May 18, 2015: ascena retail group, inc. (NASDAQ: ASNA) and ANN INC. (NYSE: ANN) announced that they have entered into a definitive merger agreement under which ascena will acquire ANN INC. for a combination of cash and stock in an accretive transaction.

Real women live ever more complicated lives. They juggle more activities, play more roles and carry more expectations.

But what women value is what they have always valued: connecting with others, making smart choices, looking and feeling great. Living life fully means women choose to play all their roles with confidence and style.

That is why Ann Inc. is in business.

For more than half a century, they have evolved with the needs of real women who live full, active lives.  Their values are her values. They get that a woman expresses herself through what she wears – at work, at home and at play.

To meet her needs, they design pieces for her life and her changing roles to help her look and feel confident and beautiful. They create rich experiences that connect with her wherever she is, inspire her style and simplify her choices.

ANN associates are committed to and driven by a simple but profound mission – ‘to inspire and connect with our clients to put their best selves forward every day'. This is evident in their great brands as well as in their commitment to operating their business responsibly and thoughtfully. This commitment means that their clients can look great and feel great about the clothes they wear, and it means that as a business they are holding themselves to high standards.  It means forging strong partnerships with their suppliers so that products are made ethically.  It means investing in new programs and innovation to minimize their impact on the environment. And it means making meaningful contributions to their communities.

ANN's rich heritage dates to 1954, when founder Richard Liebeskind opened his first shop called Ann Taylor.  Back then, “Ann Taylor” represented a best-selling dress style that had been gifted to the storeowner by his father.  The “Ann Taylor” design embodied the well-dressed woman, and the legacy was born.  By 1983, Ann Taylor had grown from a regional brand to a national brand with 47 stores across the United States.

2011 Summary: ANN is represented by two brands with multiple channels of distribution. They operate 907 Ann Taylor, Ann Taylor Factory, LOFT and LOFT Outlet stores in 46 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico as of October 30, 2010 along with their e-commerce web sites anntaylor.com and LOFT.com.

2015 Summary: ANN INC. is the parent Company of Ann Taylor and LOFT, two of the leading women's specialty retail fashion brands in North America.  As of January 31, 2015, the Company operated 1,030 Ann Taylor, Ann Taylor Factory, LOFT, LOFT Outlet and Lou & Grey stores in 47 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and Canada.  The Company's Ann Taylor and LOFT brands are also available online in more than 100 countries worldwide at AnnTaylor.com and LOFT.com or at our LOFT franchise stores in Mexico. 

Their Brands:

Ann Taylor

At Ann Taylor, they champion the modern working woman and her love of fashion in everything they do. That's why for generations they have been her go-to style destination, always leading her with love.  Ann Taylor is much more than a high-quality collection of beautiful wear now pieces.  They offer a unique combination of fashion, work and flattering fit.  Their goal is always to unleash her confidence, femininity and feeling of success – making her shine.

LOFT

At LOFT, they believe the best relationships are built on trust. Well, that and an amazing wardrobe.  They became a trusted personal stylist by connecting with women on a genuine level – equal parts expert, confidante and friend who tells it like it is.  They give her fashion advice, ideas and inspiration that make her style aspirations attainable.  They believe in offering versatile, accessible and affordable fashion with undeniably feminine appeal, special and unexpected details and a flattering fit.