Item 5.04 Temporary Suspension of Trading Under Registrant's Employee Benefits Plans.
On March 31, 2020, J. C. Penney Company, Inc. (the "Company") delivered a notice
of blackout period concerning common stock of the Company, including stock
trades within the J. C. Penney Corporation, Inc. Savings, Profit-Sharing and
Stock Ownership Plan, the J. C. Penney Corporation, Inc. Safe Harbor 401(k) Plan
and the J. C. Penney Corporation, Inc. Mirror Savings Plan (collectively the
"Plans"). This notice was the result of the determination by Newport Trust
Company ("Newport Trust"), the independent fiduciary and investment manager of
the JCPenney Stock Fund, the investment fund under the Plans that holds shares
of common stock of the Company, that the JCPenney Stock Fund be closed to new
investments, including both participant contributions and transfers. As a
result of this action by Newport Trust, Plan participants' contributions to the
JCPenney Stock Fund will be directed instead to the default investment option
provided under the applicable Plan until participants direct such contributions
into another investment fund.
Newport Trust made this decision based on several factors, including the
negative impact of the Coronavirus pandemic on the U.S. economy and global
markets and the Company's stock performance. The blackout period began on March
26, 2020 and Newport Trust has not determined when the JCPenney Stock Fund will
be able to accept any new contributions or transfers from other investment funds
under the Plans. Advance notice of the blackout period was not possible due to
the quickly changing economic conditions resulting from the Coronavirus
pandemic. During the blackout period, executive officers will be precluded from
moving their existing account balances under the Plans out of the JCPenney Stock
Fund. In addition, during the blackout period, all Plan participants will not
be permitted to purchase the Company's common stock normally offered pursuant to
the Plans. Also, during the blackout period, subject to limited exceptions, the
Company's directors and executive officers will be prohibited from, directly or
indirectly, purchasing, selling, or otherwise acquiring or transferring shares
of the Company's common stock (including derivative securities pertaining to
such shares) acquired in connection with their service as a director or
employment as an executive officer of the Company.
A copy of the blackout notice to executive officers and directors, which
includes the information specified in Rule 104(b) of Regulation BTR, is attached
hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 8.01 Other Events.
On March 31, 2020, the Company issued a press release announcing the
continuation of the temporary closure of its stores and business offices due to
the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. As the result of the continued store
closures, the Company also announced its decision to furlough a majority of
store, supply chain and corporate associates. The Company's flagship store,
jcp.com, its mobile app and customer care center remain open. A copy of the
press release is filed herewith as Exhibit 99.2 hereto and is incorporated by
reference herein.
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information
The Company has included statements in this Current Report on Form 8-K that may
constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as "expect" and similar
expressions identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are
based only on the Company's current assumptions and views of future events and
financial performance. They are subject to known and unknown risks and
uncertainties, many of which are outside of the Company's control that may cause
the Company's actual results to be materially different from planned or expected
results. Please refer to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year
ended February 2, 2020 for a further discussion of risks and uncertainties.
Investors should take such risks into account and should not rely on
forward-looking statements when making investment decisions. Any forward-looking
statement made by us in this Current Report on Form 8-K is based only on
information currently available to us and speaks only as of the date on which it
is made. We do not undertake to update these forward-looking statements as of
any future date.
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Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibit 99.1 Blackout Notice to Executive Officers and Directors
Exhibit 99.2 J. C. Penney Company, Inc. News Release issued March
31, 2020
Exhibit 104 Cover Page Interactive Data File - the cover page XBRL
tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document
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