UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
April 21, 2006
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)
TREEHOUSE FOODS, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
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Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation)
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001-32504
(Commission
File Number )
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20-2311383
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.) |
Two Westbrook Corporate Center
Suite 1070
Westchester, Illinois 60154
(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)
(708) 483-1300
(Registrants telephone number, including area code)
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:
o Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
o Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17
CFR 240.14d-2(b))
o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17
CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.
On April 21, 2006, the Board of Directors of TreeHouse Foods, Inc. (the Company) adopted the
TreeHouse Foods, Inc. Executive Severance Plan (the Severance Plan), which became effective May
1, 2006. The Severance Plan provides for severance payments to certain employees of the Company
and certain of its subsidiaries upon certain terminations of employment from the Company or its
subsidiaries. The Compensation Committee has designated the eligible executives, as amended from
time to time, to the Severance Plan.
In the event of the termination of the executives employment for any reason, the executive
will be entitled to receive any earned compensation, as defined in the Severance Plan, owed to the
executive but not yet paid as of the date of termination and payment of vested benefits, if any, as
defined in the Severance Plan. If the executives employment with the Company is terminated by the
Company without cause, as defined in the Severance Plan, or the executive has good reason, as
defined in the Severance Plan, to terminate employment, the executive will be entitled to receive
(i) any earned compensation owed to the executive but not yet paid as of the date of termination,
(ii) payment of vested benefits, if any, (iii) salary continuation payments in an amount equal to
one times (or such other multiple as may be identified with respect to a particular executive) the
executives base salary, as defined in the Severance Plan, and (iv) payment of one times (or such
other multiple as may be identified with respect to a particular executive) the executives target
incentive compensation, as defined in the Severance Plan. Those executives designated by the
Compensation Committee as a Tier III Executive will not be eligible to receive target incentive
compensation as salary continuation (except as noted below).
In lieu of the payments due above, in the event the executives employment with the Company is
terminated by reason of a termination without cause or termination for good reason, as defined in
the Severance Plan, within the 24-month period immediately following a change of control, as
defined in the Severance Plan, the executive will be entitled to receive (i) any earned
compensation, as defined in the Severance Plan, owed to the executive but not yet paid as of the
date of termination, (ii) payment of vested benefits, if any, as defined in the Severance Plan,
(iii) salary continuation payments in an amount equal to one times (or such other multiple as may
be identified with respect to a particular executive) the executives base salary, and (iv) payment
of one times (or such other multiple as may be identified with respect to a particular executive)
the executives target incentive compensation.
If the aggregate amount of severance benefits and payments is determined to constitute a
parachute payment, as defined under Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended
(the Code), and exceeds an amount that is equal to three times the executives base amount (as
defined under Section 280G of the Code) by more than 10%, then the Company will pay to the
executive an additional amount that is equal to the excise tax on such aggregate amount. If the
aggregate amount of severance benefits and payments is determined to constitute a parachute payment
and equals three times the executives base amount or exceeds such amount by 10% or less, then
the Company will reduce the amount of the severance benefits and payments to an amount that is one
dollar less than the amount that would subject the executive to the excise tax.
Severance pay and benefits are conditioned upon the executive executing a valid general
release of claims against the Company and its subsidiaries and the executive will be subject to a
12-month non-solicitation provision.
The above description of the terms of the Severance Plan is only a summary and is qualified in
its entirety by reference to the Severance Plan. A copy of the Severance Plan is attached hereto
as Exhibit 10.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(c) Exhibits
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Exhibit No. |
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Description |
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10.1
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TreeHouse Foods, Inc. Executive Severance Plan. |