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SEC Comment Letter for J CREW GROUP INC (CIK 0001051251) — Oct 7, 2005

J CREW GROUP INC (CIK 0001051251)
Date: Oct. 7, 2005 · CIK: 0001051251 · Accession: 0000000000-05-051810

AI Filing Summary & Sentiment

File numbers found in text: 333-127628

Date
September 13, 2005
Author
Not clearly detected
Form
UPLOAD
Company
J CREW GROUP INC (CIK 0001051251)

Letter

Mail Stop 3561 September 13, 2005 Arlene S. Hong, Esq. General Counsel J. Crew Group, Inc. 770 Broadway New York, New York 10003

Re: J. Crew Group, Inc. Registration Statement on Form S-1 Filed August 17, 2005 File No. 333-127628

Dear Ms. Hong:

We have reviewed your filing and have the following comments. Where indicated, we think you should revise your document in response to these comments. If you disagree, we will consider your explanation as to why our comment is inapplicable or a revision is unnecessary. Please be as detailed as necessary in your explanation. In some of our comments, we may ask you to provide us with information so we may better understand your disclosure. After reviewing this information, we may raise additional comments.

Please understand that the purpose of our review process is to assist you in your compliance with the applicable disclosure requirements and to enhance the overall disclosure in your filing. We look forward to working with you in these respects. We welcome any questions you may have about our comments or any other aspect of our review. Feel free to call us at the telephone numbers listed at the end of this letter.

General 1. We note a number of blank spaces throughout your registration statement for information that you are not entitled to omit under Rule 430A, such as the anticipated price range. Please note that we may have additional comments once you have provided this disclosure. 2. Please file all required exhibits, such as the form of underwriting agreement and the legal opinion, in a timely manner so that we may have adequate time to review them before you request effectiveness of your registration statement. 3. Provide us in a timely manner copies of any artwork that you intend to use. Please be advised that we may have comments on these materials and you should consider waiting for our comments before printing and circulating any artwork.

Prospectus Summary, page 1 4. The summary is intended to provide a brief overview of the key aspects of the offering. See Instruction 503(a) of Regulation S- K. Please remove the "Our Market," "Our Competitive Strengths" and "Our Growth Strategy" sections from the summary since they also appear in the "Business" section in a lengthier format. You also should balance your revenue disclosure with the related net income (loss) amount. 5. Please substantiate or delete the promotional terms and phrases appearing in the summary and throughout the prospectus. For example, we note your reference to "high quality" apparel and design, and also note the statement indicating your limited edition luxury items "create excitement and a sense of shopping urgency in our customers." We also note the following examples appearing further into the prospectus: * J. Crew brand embraces a high standard of style, craftsmanship, quality and customer service while projecting an aspirational American lifestyle. - page 49

* We consistently communicate our vision of J. Crew...through the circulation of our catalogs that use high quality photography, the inviting atmosphere of our stores and the imagery on our Internet website. - page 49

* Our product lines feature the high quality design, fabrics and craftsmanship as well as consistent fits and detailing that our customers expect of J. Crew. - page 49. Please revise these and similar statements appearing throughout your prospectus. 6. Please provide support for the qualitative and comparative statements contained in the summary and throughout your prospectus. For example, we note the citation to NPD Fashionworld for the statistical information appearing under the caption "Our Market" in this section and in the "Business" section beginning on page 49. Please mark your support or provide page references in your response to the sections you rely upon for each specific statement. Tell us whether the information you cite from these reports is publicly available. If not, you should obtain appropriate consent to cite these reports in your filing. To the extent you are unable to provide support, please delete the qualitative and comparative statement. Revise throughout your prospectus as necessary.

Transactions in Connection with the Offering, page 5 7. Please provide us with your analysis of the exemption from the Securities Act of 1933 that you will rely on for the TPG Subscription that will take place concurrently with the initial public offering. We may have further comment.

Risk Factors, page 10 8. We note disclosure in the first paragraph under this caption stating that "there may be risks of which we are currently unaware, or that we currently regard as immaterial based on the information available to us, that later prove to be material." Please delete this statement, as all material risks should be identified and fully discussed in this section. 9. Please revise your risk factor subheadings to concisely state the specific material risk each risk factor presents to your company or investors and the consequences should that risk factor occur. Avoid simply referring to a fact about your company or a future event in your subheadings. Stating that the risk may "adversely affect" or "harm" your business does not adequately address the potential consequences. Please revise all of the risk factors appearing under the caption "Risks Relating to Our Business." 10. Some of your risk factors appear generic because the information could apply to many companies in your industry or even in other industries. Please revise to specifically indicate how the stated risk applies to your company, or delete these risk factors: * We must maintain the value of our brand..., page 12. * An inability or failure to protect our trademarks..., page 13. * Our business could be hurt by increased labor costs..., page 16. * We are subject to numerous regulations and regulatory changes..., page 16. * We rely on our information systems..., page 16. * The success of our Internet operations..., page 17. * The price of our common stock may fluctuate significantly..., page We may not be successful in expanding our store base, page 11 11. In order for investors to better understand the magnitude of the risk involved, please quantify to the extent practicable the costs associated with the opening of each new store.

An inability or failure to protect our trademarks would harm our business, page 13 12. Please identify the "certain other trademarks" you refer to in the first sentence.

Our substantial amount of debt may limit the cash flow available..., page 17 13. Please quantify the amount of debt to which you refer so that investors can fully assess the risk.

The price of our common stock may fluctuate significantly..., page 14. As currently drafted, the disclosure in this risk factor is too vague and appears to include multiple risks. Please revise to concisely state the material risk to you and investors. The additional risks addressed in this risk factor should be included under separate subheadings, if considered material. In addition, please remove the disclosure indicating analysts will cover your common stock. Management`s Discussion and Analysis, page 34

Overview, page 34 15. Please provide a balanced discussion of your past operating results and history of operating losses and your recent revenue growth and profitability. Please also provide a more balanced discussion of material opportunities, risks and challenges in both the short and long term and the actions you are taking to address them. Please see SEC Release 33-8350.

Results of Operations, page 37

First Quarter of Fiscal 2005 Compared to First Quarter of Fiscal 2004, page 37 16. Please disclose net sales of each of your operating divisions for each of the periods presented. Please also disclose net sales revenues for your primary product categories for each of the periods presented. Please revise to discuss significant changes and trends in revenues from product categories to the extent that these changes and trends would be material to investors. 17. Where you describe more than one business reason for a significant change in a financial statement line item between periods, please quantify, where possible, the incremental impact of each individual business reason on the overall change. In doing so, please quantify in dollars:

* changes in comparable store sales, non-comparable store sales and shipping and handling fees in your analysis and discussions of revenues;

* the amounts of merchandise costs and buying and occupancy costs in your analysis and discussions of gross profit; and

* the amounts of variable store and direct operating expenses and increases in incentive compensation in your analysis and discussions of selling, general and administrative expenses.

In addition, please provide an analysis of the underlying reasons for each significant change you identify. For example, please provide an analysis of significant changes in merchandise costs and buying and occupancy costs in your discussions of gross margin and variable store and direct operating expenses in your discussions of selling, general and administrative expenses. Please refer to Item 303(a) of Regulation S-K and SEC Release No. 33- 8350. 18. You state on page 39 that shipping and handling fees decreased as a result of a decline in orders in the direct business in the first half of fiscal 2004. However, we note that direct sales increased by 14% in fiscal 2004 as compared to fiscal 2003. Please clarify your disclosure. 19. You disclose a 2.5% decrease in comparable store sales in fiscal 2003 compared to fiscal 2002 on page 41 and that you believe the improvement was the result of an improving economy and an upgrade in the quality and style of your merchandise assortments in the second half of the year. It appears these statements are inconsistent. Please clarify.

Liquidity and Capital Resources, page 43 20. Please provide a more informative analysis and discussion of financial condition, changes in financial condition and cash flows from operating activities, including changes in working capital components, for each period presented. In doing so, please explain the underlying reasons and implications of material changes between periods to provide investors with an understanding of trends and variability in cash flows. Please also provide an analysis of any known trends and uncertainties that will result in or that are reasonably likely to result in a material increase or decrease in your liquidity. In addition, to the extent that you have material commitments for capital expenditures, please disclose the nature and amount of those commitments as well as the anticipated source of funds to fulfill the commitments. Please refer to Item 303(a) of Regulation S-K and SEC Release No. 33-8350. 21. Please discuss the anticipated effect, if any, the public offering will have on future compliance with the financial covenants described in this section.

Contractual Obligations, page 46 22. Please include interest payments on your long-term debt obligations and dividends on your redeemable preferred stock in the table. If you choose not to include these payments in the table, please include a footnote to the table identifying the excluded items and provide any additional information that is material to an understanding of your cash requirements. In addition, please disclose that your operating lease obligations do not include insurance, taxes and other occupancy costs and provide a context for the reader to understand the impact of these charges on your total lease obligations. See Item 303(a)(5) of Regulation S-K and footnote 46 to SEC Release No. 33-8350.

Business, page 49

Our Sourcing Methods, page 59 23. We note that you purchase approximately 15% of your merchandise from one trading company. If formalized, please file the agreement you have with this trading company as a material exhibit. See Item 601(b)(10) of Regulation S-K. Competition, page 61 24. We note that you compete on the basis of quality, design and customer service. It would appear that your competitors in the industry would also compete on the same basis. Please explain your methods of competition in greater detail. See Item 101(c)(1)(x) of Regulation S-K.

Trademarks and Licensing, page 61 25. Please disclose the duration and effect of all patents to which you refer and further discuss the status of all pending trademark applications. See Item 101(c)(1)(iv) of Regulation S-K. 26. Please file your licensing agreement with Itochu Corporation as a material exhibit. See Item 601(b)(10) of Regulation S-K.

Legal Proceedings, page 63 27. We note disclosure in your Form 10-K filed for the fiscal year ended January 29, 2005 indicating that you were a defendant in a lawsuit filed on August 16, 2002 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas. Please add disclosure discussing the current status of the lawsuit and the potential ramifications to you. If you do not believe the lawsuit will have a material adverse effect on you, please advise.

Certain United States Tax Consequences to Non-United States Holders, page 89 28. Please delete the term "certain" from the caption and the first sentence appearing under the caption.

Shares Eligible for Future Sale, page 91 Lock-up Agreements, page 92 29. Please describe the "certain exceptions" you refer to relating to the disposition or hedging of securities under the lock-up agreements. Also, tell us what factors Goldman, Sachs & Co. and Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc. would take into consideration in deciding whether to release any of the securities prior to the expiration of the lock-up.

Underwriting, page 93 30. We note your disclosure that if all the shares are not sold at the initial offering price, the representatives may change the offering price and other selling terms. Please explain how any change in the offering price and/or other selling terms would be reflected in the prospectus. For example, disclose whether a post- effective amendment would be filed and declared effective prior to any offers or sales being made at different prices or with different selling terms. We may have additional comment after reviewing your response. 31. Please identify any members of the underwriting syndicate that will engage in any electronic offer, sale or distribution of the shares and describe their procedures to us. If you become aware of any additional members of the underwriting syndicate that may engage in electronic offers, sales or distributions after you respond to this comment, promptly supplement your response to identify those members and provide us with a description of their procedures. Briefly describe any electronic distribution in the filing. Also, in your discussion of your procedures, tell us how your procedures ensure that the distribution complies with Section 5 of the Securities Act. In particular:

* the communications used; * the availability of the preliminary prospectus; * the manner of conducting the distribution and sale, such as the use of indications of interest or conditional offers; and * the funding of an account and payment of the purchase price. In addition, please tell us whether you or the underwriters have any arrangements with a third party to host or access your preliminary prospectus on the Internet. If so, identify the party and the website, describe the material terms of your agreement, and provide us with a copy of any written agreement. Also provide us with all information concerning your company or prospectus that has appeared on their website. Again, if you subsequently enter into these arrangements, promptly supplement your response.

Financial Statements, page F-1

General 32. Please update your interim financial statements and related financial information included in the filing as requi

Show Raw Text
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<TYPE>LETTER
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<TEXT>

Mail Stop 3561
	September 13, 2005

Arlene S. Hong, Esq.
General Counsel
J. Crew Group, Inc.
770 Broadway
New York, New York 10003

          Re:	J. Crew Group, Inc.
	Registration Statement on Form S-1
	Filed August 17, 2005
	File No. 333-127628

Dear Ms. Hong:

	We have reviewed your filing and have the following comments.
Where indicated, we think you should revise your document in
response
to these comments.  If you disagree, we will consider your
explanation as to why our comment is inapplicable or a revision is
unnecessary.  Please be as detailed as necessary in your
explanation.
In some of our comments, we may ask you to provide us with
information so we may better understand your disclosure.  After
reviewing this information, we may raise additional comments.

	Please understand that the purpose of our review process is
to
assist you in your compliance with the applicable disclosure
requirements and to enhance the overall disclosure in your filing.
We look forward to working with you in these respects.  We welcome
any questions you may have about our comments or any other aspect
of
our review.  Feel free to call us at the telephone numbers listed
at
the end of this letter.

General
1. We note a number of blank spaces throughout your registration
statement for information that you are not entitled to omit under
Rule 430A, such as the anticipated price range.  Please note that
we
may have additional comments once you have provided this
disclosure.
2. Please file all required exhibits, such as the form of
underwriting agreement and the legal opinion, in a timely manner
so
that we may have adequate time to review them before you request
effectiveness of your registration statement.
3. Provide us in a timely manner copies of any artwork that you
intend to use.  Please be advised that we may have comments on
these
materials and you should consider waiting for our comments before
printing and circulating any artwork.

Prospectus Summary, page 1
4. The summary is intended to provide a brief overview of the key
aspects of the offering.  See Instruction 503(a) of Regulation S-
K.
Please remove the "Our Market," "Our Competitive Strengths" and
"Our
Growth Strategy" sections from the summary since they also appear
in
the "Business" section in a lengthier format.  You also should
balance your revenue disclosure with the related net income (loss)
amount.
5. Please substantiate or delete the promotional terms and phrases
appearing in the summary and throughout the prospectus.  For
example,
we note your reference to "high quality" apparel and design, and
also
note the statement indicating your limited edition luxury items
"create excitement and a sense of shopping urgency in our
customers."
We also note the following examples appearing further into the
prospectus:
* J. Crew brand embraces a high standard of style, craftsmanship,
quality and customer service while projecting an aspirational
American lifestyle. - page 49

* We consistently communicate our vision of J. Crew...through the
circulation of our catalogs that use high quality photography, the
inviting atmosphere of our stores and the imagery on our Internet
website. - page 49

* Our product lines feature the high quality design, fabrics and
craftsmanship as well as consistent fits and detailing that our
customers expect of J. Crew. - page 49.
Please revise these and similar statements appearing throughout
your
prospectus.
6. Please provide support for the qualitative and comparative
statements contained in the summary and throughout your
prospectus.
For example, we note the citation to NPD Fashionworld for the
statistical information appearing under the caption "Our Market"
in
this section and in the "Business" section beginning on page 49.
Please mark your support or provide page references in your
response
to the sections you rely upon for each specific statement.  Tell
us
whether the information you cite from these reports is publicly
available.  If not, you should obtain appropriate consent to cite
these reports in your filing.  To the extent you are unable to
provide support, please delete the qualitative and comparative
statement.  Revise throughout your prospectus as necessary.

Transactions in Connection with the Offering, page 5
7. Please provide us with your analysis of the exemption from the
Securities Act of 1933 that you will rely on for the TPG
Subscription
that will take place concurrently with the initial public
offering.
We may have further comment.

Risk Factors, page 10
8. We note disclosure in the first paragraph under this caption
stating that "there may be risks of which we are currently
unaware,
or that we currently regard as immaterial based on the information
available to us, that later prove to be material."  Please delete
this statement, as all material risks should be identified and
fully
discussed in this section.
9. Please revise your risk factor subheadings to concisely state
the
specific material risk each risk factor presents to your company
or
investors and the consequences should that risk factor occur.
Avoid
simply referring to a fact about your company or a future event in
your subheadings.  Stating that the risk may "adversely affect" or
"harm" your business does not adequately address the potential
consequences.  Please revise all of the risk factors appearing
under
the caption "Risks Relating to Our Business."
10. Some of your risk factors appear generic because the
information
could apply to many companies in your industry or even in other
industries.  Please revise to specifically indicate how the stated
risk applies to your company, or delete these risk factors:
* We must maintain the value of our brand..., page 12.
* An inability or failure to protect our trademarks..., page 13.
* Our business could be hurt by increased labor costs..., page 16.
* We are subject to numerous regulations and regulatory
changes...,
page 16.
* We rely on our information systems..., page 16.
* The success of our Internet operations..., page 17.
* The price of our common stock may fluctuate significantly...,
page
19
We may not be successful in expanding our store base, page 11
11. In order for investors to better understand the magnitude of
the
risk involved, please quantify to the extent practicable the costs
associated with the opening of each new store.

An inability or failure to protect our trademarks would harm our
business, page 13
12. Please identify the "certain other trademarks" you refer to in
the first sentence.

Our substantial amount of debt may limit the cash flow
available...,
page 17
13. Please quantify the amount of debt to which you refer so that
investors can fully assess the risk.

The price of our common stock may fluctuate significantly..., page
19
14. As currently drafted, the disclosure in this risk factor is
too
vague and appears to include multiple risks.  Please revise to
concisely state the material risk to you and investors.  The
additional risks addressed in this risk factor should be included
under separate subheadings, if considered material.  In addition,
please remove the disclosure indicating analysts will cover your
common stock.
Management`s Discussion and Analysis, page 34

Overview, page 34
15. Please provide a balanced discussion of your past operating
results and history of operating losses and your recent revenue
growth and profitability.  Please also provide a more balanced
discussion of material opportunities, risks and challenges in both
the short and long term and the actions you are taking to address
them.  Please see SEC Release 33-8350.

Results of Operations, page 37

First Quarter of Fiscal 2005 Compared to First Quarter of Fiscal
2004, page 37
16. Please disclose net sales of each of your operating divisions
for
each of the periods presented.  Please also disclose net sales
revenues for your primary product categories for each of the
periods
presented.  Please revise to discuss significant changes and
trends
in revenues from product categories to the extent that these
changes
and trends would be material to investors.
17. Where you describe more than one business reason for a
significant change in a financial statement line item between
periods, please quantify, where possible, the incremental impact
of
each individual business reason on the overall change.  In doing
so,
please quantify in dollars:

* changes in comparable store sales, non-comparable store sales
and
shipping and handling fees in your analysis and discussions of
revenues;

* the amounts of merchandise costs and buying and occupancy costs
in
your analysis and discussions of gross profit; and

* the amounts of variable store and direct operating expenses and
increases in incentive compensation in your analysis and
discussions
of selling, general and administrative expenses.

In addition, please provide an analysis of the underlying reasons
for
each significant change you identify.  For example, please provide
an
analysis of significant changes in merchandise costs and buying
and
occupancy costs in your discussions of gross margin and variable
store and direct operating expenses in your discussions of
selling,
general and administrative expenses.
Please refer to Item 303(a) of Regulation S-K and SEC Release No.
33-
8350.
18. You state on page 39 that shipping and handling fees decreased
as
a result of a decline in orders in the direct business in the
first
half of fiscal 2004.  However, we note that direct sales increased
by
14% in fiscal 2004 as compared to fiscal 2003.  Please clarify
your
disclosure.
19. You disclose a 2.5% decrease in comparable store sales in
fiscal
2003 compared to fiscal 2002 on page 41 and that you believe the
improvement was the result of an improving economy and an upgrade
in
the quality and style of your merchandise assortments in the
second
half of the year.  It appears these statements are inconsistent.
Please clarify.

Liquidity and Capital Resources, page 43
20. Please provide a more informative analysis and discussion of
financial condition, changes in financial condition and cash flows
from operating activities, including changes in working capital
components, for each period presented.  In doing so, please
explain
the underlying reasons and implications of material changes
between
periods to provide investors with an understanding of trends and
variability in cash flows.  Please also provide an analysis of any
known trends and uncertainties that will result in or that are
reasonably likely to result in a material increase or decrease in
your liquidity.  In addition, to the extent that you have material
commitments for capital expenditures, please disclose the nature
and
amount of those commitments as well as the anticipated source of
funds to fulfill the commitments.  Please refer to Item 303(a) of
Regulation S-K and SEC Release No. 33-8350.
21. Please discuss the anticipated effect, if any, the public
offering will have on future compliance with the financial
covenants
described in this section.

Contractual Obligations, page 46
22. Please include interest payments on your long-term debt
obligations and dividends on your redeemable preferred stock in
the
table.  If you choose not to include these payments in the table,
please include a footnote to the table identifying the excluded
items
and provide any additional information that is material to an
understanding of your cash requirements.  In addition, please
disclose that your operating lease obligations do not include
insurance, taxes and other occupancy costs and provide a context
for
the reader to understand the impact of these charges on your total
lease obligations.  See Item 303(a)(5) of Regulation S-K and
footnote
46 to SEC Release No. 33-8350.

Business, page 49

Our Sourcing Methods, page 59
23. We note that you purchase approximately 15% of your
merchandise
from one trading company.  If formalized, please file the
agreement
you have with this trading company as a material exhibit.  See
Item
601(b)(10) of Regulation S-K.
Competition, page 61
24. We note that you compete on the basis of quality, design and
customer service.  It would appear that your competitors in the
industry would also compete on the same basis.  Please explain
your
methods of competition in greater detail.  See Item 101(c)(1)(x)
of
Regulation S-K.

Trademarks and Licensing, page 61
25. Please disclose the duration and effect of all patents to
which
you refer and further discuss the status of all pending trademark
applications.  See Item 101(c)(1)(iv) of Regulation S-K.
26. Please file your licensing agreement with Itochu Corporation
as a
material exhibit.  See Item 601(b)(10) of Regulation S-K.

Legal Proceedings, page 63
27. We note disclosure in your Form 10-K filed for the fiscal year
ended January 29, 2005 indicating that you were a defendant in a
lawsuit filed on August 16, 2002 in the U.S. District Court for
the
Eastern District of Texas.  Please add disclosure discussing the
current status of the lawsuit and the potential ramifications to
you.
If you do not believe the lawsuit will have a material adverse
effect
on you, please advise.

Certain United States Tax Consequences to Non-United States
Holders,
page 89
28. Please delete the term "certain" from the caption and the
first
sentence appearing under the caption.

Shares Eligible for Future Sale, page 91
Lock-up Agreements, page 92
29. Please describe the "certain exceptions" you refer to relating
to
the disposition or hedging of securities under the lock-up
agreements.  Also, tell us what factors Goldman, Sachs & Co. and
Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc. would take into consideration in deciding
whether to release any of the securities prior to the expiration
of
the lock-up.

Underwriting, page 93
30. We note your disclosure that if all the shares are not sold at
the initial offering price, the representatives may change the
offering price and other selling terms.  Please explain how any
change in the offering price and/or other selling terms would be
reflected in the prospectus.  For example, disclose whether a
post-
effective amendment would be filed and declared effective prior to
any offers or sales being made at different prices or with
different
selling terms.  We may have additional comment after reviewing
your
response.
31. Please identify any members of the underwriting syndicate that
will engage in any electronic offer, sale or distribution of the
shares and describe their procedures to us.  If you become aware
of
any additional members of the underwriting syndicate that may
engage
in electronic offers, sales or distributions after you respond to
this comment, promptly supplement your response to identify those
members and provide us with a description of their procedures.
Briefly describe any electronic distribution in the filing.
Also, in your discussion of your procedures, tell us how your
procedures ensure    that the distribution complies with Section 5
of
the Securities Act.  In particular:

* the communications used;
* the availability of the preliminary prospectus;
* the manner of conducting the distribution and sale, such as the
use
of indications of interest or conditional offers; and
* the funding of an account and payment of the purchase price.
In addition, please tell us whether you or the underwriters have
any
arrangements with a third party to host or access your preliminary
prospectus on the Internet.  If so, identify the party and the
website, describe the material terms of your agreement, and
provide
us with a copy of any written agreement.  Also provide us with all
information concerning your company or prospectus that has
appeared
on their website.  Again, if you subsequently enter into these
arrangements, promptly supplement your response.

Financial Statements, page F-1

General
32. Please update your interim financial statements and related
financial information included in the filing as requi