false0001020859 0001020859 2019-12-18 2019-12-18


    
 

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): December 18, 2019

UNITED NATURAL FOODS, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
 
 
 
 
Delaware
001-15723
05-0376157
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)
(Commission File Number)
(IRS Employer Identification No.)
 
 
 
 
 
313 Iron Horse Way,
 Providence,
RI
02908
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (401) 528-8634
N/A
(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. 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 $0.01
UNFI
New York Stock Exchange

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. ☐

 





Item 5.02    Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

At the 2019 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, held on December 18, 2019 (the “Annual Meeting”), the stockholders of United Natural Foods, Inc. (the “Company”) approved the United Natural Foods, Inc. 2020 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2020 Equity Incentive Plan”). On September 26, 2019, the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) adopted the 2020 Equity Incentive Plan, which became effective when approved by stockholders. A detailed summary of the material terms of the 2020 Equity Incentive Plan appears on pages 55-63 of the Company’s Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A (the “Proxy Statement”), which was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 5, 2019. This summary of the 2020 Equity Incentive Plan is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the 2020 Equity Incentive Plan, which is filed as Appendix A to the Proxy Statement and incorporated herein by reference.

Additionally, on December 3, 2019, the Compensation Committee of the Board approved, subject to stockholder approval of the 2020 Equity Incentive Plan, new forms of award agreements for grants of time-based restricted stock units (“RSUs”) pursuant to the 2020 Equity Incentive Plan to certain Participants (as defined in the applicable award agreement). There are three forms of RSU award agreements, which reflect the different vesting and payout terms and death, disability and retirement provisions for awards granted to the Company’s directors and certain employees of the Company. Copies of the form of award agreements for grants of RSUs are attached hereto as Exhibits 10.1 through 10.3 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated herein by reference.

The Compensation Committee also approved, subject to stockholder approval of the 2020 Equity Incentive Plan, a new form of award agreement for grants of performance-based restricted stock unit (“PSU”) awards to certain employees of the Company. The PSU award agreement provides for either a full or pro rata payout of PSUs earned based on the Company's performance, subject to certain conditions being met. A copy of the award agreement for the PSUs is filed herewith as Exhibit 10.4 and incorporated herein by reference.

Item 5.07    Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.

At the Company’s Annual Meeting, a total of 45,368,908 shares of the Company’s common stock, out of a total of 53,319,185 shares of common stock outstanding and entitled to vote as of October 21, 2019, the record date, were present in person or represented by proxies. The Company’s stockholders voted on four proposals at the Annual Meeting. The results of voting on the four proposals, including final voting tabulations, are set forth below.

(1)    The stockholders elected Eric F. Artz, Ann Torre Bates, Denise M. Clark, Daphne J. Dufresne, Michael S. Funk, James P. Heffernan, James Muehlbauer, Peter A. Roy, Steven L. Spinner, and Jack Stahl to serve as Directors until the annual meeting of stockholders to be held in 2020 and until their successors are duly elected and qualified.
Name
 
For
 
Against
 
Abstain
 
Broker Non-Votes
Eric F. Artz
 
34,318,181

 
2,175,777

 
171,889

 
8,703,061

Ann Torre Bates
 
34,781,745

 
1,722,818

 
161,284

 
8,703,061

Denise M. Clark
 
34,541,348

 
1,960,784

 
163,715

 
8,703,061

Daphne J. Dufresne
 
33,964,406

 
2,535,830

 
165,611

 
8,703,061

Michael S. Funk
 
34,822,590

 
1,696,735

 
146,522

 
8,703,061

James P. Heffernan
 
28,545,907

 
8,025,451

 
94,489

 
8,703,061

James Muehlbauer
 
35,778,729

 
723,464

 
163,654

 
8,703,061

Peter A.Roy
 
33,864,994

 
2,634,599

 
166,254

 
8,703,061

Steven L. Spinner
 
34,123,023

 
2,390,977

 
151,847

 
8,703,061

Jack Stahl
 
35,570,777

 
922,667

 
172,403

 
8,703,061







(2)    The stockholders approved the ratification of the selection of KPMG LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending August 1, 2020.

For
 
Against
 
Abstain
 
Broker Non-Votes
38,845,306

 
5,666,195

 
857,407

 
-

(3)    The stockholders approved, on an advisory basis, the Company’s executive compensation.

For
 
Against
 
Abstain
 
Broker Non-Votes
26,551,317

 
9,970,755

 
143,775

 
8,703,061


(4)    The stockholders approved the 2020 Equity Incentive Plan.
For
 
Against
 
Abstain
 
Broker Non-Votes
19,339,904

 
17,123,496

 
202,447

 
8,703,061







Item 9.01    Financial Statements and Exhibits.
 
(d)    Exhibits

Exhibit No.
 
Description
10.1

 
10.2

 
10.3

 
10.4

 
104

 
Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)
        





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.


UNITED NATURAL FOODS, INC.
 
By: /s/ Jill E. Sutton                                                        
Name: Jill E. Sutton
Title: Chief Legal Officer, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary

Date: December 19, 2019













Exhibit 10.1
UNITED NATURAL FOODS, INC.

2020 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
RESTRICTED SHARE UNIT AWARD AGREEMENT

[time vesting for Board of Directors]


This Restricted Share Unit Award Agreement (this “Agreement”) effective as of [ ] __, 20__ (the “Grant Date”), between United Natural Foods, Inc. (the “Company”) and __________________ (the “Director”), evidences an Award denominated in Restricted Share Units to the Director under the United Natural Foods, Inc. 2020 Equity Incentive Plan (as amended from time to time, the “Plan”). Except in the preceding sentence and where the context otherwise requires, the term “Company” shall include the Company and all present and future Subsidiaries. All capitalized terms that are used in this Agreement without definition shall have the meanings set forth in the Plan.

1.
Definition.

Restricted Share Unit” means a right to receive a payment in the form of any one Share of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.01 per share, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement and in the Plan.

2.    Grant of Restricted Share Units.  In consideration of services to be rendered by the Director to the Company, the Company hereby grants to the Director [______] Restricted Share Units, on the terms and conditions and subject to the restrictions set forth in this Agreement and the Plan. The grant of Restricted Share Units shall be subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4.3 of the Plan. This grant is conditional upon the Director signing a counterpart of this Agreement and delivering such signed counterpart to the Company within sixty (60) days of this Agreement, including by electronic means if provided by the Company pursuant to Section 16. Capitalized terms that are used but not defined herein have the meaning ascribed to them in the Plan.

3.    Vesting.

(a)    Except as otherwise provided herein or in the Plan, if the Director remains in continuous service through the applicable vesting date, the Restricted Share Units will vest on ___________, 20__.

(b)    In the event the Director’s continuous service terminates as a result of an involuntary removal during the pendency of a term as a member of the Board of Directors (other than in connection with a Change in Control), the Director’s unvested Restricted Share Units shall be automatically forfeited upon such termination of continuous service and the Company shall not have any further obligations to the Director under this Agreement.

(c)    If the Director’s continuous service terminates for any reason other than an involuntary removal during the pendency of a term as a member of the Board of Directors, the Restricted Share Units shall continue to vest. If the Director’s continuous service terminates for any reason after a Change in Control, the Restricted Share Awards shall immediately vest. If the Restricted Share Units are not assumed

1



or continued upon a Change in Control, any unvested Restricted Share Units shall be treated as having become fully vested and exercisable as of the date and time immediately prior to the Change in Control.

4.    Payment. The Company shall issue to the Director one Share for each Restricted Share Unit which has become vested with respect to the vesting schedule pursuant to Section 3 of this Agreement. The payment of the Shares shall be made to the Director (or the Director’s assignee or beneficiary if permitted by the Plan or the Committee) in accordance with the Company’s grant and settlement policy no later than March 15th of the calendar year next following the calendar year in which the vesting period ends and may be made as a book-entry confirmation or through the issuance of a certificate evidencing such Shares.

5.    Rights as a Stockholder. The Director shall have no rights as a stockholder with respect to any Shares which may be issued upon the vesting of the Restricted Share Units (including, without limitation, voting rights and any rights to receive dividends or non-cash distributions with respect to such Shares) unless and until the Shares have been issued to Director. No adjustment shall be made for dividends or other rights for which the record date is prior to the date such Shares are issued.

6.    Covenants. As a condition to the receipt of the Award (which shall be forfeited in the event of noncompliance with this Section 6), the Director hereby agrees to adhere to the covenants set forth in Section 14.8 of the Plan, which include confidentiality, non-competition and non-solicitation covenants.

7.    No Guarantee of Service. Nothing in this Agreement or in the Plan shall confer upon the Director any right to be retained as a Director of the Company or in any other capacity, or shall interfere with or restrict in any way the rights of the Company, which are hereby expressly reserved, to terminate the Director’s continuous service at any time for any reason whatsoever, with or without Cause.

8.    Amendment. Subject to the restrictions contained in the Plan, the Committee may waive any conditions or rights under, amend any terms of or alter, suspend, discontinue, cancel or terminate, this Agreement and the Restricted Share Units, prospectively or retroactively in time (and in accordance with Section 409A of the Code with regard to awards subject thereto); provided that any such waiver, amendment, alteration, suspension, discontinuance, cancellation or termination that would materially and adversely affect the rights of the Director or any holder or beneficiary of the Restricted Share Units shall not to that extent be effective without the consent of the Director, holder or beneficiary; and provided further that no consent of the Director or any holder or beneficiary shall be required for any such waiver, amendment, alteration, suspension, discontinuance, cancellation or termination to the extent necessary to conform this Agreement to mandatory provisions of applicable federal or state laws, regulations or rulings, including but not limited to the provisions of Section 409A of the Code necessary to avoid tax penalties to the Director. The Committee is authorized to make equitable and proportionate adjustments in the terms and conditions of, and the criteria included in, this Agreement and the Restricted Share Units as set forth in the Plan.

9.    Determinations by the Committee. Except as otherwise expressly provided in the Plan, all designations, determinations, interpretations, and other decisions under or with respect to the Plan or this Agreement shall be within the sole discretion of the Committee, may be made at any time and shall be final, conclusive, and binding upon all Persons.

10.    Provisions of the Plan. The Director hereby acknowledges receipt of a copy of the Plan with this Agreement and agrees to be bound by all the terms and provisions of the Plan. This Agreement is governed by the terms of the Plan, and in the case of any inconsistency between this Agreement and the terms of the Plan, the terms of the Plan shall govern. This Agreement, read together with the Plan, represents

2



the entire understanding and agreement between the Company and the Director, and shall supersede any prior agreement and understanding between the parties with respect to the matters contained herein. This Agreement, and any payment of Shares in settlement of the Restricted Share Units, shall be subject to any policy of the Company regarding the recoupment or clawback of compensation as in effect at the date of this Agreement or hereafter adopted by the Board.

11.    Nontransferability of Restricted Share Units.  Except as otherwise provided in the Plan, the Restricted Share Units and this Agreement shall not be assigned, alienated, pledged, attached, sold or otherwise transferred or encumbered by the Director. Any attempt to assign, alienate, pledge, attach, sell or otherwise transfer or encumber the Restricted Share Units otherwise than as permitted by the Plan and this Agreement shall, at the election of the Company, be null and void. Transfer of the Restricted Share Units for value is not permitted under the Plan or this Agreement.

12.    Notices. Any notice required or permitted to be given to the Director under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed effective upon personal delivery or upon deposit in the United States mail with postage and fees prepaid. Any notice or communication required or permitted to be given to the Company under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed effective only upon receipt by the Secretary of the Company at the Company’s principal office.

13.    Waiver. The waiver by the Company of any provision of this Agreement at any time or for any purpose shall not operate as or be construed to be a waiver of the same or any other provision of this Agreement at any subsequent time or for any other purpose.

14.    Section 409A.

(a)    For the avoidance of doubt, the Restricted Share Units granted under this Agreement are intended to be exempt from or otherwise comply with Section 409A of the Code and the regulations and guidance promulgated thereunder (collectively “Code Section 409A”) and, accordingly, to the maximum extent permitted, this Agreement shall be interpreted to be either exempt from or in compliance therewith. In no event whatsoever shall the Company be liable for any additional tax, interest or penalty that may be imposed on the Director by Code Section 409A or damages for failing to comply with Code Section 409A.

(b)    Notwithstanding any other payment schedule provided herein to the contrary, if the Director is deemed on the date of termination to be a “specified employee” within the meaning of that term under Section 409A(a)(2)(B) of the Code, then any payment due under this Agreement that is considered “deferred compensation” under Section 409A of the Code payable on account of a Director’s “separation from service” shall not be made until the date which is the earlier of (A) the expiration of the six (6) month period measured from the date of such “separation from service” of the Director, and (B) the date of Director’s death (the “Delay Period”) to the extent required under Code Section 409A. Upon the expiration of the Delay Period, all payments delayed pursuant to this Section 15(b) shall be paid to the Director in a lump sum in accordance with the Agreement.

(c)    A termination of employment shall not be deemed to have occurred for purposes of any provision of this Agreement providing for the payment of “deferred compensation” (as such term is defined in Code Section 409A) upon or following a termination of employment unless such termination is also a “separation from service” from the Company within the meaning of Code Section 409A (and, more specifically, Treasury Regulation 1.409A-1(h)) and, for purposes of any such provision of this Agreement, references to a “termination,” “termination of employment” or like terms shall mean “separation from service.”


3



(d)    For the avoidance of doubt, any payment due under this Agreement within a period following Director’s termination of employment, death, Disability, Retirement or other event, shall be made on a date during such period as determined by the Company in its sole discretion.

15.    Governing Law. The validity, construction and effect of this Agreement shall be determined in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware without giving effect to conflicts of laws principles.

16.    Successors. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon any successor to the Company and shall inure to the benefit of the Director's legal representative. All obligations imposed upon the Director and all rights granted to the Company under this Agreement shall be binding upon the Director's heirs, executors, administrator and successors.

17.    Electronic Communication. The Company may, in its sole discretion, decide to deliver any document related to current or future participation in the Plan by electronic means. The Director hereby consents to receive such documents by electronic delivery and agrees to participate in the Plan through an online or electronic system established and maintained by the Company or a third party designated by the Company.

[signature page follows]

4



IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Agreement to be duly executed by an officer of the Company, and the Director has accepted and signed this Agreement, all on the day and year first mentioned above.

UNITED NATURAL FOODS, INC.
 
 
 
 
By:
 
 
 
 
 
DIRECTOR
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


5


Exhibit 10.2
UNITED NATURAL FOODS, INC.

2020 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
RESTRICTED SHARE UNIT AWARD AGREEMENT

[time vesting for employees]


This Restricted Share Unit Award Agreement (this “Agreement”) effective as of [ ] __, 20__ (the “Grant Date”), between United Natural Foods, Inc. (the “Company”) and __________________ (the “Participant”), evidences an Award denominated in Restricted Share Units to the Participant under the United Natural Foods, Inc. 2020 Equity Incentive Plan (as amended from time to time, the “Plan”). Except in the preceding sentence and where the context otherwise requires, the term “Company” shall include the Company and all present and future Subsidiaries. All capitalized terms that are used in this Agreement without definition shall have the meanings set forth in the Plan.

1.
Definitions.

(a)    “Participant,” solely for the purpose of this Agreement, means the employee designated above.

(b)    “Restricted Share Unit” means a right to receive a payment in the form of any one Share of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.01 per share, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement and in the Plan.

(c)    “Vesting Period” means the period beginning on [ ] and ending on [ ].

2.    Grant of Restricted Share Units.  In consideration of services to be rendered by the Participant to the Company, the Company hereby grants to the Participant [______] Restricted Share Units, on the terms and conditions and subject to the restrictions set forth in this Agreement and the Plan. The grant of Restricted Share Units shall be subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4.3 of the Plan. This grant is conditional upon the Participant signing a counterpart of this Agreement and delivering such signed counterpart to the Company within sixty (60) days of this Agreement, including by electronic means if provided by the Company pursuant to Section 18. Capitalized terms that are used but not defined herein have the meaning ascribed to them in the Plan.

3.    Vesting.

(a)    Except as otherwise provided herein or in the Plan, if the Participant remains continuously employed by the Company through the applicable vesting date, the Restricted Share Units will vest in accordance with the following schedule:

Vesting Date                Restricted Share Units

[Vesting date]
[Number or % of shares that vest on the vesting date]

[Vesting date]
[Number or % of shares that vest on the vesting date]


1



[Vesting date]
[Number or % of shares that vest on the vesting date]


(b)    In the event the Participant terminates employment on account of Retirement in the year the Award is granted, the Pro-Rated Number of Restricted Share Units will continue to vest through the Vesting Period. The “Pro-Rated Number” shall be the product of (i) the total number of Restricted Share Units granted under this Agreement and (ii) the quotient of (A) the number of days beginning with the first day of the Vesting Period and ending on the date the Participant’s employment is terminated as a result of Retirement and (B) the total number of days in the full Vesting Period. In the event that the Participant terminates employment on account of Retirement before the end of the Vesting Period but after the year the Award is granted, all of the then-unvested Restricted Share Units granted under this Agreement will continue to vest through the Vesting Period. The rights of the Participant in the event of Retirement with respect to any then-unvested Restricted Share Units shall become non-forfeitable only at such time as the Shares issuable in settlement of such Restricted Stock Units would have been issued pursuant to Section 4 hereof had the Participant continued to be employed through the end of the Vesting Period.

(c)    In the event that the Participant dies or terminates employment on account of Disability at any time after grant, all of the then-unvested Restricted Share Units shall fully vest.

(d)    In the event the Participant’s employment with the Company or any successor to the Company is terminated without Cause, or the Participant terminates his or her employment for Good Reason, within twelve months after a Change in Control (and before the Restricted Share Units otherwise have become vested under Section 3(a), (b) or (c)), the Participant shall vest in all of the Restricted Share Units granted under Section 2 of this Agreement and the Participant’s rights to such Restricted Share Units shall become non-forfeitable as of the date on which the Participant’s employment with the Company or its successor is terminated. In the event that this Award is not assumed by the Acquiror in connection with a Change in Control, all of the Restricted Share Units shall vest immediately prior to the Change in Control and shall settle immediately following the Change in Control (notwithstanding the longer period of time for settlement provided in Section 4 below).

(e)    Except as provided in Section 3(b),(c) or (d) above or as otherwise provided in any written agreement by and between the Company and the Participant, if the Participant’s employment with the Company terminates for any reason prior to the expiration of the Vesting Period, all then-unvested Restricted Share Units shall be canceled immediately and shall not be payable to the Participant.

4.    Payment. The Company shall issue to the Participant one Share for each Restricted Share Unit which has become vested with respect to the vesting schedule pursuant to Section 3 of this Agreement. The payment of the Shares shall be made to the Participant (or the Participant’s assignee or beneficiary if permitted by the Plan or the Committee) in accordance with the Company’s grant and award policy no later than March 15th of the calendar year next following the calendar year in which the vesting period ends and may be made as a book-entry confirmation or through the issuance of a certificate evidencing such Shares.

5.    Rights as a Stockholder. The Participant shall have no rights as a stockholder with respect to any Shares which may be issued upon the vesting of the Restricted Share Units (including, without limitation, voting rights and any rights to receive dividends or non-cash distributions with respect to such Shares) unless and until the Shares have been issued to Participant. No adjustment shall be made for dividends or other rights for which the record date is prior to the date such Shares are issued.


2



6.    Withholding. The Company’s obligation to make payment of vested Restricted Share Units shall be subject to the Participant’s satisfaction of any applicable federal, state, local and foreign withholding obligations or withholding taxes, including any employer minimum statutory withholding (“Withholding Taxes), and the Participant shall pay the amount of any such Withholding Taxes to the Company as set forth in this Section 6. The Participant may satisfy his or her obligation to pay the Withholding Taxes by (i) having the Company withhold Shares otherwise deliverable to the Participant pursuant to settlement of vested Restricted Share Units; or (ii) delivering, actually or by attestation, to the Company shares of Common Stock already owned by the Participant; provided that the amount of such Shares withheld or shares of Common Stock delivered (with the value of such Shares being based on the Fair Market Value of a Share of the Company’s Common Stock as of the payment date as determined by the Committee) shall not exceed the amount necessary to satisfy the minimum amount of Withholding Taxes. The Participant acknowledges and agrees that the Company has the right to deduct from compensation or other amounts owing to the Participant an amount not to exceed the Withholding Taxes.

7.    Covenants. As a condition to the receipt of the Award (which shall be forfeited in the event of noncompliance with this Section 7), the Participant hereby agrees to adhere to the covenants set forth in Section 14.8 of the Plan, which include confidentiality, non-competition and non-solicitation covenants.

8.    No Guarantee of Employment.  Nothing in this Agreement or in the Plan shall confer upon the Participant any right to continue in the employ of the Company, or shall interfere with or restrict in any way the rights of the Company, which are hereby expressly reserved, to discharge the Participant at any time for any reason whatsoever, with or without Cause.

9.    Amendment. Subject to the restrictions contained in the Plan, the Committee may waive any conditions or rights under, amend any terms of or alter, suspend, discontinue, cancel or terminate, this Agreement and the Restricted Share Units, prospectively or retroactively in time (and in accordance with Section 409A of the Code with regard to awards subject thereto); provided that any such waiver, amendment, alteration, suspension, discontinuance, cancellation or termination that would materially and adversely affect the rights of the Participant or any holder or beneficiary of the Restricted Share Units shall not to that extent be effective without the consent of the Participant, holder or beneficiary; and provided further that no consent of the Participant or any holder or beneficiary shall be required for any such waiver, amendment, alteration, suspension, discontinuance, cancellation or termination to the extent necessary to conform this Agreement to mandatory provisions of applicable federal or state laws, regulations or rulings, including but not limited to the provisions of Section 409A of the Code necessary to avoid tax penalties to the Participant. The Committee is authorized to make equitable and proportionate adjustments in the terms and conditions of, and the criteria included in, this Agreement and the Restricted Share Units as set forth in the Plan.

10.    Determinations by the Committee. Except as otherwise expressly provided in the Plan, all designations, determinations, interpretations, and other decisions under or with respect to the Plan or this Agreement shall be within the sole discretion of the Committee, may be made at any time and shall be final, conclusive, and binding upon all Persons.

11.    Provisions of the Plan. The Participant hereby acknowledges receipt of a copy of the Plan with this Agreement and agrees to be bound by all the terms and provisions of the Plan. This Agreement is governed by the terms of the Plan, and in the case of any inconsistency between this Agreement and the terms of the Plan, the terms of the Plan shall govern. This Agreement, read together with the Plan, represents the entire understanding and agreement between the Company and the Participant, and shall supersede any prior agreement and understanding between the parties with respect

3



to the matters contained herein. This Agreement, and any payment of Shares in settlement of the Restricted Share Units, shall be subject to any policy of the Company regarding the recoupment or clawback of compensation as in effect at the date of this Agreement or hereafter adopted by the Board.

12.    Nontransferability of Restricted Share Units.  Except as otherwise provided in the Plan, the Restricted Share Units and this Agreement shall not be assigned, alienated, pledged, attached, sold or otherwise transferred or encumbered by the Participant. Any attempt to assign, alienate, pledge, attach, sell or otherwise transfer or encumber the Restricted Share Units otherwise than as permitted by the Plan and this Agreement shall, at the election of the Company, be null and void. Transfer of the Restricted Share Units for value is not permitted under the Plan or this Agreement.

13.    Notices. Any notice required or permitted to be given to the Participant under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed effective upon personal delivery or upon deposit in the United States mail with postage and fees prepaid. Any notice or communication required or permitted to be given to the Company under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed effective only upon receipt by the Secretary of the Company at the Company’s principal office.

14.    Waiver. The waiver by the Company of any provision of this Agreement at any time or for any purpose shall not operate as or be construed to be a waiver of the same or any other provision of this Agreement at any subsequent time or for any other purpose.

15.    Section 409A.

(a)    For the avoidance of doubt, the Restricted Share Units granted under this Agreement are intended to be exempt from or otherwise comply with Section 409A of the Code and the regulations and guidance promulgated thereunder (collectively “Code Section 409A”) and, accordingly, to the maximum extent permitted, this Agreement shall be interpreted to be either exempt from or in compliance therewith. In no event whatsoever shall the Company be liable for any additional tax, interest or penalty that may be imposed on the Participant by Code Section 409A or damages for failing to comply with Code Section 409A.

(b)    Notwithstanding any other payment schedule provided herein to the contrary, if the Participant is deemed on the date of termination to be a “specified employee” within the meaning of that term under Section 409A(a)(2)(B) of the Code, then any payment due under this Agreement that is considered “deferred compensation” under Section 409A of the Code payable on account of a Participant’s “separation from service” shall not be made until the date which is the earlier of (A) the expiration of the six (6) month period measured from the date of such “separation from service” of the Participant, and (B) the date of Participant’s death (the “Delay Period”) to the extent required under Code Section 409A. Upon the expiration of the Delay Period, all payments delayed pursuant to this Section 15(b) shall be paid to the Participant in a lump sum in accordance with the Agreement.

(c)    A termination of employment shall not be deemed to have occurred for purposes of any provision of this Agreement providing for the payment of “deferred compensation” (as such term is defined in Code Section 409A) upon or following a termination of employment unless such termination is also a “separation from service” from the Company within the meaning of Code Section 409A (and, more specifically, Treasury Regulation 1.409A-1(h)) and, for purposes of any such provision of this Agreement, references to a “termination,” “termination of employment” or like terms shall mean “separation from service.”


4



(d)    For the avoidance of doubt, any payment due under this Agreement within a period following Participant’s termination of employment, death, Disability, Retirement or other event, shall be made on a date during such period as determined by the Company in its sole discretion.

16.    Governing Law. The validity, construction and effect of this Agreement shall be determined in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware without giving effect to conflicts of laws principles.

17.    Successors. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon any successor to the Company and shall inure to the benefit of the Participant's legal representative. All obligations imposed upon the Participant and all rights granted to the Company under this Agreement shall be binding upon the Participant's heirs, executors, administrator and successors.

18.    Electronic Communication. The Company may, in its sole discretion, decide to deliver any document related to current or future participation in the Plan by electronic means. The Participant hereby consents to receive such documents by electronic delivery and agrees to participate in the Plan through an online or electronic system established and maintained by the Company or a third party designated by the Company.

[signature page follows]

5



IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Agreement to be duly executed by an officer of the Company, and the Participant has accepted and signed this Agreement, all on the day and year first mentioned above.

UNITED NATURAL FOODS, INC.
 
 
 
 
By:
 
 
 
 
 
PARTICIPANT
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


6


Exhibit 10.3
UNITED NATURAL FOODS, INC.

2020 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
RESTRICTED SHARE UNIT AWARD AGREEMENT

[time vesting for employees-type 2]


This Restricted Share Unit Award Agreement (this “Agreement”) effective as of [ ] __, 20__ (the “Grant Date”), between United Natural Foods, Inc. (the “Company”) and __________________ (the “Participant”), evidences an Award denominated in Restricted Share Units to the Participant under the United Natural Foods, Inc. 2020 Equity Incentive Plan (as amended from time to time, the “Plan”). Except in the preceding sentence and where the context otherwise requires, the term “Company” shall include the Company and all present and future Subsidiaries. All capitalized terms that are used in this Agreement without definition shall have the meanings set forth in the Plan.

1.
Definitions.

(a)    “Participant,” solely for the purpose of this Agreement, means the employee designated above.

(b)    “Restricted Share Unit” means a right to receive a payment in the form of any one Share of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.01 per share, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement and in the Plan.

(c)    “Vesting Period” means the period beginning on [ ] and ending on [ ].

2.    Grant of Restricted Share Units.  In consideration of services to be rendered by the Participant to the Company, the Company hereby grants to the Participant [______] Restricted Share Units, on the terms and conditions and subject to the restrictions set forth in this Agreement and the Plan. The grant of Restricted Share Units shall be subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4.3 of the Plan. This grant is conditional upon the Participant signing a counterpart of this Agreement and delivering such signed counterpart to the Company within sixty (60) days of this Agreement, including by electronic means if provided by the Company pursuant to Section 18. Capitalized terms that are used but not defined herein have the meaning ascribed to them in the Plan.

3.    Vesting.

(a)    Except as otherwise provided herein or in the Plan, if the Participant remains continuously employed by the Company through the applicable vesting date, the Restricted Share Units will vest in accordance with the following schedule:

Vesting Date                Restricted Share Units

[Vesting date]
[Number or % of shares that vest on the vesting date]

[Vesting date]
[Number or % of shares that vest on the vesting date]


1



[Vesting date]
[Number or % of shares that vest on the vesting date]


(b)    In the event that the Participant dies or terminates employment on account of Disability at any time after grant, all of the then-unvested Restricted Share Units shall fully vest.

(c)    In the event the Participant’s employment with the Company or any successor to the Company is terminated without Cause, or the Participant terminates his or her employment for Good Reason, within twelve months after a Change in Control (and before the Restricted Share Units otherwise have become vested under Section 3(a) or (b)), the Participant shall vest in all of the Restricted Share Units granted under Section 2 of this Agreement and the Participant’s rights to such Restricted Share Units shall become non-forfeitable as of the date on which the Participant’s employment with the Company or its successor is terminated. In the event that this Award is not assumed by the Acquiror in connection with a Change in Control, all of the Restricted Share Units shall vest immediately prior to the Change in Control and shall settle immediately following the Change in Control (notwithstanding the longer period of time for settlement provided in Section 4 below).

(d)    Except as provided in Section 3(b) or (c) above or as otherwise provided in any written agreement by and between the Company and the Participant, if the Participant’s employment with the Company terminates for any reason prior to the expiration of the Vesting Period, all then-unvested Restricted Share Units shall be canceled immediately and shall not be payable to the Participant.

4.    Payment. The Company shall issue to the Participant one Share for each Restricted Share Unit which has become vested with respect to the vesting schedule pursuant to Section 3 of this Agreement. The payment of the Shares shall be made to the Participant (or the Participant’s assignee or beneficiary if permitted by the Plan or the Committee) in accordance with the Company’s grant and award policy no later than March 15th of the calendar year next following the calendar year in which the vesting period ends and may be made as a book-entry confirmation or through the issuance of a certificate evidencing such Shares.

5.    Rights as a Stockholder. The Participant shall have no rights as a stockholder with respect to any Shares which may be issued upon the vesting of the Restricted Share Units (including, without limitation, voting rights and any rights to receive dividends or non-cash distributions with respect to such Shares) unless and until the Shares have been issued to Participant. No adjustment shall be made for dividends or other rights for which the record date is prior to the date such Shares are issued.

6.    Withholding. The Company’s obligation to make payment of vested Restricted Share Units shall be subject to the Participant’s satisfaction of any applicable federal, state, local and foreign withholding obligations or withholding taxes, including any employer minimum statutory withholding (“Withholding Taxes), and the Participant shall pay the amount of any such Withholding Taxes to the Company as set forth in this Section 6. The Participant may satisfy his or her obligation to pay the Withholding Taxes by (i) having the Company withhold Shares otherwise deliverable to the Participant pursuant to settlement of vested Restricted Share Units; or (ii) delivering, actually or by attestation, to the Company shares of Common Stock already owned by the Participant; provided that the amount of such Shares withheld or shares of Common Stock delivered (with the value of such Shares being based on the Fair Market Value of a Share of the Company’s Common Stock as of the payment date as determined by the Committee) shall not exceed the amount necessary to satisfy the minimum amount of Withholding Taxes. The Participant acknowledges and agrees that the Company has the right to deduct from compensation or other amounts owing to the Participant an amount not to exceed the Withholding Taxes.


2



7.    Covenants. As a condition to the receipt of the Award (which shall be forfeited in the event of noncompliance with this Section 7), the Participant hereby agrees to adhere to the covenants set forth in Section 14.8 of the Plan, which include confidentiality, non-competition and non-solicitation covenants.

8.    No Guarantee of Employment.  Nothing in this Agreement or in the Plan shall confer upon the Participant any right to continue in the employ of the Company, or shall interfere with or restrict in any way the rights of the Company, which are hereby expressly reserved, to discharge the Participant at any time for any reason whatsoever, with or without Cause.

9.    Amendment. Subject to the restrictions contained in the Plan, the Committee may waive any conditions or rights under, amend any terms of or alter, suspend, discontinue, cancel or terminate, this Agreement and the Restricted Share Units, prospectively or retroactively in time (and in accordance with Section 409A of the Code with regard to awards subject thereto); provided that any such waiver, amendment, alteration, suspension, discontinuance, cancellation or termination that would materially and adversely affect the rights of the Participant or any holder or beneficiary of the Restricted Share Units shall not to that extent be effective without the consent of the Participant, holder or beneficiary; and provided further that no consent of the Participant or any holder or beneficiary shall be required for any such waiver, amendment, alteration, suspension, discontinuance, cancellation or termination to the extent necessary to conform this Agreement to mandatory provisions of applicable federal or state laws, regulations or rulings, including but not limited to the provisions of Section 409A of the Code necessary to avoid tax penalties to the Participant. The Committee is authorized to make equitable and proportionate adjustments in the terms and conditions of, and the criteria included in, this Agreement and the Restricted Share Units as set forth in the Plan.

10.    Determinations by the Committee. Except as otherwise expressly provided in the Plan, all designations, determinations, interpretations, and other decisions under or with respect to the Plan or this Agreement shall be within the sole discretion of the Committee, may be made at any time and shall be final, conclusive, and binding upon all Persons.

11.    Provisions of the Plan. The Participant hereby acknowledges receipt of a copy of the Plan with this Agreement and agrees to be bound by all the terms and provisions of the Plan. This Agreement is governed by the terms of the Plan, and in the case of any inconsistency between this Agreement and the terms of the Plan, the terms of the Plan shall govern. This Agreement, read together with the Plan, represents the entire understanding and agreement between the Company and the Participant, and shall supersede any prior agreement and understanding between the parties with respect to the matters contained herein. This Agreement, and any payment of Shares in settlement of the Restricted Share Units, shall be subject to any policy of the Company regarding the recoupment or clawback of compensation as in effect at the date of this Agreement or hereafter adopted by the Board.

12.    Nontransferability of Restricted Share Units.  Except as otherwise provided in the Plan, the Restricted Share Units and this Agreement shall not be assigned, alienated, pledged, attached, sold or otherwise transferred or encumbered by the Participant. Any attempt to assign, alienate, pledge, attach, sell or otherwise transfer or encumber the Restricted Share Units otherwise than as permitted by the Plan and this Agreement shall, at the election of the Company, be null and void. Transfer of the Restricted Share Units for value is not permitted under the Plan or this Agreement.

13.    Notices. Any notice required or permitted to be given to the Participant under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed effective upon personal delivery or upon deposit in the United States mail with postage and fees prepaid. Any notice or communication required or permitted to be

3



given to the Company under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed effective only upon receipt by the Secretary of the Company at the Company’s principal office.

14.    Waiver. The waiver by the Company of any provision of this Agreement at any time or for any purpose shall not operate as or be construed to be a waiver of the same or any other provision of this Agreement at any subsequent time or for any other purpose.

15.    Section 409A.

(a)    For the avoidance of doubt, the Restricted Share Units granted under this Agreement are intended to be exempt from or otherwise comply with Section 409A of the Code and the regulations and guidance promulgated thereunder (collectively “Code Section 409A”) and, accordingly, to the maximum extent permitted, this Agreement shall be interpreted to be either exempt from or in compliance therewith. In no event whatsoever shall the Company be liable for any additional tax, interest or penalty that may be imposed on the Participant by Code Section 409A or damages for failing to comply with Code Section 409A.

(b)    Notwithstanding any other payment schedule provided herein to the contrary, if the Participant is deemed on the date of termination to be a “specified employee” within the meaning of that term under Section 409A(a)(2)(B) of the Code, then any payment due under this Agreement that is considered “deferred compensation” under Section 409A of the Code payable on account of a Participant’s “separation from service” shall not be made until the date which is the earlier of (A) the expiration of the six (6) month period measured from the date of such “separation from service” of the Participant, and (B) the date of Participant’s death (the “Delay Period”) to the extent required under Code Section 409A. Upon the expiration of the Delay Period, all payments delayed pursuant to this Section 15(b) shall be paid to the Participant in a lump sum in accordance with the Agreement.

(c)    A termination of employment shall not be deemed to have occurred for purposes of any provision of this Agreement providing for the payment of “deferred compensation” (as such term is defined in Code Section 409A) upon or following a termination of employment unless such termination is also a “separation from service” from the Company within the meaning of Code Section 409A (and, more specifically, Treasury Regulation 1.409A-1(h)) and, for purposes of any such provision of this Agreement, references to a “termination,” “termination of employment” or like terms shall mean “separation from service.”

(d)    For the avoidance of doubt, any payment due under this Agreement within a period following Participant’s termination of employment, death, Disability, Retirement or other event, shall be made on a date during such period as determined by the Company in its sole discretion.

16.    Governing Law. The validity, construction and effect of this Agreement shall be determined in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware without giving effect to conflicts of laws principles.

17.    Successors. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon any successor to the Company and shall inure to the benefit of the Participant's legal representative. All obligations imposed upon the Participant and all rights granted to the Company under this Agreement shall be binding upon the Participant's heirs, executors, administrator and successors.

18.    Electronic Communication. The Company may, in its sole discretion, decide to deliver any document related to current or future participation in the Plan by electronic means. The Participant

4



hereby consents to receive such documents by electronic delivery and agrees to participate in the Plan through an online or electronic system established and maintained by the Company or a third party designated by the Company.

[signature page follows]

5



IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Agreement to be duly executed by an officer of the Company, and the Participant has accepted and signed this Agreement, all on the day and year first mentioned above.

UNITED NATURAL FOODS, INC.
 
 
 
 
By:
 
 
 
 
 
PARTICIPANT
 
 
 
 
 
 
 




6


Exhibit 10.4
UNITED NATURAL FOODS, INC.

2020 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
PERFORMANCE-BASED VESTING
RESTRICTED SHARE UNIT AWARD AGREEMENT

[cliff-vesting for employees]


This Performance-Based Vesting Restricted Share Unit Award Agreement (this “Agreement”) effective as of [ ] __, 20__, between United Natural Foods, Inc. (the “Company”) and __________________ (the “Participant”), evidences a Performance Award denominated in Restricted Share Units to the Participant under the United Natural Foods, Inc. 2020 Equity Incentive Plan (as amended from time to time, the “Plan”). Except in the preceding sentence and where the context otherwise requires, the term “Company” shall include the Company and all present and future Subsidiaries. All capitalized terms that are used in this Agreement without definition shall have the meanings set forth in the Plan.

1.
Definitions.

(a)    “Participant,” solely for the purpose of this Agreement, means the employee designated above.

(b)    “Performance Criteria” means the performance targets related to one or more performance goals set forth on Exhibit A hereto.

(c)    “Performance Period” means the period beginning on [ ] and ending on [ ].

(d)    “Restricted Share Unit” means a right to receive a payment in the form of any one Share of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.01 per share, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement and in the Plan, following the successful attainment of the Performance Criteria to the satisfaction of the Committee.

2.    Grant of Restricted Share Units.  In consideration of services to be rendered by the Participant to the Company, the Company hereby grants to the Participant, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement and in the Plan, [______] Restricted Share Units (the “Target Amount”). The Target Amount shall be subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4.3 of the Plan. This grant is conditional upon the Participant signing a counterpart of this Agreement and delivering such signed counterpart to the Company within sixty (60) days of this Agreement.

3.    Vesting.

(a)    Exhibit A hereto identifies the Performance Criteria and the levels of performance that must be achieved in order to receive payment of Shares at the percentage of the Target Amount specified in Exhibit A, based on achievement of the Performance Criteria, as determined in accordance with this Agreement and the Plan. The percentage of the Target Amount based on actual achievement of the Performance Criteria as of the last day of the Performance Period is referred to herein as the “Earned Amount.” Except as otherwise provided herein or in the Plan, if the Participant remains continuously

1



employed by the Company throughout the Performance Period, the Participant will vest in the Earned Amount, and any amount in excess of the Earned Amount will be forfeited. Prior to the issuance of any Shares in settlement of any Restricted Share Units, the Committee shall determine and certify in writing (which may be set forth in the minutes of a meeting of the Committee) the extent to which the Performance Criteria and all other material terms of this Agreement have been met. In making such determination, the Committee shall have the right to adjust the number of Shares payable at a given level of performance to take into account additional factors that the Committee may deem relevant in its sole discretion to the assessment of individual or corporate performance.

(b)    In the event the Participant terminates employment on account of Retirement in the year the Award is granted, the Pro-Rated Number of Restricted Share Units will vest at the end of the Performance Period. The “Pro-Rated Number” shall be the product of (i) the Earned Amount that the Participant would have earned had he or she not terminated employment on account of Retirement and (ii) the quotient of (A) the number of days beginning with the first day of the Performance Period and ending on the date the Participant’s employment is terminated as a result of Retirement and (B) the total number of days in the full Performance Period (and, for the avoidance of doubt, no additional Restricted Share Units in which the Participant may have been entitled to vest in accordance with the Performance Criteria shall vest). In the event that the Participant terminates employment on account of Retirement before the end of the Performance Period but after the year the Award is granted, or in the event that the Participant dies or terminates employment on account of Disability at any time after grant then, at the conclusion of the Performance Period, the Participant (or the Participant’s estate or beneficiaries in the event of Participant’s death) will vest in the Earned Amount that the Participant would have earned had had his or her employment continued through the end of the Performance Period. The rights of the Participant (or the Participant’s estate or beneficiaries in the event of Participant’s death) in any event described in this Section 3(b) shall become non-forfeitable only at such time as the Shares issuable in settlement of such Restricted Stock Units would have been issued pursuant to Section 4 hereof had the Participant continued to be employed through the end of the Performance Period. .

(c)    In the event this Award is assumed in connection with a Change in Control, the Committee shall make such adjustments to the Performance Criteria as are necessary to equitably account for the Change in Control. In the event the Participant’s employment with the Company or any successor to the Company is terminated without Cause, or the Participant terminates his or her employment for Good Reason, within twelve months after a Change in Control (and before the Restricted Share Units otherwise have become vested under Section 3(a) or (b)), the Participant shall vest in the Restricted Share Units at the Target Amount granted under Section 2 of this Agreement and the Participant’s rights to such vested amount of Restricted Share Units shall become non-forfeitable as of the date on which the Participant’s employment with the Company or its successor is terminated. In the event that this Award is not assumed by the Acquiror in connection with a Change in Control, the Participant shall vest in the Restricted Share Units at the Target Amount immediately prior to the Change in Control and shall settle immediately following the Change in Control (notwithstanding the longer period of time for settlement provided in Section 4 below).

(d)    Except as provided in Section 3(b) or (c) above or as otherwise provided in any written agreement by and between the Company and the Participant, if the Participant’s employment with the Company terminates for any reason prior to the expiration of the Performance Period, all then-unvested Restricted Share Units shall be canceled immediately and shall not be payable to the Participant.

(e)    In case of any conflict between the terms of this Section 3 and any written employment agreement between the Company and the Participant, the terms of such written employment agreement shall control.


2



4.    Payment. The Company shall issue to the Participant one Share for each Restricted Share Unit which has become vested with respect to the Performance Period pursuant to Section 3 of this Agreement. The payment of the Shares shall be made to the Participant (or the Participant’s assignee or beneficiary if permitted by the Plan or the Committee) in accordance with the Company’s grant and award policy no later than March 15th of the calendar year next following the calendar year in which the Performance Period ends and may be made as a book-entry confirmation or through the issuance of a certificate evidencing such Shares.

5.    Rights as a Stockholder. The Participant shall have no rights as a stockholder with respect to any Shares which may be issued upon the vesting of the Restricted Share Units (including, without limitation, voting rights and any rights to receive dividends or non-cash distributions with respect to such Shares) unless and until the Shares have been issued to Participant. No adjustment shall be made for dividends or other rights for which the record date is prior to the date such Shares are issued.

6.    Withholding. The Company’s obligation to make payment of vested Restricted Share Units shall be subject to the Participant’s satisfaction of any applicable federal, state, local and foreign withholding obligations or withholding taxes, including any employer minimum statutory withholding (“Withholding Taxes), and the Participant shall pay the amount of any such Withholding Taxes to the Company as set forth in this Section 6. The Participant may satisfy his or her obligation to pay the Withholding Taxes by (i) having the Company withhold Shares otherwise deliverable to the Participant pursuant to settlement of vested Restricted Share Units; or (ii) delivering, actually or by attestation, to the Company shares of Common Stock already owned by the Participant; provided that the amount of such Shares withheld or shares of Common Stock delivered (with the value of such Shares being based on the Fair Market Value of a Share of the Company’s Common Stock as of the payment date as determined by the Committee) shall not exceed the amount necessary to satisfy the minimum amount of Withholding Taxes. The Participant acknowledges and agrees that the Company has the right to deduct from compensation or other amounts owing to the Participant an amount not to exceed the Withholding Taxes.

7.    Covenants. As a condition to the receipt of the Award (which shall be forfeited in the event of noncompliance with this Section 7 ), the Participant hereby agrees to adhere to the covenants set forth in Section 14.8 of the Plan, which include confidentiality, non-competition and non-solicitation covenants.

8.    No Guarantee of Employment. Nothing in this Agreement or in the Plan shall confer upon the Participant any right to continue in the employ of the Company, or shall interfere with or restrict in any way the rights of the Company, which are hereby expressly reserved, to discharge the Participant at any time for any reason whatsoever, with or without Cause.

9.    Amendment. Subject to the restrictions contained in the Plan, the Committee may waive any conditions or rights under, amend any terms of or alter, suspend, discontinue, cancel or terminate, this Agreement and the Restricted Share Units, prospectively or retroactively in time (and in accordance with Section 409A of the Code with regard to awards subject thereto); provided that any such waiver, amendment, alteration, suspension, discontinuance, cancellation or termination that would materially and adversely affect the rights of the Participant or any holder or beneficiary of the Restricted Share Units shall not to that extent be effective without the consent of the Participant, holder or beneficiary; and provided further that no consent of the Participant or any holder or beneficiary shall be required for any such waiver, amendment, alteration, suspension, discontinuance, cancellation or termination to the extent necessary to conform this Agreement to mandatory provisions of applicable federal or state laws, regulations or rulings, including but not limited to the provisions of Section 409A of the Code necessary

3



to avoid tax penalties to the Participant. The Committee is authorized to make equitable and proportionate adjustments in the terms and conditions of, and the criteria included in, this Agreement and the Restricted Share Units as set forth in the Plan.

10.    Determinations by the Committee. Except as otherwise expressly provided in the Plan, all designations, determinations, interpretations, and other decisions under or with respect to the Plan or this Agreement shall be within the sole discretion of the Committee, may be made at any time and shall be final, conclusive, and binding upon all Persons.

11.    Provisions of the Plan. The Participant hereby acknowledges receipt of a copy of the Plan with this Agreement and agrees to be bound by all the terms and provisions of the Plan. This Agreement is governed by the terms of the Plan, and in the case of any inconsistency between this Agreement and the terms of the Plan, the terms of the Plan shall govern. This Agreement, read together with the Plan, represents the entire understanding and agreement between the Company and the Participant, and shall supersede any prior agreement and understanding between the parties with respect to the matters contained herein. This Agreement, and any payment of Shares in settlement of the Restricted Share Units, shall be subject to any policy of the Company regarding the recoupment or clawback of compensation as in effect at the date of this Agreement or hereafter adopted by the Board.

12.    Nontransferability of Restricted Share Units.  Except as otherwise provided in the Plan, the Restricted Share Units and this Agreement shall not be assigned, alienated, pledged, attached, sold or otherwise transferred or encumbered by the Participant. Any attempt to assign, alienate, pledge, attach, sell or otherwise transfer or encumber the Restricted Share Units otherwise than as permitted by the Plan and this Agreement shall, at the election of the Company, be null and void. Transfer of the Restricted Share Units for value is not permitted under the Plan or this Agreement.

13.    Notices. Any notice required or permitted to be given to the Participant under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed effective upon personal delivery or upon deposit in the United States mail with postage and fees prepaid. Any notice or communication required or permitted to be given to the Company under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed effective only upon receipt by the Secretary of the Company at the Company’s principal office.

14.    Waiver. The waiver by the Company of any provision of this Agreement at any time or for any purpose shall not operate as or be construed to be a waiver of the same or any other provision of this Agreement at any subsequent time or for any other purpose.

15.    Section 409A.

(a)    For the avoidance of doubt, the Restricted Share Units granted under this Agreement are intended to be exempt from or otherwise comply with Section 409A of the Code and the regulations and guidance promulgated thereunder (collectively “Code Section 409A”) and, accordingly, to the maximum extent permitted, this Agreement shall be interpreted to be either exempt from or in compliance therewith. In no event whatsoever shall the Company be liable for any additional tax, interest or penalty that may be imposed on the Participant by Code Section 409A or damages for failing to comply with Code Section 409A.

(b)    Notwithstanding any other payment schedule provided herein to the contrary, if the Participant is deemed on the date of termination to be a “specified employee” within the meaning of that term under Section 409A(a)(2)(B) of the Code, then any payment due under this Agreement that is considered “deferred compensation” under Section 409A of the Code payable on account of a

4



Participant’s “separation from service” shall not be made until the date which is the earlier of (A) the expiration of the six (6) month period measured from the date of such “separation from service” of the Participant, and (B) the date of Participant’s death (the “Delay Period”) to the extent required under Code Section 409A. Upon the expiration of the Delay Period, all payments delayed pursuant to this Section 15(b) shall be paid to the Participant in a lump sum in accordance with the Agreement.

(c)    A termination of employment shall not be deemed to have occurred for purposes of any provision of this Agreement providing for the payment of “deferred compensation” (as such term is defined in Code Section 409A) upon or following a termination of employment unless such termination is also a “separation from service” from the Company within the meaning of Code Section 409A (and, more specifically, Treasury Regulation 1.409A-1(h)) and, for purposes of any such provision of this Agreement, references to a “termination,” “termination of employment” or like terms shall mean “separation from service.”

(d)    For the avoidance of doubt, any payment due under this Agreement within a period following the Participant’s termination of employment, death, Disability, Retirement or other event, shall be made on a date during such period as determined by the Company in its sole discretion.

16.    Governing Law. The validity, construction and effect of this Agreement shall be determined in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware without giving effect to conflicts of laws principles.

17.    Successors. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon any successor to the Company and shall inure to the benefit of the Participant's legal representative. All obligations imposed upon the Participant and all rights granted to the Company under this Agreement shall be binding upon the Participant's heirs, executors, administrator and successors.

18.    Electronic Communication. The Company may, in its sole discretion, decide to deliver any document related to current or future participation in the Plan by electronic means. The Participant hereby consents to receive such documents by electronic delivery and agrees to participate in the Plan through an online or electronic system established and maintained by the Company or a third-party designated by the Company.

[signature page follows]

5



IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Agreement to be duly executed by an officer of the Company, and the Participant has accepted and signed this Agreement, all on the day and year first mentioned above.

UNITED NATURAL FOODS, INC.
 
 
 
 
By:
 
 
 
 
 
PARTICIPANT
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


6



EXHIBIT A
Performance criteria and levels required to be achieved for payout;
payout percentage of Target Amount


[TO BE DETERMINED ON OR PRIOR TO GRANT]


7