Item 5.02 | Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers. |
On January 27, 2025, the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of T-Mobile US, Inc. (“T-Mobile”) appointed Srinivasan Gopalan as Chief Operating Officer (“COO”) of T-Mobile, effective as of March 1, 2025 (the “Effective Date”).
In connection with Mr. Gopalan’s appointment as COO, on January 27, 2025, T-Mobile entered into terms of employment (the “Agreement”) with Mr. Gopalan, which will become effective as of the Effective Date. Mr. Gopalan’s employment as COO under the Agreement will commence on the Effective Date and continue until terminated in accordance with the terms of the Agreement.
Pursuant to the Agreement, Mr. Gopalan is entitled to (i) an annual base salary equal to $1,000,000; (ii) an annual short-term cash incentive targeted at no less than $2,000,000 (with a maximum award equal to 200% of target), payable based on the attainment of pre-established performance goals; (iii) employee benefits to the same extent and on the same terms as such benefits are provided generally by T-Mobile to its senior executives; (iv) company-paid or reimbursed tax preparation and financial planning services for calendar years 2025 and 2026 (capped at $50,000 per calendar year); (v) relocation assistance for costs associated with Mr. Gopalan’s relocation to the greater Bellevue, Washington area in accordance with the terms of T-Mobile’s Relocation Policy, subject to pro-rata repayment in the event that Mr. Gopalan’s employment is terminated by T-Mobile for “cause” or by Mr. Gopalan without “good reason” (each as defined in the Agreement) within 12 months following the Effective Date; and (vi) company-paid or reimbursed first-class round-trip airfare for Mr. Gopalan and his spouse and children for 24 months following the Effective Date (capped at 32 round-trip flights in the aggregate and grossed up for applicable taxes). Mr. Gopalan is also eligible for a one-time cash payment of $2,000,000 (the “Sign-On Payment”), payable on or within 60 days following the Effective Date and subject to pro-rata repayment in the event that Mr. Gopalan’s employment is terminated by T-Mobile for “cause” or by Mr. Gopalan without “good reason” within 12 months following the Effective Date.
In addition, pursuant to the Agreement, Mr. Gopalan will be entitled to annual long-term incentive awards (“LTI awards”) with a target grant-date value of not less than $9,500,000. In connection with his commencement as COO, on or within 10 days following the Effective Date, Mr. Gopalan will be granted a one-time award of restricted stock units (“RSUs”) under the T-Mobile 2023 Incentive Award Plan, with respect to a number of shares of T-Mobile common stock equal to (i) the estimated aggregate value of any phantom share awards granted to Mr. Gopalan prior to the Effective Date by Deutsche Telekom AG (“DT”) that are forfeited by Mr. Gopalan in connection with his commencement of employment with T-Mobile (such forfeited DT phantom share awards, the “Prior DT Awards”), based on the average closing price of an ordinary share of DT over the 30 calendar-day period ending five business days before (and the expected future performance of such Prior DT Awards as of) February 28, 2025, divided by (ii) the average closing price of T-Mobile common stock over the 30 calendar-day period ending five business days before the grant date. A percentage of the RSUs subject to the award will vest on each of March 1, 2026, March 1, 2027, March 1, 2028 and March 1, 2029 (with the percentage of RSUs eligible to vest on each such date determined based on the percentage of phantom shares subject to the Prior DT Awards scheduled to vest during the same calendar year), subject to Mr. Gopalan’s continued employment with T-Mobile through the applicable vesting date (except as otherwise described below or provided in the applicable award agreement).
Under the Agreement, Mr. Gopalan is also entitled to receive a cash payment (each, a “Match Payment”) on or within 60 days following each of May 27, 2025, May 18, 2026, May 13, 2027 and May 18, 2028 (each, a “Match Date”). The amount of each Match Payment will equal (i) the average closing price of an ordinary share of DT over the 30 calendar-day period ending five business days before the applicable Match Date, multiplied by (ii) the number of ordinary shares of DT released to Mr. Gopalan on such Match Date, subject to Mr. Gopalan’s continued employment with T-Mobile through the applicable payment date (except as otherwise described below).