Form 8-K - Current report

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): September 1, 2023

Karat Packaging Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware		001-40336		83-2237832
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation		(Commission File Number		(IRS Employer Identification No.)

6185 Kimball Avenue, Chino, CA 91708

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

(626) 965-8882

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:

N/A

(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, $0.001 par value per share		KRT		The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC

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

Emerging growth company ☒

If an emerging growth company, indicate by checkmark 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 5.02. Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

Appointment of Director

On September 1, 2023, the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Karat Packaging Inc. (the “Company”), acting upon the recommendation of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, appointed Jian Guo, the Company’s Chief Financial Officer, as a director of the Company to fill the vacancy resulting from Joanne Wang’s departure from the Board, effective September 1, 2023. Ms. Guo will serve as a director of the Company until the Company’s next annual meeting of stockholders and until her successor is duly elected and qualified, or until her earlier resignation or removal.

There are no related party transactions between the Company and Ms. Guo which would require disclosure under Item 404 of Regulation S-K.

A copy of the press release announcing Ms. Guo’s appointment as director of the Company is attached to this Current Report on Form 8-K as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated herein by reference.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits

The following exhibits are furnished herewith:

Exhibit Number		Description
99.1		Press release, dated September 5, 2023.
104		Cover Page Interactive Data File - the cover page iXBRL tags are 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.

Date: September 5, 2023	KARAT PACKAGING INC.

	By:	/s/ Jian Guo
		Jian Guo
		Chief Financial Officer

Exhibit 99.1

Karat Packaging Appoints Jian Guo Board of Directors

CHINO, Calif., September 5, 2023 –Karat Packaging Inc. (Nasdaq: KRT) (the “Company” or “Karat”), a specialty distributor and manufacturer of disposable foodservice products and related items, today announced the appointment of its Chief Financial Officer, Jian Guo, to the board of directors, effective immediately, filling a vacant seat. Ms. Guo will continue in her role as Chief Financial Officer.

Ms. Guo joined Karat in February 2022 with deep experience in the public company marketplace. Previously, she was senior vice president and corporate controller at Resources Connection, Inc., a Nasdaq-listed global consulting firm, and was senior director, financial reporting, at Newegg Inc., an international tech-focused e-retailer. She previously held a nine-year career with Ernst & Young, LLP, assisting with public offerings and SEC reporting and managing multiple audit teams.

Karat’s board comprises five members, three of whom are independent.

About Karat Packaging Inc.

Karat Packaging Inc. is a specialty distributor and manufacturer of a wide range of disposable foodservice products and related items, primarily used by national and regional restaurants and in foodservice settings throughout the United States. Its products include food and take-out containers, bags, tableware, cups, lids, cutlery, straws, specialty beverage ingredients, equipment, gloves and other products. The company’s eco-friendly Karat Earth® line offers quality, sustainably focused products that are made from renewable resources. Karat Packaging also offers customized solutions, including new product development and design, printing, and logistics services. To learn more about Karat Packaging, please visit the company’s website at www.karatpackaging.com.

Investor Relations and Media Contacts:

PondelWilkinson Inc.

Judy Lin/Roger Pondel

310-279-5980

ir@karatpackaging.com

Cover	Sep. 01, 2023
Cover [Abstract]
Document Type	8-K
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Sep. 01, 2023
Entity File Number	001-40336
Entity Registrant Name	Karat Packaging Inc.
Entity Central Index Key	0001758021
Entity Tax Identification Number	83-2237832
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Entity Address, Address Line One	6185 Kimball Avenue
Entity Address, City or Town	Chino
Entity Address, State or Province	CA
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	91708
City Area Code	626
Local Phone Number	965-8882
Written Communications	false
Soliciting Material	false
Pre-commencement Tender Offer	false
Pre-commencement Issuer Tender Offer	false
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock, $0.001 par value per share
Trading Symbol	KRT
Security Exchange Name	NASDAQ
Entity Emerging Growth Company	true
Elected Not To Use the Extended Transition Period	false