UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K/A

Amendment No. 1

CURRENT REPORT

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

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): December 15, 2022

RED ROBIN GOURMET BURGERS, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (303) 846-6000

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:

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. ☐

On December 16, 2022, Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc. (the “Company”) filed a Current Report on Form 8-K (the “Original Form 8-K”) announcing the departure of Michael Buchmeier, the Company’s Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer (the “Executive”), effective January 31, 2023. 

In connection with the departure of the Executive, the Company has agreed to provide to the Executive, pursuant to a severance agreement between the Company and the Executive dated as of December 18, 2022 (the “Severance Agreement”), in addition to any accrued but unpaid benefits or obligations: (i) a lump-sum cash payment of which equals twelve (12) months of the Executive’s base salary prior to his departure, which shall be $330,000, (ii) a lump-sum cash payment in an amount equal to the annual bonus that becomes payable, if any, in respect of the 2022 fiscal year to the Executive, based on actual performance and payable at the same time such payments are made to other employees of the Company generally, (iii) a lump-sum cash payment in the amount equal to the product of (x) the number of the Executive’s time-based restricted stock units outstanding as of the date of separation that would have vested during the 2023 calendar year (if the Executive’s employment with the Company had not terminated), multiplied by (y) $7.50, (iv) subject to the Executive’s timely election of continued healthcare coverage under COBRA, a lump sum cash payment within 30 days after such election in an amount equal to the product of (x) the portion of monthly premiums of the Executive’s group health insurance, including coverage for the Executive’s eligible dependents, that the Company paid immediately prior to the date of separation, and (y) 12, (v) a lump-sum cash payment equal to the amount of the Executive’s annual life insurance premiums, and (vi) a lump-sum cash payment in the amount of $15,000 for executive outplacement services. The Executive shall forfeit all of his outstanding and unvested restricted stock units, performance stock units and stock options, any vested stock options will remain outstanding and exercisable for the designated period under the applicable award agreement, and the Executive’s outstanding performance stock units will be treated in accordance with their terms relating to termination of employment due to retirement. The Executive’s receipt of the severance benefits mentioned in this paragraph is subject to his execution of a waiver and release of claims in favor of the Company and its affiliates. The Executive shall be subject to certain restrictive covenants, including nondisclosure of confidential information, return of Company property, and, for the twelve months following the later of the date of separation and the fifteenth day following the date on which the Severance Agreement was first presented to the Executive, non-competition and non-solicitation of employees, suppliers, and business relations of the Company. The Severance Agreement also includes post-employment cooperation and non-disparagement covenants as well as a general release of claims against the Company by the Executive.

The foregoing description of the terms of the Severance Agreement is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full terms of the Severance Agreement, which is filed as an exhibit to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference. 

(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.

Date: December 21, 2022