Braze, Inc. (NASDAQ: BRZE) posts 24% growth and $100M buyback plan
Braze, Inc. reported accelerating full-year growth with revenue up 24% and fourth-quarter growth accelerating to 28%, customer count of 2,609, and a large-customer cohort of 333 (customers with ≥ $500,000 ARR). Trailing twelve-month dollar-based net retention reached 109% in the fourth quarter.
The company crossed $1.0B in remaining performance obligations and reported surpassing $800M in ARR shortly after fiscal year-end. Management cited product momentum in AI and data platform capabilities, announced a $100M share repurchase authorization, and set the virtual Annual Meeting for June 30, 2026 (record date: May 4, 2026).
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Insights
Board seeks re‑election of staggered directors; annual meeting set for June 30, 2026.
The proxy discloses a standard classified board with two Class II nominees, continued combined CEO/Chair structure with a Lead Independent Director, and typical committee oversight for audit, compensation and nominating functions. The board emphasizes flexibility in leadership selection.
Key governance items to watch in filings: the proposal to amend the certificate of incorporation regarding officer exculpation, director nominees' independence determinations, and the proxy voting mechanics tied to the May 4, 2026 record date.
Operational metrics show growth and monetization focus; $100M buyback signals capital allocation priority.
Revenue acceleration (24% FY, 28% Q4), $800M ARR milestone, and stabilization of dollar-based net retention at 109% indicate demand and customer expansion. Management also cites >25 trillion data points processed in calendar 2025 and product adoption metrics among large customers.
Watch for subsequent SEC filings and the Form 10-K for audited financial detail, buyback implementation details, and any metrics that quantify growth sustainability beyond the proxy’s operational highlights.
Key Figures
Key Terms
Dollar-based net retention financial
Remaining performance obligations financial
RSU financial
PSU financial
BrazeAI technical
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Filed by the Registrant | ☒ | ||
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant | ☐ | ||
☒ | Preliminary Proxy Statement | ||
☐ | Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) | ||
☐ | Definitive Proxy Statement | ||
☐ | Definitive Additional Materials | ||
☐ | Soliciting Material Pursuant to § 240.14a-12 | ||
☒ | No fee required. | ||
☐ | Fee paid previously with preliminary materials. | ||
☐ | Fee computed on table in exhibit required by Item 25(b) per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11. | ||
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Bill Magnuson President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board | |||
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1. | To elect two Class II directors: Neeraj Agrawal and Yvonne Wassenaar, each to hold office until our Annual Meeting of Stockholders in 2029. |
2. | To approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation of our named executive officers, as disclosed in this proxy statement. |
3. | To ratify the selection by the audit committee of our board of directors of Ernst & Young LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending January 31, 2027. |
4. | To approve an amendment to our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to provide for the exculpation of officers as permitted by recent amendments to Delaware law. |
5. | To conduct any other business properly brought before the Annual Meeting. |
By Order of the Board of Directors | |||
Susan Wiseman General Counsel and Secretary | |||
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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THESE PROXY MATERIALS AND VOTING | 2 | ||
PROPOSAL 1 ELECTION OF DIRECTORS | 8 | ||
INFORMATION REGARDING DIRECTOR NOMINEES AND CURRENT DIRECTORS | 9 | ||
INFORMATION REGARDING THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE | 11 | ||
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS | 19 | ||
COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS | 20 | ||
PAY VERSUS PERFORMANCE | 45 | ||
CEO PAY RATIO | 49 | ||
NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTOR COMPENSATION | 50 | ||
PROPOSAL 2 APPROVAL, ON A NON-BINDING, ADVISORY BASIS, OF THE COMPENSATION OF OUR NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS | 52 | ||
PROPOSAL 3 RATIFICATION OF ERNST & YOUNG LLP AS OUR INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM | 53 | ||
PROPOSAL 4 APPROVAL OF AMENDMENT TO AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION | 54 | ||
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT | 56 | ||
TRANSACTIONS WITH RELATED PERSONS | 60 | ||
HOUSEHOLDING OF PROXY MATERIALS | 61 | ||
OTHER MATTERS | 62 | ||
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• | You may submit questions and comments electronically through the meeting portal during the Annual Meeting. |
• | Only stockholders of record as of the Record Date for the Annual Meeting and their proxy holders may submit questions or comments. |
• | Please direct all questions to William Magnuson, our Chief Executive Officer. |
• | Please include your name and affiliation, if any, when submitting a question or comment. |
• | Limit your remarks to one brief question or comment that is relevant to the business of the Annual Meeting. |
• | Questions may be grouped by topic by our management. |
• | Questions may also be ruled as out of order if they are, among other things, irrelevant to our business, related to pending or threatened litigation, disorderly, repetitious of statements already made, or in furtherance of the speaker’s own personal, political or business interests. |
• | Be respectful of your fellow stockholders and Annual Meeting participants. |
• | No audio or video recordings of the Annual Meeting are permitted. |
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• | Stockholder of Record: Shares Registered in Your Name. If, on the Record Date, your shares were registered directly in your name with our transfer agent, Equiniti Trust Company, LLC, then you are a stockholder of record. As a stockholder of record, you may vote online during the Annual Meeting or by proxy in advance. Whether or not you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, we urge you to vote your shares by proxy in advance of the Annual Meeting through the internet, by telephone or by completing and returning a printed proxy card that you may request or that we may elect to deliver separately from the Notice prior to the Annual Meeting to ensure your vote is counted. |
• | Beneficial Owner: Shares Registered in the Name of a Broker or Bank. If, on the Record Date, your shares were held not in your name, but rather in an account at a brokerage firm, bank or other similar organization, then you are the beneficial owner of shares held in “street name” and the Notice is being forwarded to you by that organization. The organization holding your account is considered to be the stockholder of record for purposes of voting at the Annual Meeting. As a beneficial owner, you have the right to direct your broker, bank or other agent regarding how to vote the shares in your account. You are also invited to attend the Annual Meeting. Further instructions will be provided to you as part of your registration process. |
• | Proposal 1: To elect two Class II directors: Neeraj Agrawal and Yvonne Wassenaar, each to hold office until our Annual Meeting of Stockholders in 2029; |
• | Proposal 2: To approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation of our named executive officers, as disclosed in this proxy statement; |
• | Proposal 3: To ratify the selection by the audit committee of our board of directors of Ernst & Young LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending January 31, 2027; and |
• | Proposal 4: To approve an amendment to our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to provide for the exculpation of officers as permitted by recent amendments to Delaware law. |
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• | Stockholder of Record: Shares Registered in Your Name. If you are a stockholder of record, you may vote (1) online during the Annual Meeting or (2) in advance of the Annual Meeting by proxy through the internet, by telephone or by using a proxy card that you may request or that we may elect to deliver separate from the Notice prior to the Annual Meeting. Whether or not you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, we urge you to vote by proxy to ensure your vote is counted. You may still attend the Annual Meeting and vote online even if you have already voted by proxy. |
• | To vote online during the Annual Meeting, follow the provided instructions to join the Annual Meeting at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/BRZE2026 starting at 2:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on Tuesday, June 30, 2026. The webcast will open 15 minutes before the start of the Annual Meeting. |
• | To vote in advance of the Annual Meeting through the internet, go to www.proxyvote.com to complete an electronic proxy card. You will be asked to provide the company number and control number from the Notice or the printed proxy card. Your internet vote must be received by 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time, on June 29, 2026 to be counted. |
• | To vote in advance of the Annual Meeting by telephone, dial 1-800-690-6903 using a touch-tone phone and follow the recorded instructions. You will be asked to provide the company number and control number from the Notice or the printed proxy card. Your telephone vote must be received by 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time, on June 29, 2026 to be counted. |
• | To vote in advance of the Annual Meeting using a printed proxy card that may be delivered to you, simply complete, sign and date the proxy card and return it promptly in the envelope provided. If you return your signed proxy card to us before the Annual Meeting, we will vote your shares as you direct. |
• | Beneficial Owner: Shares Registered in the Name of Broker or Bank. If you are a beneficial owner of shares registered in the name of your broker, bank or other agent, you should have received a Notice containing voting instructions from that organization rather than from us. To vote prior to the Annual Meeting, simply follow the voting instructions in the Notice to ensure that your vote is counted. You may also access and vote at the Annual Meeting by logging in with your control number on your voting instruction form at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/BRZE2026. Further instructions will be provided to you as part of your registration process. |
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• | Stockholder of Record: Shares Registered in Your Name. If you are a stockholder of record, you can revoke your proxy at any time before the final vote at the Annual Meeting. You may revoke your proxy in any one of the following ways: |
• | Submit another properly signed proxy card with a later date. |
• | Grant a subsequent proxy by telephone or through the internet. |
• | Send a timely written notice that you are revoking your proxy via email at ir@braze.com. |
• | Attend the Annual Meeting and vote online during the meeting. Simply attending the Annual Meeting will not, by itself, revoke your proxy. Even if you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, we recommend that you also submit your proxy or voting instructions or vote in advance of the Annual Meeting by telephone or through the internet so that your vote will be counted if you later decide not to attend the Annual Meeting. |
• | Beneficial Owner: Shares Registered in the Name of Broker or Bank. If you are a beneficial owner and your shares are held in “street name” by your broker, bank or other agent, you should follow the instructions provided by your broker, bank or other agent. |
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Proposal | Vote Required for Approval | Votes withheld/ Abstentions | Broker Non-Votes | ||||||
1. Election of Directors | A plurality of the votes of the shares present in person, by remote communication, if applicable, or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote generally on the election of directors is required for the election of each director nominee. The two nominees with the most “FOR” votes will be elected. | Not applicable | No effect | ||||||
2. Advisory Vote on the Compensation of our Named Executive Officers | This proposal must receive “FOR” votes from the holders of shares representing a majority of the votes cast affirmatively or negatively (excluding abstentions and broker nonvotes). | No effect | No effect | ||||||
3. Ratification of the selection of Ernst & Young LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending January 31, 2027 | This proposal must receive “FOR” votes from the holders of shares representing a majority of the votes cast affirmatively or negatively (excluding abstentions and broker nonvotes). | No effect | Not applicable | ||||||
4. To approve an amendment to our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to provide for the exculpation of officers as permitted by recent amendments to Delaware law. | Must receive “FOR” votes from the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Class A common stock entitled to vote thereon. | Same effect as votes against the proposal | Same effect as votes against the proposal | ||||||
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• | Class I directors: Phillip Fernandez and Fernando Machado, whose terms will expire at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held in 2028; |
• | Class II directors: Neeraj Agrawal and Yvonne Wassenaar, whose terms will expire at our upcoming Annual Meeting of Stockholders; and |
• | Class III directors: Tara Walpert Levy, William Magnuson, and David Obstler, whose terms will expire at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held in 2027. |
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Name | Age | Position | ||||
Class I directors continuing in officer until the 2028 Annual Meeting of Stockholders | ||||||
Phillip Fernandez | 65 | Director | ||||
Fernando Machado | 51 | Director | ||||
Class II directors for election at the 2026 Annual Meeting of Stockholders | ||||||
Neeraj Agrawal | 53 | Director | ||||
Yvonne Wassenaar | 57 | Director | ||||
Class III directors continuing in office until the 2027 Annual Meeting of Stockholders | ||||||
Tara Walpert Levy | 52 | Director | ||||
William Magnuson | 38 | Chief Executive Officer, President and Director | ||||
David Obstler | 66 | Director | ||||
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Name | Audit | Compensation And Leadership Development | Nominating and Corporate Governance | ||||||
William Magnuson | |||||||||
Neeraj Agrawal | X | ||||||||
Phillip M. Fernandez | X | X* | |||||||
Tara Walpert Levy | X | X* | |||||||
Fernando Machado | X | ||||||||
David Obstler | X* | ||||||||
Yvonne Wassenaar | X | ||||||||
* | Committee Chairperson |
• | selecting a qualified firm to serve as the independent registered public accounting firm to audit our financial statements; |
• | helping to ensure the independence and performance of the independent registered public accounting firm; |
• | helping to maintain and foster an open avenue of communication between management and the independent registered public accounting firm; |
• | discussing the scope and results of the audit with the independent registered public accounting firm, and reviewing, with management and the independent accountants, our interim and year-end operating results; |
• | reviewing our policies on risk assessment and risk management; |
• | reviewing with management and the independent registered public accounting firm the scope, design, adequacy and effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, including our information and cyber security systems, and our disclosure controls and procedures; |
• | obtaining and reviewing a report by the independent registered public accounting firm at least annually, that describes its internal quality-control procedures, any material issues with such procedures, and any steps taken to deal with such issues when required by applicable law; |
• | developing procedures for employees to submit concerns confidentially and anonymously about questionable accounting or audit matters; |
• | reviewing related-party transactions; and |
• | approving (or, as permitted, pre-approving) all audit and all permissible non-audit services to be performed by the independent registered public accounting firm. |
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• | approving the retention of compensation consultants and outside service providers and advisors; |
• | reviewing and approving, or recommending that our board of directors approve, the employment agreements, the compensation, individual and corporate performance goals and objectives and other terms of employment of our executive officers and other senior management, including evaluating the performance of our Chief Executive Officer and, with his assistance, that of our other executive officers and senior management; |
• | reviewing and approving, or recommending that our board of directors approve, the compensation of our directors; |
• | administering our equity and non-equity incentive plans; |
• | administering our compensation recoupment policy; |
• | reviewing our practices and policies of employee compensation as they relate to risk management and risk-taking incentives; |
• | reviewing and approving, or recommending that our board of directors approve, incentive compensation and equity plans; and |
• | reviewing and establishing general policies relating to compensation and benefits of our employees and reviewing our overall compensation philosophy. |
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• | evaluate the efficacy of our existing compensation strategy and practices in supporting and reinforcing our long-term strategic goals; |
• | assist in refining our compensation strategy and in developing and implementing an executive and director compensation program to execute that strategy; and |
• | review our Compensation Discussion and Analysis and other compensation-related disclosure included in our proxy statement for our 2026 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. |
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• | identifying, evaluating, and selecting, or recommending that our board of directors approve, nominees for election to our board of directors and its committees; |
• | approving the retention of director search firms; |
• | evaluating the performance of our board of directors, the committees thereof and of individual directors, including overseeing an annual evaluation of the board’s and each committee’s performance; |
• | considering and making recommendations to our board of directors regarding the composition of our board of directors and its committees; |
• | overseeing and reviewing our environmental, social and governance programs, including reviewing and discussing with management any narrative disclosure regarding such matters included in any public filings with SEC or any environmental, social or governance reports we may choose to publicly publish; |
• | reviewing possible conflicts of interest of our officers and directors; and |
• | evaluating the adequacy of our corporate governance and social responsibility practices and reporting. |
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Name(1) | Age | Principal Position | ||||
William Magnuson | 38 | President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman | ||||
Isabelle Winkles(2) | 48 | Chief Financial Officer | ||||
Jonathan Hyman | 40 | Chief Technology Officer | ||||
Astha Malik | 46 | Chief Business Officer | ||||
Edward McDonnell | 54 | Chief Revenue Officer | ||||
Susan Wiseman(3) | 67 | General Counsel and Secretary | ||||
(1) | Mr. Kleeger resigned as our President and Chief Commercial Officer on June 1, 2025 and, effective immediately thereafter, Mr. Magnuson was appointed our President. |
(2) | On April 28, 2026, the company announced that Ms. Winkles intends to resign from her role as Chief Financial Officer on May 29, 2026. |
(3) | On April 7, 2026, the company announced that Ms. Wiseman intends to retire from her role as General Counsel and Secretary on or before June 30, 2026. |
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Name | Position(s) | ||
William Magnuson | Chief Executive Officer | ||
Isabelle Winkles | Chief Financial Officer | ||
Jonathan Hyman | Chief Technology Officer | ||
Astha Malik | Chief Business Officer | ||
Edward McDonnell | Chief Revenue Officer | ||
• | Revenue was $738.2 million for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2026, an increase of 24.4% year-over year. |
• | GAAP gross margin was 67.1% in the fiscal year ended January 31, 2026. |
• | GAAP operating loss was $144.8 million for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2026. |
• | Dollar-based net retention for all customers for the trailing 12 months ended January 31, 2026 was 109%; dollar-based net retention for customers with annual recurring revenue (“ARR”) of $500,000 or more was 110%. |
• | Total customers increased to 2,609 as of January 31, 2026; 333 of our customers had ARR of $500,000 or more as of January 31, 2026. |
• | Released BrazeAI Agent Console™ for general availability allowing brands to create custom agents that bring the power of generative and agentic AI directly into Braze Canvas and Catalogs. |
• | Released BrazeAI Operator™, a companion that provides a unified experience for accessing AI to build masterful campaigns, uncover data insights, answer questions, and simplify execution. |
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• | Competitive Base Salaries and Target Annual Incentive Opportunities: After evaluating the competitive positioning of our named executive officers’ base salaries in the context of our overall compensation philosophy, our compensation committee approved base salary increases of 4% for our named executive officers to reflect current competitive compensation levels compared to identified peers and for similarly-situated public companies. |
• | Challenging Annual Incentive Goals: In fiscal 2026, our named executive officers were eligible to earn annual performance-based cash compensation based on our achievement of challenging annual corporate financial goals approved by our compensation committee. Based on final achievement of such goals, each of our named executive officers earned annual performance-based cash compensation equal to approximately 150% of their annual target amounts. |
• | Multi-Year Approach to Equity Incentives: We use long-term incentives in the form of time-based restricted stock units (“RSUs”) and, beginning in fiscal 2026, performance-based restricted stock units (“PSUs”) to align the interest of our executives with those of our stockholders and discourage risk-taking to achieve short-term gains at the expense of long-term stockholder value creation. In fiscal 2026, equity awarded to our named executive officers (other than Mr. McDonnell) reflected a mix of RSUs and PSUs. PSUs reflected 30% of the target value of equity awarded to our named executive officers and were eligible to be earned based on our level of achievement of revenue and Non-GAAP Operating Income goals for fiscal 2026. Earned PSUs will vest 33% following the end of a 1-year performance period with the remaining PSUs vesting in equal quarterly installments over the following 2-years. Our compensation committee considers PSUs an important tool for reinforcing our pay-for-performance objectives and aligning the interests of our named executive officers with those of our stockholders. |
• | Stock Ownership Guidelines: Our stock ownership guidelines provide equity ownership guidelines for our chief executive officer, other officers, as such term is defined for purposes of Section 16 of the Exchange Act and non-employee directors. We adopted such guidelines to further align the interests of our board members and officers to those of our stockholders by requiring them to acquire and maintain a meaningful ownership interest in our Class A common stock. |
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• | Position our compensation packages competitively relative to our peers to attract, retain and motivate top talent; |
• | Provide incentives that motivate and reward achievement of our key performance goals in order to establish and maintain a strong link between pay and performance; |
• | Align our executives’ interests with our corporate performance by linking their performance-based cash and PSU incentives to our annual company performance; |
• | Align our executives’ interests with those of our stockholders by using long-term equity incentives to link executive compensation to stockholder value creation; and |
• | Discourage excessive risk taking by using long-term equity incentives and cash incentives tied to company performance to align executive interests with sustainable company success. |
Element | Form | Purpose | Key Features | ||||||
Base Salary | • Cash (fixed) | • Provides stable income for performing job responsibilities. • Attracts and retains top talent. • Designed to ensure that our executive compensation program is competitive relative to companies in our industry and similar to our size and scale. | • Reviewed annually and determined by the compensation committee. • Based on a number of factors deemed appropriate by the compensation committee, including (i) individual performance, (ii) company performance, and (iii) reference to market data of and comparison to peer companies. | ||||||
Annual Performance Based Bonus | • Cash (variable) | • Rewards achievement on an annual basis of key corporate financial and strategic results that have been identified as drivers for our success. • Aligns short-term cash incentives of management with our stockholders’ | • Target amounts reviewed annually and determined by the compensation committee. • Target amounts based upon role and reference to market data of, and comparison to, peer companies. | ||||||
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Element | Form | Purpose | Key Features | ||||||
interests by linking pay to company performance. | • Bonus outcomes depend upon the achievement of specific corporate performance goals determined and approved by our compensation committee at the beginning of our fiscal year. • Corporate performance goals are designed to align with long-term strategic goals and stockholder value creation. | ||||||||
Long-Term Equity Incentives | • Equity (variable) | • Motivates and rewards for long-term company performance. • Aligns long-term incentives of management and stockholder interests by linking pay to stockholder value creation. • Attracts and retains top talent. • PSUs encourage achievement of key performance metrics and link incentives to stockholder value creation. | • Reviewed annually and determined by the compensation committee. • Individual awards are based on a number of factors deemed appropriate by the compensation committee, including (i) individual performance, (ii) company performance, (iii) reference to market data of and comparison to peer companies, and (iv) the long-term retentive and incentive value of outstanding awards. • Our executive compensation philosophy is to provide a market-competitive compensation package to our named executive officers that includes significant short- and long-term incentives designed to achieve measurable corporate objectives. We believe that this approach provides an appropriate blend of short-term and long-term incentives to maximize stockholder value. | ||||||
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What we do | What we don’t do | ||||||||
• | Our compensation committee consists solely of independent members of our board of directors. | • | We do not permit hedging or pledging of Braze stock, except in limited circumstances with requisite board or nominating and corporate governance committee approval. | ||||||
• | Our compensation committee has retained an independent third-party compensation consultant for guidance in making compensation decisions. | • | We do not offer pension arrangements, retirement plans, significant perquisites or special benefits to our named executive officers that are not available to our other full-time employees. | ||||||
• | Our compensation committee conducts a review at least annually of our executive compensation philosophy and strategy, including a review of the compensation peer group used for competitive benchmarking purposes. | • | We do not provide single-trigger vesting acceleration of the equity-based awards granted to our named executive officers upon a change in control. Change in control equity vesting benefits are structured to be “double trigger” or limited to acquiring company refusing to assume or continue awards. | ||||||
• | Our annual performance-based cash bonus opportunities and PSU targets for our named executive officers are dependent upon our achievement of rigorous corporate objectives established each year. | • | We do not provide our named executive officers with any excise tax gross-ups. | ||||||
• | Our named executive officers are eligible for benefits on the same terms as our other full-time employees. | ||||||||
• | Our work culture fosters a focus on long-term value creation using equity incentives and stock ownership guidelines to help executives reach and maintain meaningful levels of individual share ownership. | ||||||||
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• | compiling a group of peer companies to use as a reference in making executive compensation decisions; |
• | reviewing the competitiveness of current executive pay practices, including base salary, annual cash awards and long-term incentive awards, and considering different compensation programs to aid in making executive pay decisions for our 2026 fiscal year; |
• | assisting with the design of the short-term and long-term incentive compensation plans with appropriate performance goals and targets for our named executive officers and other executives; |
• | periodically reviewing and advising on compensation trends, risks and regulatory developments; and |
• | reviewing market and peer group equity usage metrics to assist with understanding of our equity award practices relative to market. |
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Amplitude (AMPL) | GitLab (GTLB) | Semrush Holdings (SMER) | ||||
AppFolio (APPF) | Jamf Holding (JAMF) | Smartsheet (SMAR) | ||||
Asana (ASAN) | JFrog (FROG) | Sprinklr (CXM) | ||||
BlackLine (BL) | nCino (NCNO) | Sprout Social (SPT) | ||||
C3.ai (AI) | PagerDuty (PD) | Varonis Systems (VRNS) | ||||
Confluent (CFLT) | Procore Technologies (PCOR) | Workiva (WK) | ||||
DoubleVerify Holdings (DV) | Samsara (IOT) | |||||
• | Company and individual performance |
• | Existing business needs and criticality for future business needs and performance |
• | Scope of job function and skill set |
• | Relative pay among our named executive officers |
• | Need to attract new talent and retain existing talent in a highly competitive industry |
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• | The retentive value of unvested equity awards and alignment of executive stock-compensation with long term stockholder value |
• | Range of market data reference points, as described above under “Use of Competitive Market Compensation Data” |
• | Recommendations from Compensia |
Named Executive Officer | FY 2025 Base Salary(1) | FY 2026 Base Salary(2) | Percentage Change from FY25 | ||||||
William Magnuson | $560,000 | $580,000 | 4% | ||||||
Isabelle Winkles | $440,000 | $457,000 | 4% | ||||||
Jonathan Hyman | $410,000 | $426,000 | 4% | ||||||
Astha Malik | $440,000 | $457,000 | 4% | ||||||
Edward McDonnell | — | $500,000 | — | ||||||
(1) | Represents base salaries of our named executive officers as of February 1, 2024, as approved by our compensation committee in February 2024. |
(2) | Represents annualized base salaries, as of February 1, 2025 (other than for Mr. McDonnell), as approved by our compensation committee in March 2025. Mr. McDonnell’s salary represents the annualized amount included in his offer letter, dated April 16, 2025. Actual amounts of salaries paid are represented in the Summary Compensation Table on page 37 of this Proxy Statement. |
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Named Executive Officer | FY 2026 Target Bonus Opportunity (% of Base Salary) | FY 2026 Target Bonus Opportunity ($) | ||||
William Magnuson | 100% | $580,000 | ||||
Isabelle Winkles | 75% | $342,750 | ||||
Jonathan Hyman | 65% | $276,900 | ||||
Astha Malik | 75% | $342,750 | ||||
Edward McDonnell | 100% | $500,000 | ||||
Net Contracted Annual Recurring Revenue (“Net CARR”) | Net CARR equals the contracted annual recurring revenue value of new commercial activity from both existing customers and new customers sold during the fiscal year reduced by the value of contracted annual recurring revenue lost due to downsell or customer termination, in each case, excluding the impact of any one-time implementation and onboarding fees, and the impact of any overage fees or passthrough revenue. | ||
Renewal rate percentage (“RR”) | RR equals the dollar value of recurring revenue that was renewed with Braze during the fiscal year divided by the total dollars available for renewal during that same period, excluding the impact of any one-time implementation and onboarding fees, and the impact of any overage fees or passthrough revenue. | ||
Non-GAAP operating income (loss) | Non-GAAP operating income (loss) is GAAP operating income (loss) adjusted for stock-based compensation expense, employer taxes related to stock-based compensation, charitable contribution expense, acquisition related expense, amortization of intangible assets and restructuring expense. | ||
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Named Executive Officer | FY 2026 Actual Bonus Earned | ||
William Magnuson | $868,782 | ||
Isabelle Winkles | $513,780 | ||
Jonathan Hyman | $414,918 | ||
Astha Malik | $513,780 | ||
Edward McDonnell | $428,851 | ||
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Named Executive Officer | Time-Based RSUs (#)(1) | Target PSUs at Grant (#)(2) | Total Fair Value at Grant Date(3) | ||||||
William Magnuson | 206,092 | 88,325 | $12,776,516 | ||||||
Isabelle Winkles | 98,566 | 42,242 | $6,110,489 | ||||||
Jonathan Hyman | 65,411 | 28,033 | $4,055,089 | ||||||
Astha Malik | 82,436 | 35,330 | $5,110,591 | ||||||
Edward McDonnell | 433,854 | — | $11,137,032 | ||||||
(1) | The RSUs are subject to service based vesting conditions. The shares underlying the RSUs for Mr. Magnuson, Ms. Winkles, Mr. Hyman and Ms. Malik vest in 16 equal quarterly installments beginning on May 15, 2025, and the shares underlying the RSUs for Mr. McDonnell vest over four years with 40% of the shares vesting on August 15, 2026, and the remainder of the shares vesting in equal quarterly installments thereafter, in each case, subject to the named executive officer remaining in continuous service with us through each such vesting date. |
(2) | Represents target number of PSUs at 100% achievement of the relevant performance criteria. Following certification of the relevant performance criteria by the compensation committee, earned PSUs for the named executive officers vest as to one-third of the underlying shares on May 15, 2026 and the remaining two-thirds will then vest in eight equal quarterly installments over the following two years, subject in each case to the named executive officer remaining in continuous service through such vesting date. Mr. McDonnell was not eligible for a PSU award in fiscal 2026, because he was not an executive officer of the company on the grant date. |
(3) | Amounts reported represent the aggregate grant date fair value of PSUs and RSUs granted to our named executive officers under the 2021 Plan computed in accordance with ASC Topic 718, excluding the effect of estimated forfeitures plus, in the case of the PSUs, incremental fair value as of the date of modification of the PSUs as further described in this footnote. The grant date fair value of PSUs was originally calculated based on the probable outcome of the performance metrics for fiscal 2026 as of the grant date (which was based on target-level performance). Those performance metrics were subsequently modified on May 28, 2025 in connection with the company’s acquisition of OfferFit, Inc. to reflect our updated full year financial plan. Prior to the modification date, the company had determined that performance at 200% of the target level had become probable. Accordingly, this modification resulted in the following fair value changes: Mr. Magnuson’s PSUs increased in fair value from $2,865,263 to $6,090,892, Ms. Winkles’ PSUs increased in fair value from $1,370,330 to $2,913,008, Mr. Hyman’s PSUs increased in fair value from $909,391 to $1,933,156, and Ms. Malik’s PSUs increased in fair value from $1,146,105 to $2,436,357. The assumptions used in calculating the grant date fair value of the RSUs and PSUs reported in this column are set forth in Note 12 to our audited consolidated financial statements included in the Annual Report. This amount does not reflect the actual economic value that may be realized by the named executive officer. See “—2026 Fiscal Year Executive Compensation Program—Grants of Plan-Based Awards” below. Mr. McDonnell was not eligible for a PSU award in fiscal 2026, because he was not an executive officer of the company on the grant date. |
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Target | Actual | Achievement | FY25 | Achievement | PSUs Earned | |||||||||||||
(in thousands) | (as a % of Target) | Revenue | (as a % of fiscal 2025 Revenue) | (as a % of Target) | ||||||||||||||
Revenue | $717,000 | $738,182 | 103% | $593,410 | 124% | 200% | ||||||||||||
Named Executive Officer | PSU Target at Grant (#) | PSUs earned as a % of Target | PSUs Earned (#)(1) | ||||||
William Magnuson | 88,325 | 200% | 176,650 | ||||||
Isabelle Winkles | 42,242 | 200% | 84,484 | ||||||
Jonathan Hyman | 28,033 | 200% | 56,066 | ||||||
Astha Malik | 35,330 | 200% | 70,660 | ||||||
Edward McDonnell | — | — | — | ||||||
(1) | Earned PSUs for the named executive officers vest as to one-third of the underlying shares on May 15, 2026 and the remaining two-thirds will then vest in eight equal quarterly installments over the following two years, subject in each case to the named executive officer remaining in continuous service through such vesting date. Mr. McDonnell was not eligible for a PSU award in fiscal 2026, because he was not an executive officer of the company in March 2025. |
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• | the chief executive officer will be expected to hold shares of common stock of Braze having a value equal to six times the CEO’s annual base salary; |
• | the other officers will be expected to hold common stock of Braze having a value equal to two times their respective annual base salary; and |
• | the non-employee directors will be expected to hold common stock of Braze having a value equal to five times their annual cash retainer for Board service (excluding any cash retainer paid for committee service). |
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• | the mix of cash and equity compensation; |
• | a balance of short and long-term incentive plan designs with multiple performance measures that emphasize top and bottom-line performance; |
• | our formal policies for equity administration; |
• | our insider trading policy, which prohibits short sales, hedging or similar transactions, derivatives trading and pledging and using Braze securities as collateral; and |
• | the oversight of an independent compensation committee. |
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Name and Principal Position | Fiscal Year | Salary ($)(1) | Stock Awards ($)(2) | Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation ($)(3) | All Other Compensation ($)(4) | Total ($) | ||||||||||||
William Magnuson Chief Executive Officer | 2026 | 580,000 | 12,776,516 | 868,782 | 5,300 | 14,230,598 | ||||||||||||
2025 | 560,000 | 9,980,025 | 501,480 | 5,372 | 11,046,877 | |||||||||||||
2024 | 490,000 | 10,984,152 | 480,690 | 5,521 | 11,960,363 | |||||||||||||
Isabelle Winkles Chief Financial Officer | 2026 | 457,000 | 6,110,489 | 513,780 | 5,300 | 7,086,569 | ||||||||||||
2025 | 440,000 | 4,640,680 | 295,515 | 5,372 | 5,381,567 | |||||||||||||
2024 | 425,000 | 5,020,661 | 250,155 | 5,437 | 5,701,253 | |||||||||||||
Jonathan Hyman Chief Technology Officer | 2026 | 426,000 | 4,055,089 | 414,918 | 5,300 | 4,901,307 | ||||||||||||
2025 | 410,000 | 3,143,690 | 239,099 | 5,372 | 3,798,161 | |||||||||||||
2024 | 385,000 | 4,678,194 | 226,611 | 5,292 | 5,295,097 | |||||||||||||
Astha Malik(5) Chief Business Officer | 2026 | 457,000 | 5,110,591 | 513,780 | 5,300 | 6,086,671 | ||||||||||||
Edward McDonnell(6) Chief Revenue Officer | 2026 | 286,301 | 11,137,032 | 428,851 | 5,300 | 11,857,484 | ||||||||||||
(1) | Salary amounts represent actual amounts paid during the relevant fiscal year. See “—2026 Fiscal Year Executive Compensation Program—Base Salary” above. |
(2) | Amounts reported represent the aggregate grant date fair value of PSUs and RSUs granted to our named executive officers under the 2021 Plan computed in accordance with ASC Topic 718, excluding the effect of estimated forfeitures plus, in the case of the PSUs, incremental fair value as of the date of modification of the PSUs as further described in this footnote. The grant date fair value of PSUs was originally calculated based on the probable outcome of the performance metrics for fiscal 2026 as of the grant date (which was based on target-level performance). Those performance metrics were subsequently modified on May 28, 2025 in connection with the company’s acquisition of OfferFit, Inc. to reflect our updated full year financial plan. Prior to the modification date, the company had determined that performance at 200% of the target level had become probable. Accordingly, this modification resulted in the following fair value changes: Mr. Magnuson’s PSUs increased in fair value from $2,865,263 to $6,090,892, Ms. Winkles’ PSUs increased in fair value from $1,370,330 to $2,913,008, Mr. Hyman’s PSUs increased in fair value from $909,391 to $1,933,156, and Ms. Malik’s PSUs increased in fair value from $1,146,105 to $2,436,357. The assumptions used in calculating the grant date fair value of the RSUs and PSUs reported in this column are set forth in Note 12 to our audited consolidated financial statements included in the Annual Report. This amount does not reflect the actual economic value that may be realized by the named executive officer. See “—2026 Fiscal Year Executive Compensation Program— Grants of Plan-Based Awards” below. Mr. McDonnell was not eligible for a PSU award in fiscal 2026, because he was not an executive officer of the company on the grant date. |
(3) | Amounts reported represent annual performance-based cash bonus awards earned by the named executive officer based on the achievement of certain company goals and the individual’s target bonus amount. 2026 fiscal year bonus awards were paid in March 2026, based on the achievement of objectives set in the first quarter of 2026 fiscal year. See “—2026 Fiscal Year Executive Compensation Program—Annual Performance-Based Cash Bonus Program” above. |
(4) | Amounts shown represent life insurance premiums and 401(k) contributions match paid by us on behalf of our named executive officers. |
(5) | Ms. Malik was not among our named executive officers in our 2025 or 2024 fiscal years. |
(6) | Mr. McDonnell joined the company as our Chief Revenue Officer in July 2025. |
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Name | Grant Date | Estimated Future Payouts Under Non-Equity Incentive Plan Awards(1) | Estimated Future Payouts Under Equity Incentive Plan Awards(2) | All Other Stock Awards: Number of Shares of Stock or Units (#)(3) | Grant Date Fair Value of Stock Awards ($)(4) | |||||||||||||||||||
Target ($) | Maximum ($) | Threshold (#) | Target (#) | Maximum (#) | ||||||||||||||||||||
William Magnuson | 3/10/2025 | $580,000 | $1,160,000 | 22,081 | 88,325 | 176,650 | 206,092 | $9,550,887(4) | ||||||||||||||||
5/28/2025 | $3,225,629(5) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Isabelle Winkles | 3/10/2025 | $342,750 | $685,500 | 10,560 | 42,242 | 84,484 | 98,566 | $4,567,811 (4) | ||||||||||||||||
5/28/2025 | $1,542,678(5) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Jonathan Hyman | 3/10/2025 | $276,900 | $553,800 | 7,008 | 28,033 | 56,066 | 65,411 | $3,031,324(4) | ||||||||||||||||
5/28/2025 | $1,023,765(5) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Astha Malik | 3/10/2025 | $342,750 | $685,500 | 8,832 | 35,330 | 70,660 | 82,436 | $3,820,329(4) | ||||||||||||||||
5/28/2025 | $1,290,252(5) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Edward McDonnell | 04/16/2025 | $500,000 | $1,000,000 | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||
8/19/2025 | — | — | — | — | — | 433,854 | $11,137,032 | |||||||||||||||||
(1) | The annual performance-based cash bonus program does not provide for threshold amounts (or equivalent items). |
(2) | Represents the number of Class A common shares subject to PSUs granted to our named executive officers, which are earned based on the company’s achievement of a specified amount of revenue and non-GAAP operating income. The amounts shown in the “Threshold” column represent the number of PSUs earned if the minimum revenue performance metric is achieved provided the target non-GAAP operating income performance is met, and reflects 25% of the amounts shown under the Target column. The amounts shown in the “Maximum” column represent the maximum number of PSUs earned if the highest tier of revenue performance under the terms of the PSU awards is achieved or exceeded provided the target non-GAAP operating income performance metric is met, and reflects a cap of 200% of the amounts shown under the Target column. In March 2026, the compensation committee certified the actual number of PSU awards earned by our named executive officers. |
(3) | The RSUs are subject to service-based vesting conditions. The shares underlying the RSUs granted to our named executive officers other than Mr. McDonnell vest in 16 equal quarterly installments beginning on May 15, 2025, and the shares underlying the RSUs for Mr. McDonnell vests over four years with 40% of the shares vesting on August 15, 2026, and the remainder of the shares vesting in equal quarterly installments thereafter. |
(4) | Amounts reported represent the aggregate grant date fair value of PSUs, assuming target performance, and RSUs granted to our named executive officers under the 2021 Plan computed in accordance with ASC Topic 718, excluding the effect of estimated forfeitures. For accounting purposes, the grant date fair value of PSUs was calculated based on the probable outcome of the performance metric for fiscal 2026 as of the grant date. The assumptions used in calculating the grant date fair value of the RSUs and PSUs reported in this column are set forth in Note 12 to our audited consolidated financial statements included in the Annual Report. This amount does not reflect the actual economic value that may be realized by the named executive officer. See “—2026 Fiscal Year Executive Compensation Program— Grants of Plan-Based Awards” below. Mr. McDonnell was not eligible for a PSU award in fiscal 2026, because he was not an executive officer of the company on the grant date. |
(5) | Amounts reported reflect the increase in the fair value of PSUs, calculated based on the probable outcome of the performance metric for fiscal 2026 achieving performance at 200% of target as of the modification date in May 2025 in accordance with ASC Topic 718. |
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Option Awards(1) | Stock Awards(2) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Name | Grant Date | Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#) Exercisable | Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#) Unexercisable | Option Exercise Price ($) | Option Expiration Date | Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Number of Unearned Shares, Units or Other Rights That Have Not Vested (#) | Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Market Value of Unearned Shares, Units or Other Rights That Have Not Vested ($) | Number of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested (#) | Market Value of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested ($) | ||||||||||||||||||
William Magnuson | 3/12/2019 | 51,658 | — | 3.46 | 3/11/2029 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
4/20/2021 | 450,000 | — | 35.01 | 4/19/2031 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
4/20/2021 | 734,375(3) | 15,625(3) | 35.01 | 4/19/2031 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
3/3/2023 | 102,527(6) | $2,134,612(7) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
2/1/2024 | 102,069(8) | $2,125,077(7) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
3/10/2025 | 176,650(9) | $3,677,853(7) | 167,450(10) | $3,486,309(7) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Isabelle Winkles | 2/4/2020 | 36,281 | — | 4.88 | 2/3/2030 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
4/20/2021 | 40,000 | — | 35.01 | 4/19/2031 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
4/20/2021 | 102,500(4) | 17,500(4) | 35.01 | 4/19/2031 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
3/3/2023 | 46,863(6) | $975,688(7) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
2/1/2024 | 47,462(8) | $988,159(7) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
3/10/2025 | 84,484(9) | $1,758,957(7) | 80,085(10) | $1,667,370(7) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Jonathan Hyman | 4/20/2021 | 145,213 | — | 35.01 | 4/19/2031 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
4/20/2021 | 176,250(3) | 3,750(3) | 35.01 | 4/19/2031 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
3/3/2023 | 43,666(6) | $909,126(7) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
2/1/2024 | 32,152(8) | $669,405(7) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
3/10/2025 | 56,066(9) | $1,167,294(7) | 53,147(10) | $1,106,521(7) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Astha Malik | 8/16/2022 | 29,124(5) | $606,362(7) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
3/3/2023 | 34,225(6) | $712,565(7) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
2/1/2024 | 39,807(8) | $828,782(7) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
3/10/2025 | 70,660(9) | $1,471,141(7) | 66,980(10) | $1,394,524(7) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Edward McDonnell | 8/19/2025 | 433,854(11) | $9,032,840(7) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
(1) | All option awards listed in this table were granted pursuant to the 2011 Plan. See “Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control” for a discussion of the potential acceleration of the vesting of these option awards if the named executive officer’s employment is terminated within three months prior to or 12 months following a change of control. |
(2) | All stock awards listed in this table were granted pursuant to the 2021 Plan. See “Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control” for a discussion of the potential acceleration of the vesting of these stock awards if the named executive officer’s employment is terminated within three months prior to or 12 months following a change of control. |
(3) | The shares underlying these stock options became fully vested in February 2026. |
(4) | 25% of the shares underlying these stock options vested on August 1, 2023. Thereafter, the remaining shares vest in equal monthly installments until August 2026, subject to the named executive officer’s continuous service through each such vesting date. |
(5) | 25% of the shares underlying these RSUs vested on August 15, 2023 and the remaining RSUs vest in 12 equal quarterly installments, subject to the named executive officer’s continued service with us. |
(6) | The shares underlying the RSUs vest in 16 equal quarterly installments beginning on May 15, 2023, subject to the named executive officer’s continued service with us. |
(7) | Amounts reported are based on the $20.82, which was our closing stock price on January 30, 2026, as reported on Nasdaq, multiplied by the number of respective unvested RSUs or PSUs. |
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(8) | The shares underlying the RSUs vest in 16 equal quarterly installments beginning on May 15, 2024, subject to the named executive officer’s continued service with us. |
(9) | Represents the number of shares that were deemed unearned as of January 31, 2026, and that were subsequently earned as a result of achievement of performance criteria in fiscal 2026 and certification by the compensation committee in March 2026. One-third of the shares underlying the PSU award will vest on May 15, 2026. The remaining two-thirds will then vest in eight equal quarterly installments over the following two years. The vesting of the PSUs are subject to the named executive officer’s continuous service through such vesting date. |
(10) | The shares underlying the RSUs vest in 16 equal quarterly installments beginning on May 15, 2025, subject to the named executive officer’s continued service with us. |
(11) | The shares underlying the RSUs vest over four years with 40% of shares vesting on August 15, 2026, and the remainder of the shares vesting in equal quarterly installments thereafter. The vesting of the RSUs are subject to the named executive officer’s continuous service through each vesting date. If the named executive officer’s employment is terminated prior to August 15, 2026 then RSUs equal to 40% of issued and unvested RSUs awarded to the named executive officer multiplied by the percent of the year that he worked at the company will be immediately accelerated and become vested. |
Option Awards | Stock Awards | |||||||||||
Name | Number of shares acquired on exercise (#) | Value realized on exercise ($)(1) | Number of shares acquired on vesting (#) | Value realized on vesting ($)(2) | ||||||||
William Magnuson | 547,901 | $14,502,939 | 166,026 | $5,375,065 | ||||||||
Isabelle Winkles | 8,532 | $235,995 | 77,066 | $2,493,471 | ||||||||
Jonathan Hyman | 122,199 | $3,172,191 | 57,914 | $1,996,368 | ||||||||
Astha Malik | — | — | 99,358 | $3,238,368 | ||||||||
Edward McDonnell | — | — | — | — | ||||||||
(1) | The value realized on exercise is based on the closing price of our Class A common stock on the date of exercise minus the exercise price and does not reflect actual proceeds received. |
(2) | The value realized on vesting is based on the closing price of our Class A common stock on the date of vesting and does not reflect actual proceeds received. |
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Name | Benefit Description | Termination without cause or for good reason by executive not in connection with a change in control ($)(1) | Termination without cause or for good reason by executive in connection with a change in control ($)(2)(3) | In connection with a change in control ($) | ||||||||
William Magnuson | Cash severance | $580,000 | $1,740,000 | — | ||||||||
Accelerated vesting of equity awards(4) | — | $11,719,536 | — | |||||||||
Continuation of health benefits | $27,125 | $27,125 | — | |||||||||
Isabelle Winkles | Cash severance | $228,500 | $800,000 | — | ||||||||
Accelerated vesting of equity awards(4) | — | $4,510,695 | — | |||||||||
Continuation of health benefits | $19,530 | $39,059 | — | |||||||||
Jonathan Hyman | Cash severance | $213,000 | $703,000 | — | ||||||||
Accelerated vesting of equity awards(4) | — | $3,268,698 | — | |||||||||
Continuation of health benefits | $19,530 | $39,059 | — | |||||||||
Astha Malik | Cash severance | $228,500 | $800,000 | — | ||||||||
Accelerated vesting of equity awards(4) | — | $4,277,802 | — | |||||||||
Continuation of health benefits | $4,735 | $9,470 | — | |||||||||
Edward McDonnell | Cash severance | $143,151 | $786,301 | — | ||||||||
Accelerated vesting of equity awards(4) | $2,058,993(5) | $9,032,840 | — | |||||||||
Continuation of health benefits | $19,530 | $39,059 | — | |||||||||
(1) | Represents severance benefits, which assumes the named executive officer is terminated without “cause” or resigns for “good reason” outside of the change in control determination period. |
(2) | Represents change in control severance benefits based on a double-trigger arrangement, which assumes the named executive officer is terminated without “cause” or resigns for “good reason” within the change in control determination period. |
(3) | Following a change in control, any payments received by our named executive officers may be reduced to an amount, the higher of either (i) the largest portion of the payments that would result in no portion of the payments being subject to an excise tax under Section 4999 of the Code or (ii) the largest portion, up to and including the total, of the payments, whichever amount, after taking into account all federal, state and local employment taxes, income taxes and such excise tax (all computed at the highest applicable marginal rate), resulting in the named executive officer’s receipt, on an after-tax basis, of the greater economic benefit notwithstanding that all or some portion of the payments may be subject to the excise tax. If a reduction in payments or benefits constituting “parachute payments” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code is necessary, so that the payments equal the higher amount described above, reduction will occur in the manner that results in the greatest economic benefit for the named executive officer. |
(4) | All accelerated vesting of equity awards represents acceleration of vesting of unvested, unexercised stock options (without giving effect to any early exercise features of such stock options, if any) outstanding and unvested restricted stock units as of January 31, 2026. The value of accelerated vesting of unvested, unexercised stock options is based on the difference between $20.82, which was our closing stock price on January 30, 2026, as reported on Nasdaq, and the exercise price per stock option multiplied by the number of unvested stock options. The value of accelerated vesting of unvested RSUs is based on the $20.82, which was our closing stock price on January 30, 2026, as reported on Nasdaq, multiplied by the number of unvested RSUs. |
(5) | Represents the value equal to 40% of Mr. McDonnell’s unvested RSUs as of January 31, 2026, prorated for the portion of our fiscal year that he was employed. If Mr. McDonnell’s employment is terminated prior to August 15, 2026 then RSUs equal to 40% of the issued and unvested RSUs awarded to him multiplied by the percent of the year that he worked at the company will be immediately accelerated and become vested. |
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Plan Category | (a) Number of Securities to be Issued Upon Exercise of Outstanding Options, Warrants and Rights(1) | (b) Weighted Average Exercise Price of Outstanding Options, Warrants and Rights(2) | (c) Number of Securities Remaining Available for Future Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans (Excluding Securities Reflected in Column (a))(3) | ||||||
Equity plans approved by stockholders | 3,332,448 | $25.10 | 27,952,533 | ||||||
Equity plans not approved by stockholders | — | — | — | ||||||
(1) | Includes the 2011 Plan and the 2021 Plan, but does not include future rights to purchase Class A common stock under our ESPP, which depend on a number of factors described in our ESPP and will not be determined until the end of the applicable purchase period. |
(2) | The weighted-average exercise price excludes any outstanding restricted stock unit awards, which have no exercise price. |
(3) | Includes the 2021 Plan and ESPP. Stock options or other stock awards granted under the 2011 Plan that are forfeited, terminated, expired or repurchased become available for issuance under the 2021 Plan. |
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Fiscal Year | SCT Total CEO ($) | Compensation Actually Paid for to CEO ($)(1)(2) | SCT Average Total for Other NEOs ($)(3) | Average Compensation Actually Paid to Other NEOs ($)(2)(3)(4) | Value of Initial Fixed $100 Investment Based on: | Net (loss) Income ($, in thousands)(6) | Revenue ($, in thousands)(7) | |||||||||||||||||
Braze Total Shareholder Return ($)(5) | Peer Group Total Shareholder Return ($)(5) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
2026 Fiscal year | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||
2025 Fiscal year | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||
2024 Fiscal year | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||
2023 Fiscal year | ( | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||
2022 Fiscal year | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||
(1) | The following table shows for each Covered Year the adjustments made to the total compensation shown for our CEO, |
Adjustments to Determine CEO Compensation Actually Paid | 2026 Fiscal year | 2025 Fiscal year | 2024 Fiscal year | 2023 Fiscal year | 2022 Fiscal year | ||||||||||
SCT total amount | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||
Less Amounts Reported under “Option Awards” and “Stock Awards” Columns in SCT for the Covered Year | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||
Plus Year-end Fair Value of Stock Options Awards and Stock Awards Granted during Covered Year that Remain Unvested as of Year-end | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||
Plus Fair Value on Vesting of Stock Option Awards and Stock Awards Granted during Covered Year that Vest during Covered Year-end | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||
Change (positive or negative) in Fair Value from Prior Year-end to Covered Year-end of Option Awards and Stock Awards Granted Prior to Covered Year that were Outstanding and Unvested as of Covered Year-end | $( | $( | $ | $( | $ | ||||||||||
Change (positive or negative) in Fair Value from Prior Year-end to Vesting Date of Stock Option Awards and Stock Awards Granted Prior to Covered Year that Vested during Covered Year | $( | $( | $ | $( | $ | ||||||||||
TOTAL ADJUSTMENTS: | $( | $( | $ | $( | $ | ||||||||||
TOTAL COMPENSATION ACTUALLY PAID: | $ | $ | $ | $( | $ | ||||||||||
(2) | For purposes of the adjustments to determine “compensation actually paid”, we computed the fair value of stock option awards, PSUs and RSUs in accordance with ASC Topic 718 as of the end of the relevant fiscal year, other than the fair values of equity awards that vested in the Covered Year, which are valued as of the applicable vesting date. The valuation assumptions used in the calculation of such amounts (as updated for purposes of this disclosure to reflect the relevant dates for purposes of calculating fair value) are set forth in Note 12 to our audited consolidated financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the 2026 fiscal year. |
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(3) | The Other NEOs for the 2026 fiscal year were Isabelle Winkles, Jonathan Hyman, Astha Malik, and Edward McDonnell. The other NEOs for 2025, 2024 and 2023 fiscal years were Isabelle Winkles, Jonathan Hyman, Myles Kleeger and Susan Wiseman. The Other NEOs for the 2022 fiscal year were Jonathan Hyman and Myles Kleeger. |
(4) | The following table shows for each Covered Year presented the adjustments made to the average of the total compensation shown for the Other NEOs on the SCT to arrive at “compensation actually paid” as reflected on the table above: |
Adjustments to Determine Average Other NEO Compensation Actually Paid | 2026 Fiscal year | 2025 Fiscal year | 2024 Fiscal year | 2023 Fiscal year | 2022 Fiscal year | ||||||||||
SCT total amount | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||
Less Amounts Reported under “Option Awards” and “Stock Awards” Column in SCT for the Covered Year | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||
Plus Year-end Fair Value of Stock Options Awards and Stock Awards Granted during Covered Year that Remain Unvested as of Year-end | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||
Plus Fair Value on Vesting of Stock Option Awards and Stock Awards Granted during Covered Year that Vest during Covered Year | $ | $ | |||||||||||||
Change (positive or negative) in Fair Value from Prior Year-end to Covered Year-end of Stock Option Awards and Stock Awards Granted Prior to Covered Year that were Outstanding and Unvested as of Covered Year-end | $( | $( | $( | $ | |||||||||||
Change (positive or negative) in Fair Value from Prior Year-end to Vesting Date of Stock Option Awards and Stock Awards Granted Prior to Covered Year that Vested during Covered Year | $( | $( | $( | $ | |||||||||||
TOTAL ADJUSTMENTS: | $( | $( | $( | $ | |||||||||||
TOTAL AVERAGE COMPENSATION ACTUALLY PAID: | $ | $ | $( | $ | |||||||||||
(5) | Total Shareholder Return shown in this table utilizes the Nasdaq Computer Index, which is the index included in the stock performance graph required by Item 201(e) of Regulation S-K in this proxy statement. The comparison assumes $100.00 was invested in our Class A common stock and the Nasdaq Computer Index at their respective closing prices on the IPO Date and ending on January 31 of each Covered Year. All dollar values assume reinvestment of the pre-tax value of dividends paid by companies included in the Nasdaq Computer Index. The historical stock price performance of our Class A common stock shown is not necessarily indicative of future stock price performance. |
(6) | Reflects “Net (loss) income” for each Covered Year as set forth in our Consolidated Statements of Operations included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for each of the Covered Years. For the avoidance of doubt, “Net (loss) income” is a GAAP measure. |
(7) | Reflects “ |
January 31, 2026 | January 31, 2025 | January 31, 2024 | January 31, 2023 | January 31, 2022 | IPO Date Closing Price | |||||||||||||
Price of our Class A common stock | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||
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• | Braze’s cumulative TSR for each Covered Year |

• | Braze’s Net (loss) income for each Covered Year |

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• | Braze’s Revenue for each Covered Year |

Performance Measure | What it Measures | ||
Revenue (determined on a consolidated basis) is a GAAP measure reported in our audited financial statements. | |||
Net CARR equals the contracted annual recurring revenue value of new commercial activity from both existing customers and new customers sold during the fiscal year reduced by the value of contracted annual recurring revenue lost due to downsell or customer termination, in each case, excluding the impact of any one-time implementation and onboarding fees, and the impact of any overage fees or passthrough revenue. | |||
Represents the dollar value of recurring revenue that was renewed with Braze during the fiscal year divided by the total dollars available for renewal during that same period (excluding the impact of any one-time implementation and onboarding fees, and the impact of any overage fees or passthrough revenue). | |||
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Name | Fees Earned or Paid in Cash ($) | Stock Awards ($)(1)(2) | Total ($) | ||||||
Neeraj Agrawal | $34,000 | $134,582 | $168,582 | ||||||
Phillip M. Fernandez | $69,000 | $134,582 | $203,582 | ||||||
Tara Walpert Levy | $45,000 | $134,582 | $179,582 | ||||||
Fernando Machado | $37,000 | $134,582 | $171,582 | ||||||
David Obstler | $50,000 | $134,582 | $184,582 | ||||||
Yvonne Wassenaar | $40,000 | $134,582 | $174,582 | ||||||
(1) | Amounts reported represent the aggregate grant date fair value of RSUs granted to our non-employee directors during our 2026 fiscal year under the 2021 Plan, computed in accordance with ASC Topic 718. The assumptions used in calculating the grant date fair value of the RSUs reported in this column are set forth in Note 12 to our audited consolidated financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the 2026 fiscal year. This amount does not reflect the actual economic value that may be realized by the non-employee directors. |
(2) | As of January 31, 2026, the aggregate number of shares underlying outstanding stock options and unvested RSUs held by each of our non-employee directors was as follows: |
Name | Number of Shares Underlying Options | Number of Restricted Stock Units | ||||
Neeraj Agrawal | — | 5,033 | ||||
Phillip M. Fernandez | 145,692 | 5,033 | ||||
Tara Walpert Levy | — | 5,033 | ||||
Fernando Machado | — | 5,033 | ||||
David Obstler | — | 5,033 | ||||
Yvonne Wassenaar | — | 8,659 | ||||
• | an annual cash retainer of $30,000; |
• | an additional annual cash retainer of $30,000 for service as non-executive Chairperson; |
• | an additional annual cash retainer of $15,000 for service as Lead Independent Director; |
• | an additional annual cash retainer of $10,000 for service as a member of the audit committee, $7,000 for service as a member of the compensation committee and $4,000 for service as a member of the nominating and corporate governance committee; |
• | an additional annual cash retainer of $20,000 for service as Chairperson of the audit committee, $14,000 for service as Chairperson of the compensation committee and $8,000 for service as Chairperson of the nominating and corporate governance committee, each in lieu of the annual cash retainer for service as a member of such committee as described above; |
• | an initial RSU award granted upon a non-employee director’s initial election or appointment to the board of directors, with a value equal to $225,000 as of the date of grant and vesting in three equal annual installments on the first three anniversaries of the date of grant; and |
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• | an additional RSU award, granted at each annual meeting of our stockholders, to each non-employee director serving on such date, with a value equal to $175,000 (subject to adjustment as set forth in the non-employee director compensation policy) as of the date of grant and vesting on the earlier of the first anniversary of the date of grant or the date immediately preceding the date of the following annual meeting of our stockholders. |
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Fiscal Year Ended January 31, | ||||||
2026 | 2025 | |||||
(in thousands) | ||||||
Audit Fees(1) | $2,580 | $2,523 | ||||
Audit-related Fees(2) | 390 | 107 | ||||
Tax Fees(3) | — | 52 | ||||
All Other Fees(4) | — | 5 | ||||
Total Fees | $2,970 | $2,687 | ||||
(1) | Audit fees consist of fees for professional services provided in connection with the audit of our annual consolidated financial statements, the review of our quarterly consolidated financial statements and performance of local statutory audits. |
(2) | Audit-related Fees consist of consultation on matters addressed during the audit or interim reviews, consultation on merger and acquisition matters and services that are normally provided by an independent registered public accounting firm in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements for those fiscal years, including fees for professional services related to consents and review of documents provided in connection with the filing of our Registration Statements on Form S-8 filed during the first fiscal quarter of the fiscal years ended January 31, 2025 and 2026 and with the filing of our Registration Statement on Form S-3 filed during the second quarter of the fiscal year ended January 31, 2026. |
(3) | Tax fees consist of indirect (non-income) tax advisory and compliance services. |
(4) | All other fees consist of publications and other online subscriptions/content. |
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• | each of our named executive officers; |
• | each of our directors and director nominees; |
• | all of our executive officers, directors and director nominees as a group; and |
• | each person or entity known by us to be beneficial owners of more than five percent of our outstanding common stock. |
Class A Common Stock | ||||||
Beneficial Owner | Number of Shares | % | ||||
5% Stockholders: | ||||||
Entities affiliated with MCG7 Inc.(1) | 7,634,408 | 6.8 | ||||
Directors and Named Executive Officers: | ||||||
William Magnuson(2) | 5,485,123 | 4.9 | ||||
Isabelle Winkles(3) | 315,101 | * | ||||
Jonathan Hyman(4) | 2,029,437 | 1.8 | ||||
Astha Malik(5) | 97,205 | * | ||||
Edward McDonnell(6) | 8,571 | * | ||||
Neeraj Agrawal(7) | 5,711,181 | 5.1 | ||||
Phillip M. Fernandez(8) | 165,994 | * | ||||
Tara Walpert Levy(9) | 156,802 | * | ||||
Fernando Machado(10) | 13,970 | * | ||||
David Obstler(11) | 68,052 | * | ||||
Yvonne Wassenaar(12) | 8,947 | * | ||||
Our executive officers and directors as a group (12 persons)(13) | 14,249,082 | 12.5 | ||||
* | Less than one percent. |
(1) | Based on Schedule 13G/A filed on February 17, 2026 by entities associated with MCG7 Capital Inc. (“MCG7”). Consists of (a) 7,278,960 shares of Class A common stock held by Binder Clip Holdings LLC (“Binder”) and (b) 355,448 shares of Class A common stock Appboy BH LLC (“Appboy”). Binder is the indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of MCG7 Capital Inc. (“MCG7”) and Appboy is a direct wholly-owned subsidiary of Binder. MCG7 may be deemed to beneficially own the shares held by Binder and Appboy. Voting and dispositive power with respect to the shares held by Appboy is exercised by the board of managers of Appboy. Voting and dispositive power with respect to the shares held by Binder is exercised by the board of managers of Binder. Decisions of MCG7 are made by a vote of a majority of directors, and as a result, no single person has voting or dispositive authority over such securities. Each director of MCG7, each manager of Binder, and each manager of Appboy disclaims beneficial ownership of such securities. The address of MCG7 is c/o Fasken, 550 Burrard Street, Suite 2900, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6C 0A3, Canada, the address of Binder is c/o Paul Hastings LLP, 200 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10166, and the address of Appboy is c/o Aprio, 7 Penn Plaza, Suite 210, New York, NY 10001. |
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(2) | Consists of (a) 4,164,250 shares of Class A common stock, (b) 470 shares of Class A common stock held by a limited liability company (c) 69,125 shares of Class A common stock issuable upon the vesting and settlement of outstanding restricted stock units, and (d) 1,251,658 shares of Class A common stock issuable upon the exercise of stock options. |
(3) | Consists of (a) 89,250 shares of Class A common stock, (b) 32,070 shares of Class A common stock issuable upon the vesting and settlement of outstanding restricted stock units and (c) 193,781 shares of Class A common stock issuable upon the exercise of stock options. |
(4) | Consists of (a) 1,580,362 shares of Class A common stock, (b) 23,862 shares of Class A common stock issuable upon the vesting and settlement of outstanding restricted stock units, (c) 71,436 shares of Class A common stock held by a family trust, (d) 28,564 shares of Class A common stock held by a family trust, and (e) 325,213 shares of Class A common stock issuable upon the exercise of stock options. |
(5) | Consists of (a) 61,282 shares of Class A common stock and (b) 35,923 shares of Class A common stock issuable upon the vesting and settlement of outstanding restricted stock units. |
(6) | Consists of 8,571 shares of Class A common stock issuable upon the vesting and settlement of outstanding restricted stock units. |
(7) | Based on Form 4 filed on February 3, 2026 by Mr. Agrawal. Consists of (a) 714,569 shares of Class A common stock by Battery Ventures XI-A, L.P.(“BV11-A”), (b) 188,805 shares of Class A common stock held by Battery Ventures XI-B, L.P. (“BV 11-B”), (c) 742,400 shares of Class A common stock held by Battery Ventures XI-A Side Fund, L.P. (“BV11-A SF”), (d) 160,974 shares of Class A common stock held by Battery Ventures XI-B Side Fund, L.P. (“BV11-B SF”), (e) 33,116 shares of Class A common stock held by Battery Investment Partners XI, LLC (“BIP11”), (f) 2,537,467 shares of Class A common stock held by Battery Ventures Select Fund I, L.P. (“BV Select I”), (g) 250,958 shares of Class A common stock held by Battery Investment Partners Select Fund I, L.P. (“BIP Select I”), (h) 189,736 shares of Class A common stock, (i) 888,123 shares of Class A common stock held by a family trust and (j) 5,033 shares of Class A common stock issuable upon the vesting and settlement of outstanding restricted stock units. The general partner of BV11-A and BV11-B and managing member of BIP11 is Battery Partners XI, LLC (“BP11”). The general partner of BV11-A SF and BV11-B SF is Battery Partners XI Side Fund, LLC (“BP11SF”). The general partner of BV Select I is Battery Partners Select Fund I, L.P. (“BP Select I”). The general partner of BP Select I and BIP Select I is Battery Partners Select Fund I GP, LLC (“BP Select I GP”). The managing members of each of BP11 and BP11SF who may be deemed to share voting and dispositive power with respect to the shares held by BV11-A, BV11-B, BIP11, BV11-A SF and BV11-B SF are Neeraj Agrawal, Michael Brown, Jesse Feldman, Russell Fleischer, Roger Lee, Chelsea Stoner, Dharmesh Thakker, and Scott Tobin (the “BV Managing Members”). The managing members of BP Select I GP who may be deemed to share voting and dispositive power with respect to the shares held by BV Select I and BIP Select I are the BV Managing Members and Morad Elhafed. Each of the foregoing disclaims beneficial ownership of the securities owned by the entities affiliated with Battery Ventures except to the extent of its, his or her pecuniary interest therein. The address of each of these entities is One Marina Park Drive, Suite 1100, Boston, Massachusetts 02210. |
(8) | Consists of (a) 15,269 shares of Class A common stock, (b) 5,033 shares of Class A common stock issuable upon the vesting and settlement of outstanding restricted stock units and (c) 145,692 shares of Class A common stock issuable upon the exercise of stock options. |
(9) | Consists of (a) 89,207 shares of Class A common stock, (b) 5,033 shares of Class A common stock issuable upon the vesting and settlement of outstanding restricted stock units and (c) 62,562 shares of Class A common stock held by a family trust. |
(10) | Consists of (a) 8,937 shares of Class A common stock and (b) 5,033 shares of Class A common stock issuable upon the vesting and settlement of outstanding restricted stock units. |
(11) | Consists of (a) 63,019 shares of Class A common stock and (b) 5,033 shares of Class A common stock issuable upon the vesting and settlement of outstanding restricted stock units. |
(12) | Consists of (a) 2,101 shares of Class A common stock and (b) 6,846 shares of Class A common stock issuable upon the vesting and settlement of outstanding restricted stock units. |
(13) | Consists of (a) 12,048,294 shares of Class A common stock, (b) 211,582 shares of Class A common stock issuable upon the vesting and settlement of outstanding restricted stock units, and (c) 1,989,206 shares of Class a common stock issuable upon the exercise of stock options. |
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• | the amount involved exceeded or will exceed $120,000; and |
• | any of our directors, executive officers or holders of more than 5% of our capital stock, or any member of the immediate family of, or person sharing the household with, the foregoing persons, had or will have a direct or indirect material interest. |
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By Order of the Board of Directors | |||
Susan Wiseman | |||
General Counsel and Secretary | |||
May , 2026 | |||
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