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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 30, 2021

 

BJ’S RESTAURANTS, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

California 0-21423 33-0485615
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)
(Commission
File Number)
(IRS Employer
Identification No.)

 

7755 Center Avenue

Suite 300

Huntington Beach, California

92647
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (714) 500-2400

 

(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:

 

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

 

 

Name of each exchange on which registered

Common Stock, No Par Value   BJRI   NASDAQ Global Select Market

 

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

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. 

 

 

 

Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

 
(a)

Gregory A. Trojan Consulting Agreement

As previously announced, effective September 1, 2021, Gregory A. Trojan retired as Chief Executive Officer of BJ's Restaurants, Inc. (the “Company”). Pursuant to the terms of his employment agreement, he remained an employee through December 31, 2021. Effective January 1, 2022, the Company entered into a Consulting Agreement with Mr. Trojan pursuant to which, in addition to any non-employee director fees to which he is entitled as a non-employee director, he will receive a consulting fee of $1,000 per month for consulting services as may be mutually agreed. In the event that such services are expected to exceed more than four hours per month, an appropriate daily fee will be negotiated. The Company also agreed to provide Mr. Trojan and his spouse with continued group health insurance coverage (or continuation coverage under COBRA) until the termination of the Consulting Agreement or, other than in the case of his voluntary resignation from the Board or his termination of the Consulting Agreement, until Mr. Trojan's sixty-fifth birthday (May 2024).

The Consulting Agreement shall remain in effect until the earlier of (i) voluntary resignation by Mr. Trojan as a member of the Board of Director’s, (ii) thirty (30) days following delivery of notice of termination by Mr. Trojan or by the Company, (iii) immediately upon Mr. Trojan’s death or disability, or (iv) January 31, 2024; provided, however, that unless otherwise consented by Mr. Trojan in writing, the Company will not terminate pursuant to clause (ii) above prior to January 31, 2024.

Finally, with respect to any outstanding options granted to Mr. Trojan prior to September 1, 2021, the Company (i) extended the exercise period of such options to the end of the term of such options (i.e. 10 years following the grant date), and (ii) agreed to accelerate vesting of such options in full in the event of Mr. Trojan's death or disability.

Change in Director Compensation

In the fourth quarter of 2021, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors conducted its periodic review of non-employee director compensation. Effective January 1, 2022, the Board of Directors, upon the recommendation of the Compensation Committee and its compensation consultant, approved the following amended compensation for non-employee directors:

  · an annual cash retainer of $65,000, payable in quarterly installments;

 

  · an additional annual cash retainer of $10,000 for members of the Audit Committee, $8,500 for members of the Compensation Committee, and $6,500 for members of the Governance and Nominating Committee, payable in quarterly installments;

 

  · an additional annual cash retainer of $20,000, $14,000 and $12,000, respectively, for the chairs of the Audit Committee, Compensation Committee, and Governance and Nominating Committee, payable in quarterly installments;

 

  · an additional annual cash retainer of $25,000 to our Lead Independent Director, payable in quarterly installments;

 

  · an additional annual cash retainer of $75,000 to any non-employee Chairman of the Board, payable in quarterly installments;

 

  · an annual restricted stock unit award of $110,000, in fair market value on the date of grant, which vest ratably over a three-year period from the date of grant.

 

Gerald W. Deitchle Consulting Agreement

 

Effective January 1, 2022, the Company’s consulting agreement with Gerald W. Deitchle was terminated.

 
 

 

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

 

(e) See disclosure in Item 1.01 above with respect to the Company's Consulting Agreement with Gregory A. Trojan.

 

Item 9.01 Exhibits.

 

Exhibit No. Description
   
10.1 Consulting Agreement, dated January 1, 2022, between the Company and Gregory A. Trojan
   
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.

 

January 4, 2022

BJ’S RESTAURANTS INC.

(Registrant)

   
  By: /s/ GREGORY S. LEVIN
       Gregory S. Levin,
       Chief Executive Officer and President
     
  By: /s/ THOMAS A. HOUDEK
       Thomas A. Houdek,
       Senior Vice President and
   

   Chief Financial Officer

 

 

Exhibit 10.1

CONSULTING AGREEMENT

THIS CONSULTING AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of this 1st day of January, 2022 (the "Effective Date"), by and between BJ'S RESTAURANTS, INC., a California corporation (the “Company”), and GREGORY A. TROJAN, an individual (“Consultant”). Company and Consultant shall collectively be referred to as the “Parties” and, each individually, as a “Party.

RECITALS:

A.       Consultant served as the Chief Executive Officer of the Company since 2013 and in such capacity has extensive knowledge and experience in the business and operations of the Company and the casual dining segment of the restaurant industry.

B.       Effective September 1, 2021, Consultant retired as Chief Executive Officer of the Company but remained an employee of the Company through December 31, 2021 and continues to serve as a member of the Board of Directors.

C.       In order to assure a smooth transition of management responsibilities and in order to assure that Consultant is available to assist the Company in developing and implementing its strategic plans and strategies going forward, the Company wishes to retain, and Consultant agrees to provide, consulting services to the Company on the terms set forth in this Agreement.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements herein contained, and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are acknowledged, the Parties covenant and agree as follows:

1.                  Retirement. The Consultant has, on the Effective Date, retired from and terminated his employment with the Company.

2.                  Consulting. During the period from the Effective Date until termination of this Agreement in accordance with Section 4 hereof (the "Consulting Period"), the Company hereby engages Consultant, and Consultant hereby agrees, to perform at the Company's request such strategic planning and other services as shall mutually be agreed upon by the Parties. All services to be performed by Consultant under this Agreement may hereinafter be referred to collectively as the “Services.” It is expected that Consultant will be available to perform Services for at least four (4) hours each month.

3.                  Responsibility of Consultant. Consultant shall have the exclusive responsibility for performing the Services and shall not be deemed an employee of the Company. Consultant shall determine the manner in which Services are performed and the times and places at which he performs the Services; provided, however, the Company may periodically require the Services to be performed at the Company's headquarters (in which case, the Company shall reimburse Consultant for any required airfare and hotel expense in accordance with the Company's travel and expense reimbursement policies as they may be in effect from time to time). Except as provided herein or within the scope of his responsibilities as a director of the Company (i) Consultant shall have no authority to bind, obligate or commit Company, nor the power, personally or on behalf of Company, to waive any forfeiture or default or to alter, discharge or waive any of the terms and conditions of any contract entered into by or for Company, and (ii) Consultant shall have no authority to represent Company.

 

 

4.                  Term. This Agreement shall be effective as of the Effective Date and shall terminate on the earlier of (i) voluntary resignation by Consultant as a member of the Board of Directors of the Company, (ii) thirty (30) days following delivery of notice of termination by Consultant, (iii) thirty (30) days following delivery of notice of termination by the Company, (iv) immediately upon Consultant's death or Disability as such term is defined in the Amended and Restated Employment Agreement between the Company and Consultant, dated August 8, 2017 (the "Prior Employment Agreement"), or (v) January 31, 2024; provided, however, that, unless otherwise consented by Consultant in writing, in no case will the Company terminate this Agreement pursuant to the immediately preceding clause (iii) prior to January 31, 2024.

5.                  Compensation.

(a)       In consideration of Services to be provided by Consultant hereunder, and Consultant’s agreement to abide by the terms of this Agreement, Company shall pay Consultant a fee of $1,000 per month payable in accordance with the Company's normal payment practices; provided, however, that if the Services provided during the Consulting Period are expected to exceed more than four (4) hours per month, the Parties understand and agree that an appropriate hourly or daily fee will be negotiated.

(b)        From the Effective Date until termination of this Agreement, the Company shall provide Consultant (and, if applicable, his spouse) with group health insurance coverage as a retiree on the same coverage and cost sharing terms as may be provided from time to time to senior executives of the Company; provided, however, if such group health insurance coverage is or becomes unavailable to Consultant during the term of this Agreement, the Company will (i) during the term of this Agreement, reimburse Consultant's monthly cost of continuation coverage under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 ("COBRA") for as long COBRA coverage is available and (ii) following any termination of this Agreement pursuant to clauses (iii) or (v) of Section 4, the Company will reimburse Consultant's monthly cost of continuation coverage under COBRA (or, if the COBRA continuation coverage period has expired, then the monthly amount that was payable for continuation coverage under COBRA prior to such expiration) until Consultant's sixty-fifth (65th) birthday.

(c)       The compensation payable to Consultant under this Agreement shall be in addition to any compensation that may be payable to Consultant in connection with his services as a non-employee member of the Company's Board of Directors.

6.                  Successors and Assigns; Assignment. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the permitted successors and assigns of Company and Consultant. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, Consultant may not assign any of its rights or obligations hereunder.

7.                  Active Status; Extension of Option Exercise Period; Acceleration on Death or Disability.

 

 

(a)       Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the Company hereby acknowledges and agrees that, for purposes of the Company's Equity Incentive Plan, as amended (the "Plan"), the Board of Directors of the Company and/or the Compensation Committee thereof has determined that for so long as Consultant is providing the Services under this Agreement, he shall be deemed to be a "Consultant" of the Company and have maintained his "Active Status" with the Company, as such terms are defined in the Plan.

(b)        With respect to any currently outstanding stock options issued under the Plan to Consultant prior to September 1, 2021 (the "Outstanding Options"), notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the option agreements evidencing the Outstanding Options, the period for exercise of any vested Outstanding Options shall be extended to the end of the term of the Outstanding Options (i.e. 10 years from the grant date).

(c)       With respect to any Outstanding Options, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the option agreements evidencing the Outstanding Options, vesting of the Outstanding Options shall accelerate in full upon the death or Disability (as defined in the Prior Employment Agreement) of Consultant.

8.                  Miscellaneous.

8.1              Entire Agreement. This Agreement, including any attachments hereto, contains the entire agreement between the Parties and incorporates and supersedes any and all prior discussions or agreements the Parties may have had with respect to the terms of Consultant’s engagement by Company.

8.2              Amendment and Waiver. This Agreement and any terms, covenants or conditions hereunder may only be amended or waived by a written instrument specifically referring to this Agreement executed by each of the Parties. A waiver of any provision of this Agreement shall in no manner affect the waiving Party’s right to enforce any provisions of this Agreement at a subsequent time, and the waiver by any Party of any right arising out of any breach by the other Party shall not be construed as a waiver of any right arising out of any subsequent breach.

8.3              Choice of Law. This Agreement shall be governed and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of California without regard to conflict of law provisions.

8.4              Arbitration. The arbitration provisions of the Prior Employment Agreement shall apply to any controversy or claim arising out of or relating in any way to this Agreement.

8.5              Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in multiple counterparts, and all such executed counterparts shall constitute the same agreement. It shall be necessary to account for only one such counterpart in proving the existence of terms of this Agreement.

8.6              Severability. If any provision of this Agreement is determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid or unenforceable, the remainder of this Agreement shall nonetheless remain in full force and effect.

 

 

8.7              No Third Party Rights. Nothing in this Agreement is intended to confer any rights or remedies on anyone other than the parties to the Agreement and their respective successors, representatives and assigns. The provisions of this Agreement shall not entitle any person not a signatory to this Agreement to any rights as a third party beneficiary, or otherwise, it being the specific intention of the parties hereto to preclude any and all-non-signatory parties from any such third party beneficiary rights, or any other rights whatsoever.

 

 

 

 

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Agreement as of the day and year first written above.

 

CONSULTANT: COMPANY:
   
  BJ'S RESTAURANTS, INC., a California corporation
   
/s/ GREGORY A. TROJAN  By: /s/ GREGORY S. LEVIN 
GREGORY A. TROJAN Name:  Gregory S. Levin
  Title:    Chief Executive Officer and President
 

 

 

By: /s/ Gerald W. Deitchle

 

Name: Gerald W. Deitchle

Title: Chairman of the Board