8-K
false 0001092796 0001092796 2020-08-05 2020-08-05

 

 

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

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): August 5, 2020

 

 

Smith & Wesson Brands, Inc.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

 

 

 

Nevada   001-31552   87-0543688

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

2100 Roosevelt Avenue

Springfield, Massachusetts 01104

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

(800) 331-0852

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

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. below):

 

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))

 

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

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

 

Title of each class

 

Trading

Symbol(s)

 

Name of each exchange

on which registered

Common Stock, Par Value $0.001 per Share   SWBI   Nasdaq Global Select Market

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (17 §CRF 230.405) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (17 CFR §240.12b-2).

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.  ☐

 

 

 


Item 1.01.

Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

As described in Item 5.02, on August 5, 2020, we entered into the Retirement Agreement (as defined herein) with Jeffrey D. Buchanan in connection with his retirement from our company, which, among other actions, modifies the Severance Agreement (as defined herein). The disclosure provided in Item 5.02 of this Form 8-K relating to the Retirement Agreement with Mr. Buchanan is hereby incorporated by reference into this Item 1.01.

 

Item 5.02.

Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

Retirement Agreement with Jeffrey D. Buchanan

As previously announced, Mr. Buchanan will be retiring from our company as Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Administrative Officer, and Treasurer and from all other positions with our company and our subsidiaries and affiliates effective with the spin-off of our outdoor products and accessories business. We and Mr. Buchanan are parties to a severance and change in control agreement, or the Severance Agreement. Pursuant to the Severance Agreement (as defined herein), if we terminated Mr. Buchanan’s employment without Good Cause, or Mr. Buchanan terminated his employment for Good Reason (each as defined in the Severance Agreement), Mr. Buchanan would receive certain payments and benefits, subject to the terms and conditions set out in the Severance Agreement. Mr. Buchanan’s separation from our company will be the result of a retirement rather than a termination by us without Good Cause or by Mr. Buchanan for Good Reason. Our company, however, in recognition of the long and valuable services provided by Mr. Buchanan to our company will provide Mr. Buchanan with the opportunity to take advantage of his previously granted stock-based compensation.

On August 5, 2020, we and Mr. Buchanan entered into an agreement, or the Retirement Agreement, in connection with Mr. Buchanan’s retirement from our company, effective as of the close of business on August 23, 2020 or such other earlier date as may be accepted by the Chief Executive Officer. Pursuant to the Retirement Agreement, Mr. Buchanan will retire as Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Administrative Officer, and Treasurer and from all other positions with our company and our subsidiaries and affiliates.

Pursuant to the Retirement Agreement and in connection with Mr. Buchanan’s retirement, (i) the restricted stock units held by Mr. Buchanan were accelerated; (ii) the performance stock units held by Mr. Buchanan were accelerated and were converted into 50,200 shares of our common stock; (iii) the holding period on the shares underlying or associated with the accelerated restricted stock units or performance stock units were waived provided that Mr. Buchanan may not sell any such shares prior to October 1, 2020 when he completes the transition of his duties; (iv) Mr. Buchanan will remain on the payroll of our company until September 30, 2020 to complete the transition of his duties; (v) the period of non-competition set forth in Section 4(b) of the Severance Agreement was extended from 12 months to 24 months; and (vi) Mr. Buchanan will not receive any cash payments, whether provided for in Sections 2 and 3 of the Severance Agreement, or otherwise, and Sections 2 and 3 of the Severance Agreement will no longer have any force or effect.

The foregoing is a summary only and does not purport to be a complete description of all of the terms, provisions, covenants, and agreements contained in the Retirement Agreement, and is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Retirement Agreement, which is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.120.


Item 9.01.

Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d)    Exhibits.

 

Exhibit
Number

  

Exhibits

10.120    Agreement, dated as of August 5, 2020, by and between Jeffrey D. Buchanan and the Registrant
104    Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)

 

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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.

 

    SMITH & WESSON BRANDS, INC.
Date: August 11, 2020     By:  

/s/ Robert J. Cicero

      Robert J. Cicero
     

Senior Vice President, General Counsel,

Chief Compliance Officer, and Secretary

EX-10.120

Exhibit 10.120

AGREEMENT dated as of the 5th day of August 2020 between SMITH & WESSON BRANDS, INC. (“Company”) and JEFFREY D. BUCHANAN (“JDB”).

JDB has served as Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Administrative Officer, and Treasurer of the Company for a number of years.

JDB advised Company of his intension to retire from all his positions with Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates effective with the completion of the spin-off of Company’s outdoor products and accessories business (the “Separation”).

JDB is a party to an Amended and Restated Severance and Change in Control Agreement dated December 8, 2011 (the “Severance Agreement”). Section 2 and 3 of the Severance Agreement set forth certain results following a termination for “Cause” and following a “Change in Control” as such terms are defined in the Severance Agreement.

JDB’s separation from Company will be as a result of a retirement rather than for Cause or following a Change in Control. Company, however, recognizes the long and valuable services provided by JDB to the Company. As a result, Company desires to provide certain benefits to JDB in connection with his retirement.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants set forth in this Agreement, the parties hereto agree as follows:

1.    The restricted stock units (“RSUs”) held by JDB shall be accelerated upon the execution of this Agreement and the underlying shares of Company Common Stock shall be issued and delivered as of such date.

2.    The performance stock units (“PSUs”) held by JDB shall be accelerated upon the execution of this Agreement and be converted into 50,200 shares of Company’s Common Stock, which shall be issued and delivered as of such date.

3.    There shall be no holding period on the shares underlying or associated with the accelerated RSUs or PSUs provided that JDB shall not sell any such shares prior to October 1, 2020.

4.    JDB hereby tenders his resignation as an officer of Company and, if applicable, as a director and officer of each of its subsidiaries and affiliates effective as of the close of business on August 23, 2020 or such other earlier date as may be accepted by the CEO of Company.

5.    JDB shall remain on the payroll of Company until September 30, 2020 to complete the transition of his duties.

6.    The period of non-competition set forth in Section 4(b) of the Separation Agreement is hereto extended from 12 months to 24 months.


7.    Sections 2 and 3 of the Severance Agreement are superseded by the benefits herein and shall no longer be of any force or effect; Section 4(b) of the Severance Agreement shall be deemed to be modified by paragraph 6 above; and the remainder of the Severance Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.

(a) All notices, requests, demands, and other communications required or permitted under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given, made and received when delivered against receipt, when deposited in the United States mails, first class postage prepaid, or when sent by e-mail addressed as set forth below:

If to Company:

2100 Roosevelt Avenue

Springfield, MA 01104

Attention: Mark Smith, CEO

E-mail: msmith@smith-wesson.com

with a copy, given in the manner

prescribed above, to the then:

Chair of the Compensation Committee

2100 Roosevelt Avenue

Springfield, MA 01104

E-Mail: bmonheit@aol.com

If to JDB:

Jeffrey D. Buchanan

Telephone:

E-mail:

Either party may alter the address to which communications or copies are to be sent by giving notice of such change of address in conformity with the provisions of this paragraph for the giving of notice.

(b)    Neither any failure nor any delay on the part of either party to exercise any right, remedy, power, or privilege under this Agreement shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, remedy, power, or privilege preclude any other or further exercise of the same or of any other right, remedy, power, or privilege, nor shall any waiver of any right, remedy, power, or privilege with respect to any occurrence be construed as a waiver of such right, remedy, power, or privilege with respect to any other occurrence.

(c)    This Agreement and all questions relating to its validity, interpretation, performance and enforcement, shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, notwithstanding any Massachusetts or other conflict-of-laws provisions to the contrary.

 

2


(d)    This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective heirs, personal representatives, successors, and assigns, except that no party may assign or transfer such party’s rights or obligations under this Agreement without the prior written consent of the other party.

(e)    This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original as against any party whose signature appears thereon, and all of which shall together constitute one and the same instrument. This Agreement shall become binding when one or more counterparts hereof, individually or taken together, shall bear the signatures of the parties reflected hereon as the signatories.

(f)    The provisions of this Agreement are independent of and separable from each other, and no provision shall be affected or rendered invalid or unenforceable by virtue of the fact that for any reason any other or others of them may be invalid or unenforceable in whole or in part.

(g)    Except for the Severance Agreement as modified by this Agreement, this Agreement contains the entire understanding between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous agreements and understandings, inducements and conditions, express or implied, oral or written, except as herein contained. The express terms hereof control and supersede any course of performance and/or usage of the trade inconsistent with any of the terms hereof. This Agreement may not be modified or amended other than by an agreement in writing.

(h)    Words used herein, regardless of the number and gender specifically used, shall be deemed and construed to include any other number, singular or plural, and any other gender, masculine, feminine or neuter, as the context requires.

(i)    In computing the number of days for purposes of this Agreement, all days shall be counted, including Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays; provided, however, that if the final day of any time period falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or holiday, then the final day shall be deemed to be the next day which is not a Saturday, Sunday, or holiday.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.

 

SMITH & WESSON BRANDS, INC.
By:  

/s/ Mark P. Smith

  President and CEO

/s/ Jeffrey D. Buchanan

Jeffrey D. Buchanan

 

3

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Document and Entity Information
Aug. 05, 2020
Cover [Abstract]  
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Entity Central Index Key 0001092796
Document Type 8-K
Document Period End Date Aug. 05, 2020
Entity Registrant Name Smith & Wesson Brands, Inc.
Entity Incorporation State Country Code NV
Entity File Number 001-31552
Entity Tax Identification Number 87-0543688
Entity Address, Address Line One 2100 Roosevelt Avenue
Entity Address, City or Town Springfield
Entity Address, State or Province MA
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code 01104
City Area Code (800)
Local Phone Number 331-0852
Written Communications false
Soliciting Material false
Pre Commencement Tender Offer false
Pre Commencement Issuer Tender Offer false
Security 12b Title Common Stock, Par Value $0.001 per Share
Trading Symbol SWBI
Security Exchange Name NASDAQ
Entity Emerging Growth Company false