8-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, DC 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) January 15, 2018

DARLING INGREDIENTS INC.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

Delaware	001-13323	36-2495346
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)	(Commission File Number)	(IRS Employer Identification No.)

251 O’CONNOR RIDGE BLVD., SUITE 300, IRVING, TEXAS			75038
	(Address of Principal Executive Offices)		(Zip Code)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:		(972) 717-0300

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))

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. ¨

1

Item 5.02. Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

Appointment of Mr. Brad Phillips

On January 15, 2018, Darling Ingredients Inc. (the “Company”) announced that Brad Phillips had become its Executive Vice President - Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Phillips will report to Randall C. Stuewe, the Company’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. A copy of the press release announcing Mr. Phillips’ appointment is filed as Exhibit 99.1 to this Form 8-K.

Mr. Phillips, age 58, has served in a number of different capacities for the Company since 1988. Most recently he served as the Vice President - Treasurer since May 2014. Previously, he held the positions of Treasurer from January 1993 to May 2014, Assistant Treasurer from January 1991 to January 1993, and Assistant Controller from October 1988 to January 1991. Prior to Darling, he was the Corporate Accounting Manager at Republic Health Corporation from 1984 to 1988, and from 1982 to 1984 he served in the audit group at Arthur Andersen.

Compensation Arrangements with Mr. Phillips

Under the compensation package provided to Mr. Phillips by the Company in connection with his new position, he will receive an annual base salary of $375,000. Mr. Phillips will continue to participate in the Company’s annual and long-term executive incentive programs.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d)           Exhibits.

99.1 Press release dated January 15, 2018.

2

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.

	DARLING INGREDIENTS INC.
Date:  January 16, 2018	By:	/s/ John F. Sterling
		John F. Sterling
		Executive Vice President, General Counsel

3

EXHIBIT LIST

99.1 Press release dated January 15, 2018.

4

EX-99.1

EXHIBIT 99.1

DARLING INGREDIENTS INC. ANNOUNCES

APPOINTMENT OF NEW CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

AND NEW CHIEF ADMINISTATIVE OFFICER

January 15, 2018 - IRVING, Texas- Darling Ingredients Inc. (NYSE: DAR)today announced that Brad Phillips has become its Executive Vice President - Chief Financial Officer and John O. Muse has become its Executive Vice President - Chief Administrative Officer. Both Mr. Phillips and Mr. Muse will report to Randall C. Stuewe, the Company’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.

“We are pleased to have Brad lead our financial team at Darling,” said Mr. Stuewe. “His 28 years of experience are invaluable, and he knows our business well. Additionally, we are glad that John Muse decided to forgo his previously planned retirement. In his new role, John will focus on helping us further integrate and streamline our global administrative organization.”

Mr. Phillips has served in a number of different capacities for the Company since 1988. Most recently he served as the Vice President - Treasurer since May 2014. Previously, he held the positions of Treasurer from January 1993 to May 2014, Assistant Treasurer from January 1991 to January 1993, and Assistant Controller from October 1988 to January 1991. Prior to Darling, he was the Corporate Accounting Manager at Republic Health Corporation from 1984 to 1988, and from 1982 to 1984 he served in the audit group at Arthur Andersen.

Mr. Muse has also served in a number of different capacities for the Company since 1997. Most recently, he served as Chief Financial Officer from December 2014 to March 2017. Prior to that, he served as Chief Synergy Officer from January 2014 to December 2014, Executive Vice President-Chief Administrative Officer from September 2012 to December 2013, Executive Vice President-Finance and Administration from February 2000 to September 2012 and Vice President and Chief Financial Officer from October 1997 to February 2000. Prior to that, he was Vice President and General Manager at Consolidated Nutrition, L.C. from 1994 to 1997. He also held the position of Vice President of Premiere Technologies, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Archer-Daniels Midland Company from 1992 to 1994. From 1971 to 1992, Mr. Muse was Assistant Treasurer and Assistant Secretary at Central Soya Company, Inc.

ABOUT DARLING

Darling Ingredients Inc. is the world’s largest publicly-traded developer and producer of sustainable natural ingredients from edible and inedible bio-nutrients, creating a wide range of ingredients and specialty products for customers in the food, pet food, pharmaceutical, feed, industrial, fuel, bioenergy, and fertilizer industries.  With operations on five continents, the Company collects and transforms all aspects of animal by-product streams into broadly used and specialty ingredients, such as gelatin, edible fats, feed-grade fats, animal proteins and meals, plasma, pet food ingredients, organic fertilizers, yellow grease, fuel feedstocks, green energy, natural casings and hides. The Company also recovers and converts used cooking oil and commercial bakery residuals into valuable feed and fuel ingredients.  In addition, the Company provides grease trap services to food service establishments, environmental services to food processors and sells restaurant cooking oil delivery and collection equipment. For additional information, visit the Company's website at http://ir.darlingii.com.

For More Information, contact:
Melissa A. Gaither, VP Investor Relations and Global Communications	251 O'Connor Ridge Blvd., Suite 300 Irving, Texas 75038 Phone: 972-717-0300