Item 5.02. |
Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers. |
Executive Severance and Change in Control Plan
On October 23, 2023, the Compensation Committee (the “Compensation Committee) of the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Tourmaline Bio, Inc. (the “Company”) approved and adopted the Tourmaline Bio, Inc. Executive Severance and Change in Control Plan (the “Severance Plan”), pursuant to which the Company’s executive officers and other key employees entered into participation agreements under the Severance Plan.
Pursuant to the Severance Plan and the participation agreements thereunder, if, within the 3 month period prior to or the 12 month period following a “change in control” (as defined in the Severance Plan), the Company terminates the employment of the applicable executive without “cause” (excluding death or disability) or such executive resigns for “good reason” (each, as defined in the Severance Plan) and within no more than 60 days of such termination the executive executes and does not revoke a separation agreement and release of claims, such executive will be entitled to receive (i) a lump sum payment equal to the sum of (a) 18 months of then current annual base salary with respect to Sandeep Kulkarni, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and principal executive officer, 12 months of then current annual base salary with respect to Susan Dana Jones, the Company’s Chief Technology Officer, and 12 months of then current annual base salary with respect to Brad Middlekauff, the Company’s Chief Business Officer and General Counsel, and (b) 150% with respect to Dr. Kulkarni’s and 100% with respect to Dr. Jones’ and Mr. Middlekauff’s annual target bonus, less applicable withholdings, (ii) payment of premiums to maintain group health insurance continuation benefits pursuant to COBRA for such executive and such executive’s respective eligible dependents for up to 18 months with respect to Dr. Kulkarni and 12 months with respect to Dr. Jones and Mr. Middlekauff, and (iii) vesting acceleration as to 100% of the then-unvested shares subject to each of such executive’s then outstanding equity awards (and in the case of awards subject to performance-based vesting conditions, such performance-based awards shall vest as specified in the applicable award agreement governing such award).
Pursuant to the Severance Plan and the participation agreements thereunder, if, outside of the 3 month period prior to or the 12 month period following a “change in control”, the Company terminates the employment of the applicable executive without “cause” (excluding death or disability) or such executive resigns for “good reason” and within 60 days of such termination the executive executes and does not revoke a separation agreement and release of claims, such executive will be entitled to receive (i) continuing payments of his or her then current annual base salary for a period of 12 months with respect to Dr. Kulkarni and Mr. Middlekauff and 9 months with respect to Dr. Jones, and (ii) payment of premiums to maintain group health insurance continuation benefits pursuant to COBRA for such executive and such executive’s respective eligible dependents for up to 12 months with respect to Dr. Kulkarni and Mr. Middlekauff and 9 months with respect to Dr. Jones.
In addition, pursuant to Dr. Jones’ and Mr. Middlekauff’s individual participation agreements, any single-trigger vesting acceleration applicable to the option grant (the “Option Grant”) provided, in the case of Dr. Jones, in the Offer Letter, by and between Dr. Jones and Tourmaline Sub, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company formerly known as Tourmaline Bio, Inc. (“Legacy Tourmaline”), dated as of April 27, 2022, and in the case of Mr. Middlekauff, in the Executive Employment Agreement, by and between Mr. Middlekauff and Legacy Tourmaline, dated as of May 30, 2022, will not be superseded by their participation in the Severance Plan, and such single trigger acceleration shall continue to apply to each of Dr. Jones’ and Mr. Middlekauff’s Option Grant.
Pursuant to the Severance Plan, in the event any payment to the applicable executive would be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code, as amended (the “Code”), as a result of a payment being classified as a parachute payment under Section 280G of the Code, such executive will receive such payment as would entitle such executive to receive the greatest after-tax benefit, even if it means that the Company pays such executive a lower aggregate payment so as to minimize or eliminate the potential excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code.
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