Executive pay changes at FAT Brands (NASDAQ: FAT) filing

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

FAT Brands Inc. reported new compensation arrangements for three named executive officers. On December 31, 2025, the company entered into letter agreements with Chief Financial Officer Kenneth Kuick, Chief Operating Officer Thayer Wiederhorn, and Chief Development Officer Taylor Wiederhorn. Each agreed to waive previously granted but unpaid bonuses for fiscal year 2024, and the company paid 50% of those amounts as retention bonuses: $500,000 for Kuick and $550,000 each for Thayer and Taylor Wiederhorn, paid on January 2, 2026.

In addition, the base salary for each executive increased from $550,000 to $950,000 effective January 1, 2026. Keeping both the retention bonuses and salary increases depends on continued employment through the earlier of June 30, 2026 or specified milestones if the company were to file for protection under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. If an executive resigns voluntarily (other than due to death or disability) or is terminated for cause before that time, he must repay the retention bonus and salary increase amounts already received, net of taxes.

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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): December 31, 2025

FAT Brands Inc.

(Exact name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

Delaware		001-38250		82-1302696
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)		(Commission File Number)		(IRS Employer Identification No.)

9720 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 500 Beverly Hills, CA		90212
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)		(Zip Code)

Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code: (310) 319-1850

Not Applicable

(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 (see General Instructions 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
Class A Common Stock		FAT		The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC
Class B Common Stock		FATBB		The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC
Series B Cumulative Preferred Stock		FATBP		The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC

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 of Certain Officers.

On December 31, 2025, FAT Brands Inc. (the “Company”) entered into letter agreements (the “Letter Agreements”) with the following named executive officers of the Company regarding certain compensation matters: Kenneth Kuick, Chief Financial Officer; Thayer Wiederhorn, Chief Operating Officer; and Taylor Wiederhorn, Chief Development Officer (the “NEOs”). Pursuant to the Letter Agreements, each of the NEOs agreed to waive their previously granted but unpaid bonuses for fiscal year 2024, and the Company agreed to pay 50% of such amounts as retention bonuses to the NEOs, which amounted to $500,000 for Kenneth Kuick, $550,000 for Thayer Wiederhorn, and $550,000 for Taylor Wiederhorn (the “Retention Bonuses”). Such amounts were paid to each NEO on January 2, 2026. In addition, each of the NEOs received a base salary increase from $550,000 to $950,000 effective January 1, 2026 (the “Salary Increases”).

The Letter Agreements provide that the right of each NEO to keep the Retention Bonuses and Salary Increases are subject to their continued employment with the Company until the earlier of (i) June 30, 2026 or (ii) should the Company file for protection under Chapter 11 or any other provision of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, the effective date of the Company’s plan of reorganization or liquidation, or the date on which such Chapter 11 case is dismissed or converted to a case under Chapter 7 of the Bankruptcy Code. If, prior to the earlier of such events, an NEO voluntarily terminates his employment (other than as a result of death or disability) or if the NEO’s employment is terminated for cause (as defined in the Letter Agreement), such NEO will be required to repay the portions of the Retention Bonus and Salary Increase already received, less applicable taxes.

The preceding description of the Letter Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the form of Letter Agreement filed herewith as Exhibit 10.1 and incorporated herein by this reference.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits.

Exhibit No.		Description
10.1		Form of Letter Agreement, dated December 31, 2025
104		Cover Page Interactive Data File (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 thereunto duly authorized.

Date: January 7, 2026

	FAT Brands Inc.
	By:	/s/ Kenneth J. Kuick
		Kenneth J. Kuick
		Chief Financial Officer

FAQ

What executive compensation changes did FAT (FAT Brands Inc.) disclose?

FAT Brands Inc. disclosed letter agreements with its Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer, and Chief Development Officer that provide retention bonuses and increase each executive’s base salary.

How much are the retention bonuses for FAT executives Kuick and the Wiederhorns?

The company paid retention bonuses equal to 50% of previously granted but unpaid 2024 bonuses: $500,000 for Kenneth Kuick and $550,000 each for Thayer and Taylor Wiederhorn, paid on January 2, 2026.

How did FAT Brands change base salaries for its named executive officers?

Effective January 1, 2026, the base salary for each of the three named executive officers increased from $550,000 to $950,000.

What conditions must FAT executives meet to keep their retention bonuses and salary increases?

The executives must remain employed until the earlier of June 30, 2026, or specified milestones tied to any company filing for protection under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. Leaving voluntarily (other than due to death or disability) or being terminated for cause before then requires repayment of amounts received, net of taxes.

Which FAT Brands officers are covered by these new letter agreements?

The agreements cover Kenneth Kuick (Chief Financial Officer), Thayer Wiederhorn (Chief Operating Officer), and Taylor Wiederhorn (Chief Development Officer).

When were the FAT Brands retention bonuses paid to the executives?

The retention bonus amounts were paid to each of the three named executive officers on January 2, 2026.