Freshpet Inc. filed SEC Form 8-K: Leadership Update, Financial Statements and Exhibits

On August 27, 2024, the Compensation and Human Resources Committee of the Board of Directors (the “Committee”) of Freshpet, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”) adopted the Freshpet, Inc. Key Executive Severance Plan (the “Plan”), effective on the same date.  The Plan was developed in consultation with the Committee’s independent compensation consultant and the advice of counsel, and is intended to provide a standardized framework for severance arrangements that will promote the retention of key officer and employees and provide added protection for the Company’s intellectual property.

The Plan formalizes the Company’s severance practices for the Company’s executive officers and other senior employees (each, an “Executive” and, collectively, the “Executives”), including without limitation all of the Company’s “named executive officers,” and is adopted to replace existing employment agreements and standardize the Company’s practices in lieu of entering into new employment agreements in the future.  Executives covered by the Plan generally will be eligible to receive severance benefits in the event of a termination by the Company without “cause” or by the Executive for “good reason” (as those terms are defined in the Plan), provided they agree to customary terms including non-competition and non-solicitation provisions.

Pursuant to the Plan, each Executive has entered into or will enter into a letter agreement (as applicable, each, a “Letter Agreement”), substantially similar to the form attached as Exhibit 10.2 to this Current Report on Form 8-K, and the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, William B. Cyr, has entered into the Letter Agreement in the form attached as Exhibit 10.3 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.

Under the Plan and corresponding Letter Agreements, in the event of a termination by the Company without cause or by the Executive for good reason prior to, or more than 24 months following, a Change in Control (which is defined in the Plan as having the same definition as such term has in our Second Amended and Restated 2014 Omnibus Incentive Plan or its successor (the “Equity Plan”)), the severance benefits for the Executive shall generally consist of the following:

 

 

Under the Plan, in the event of a termination by the Company without cause or by the Executive for good reason, in each case upon, or within 24 months following, a Change in Control or if requested by the acquiror in connection with a Change in Control, the severance benefits for the Executive shall instead consist of the following:

 

 

Payments and benefits under the Plan are designed to comply with Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code (the “Code”).  In addition, if any payment under the Plan would constitute an excess parachute payment within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code, the payments will be reduced to the minimum extent necessary so that no portion of any payment or benefit will constitute an excess parachute payment, provided however, that the reduction will be made only if and to the extent that such reduction would result in an increase in the aggregate payment and benefits to be provided, determined on an after tax basis (taking into account the excise tax imposed pursuant to Section 4999 of the Code, or any successor provision, or any other tax).  Any equity awards held by an Executive will be treated as set forth in the Equity Plan and any applicable individual award agreement.

The Committee has the right, in its sole discretion, to amend the Plan or to terminate it prospectively, except that (i) the Company may not decrease the benefits of any current Executive entering into a Letter Agreement without the Executive’s consent; (ii) no amendment may cause the discontinuation of severance benefits being paid at the time of amendment, and (iii) within the six months prior to, and 24 months following, a Change in Control, the Plan generally may not be terminated, amended or modified (except as required by law or as not adverse to any participant in the Plan).

Each Letter Agreement contains the following restrictive covenants: (i) noncompetition covenant and non-solicitation of employees and customers covenant, each applicable during employment and for 12 months thereafter (or 24 months thereafter for Messrs. Cyr, Cunfer and certain other Executives) and (ii) perpetual confidentiality covenant.  In order to receive benefits, each Executive must an effective general release of claims in favor of the Company and its affiliates.

Item 9.01    Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits.

SIGNATURE

 

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.