SEC Form SC 13D/A filed by Freshpet Inc. (Amendment)

If the filing person has previously filed a statement on Schedule 13G to report the acquisition that is the subject of this Schedule 13D, and is filing this schedule because of Rule 13d-1(e), 13d-1(f) or 13d-1(g), check the following box. [ ]

NOTE: Schedules filed in paper format shall include a signed original and five copies of the schedule, including all exhibits. See Rule 13d-7 for other parties to whom copies are to be sent.

* JANA Partners Management, LP was previously a relying adviser of JANA Partners LLC, and from and after the effectiveness of its application for investment advisor registration, will replace JANA Partners LLC as the reporting person on all filings with respect to securities held in various accounts under its management and control. Accordingly, JANA Partners Management, LP is the reporting person on this filing and JANA Partners LLC is no longer a reporting person on this filing. The prior filings on Schedule 13D were made under the CIK of JANA Partners LLC (CIK 0001159159).

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The information required on the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed to be “filed” for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Act”) or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the Notes).

This Amendment No. 9 (“Amendment No. 9”) amends and supplements the statement on Schedule 13D filed by JANA Partners LLC on September 22, 2022 (the “Original Schedule 13D”), as amended by Amendment No. 1 filed on December 9, 2022 (“Amendment No. 1”), Amendment No. 2 filed on December 15, 2022 (“Amendment No. 2”), Amendment No. 3 filed on May 24, 2023 (“Amendment No. 3”), Amendment No. 4 filed on May 25, 2023 (“Amendment No. 4”), Amendment No. 5 filed on May 30, 2023 (“Amendment No. 5”), Amendment No. 6 filed on June 1, 2023 (“Amendment No. 6”), Amendment No. 7 filed on August 9, 2023 (“Amendment No. 7”) and Amendment No. 8 filed on August 23, 2023 (“Amendment No. 8” and together with the Original Schedule 13D, Amendment No. 1, Amendment No. 2, Amendment No. 3, Amendment No. 4, Amendment No. 5, Amendment No. 6, Amendment No. 7 and this Amendment No. 9, the “Schedule 13D”) as specifically set forth herein. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined in this Amendment No. 9 have the meanings set forth in the Schedule 13D.

The 2,383,150 Shares reported herein by JANA were acquired at an aggregate purchase price of approximately $105 million. Such Shares were acquired with investment funds in accounts managed by JANA and margin borrowings described in the following sentence. Such Shares are held by the investment funds managed by JANA in commingled margin accounts, which may extend margin credit to JANA from time to time, subject to applicable federal margin regulations, stock exchange rules and credit policies. In such instances, the positions held in the margin accounts are pledged as collateral security for the repayment of debit balances in the account. The margin accounts bear interest at a rate based upon the broker’s call rate from time to time in effect. Because other securities are held in the margin accounts, it is not possible to determine the amounts, if any, of margin used to purchase the Shares reported herein.

(a) The aggregate percentage of Shares reported to be beneficially owned by the Reporting Person is based upon 48,241,898 Shares outstanding as of November 2, 2023, as reported in the Issuer’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2023, filed with the SEC on November 6, 2023.

As of the close of business on the date hereof, JANA may be deemed to beneficially own 2,383,150 Shares, representing approximately 4.9% of the Shares outstanding.

(b) JANA has sole voting and dispositive power over the 2,383,150 Shares, which power is exercised by the Principal.

(c) Information concerning transactions in the Shares effected by the Reporting Person during the past sixty (60) days is set forth in Exhibit O hereto and is incorporated herein by reference. All of the transactions in Shares listed in Exhibit O were effected in the open market through various brokerage entities.

(e) January 10, 2024.

 SIGNATURES

After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.

Dated: January 11, 2024

EXHIBIT O

Transactions in the Shares of the Issuer During the Past Sixty (60) Days

The following table sets forth all transactions in the Shares effected by the Reporting Person during the past sixty (60) days. All such transactions were effected in the open market through brokers and the price per share includes commissions. Where a price range is provided in the column Price Range ($), the price reported in that row’s Price Per Share ($) column is a weighted average price. These Shares were purchased/sold in multiple transactions at prices between the price ranges indicated in the Price Range ($) column. The Reporting Person will undertake to provide to the staff of the SEC, upon request, full information regarding the number of Shares purchased/sold at each separate price.