Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.
On November 15, 2024, KLA Corporation (the “Company”) and Oreste Donzella, Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer, agreed that Mr. Donzella will transition to the role of part-time senior advisor to the Company beginning on April 14, 2025 (the “Effective Date”) and ending on August 16, 2026 (the “Advisor Period”). Mr. Donzella will remain as the Company’s Chief Strategy Officer until April 13, 2025, during which time, Mr. Donzella will assist the Company with transitioning his current duties and responsibilities. Prior to the Effective Date, there will be no changes to Mr. Donzella’s employment terms, including his compensation or other benefits.
Senior Advisor Agreement
In connection with his transition, on November 15, 2024, the Company and Mr. Donzella entered into a Senior Advisor Agreement (the “Advisor Agreement”) that provides for his continued employment during the Advisor Period. Pursuant to the Advisor Agreement, during the Advisor Period, Mr. Donzella is expected to provide at least 10 hours of services per week to the Company, and will be eligible for the following compensation and benefits: (i) commencing on April 7, 2025, an annualized base salary of $125,000; (ii) continued vesting of Company equity or equity-based awards held by Mr. Donzella as of the Effective Date based on his continued employment with the Company; and (iii) continued eligibility to participate in the Company’s 401(k) plan, employee stock purchase plan and certain other retirement and welfare plans, subject to the terms of such plans. Mr. Donzella will not be eligible to participate in the Company’s bonus programs or to be granted new long-term equity awards during the Advisor Period.
Under the Advisor Agreement, upon a termination of Mr. Donzella’s employment by the Company for any reason other than for “cause” (as defined in the Advisor Agreement) and other than due to death or disability, then, subject to his execution and non-revocation of a general release of claims, Mr. Donzella will be eligible to receive a lump-sum cash payment in an amount equal to $7,000,000 (if the termination occurs prior to August 5, 2025) or $3,500,000 (if the termination occurs on or after August 5, 2025 but prior to August 6, 2026), payable within 30 days after the date of such termination.
Under the Advisor Agreement, Mr. Donzella will continue to be subject to his Proprietary Information and Inventions Agreement with the Company and other restrictive covenants with the Company and its affiliates.
The foregoing summary of the terms of the Advisor Agreement is qualified in its entirety by reference to the complete text of the Advisor Agreement.