As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 29, 2023

Registration No. 333-    

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, DC 20549

 

 

FORM S-8

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

 

CONAGRA BRANDS, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware		47-0248710
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)		(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

222 W. Merchandise Mart Plaza Suite 1300, Chicago, IL, 60654

(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

Conagra Brands, Inc. 2023 Stock Plan

(Full title of the plan)

David S. Marberger

Executive Vice

President and Chief

Financial Officer

Conagra Brands, Inc.

222 W. Merchandise Mart Plaza Suite 1300, Chicago, IL, 60654

(312) 549-5000

(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

 

 

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

 

Large accelerated filer

☑

Accelerated filer

☐

Non-accelerated filer

☐

Smaller reporting company

☐

Emerging growth company

☐

 

 

 

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This Registration Statement on Form S-8 (this “Registration Statement”) is filed by Conagra Brands, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Registrant”), for the purpose of registering 22,834,313 shares of common stock, par value $0.05 per share (the “Common Stock”), of the Registrant that may be issued under the Conagra Brands, Inc. 2023 Stock Plan (the “Plan”), which became effective on September 14, 2023.

PART II

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Item 3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference.

The Registrant is subject to the informational and reporting requirements of Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and, in accordance therewith, files reports, proxy statements and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”). The following documents, which are on file with the Commission, are incorporated into this Registration Statement by reference:

 

(a)

The Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended May 28, 2023 (Commission File No.  001-07275), filed with the Commission on July 13, 2023;

 

(b)

The Registrant’s Current Reports on Form 8-K (Commission File No. 001-07275), filed with the Commission on June  22, July 20, July  31, and September 19, 2023.

 

(c)

The description of the Common Stock contained in the Registrant’s the description of the Registrant’s Common Stock contained in our registration statement on Form 8-A,  as amended, filed with the SEC on July 12, 1996, as updated by the description of our Common Stock contained in Exhibit 4.4 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended May 28, 2023, including any amendments or reports subsequently filed with the SEC for the purpose of updating such description.

All documents filed by the Registrant with the Commission pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act subsequent to the effective date of this Registration Statement and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment that indicates that all securities offered have been sold or that deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, will be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement and to be part hereof from the date of filing of such documents. Any statement contained in any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein will be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Registration Statement to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded will not be deemed, except as modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Registration Statement.

Item 4. Description of Securities.

Not applicable.

Item 5. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.

Not applicable.

 

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Item 6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

Section 102(b)(7) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware allows a corporation to include in its certificate of incorporation a provision that limits or eliminates the personal liability of directors of a corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for a breach of a fiduciary duty as a director, except where the director breached his duty of loyalty, failed to act in good faith, engaged in intentional misconduct or knowingly violated a law, authorized the payment of a dividend or approved a stock repurchase or redemption in violation of Delaware corporate law or obtained an improper personal benefit.

Section 145 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware allows a corporation to 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 such corporation) by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of such corporation, or is or was serving at the request of such corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise. The indemnity may include 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, provided that 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 the corporation and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe such person’s conduct was unlawful. A Delaware corporation may indemnify directors, officers, employees and other agents of such corporation in an action by or in the right of a corporation to procure a judgment in its favor under the same conditions against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit, except that no indemnification is permitted without judicial approval if the person to be indemnified has been adjudged to be liable to the corporation with respect to such claim, issue or matter. Where a present or former director or officer of the corporation is successful on the merits or otherwise in the defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to above or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, the corporation must indemnify such person against the expenses (including attorneys’ fees) which he or she actually and reasonably incurred in connection therewith.

Section 174 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware provides, among other things, that a director who willfully or negligently approves of an unlawful payment of dividends or an unlawful stock purchase or redemption, may be held liable for such actions. A director who was either absent when the unlawful actions were approved or dissented at the time, may avoid liability by causing his or her dissent to such actions to be entered into the books containing the minutes of the meetings of the board of directors at the time such action occurred or immediately after such absent director receives notice of the unlawful acts.

Pursuant to Article V of the Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant, the Registrant shall, to the extent required, and may, to the extent permitted, by Section 102 and 145 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, as amended from time to time, indemnify and reimburse all persons whom it may indemnify and reimburse pursuant thereto. No director shall be liable to the Registrant or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director. A director shall continue to be liable for (1) any breach of a director’s duty of loyalty to the Registrant or its stockholders; (2) acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law;

 

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(1)

paying a dividend or approving a stock repurchase which would violate Section 174 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware; or

 

(2)

any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit.

The by-laws of the Registrant provide for indemnification of Registrant officers and directors against all expenses, liability or losses reasonably incurred or suffered by the officer or director, including liability arising under the Securities Act, to the extent legally permissible under Section 145 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware where any such person was, is, or is threatened to be made a party to or is involved in any action, suit or proceeding whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, by reason of the fact such person was serving the Registrant in such capacity. Generally, under Delaware law, indemnification will only be available where an officer or director can establish that such person acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Registrant. The by-laws of the Registrant limit the indemnification provided to a Registrant officer or director in connection with actions, suits, or proceedings commenced by the Registrant officer or director to instances where the commencement of the proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the Board of Directors of the Registrant.

The Registrant also maintains a director and officer insurance policy which insures the officers and directors of the Registrant and its subsidiaries against damages, judgments, settlements and costs incurred by reason of certain wrongful acts committed by such persons in their capacities as officers and directors.

Item 7. Exemption from Registration Claimed.

Not applicable.

Item 8. Exhibits.

 

Exhibit Number		Exhibit Description
4.1		The Registrant’s Restated Certificate of Incorporation, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the Commission on September 26, 2022 (Commission File No. 001-07275)
4.2		Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Registrant, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the Commission on September 19, 2023 (Commission File No. 001-07275)
4.3		Conagra Brands, Inc. 2023 Stock Plan, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the Commission on September 19, 2023 (Commission File No. 001-07275)
5.1		Opinion of Counsel
23.1		Consent of KPMG LLP

 

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23.2		Consent of Counsel (included in Exhibit 5.1)
24.1		Power of Attorney (included on signature page)
107.1		Calculation of Filing Fee Table

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;

(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 a prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective Registration Statement.

(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) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement.

(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, 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, each filing of the Registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in the Registration 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.

 

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(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 Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the 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 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, 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 the City of Chicago, State of Illinois, on this 29th day of September, 2023.

 

# # #

 

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KNOW ALL BY THESE PRESENTS, that each of the undersigned directors and officers of ConAgra Foods, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Registrant”), does hereby constitute and appoint each of Sean M. Connolly, David S. Marberger, Carey Bartell and William E. Johnson, or any of them, each acting alone, as the true and lawful attorney-in-fact or attorneys-in-fact for each of the undersigned, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, and in the name, place and stead of each of the undersigned, to execute and file any and all amendments, including post-effective amendments, supplements and exhibits to this registration statement and any and all applications or other documents to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission or any state securities commission or other regulatory authority or exchange with respect to the securities covered by this Registration Statement, with full power and authority to do and perform any and all acts and things whatsoever necessary, appropriate or desirable to be done in the premises, or in the name, place and stead of the said director and/or officer, hereby ratifying and approving the acts of said attorneys and any of them and any such substitute.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated as of September 29, 2023.

 

Signature		Title		Date
/s/ Sean M. Connolly Sean M. Connolly		Director, President and Chief Executive Officer		September 29, 2023
/s/ David S. Marberger David S. Marberger		Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer		September 29, 2023
/s/ William E. Johnson William E. Johnson		Senior Vice President and Controller		September 29, 2023
/s/ Anil Arora Anil Arora		Director		September 29, 2023
/s/ Thomas Brown Thomas “Tony” K. Brown		Director		September 29, 2023
/s/ Emanuel Chirico Emanuel “Manny” Chirico		Director		September 29, 2023
/s/ George Dowdie George Dowdie		Director		September 29, 2023
/s/ Francisco Fraga Francisco Fraga		Director		September 29, 2023
/s/ Fran Horowitz Fran Horowitz		Director		September 29, 2023
/s/ Richard H. Lenny Richard H. Lenny		Director		September 29, 2023
/s/ Melissa Lora Melissa Lora		Director		September 29, 2023
/s/ Ruth Ann Marshall Ruth Ann Marshall		Director		September 29, 2023
/s/ Denise A Paulonis Denise A. Paulonis		Director		September 29, 2023

 

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