Appointment of Principal Officers
Effective as of the Effective Time, the Board also appointed the following principal officers: Ms. Julie A. Schertell, as the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer, and Mr. Omar Hoek, as the Company’s Chief Operating Officer.
A biography for Ms. Schertell can be found in the proxy statement dated April 8, 2022, filed by Neenah, in connection with its 2022 annual meeting of shareholders. Other than the Merger Agreement, there are no arrangements between Ms. Schertell and any other person pursuant to which Ms. Schertell was selected as Chief Executive Officer of the Company. There are no family relationships between Ms. Schertell and any of the Company’s directors or executive officers, and the Company has not entered into any transactions with Ms. Schertell that are required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K.
A biography for Mr. Hoek can be found in the Company’s Form 10-K for its fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, filed with the SEC on March 1, 2022. Other than the Merger Agreement, there are no arrangements between Mr. Hoek and any other person pursuant to which Mr. Hoek was selected as Chief Operating Officer of the Company. There are no family relationships between Mr. Hoek and any of the Company’s directors or executive officers, and the Company has not entered into any transactions with Mr. Hoek that are required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K.
Departure of Principal Officer and Named Executive Officer
Effective as of the Effective Time, Dr. Kramer tendered his resignation as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer. Dr. Kramer had previously served as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer since April 21, 2017. This resignation was not a result of any disagreement between the Company and Dr. Kramer on any matter relating to the Company’s operations, policies or practices.
Coincident with his resignation, Dr. Kramer has entered into a Transition Services Agreement. Under the Transition Services Agreement, and in exchange for a waiver and release of claims and a reaffirmation of his restrictive covenant obligations to the Company, Dr. Kramer will be entitled to the severance benefits and accelerated equity treatment as described in the Company’s proxy statement dated May 18, 2022 and further summarized in the Transition Services Agreement. Dr. Kramer will also be engaged as an independent contractor and consultant of the Company to serve as a strategic advisor to Ms. Schertell in her role as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer. The transition services period is intended to be for the period from July 6, 2022 through July 5, 2023, unless earlier terminated by the parties. Dr. Kramer will be paid a monthly fee during the transition services period equal to $166,666.67 each month the Transition Services Agreement remains in effect.
The foregoing summary of the Transition Services Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Transition Services Agreement with Dr. Kramer, a copy of which is attached to this Current Report on Form 8-K as Exhibit 10.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.
Effective as of the Effective Time, Tracey Peacock tendered her resignation as the Company’s Executive Vice President, Advanced Materials & Structures. This resignation was not a result of any disagreement between the Company and Ms. Peacock on any matter relating to the Company’s operations, policies or practices.
Item 5.03. |
Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year. |
On July 6, 2022, in accordance with the Merger Agreement, the Certificate of Incorporation of the Company was amended to change the name of the Company from “Schweitzer-Mauduit International, Inc.” to “Mativ Holdings, Inc.” (the “Name Change Amendment”). A copy of the Name Change Amendment is attached to this Current Report on Form 8-K as Exhibit 3.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.
At the Effective Time, in accordance with the Merger Agreement, the Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company were amended and restated to reflect certain governance matters (the “Amended Bylaws”) contemplated by the Merger Agreement. Pursuant to the Amended Bylaws, the Board will have nine (9) members, consisting of five (5) directors designated by the continuing Company directors; and four (4) directors will be designated by Neenah. The Amended Bylaws provide that, from and after the Effective Time until the date of the Company’s annual meeting of stockholders to be held in 2025 (or if an annual meeting of stockholders is not held in 2025, until December 31, 2025), vacancies