Rocket Pharmaceuticals Inc. filed SEC Form 8-K: Leadership Update

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 OR 15(d) of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):  July 7, 2025

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Rocket Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

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Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:  (646) 440-9100

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Not applicable

(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 (see General Instruction A.2):

☐	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))

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Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§ 230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§ 240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

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On July 7, 2025, Christopher Stevens was appointed by Rocket Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (the “Company”) as the Company’s Chief Operating Officer. Additionally, on July 7, 2025, Dr. Kinnari Patel transitioned from Chief Operating Officer, President and Head of R&D to President, Head of R&D.

On July 7, 2025 (the “Effective Date”), the Company and Mr. Stevens entered into an executive employment agreement (the “Executive Employment Agreement”) pursuant to which he is initially entitled to receive an annual base salary of $525,000 and a target annual bonus of 45% of such salary. In connection with the appointment, the Company will grant Mr. Stevens new hire equity compensation equal to approximately $2,500,000, one-half of which will be in the form of options (the “Options”) to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.01 per share, and one-half of which will be in the form of restricted stock units (“RSUs”). One-third of the RSUs and Options will vest on the first anniversary of the grant, and the remaining two-thirds will vest in eight quarterly increments over the following two years, subject to Mr. Stevens’ continued employment with the Company. The Company has also agreed that on the first Monday of the month following the one-year anniversary of the Effective Date, Mr. Stevens will receive an additional equity compensation award with a total value of $500,000, using the closing price on the day of the grant. One-half of the additional grant will be in the form of Options and one-half will be in the form of RSUs. The Company will also pay Mr. Stevens a sign-on bonus of $250,000 in a lump sum thirty days following Mr. Stevens’ start date so long as he remains actively employed as of that date. The Executive Employment Agreement provides for a severance payment of nine months of annual base salary and nine months of Company-paid COBRA benefits upon certain qualifying terminations of employment and Mr. Stevens’ execution of an irrevocable release of claims in favor of the Company. In connection with a qualifying termination within twelve months following a Change in Control (as defined in the Executive Employment Agreement), Mr. Stevens would be entitled to a lump sum payment equal to twelve months of annual base salary, a lump sum amount equal to any annual bonus to which Mr. Stevens would have been entitled for the year in which termination occurs, and, if timely elected, twelve months of Company-paid COBRA benefits.

Mr. Stevens has not entered into any transactions with the Company that are required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K. Mr. Stevens has no family relationship with any of the executive officers or directors of the Company. There were neither any arrangements nor any understandings between Mr. Stevens and any other person pursuant to which he was to be appointed as an officer of the Company.

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.

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