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): May 4, 2015

Post Holdings, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Missouri
1-35305
45-3355106
(State or Other Jurisdiction of
Incorporation)
(Commission File
Number)
(IRS Employer Identification
Number)
2503 S. Hanley Road
St. Louis, Missouri 63144

(Address, including Zip Code, of Principal Executive Offices)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (314) 644-7600
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))

 






Item 5.02.
Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.
(e)
Approval of Revised Senior Management Bonus Program
On May 4, 2015, the Corporate Governance and Compensation Committee (the “Compensation Committee”) of the Board of Directors of Post Holdings, Inc. (the “Company”) approved a revised Senior Management Bonus Program applicable to certain senior management employees. The amount of an award under the program may be expressed as a percentage of a participant’s base salary, a specific dollar amount or some other measure as determined by the Compensation Committee for any fiscal year. Any such award will be paid based on the level of achievement of performance goals determined by the Compensation Committee. Payouts will be made in the form of cash no later than March 15 of the year following the end of the fiscal year in which the bonus award was earned, but participants may elect to defer all or a portion of a bonus award under the Post Holdings, Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan for Key Employees. For fiscal 2015, the Compensation Committee expects to use the metric of adjusted free cash flow in determining bonuses.
The foregoing description of the Senior Management Bonus Program is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the program, which is filed as Exhibit 10.1 hereto and incorporated herein by reference.
(e)
Approval of New Form of Management Continuity Agreement
Also on May 4, 2015, the Compensation Committee approved a new form of Management Continuity Agreement which is intended to promote stability and continuity of senior management in the event of an actual or anticipated change of control. The new form Management Continuity Agreement is substantially the same form as the existing agreement, the material terms of which are described in the Company’s most recent Proxy Statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 12, 2014 under the section entitled “Executive Compensation-Compensation Discussion and Analysis-Management Continuity Agreements”, but the revised form: (i) modifies the definition of “Change in Control” by eliminating the ability of an executive to voluntarily terminate employment after a Change in Control and receive payment under the agreement; (ii) clarifies the definition of “Involuntary Termination”; and (iii) adds a new 280G limitation. The foregoing description of the form Management Continuity Agreement is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full form agreement, which is filed as Exhibit 10.2 hereto and incorporated herein by reference.
(e)
Approval of New Form of Stock Appreciation Right Agreement
Also on May 4, 2015, the Compensation Committee approved a new form of Stock Appreciation Rights Agreement, which is to be used to grant cash-settled stock appreciation rights to employees of the Company (“Employee SAR”). An Employee SAR will entitle the awardee to the cash amount equal to the excess of the fair market value of the specified number of SAR shares as of the date of exercise over the purchase price per share of the specified number of SAR shares. An Employee SAR becomes exercisable with respect to one-third of the shares subject to such Employee SAR on each of the first three anniversaries of the date of grant of such option, provided that the awardee is employed by the Company on such anniversary. Employee SARs expire ten years following the date of grant. The foregoing description of the form Stock Appreciation Right Agreement is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full form agreement, which is filed as Exhibit 10.3 hereto and incorporated herein by reference.
Item 9.01.
Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits
See Exhibit Index.

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
Date: May 8, 2015
Post Holdings, Inc.
 
(Registrant)
 
 
 
 
By:
/s/ Diedre J. Gray
 
 
Name: Diedre J. Gray
 
 
Title: SVP, General Counsel & Administration, Secretary

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EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibits
Number
 
Description
 
 
10.1
 
Senior Management Bonus Program
10.2
 
Form of Management Continuity Agreement
10.3
 
Form of Stock Appreciation Right Agreement


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Exhibit 10.1
POST HOLDINGS, INC. SENIOR MANAGEMENT BONUS PROGRAM
Article I – Purpose
The purpose of the Senior Management Bonus Program (the “Program”) is to focus senior management employees on critical business objectives of Post Holdings, Inc. and its subsidiaries and to encourage superior performance to meet identified metrics that drive shareholder value.
This Program shall be effective May 4, 2015 and shall continue in effect until terminated by the Committee in accordance with Section 6.1.
Article II – Definitions and Rules of Construction
The following words and phrases shall have the following meanings unless a different meaning is plainly required by the context:
2.1      “Award” means any cash bonus payable under the terms of the Program. An amount of an Award may be expressed as a percentage of a Participant’s Base Salary, a specific dollar amount, or such other measure or terms the Committee may determine for each Participant for any Program Year.
2.2      “Base Salary” means as to any Program Year, 100% of the Participant’s annualized salary rate on the last day of the Program Year. Such Base Salary shall be before both (a) deduction for taxes or benefits, and (b) deferrals of compensation pursuant to Company-sponsored plans.
2.3      Beneficiary means the person or persons designated by a Participant, or otherwise entitled to receive a Award that remains undistributed at Participant’s death, in accordance with the terms of this Program and such rules and procedures as may be established by the Committee from time to time.
2.4      “Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.
2.5      “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, or any successor statute.
2.6      “Committee” means the Corporate Governance and Compensation Committee of the Board of Post Holdings, Inc. The membership of the Committee shall include at least two directors, each of whom shall be (a) an “outside director” and (b) an “independent” director, as defined under the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines and the listing standards of the New York Stock Exchange.
2.7      “Company” means Post Holdings, Inc., a Missouri corporation, or any successor to all or substantially of all of its businesses by merger, consolidation, purchase of assets or otherwise.
2.8      “Determination Date” typically means as to any Program Year, (a) the first day of the Program Year, or (b) any date that is on or before the 90th day of the Program Year. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Determination Date may be later if the Committee determines that the outcome of any Performance Goal established on the Determination Date is substantially uncertain at the time established by the Committee.
2.9      Participant means any individual holding a senior management position and who is employed by the Company or any of its subsidiaries and who is selected by the Committee for participation in this Program for that Program Year. Participants are typically executive officers as defined by Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
2.10      “Performance Goals” means performance goals established by the Committee with respect to any Potential Award.

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2.11      “Performance Period” means the Program Year.
2.12      Program” means this Post Holdings, Inc. Senior Management Bonus Program, as may be amended from time to time.
2.13      “Program Year means the fiscal year of the Company, which ends on September 30.
2.14      “Potential Award” means an Award which is potentially payable to a Participant, the terms of which are established by the Committee as of the Determination Date for a Program Year. The terms of a Potential Award relate to that Program Year and can be exclusively performance-based, with Performance Goals, or can involve a combination of performance-based criteria and individual performance-based assessments, as the Committee, in its sole discretion, may determine.
Article III – Eligibility and Determination of Awards
3.1      Eligibility . On or prior to the Determination Date, the Committee, in its sole discretion, shall select the senior management employees who shall be Participants for the Program Year.
3.2     Determination of Performance Goals and Potential Awards . On or prior to the Determination Date, the Committee, in its sole discretion, shall establish the terms of the Potential Award for each Participant for the Program Year and any Performance Goals applicable to all, or a portion of, the Potential Award. To the extent that all, or a portion, of the Participant’s Potential Award is performance-based, such Potential Award shall be contingent upon the attainment of the Participant’s Performance Goals. The Committee may elect to establish alternative payment formulae for the Potential Awards based upon the attainment of alternative Performance Goals for the Program Year. Each Participant’s Performance Goals and Potential Award shall be set forth in writing and presented to the Participant. The outcome of any Performance Goal must be substantially uncertain at the time it is established by the Committee.
3.3      Determination of Awards. After the end of each Program Year, the Committee shall certify in writing the extent to which the Performance Goals applicable to each Participant for that Program Year were achieved or exceeded. For this purpose, approved minutes of a meeting of the Committee shall be treated as written certification. The Committee shall also determine if the criteria for any non-performance-based Potential Awards have been attained. If applicable Performance Goals and other criteria were attained, the Committee shall determine Awards payable to each Participant in accordance with the terms of their Potential Awards. Notwithstanding any contrary provision of the Program or the terms to any Potential Awards, the Committee, in its sole discretion, may eliminate or reduce the Award payable to any Participant below that which otherwise would be payable under the terms of the Potential Award, if a Participant terminates employment with the Company prior to the end of a Program Year for which a Potential Award has been established. The Committee may, in its sole discretion, grant an Award proportionately based on the date of termination.
Article IV – Payment of Awards
4.1      Right to Receive a Payment. No Participant or other person shall have any rights with respect to the Program, or to any Potential Award prior to the completion of the Program Year with respect to such Award, and the Committee’s certification as to the attainment of any applicable Performance Goals. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Committee, in its sole discretion, may eliminate, reduce or increase an Award payable to any Participant below or above that which would otherwise be payable under the terms of the Participant’s Potential Award. Furthermore, in the event of a Participant’s death, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, determine an amount payable under an Award prior to the certification to the attainment of any applicable Performance Goals. Neither a Participant nor any Beneficiary of a Participant shall have any right to commute, sell, assign, pledge, transfer or otherwise convey the right to receive an Award until the Award is actually distributed to the Participant or his or her Beneficiary.
4.2      Timing and Form of Payment. Except as provided above in connection with a Participant’s death, payment of each Award shall be made no sooner than the date the Committee certifies that applicable

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Performance Goals for a Program Year (or series of Program Years) and/or otherwise determines the amount of each Award and no later than March 15 of the year following the Program Year during which the Award was earned, unless deferred under Section 4.3 below. Under no circumstances may payment of any Award, including Awards described in Section 3.3 of this Program, be accelerated to an earlier date. Each Award shall be paid in cash (or its equivalent) in a single lump sum.
4.3      Deferral of Bonus . A Participant who is eligible to participant in the Post Holdings, Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan for Key Employees may defer all or a portion of any Award under this Program subject to the rules of that deferred compensation plan in a manner that complies with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code. The entire Award shall be deemed benefit earnings for purposes of the Company’s employee benefit plans to the extent so provided under the terms of such employee benefit plans.
4.4      Designation of Beneficiary . A Participant shall designate a Beneficiary on a form to be supplied by the Human Resources Department of the Company. The Beneficiary designation may be changed by the Participant at any time, but any change shall not be effective until the Beneficiary designation form completed by the Participant is delivered to and received by the Human Resources Department. In the event that Human Resources receives more than one Beneficiary designation form from the Participant, the form bearing the most recent date shall be controlling. The Committee reserves the right to review and approve Beneficiary designations.
4.5      Payment upon Death . Upon the death of a Participant, the amount of any Award payable to that Participant shall be determined by the Committee in its sole discretion considering the attainment of applicable Performance Goals and the Company shall make payment of such Award to the Participant’s designated Beneficiary not later than March 15 following the Program Year in which the Participant died. If the Human Resources Department does not have a valid Beneficiary designation of a Participant at the time of the Participant’s death, then the Participant’s Beneficiary shall be the Participant’s estate.
4.6      Withholding of Taxes/Offset . The Company shall deduct from any payment, or otherwise collect from the Participant, any taxes required to be withheld by federal, state or local governments in connection with any Award. No opinion is expressed nor warranties made as to the effect for federal, state, or local tax purposes of any Award. If at any time prior to any payment a Participant is indebted to the Company (including any clawback policy adopted or implemented by the Board or Committee in respect of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010), the Company has the right to offset against the payment amount the amount of the Participant’s indebtedness, but only to the extent such offset is permissible under and would not trigger adverse tax consequences under Code Section 409A.
Article V – Program Administration
5.1      Powers of the Committee . The Committee shall have exclusive authority and discretion to administer and interpret the Program and, in connection therewith, have the power to establish rules in connection with the administration of the Program and perform all other acts that they believe reasonable and proper, including the power to delegate responsibility to others to assist it in administering the Program. In making any determinations under the Program, including certifications as to the attainment of Performance Goals, the Committee shall be entitled to rely on reports, opinions or statements of officers or employees of the Company, as well as those of counsel, public accountants and other professional or expert persons. All determinations, interpretations and other decisions under or with respect to the Program or any Award by the Committee shall be final, conclusive and binding upon all parties, including without limitation, the Company, any employee, executive officer and any other person with rights to any Award under the Program, and no member of the Committee shall be subject to individual liability with respect to the Program or any Awards thereunder.
5.2      Delegation of the Committee . The Committee, in its sole discretion, may delegate administrative duties under the Program to one or more directors and/or officers of the Company; provided, however, that the Committee may not delegate its responsibility to make Awards to Participants of this Program, and provided further that any delegation can only be made in accordance with applicable laws or securities listing standards. 

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5.3      Adjustments. The Committee is authorized, in its sole discretion, to adjust or modify the calculation of a Performance Goal for a Performance Period in connection with any one or more of the following events: (a) asset write-downs; (b) litigation or claim judgments or settlements; (c) the effect of changes in tax laws, accounting standards or principles, or other laws or regulatory rules affecting reporting results; (d) any reorganization/restructuring programs; (e) significant unusual or infrequently occurring items (as determined by under Generally Accepted Accounting Principals) excluded from the determination of ordinary income or loss in the Company’s financial statements and/or in management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations appearing in the Company’s periodic reports; and (f) acquisitions or divestitures.
5.4      Expenses/Funding. All expenses of the Committee with respect to the Program shall be paid by the Company. The Program shall be unfunded, and the Company shall not be required to segregate any assets which may at any time be awarded under the Program.
Article VI – Amendment or Termination of Program
6.1      Power to Amend or Terminate Program . The Committee may amend, modify or terminate this Program at any time and for any reason.
6.2      When Amendments Take Effect . A resolution amending or terminating the Program becomes effective as of the date specified therein. No amendment may be made that retroactively deprives a Participant of any benefit accrued before the date of the amendment.
Article VII – Miscellaneous
7.1      Program Not a Contract of Employment . The adoption and maintenance of the Program does not constitute a contract of employment between the Company and any Participant or consideration for the employment of any person. Nothing herein contained gives any Participant the right to be retained in the employ of the Company or derogates the right of the Company to discharge any Participant at any time, with or without notice, without regard to the effect of such discharge upon his or her rights as a Participant in the Program.
7.2      Severability . If any provision of this Program is determined to be invalid or illegal, the remaining provisions shall be effective and shall be interpreted as if the invalid or illegal provision did not exist, unless the illegal or invalid provision is of such materiality that its omission defeats the purpose of the parties in entering into this Program.
7.3      Choice of Law. This Program shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of Missouri determined without regard to its choice of law provisions.
7.4      Section 409A. It is intended that neither this Program nor the terms of any Potential Award granted under this Program will result in additional tax under Code Section 409A, and to the extent necessary, this Program and any Potential Award under this Program shall be interpreted with this intent.

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Exhibit 10.2
MANAGEMENT CONTINUITY AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT between Post Holdings, Inc., a Missouri corporation (“ Post ”), and ________________________ (the “ Executive ”), WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors (the “ Board ”) has authorized Post to enter into Management Continuity Agreements with certain key executives of Post; and
WHEREAS, the Executive is a key executive of Post and has been selected by the Board to be offered this Management Continuity Agreement; and
WHEREAS, should a third person take steps which might lead to a Change in Control (as defined herein) of Post, the Board believes it imperative that Post be able to rely upon the Executive to continue in the Executive’s position, and that Post be able to receive and rely upon the Executive’s advice, if it is requested, as to the best interests of Post and its shareholders without concern that the Executive might be distracted by the personal uncertainties and risks created by such a Change in Control or influenced by conflicting interests.
NOW, THEREFORE, for and in consideration of the premises and other good and valuable consideration, Post and the Executive agree as follows:
1. Definitions . For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:
a. Base Compensation ” shall consist of:
(i) The Executive’s monthly gross salary for the last full month preceding the Executive’s Qualifying Termination or for the last full month preceding the Change in Control, whichever is greater. If Executive has elected to accelerate or defer salary (including the Executive’s pre-tax contributions under the Post Holdings, Inc. Savings Investment Plan and under any benefit plan complying with Section 125 of the Code and deferrals pursuant to the Post Holdings, Inc. Executive Savings Investment Plan, and any successor plans thereto), the Executive’s Base Compensation shall be calculated as if there had been no acceleration or deferral; plus
(ii) one-twelfth of the greater of (a) the bonus to which the Executive would be entitled in the fiscal year in which a Qualifying Termination occurred assuming all performance targets (personal and Company targets) were achieved at a level of 100%; or (b) the Executive’s last annual bonus paid by the Company, whether paid or deferred, preceding the Executive’s Qualifying Termination or the Change in Control, whichever is greater.
b. Change in Control ” means
(i)    the acquisition by any person, entity or “group” within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “ Exchange Act ”), of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of (a) 50% or more of the aggregate voting power of the then outstanding shares of Stock, other than acquisitions by Post or any of its subsidiaries or any employee benefit plan of Post (or any Trust created to hold or invest in issues thereof) or any entity holding Stock for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan, or (b) all, or substantially all, of the assets of Post or its subsidiaries taken as a whole; or

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(ii)    individuals who shall qualify as Continuing Directors shall have ceased for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board of Post.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Change in Control shall not include a transaction (commonly known as a “Morris Trust” transaction) pursuant to which a third party acquires one or more businesses of the Company by acquiring all of the common stock of Post while leaving the Company’s remaining businesses in a separate public company, unless the businesses so acquired constitute all or substantially all of the Company’s businesses.
A Change in Control shall be deemed to occur only to the extent the Change in Control meets the foregoing requirements of this Agreement and is a change in control event for purposes of Section 409A of the Code.
c. Code ” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
d. Company ” shall mean Post Holdings, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiaries.
e. Continuing Director ” means any member of the Board of Post, as of February 3, 2012 while such person is a member of the Board, and any other director, while such other director is a member of the Board, who is recommended or elected to succeed the Continuing Director by at least two-thirds (2/3) of the Continuing Directors then in office.
f. Disability ” shall exist when the Executive suffers a complete and permanent inability to perform any and every material duty of the Executive’s regular occupation because of injury or sickness.
To determine whether the Executive is Disabled, the Executive shall undergo examination by a licensed physician and other experts (including other physicians) as determined by such physician, and the Executive shall cooperate in providing relevant medical records as requested. The Company and Executive shall jointly select such physician. If they are unable to agree on the selection, each shall designate one physician and the two physicians shall designate a third physician so that a determination of disability may be made by the three physicians. Fees and expenses of the physicians and other experts and costs of examinations of the Executive shall be shared equally by the Company and the Executive. The decision as to the Executive’s Disability made by such physician or physicians shall be binding on the Company and the Executive.
g. Discount Rate ” means 120% of the applicable Federal rate determined under Section 1274(d) of the Code and the regulations thereunder at the time the relevant payments are made.
h. Involuntary Termination ” shall be any involuntary termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company to which the Executive objects orally or in writing or which follows any of the following:
(i)    without the express written consent of the Executive, (a) the assignment of the Executive to any duties materially inconsistent with the Executive’s positions, duties, responsibilities and status immediately prior to the Change in Control or (b) a material change in the Executive’s titles, offices, or reporting responsibilities as in effect immediately prior to the Change in Control; provided, however, (a) and (b) herein shall not constitute an Involuntary Termination if either situation is in connection with the Executive’s death or disability;
(ii)    without the express written consent of the Executive, a reduction in the Executive’s annual salary or opportunity for total annual compensation in effect immediately prior to the Change in Control;

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(iii)    without the express written consent of the Executive, the Executive is required to be based anywhere materially different than the Executive’s office location immediately preceding the Change in Control, except for required travel on business to an extent substantially consistent with the business travel obligations of the Executive immediately preceding the occurrence of the Change in Control;
(iv)    without the express written consent of the Executive, following the Change in Control (a) failure by the Company or its successor or assigns to provide to the Executive any material benefit or compensation plan, stock ownership plan, stock purchase plan, stock based incentive plan, defined benefit pension plan, defined contribution pension plan, life insurance plan, health and accident plan, or disability plan in which the Executive is participating or entitled to participate at the time of the Change in Control (or plans providing substantially similar benefits) or in which executive officers of the ultimate parent entity acquiring the Company are entitled to participate (whichever are more favorable); or (b) the taking of any action by the Company that would (1) adversely affect the participation in or materially reduce the benefits under any of such plans either in terms of the amount of benefits provided or the level of the Executive’s participation relative to other participants; (2) deprive the Executive of any material fringe benefit enjoyed by the Executive at the time of the Change in Control; or (3) cause a failure to provide the number of paid vacation days to which the Executive was then entitled in accordance with Post’s normal vacation policy in effect immediately prior to the Change in Control;
(v)    the liquidation, dissolution, consolidation, or merger of the Company or transfer of all or substantially all of its assets, unless a successor or successors (by merger, consolidation, or otherwise) to which all or a significant portion of its assets have been transferred expressly assumes in writing all duties and obligations of the Company as here set forth; or
(vi)    the failure by the Company or its successor or assigns (whether by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to expressly assume and agree to perform this Agreement after a Change in Control.
The Executive’s continued employment shall not constitute consent to, or a waiver of rights with respect to, any circumstances set forth above. For purposes of subsections (i)-(vi) above, Involuntary Termination shall not exist unless Executive shall provide written notice of the existence of the condition to the Company within ninety (90) days of the initial existence of the condition. The Company shall have a period of thirty (30) days after such notice (to the extent curable) during which it may remedy the condition (the “ Cure Period ”), and, in case of full remedy, such condition shall not be deemed to constitute a basis for Involuntary Termination hereunder.
i. Non-Compete Effective Date ” shall mean the date on which a Qualifying Termination occurs which requires the Company, or any entity on its behalf, to pay the Executive the severance benefits set forth under paragraph a and b of Section 3 hereunder.
j. Normal Retirement Date ” shall be the date on which the Executive attains age 65.
k. Payment ” shall mean any payment or distribution by the Company to, or for the benefit of, the Executive (whether paid or payable or distributed or distributable pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, any Stock based award or otherwise).
l. Payment Period ” shall mean a period of [ three/two ] years commencing with the first day of the month following that in which a Qualifying Termination occurs within the two-year period immediately following a Change in Control, but in no event shall the Payment Period extend beyond the Executive’s Normal Retirement Date.

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m. Qualifying Termination ” shall be the Executive’s Involuntary Termination of employment with the Company except any termination because of the Executive’s Voluntary Termination, death, retirement at or after the Executive’s Normal Retirement Date, or Termination for Cause. Qualifying Termination shall not include any change in the Executive’s employment status due to Disability.
n. Stock ” means the common stock of Post or such other security entitling the holder to vote at the election of Post’s directors or any other security outstanding upon its reclassification, including, without limitation, any stock split-up, stock dividend or other recapitalization of Post or any merger or consolidation of Post with any of its affiliates.
o. Termination for Cause ” shall be a termination because of:
(i)    the continued failure by the Executive to devote reasonable time and effort to the performance of the Executive’s duties (other than any such failure resulting from the Executive’s incapacity due to physical or mental illness) after written demand therefor has been delivered to the Executive by the Company that specifically identifies how the Executive has not devoted reasonable time and effort to the performance of the Executive’s duties; or
(ii)    the willful engaging by the Executive in misconduct which is materially injurious to the Company, monetarily or otherwise; or
(iii)    the Executive’s conviction of a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude;
in any case as determined by the Board upon the good faith vote of not less than a majority of the Board, after reasonable notice to the Executive specifying in writing the basis or bases for the proposed Termination for Cause and after the Executive has been provided an opportunity to be heard before a meeting of the Board held upon reasonable notice to all directors; provided, however, that a Termination for Cause shall not include a termination attributable to:
(i) bad judgment or negligence on the part of the Executive other than habitual negligence; or
(ii) an act or omission believed by the Executive in good faith to have been in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company and reasonably believed by the Executive to be lawful; or
(iii) the good faith conduct of the Executive in connection with a Change in Control (including the Executive’s opposition to or support thereof).
p. Voluntary Termination ” shall be any termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company other than an Involuntary Termination or a Termination for Cause.
2. Operation of Agreement . This Agreement shall not create any obligation on the part of the Company or the Executive to continue their employment relationship. Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, no payments shall be made hereunder unless and until there has been a Change in Control of the Company. This Agreement is not exclusive with regard to benefits to be provided to the Executive on the Executive’s termination of employment with the Company and shall not affect any other agreement or arrangement providing for such benefits, except to the extent otherwise specifically provided herein.
3. Severance Benefits . Provided that the Executive remains in the employ of the Company until a Change in Control has occurred, then upon the Executive’s Qualifying Termination within two years after that Change in Control, the Executive shall be entitled to the following benefits (“ Severance Benefits ”):

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a.    Payment of a cash lump sum, within 60 days after the Executive’s Qualifying Termination, equal to the present value as of the date of the Qualifying Termination of an income stream equal to the Executive’s Base Compensation payable each month throughout the Payment Period. For purposes of this subparagraph, present value shall be calculated by application of the Discount Rate;
b.    Payment of a cash lump sum, within 60 days of the Executive’s Qualifying Termination, equal to the actuarial value of Executive’s continued participation in each life, health, accident and disability plan in which the Executive was entitled to participate immediately prior to the Change in Control, during the Payment Period, upon the same terms and conditions, including those with respect to spouses and dependents, applicable at such time;
c.    Payment, on a current and ongoing basis, of any actual costs and expenses of litigation incurred by the Executive during the Executive’s lifetime, including costs of investigation and reasonable attorney’s fees, in the event the Executive is a party to any legal action to enforce or to recover damages for breach of this Agreement, or to recover or recoup from the Executive or the Executive’s legal representative or beneficiary any amounts paid under or pursuant to this Agreement, regardless of the outcome of such litigation, plus interest at the applicable Federal rate provided for in Section 7872(f)(2) of the Code.
d.    Payment, on a current and ongoing basis (up to $20,000 in the aggregate) of costs or expenses incurred relating to or in the nature of outplacement assistance; provided that, such costs or expenses shall be limited to those incurred on or before the last day of the second taxable year following the year in which such Qualifying Termination occurred, and, to the extent paid as a reimbursement to the Executive, payment of such costs and expenses shall be made no later than the third taxable year following the year in which the Qualifying Termination occurred. Such outplacement assistance includes, but is not limited to, office rental, travel for job interviews, and secretarial services.
Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, to the extent necessary to avoid the adverse tax consequences under Section 409A of the Code, the amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement, or in-kind benefits provided, in accordance with this Section 3, during a year shall not affect the expenses eligible for reimbursement, or in-kind benefits to be provided, in any other year; the reimbursement of an eligible expense shall be made on or before the last day of the year following the year in which the expense was incurred; and the right to reimbursement or in-kind benefits shall not be subject to liquidation or exchange for another benefit.
In the event the Executive’s employment is involuntarily terminated (other than as a result of a Termination for Cause) and the Executive objects to such termination orally or in writing and such termination occurs within 270 days prior to a Change in Control, the Executive shall be treated as meeting the requirements for severance benefits under Section 3 for the Payment Period. Payment for this purpose shall be made or begin, as applicable, under Section 3 on the date of the Change in Control (or thereafter as specified) as though the date of the Change in Control were the date of a Qualifying Termination for purposes of determining the time of payment under Section 3.
The Executive may file with the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of Post a written designation of a beneficiary or contingent beneficiaries to receive the payments described in subparagraph (a) above in the event of the Executive’s death following the Executive’s Qualifying Termination but prior to payment by the Company. The Executive may from time to time revoke or change any such designation of beneficiary and any designation of beneficiary pursuant to this Agreement shall be controlling over any other disposition, testamentary or otherwise; provided, however, that if the Company shall be in doubt as to the right of any such beneficiary to receive such payments, it may determine to pay such amounts to the legal representative of the Executive, in which case the Company shall not be under any further liability to anyone. In the event that such designated beneficiary or legal representative becomes a party to a legal action to enforce or to recover damages for breach of this Agreement, or to recover or recoup from the Executive or the Executive’s estate, legal representative or beneficiary any amounts paid under or pursuant to this Agreement, regardless of the outcome of such litigation, the Company shall pay their actual costs and expenses of such litigation incurred during such designated beneficiary’s or legal representative’s lifetime, including costs of investigation and reasonable attorneys’ fees, plus interest at the applicable Federal rate provided for in Section 7872(f)(2) of the Code;

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provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to pay such costs and expenses in connection with litigation to determine the proper payee, among two or more claimants, of the payments described in subparagraph (a).
4. Successors to Company; Binding Effect; Assignment . This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Company and its successors. The Company will require any successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company to assume expressly and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform it if no such succession had taken place. As used in this Agreement, “ Company ” shall mean the Company as herein before defined and any successor to its business and/or assets as aforesaid which assumes and agrees to perform this Agreement by operation of law, or otherwise. The Company may not assign this Agreement other than to a successor to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company. The Executive shall have no right to transfer or assign the right to receive any severance benefit under this Agreement except as noted in paragraph three above.
5. Missouri Law to Govern . This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Missouri without giving effect to the conflict of laws provisions thereof.
6. Miscellaneous . No provision of this Agreement may be modified, waived or discharged unless such modification, waiver or discharge is agreed to in writing signed by the Executive and a duly authorized officer of the Company. No waiver by a party hereto at any time of any breach by the other party hereto of, or of compliance with, any condition or provision of this Agreement to be performed by such other party shall be deemed a waiver of similar or dissimilar provisions or conditions at the same or at any prior or subsequent time. No agreements or representations, oral or otherwise, express or implied, with respect to the subject matter hereof have been made by either party which are not expressly set forth in this Agreement.
7. Taxes; Set-off . All payments to be made to the Executive under this Agreement will be subject to required withholding of federal, state and local income and employment taxes, including any excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code or any interest or penalties incurred with respect to such excise tax. Except to the extent otherwise specifically provided herein, the right of the Executive to receive benefits under this Agreement, however, shall be absolute and shall not be subject to any set-off, counter-claim, recoupment, defense, duty to mitigate or other rights the Company may have against the Executive or anyone else.
8. Severability . The invalidity and unenforceability of any particular provision of this Agreement shall not affect any other provision of this Agreement, and the Agreement shall be construed in all respects as if the invalid or unenforceable provision were omitted.
9. Covenant Not to Compete; Non Solicitation; and Confidentiality .
a.    Executive shall not from the Non-Compete Effective Date until the first anniversary thereof:
(i) engage (whether as an owner, operator, manager, employee, officer, director, consultant, advisor, representative or otherwise) directly or indirectly in any business that produces, develops, markets or sells any type of food products that compete with those food products produced by the Company as of the date of a Change in Control; provided however, that ownership of less than five percent (5%) of the outstanding stock of any publicly-traded corporation shall not be deemed to be engaging solely by reason thereof in any of it’s the Company’s businesses; or
(ii) induce or attempt to induce any customer, supplier, lender or other business relation of the Company to cease doing business with the Company or any of its subsidiaries.
b.    The Executive agrees that during the period beginning on the Non-Compete Effective Date and ending on the second anniversary thereof, the Executive shall not:

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(i) contact, approach, or solicit, either directly or indirectly, for the purposes of offering employment to, or
(ii) hire (whether as an employee, consultant, agent, independent contractor or otherwise)
any senior management level employee employed by the Company (or its successors or assigns) without the prior written consent of the Company or its successors or assigns.
c.    Executive agrees to treat and hold as confidential any information concerning the business and affairs of the Company that is not or does not become generally available to the public other than as a result of a disclosure in violation of this Agreement (the “ Confidential Information ”), refrain from using any of the Confidential Information except in connection with this Agreement, and deliver promptly to the Company or destroy, at the request and option of the Company, all tangible embodiments (and all copies) of the Confidential Information which are in the Executive’s possession.
d.    Executive acknowledges and agrees that in the event of a breach by the Executive of any of the provisions of this Section 9, monetary damages shall not constitute a sufficient remedy. Consequently, in the event of any such breach, the Company or its successor or assigns shall be entitled to, in addition to the other rights and remedies existing in their favor, specific performance and/or injunctive or other relief in order to enforce or prevent any violations of the provisions hereof from any court of competent jurisdiction in each case without the requirement of posting a bond or proving actual damages. Further, Executive shall return to the Company or its successors or assigns sums paid under Section 3 hereof in the event a court of competent jurisdiction issue a final non-appealable ruling that finds the Executive breached the terms of this Section 9.
e.    The Executive agrees that except in connection with any legal proceeding relating to the enforcement of this Agreement, following the Non-Compete Effective Date, the Executive shall not be publicly disparaging of the Company or its officers or directors.
f.    The term “ indirectly ” as used in this Section 9 with respect to the Executive is intended to mean any acts authorized or directed by or on behalf of the Executive or any entity controlled by the Executive.
g.    In the event any sums due the Executive under this Agreement are not timely paid, then this Section 9 will terminate automatically.
10. Release of Claims . The Executive agrees that in exchange for the payment of all sums due hereunder, the Executive forever settles, compromises, discharges, forgives and voids all employment related claims and causes of action the Executive has or may have against the Company or its successor or assigns.
11. Time of Payment . Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, in the event that the Executive is determined to be a specified employee within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code and the regulations and other guidance thereunder, for purposes of any payment on termination of employment hereunder, payment(s) shall be made or begin, as applicable, on the first payroll date which is more than six months following the date of separation from service, to the extent required to avoid any adverse tax consequences under Section 409A of the Code and the regulations and other guidance thereunder.
12. Section 4999 . Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, in the event that it shall be determined that any payment (including any acceleration of vesting of stock-based benefits) or distribution to or for the benefit of the Executive (whether paid or payable or distributed or distributable pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or otherwise) (a “Payment”) would be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code (the “Excise Tax”), the Payments shall be reduced by an amount that would result in no Excise Tax being imposed; provided that the Payments shall not be reduced unless the amounts and benefits the Executive would receive after such reduction would

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be greater than the amounts and benefits the Executive would receive if there were no reduction and the Excise Tax were paid by the Executive (such reduction, the “Cut Back”). Any Payments to be reduced pursuant to this Section shall be reduced first by any amounts not subject to Section 409A of the Code and then in the inverse order of when the Payments would have been made or provided to the Executive until the reduction specified herein is achieved. All determinations required to be made under this Section shall be made by a nationally recognized accounting firm designated by the Company (the “Accounting Firm”) which shall provide detailed supporting calculations both to the Company and the Executive within fifteen (15) business days after there has been a Cut-Back, or such earlier time as requested by the Company. All fees and expenses of the Accounting Firm shall be borne solely by the Company. Any determination by the Accounting Firm shall be binding upon the Company and Executive.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF , the undersigned have executed this Agreement this ____ day of _________, 20___ and effective on the ____ day of ____________, 20____.


EXECUTIVE
 
POST HOLDINGS, INC.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
By:
 
[Signature]
 
 
 
 
 
Name:
 
 
 
 
 
[Print Name]
 
Title:
 


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Exhibit 10.3

STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHT AGREEMENT


Post Holdings, Inc. grants a Stock Appreciation Right (the “SAR”) to ___________________ (“Grantee”), effective ______________ (“Grant Date”), to receive a cash amount upon exercise of such SAR, pursuant to the Post Holdings, Inc. 2012 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) and subject to all terms and conditions hereafter provided in this Stock Appreciation Right Agreement (this “Agreement”). The number of shares of Stock subject to this SAR is ___________ shares (“SAR Shares”). The exercise price, or purchase price, per SAR Share is $______. Any capitalized terms, not otherwise defined herein, have the meanings given to such terms in the Plan.

NOW THEREFORE , the Company and Grantee agree, for and in consideration of the terms hereof, as set forth below.

1.     Exercise . Subject to the provisions of the Plan and the following terms, Grantee may exercise the SAR from time to time to the extent provided below by delivering to the Company (or its designated agent), written notice of exercise, in such form and manner as prescribed by the Company and which will state the number of SAR Shares to be exercised. Upon proper exercise of any vested portion of the SAR, Grantee shall be entitled to receive a cash amount equal to the excess of (a) the Fair Market Value of the specified number of SAR Shares as of the date of exercise over (b) the purchase price per share of the specified number of SAR Shares. Such excess, if any, shall be paid in cash, subject to applicable withholding for taxes.

2.     Vesting and When Exercisable .

(a)    The SAR vests and becomes exercisable in accordance with Section 2(b) below. Subject to the provisions of the Plan and any vesting and other terms herein, the SAR remains exercisable through the tenth anniversary of the Grant Date (“Expiration Date”) unless Grantee is no longer employed by the Company (or its Affiliates or Parent, if any), in which case the SAR is exercisable only if permitted by, and in accordance with, the provisions of Section 3 below.

(b)    The SAR vests while Grantee is employed by the Company (or an Affiliate or Parent, if any), and is exercisable, as follows: one third (1/3) of the SAR Shares shall vest on each of the first, second and third anniversaries of the Grant Date; provided, however, that upon Grantee’s death or Disability, the number of SAR Shares that would have vested during the Company’s fiscal year in which Grantee’s death or Disability occurs (but which had not vested in such fiscal year prior to the date of Grantee’s death or Disability), will fully vest as of the date of Grantee’s death or Disability.

3.     Accelerated Vesting and Limitation on Exercise Period .

(a)    Notwithstanding Section 2(b) above, the SAR shall vest before the normal vesting dates set forth in Section 2(b) above upon the occurrence of a Change in Control while Grantee is employed by the Company (or an Affiliate or Parent, if any) if the SAR will not remain outstanding following such Change in Control and the surviving corporation or Parent makes settlement of the full value of the outstanding SAR (whether or not then exercisable) in cash or cash equivalents followed by the cancellation of the SAR. If, upon the occurrence of a Change in Control while Grantee is employed by the Company (or an Affiliate or Parent, if any), the SAR remains outstanding following the Change in Control, the SAR is assumed by the surviving corporation or Parent, or the surviving corporation or Parent substitutes SARs with substantially the same terms for the SAR, then the SAR shall continue to vest in accordance with Section 2(b) above, unless Grantee has a “Qualifying Termination” as hereafter defined. Upon the occurrence of a Qualifying Termination, the SAR shall automatically become fully vested, notwithstanding the normal vesting dates set forth in Section 2(b) above.

(b)    Once the SAR vests and becomes exercisable as provided above, the SAR shall remain exercisable for the periods set forth below or until the Expiration Date, whichever occurs first. Thereafter, the unexercised portion of the SAR is forfeited and may not be exercised.

(i)    In the event of the death of Grantee, the SAR is exercisable for three years.

(ii)    In the event of the Disability of Grantee, the SAR is exercisable for three years.

(iii)    In the event of the voluntary termination of Grantee’s employment with the Company (and its Affiliates and Parent, if any), the SAR is exercisable for three years.

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(iv)    In the event of the involuntary termination of Grantee’s employment with the Company (and its Affiliates and Parent, if any), other than a termination for death, Disability, or Cause, the SAR is exercisable for six months.

(c)    For purposes hereof, a “Qualifying Termination” means a termination of Grantee’s employment with the Company (and its Affiliate and Parent, if any) within two years of a Change in Control Date (i) by the Company (or an Affiliate or the Parent, if any) without Cause, or (ii) by the Grantee for “Good Reason”. For purposes hereof, “Good Reason” means (A) a material reduction in Grantee’s base salary, bonuses or incentive compensation; (B) a material reduction in the kind or level of employee benefits, fringe benefits or perquisites to which Grantee is from time to time entitled; (C) a diminution or adverse change in Grantee’s titles, authorities, duties, responsibilities or reporting relationships, or the assignment to Grantee of duties that are inconsistent with, or materially impair his ability to perform, the duties of his position prior to the Change in Control; or (D) a change in the geographic location by 50 miles or more at which Grantee must perform his services.

4.     Forfeiture .

(a)    This Section 4 sets forth the circumstances under which the SAR will be forfeited. All SAR Shares not vested shall be forfeited upon Grantee’s receipt of written notice from the Committee of the occurrence of any of the following events (such notice is referred to as the “Forfeiture Notice”):

(i)    Grantee is terminated for Cause;

(ii)    Grantee engages in competition with the Company; or

(iii)    Grantee engages in any of the following actions: (A) intentional misconduct in the performance of Grantee’s job with the Company or any subsidiary; (B) being openly critical in the media of the Company or any subsidiary or its directors, officers, or employees or those of any subsidiary; (C) pleading guilty or nolo contendere to any felony or any charge involving moral turpitude; (D) misappropriating or destroying Company or subsidiary property including, but not limited to, trade secrets or other proprietary property; (E) improperly disclosing material nonpublic information regarding the Company or any subsidiary; (F) after ceasing employment with the Company, inducing or attempting to induce any employee of the Company or any Subsidiary to leave the employ of the Company or any subsidiary; (G) after ceasing employment with the Company, hiring any person who was a manager level employee of the Company or any subsidiary; or (H) inducing or attempting to induce any customer, supplier, lender, or other business relation of the Company or any subsidiary to cease doing business with the Company or any subsidiary.

(b)    Upon Grantee’s receipt of the Forfeiture Notice, the portions of the SAR not vested will be forfeited and may not be exercised. Notwithstanding any other provision of the SAR, any portion of the SAR that is vested (either in accordance with the normal vesting dates set forth in Section 2 or pursuant to an acceleration of vesting under Section 3) and is or becomes exercisable on or after the date on which Grantee receives the Forfeiture Notice shall remain exercisable for seven (7) days following the date on which Grantee receives the Forfeiture Notice (but in no event later than the Expiration Date). Therefore, any vested and exercisable portion of the SAR that is not exercised within such seven (7) day period (or by the Expiration Date if earlier) will be forfeited and may not be exercised. The Committee or entire Board may waive any condition of forfeiture described in this Section.

5.     Governing Law . This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Missouri without reference to the conflict of laws provisions thereof. The Grantee shall be solely responsible to seek advice as to the laws of any jurisdiction to which he may be subject, and participation by the Grantee in the Plan shall be on the basis of a warranty by the Grantee that he may lawfully so participate without the Company being in breach of the laws of any such jurisdiction.

6.     Amendment . No amendment or modification of this Agreement shall be valid unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the Company and Grantee. The foregoing, however, shall not prevent the Company from amending or modifying the Plan except that no such amendment or modification shall adversely affect the Grantee’s rights under this Agreement.

7.     No Assignment or Transfer . During the lifetime of the Grantee, the SAR shall be exercisable only by the Grantee. The SAR shall not be assignable or transferable other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Grantee may request authorization from the Committee to assign his rights with respect to the SAR granted herein to a trust or custodianship, the beneficiaries of which may include only the Grantee, the Grantee’s spouse or the Grantee’s lineal descendants (by blood or adoption), and, if the Committee grants such authorization, the Grantee may assign his rights

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accordingly. In the event of any such assignment, such trust or custodianship shall be subject to all the restrictions, obligations, and responsibilities as apply to the Grantee under the Plan and this Agreement and shall be entitled to all the rights of the Grantee under the Plan.


ACKNOWLEDGED
AND ACCEPTED:
 
POST HOLDINGS, INC.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
By:
 
Grantee:
 
 
 
 
 
Name:
 
 
 
 
 
Date
 
Title:
 



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