ssni-ex1019_9244.htm



Exhibit 10.19



 

September 4, 2013

 

James P. Burns  

[address]

 

[email]  

 

Dear Jim:

 

On behalf of Silver Spring Networks, Inc. (the "Company''), I am pleased to offer you the position of Executive

Vice-President, Chief Financial Officer, located in Redwood City, California. 

 

The terms of your new position with the Company are as set forth below:

 


	
1.
	
Position. You will be employed as the Executive Vice-President, Chief Financial Officer and will report 




to Scott Lang the Company's Chairman, President and CEO. You will begin this new position with the 

Company on September 5, 2013 (your "Start Date''). 

 

2.Proof of Right to Work. For purposes of federal immigration law, you will be required to provide to the 

Company documentary evidence of your identity and eligibility for employment in the United States. Such documentation must be provided to us within three (3) business days of your date of hire, or our employment relationship with you may be terminated.

 


	
3.
	
Compensation.




 


	
 
	
a)
	
Base Salary. Your starting salary will be $400,000 per year (your "Base Salary''), subject to applicable withholding taxes and paid pursuant to the Company's regular payroll schedule.




 


	
 
	
b)
	
Bonus.  You will be entitled to participate in the Silver Spring Networks' Bonus Plan.  Your bonus target is 




50 % of base salary for the applicable  bonus period and subject to the terms and conditions of the 

applicable bonus plan. The Company's Human Resources Department will inform you of the details of the 

plan.  The Company reserves the right to vary or terminate (with or without replacement by a further plan) 

any bonus plan in place at any time.

 


	
 
	
c)
	
Annual Review. Following your first year of employment, your base salary will be reviewed at the end of 




each calendar year as part of the Company's normal salary review process.

 


	
4.
	
Stock Options.  In connection with the commencement of your employment, the Company will recommend to 




its Board of Directors that it grant you an option (the "Option'') to purchase 148,000 shares of Common Stock 

(the "Shares'') with an exercise price equal to the fair market value of the Common Stock on the date of

grant.  This Option stock will vest and become exercisable, subject to your continued employment with the Company or one of its subsidiaries on each applicable vesting date, as to 25% of the Shares upon completion of your first year of employment and as to 1/48th of the Shares each month thereafter. The Option will be granted under and subject to the terms and conditions of the Company's equity incentive plan and will be contingent on your execution of the Company's standard Stock Option Agreement. A copy of the Company's equity incentive 

plan and the Stock Option Agreement will be provided to you as soon as practicable after the grant date. You agree to sign and return any Stock Option Agreement provided to you by the Company in connection with this

grant. You also agree to sign any other agreements or documents provided by the Company that may be 

required under applicable laws to receive the Option or any shares of common stock upon exercise of the 

Option.

 

Page 1555 Broadway Street, Redwood City, CA 94063



Exhibit 10.19

Restricted Stock Units.  In connection with the commencement  of your employment, the Company will 

recommend to its Board of Directors that it grant you an award of 74,000 restricted stock units ("RSUs''), which 

vest into shares of the Company's common stock.  The RSUs will be granted under and subject to the terms and conditions of the Company's equity incentive plan and will be contingent on your execution of the Company's 

standard RSU Agreement.  The RSUs will vest, subject to your continued employment with the Company or one of 

its subsidiaries on each applicable vesting date, as follows:   (a) 25% of the RSUs shall vest on the first anniversary 

of the tenth day of the month in which the grant date occurs (the "initial vest date''); and (b) the remaining RSUs

shall vest in twelve equal quarterly installments following the initial vest date until the RSUs have become fully 

vested four years from the grant date.  A copy of the Company's equity incentive plan and the RSU agreement will 

be provided to you as soon as practicable after the grant date.  You agree to sign and return any RSU agreement provided to you by the Company in connection with this grant.  You also agree to sign any other agreements or documents provided by the Company that may be required under applicable laws to receive the RSUs and any 

shares of common stock upon settlement of the RSUs.


	
5.
	
Benefits.




 


	
 
	
a)
	
Emplovee Benefits. You are eligible to participate in any medical insurance plans, 401(k) plans, deferred compensation plans, life insurance plans, retirement or other employee benefit plans or fringe benefit plans 




or perquisites established by the Company for its employees which may become effective from time to time during your employment with the Company.

 


	
 
	
b)
	
Vacation. You are eligible to participate in the Company's Exempt Employees' Vacation Program. There is 




no prescribed annual vacation allotment for exempt employees, meaning you will not accrue vacation. Vacation  requests are subject to approval by your manager in accordance with the terms of the vacation program.

 


	
 
	
c)
	
Sick Leave. You are eligible for paid sick leave in accordance with the terms of the Company's sick leave policy.  You may take up to ten (10) paid sick days per calendar year, pro-rated for the remainder of this 




year.

 


	
6.
	
Background & Reference Checks. This offer is contingent upon successful completion of background investigation and reference checks.




 


	
7.
	
Termination of Employment and Severance Benefits. We are pleased to provide you with certain benefits 




in the event of your termination without "cause" or "constructive termination" from the Company as specifically 

set forth in Attachment A.

 


	
8.
	
Confidential Information and Invention Assignment Agreement.  Your acceptance of this offer and commencement of employment with the Company is contingent upon your execution, and delivery to an officer 




of the Company, of the Company's Employee Confidential Information and Invention Assignment  Agreement, a copy of which is enclosed for your review and execution (the "Confidentiality Agreement") as Attachment B, 

prior to or on your Start Date.

 


	
9.
	
At-Will Employment. You understand that your employment with the Company is not for any specified term 




and will at all times be on an "at will" basis, meaning that either you or the Company may terminate your employment  at any time for any reason or no reason, without further obligation or liability (except as set forth 

on Attachment  B).

 

Page 2555 Broadway Street, Redwood City, CA 94063



Exhibit 10.19


	
10.
	
No Conflicts. You represent to the Company that your performance of all the terms of this letter agreement 




will not breach any other agreement to which you are a party and that you have not, and will not during the

term of your employment with the Company, enter into any oral or written agreement in conflict with any of the provisions of this agreement. In addition, as we have advised you, you are not to bring with you to the 

Company, or use or disclose to any person associated with the Company, any confidential or proprietary information belonging to any former employer or other person or entity with respect to which you owe an 

obligation of confidentiality under any agreement or otherwise. The Company does not need and will not use 

such information and we will assist you in any way possible to preserve and protect the confidentiality of proprietary information belonging to third parties.

 

 

We are all delighted to be able to extend you this offer and look forward to working with you. To indicate your acceptance of the Company's offer, please sign and date this letter agreement in the space provided below no later than September 4, 2013. Additionally, as part of your acceptance  of the Company's offer, please return a signed 

and dated copy of Attachment A (Termination of Employment and Severance Benefits) and Attachment  B (Confidentiality Agreement). This offer letter, together with Attachment A and Attachment  B, set forth the terms of 

your employment with the Company and supersede any prior representations or agreements, whether written or 

oral. Neither this letter agreement nor Attachment A and Attachment B may be modified or amended except by a written agreement, signed by the Company's Chief Executive Officer and by you.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Very truly yours,

 

Silver Spring Networks, Inc.

            

Scott Lang

Chairman, President, Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

 

ACCEPTED AND AGREED:

 

NAME

 

 

  Signature

 

 

Date 

 

Attachments:

 


	
 
	
1.
	
Attachment  A  - Termination of Employment and Severance Benefits




 


	
 
	
2.
	
Attachment  B -  Employee Confidential Information and Invention Assignment Agreement




 

Page 3555 Broadway Street, Redwood City, CJ1. 94063



Exhibit 10.19

Attachment A

TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT AND SEVERANCE BENEFITS

 


	
 
	
1.
	
Termination of Employment.




 


	
 
	
a)
	
At-Will Employment.  Your employment with the Company is at-will, meaning either you or the 




Company can terminate your employment at any time, with or without cause, and with or without notice.  Neither 

you nor the Company can change the "at-will" nature of your employment, unless the Chief Executive Officer of the Company and you sign a written contract that explicitly changes your status as an "at-will" employee.

 


	
 
	
b)
	
Payment & Benefits Upon Termination.  Your entitlement to payment and benefits upon 




termination is as follows:

 


	
 
	
(i)
	
      Termination Without "Cause" or "Constructive Termination". If your employment is 




terminated involuntarily without Cause (as defined in Section 3(a), below) or in the event of your "Constructive Termination" (as defined in Section 3(c) below):

 

(A)you will receive payment for any earned and unpaid salary, and bonus and commissions, as of 

the date of your termination of employment; and,

 

(B)in the event you execute and do not revoke a separation agreement,   including a release of 

claims ("Release"), substantially  in the form as attached as Exhibit A, to be drafted by the 

Company based upon its standard forms, you will be offered the Separation Compensation (as 

defined in Section 2, below).  You will not be entitled to or offered any form of additional

severance pay or benefits other than the Separation Compensation  (e.g., you will not be entitled to 

pay or benefits under any employee severance plan that is generally applicable to employees).

 


	
 
	
(ii)
	
        Voluntary Termination.  If you voluntarily terminate your employment, or give notice that 




you will voluntarily terminate your employment at a future date (and whether or not the Company accelerates the effective date of your resignation date that you provide to an earlier termination date), you will receive payment(s) 

for all earned and unpaid salary, and bonus and commissions, as of the date of termination.  You will not be entitled 

to the Separation Compensation, or any other form of severance pay or benefits.

 


	
 
	
(iii)
	
Termination for Cause.  If your employment is terminated for Cause, you will receive




payment(s) for all earned and unpaid salary, and bonus and commissions as of the date of your termination of employment.  You will not be entitled to the Separation Compensation, or any other form of severance pay or 

benefits.

 


	
 
	
2.
	
Separation Compensation.  If you are entitled to Separation Compensation under Section 1above, 




your "Separation Compensation" will include each of the following:

 


	
 
	
a.
	
Salary Continuance.   You will be offered pay equal to twelve (12) months of your regular base 




salary and a pro-rated bonus (if any), subject to applicable payroll deductions and withholdings  ("Salary 

Continuance");  provided, however, that should your Termination without Cause or your Constructive Termination 

occur within the period beginning two months prior to and ending twelve months following a Change of Control, 

you may be required by the successor entity (at its sole discretion) to continue your employment for up to three (3) months from the date of a Change of Control in order to be eligible to receive the Salary Continuance.  The first 

salary continuance payment equal to three (3) months of your regular base salary, and payment of the prorated 

target bonus based upon the number of days worked during the bonus period, (if any), shall be made on the 

thirtieth  (30th) day following your termination of employment (unless a longer period is required by law to make the Release effective, in which case the first salary continuance  payment shall be made on the sixtieth (60th) day 

following your termination of employment)  provided the Release is effective at such time, and the remainder shall

be paid in monthly installments beginning on the 1st day of the fourth month following your termination of 

employment, and on the 1st day of each month thereafter, until the total payment obligation is fulfilled.

 

Page 4555  Broadway Street, Redwood City, CA 94063



Exhibit 10.19


	
 
	
b.
	
Acceleration of Vesting. The vesting applicable to any equity grants made by the Company to 




you shall accelerate (or the Company's repurchase right with respect to such shares underlying such equity grants shall lapse) as to either:

 


	
 
	
(i)
	
 that number of shares underlying such equity grant or grants that would have vested on the 




first anniversary of the date your employment terminates, such acceleration effective immediately prior to such termination; or

 


	
 
	
(ii)
	
 in the event that your termination without Cause or Constructive Termination occurs within 




the period beginning two (2) months prior to a Change of Control and ending twelve (12) months following a 

Change of Control, and provided that you (if requested by the successor entity in its sole discretion) have 

continued your employment for the three-month period (or such shorter period as may be requested by the 

successor entity) beginning on the date of a Change of Control, one hundred percent (100%) of the unvested

 shares underlying such equity grant or grants at the time of termination, such acceleration effective immediately 

prior to such termination.

 


	
 
	
c.
	
Other Benefits. The Company will reimburse you for your expenses in continuing medical 




insurance benefits for you and your family (meaning medical, dental, optical, and mental health, but not life, 

insurance) under the Company's benefit plans (or otherwise in obtaining coverage substantially comparable to the coverage provided to you prior to the termination) over the period beginning on the date your employment 

terminates and ending on the earlier of (a) twelve (12) months following such date, or (b) the date you 

commence employment with another entity; provided, however, that should your termination without Cause or 

your Constructive Termination occur within the period beginning two months prior to and ending twelve months

following a Change of Control, you may be required by the successor entity (at its sole discretion) to continue your employment for up to three (3) months from the date of a Change of Control in order to be eligible to receive such other benefits.

 


	
 
	
3.
	
Definitions.




 


	
 
	
a)
	
Cause.  For the purposes of this letter agreement, "cause" for termination of your employment 




will exist if you are terminated for any of the following reasons following written notice by the Company of the 

events or circumstances constituting Cause: (i) your material failure to perform your duties and responsibilities to 

the Company, including but not limited to a failure to cooperate with the Company in any investigation or formal proceeding; (ii) your commission of any act of fraud, embezzlement, dishonesty or any other intentional 

misconduct that results in material injury to the Company; (iii) the unauthorized use or disclosure by you of any proprietary information or trade secrets of the Company or any other party to whom you owe an obligation of nondisclosure as a result of your relationship with the Company; (iv) you are convicted of, or enter a no contest 

plea to, a felony; or (v) your willful, wrongful and uncured breach of any of your obligations under any Company 

policy that has been made available to you, written agreement or covenant with the Company (including this letter agreement).  The determination as to whether you are being terminated for Cause shall be made in good faith by 

the Board of Directors of the Company. The foregoing definition does not in any way limit the Company's ability

to terminate your employment at any time as provided in Section 1above.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                               Page 5

 

555 Broadway Street, Redwood City, CA 94063



Exhibit 10.19


	
 
	
b)
	
Change of Control.  For purposes of this letter agreement, "Change of Control" of the Company 




is defined as: (i) the date any "person" (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Securities 

Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) becomes, subsequent to the date hereof, the "beneficial owner" (as defined

in Rule 13d-3 under said Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 50% or more of the 

total voting power represented by the Company's then outstanding voting securities, other than pursuant to a sale 

by the Company of its securities in a transaction or series of related transactions the primary purpose of which is 

to raise capital for the Company; (ii) the date of the consummation of a merger or consolidation of the Company 

with any other corporation that has been approved by the stockholders of the Company, other than a merger or consolidation which would result in the voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior thereto continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted  into voting securities of the 

surviving entity)  more than fifty percent (50%) of the total voting  power represented by the voting securities of 

the Company or such surviving entity outstanding  immediately after such merger or consolidation;  (iii) the date of 

the consummation of the sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all the Company's assets; or

(iv) the date of a change in the composition of the Company's Board of Directors such that a majority of the 

members of the Board immediately following such change in composition are no longer "Incumbent Directors." 

For purposes of the foregoing clause (iv), "Incumbent Directors" means (a) members of the Company's Board of Directors as of the date of this letter agreement, or (b) members of the Company's Board of Directors elected or appointed to the Board following the date of this letter agreement other than in connection with an actual or 

threatened proxy contest.

 


	
 
	
c)
	
Constructive Termination.    For the  purposes of this letter agreement, "Constructive 




Termination" means the termination  of your employment  by you following:  : (A) a material reduction in your job 

duties and responsibilities; provided, however, that following a Change of Control, a reassignment to a position 

that is substantially similar to your position prior to the Change of Control shall not constitute a material reduction 

in your job duties or responsibilities;  (B) without your prior written approval, the Company requires you to relocate 

to a facility or location more than thirty-five (35) miles from the location from the primary location at which you 

were working for the Company immediately before the required change of location; (C) except as otherwise

agreed by you, any reduction of your base salary in effect immediately prior to such reduction (other than as part

of an across-the-board, proportional reduction); or (D) following a Change of Control, the failure of a successor 

entity to assume this letter agreement.  Notwithstanding anything else contained herein, in the event of the 

occurrence of a condition listed above you must provide notice to the Company within ninety (90) days of the occurrence of a condition listed above and allow the Company thirty (30) day in which to cure such condition. Additionally, in the event the Company fails to cure the condition within the cure period provided, you must 

terminate employment with the Company within thirty (30) days of the end of the cure period.

 


	
 
	
4.
	
Code Section 409A.  For purposes of this letter agreement, a termination of employment will be 




determined consistent with the rules relating to a "separation from service" as defined in Section 409A of the Code 

and the regulations thereunder (''Section 409A").  Notwithstanding anything else provided herein, to the extent

any payments provided under this Agreement  in connection with your termination  of employment constitute 

deferred compensation subject to Section 409A, and you are deemed at the time of such termination of 

employment to be a "specified employee" under Section 409A, then such payment shall not be made or

commence until the earlier of (i) the expiration of the 6-month period measured from your separation from service 

from the Company or (ii) the date of your death following such a separation from service; provided, however, that 

such deferral shall only be effected to the extent required to avoid adverse tax treatment to you including, without limitation, the additional tax for which you would otherwise be liable under Section 409A(a)(l)(B) in the absence

of such a deferral.  The first payment thereof will include a catch-up payment covering the amount that would

have otherwise been paid during the period between your termination of employment and the first payment date 

but for the application of this provision, and the balance of the installments (if any) will be payable in accordance 

with their original schedule.  To the extent that any provision of this letter agreement is ambiguous as to its 

compliance with Section 409A, the provision will be read in such a manner so that all payments hereunder comply

with Section 409A. To the extent any payment under this letter agreement may be classified as a "short-term 

deferral" within the meaning of Section 409A, such payment shall be deemed a short-term deferral, even if it may 

also qualify for an exemption from Section 409A under another provision of Section 409A. Payments pursuant to 

this section are intended to constitute separate payments for purposes of Section 1.409A-2(b)(2) of the Treasury Regulations.

Page 6

555 Broadway Street, Redwood City, CA 94063



Exhibit 10.19


	
 
	
5.
	
Code Section 280G.  In the event that the severance and other benefits provided for in this letter 




agreement or otherwise payable to you (i) constitute "parachute payments" within the meaning of Section 280G of 

the Code, and (ii) would be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code (the "Excise Tax"),

then your benefits under this letter agreement shall be either:

 


	
 
	
a)
	
delivered in full; or




 


	
 
	
b)
	
delivered as to such lesser extent that would result in no portion of such benefits being subject to 




the Excise Tax, (with first a pro rata reduction of (i) cash payments subject to Section 409A of the Code as 

deferred compensation and (ii) cash payments not subject to Section 409A of the Code, and then a pro rata cancellation of (i) equity-based compensation subject to Section 409A of the Code as deferred compensation and

(ii) equity-based compensation not subject to Section 409A of the Code),

 

whichever of the foregoing amounts, taking into account the applicable federal, state and local income taxes and the Excise Tax, results in your receipt on an after-tax basis, of the greatest amount of benefits, notwithstanding that all or some portion of such benefits may be taxable under Section 4999 of the Code.

 

Unless you and the Company otherwise agree in writing, the determination of your excise tax liability and the amount required to be paid under this Section shall be made in writing by an accounting firm to be selected by reasonable agreement between you and the Company, whose determination shall be conclusive and binding upon you and the Company for all purposes.  For purposes (the "Accountants") of making the calculations required by this Section, the Accountants may make reasonable assumptions and approximations concerning applicable taxes and may rely on reasonable, good faith interpretations concerning the application of Section 280G and Section  4999 of the Code. You and the Company shall furnish to the Accountants such information and documents as the Accountants may reasonably request in order to make a determination under this Section. The Company shall

bear all costs the Accountants may reasonably incur in connection with any calculations contemplated by this

Section.

 


	
 
	
6.
	
Other Agreements.  This Attachment A sets forth the terms of the benefits you are eligible to 




receive in the event your employment with the Company is terminated in the manner described herein and 

supersedes any prior representations or agreements, whether written or oral.  In the event of a conflict between 

the terms of this Attachment A and any other agreement you have entered into with the Company (including, 

without limitation, the cover letter to this Attachment A), the terms of this Attachment A shall apply.  The 

definitions, terms and conditions contained herein may not be modified or amended except by a written 

agreement, signed by the Chief Executive Officer of the Company and by you.

 

* * *

 

 

 

 

 

 

ACCEPTED AND AGREED:

 

NAME

Page 7

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

555 Broadway Street, Redwood City, CA 94063



Exhibit 10.19

February 4, 2016

James Patrick Burns

[address]

Re:  Agreement to Amend Termination of Employment and Severance Benefits

Dear James:

Following Silver Spring’s grant of performance stock units to executives in May 2015 (the “PSUs”), and after a review of the Company’s standard termination of employment and severance benefits for executives (the “Termination Benefits Agreement”) including those attached to your offer letter dated September 4, 2013 (the “Offer Letter”), we determined that terms of the existing Termination Benefits Agreement relating to acceleration of vesting of equity awards do not contemplate how performance-based awards, including the PSUs, should be treated in the event of a termination of employment.  Therefore we are amending the terms of the Termination Benefits Agreement of each executive to clarify the treatment of the PSU awards; specifically, that the performance criteria must be satisfied at the time of termination in order for such awards to receive acceleration of vesting as set forth in the Termination Benefits Agreement.  This amendment to your Termination Benefits Agreement only clarifies the treatment of performance-based awards, as set forth in the PSUs, and does not otherwise change the existing terms of the Termination Benefits Agreement.  

Effective as of November 19, 2015, Silver Spring and you agree to amend Section 2(b) of the Termination Benefits Agreement to add a new Section 2(b)(iii) as follows:

“Notwithstanding Sections 2(b)(i) and 2(b)(ii), acceleration of vesting of any performance-based equity grants, such as performance stock units, shall be subject to and qualified by the terms of any performance-based equity grant that provides for satisfaction of applicable performance vesting requirements, including any average price thresholds (as set forth in the agreement(s) governing your performance-based equity grant(s)), as determined on the date of your termination, and the acceleration of vesting pursuant to such Sections 2(b)(i) and 2(b)(ii) shall occur only if the above-referenced performance vesting requirements have been satisfied.”

Except as set forth above, the Offer Letter and the Termination Benefits Agreement shall remain in full force and effect in all other respects, and this letter of amendment (the “Amendment Agreement”) does not supersede any of the other the terms of the Offer Letter or the Termination Benefits Agreement.  This Amendment Agreement, the Offer Letter and the Termination Benefits Agreement are the entire agreement relating to your employment with Silver Spring.    

Sincerely,

Silver Spring Networks, Inc.


By:

Richard S. Arnold, Jr.

General Counsel and Secretary

I accept the terms and conditions as set forth in this Amendment Agreement, and acknowledge and agree that this Amendment Agreement amends the Termination Benefits Agreement only to the extent as set forth herein and that the Termination Benefits Agreement remains in full force and effect in all other respects.