8-K

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

December 8, 2016
Date of Report (date of earliest event reported)

ASCENA RETAIL GROUP, INC.

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware	0-11736	30-0641353
(State or other jurisdiction of	(Commission File Number)	(IRS Employer
incorporation)		Identification Number)

933 MacArthur Boulevard
Mahwah, New Jersey 07430
(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

(551) 777-6700
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

¨ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

¨ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4c))

Item 8.01 Other Events.

On December 8, 2016, the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Ascena Retail Group, Inc. (the “Company”) announced at the Company’s 2016 Annual Meeting of Stockholders held on Thursday, December 8, 2016, the appointment of David Jaffe as Chairman of the Board. Mr. Jaffe also serves as the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Jaffe succeeds Company Co-Founder Elliot S. Jaffe, who retired as Non-Executive Chairman of the Board at the end of the 2016 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

The Board also announced the honorary title of Chairman Emeritus to Elliot Jaffe in recognition of his many years of service to the Company. A copy of the press release announcing the appointment is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits.

Exhibit Number	Description
99.1	Press Release dated December 9, 2016.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

ASCENA RETAIL GROUP, INC.

(Registrant)

Date: December 9, 2016

By:	/s/ Ernest LaPorte
Ernest LaPorte
Senior Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer
(Principal Accounting Officer)

EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit No	Description
99.1	Press Release dated December 9, 2016.

EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

 

NEWS RELEASE

DAVID JAFFE APPOINTED CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
OF DIRECTORS FOR ASCENA RETAIL GROUP, INC.

MAHWAH, NJ — (BUSINESS WIRE) — December 9, 2016 – The Board of Directors (the “Board”) of ascena retail group, inc. (NASDAQ: ASNA) (the “Company” or “ascena”) announced at the Company’s 2016 Annual Meeting of Stockholders held on Thursday, December 8, 2016, the appointment of David Jaffe as Chairman of the Board. Mr. Jaffe also serves as the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer. The Board also announced the honorary title of Chairman Emeritus to Elliot Jaffe (“EJ”) in recognition of his many years of service to the Company.

David Jaffe succeeds Company Co-Founder Elliot S. Jaffe who retired as Non-Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors at the end of the 2016 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. Elliot Jaffe co-founded dressbarn in 1962 and served as CEO until 2002. He was ascena’s Chairman of the Board until January 2011, when he transitioned to Non-Executive Chairman.

“David’s extensive retail and financial background, including nearly 25 years of leadership at ascena, makes him uniquely qualified to assume the role of Chairman of the Board,” said Randy Pearce, ascena’s Lead Independent Director.

David Jaffe added, “I am deeply honored and humbled to take on this additional responsibility. I am excited to carry forward EJ’s passion and commitment to ascena as we continue to grow.”

About ascena retail group, inc.

ascena retail group, inc. (NASDAQ: ASNA) is a leading national specialty retailer offering apparel, shoes, and accessories for women under the Premium Fashion segment (Ann Taylor, LOFT, and Lou & Grey), Value Fashion segment (maurices and dressbarn), Plus Fashion segment (Lane Bryant and Catherines), and for tween girls under the Kids Fashion segment (Justice).  ascena retail group, inc. operates ecommerce websites and approximately 4,900 stores throughout the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico.

For more information about ascena retail group, inc. visit:  ascenaretail.com, AnnTaylor.com, LOFT.com, louandgrey.com, maurices.com, dressbarn.com, lanebryant.com, cacique.com, Catherines.com, and shopjustice.com.

CONTACT	For investors:	For media:
	ascena retail group, inc.	ascena retail group, inc.
	Stacy Turnof	Sue Ross
	Vice President of Investor Relations	Executive Vice President, ascena Corporate Affairs
	(551) 777-6928	(218) 491-2110
	stacy.turnof@ascenaretail.com	sue.ross@ascenaretail.com