STOCK TITAN

Kura Oncology (NASDAQ: KURA) revises CEO and executive severance

(Moderate)
(Neutral)
Form Type
8-K

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Kura Oncology amended and restated executive employment agreements for its Chairman, President and CEO Troy E. Wilson, Chief Commercial Officer Brian Powl and Chief Operating Officer Kathleen Ford to modify severance protections, including change‑of‑control terms tied to a Corporate Transaction.

If Wilson is terminated without Cause or resigns for Good Reason outside the Corporate Transaction window, he receives a lump sum equal to 12 months base salary, up to 12 months COBRA premiums and a 12‑month stock option exercise period. If the separation occurs within 59 days before, on, or within 18 months after a Corporate Transaction, his cash severance increases to 24 months salary plus 200% of target bonus, with up to 24 months COBRA, full equity vesting at target and a 12‑month option exercise period. Powl and Ford receive similar protections, with 12 months salary outside a Corporate Transaction and, within the transaction window, 18 months salary, 150% of target bonus, extended COBRA, full equity vesting and a 12‑month option exercise period.

Positive

  • None.

Negative

  • None.

Filing Explained

Kura entered the amended Wilson agreement on July 24, 2026, and the amended Powl and Ford agreements on July 27, 2026; their complete texts will be filed with the Form 10-Q for the quarter ending September 30, 2026, so this disclosure remains qualified by those future exhibits.

Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers Governance
Key personnel changes including departures, elections, or appointments of directors and executive officers.
CEO severance outside Corporate Transaction 12 months base salary Cash lump sum if terminated without Cause or for Good Reason outside transaction window
CEO COBRA coverage outside Corporate Transaction up to 12 months Company-paid COBRA premiums following CEO separation outside transaction window
CEO severance tied to Corporate Transaction 24 months base salary Cash lump sum if separation occurs within 59 days before to 18 months after closing
CEO bonus multiple at Corporate Transaction 200% of target bonus Lump sum payment based on target bonus for year of Corporate Transaction
CCO/COO severance tied to Corporate Transaction 18 months base salary Cash lump sum for Powl and Ford if separation is within the transaction window
CCO/COO bonus multiple at Corporate Transaction 150% of target bonus Additional cash payment for Powl and Ford for year of Corporate Transaction
COBRA coverage at Corporate Transaction for CEO up to 24 months Company-paid COBRA premiums following CEO separation tied to Corporate Transaction
Post-termination option exercise period 12 months Maximum extended exercise period for outstanding stock options for covered executives
Corporate Transaction regulatory
"within 59 days prior to or 18 months after the closing of a Corporate Transaction"
Good Reason regulatory
"terminated by the Company without Cause or resigns for Good Reason"
COBRA health insurance premiums financial
"continued payment by the Company of COBRA health insurance premiums for Dr. Wilson"
full acceleration of vesting financial
"full acceleration of vesting of all outstanding equity awards held by such executive"
performance-based awards financial
"full acceleration of vesting of all outstanding equity awards held by such executive with performance-based awards"

AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

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FAQ

What did Kura Oncology (KURA) change in its executive employment agreements?

Kura Oncology revised executive employment agreements for its CEO, CCO and COO to update severance and change‑of‑control protections. The new terms define cash severance, COBRA coverage, equity vesting and option exercise rights based on whether termination is connected to a Corporate Transaction.

What severance does KURA’s CEO receive outside a Corporate Transaction?

If Troy E. Wilson is terminated without Cause or resigns for Good Reason outside the Corporate Transaction window, he receives a lump sum equal to 12 months base salary, up to 12 months of COBRA premiums and a 12‑month post‑termination exercise period for outstanding stock options.

How do KURA CEO benefits change if termination is tied to a Corporate Transaction?

If Wilson is terminated without Cause or resigns for Good Reason within 59 days before, on, or within 18 months after a Corporate Transaction, he receives 24 months salary, a cash payment equal to 200% of target bonus, up to 24 months COBRA coverage, full equity vesting and a 12‑month option exercise window.

What severance do KURA’s CCO and COO receive outside a Corporate Transaction?

If Brian Powl or Kathleen Ford is terminated without Cause or resigns for Good Reason outside the Corporate Transaction window, each is entitled to a lump sum equal to 12 months base salary, up to 12 months of COBRA premiums and a 12‑month post‑termination stock option exercise period.

What change‑of‑control severance applies to KURA’s CCO and COO?

If Powl or Ford separates within 59 days before, on, or within 18 months after a Corporate Transaction, each receives 18 months base salary, 150% of target bonus, up to 18 months COBRA coverage, full acceleration of all equity awards at target and a 12‑month option exercise period.

When will full copies of KURA’s amended executive agreements be available?

Complete copies of the Wilson, Powl and Ford amended and restated executive employment agreements will be filed as exhibits to Kura Oncology’s Quarterly Report on Form 10‑Q for the quarter ending September 30, 2026, providing full contract details beyond the summarized severance provisions.
false 0001422143 0001422143 2026-07-24 2026-07-24
 
 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): July 24, 2026

 

 

KURA ONCOLOGY, INC.

(Exact name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   001-37620   61-1547851

(State or Other Jurisdiction

of Incorporation)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

 

4930 Directors Place, Suite 500, San Diego, CA   92121
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)   (Zip Code)

Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code: (858) 500-8800

N/A

(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

 

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instructions A.2. below):

 

Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of each class

 

Trading
Symbol(s)

 

Name of each exchange
on which registered

Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share   KURA   The Nasdaq Global Select Market

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

 

 
 


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

(e)

On July 24, 2026, Kura Oncology, Inc. (the “Company”) entered into a Second Amended and Restated Executive Employment Agreement with Troy E. Wilson, Ph.D., J.D., the Company’s Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer (the “Wilson Agreement”) to, among other things, modify certain severance provisions.

On July 27, 2026, the Company entered into (i) an Amended and Restated Executive Employment Agreement with Brian Powl, the Company’s Chief Commercial Officer (the “Powl Agreement”) and (ii) an Amended and Restated Executive Employment Agreement with Kathleen Ford, the Company’s Chief Operating Officer (the “Ford Agreement” and together with the Wilson Agreement and Powl Agreement, the “A&R Agreements”), in each case to, among other things, modify certain severance provisions.

Pursuant to the Wilson Agreement, in the event that Dr. Wilson’s employment with the Company is terminated by the Company without Cause (other than by reason of death or disability) or Dr. Wilson resigns for Good Reason (as each term is defined in the Wilson Agreement), in each case, more than 59 days prior to or 18 months after the closing of a Corporate Transaction (as defined in the Wilson Agreement), then Dr. Wilson shall be entitled to (i) a cash lump sum payment equal to 12 months of his then-current base salary, (ii) continued payment by the Company of COBRA health insurance premiums for Dr. Wilson and his eligible dependents for up to 12 months following the date of Dr. Wilson’s separation from service (such date, the “Wilson Separation Date) and (iii) an extension of the post-termination exercise period for any outstanding stock options held by Dr. Wilson to the shorter of 12 months and the remaining term of the applicable outstanding option. In the event such termination or resignation occurs within 59 days prior to, on or within 18 months following the closing of a Corporate Transaction, then Dr. Wilson shall be entitled to (i) a cash lump sum payment equal to 24 months of his then-current base salary, (ii) a cash lump sum payment equal to 200% of his target bonus for the year in which the Corporate Transaction occurs, (iii) continued payment by the Company of COBRA health insurance premiums for Dr. Wilson and his eligible dependents for up to 24 months following the Wilson Separation Date, (iv) full acceleration of vesting of all outstanding equity awards held by Dr. Wilson (with performance-based awards vesting at target) and (v) an extension of the post-termination exercise period for any outstanding stock options held by Dr. Wilson to the shorter of 12 months and the remaining term of the applicable outstanding option.

Pursuant to each of the Powl Agreement and the Ford Agreement, in the event that the applicable executive’s employment with the Company is terminated by the Company without Cause (other than by reason of death or disability) or such executive resigns for Good Reason (as each term is defined in the Powl Agreement or the Ford Agreement, as applicable), in each case, more than 59 days prior to or 18 months after the closing of a Corporate Transaction (as defined in the Powl Agreement or the Ford Agreement, as applicable), then such executive shall be entitled to (i) a cash lump sum payment equal to 12 months of such executive’s then-current base salary, (ii) continued payment by the Company of COBRA health insurance premiums for such executive and their eligible dependents for up to 12 months following the date of the executive’s separation from service (such date, the “Separation Date”) and (iii) an extension of the post-termination exercise period for any outstanding stock options held by such executive to the shorter of 12 months and the remaining term of the applicable outstanding option. In the event such termination or resignation occurs within 59 days prior to, on or within 18 months following the closing of a Corporate Transaction, then such executive shall be entitled to (i) a cash lump sum payment equal to 18 months of such executive’s then-current base salary, (ii) a cash lump sum payment equal to 150% of such executive’s target bonus for the year in which the Corporate Transaction occurs, (iii) continued payment by the Company of COBRA health insurance premiums for such executive and their eligible dependents for up to 18 months following the applicable Separation Date, (iv) full acceleration of vesting of all outstanding equity awards held by such executive (with performance-based awards vesting at target) and (v) an extension of the post-termination exercise period for any outstanding stock options held by such executive to the shorter of 12 months and the remaining term of the applicable outstanding option.

The remaining terms and conditions of the A&R Agreements remain substantially unchanged. Complete copies of the Wilson Agreement, the Powl Agreement and the Ford Agreement will be filed with the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ending September 30, 2026. The above summaries of the A&R Agreements do not purport to be complete and are qualified in their entirety by reference to such exhibits.

 


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

    KURA ONCOLOGY, INC.
Date: July 29, 2026     By:  

/s/ Teresa Bair

      Teresa Bair
      Chief Legal Officer

Filing Exhibits & Attachments

3 documents