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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 29, 2023
Registration No. 333-
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM S-8
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
COUCHBASE, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware26-3576987
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
Couchbase, Inc.
3250 Olcott Street
Santa Clara, California 95054
(650) 417-7500
(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)
Couchbase, Inc. 2021 Equity Incentive Plan
Couchbase, Inc. 2021 Employee Stock Purchase Plan
(Full title of the plan)
Matthew M. Cain
Chair, President and Chief Executive Officer
3250 Olcott Street
Santa Clara, California 95054
(650) 417-7500
(Name, address and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
Copies to:
Rezwan D. Pavri
Richard C. Blake
Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, P.C.
650 Page Mill Road
Palo Alto, California 94304
(650) 493-9300
Margaret Chow
Couchbase, Inc.
3250 Olcott Street
Santa Clara, California 95054
(650) 417-7500
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.


Large accelerated filer☐Accelerated filer☒
Non-accelerated filer☐Smaller reporting company☐
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 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. ☐


PART I
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE PROSPECTUS
The information specified in Item 1 and Item 2 of Part I of Form S-8 is omitted from this Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the “Registration Statement”) in accordance with the provisions of Rule 428 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) and the introductory note to Part I of Form S-8. The documents containing the information specified in Part I of Form S-8 will be delivered to the participants in the equity benefit plans covered by this Registration Statement as specified by Rule 428(b)(1) under the Securities Act.
PART II
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN REGISTRATION STATEMENT
Item 3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference.
Couchbase, Inc. (the “Registrant”) hereby incorporates by reference into this Registration Statement the following documents previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”):
(1) The Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2023, filed with the Commission on March 29, 2023 (the “Annual Report”);
(2) All other reports filed pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), since the end of the fiscal year covered by the Annual Report (other than the portions of these documents not deemed to be filed); and
(3) The description of the Registrant’s common stock contained in the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form 8-A (File No. 001-40601) filed with the Commission on July 13, 2021, pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act, including any amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such description, including Exhibit 4.3 of the Annual Report.
All documents filed by the Registrant pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act on or after the date of this Registration Statement and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement that indicates that all securities offered have been sold or that deregisters all securities then remaining unsold shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement and to be part hereof from the date of filing of such documents; provided, however, that documents or information deemed to have been furnished and not filed in accordance with the rules of the Commission shall not be deemed incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement. Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Registration Statement to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any subsequently filed document which also is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Registration Statement.
Item 4. Description of Securities.
Not applicable.
Item 5. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.
Not applicable.
Item 6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.
Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law authorizes a corporation’s board of directors to grant, and authorizes a court to award, indemnity to officers, directors, and other corporate agents.
The Registrant’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation contains provisions that limit the liability of its directors for monetary damages to the fullest extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law. Consequently, the Registrant’s directors will not be personally liable to the Registrant or its stockholders for monetary damages for any breach of fiduciary duties as directors, except liability for the following:



•any breach of their duty of loyalty to the Registrant or its stockholders;

•any act or omission not in good faith or that involves intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law;

•unlawful payments of dividends or unlawful stock repurchases or redemptions as provided in Section 174 of the Delaware General Corporation Law; or

•any transaction from which they derived an improper personal benefit.
Any amendment to, or repeal of, these provisions will not eliminate or reduce the effect of these provisions in respect of any act, omission, or claim that occurred or arose prior to that amendment or repeal. If the Delaware General Corporation Law is amended to provide for further limitations on the personal liability of directors of corporations, then the personal liability of the Registrant’s directors will be further limited to the greatest extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law.
In addition, the Registrant’s amended and restated bylaws provide that the Registrant will indemnify, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any person who is or was a party or is threatened to be made a party to any action, suit, or proceeding by reason of the fact that he or she is or was one of the Registrant’s directors or officers or is or was serving at the Registrant’s request as a director or officer of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise. The Registrant’s amended and restated bylaws provide that the Registrant may indemnify to the fullest extent permitted by law any person who is or was a party or is threatened to be made a party to any action, suit, or proceeding by reason of the fact that he or she is or was one of the Registrant’s employees or agents or is or was serving at the Registrant’s request as an employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, or other enterprise. The Registrant’s amended and restated bylaws also provide that the Registrant must advance expenses incurred by or on behalf of a director or officer in advance of the final disposition of any action or proceeding, subject to limited exceptions.
Further, the Registrant has entered into indemnification agreements with each of its directors and executive officers that may be broader than the specific indemnification provisions contained in the Delaware General Corporation Law. These indemnification agreements require the Registrant, among other things, to indemnify its directors and executive officers against liabilities that may arise by reason of their status or service. These indemnification agreements also require the Registrant to advance all expenses incurred by the directors and executive officers in investigating or defending any such action, suit, or proceeding. The Registrant believes that these agreements are necessary to attract and retain qualified individuals to serve as directors and executive officers.
The limitation of liability and indemnification provisions in the Registrant’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation, amended and restated bylaws and the indemnification agreements that the Registrant has entered into with its directors and executive officers may discourage stockholders from bringing a lawsuit against the Registrant’s directors and executive officers for breach of their fiduciary duties. They may also reduce the likelihood of derivative litigation against the Registrant’s directors and executive officers, even though an action, if successful, might benefit the Registrant and other stockholders. Further, a stockholder’s investment may be adversely affected to the extent that the Registrant pays the costs of settlement and damage awards against directors and executive officers as required by these indemnification provisions. At present, the Registrant is not aware of any pending litigation or proceeding involving any person who is or was one of the Registrant’s directors, officers, employees, or other agents or is or was serving at its request as a director, officer, employee, or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, for which indemnification is sought, and the Registrant is not aware of any threatened litigation that may result in claims for indemnification.
The Registrant has obtained insurance policies under which, subject to the limitations of the policies, coverage is provided to the Registrant’s directors and executive officers against loss arising from claims made by reason of breach of fiduciary duty or other wrongful acts as a director or executive officer, including claims relating to public securities matters, and to the Registrant with respect to payments that may be made by the Registrant to these directors and executive officers pursuant to its indemnification obligations or otherwise as a matter of law.
Certain of the Registrant’s non-employee directors may, through their relationships with their employers, be insured or indemnified against certain liabilities incurred in their capacity as members of the Registrant’s Board of Directors.


Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers or persons controlling the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, the Registrant has been informed that, in the opinion of the Commission, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable.
Item 7. Exemption from Registration Claimed.
Not applicable.
Item 8. Exhibits.

Exhibit
Number
 
Exhibit Description
 
Incorporated by Reference
Form
 
File No.
 
Exhibit
 
Filing Date
 
Filed Herewith
4.110-Q001-406013.1September 10, 2021
4.210-Q001-406013.2September 10, 2021
4.3S-1333-257205  4.1July 12, 2021
5.1X
23.1X
23.2X
24.1X
99.1S-1333-257205  10.2July 12, 2021
99.28-K001-4060110.1January 28, 2022
99.3S-1333-257205  10.3July 12, 2021
107.1X

Item 9. Undertakings.
A.The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

(1)To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:

(i)To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act;



(ii)To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the Registration Statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the Registration Statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Filing Fee Table” table in the effective Registration Statement; and

(iii)To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the Registration Statement or any material change to such information in the Registration Statement.
Provided, however, that paragraphs (A)(1)(i) and (A)(1)(ii) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement.

(2)For the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(3)It will remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

B.The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the Registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

C.Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.



SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Santa Clara, State of California, on the 29th day of March, 2023.

COUCHBASE, INC.
By:/s/ Matthew M. Cain
Matthew M. Cain
Chair, President and Chief Executive Officer
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Matthew M. Cain and Margaret Chow, and each of them, as such individual’s true and lawful attorney in fact and agent with full power of substitution, for such individual in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments to this Registration Statement on Form S-8 (including post-effective amendments), and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorney in fact, proxy and agent full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in connection therewith, as fully for all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney in fact, proxy and agent, or the individual’s substitute, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the date indicated:


SignatureTitleDate
/s/ Matthew M. Cain
Chair, President and Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)
March 29, 2023
Matthew M. Cain
/s/ Gregory N. Henry
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer)
March 29, 2023
Gregory N. Henry
/s/ Edward T. Anderson
DirectorMarch 29, 2023
Edward T. Anderson
/s/ Alvina Antar
DirectorMarch 29, 2023
Alvina Antar
/s/ Carol W. Carpenter
DirectorMarch 29, 2023
Carol W. Carpenter
/s/ Lynn M. Christensen
DirectorMarch 29, 2023
Lynn M. Christensen
/s/ Kevin J. Efrusy
DirectorMarch 29, 2023
Kevin J. Efrusy
/s/ Jeff Epstein
DirectorMarch 29, 2023
Jeff Epstein
/s/ Aleksander J. Migon
DirectorMarch 29, 2023
Aleksander J. Migon
/s/ David C. Scott
DirectorMarch 29, 2023
David C. Scott
/s/ Richard A. Simonson
DirectorMarch 29, 2023
Richard A. Simonson


Document
Exhibit 107.1

Calculation of Filing Fee Tables

Form S-8
(Form Type)

Couchbase, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


Table 1 – Newly Registered Securities
Security TypeSecurity Class TitleFee Calculation RuleAmount Registered(1)Proposed Maximum Offering Price Per UnitMaximum Aggregate Offering PriceFee RateAmount of Registration Fee
EquityCommon stock, $0.00001 par value per share, reserved for issuance pursuant to the Registrant’s 2021 Equity Incentive PlanRule 457(c) and Rule 457(h)2,271,601(2)$13.50(4)$30,666,613.500.00011020$3,379.46
EquityCommon stock, $0.00001 par value per share, reserved for issuance pursuant to the Registrant’s 2021 Employee Stock Purchase PlanRule 457(c) and Rule 457(h)454,320(3)$11.48(5)$5,215,593.600.00011020$574.76
Total Offering Amounts$35,882,207.10$3,954.22
Total Fee Offsets(6)–
Net Fee Due$3,954.22

(1)Pursuant to Rule 416(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), this Registration Statement shall also cover any additional shares of the Registrant’s common stock that become issuable under the Registrant’s 2021 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended from time to time (“2021 Plan”), and the Registrant’s 2021 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, as amended from time to time (“2021 ESPP”), by reason of any stock dividend, stock split, recapitalization or other similar transaction effected without receipt of consideration that increases the number of outstanding shares of common stock.
(2)Reflects an automatic increase to the number of shares of common stock reserved for issuance pursuant to future awards under the 2021 Plan, which annual increase is provided for in the 2021 Plan.
(3)Reflects an automatic increase to the number of shares of common stock reserved for issuance under the 2021 ESPP, which annual increase is provided for in the 2021 ESPP.
(4)Estimated in accordance with Rule 457(c) and (h) of the Securities Act solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee on the basis of $13.50 per share, which is the average of the high and low prices of common stock, as reported on the Nasdaq Global Select Market, on March 24, 2023.


(5)Estimated in accordance with Rule 457(c) and (h) of the Securities Act solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee on the basis of 85% of $13.50 per share, which is the average of the high and low prices of common stock, as reported on the Nasdaq Global Select Market, on March 24, 2023. Pursuant to the 2021 ESPP, the purchase price of the shares of common stock reserved for issuance thereunder will be at least 85% of the lower of the fair market value of a share of common stock on the first trading day of the offering period or on the exercise date.
(6)The Registrant does not have any fee offsets.

-2-

Table 2 – Fee Offset Claims and Sources
Registrant or Filer NameForm or Filing TypeFile NumberInitial Filing DateFiling DateFee Offset ClaimedSecurity Type Associated with Fee Offset ClaimedUnsold Securities Associated with Fee Offset ClaimedUnsold Aggregate Offering Amount Associated with Fee Offset ClaimedFee Paid with Fee Offset Source
Rule 457(p)
Fee Offset Claims
Fee Offset Sources



-3-
Document
Exhibit 5.1

https://cdn.kscope.io/a3251dda348be17ba02c87eec887cef7-image_0.jpg
Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati
Professional Corporation
650 Page Mill Road
Palo Alto, California 94304-1050
o: 650.493.9300
f: 650.493.6811



March 29, 2023


Couchbase, Inc.
3250 Olcott Street
Santa Clara, California 95054
Re:    Registration Statement on Form S-8
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have examined the Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the “Registration Statement”) to be filed by Couchbase, Inc., a Delaware corporation, with the Securities and Exchange Commission on or about the date hereof, in connection with the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, of an aggregate of 2,725,921 shares of common stock, par value $0.00001 per share, consisting of: (i) 2,271,601 shares of common stock reserved for issuance under the 2021 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended from time to time, and (ii) 454,320 shares of common stock reserved for issuance under the 2021 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, as amended from time to time (which plans are referred to herein as the “Plans” and which shares of common stock are collectively referred to herein as the “Shares”).
On the basis of the foregoing, and in reliance thereon, we are of the opinion that the Shares, when issued and sold in the manner referred to in the Plans and pursuant to the agreements that accompany the Plans, will be legally and validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
We consent to the use of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and further consent to the use of our name wherever appearing in the Registration Statement and any amendments thereto.
Very truly yours,

WILSON SONSINI GOODRICH & ROSATI
Professional Corporation

/s/ Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, P.C.


Document

Exhibit 23.1
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-8 of Couchbase, Inc. of our report dated March 29, 2023 relating to the financial statements, which appears in Couchbase, Inc.'s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended January 31, 2023.
/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
San Jose, California
March 29, 2023