Item 9A. Controls and Procedures
ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, we conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act) as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on this evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of such date. Our disclosure controls and procedures are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms and that such information is accumulated and communicated to management including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures.
Our disclosure controls and procedures are based on assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and even effective disclosure controls and procedures can only provide reasonable assurance of achieving their objectives. Because of their inherent limitations, we cannot guarantee that our disclosure controls and procedures will succeed in achieving their stated objectives in all cases, that they will be complied with in all cases, or that they will prevent or detect all misstatements.
Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(f).
Under the supervision and with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, our management conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting based on the framework set forth in Internal Control — Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Our internal control over financial reporting includes policies and procedures that provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external reporting purposes in accordance with GAAP. Based on this evaluation, our management concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2023.
Deloitte & Touche LLP, the independent registered public accounting firm that audited the consolidated financial statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, has issued an attestation report on the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2023, which is included herein.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
No changes in our internal control over financial reporting occurred during the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2023 have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Stockholders and the Board of Directors of Sweetgreen, Inc.
Opinion on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
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We have audited the internal control over financial reporting of Sweetgreen, Inc. and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2023, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). In our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2023, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework (2013) issued by COSO.
We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2023, of the Company and our report dated February 29, 2024, expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial statements.
Basis for Opinion
The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Definition and Limitations of Internal Control over Financial Reporting
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP
Los Angeles, California
February 29, 2024
ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION
Trading Arrangements
During our last fiscal quarter, our directors and officers (as defined in Rule 16a-1(f) under the Exchange Act) adopted or terminated the contracts, instructions or written plans for the purchase or sale of our securities set forth in the table below.
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Type of Trading Arrangement
Name and Position Action Adoption/ Termination
Date Rule 10b5-1* Non-
Rule 10b5-1** Total Shares of Class A Common Stock to be Sold Expiration Date
Nathaniel Ru, Chief Brand Officer and Director Termination December 19, 2023 X up to 625,745 September 9, 2024
* Contract, instruction or written plan intended to satisfy the affirmative defense conditions of Rule 10b5-1(c) under the Exchange Act.
** “Non-Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement” as defined in Item 408(c) of Regulation S-K under the Exchange Act.
ITEM 9C. DISCLOSURE REGARDING FOREIGN JURISDICTIONS THAT PREVENT INSPECTIONS
Not Applicable.
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PART III
ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Information required by this item regarding directors and director nominees, executive officers, the board of directors and its committees, and certain corporate governance matters is incorporated by reference to the information set forth under the captions “Proposal 1—Election of Directors” and “Executive Officers” in the definitive proxy statement for our 2024 annual meeting of stockholders, which will be filed no later than 120 days after December 31, 2023 (the “2024 Proxy Statement”).
Our written code of business conduct and ethics (the “Code of Conduct”) applies to all of our employees, officers and directors, including our principal executive officer, principal financial officer and principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions. The Code of Conduct is available on our corporate website at investor.Sweetgreen.com in the Governance section under “Governance Documents.” If we make any substantive amendments to our Code of Conduct or grant any of our directors or executive officers any waiver, including any implicit waiver, from a provision of our Code of Conduct, we will disclose the nature of the amendment or waiver on our website or in a Current Report on Form 8-K.
ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Information required by this item regarding executive compensation is incorporated by reference to the information set forth under the captions “Executive Compensation,” “Non-Employee Director Compensation” and “Board and Corporate Governance Highlights” in the 2024 Proxy Statement.
ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNER AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
Information required by this item regarding security ownership of certain beneficial owners and management is incorporated by reference to the information set forth under the caption “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management” in the 2024 Proxy Statement. Information required by this item regarding securities authorized for issuance under our equity compensation plans is incorporated by reference to the information set forth under the caption “Equity Compensation Plan Information” in the 2024 Proxy Statement.
ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
Information required by this item regarding certain relationships and related transactions is incorporated by reference to the information set forth under the caption “Certain Relationships and Related Person Transactions” in the 2024 Proxy Statement. Information required by this item regarding director independence is incorporated by reference to the information set forth under the caption “Board and Corporate Governance Highlights” in the 2024 Proxy Statement.
ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES
Information required by this item regarding principal accounting fees and services is incorporated by reference to the information set forth under the caption “Proposal 2—Ratification of Selection of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm” in the 2024 Proxy Statement.
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PART IV
ITEM 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
(a) Exhibits.
The following exhibits are included herein or incorporated herein by reference:
Incorporation by Reference
Exhibit
Number Exhibit
Description Form File No. Exhibit Filing Date Filed Herewith
3.1 Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant
8-K 001-41069 3.1 11/22/2021
3.2 Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Registrant
8-K 001-41069 3.2 11/22/2021
4.1 Form of Class A Common Stock Certificate of the Registrant.
S-1/A 333-260472 4.1 11/09/2021
4.2 Description of Capital Stock
10-K 001-41069 4.2 03/04/2022
10.1 Amended and Restated Stockholders’ Agreement, dated as of September 3, 2021, by and between the Registrant and certain of its stockholders.
S-1 333-260472 10.1 10/25/2021
10.2+ Sweetgreen, Inc. 2009 Equity Incentive Plan and forms of agreements thereunder.
S-1 333-260472 10.2 10/25/2021
10.3+ Sweetgreen, Inc. 2019 Equity Incentive Plan and forms of agreements thereunder.
S-1 333-260472 10.3 10/25/2021
10.4+ Forms of Restricted Stock Unit Grant Notice and Restricted Stock Unit Agreement for Awards Under the 2019 Equity Incentive Plan.
S-1 333-260472 10.4 10/25/2021
10.5+ Sweetgreen, Inc. 2021 Equity Incentive Plan and forms of agreements thereunder.
X
10.6+ Spyce Food Co. 2016 Stock Option and Grant Plan.
S-1 333-260472 10.6 10/25/2021
10.7+ Sweetgreen, Inc. 2021 Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
S-1 333-260472 10.7 10/25/2021
10.8+ Non-Employee Director Compensation Policy.
S-1 333-260472 10.8 10/25/2021
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10.9+ Form of Indemnification Agreement entered into by and between the Registrant and each director and executive officer.
S-1 333-260472 10.9 10/25/2021
10.10+ Executive Employment Agreement, effective October 1, 2021, by and between the Registrant and Jonathan Neman.
S-1 333-260472 10.10 10/25/2021
10.11+ Executive Employment Agreement, effective October 1, 2021, by and between the Registrant and Nicolas Jammet.
X
10.12+ Executive Employment Agreement, effective October 1, 2021, by and between the Registrant and Jim McPhail.
S-1 333-260472 10.12 10/25/2021
10.13+
Executive Employment Agreement, effective October 1, 2021, by and between the Registrant and Nathaniel Ru.
X
10.14+
Executive Employment Agreement, effective October 1, 2021, by and between the Registrant and Mitch Reback.
X
10.15+
Executive Employment Agreement, effective October 1, 2021, by and between the Registrant and Wouleta Ayele.
X
10.16+
Executive Employment Agreement, effective October 1, 2021, by and between the Registrant and Adrienne Gemperle.
X
10.17+
Executive Employment Agreement, effective February 5, 2024, by and between the Registrant and Rossann Williams.
X
10.18+
Separation Agreement, effective December 31, 202 3 , by and between the Registrant and Jim McPhail .
X
10.19 Lease Agreement, dated as of May 23, 2019, by and between the Registrant and Welcome to the Dairy, LLC.
S-1 333-260472 10.13 10/25/2021
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10.20 First Amendment to Lease Agreement, dated as of August 12, 2020, by and between the Registrant and Welcome to the Dairy, LLC.
S-1 333-260472 10.14 10/25/2021
10.21 First Amended and Restated Revolving Credit, Delayed Draw Term Loan and Security Agreement, dated as of December 14, 2020, by and between the Registrant and EagleBank.
S-1 333-260472 10.15 10/25/2021
10.22 Amendment No. 1 to First Amended and Restated Revolving Credit, Delayed Draw Term Loan and Security Agreement, dated as of September 29, 2021, by and between the Registrant and EagleBank.
S-1 333-260472 10.16 10/25/2021
10.23 Amendment No. 2 to First Amended and Restated Revolving Credit, Delayed Draw Term Loan and Security Agreement, dated as of May 9, 2022, by and between the Registrant and EagleBank.
10-Q 001-41069 10.17 8/10/2022
10.24 Amendment No. 3 to First Amended and Restated Revolving Credit, Delayed Draw Term Loan and Security Agreement, dated as of December 13, 2022, by and between the Registrant and EagleBank.
8-K 001-41069 10.18 12/16/2022
10.25+ Form of Exchange Agreement by and among the Registrant, Jonathan Neman, Nicolas Jammet, Nathaniel Ru, and certain related entities.
S-1 333-260472 10.17 10/25/2021
10.26 Amendment No. 4 to First Amended and Restated Revolving Credit, Delayed Draw Term Loan and Security Agreement, dated as of April 25, 2023, by and between the Registrant and EagleBank.
10-Q 001-41069 10.1 7/28/2023
21.1 Subsidiaries of the Registrant.
X
23.1 Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent registered public accounting firm.
X
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24.1 Power of Attorney (included on the signatures page of the Annual Report on Form 10-K).
X
31.1 Certification of Principal Executive Officer Pursuant to Rules 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
X
31.2
Certification of Principal Executive Officer Pursuant to Rules 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 .
X
32.1 †
Certification of Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
X
97.1 I ncentive Compensation Recoupment Policy
X
101.INS XBRL Instance Document (embedded within the Inline XBRL document) X
101.SCH XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document X
101.CAL XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document X
101.DEF XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document X
101.LAB XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document X
101.PRE XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document X
104 Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document) X
+ Indicates management contract or compensatory plan.
† The certifications attached as Exhibit 32.1 and Exhibit 32.2 that accompany this Annual Report are not deemed filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission and are not to be incorporated by reference into any filing of the Registrant under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, whether made before or after the date of this Annual Report, irrespective of any general incorporation language contained in such filing.
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(b) Financial Statement Schedules.
All financial statement schedules are omitted because the information required to be set forth therein is not applicable or is shown in the consolidated financial statements or the notes thereto.
ITEM 16. FORM 10-K SUMMARY
None.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in Los Angeles, California, on February 29, 2024.
SWEETGREEN, INC.
By: /s/ Jonathan Neman
Name: Jonathan Neman
Title: Chief Executive Officer
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Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in Los Angeles, California, on February 29, 2024.
SWEETGREEN, INC.
By: /s/ Mitch Reback
Name: Mitch Reback
Title: Chief Financial Officer
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POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Jonathan Neman and Mitch Reback, and each or any one of them, his or her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments to this Annual Report on Form 10-K, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in connection therewith, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, or their or his or her substitutes or substitute, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1934, as amended, this Annual Report on Form 10-K has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Signature
Title
Date
/s/ Jonathan Neman
Chief Executive Officer and Director
February 29, 2024
Jonathan Neman
(Principal Executive Officer)
/s/ Nicolas Jammet
Chief Concept Officer and Director
February 29, 2024
Nicolas Jammet
/s/ Nathaniel Ru
Chief Brand Officer and Director
February 29, 2024
Nathaniel Ru
/s/ Mitch Reback
Chief Financial Officer
February 29, 2024
Mitch Reback
(Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer)
/s/ Neil Blumenthal
Director
February 29, 2024
Neil Blumenthal
/s/ Julie Bornstein
Director
February 29, 2024
Julie Bornstein
/s/ Cliff Burrows
Director
February 29, 2024
Cliff Burrows
/s/ Valerie Jarrett
Director
February 29, 2024
Valerie Jarrett
/s/ Youngme Moon
Director
February 29, 2024
Youngme Moon
/s/ Bradley Singer
Director
February 29, 2024
Bradley Singer
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