Exhibit 97
ZEVIA PBC CLAWBACK POLICY
(dated October 2, 2023)
The Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Zevia PBC (the “Company") believes that it is in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders to create and maintain a culture that emphasizes integrity and accountability and that reinforces the Company's pay-for-performance compensation philosophy. The Board has therefore adopted this Zevia PBC Clawback Policy (this “Policy”), which provides for the recoupment of Incentive-Based Compensation (as defined below) in the event of a Restatement (as defined below).
The Company shall not indemnify any Covered Executives against the loss of any Incentive-Based Compensation recouped under this Policy, including by paying or reimbursing the Covered Executives for premiums for any insurance policy covering any potential losses.
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This Policy is administered by the Compensation Committee of the Board (the “Committee”), subject to ratification by the independent members of the Board with respect to application of this Policy to the Company’s Chief Executive Officer. This Policy is intended to comply with, and as applicable to be administered and interpreted consistent with, and subject to the exception set forth in, Listing Standard 303A.14 adopted by the New York Stock Exchange to implement Rule 10D-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (collectively, “Rule 10D-1”).
The Committee is authorized to interpret and construe this Policy and to make all determinations necessary, appropriate, or advisable for the administration of this Policy consistent with Rule 10D-1. Subject to ratification by the independent members of the Board with respect to the application of this Policy to the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, any determinations made by the Committee will be made in its sole discretion and are final, conclusive and binding on all affected individuals and need not be uniform with respect to all Covered Executives.
No recovery of compensation under this Policy will be an event giving rise to a right to resign for “good reason” or be deemed a “constructive termination” (or any similar term) as such terms are used in any agreement between any Covered Executive and the Company.
Headings are given to the sections and subsections of this Policy solely as a convenience to facilitate reference and shall not be deemed in any way material or relevant to the construction or interpretation of this Policy or any provision thereof. Words in the masculine gender shall include the feminine gender, and where appropriate, the plural shall include the singular and the singular shall include the plural. The use herein of the word “including” following any general statement, term or matter shall not be construed to limit such statement, term or matter to the specific items or matters set forth immediately following such word or to similar items or matters, whether or not non-limiting language (such as “without limitation”, “but not limited to”, or words of similar import) is used with reference thereto, but rather shall be deemed to refer to all other items or matters that could reasonably fall within the broadest possible scope of such general statement, term or matter. References herein to any agreement, instrument or other document means such agreement, instrument or other document as amended, supplemented and modified from time to time to the extent permitted by the provisions thereof and not prohibited by this Policy.
This Policy shall be effective as of October 2, 2023 (the "Effective Date") and shall apply to Incentive Compensation that is approved, awarded or granted to Covered Executives on or after the Effective Date. As of the Effective Date, this Policy shall supersede and replace that certain Zevia PBC Clawback Policy dated as of October 6, 2022 (the “Prior Policy”). Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Policy shall not affect any remedies or rights of recoupment that may become available to the Company under the Prior Policy with respect to any incentive compensation (or any portion thereof) that (i) was made, granted or Received prior to the Effective Date and (ii) is not recoverable under this Policy.
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Upon the recommendation of the Committee, the Board may amend or replace this Policy from time to time in its discretion.
The Committee intends that this Policy will be applied to the fullest extent of the law. The Committee may require that any employment agreement, equity award agreement, or similar agreement entered into on or after the Effective Date shall, as a condition to the grant of any benefit thereunder, require a Covered Executive to agree to abide by the terms of this Policy. Any right of recoupment under this Policy is in addition to, and not in lieu of, any other remedies or rights of recoupment that may be available to the Company pursuant to the terms of any other policy, any employment agreement or plan or award terms, and any other legal remedies available to the Company, including disciplinary action up to and including termination and institution of civil or criminal proceedings; provided that the Company shall not recoup amounts pursuant to such other policy, terms or remedies to the extent it is recovered pursuant to this Policy. Any right of recoupment under this Policy is in addition to, and is not in lieu of, any actions imposed by law enforcement agencies, regulators, or other authorities. Notwithstanding the generality of the foregoing, to the extent that the requirements under the provisions of Section 304 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 are broader than the provisions in this Policy, the provisions of such law will apply to the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer.
The Company shall recover Incentive-Based Compensation in accordance with this Policy unless such recovery would be impracticable, as determined by the Committee in accordance with Rule 10D-1.
This Policy shall be binding and enforceable against all Covered Executives and their beneficiaries, heirs, executors, administrators, or other legal representatives.
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