Offer of Employment by Dropbox, Inc.
Exhibit 10.15
January 8, 2020 – revised January 14 and January 16, 2020
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
Offer of Employment by Dropbox, Inc.
Dear Xxxxxx:
On behalf of Dropbox, Inc. (“Dropbox”), we are pleased to offer you full-time employment at our San Francisco, CA, USA location commencing on January 28, 2020, unless otherwise agreed to by you and Dropbox.1 You will have the position of Chief Operating Officer, and will directly report to the CEO. The terms of this Agreement are as follows:
1. | Compensation. |
Salary. Your starting annualized salary will be $500,000.00 per year, paid in accordance with Dropbox’s normal payroll procedures.
Bonus. You will be eligible to receive an annual bonus of 100% of your base salary, contingent upon Dropbox’s annual performance and your annual performance rating. No bonus will be earned or received unless you're still employed on the payment date. If you have been employed by Dropbox for less than a year, any bonus earned will be prorated. If you start on or after November 1 of your starting year, you will not be eligible for the bonus for that year but will be eligible in future years, subject to the bonus policy. Any annual bonus earned will be paid on or before March 15 of the calendar year immediately following the year to which the bonus relates.
Equity. We will recommend to the Dropbox Board of Directors (or its delegate) that you be awarded restricted stock (RSAs) with an approximate current value of $16,000,000.00 under Dropbox’s equity incentive plan, with the number of shares granted to be determined by the average closing price of Dropbox common stock for the prior month (the “Grant”). This award is further subject to the aforementioned approval and the promise to recommend the approval does not create an obligation for Dropbox to issue any equity to you. Further details on the equity plan and any specific award will be provided upon the aforementioned approval of the award. If approved, the award will be scheduled to lapse in accordance with the following schedule: Twenty- five percent (25%) of the shares of RSAs will vest on the one (1)-year anniversary of the vesting commencement date, and one sixteenth (1/16th) of the shares of RSAs will vest on each quarterly vesting date thereafter, subject to your continuing to be a “service provider” through each such date, as that term is defined in the 2018 Equity Incentive Plan (“Plan”), and any acceleration provisions in the Plan or Severance Agreement (defined below). Any award agreement applicable to the Grant will be consistent in all respects with the terms herein.
1 Nothing in this Agreement, including Section 9, requires that a change to your start date be in a writing signed by both parties. An electronic agreement to your new start date by both parties will be sufficient.
2. Benefits. You and your family members will be eligible to participate in Dropbox’s standard employee benefits plans as they are provided to San Francisco, CA, USA employees to the extent that you meet their eligibility criteria. This Section 2 does not create any obligation on the part of Dropbox to adopt or maintain any employee benefit plan or program at any time. Dropbox may amend or terminate, any employee benefit plan or program at any time.
3.Confidentiality. As an employee of Dropbox, you will have access to certain confidential information of Dropbox and you may, during the course of your employment, develop certain information or inventions that will be Dropbox property. To protect Dropbox’s interests, you will need to sign Dropbox's standard “Employee Invention Assignment and Confidentiality Agreement” (“EIACA”) as a condition of your employment. We do not want you to, and we direct you not to, bring with you any confidential or proprietary material of any former employer or other party or to violate any other obligations you may have to any former employer or other party. You represent that your signing of this offer letter, agreement(s) concerning equity incentives granted to you, if any, and Dropbox’s EIACA and your commencement of employment with Dropbox will not violate or conflict with the terms of any agreement currently in place between you and current or past employers or other parties.
4.Duty Not to Compete; Indemnification. During the period that you render services to Dropbox, you agree to not engage in any employment, business or activity that is in any way competitive with the business or proposed business of Dropbox. You will disclose to Dropbox in writing any other employment, business or activity that you are currently associated with or participate in that competes or may compete with Dropbox. During the period that you render services to Dropbox, you will not assist any other person or organization in competing with Dropbox or in preparing to engage in competition with the business or proposed business of Dropbox. Dropbox will enter into with you its standard form of indemnification agreement for senior officers which shall remain in effect at all times during employment and for so long thereafter as you may reasonably be subject to any claim arising from your services to Dropbox or any affiliates.
5.At-Will Employment. If you decide to accept our offer, and we hope that you will, you will be an at-will employee of Dropbox, which means the employment relationship can be terminated by either you or Dropbox for any reason, at any time, with or without prior notice or cause. Any statements or representations to the contrary (and, indeed, any statements contradicting any provision in this letter) should be regarded by you as ineffective. Further, your participation in any equity or benefit program should not be regarded as assuring you of continuing employment for any period of time. Any modification or change in your at-will employment status may only occur by a written employment agreement signed by you and Dropbox’s Chief Executive Officer or his delegate. Dropbox reserves the right to modify the terms of your employment, as well as any of the terms set forth in this letter or in any other policy, letter or agreement.
6.Severance. You will be eligible to enter into a Change in Control and Severance Agreement (the “Severance Agreement”) applicable to you based on your position within Dropbox. The Severance Agreement will specify the severance payments and benefits you would
be eligible to receive in connection with certain terminate ons of your employment with Dropbox. These protections will supersede all other severance payments and benefits you would otherwise currently be eligible for, or would become eligible for in the future, under any plan, program or policy that Dropbox may have in effect from time to time. Any waiver or release (“Release”) required as a condition for receiving benefits under the Severance Agreement will not waive any of your rights, or obligations of Dropbox, regarding: (1) any right to indemnification and/or contribution, advancement or payment of related expenses that you may have pursuant to Dropbox’s Bylaws, Articles of Incorporation or other organizing documents, under any written indemnification or other agreement between the parties, and/or under applicable law; (2) any rights that you may have to insurance coverage under any directors and officers liability insurance, other insurance policies of Dropbox or any affiliates, COBRA or any similar state law; (3) any claims for worker’s compensation, state disability or unemployment insurance benefits, or any other claims that cannot be released as a matter of applicable law; (4) rights to any vested benefits under any stock, compensation, severance or other employee benefit plan or agreement with Dropbox;
(5) any rights as an existing shareholder of Dropbox; and (6) any claims arising after the date you sign the Release.
7.Authorization to Work. Within three business days after starting your new position you will need to present documentation demonstrating that you have authorization to work in the United States. This offer of employment will be void if you fail to timely provide such authorization. If you have questions about this requirement, which applies to U.S. citizens and non-U.S. citizens alike, you may contact your recruiter.
8.Arbitration (Not applicable to Sexual Harassment or Discrimination Claims). Except as explained in this paragraph, you and Dropbox shall submit to mandatory and exclusive binding arbitration of any and all controversies or claims arising from, or relating to, your employment with Dropbox and/or the termination of your employment that are based upon any federal, state or local ordinance, statute, regulation or constitutional provision. The sole exceptions are claims for workplace sexual harassment and/or discrimination; claims under applicable workers’ compensation law; unemployment insurance claims; actions seeking provisional remedies pursuant to California Code of Civil Procedure Section 1281.8 or equivalent laws in other jurisdictions; and/or claims expressly prohibited by law from being subject to binding arbitration (the “Excluded Claims”). While you’re not required to arbitrate any of the Excluded Claims, you may choose to do so if you’d like once a dispute arises.
It’s entirely up to you. Also, you agree to submit any of the Excluded Claims to pre-suit mediation before filing any civil action alleging such claim(s). This way, the parties will have an early opportunity to try and reach an amicable resolution of their dispute. The mediation will be with a mutually selected neutral mediator from JAMS and Dropbox will pay all reasonable mediation fees. If either Dropbox or you brings both arbitrable and non-arbitrable claims in the same or related action, both agree that the non-arbitrable claims shall be stayed until the conclusion of arbitration, to the extent allowed by law.
THE PARTIES HEREBY WAIVE ANY RIGHTS THEY MAY HAVE TO TRIAL BY JURY IN REGARD TO CLAIMS SUBJECT TO ARBITRATION UNDER THIS AGREEMENT. You and Dropbox agree that the arbitrator shall have the sole authority to determine the arbitrability of all claims. You also agree that any arbitrable claims shall be resolved on an individual basis, and you agree to waive your right, to the extent allowed by applicable law, to consolidate any arbitrable claims with the claims of any other person in a class or collective action. This Agreement does not restrict your right to file administrative claims you may bring before any government agency where, as a matter of law, the parties may not restrict your ability to file such claims (including, but not limited to, the National Labor Relations Board, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and the Department of Labor). However the parties agree that, to the fullest extent permitted by law and consistent with this Agreement, arbitration shall be the exclusive remedy for the subject matter of such administrative claims. Such arbitration shall be governed by the Federal Arbitration Act and conducted through JAMS in San Francisco, California, before a single neutral arbitrator, in accordance with the employment arbitration rules in effect at that time. The JAMS Employment Arbitration Rules may be found and reviewed at xxxxx://xxx.xxxxxxx.xxx/xxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxxx/. If you are unable to access these rules, please let your Recruiter know and they will provide you a hardcopy. The arbitrator shall issue a written decision that contains the essential findings and conclusions on which the decision is based. You shall bear only those costs of arbitration you would otherwise bear had you brought a claim covered by this Agreement in court. Judgment upon the determination or award rendered by the arbitrator may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof.
9.Background Check. This offer and your employment are contingent upon satisfactory verification of criminal, education, and employment background. You will not be able to begin your employment until the verification has been completed, and this offer may be rescinded based upon information obtained from your background check, consistent with the applicable law.
10.Confidentiality. Until such time as Dropbox discloses the contents of this offer in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, neither party shall disclose the contents of this offer without first obtaining the prior written consent of the other party (except for the above- referenced filing by Dropbox), provided, however, that you may disclose this offer to your spouse, attorney, financial planner or tax advisor if you require such person(s) to keep the terms hereof confidential, or otherwise as required by law.
11.Protected Activity Not Prohibited. Nothing in this offer or in any other agreement between you or Dropbox, as applicable, will in any way limit or prohibit you from engaging for a lawful purpose in any Protected Activity. For purposes of this offer, “Protected Activity” means filing a charge or complaint, or otherwise communicating, cooperating, or participating with, any state, federal, or other governmental agency, including but not limited to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and the National Labor Relations Board. Notwithstanding any restrictions set forth in this offer or in any other agreement between you and Dropbox, as applicable, you understand that you are not required to obtain authorization from Dropbox prior to disclosing information to, or communicating with, such
agencies, nor are you obligated to advise Dropbox as to any such disclosures or communications. In making any such disclosures or communications, you agree to take all reasonable precautions to prevent any unauthorized use or disclosure of any information that may constitute Confidential Information (within the meaning of the EIACA) to any parties other than the relevant government agencies. You further understand that “Protected Activity” does not include the disclosure of any Dropbox attorney-client privileged communications, and that any such disclosure without Dropbox’s written consent will constitute a material breach of this offer agreement.
12.Complete Agreement. This Agreement, the EIACA, the Severance Agreement, and the 2018 Equity Incentive Plan constitute the entire agreement relating to your employment and supersedes all prior offers, written or oral, with respect to your employment by Dropbox. Except as otherwise stated above, this Agreement may only be modified by an agreement in writing signed by both parties.
13.Governing Law. This Agreement, except to the extent governed by the Federal Arbitration Act, will be governed by the laws of the State of California without regard to California’s conflicts of law rules that may result in the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than California. To the extent that any lawsuit is permitted under this Agreement, the parties hereby expressly consent to the personal and exclusive jurisdiction and venue of the state and federal courts located in California for any such lawsuit.
14.Acceptance. This offer will remain open until January 27, 2020 and is contingent upon you beginning continuous full-time employment by the commencement date above. Your signature will acknowledge that you have read and understood and agree to the terms of this offer and any attachments.
We look forward to welcoming you to Dropbox.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Xxxx Xxxxxxx
Xxxx Xxxxxxx
Chief Executive Officer
I have read and understood this offer letter and xxxxxx acknowledge, accept and agree to the terms as set forth above and further acknowledge that no other commitments were made to me as part of my employment offer except as specifically set forth herein.
/s/ Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx | 1/25/2020 Date Signed |
