connection therewith, with the Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and
thing which they, or any of them, may deem necessary or advisable to be done in connection with this registration statement, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person,
hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, or any substitute or substitutes for him, any or all of them, may lawfully do or
cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Act, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the indicated capacities on the date indicated.
Signature
Title
/s/
GORDON R. COOKE
Gordon R. Cooke
President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors (principal executive officer) and Director
August 17, 2001
/s/
OLGA L. CONLEY
Olga L. Conley
President—Corporate Services, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer (principal financial officer)
August 17, 2001
/s/
PETER J. TULP
Peter J. Tulp
Vice President/Controller (principal accounting officer)
August 17, 2001
6
/s/
WILLIAM E. ENGBERS
William E. Engbers
Director
August 17, 2001
/s/
BRETT D. HEFFES
Brett D. Heffes
Director
August 17, 2001
/s/
THOMAS J. LITLE
Thomas J. Litle
Director
August 17, 2001
/s/
RUTH M. OWADES
Ruth M. Owades
Director
August 17, 2001
/s/
SAMUEL L. SHANAMAN
Samuel L. Shanaman
Director
August 17, 2001
/s/
JONATHAN P. WARD
Jonathan P. Ward
Director
August 17, 2001
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EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit Number
Description
4.1
Restated Certificate of Incorporation of The J. Jill Group, Inc. (included as Exhibit 4.2 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 25, 1993, File No. 0-22480, and incorporated herein
by reference).
4.2
Certificate of Amendment of Restated Certificate of Incorporation of The J. Jill Group, Inc., dated June 1, 1999 (included as Exhibit 3.2 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 26, 1999,
File No. 0-22480, and incorporated herein by reference).
4.3
Certificate of Amendment of Restated Certificate of Incorporation of The J. Jill Group, Inc., dated June 5, 2001 (included as Exhibit 3.3 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2001,
File No. 0-22480, and incorporated herein by reference).
4.4
By-Laws of the Company, as amended (included as Exhibit 99.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed November 24, 1999, File No. 0-22480, and incorporated herein by reference).
4.5
2001 Incentive and Non-Statutory Stock Option Plan (included as Exhibit 10.17 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2001, File No. 0-22480, and incorporated herein by
reference).
5.1
Opinion of Foley, Hoag & Eliot LLP.
23.1
Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.
23.2
Consent of Foley, Hoag & Eliot LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1).
24.1
Power of attorney (contained on the signature page of this registration statement).
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QuickLinks
PART II INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
SIGNATURES
POWER OF ATTORNEY
EXHIBIT INDEX