Form 4 - Statement of changes in beneficial ownership of securities

SEC Form 4

FORM 4

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

Check this box to indicate that a transaction was made pursuant to a contract, instruction or written plan for the purchase or sale of equity securities of the issuer that is intended to satisfy the affirmative defense conditions of Rule 10b5-1(c). See Instruction 10.

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person^*

SMOLYANSKY JULIE

(Last)

(First)

(Middle)

C/O LIFEWAY FOODS, INC.

6431 OAKTON STREET

(Street)

MORTON GROVE

60053

(City)

(State)

(Zip)

2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
Lifeway Foods, Inc. [ LWAY ]

5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)

X	Director	X	10% Owner
X	Officer (give title below)		Other (specify below)
	CEO, President and Secretary

3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
08/31/2024

4. If Amendment, Date of Original Filed (Month/Day/Year)

6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line)

X	Form filed by One Reporting Person
	Form filed by More than One Reporting Person

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1. Title of Security (Instr. 3)	2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)		4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed Of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5)			5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4)	6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
1. Title of Security (Instr. 3)	2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	Code	V	Amount	(A) or (D)	Price		6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
Common Stock, no par value	08/31/2024		M		13,333⁽¹⁾	A	$0	2,109,863⁽¹⁾	D
Common Stock, no par value								22,216	I	See footnote⁽²⁾
Common Stock, no par value								4,636	I	See footnote⁽³⁾
Common Stock, no par value								500,000	I	See footnote⁽⁴⁾

Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3)	2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security	3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)		5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5)		6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)		7. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security (Instr. 3 and 4)		8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)	9. Number of derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4)	10. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3)	2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security	3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	Code	V	(A)	(D)	Date Exercisable	Expiration Date	Title	Amount or Number of Shares	8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)		10. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
Restricted Stock Units	⁽⁵⁾							⁽⁵⁾	⁽⁵⁾	Common Stock	18,208		18,208	D
Restricted Stock Units	⁽⁶⁾							⁽⁶⁾	⁽⁶⁾	Common Stock	24,224		24,224	D
Restricted Stock Units	⁽⁷⁾	08/31/2024		M			13,333	⁽⁷⁾	⁽⁷⁾	Common Stock	13,333	$0	13,334	D

Explanation of Responses:

1. Includes 286,337 shares of restricted stock, inclusive of the 13,333 shares reported, which are issuable upon receipt by the Company of consent and agreement by DanoneWave PBC ("Danone") that such issuance will not constitute a breach or violation of or constitute "New Securities" under that certain Stockholders' Agreement, dated as of October 1, 1999, by and among the Corporation, Danone, Michael Smolyansky and the other stockholders of the Corporation listed therein, as amended by that certain letter agreement dated September 24, 1999 and as further amended from time to time (the "Stockholders' Agreement") or upon applicability of certain exemptions under the Stockholders' Agreement.

2. Held for the benefit of minor children.

3. Held by the Reporting Person's spouse.

4. Held by Smolyansky Holding LLC of which the reporting person is the beneficial owner of 50%. The reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares except to the extent of any pecuniary interest therein.

5. Each restricted stock unit has a value equal to one share of common stock. Of such restricted stock units, 6,070 will vest on January 10, 2025, 6,070 will vest on January 10, 2026 and 6,068 will vest on January 10, 2027, contingent on the Reporting Person's continued service on each applicable vesting date. The issuance of shares upon vesting of these restricted stock units is contingent upon receipt by the Company of consent and agreement by Danone that such issuance will not constitute a breach of violation of or constitute "New Securities" under the Stockholders' Agreement or upon applicability of certain exemptions under the Stockholders' Agreement.

6. Each restricted stock unit has a value equal to one share of common stock. Of such restricted stock units, 12,113 will vest on June 16, 2025 and 12,111 will vest on June 16, 2026, contingent on the Reporting Person's continued service on each applicable vesting date. The issuance of shares upon vesting of these restricted stock units is contingent upon receipt by the Company of consent and agreement by Danone that such issuance will not constitute a breach of violation of or constitute "New Securities" under the Stockholders' Agreement or upon applicability of certain exemptions under the Stockholders' Agreement.

7. Each restricted stock unit has a value equal to one share of common stock. The remaining restricted stock units will vest on August 31, 2025, contingent on the Reporting Person's continued service on the vesting date. The issuance of shares upon vesting of these restricted stock units is contingent upon receipt by the Company of consent and agreement by Danone that such issuance will not constitute a breach of violation of or constitute "New Securities" under the Stockholders' Agreement or upon applicability of certain exemptions under the Stockholders' Agreement.

	/s/ Julie Smolyansky	09/04/2024
	** Signature of Reporting Person	Date
Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4 (b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
Note: File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient, see Instruction 6 for procedure.
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