As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 14, 2008

Registration No. 333-             

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 20549

 

 

FORM S-8

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

 

B&G FOODS, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)

Four Gatehall Drive, Suite 110 Parsippany, NJ 07054 (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

13-3918742 (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

 

B&G Foods, Inc. 2008 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan

(Full Title of the Plan)

 

 

Scott E. Lerner

Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

Four Gatehall Drive, Suite 110

Parsippany, NJ 07054

(Name and address of agent for service)

 

973.401.6500

(Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

 

 

With a copy to:

Adam M. Fox, Esq.
Dechert LLP
1095 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10036
212.698.3500

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company.  See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.  (Check one):

 

Large accelerated filer  o		Accelerated filer  x		Non-accelerated filer  o		Smaller reporting company  o
				(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

 

 

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

Title of Securities to be Registered		Amount to be Registered		Proposed Maximum Offering Price Per Share(1)			Proposed Maximum Aggregate Offering Price(1)			Amount of Registration Fee
Class A Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share		2,000,000 shares		$	9.14		$	18,280,000		$	718.41

(1)     The registration fee for the shares of Common Stock to be issued under the B&G Foods, Inc. 2008 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan (the “Plan”) was calculated in accordance with Rule 457(c) and (h) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), based on a price of $9.14 per share, the average of the high and low prices of the Class A Common Stock, par value $.01 per share (“Common Stock”) of the Registrant as reported on the New York Stock Exchange on May 12, 2008.  In addition, pursuant to Rule 416 under the Securities Act, this registration statement also covers an indeterminate amount of (a) interests to be offered or sold pursuant to the employee benefit plan described herein and (b) shares of Common Stock which become issuable under the Plan by reason of any stock dividend, stock split, recapitalization or similar transaction that results in an increase in the number of outstanding shares of the Registrant.

 

 

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PART I

 

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS

 

Information required in Part I of Form S-8 to be contained in a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, is not required to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and is omitted from this registration statement in accordance with the explanatory note to Part I of Form S-8 and Rule 428 under the Securities Act.

 

PART II

 

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

 

Item 3.  Incorporation of Documents by Reference.

 

The following documents, which we have filed with the SEC, are incorporated by reference into this registration statement:

 

(a)                                   our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 29, 2007 filed on March 6, 2008;

 

(b)                                  our quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 29, 2008 filed on April 30, 2008;

 

(c)                                   our definitive proxy statement on Schedule 14A filed on April 4, 2008;

 

(d)                                  all other documents and reports filed by us with the SEC pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, since December 29, 2007; and

 

(e)                                   the description of our Class A Common Stock contained in our registration statement on Form 8-A (Registration No. 001-32316) filed on May 16, 2007, including any amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such description.

 

We are also incorporating by reference all other documents and reports that we will file with the SEC pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment to this registration statement that indicates that all securities offered have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold.  The information that we file with the SEC after the date of initial filing of this registration statement and prior to the completion of the offering of the securities under this registration statement will update and supercede the information contained in this Registration Statement and incorporated filings.

 

Item 4.  Description of Securities.

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 5.  Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 6.  Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

 

Under Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, B&G Foods may indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of B&G Foods) by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director, officer, employee, or agent of B&G Foods, or is or was serving at the request of B&G Foods as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if such person acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of B&G Foods, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe such person’s conduct was unlawful.

 

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In addition, under Section 145 B&G Foods may indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of B&G Foods to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of B&G Foods, or is or was serving at the request of B&G Foods as a director, officer, employee or agent of B&G Foods, or is or was serving at the request of B&G Foods as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if such person acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of B&G Foods and except that no indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to B&G Foods unless and only to the extent that the Delaware Court of Chancery or the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the Delaware Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper.

 

Section 145 also provides that to the extent that a present or former director or officer of a corporation has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to above, or defense of any claim issue or matter therein, such person shall be indemnified against expenses (including attorney’s fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection therewith.

 

Furthermore, Section 145 provides that nothing in the above-described provisions shall be deemed exclusive of any other rights to indemnification or advancement of expenses to which any person may be entitled under any bylaw, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.

 

Under Section 102(b)(7) of the Delaware General Corporation Law, B&G Foods may in its certificate of incorporation eliminate or limit the personal liability of a director to the corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director except for liability: (i) for any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to the corporation or its stockholders; (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law; (iii) under Section 174 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (pertaining to certain prohibited acts including unlawful payment of dividends or unlawful purchase or redemption of the corporation’s capital stock); or (iv) for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit.

 

Our certificate of incorporation provides that our directors shall be entitled to the benefits of all limitations on the liability of directors generally permissible under Delaware law and that we shall indemnify all persons whom we are permitted to indemnify to the full extent permitted under Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law.

 

In addition, our bylaws provide for the indemnification of our directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted under Delaware law as in effect from time to time and by our certificate of incorporation.

 

As permitted by our certificate of incorporation and bylaws, we have purchased and we maintain directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies to insure our officers and directors against certain liabilities.

 

Item 7.  Exemption from Registration Claimed.

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 8.  Exhibits.

 

Exhibit No.		Description
4.1		Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of B&G Foods, Inc. (Filed as Exhibit 3.1 to B&G Foods’ Current Report on Form 8-K filed on October 20, 2004, and incorporated by reference herein)
4.2		Amended and Restated Bylaws of B&G Foods, Inc. (Filed as Exhibit 3.1 to B&G Foods’ Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 25, 2007, and incorporated by reference herein)
5.1		Opinion of Dechert LLP .

 

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10.1		B&G Foods, Inc. 2008 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan (Filed as Annex A to B&G Foods’ Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed on April 4, 2008, and incorporated by reference herein)
23.1		Consent of Dechert LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1).
23.2		Consent of KPMG LLP .
24.1		Power of Attorney (included on signature page).

 

Item 9.    Undertakings

 

(a)                                   The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

 

(1)                                   To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

 

(i)                                      To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;

 

(ii)                                   To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and

 

(iii)                                To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;

 

provided, however , that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) above do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the SEC by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in this registration statement.

 

(2)                                   That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

(3)                                   To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

 

(b)           The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration

 

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statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

(c)           Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable.  In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than a payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

 

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SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in Parsippany, New Jersey, on the 14 ^th day of May, 2008.

 

	B&G FOODS, INC.
	By:	/s/ David L. Wenner
		David L. Wenner
		President and Chief Executive Officer

 

SIGNATURES AND POWER OF ATTORNEY

 

KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints David L. Wenner, Robert C. Cantwell and Scott E. Lerner, and each of them, as his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in connection therewith, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, or their or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

B&G FOODS, INC.

 

Signature		Title		Date
/s/ David L. Wenner		President, Chief Executive Officer		May 14, 2008
David L. Wenner		and Director (Principal Executive Officer)
/s/ Robert C. Cantwell		Executive Vice President of Finance,		May 14, 2008
Robert C. Cantwell		Chief Financial Officer and Director
		(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
/s/ Stephen C. Sherrill		Chairman of the Board of Directors		May 14, 2008
Stephen C. Sherrill
/s/ James R. Chambers		Director		May 14, 2008
James R. Chambers
/s/ Cynthia T. Jamison		Director		May 14, 2008
Cynthia T. Jamison
/s/ Dennis M. Mullen		Director		May 14, 2008
Dennis M. Mullen
/s/ Alfred Poe		Director		May 14, 2008
Alfred Poe

 

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