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 <P STYLE="line-height:1.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;border-bottom:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</P>
<P STYLE="line-height:3.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:18pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>UNITED STATES </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:18pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549 </B></P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P><center>
<P STYLE="line-height:6.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000;width:21%">&nbsp;</P></center> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:18pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>FORM <FONT
STYLE="white-space:nowrap">8-K</FONT> </B></P> <P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P><center>
<P STYLE="line-height:6.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000;width:21%">&nbsp;</P></center> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:14pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>CURRENT
REPORT </B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:14pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Pursuant to Section&nbsp;13 or 15(d) of </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:14pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): January&nbsp;2, 2019 </B></P>
<P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P><center> <P STYLE="line-height:6.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000;width:21%">&nbsp;</P></center>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:24pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Atara Biotherapeutics, Inc. </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>(Exact name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter) </B></P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P><center>
<P STYLE="line-height:6.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000;width:21%">&nbsp;</P></center> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
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<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center"><B>Delaware</B></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center"><B><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">001-36548</FONT></B></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center"><B><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">46-0920988</FONT></B></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:8pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center"><B>(State or Other Jurisdiction<BR>of Incorporation)</B></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center"><B>(Commission<BR>File Number)</B></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center"><B>(IRS Employer Identification No.)</B></TD></TR>
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<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>611 Gateway Boulevard, Suite 900</B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>South San Francisco, CA</B></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center"><B>94080</B></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:8pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center"><B>(Address of Principal Executive Offices)</B></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center"><B>(Zip Code)</B></TD></TR>
</TABLE> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Registrant&#146;s Telephone Number, Including Area Code: (650)
<FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">278-8930</FONT> </B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Not Applicable </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report) </B></P>
<P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P><center> <P STYLE="line-height:6.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000;width:21%">&nbsp;</P></center>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Check the appropriate box below if the Form <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">8-K</FONT> filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of
the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instructions A.2. below): </P> <P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
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<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">&#9744;</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="left">Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) </P></TD></TR></TABLE>
<P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">&#9744;</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="left">Soliciting material pursuant to Rule <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">14a-12</FONT> under the Exchange Act (17
CFR <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">240.14a-12)</FONT> </P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">&#9744;</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="left"><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">Pre-commencement</FONT> communications pursuant to <FONT
STYLE="white-space:nowrap">Rule&nbsp;14d-2(b)</FONT> under the Exchange Act (17 CFR <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">240.14d-2(b))</FONT> </P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">&#9744;</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="left"><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">Pre-commencement</FONT> communications pursuant to <FONT
STYLE="white-space:nowrap">Rule&nbsp;13e-4(c)</FONT> under the Exchange Act (17 CFR <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">240.13e-4(c))</FONT> </P></TD></TR></TABLE>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (&#167;230.405 of this
chapter) or Rule <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">12b-2</FONT> of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">(&#167;240.12b-2</FONT> of this chapter). </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Emerging growth company&nbsp;&#9744; </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">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&nbsp;13(a) of the Exchange Act.&nbsp;&#9744;
</P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="line-height:1.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;border-bottom:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</P>
<P STYLE="line-height:3.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</P>
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<TD WIDTH="10%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><B>Item&nbsp;5.02</B></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="left"><B>Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers;
Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers </B></P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>(b) </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">On January&nbsp;2, 2019, Isaac Ciechanover notified the Board of Directors (the &#147;<B><I>Board</I></B>&#148;) of Atara Biotherapeutics, Inc.
(&#147;<B><I>Atara</I></B>&#148; or the &#147;<B><I>Company</I></B>&#148;) of his decision to step down as the Company&#146;s President and Chief Executive Officer, effective as of the earlier of (i)&nbsp;June 30, 2019, or (ii)&nbsp;the date of his
successor&#146;s appointment (the &#147;<B><I>Separation Date</I></B>&#148;). During the period prior to the Separation Date, Dr.&nbsp;Ciechanover will remain as President and Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Board. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">The Board has formed a search committee, chaired by Atara&#146;s Lead Independent Director Carol Gallagher, to evaluate candidates to serve as
the Company&#146;s Chief Executive Officer, and has engaged a leading executive search firm to assist in the process. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>(e) </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">In connection with tendering his notice of resignation, Dr.&nbsp;Ciechanover and the Company entered into a transition and separation
agreement, dated January&nbsp;2, 2019 (the &#147;<B><I>Transition Agreement</I></B>&#148;), pursuant to which Dr.&nbsp;Ciechanover will continue to serve as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company until the Separation Date. Pursuant to
the Transition Agreement, if Dr.&nbsp;Ciechanover remains with the Company in good standing through the Separation Date, he is entitled to receive the following compensation and benefits, subject to the Company&#146;s receipt of an effective release
and waiver of claims from Dr.&nbsp;Ciechanover: (i)&nbsp;a cash payment equal to 12 months of his monthly base salary in effect as of the Separation Date, (ii)&nbsp;a cash payment equal to the premiums for insurance coverage under COBRA for a period
of 12 months following the Separation Date, (iii)&nbsp;a pro rated portion of his 2019 target cash bonus amount based on the number of days he is employed during 2019; (iv)&nbsp;acceleration of vesting of his outstanding equity awards as if he had
provided continuous service through and including December&nbsp;31, 2019; and (v)&nbsp;acceleration of vesting of certain restricted stock unit awards that have an annual vesting date in February 2020 as if such awards were instead on a monthly
vesting schedule from their grant of date through December&nbsp;31, 2019. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">The foregoing description of the Transition Agreement is not
complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Transition Agreement filed as Exhibit 10.1 to this Current Report on Form <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">8-K.</FONT> </P>
<P STYLE="font-size:18pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
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<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="10%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><B>Item&nbsp;9.01.</B></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="left"><B>Financial Statements and Exhibits. </B></P></TD></TR></TABLE>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>(d) Exhibits. </B></P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P><DIV ALIGN="right">
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<TD VALIGN="bottom" NOWRAP ALIGN="center"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000; display:table-cell; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="center"><B>Exhibit</B></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" NOWRAP ALIGN="center"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000; display:table-cell; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="center"><B>Description</B></P></TD></TR>


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<TD VALIGN="top" NOWRAP>10.1</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"><A HREF="d666320dex101.htm">Transition and Separation Agreement, dated January&nbsp;2, 2019, by and between Isaac Ciechanover and Atara Biotherapeutics, Inc.</A></TD></TR>
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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>SIGNATURES </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">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. </P> <P STYLE="font-size:18pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P><DIV ALIGN="right">
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<TD VALIGN="top" COLSPAN="3"><B>Atara Biotherapeutics, Inc.</B></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="24"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="24" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top">By:</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; border-bottom:1px solid #000000; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">/s/ Mina Kim</P></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">Mina Kim</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">General Counsel</TD></TR>
</TABLE></DIV> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Date:&nbsp;January&nbsp;3, 2019 </P>
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8-K
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): January 2, 2019
Atara Biotherapeutics, Inc.
(Exact name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
Delaware
001-36548
46-0920988
(State or Other Jurisdiction
of Incorporation)
(Commission
File Number)
(IRS Employer Identification No.)
611 Gateway Boulevard, Suite 900
South San Francisco, CA
94080
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
(Zip Code)
Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code: (650)
278-8930
Not Applicable
(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))
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
(b)
On January 2, 2019, Isaac Ciechanover notified the Board of Directors (the "
Board
") of Atara Biotherapeutics, Inc.
("
Atara
" or the "
Company
") of his decision to step down as the Company's President and Chief Executive Officer, effective as of the earlier of (i) June 30, 2019, or (ii) the date of his
successor's appointment (the "
Separation Date
"). During the period prior to the Separation Date, Dr. Ciechanover will remain as President and Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Board.
The Board has formed a search committee, chaired by Atara's Lead Independent Director Carol Gallagher, to evaluate candidates to serve as
the Company's Chief Executive Officer, and has engaged a leading executive search firm to assist in the process.
(e)
In connection with tendering his notice of resignation, Dr. Ciechanover and the Company entered into a transition and separation
agreement, dated January 2, 2019 (the "
Transition Agreement
"), pursuant to which Dr. Ciechanover will continue to serve as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company until the Separation Date. Pursuant to
the Transition Agreement, if Dr. Ciechanover remains with the Company in good standing through the Separation Date, he is entitled to receive the following compensation and benefits, subject to the Company's receipt of an effective release
and waiver of claims from Dr. Ciechanover: (i) a cash payment equal to 12 months of his monthly base salary in effect as of the Separation Date, (ii) a cash payment equal to the premiums for insurance coverage under COBRA for a period
of 12 months following the Separation Date, (iii) a pro rated portion of his 2019 target cash bonus amount based on the number of days he is employed during 2019; (iv) acceleration of vesting of his outstanding equity awards as if he had
provided continuous service through and including December 31, 2019; and (v) acceleration of vesting of certain restricted stock unit awards that have an annual vesting date in February 2020 as if such awards were instead on a monthly
vesting schedule from their grant of date through December 31, 2019.
The foregoing description of the Transition Agreement is not
complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Transition Agreement filed as Exhibit 10.1 to this Current Report on Form
8-K.
Item 9.01.
Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits.
Exhibit
Description
10.1
Transition and Separation Agreement, dated January 2, 2019, by and between Isaac Ciechanover and Atara Biotherapeutics, Inc.
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.
Atara Biotherapeutics, Inc.
By:
/s/ Mina Kim
Mina Kim
General Counsel
Date: January 3, 2019