Current Report Filing (8-k)

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): April 22, 2021

WORKHORSE GROUP INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


Nevada	001-37673	26-1394771
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)	(Commission File Number)	(IRS Employer Identification No.)

100 Commerce Drive, Loveland, Ohio 45140

(Address of principal executive offices) (zip code)

(513) 360-4704

(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

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 (see General Instruction A.2. below):

☐ 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(s)

Name of each exchange on which registered

Common Stock, $0.001 par value per share

WKHS

The Nasdaq Capital Market

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined 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 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 5.02. Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements with Certain Officers.

On April 22, 2021, Workhorse Group Inc. (the “Company”) announced the appointment of Ryan Gaul as President – Commercial Trucks and will be responsible for the Company’s commercial vehicles division, including the Company’s manufacturing location in Union City. Mr. Gaul has nearly 20 years of automotive experience with more than 15 of those years in senior management. Mr. Gaul joins the Company from Gentherm, Inc (NASDAQ: THRM) a leading automotive technology company where he served in various roles since 2000. He brings broad functional leadership experience, having lead IT, Strategy, M&A, Business Development, Marketing, Manufacturing and Supply Chain. While at Gentherm, Mr. Gaul held various senior executive leadership roles, including international assignments in Germany and China, where he led Gentherm’s lean manufacturing transformation and commercial and manufacturing expansion in Asia. As SVP of Global Manufacturing and Supply Chain, he led over 10,000 associates and 12 manufacturing sites. Mr. Gaul also brings significant commercial experience, having lead Marketing, Business Development, Strategy and M&A functions at the senior executive level. Mr. Gaul has a B.A. in Philosophy from the University of Missouri, Columbia. Mr. Gaul does not have any family relationship with any director, executive officer or person nominated or chosen by us to become a director or an executive officer. Since January 1, 2019, Mr. Gaul has not had a direct or indirect material interest in any transaction or proposed transaction, in which the Company was or is a proposed participant exceeding $120,000.

The Company entered into an employment agreement (the “Gaul Employment Agreement”) with Mr. Gaul effective April 22, 2021. Pursuant to the Gaul Employment Agreement, Mr. Gaul will receive a base salary of $300,000 per year. Mr. Gaul will be eligible to receive a target performance bonus commencing the calendar year ending December 31, 2021 equal to 50% of his base salary with the potential to increase to 75% of his base salary assuming pre-determined performance goals are met as determined by the Compensation Committee as well as a signing bonus of $25,000. The Company granted Mr. Gaul 36,116 shares of restricted common stock under the Company’s 2019 Stock Incentive Plan. The restricted stock will vest over three years commencing in October 2021. In the event Mr. Gaul is terminated without cause or resigns for good reason (as such terms are defined in the Gaul Employment Agreement), he will be entitled to severance payments in an amount equal to 16 months of his base salary plus a prorated portion of his target performance bonus. In addition, any outstanding equity awards will immediately accelerate and vest. The Company will also continue to pay the employer portion of the COBRA premium cost for up to 15 months.

The foregoing summary description of the Gaul Employment Agreement does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by, the full text of the agreement, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 10.1 hereto and incorporated by reference herein.

On April 26, 2021, the Company issued a press release regarding Mr. Gaul’s appointment. The press release is filed with this report on Form 8-K as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.


Exhibit No.						Description
10.1						Employment Agreement between Ryan Gaul and Workhorse Group Inc. dated April 22, 2021
99.1						Press Release dated April 2 6 , 2021
104						Cover page from this Current Report on Form 8-K, formatted as Inline XBRL

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.