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Item 5.02.
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Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers;
Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.
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(b), (c), (e)
On March 15, 2019, Synaptics Incorporated (“Synaptics”) issued a press release announcing a change in the leadership of
Synaptics and the departure of Richard Bergman as Synaptics’ Chief Executive Officer, effective as of March 14, 2019. Mr. Bergman’s departure was not a result of any disagreement with Synaptics on any matter relating to
Synaptics’ operations, policies or practices.
Under the Synaptics Incorporated Severance Policy for Principal Executive Officers
(which has previously been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission), provided Mr. Bergman enters into a separation agreement and release with Synaptics under which Mr. Bergman will release all claims he may have against
Synaptics, Mr. Bergman will receive: (i) a cash payment equal to 12 months’ of Mr. Bergman’s annual base salary, or $700,000, payable in installments over 12 months on regular payroll dates; (ii) 100% of
Mr. Bergman’s targeted bonus for fiscal year 2019, or $1,015,000 payable in installments over 12 months on regular payroll dates; and (iii) twelve months of COBRA continuation coverage under Synaptics’ health insurance benefit
plan.
The Synaptics Board of Directors has appointed Alex Wong, Synaptics’ Senior Vice President of Worldwide Operations, as interim
principal executive officer of Synaptics, effective as of March 14, 2019. Mr. Wong, 63, has been Senior Vice President of Worldwide Operations of Synaptics since July 2010. Mr. Wong served as Vice President of Worldwide Operations of
Synaptics from September 2006 to July 2010. From 2003 to 2006, Mr. Wong served as Synaptics’ Managing Director of Hong Kong and Director of Operations. Prior to joining Synaptics, Mr. Wong held various management positions with
National Semiconductor Corporation, including General Manager for National Joint Ventures in China and Hong Kong and Director of Corporate Business Development. Mr. Wong holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science from California
State University at Northridge and a Master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of East Asia, Macau.
The Board
of Directors has commenced a comprehensive search and evaluation process to select a new Chief Executive Officer. In order to ensure continuity going forward, the Board has appointed an executive leadership committee to assist with the leadership
transition. The following senior officers of Synaptics have been appointed to the executive leadership committee: Mr. Wong, Huibert Verhoeven, Synaptics’ Senior Vice President and General Manager, IOT Division, Shawn Liu, Synaptics’
Senior Vice President and General Manager, PC Division, Richard Lu, Synaptics’ Senior Vice President and General Manager, Mobile and Automotive Division, Kermit Nolan, Synaptics’ Chief Accounting Officer and Interim Chief Financial Officer
and Jean Boufarhat, Synaptics’ Senior Vice President, Silicon Engineering.
In addition, director Nelson C. Chan, who has served as a
Synaptics director since 2007 and as
non-executive
Chairman since October 2018, has been appointed Executive Chairman of the Board and will no longer serve as a member of Synaptics’ Audit Committee, each
effective as of March 14, 2019. In his role as Executive Chairman of the Board, Mr. Chan will provide direct support to Mr. Wong and Synaptics’ executive leadership committee during the interim period to ensure a smooth and
effective transition. For his service as Synaptics’ Executive Chairman of the Board, Mr. Chan will receive an additional director fee to be determined by the Board at a later date.