Document

Exhibit 10.1

DigitalOcean, LLC
101 Avenue of the Americas 
New York, NY 10013

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
This Employment Agreement (the “Agreement”) is entered into on November 15, 2022 (the “Effective Date”) by and between DigitalOcean, LLC (collectively, the “Company”) and W. Matthew Steinfort (the “Executive”) (individually a “Party” and collectively, the “Parties”). 
Whereas, the Company and Executive desire to set forth the terms upon which the Executive will commence employment with the Company; 
Now, Therefore, in consideration of the mutual promises and covenants contained herein and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the Parties hereto agree as follows:
1.    Employment by the Company.
1.1    Position. Effective with Executive’s start date, which is expected to be the week of January 9th, 2023, your initial title will be Chief Financial Officer.  Executive shall perform such duties as are required by the Chief Executive Officer to whom Executive will report, or by such other person(s) as that person may designate. During the term of Executive’s employment with the Company, Executive will devote Executive’s best efforts and substantially all of Executive’s business time and attention to the business of the Company, except for approved time off permitted by the Company’s general employment policies. 
1.2    Policies and Procedures. The employment relationship between the Parties shall be governed by the general employment policies and practices of the Company, except that when the terms of this Agreement differ from or are in conflict with the Company’s general employment policies or practices, this Agreement shall control.

2.    Compensation.
2.1    Base Salary. For services to be rendered hereunder, Executive shall receive a base salary at the rate of four hundred fifty thousand dollars ($450,000) per year (as modified from time-to-time, the “Base Salary”), subject to standard payroll deductions and withholdings and payable in accordance with the Company’s regular payroll schedule. At the discretion of the Compensation Committee, the Base Salary may be reviewed on an annual basis and may be adjusted based on such review. Executive shall also receive a one-time lump sum sign-on bonus equal to two hundred fifty-two thousand dollars ($252,000), subject to standard payroll deductions and withholdings. The sign-on bonus is payable within 30 days of Executive’s start date. If Executive’s employment is terminated voluntarily or for Cause within 12 months of the start date, then Executive agrees to reimburse Company for a pro rata percentage of the sign-on bonus. 
1.
  









2.2    Annual Bonus. Executive will be eligible for an annual discretionary cash bonus of up to sixty-five percent (65%) of Executive’s Base Salary (the “Annual Bonus”). Whether Executive receives an Annual Bonus for any given year, and the amount of any such Annual Bonus, will be determined by the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of DigitalOcean Holdings, Inc. (“Holdings”) (or the Compensation Committee of the Board) based upon the Company’s and Executive’s achievement of objectives and milestones to be determined on an annual basis. Any Annual Bonus that is awarded will be paid within the first ninety (90) days of the calendar year following the applicable bonus year. Except for a Change in Control Annual Bonus (as defined below) payment, Executive will not be eligible for, and will not earn, any Annual Bonus (including a prorated bonus) if Executive’s employment terminates for any reason before the payment date.
2.3    Equity Compensation. Pursuant to the 2021 Equity Incentive Plan (such plan or any successor plan, the “Plan”), Executive shall receive a grant of restricted stock units (“RSUs”) in an amount equal to fourteen million dollars ($14,000,000). The actual number of RSUs granted to Executive will be calculated based on the stock price of Holdings on the New York Stock Exchange prior to the date of grant. The RSUs will have a four-year quarterly vesting schedule with a one-year cliff and the other terms and conditions shall be consistent with the Plan and the applicable RSU agreement. Executive shall also be eligible to participate in the long-term equity performance plan along with the other members of the Company’s executive team. Such long-term equity performance plan is administered by the Compensation Committee and the Board in their sole discretion and they shall determine the terms and conditions of such plan. With respect to calendar year 2023, Executive shall be eligible for the performance-based component of the executive long-term equity performance plan and the dollar value at the time of grant of the performance-based grant to be made to Executive shall be no less than two million eight hundred sixty thousand dollars ($2,860,000) at target performance; provided, however, that the ultimate dollar value of such grant may be lower or higher than the target dollar value amount based on the performance criteria relevant to such grant and the number of RSUs that ultimately vest over the vesting period. For grants made pursuant to such plan subsequent to calendar year 2023, Executive shall be eligible for both the time-based and performance-based components of the executive long-term equity performance plan and the target grant values and the other terms and conditions relevant to such plan shall be determined by the Compensation Committee and the Board at such time. 
3.    Standard Company Benefits. Executive shall be entitled to participate in all employee benefit programs for which Executive is eligible under the terms and conditions of the benefit plans that may be in effect from time to time and provided by the Company to its employees. The Company reserves the right to cancel or change the benefit plans or programs it offers to its employees at any time.  
4.    Expenses. The Company will reimburse Executive for reasonable travel, entertainment or other expenses incurred by Executive in furtherance or in connection with the performance of Executive’s duties hereunder, in accordance with the Company’s expense reimbursement policy as in effect from time to time. 
2.
  









5.    Termination of Employment; Severance
5.1    At-Will Employment. Executive’s employment relationship is at-will. Either Executive or the Company may terminate the employment relationship at any time, with or without cause or advance notice. 
5.2    Termination Without Cause; Resignation for Good Reason. 
(i)    The Company may terminate Executive’s employment with the Company at any time without Cause (as defined below). Further, Executive may resign at any time for Good Reason (as defined below).
(ii)    In the event Executive’s employment with the Company is terminated by the Company without Cause, or Executive resigns for Good Reason, then provided such termination constitutes a “separation from service” (as defined under Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(h), without regard to any alternative definition thereunder, a “Separation from Service”), and provided that Executive remains in compliance with the terms of this Agreement, the Company shall provide Executive with the following severance benefits: 
(a)    The Company shall pay Executive, as severance, six (6) months of Base Salary, subject to standard payroll deductions and withholdings (the “Severance”). The Severance will be paid in equal installments on the Company’s regular payroll schedule over the six (6) month period following Executive’s Separation from Service; provided, however, that no payments will be made prior to the 60th day following Executive’s Separation from Service. On the 60th day following Executive’s Separation from Service, the Company will pay Executive in a lump sum the Severance that Executive would have received on or prior to such date under the standard payroll schedule but for the delay while waiting for the 60th day in compliance with the Internal Revenue Code (the “Code”) Section 409A, with the balance of the Severance being paid as originally scheduled.
(b)     Provided Executive timely elects continued coverage under COBRA, the Company shall pay Executive’s COBRA premiums to continue Executive’s coverage (including coverage for eligible dependents, if applicable) (“COBRA Premiums”) through the period (the “COBRA Premium Period”) starting on Executive’s Separation from Service and ending on the earliest to occur of: (i) six (6) months following Executive’s Separation from Service; (ii) the date Executive becomes eligible for group health insurance coverage through a new employer; or (iii) the date Executive ceases to be eligible for COBRA continuation coverage for any reason, including plan termination. In the event Executive becomes covered under another employer’s group health plan or otherwise ceases to be eligible for COBRA during the COBRA Premium Period, Executive must immediately notify the Company of such event. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Company determines, in its sole discretion, that it cannot pay the COBRA Premiums without a substantial risk of violating applicable law (including, without limitation, Section 2716 of the Public Health Service Act), the Company instead shall pay to Executive, on the first day of each calendar month, a fully 
3.
  









taxable cash payment equal to the applicable COBRA premiums for that month (including premiums for Executive and Executive’s eligible dependents who have elected and remain enrolled in such COBRA coverage), subject to applicable tax withholdings (such amount, the “Special Cash Payment”), for the remainder of the COBRA Premium Period. Executive may, but is not obligated to, use such Special Cash Payments toward the cost of COBRA premiums. 
(iii)    If the Company terminates Executive’s employment with the Company without Cause, or Executive resigns for Good Reason, in either case within three (3) months prior to or twelve (12) months following the closing of a Change in Control (as defined below), then instead of the severance benefits provided in Section 5.2(ii) above, the Company shall provide Executive with the following severance benefits:
(a)    The Company shall pay Executive, as severance, twelve (12) months of Base Salary, subject to standard payroll deductions and withholdings (the “Change in Control Severance”). The Change in Control Severance will be paid in a single lump sum within sixty (60) days following Executive’s termination of employment; provided, however, that if the 60-day period begins in one calendar year and ends in a second calendar year, the Change in Control Severance shall be paid in the second calendar year by the last day of such 60-day period. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if such termination occurs prior to a Change in Control, the Change in Control Severance shall commence to be paid in installments in accordance with Section 5.2(ii) above, and upon the occurrence of such Change in Control, the remainder of the Change in Control Severance shall be payable in a lump sum in accordance with this section.
(b)    Provided Executive timely elects continued coverage under COBRA, the Company shall pay Executive’s COBRA premiums to continue Executive’s coverage (including coverage for eligible dependents, if applicable) (“Change in Control COBRA Premiums”) through the period (the “Change in Control COBRA Premium Period”) starting on Executive’s termination of employment and ending on the earliest to occur of: (i) 12 months following Executive’s termination of employment; (ii) the date Executive becomes eligible for group health insurance coverage through a new employer; or (iii) the date Executive ceases to be eligible for COBRA continuation coverage for any reason, including plan termination. In the event Executive becomes covered under another employer's group health plan or otherwise ceases to be eligible for COBRA during the Change in Control COBRA Premium Period, Executive must immediately notify the Company of such event. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Company determines, in its sole discretion, that it cannot pay the Change in Control COBRA Premiums without a substantial risk of violating applicable law (including, without limitation, Section 2716 of the Public Health Service Act), the Company instead shall pay to Executive, the Special Cash Payment for the remainder of the Change in Control COBRA Premium Period. Executive may, but is not obligated to, use such Special Cash Payments toward the cost of Change in Control COBRA Premiums.
(c)    The Company shall pay Executive, as a bonus, one hundred percent (100%) of Executive’s Annual Bonus in effect as of the date of Executive’s employment termination for the fiscal year in which the termination of 
4.
  









employment occurs (the “Change in Control Annual Bonus”). The Change in Control Annual Bonus will be subject to standard payroll deductions and withholdings and will be paid in a single lump sum within sixty (60) days following Executive’s termination of employment; provided, however, that if the 60-day period begins in one calendar year and ends in a second calendar year, the Change in Control Annual Bonus shall be paid in the second calendar year by the last day of such 60-day period.
(d)    (i) One hundred percent (100%) of all outstanding equity awards in Holdings, held by Executive immediately prior to the employment termination date (if any) subject to time-based vesting requirements, shall be accelerated in full as of the effective date of the Separation Agreement (as defined below); and (ii) the vesting and exercisability of all outstanding equity awards subject to performance-based vesting will be treated as set forth in Executive’s equity award agreement governing such award. 
5.3    Death or Disability.
(i)    Upon fourteen (14) days prior written notice from the Company, in the event of Disability (as defined below), Executive’s employment shall terminate and Executive shall be entitled to: (a) the severance benefits set forth in Section 5.2(ii)(a); (b) if eligible based on the terms set forth in the award agreements governing Executive’s equity pursuant to Holdings’ 2021 Equity Incentive Plan, acceleration of all of Executive’s outstanding equity awards in Holdings; and (c) Executive will not be entitled to any other severance benefits set forth herein.
(ii)    In the event of Executive’s death, Executive’s employment with the Company shall automatically terminate and the Company shall provide Executive’s estate with the following severance benefits: (a) the severance benefits set forth in Section 5.2(ii)(a); (b) if eligible based on the terms set forth in the award agreements governing Executive’s equity pursuant to Holdings’ 2021 Equity Incentive Plan, acceleration of all of Executive’s outstanding equity awards in Holdings; and (c) Executive will not be entitled to any other severance benefits set forth herein.
5.4    Termination for Cause; Resignation Without Good Reason.
(i)    The Company may terminate Executive’s employment with the Company at any time for Cause. Further, Executive may resign at any time without Good Reason.
(ii)    If Executive resigns without Good Reason, or the Company terminates Executive’s employment for Cause, then (a) Executive will no longer vest in any Holdings’ equity awards granted to Executive, (b) all payments of compensation by the Company to Executive hereunder will terminate immediately (except as to amounts already earned), and (c) Executive will not be entitled to any severance benefits set forth herein. 
6.    Conditions to Receipt of Severance Benefits. The receipt of the severance benefits set forth herein will be subject to Executive (or a representative from 
5.
  









Executive’s estate in the event of Executive’s death) signing and not revoking a separation agreement and release of claims in a form satisfactory to the Company (the “Separation Agreement”) within a reasonable time period specified by the Company that is compliant with applicable law. No severance benefits will be paid or provided until the Separation Agreement becomes effective. Executive shall also resign from all positions and terminate any relationships as an employee, advisor, officer or director with the Company and any of its subsidiaries and/or affiliates, each effective on the date of termination.


7.    Section 409A. It is intended that all of the severance benefits and other payments payable under this Agreement satisfy, to the greatest extent possible, the exemptions from the application of Code Section 409A provided under Treasury Regulations 1.409A-1(b)(4), 1.409A-1(b)(5) and 1.409A-1(b)(9), and this Agreement will be construed to the greatest extent possible as consistent with those provisions, and to the extent not so exempt, this Agreement (and any definitions hereunder) will be construed in a manner that complies with Section 409A. For purposes of Code Section 409A (including, without limitation, for purposes of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-2(b)(2)(iii)), Executive’s right to receive any installment payments under this Agreement (whether severance payments, reimbursements or otherwise) shall be treated as a right to receive a series of separate payments and, accordingly, each installment payment hereunder shall at all times be considered a separate and distinct payment. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in this Agreement, if Executive is deemed by the Company at the time of Executive’s Separation from Service to be a “specified employee” for purposes of Code Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i), and if any of the payments upon Separation from Service set forth herein and/or under any other agreement with the Company are deemed to be “deferred compensation”, then to the extent delayed commencement of any portion of such payments is required in order to avoid a prohibited distribution under Code Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) and the related adverse taxation under Section 409A, such payments shall not be provided to Executive prior to the earliest of (i) the expiration of the six-month period measured from the date of Executive’s Separation from Service with the Company, (ii) the date of Executive’s death or (iii) such earlier date as permitted under Section 409A without the imposition of adverse taxation. Upon the first business day following the expiration of such applicable Code Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) period, all payments deferred pursuant to this Paragraph shall be paid in a lump sum to Executive, and any remaining payments due shall be paid as otherwise provided herein or in the applicable agreement. No interest shall be due on any amounts so deferred.
8.    Definitions. 
(i)    Cause. For purposes of this Agreement, “Cause” for termination will mean: (a) Executive’s unauthorized use or disclosure of the Company’s confidential information or trade secrets, which use or disclosure causes material harm to the Company; (b) Executive’s material breach of any agreement between Executive and the Company, which breach, if curable, is not cured within ten (10) business after Executive’s receipt of written notice thereof; (c) Executive’s material failure to comply with the Company’s written policies or rules, which failure, if curable, is not cured within ten (10) business days after Executive’s receipt of written notice thereof; (d) Executive’s conviction or, or 
6.
  









plea of “guilty” or “no contest” to, a felony under the laws of the Unites States or any state or a similar violation outside the United States; (e) Executive’s gross negligence or willful misconduct in connection with Executive’s conduct as an employee of the Company, which causes material harm to the Company; (f) Executive’s continuing failure to perform assigned duties after receiving written notification of the failure from the Board; or (g) Executive’s failure to cooperate in good faith (as reasonably determined by the Board) with a governmental or internal investigation of the Company or its directors, office, or employees, if the Company has reasonably requested Executive’s cooperation. 


(ii)    Good Reason. For purposes of this Agreement, Executive shall have “Good Reason” for resignation from employment with the Company if any of the following actions are taken by the Company without Executive’s prior written consent: (a) a material reduction in Executive’s base salary, which the Parties agree is a reduction of at least 10% of Executive’s base salary (unless pursuant to a salary reduction program applicable generally to the Company’s similarly situated employees); or (b) a material reduction in Executive’s duties (including responsibilities and/or authorities), provided, however, changes that result solely from the Company becoming a subsidiary or a division of an acquiring company in connection with a Change in Control will not be deemed a “material reduction” in and of itself unless Executive’s new duties are materially reduced from the prior duties; or (c) a material reduction in Executive’s target bonus, which the Parties agree is a reduction of at least 10% of Executive’s target bonus (unless pursuant to an overall reduction program applicable generally to the Company’s similarly situated employees); or (d) a material breach by the Company of this Agreement or (e) the Company requiring Executive, without his prior consent, to relocate his primary workplace to a location that is more than fifty (50) miles from the Company’s current office in Boulder, Colorado. In order to resign for Good Reason, Executive must provide written notice to the Board within 30 days after Executive first becoming aware of the event giving rise to Good Reason setting forth the basis for Executive’s resignation, allow the Company at least 30 days from receipt of such written notice to cure such event, and if such event is not reasonably cured within such period, Executive must resign from all positions Executive then holds with the Company not later than 90 days after the expiration of the cure period.
(iii)    Disability. For purposes of this Agreement, “Disability” shall have the meaning set forth in Holdings’ 2021 Equity Incentive Plan.
(iv)    Change in Control. For purposes of this Agreement, “Change in Control” shall have the meaning set forth in Holdings’ 2021 Equity Incentive Plan.
9.    Proprietary Information Obligations.
9.1    Confidential Information Agreement. Executive acknowledges Executive’s obligations pursuant to the Protective Covenants Agreement that Executive entered into with the Company, dated as of the date hereof (the “Confidentiality Agreement”). In the event of a conflict between the terms of this Agreement and the Confidentiality Agreement, this Agreement shall control.
7.
  









9.2    Third-Party Agreements and Information. Executive represents and warrants that Executive’s employment by the Company does not conflict with any prior employment or consulting agreement or other agreement with any third party, and that Executive will perform Executive’s duties to the Company without violating any such agreement. Executive represents and warrants that Executive does not possess confidential information arising out of prior employment, consulting, or other third party relationships, that would be used in connection with Executive’s employment by the Company, except as expressly authorized by that third party. During Executive’s employment by the Company, Executive will use in the performance of Executive’s duties only information which is generally known and used by persons with training and experience comparable to Executive’s own, common knowledge in the industry, otherwise legally in the public domain, or obtained or developed by the Company or by Executive in the course of Executive’s work for the Company. 


10.    Outside Activities During Employment.
10.1    Non-Company Business. Executive will not during the term of Executive’s employment with the Company undertake or engage in any activity that materially interferes or creates a conflict of interest with the performance of Executive’s duties hereunder. 
10.2    No Adverse Interests. Executive agrees not to acquire, assume or participate in, directly or indirectly, any position, investment or interest known to be adverse or antagonistic to the Company, its business or prospects, financial or otherwise.
11.    Dispute Resolution. To ensure the timely and economical resolution of disputes that may arise in connection with Executive’s employment with the Company, Executive and the Company agree that any and all disputes, claims, or causes of action arising from or relating to the enforcement, breach, performance, negotiation, execution, or interpretation of this Agreement, the Confidentiality Agreement, or Executive’s employment, or the termination of Executive’s employment, including but not limited to all statutory claims, will be resolved pursuant to the Federal Arbitration Act, 9 U.S.C. §1-16, and to the fullest extent permitted by law, by final, binding and confidential arbitration by a single arbitrator conducted in Colorado by Judicial Arbitration and Mediation Services Inc. (“JAMS”) under the then applicable JAMS rules appropriate to the relief being sought (the applicable rules are available at the following web addresses: (i) https://www.jamsadr.com/rules-employment-arbitration/ and (ii) https://www.jamsadr.com/rules-comprehensive-arbitration/); provided, however, this arbitration provision shall not apply to sexual harassment and discrimination claims to the extent prohibited by applicable law that are not preempted by the Federal Arbitration Act (“Excluded Claims”). A hard copy of the rules will be provided to Executive upon request. By agreeing to this arbitration procedure, both Executive and the Company waive the right to resolve any such dispute through a trial by jury or judge or administrative proceeding. In addition, all claims, disputes, or causes of action under this provision, whether by Executive or the Company, must be brought in an individual capacity, and shall not be brought as a plaintiff (or claimant) or class member in any purported class or representative proceeding, nor joined or consolidated with the claims of any other person 
8.
  









or entity. The Arbitrator may not consolidate the claims of more than one person or entity, and may not preside over any form of representative or class proceeding. To the extent that the preceding sentences regarding class claims or proceedings are found to violate applicable law or are otherwise found unenforceable, any claim(s) alleged or brought on behalf of a class shall proceed in a court of law rather than by arbitration. The Company acknowledges that Executive will have the right to be represented by legal counsel at any arbitration proceeding. Questions of whether a claim is subject to arbitration under this agreement, if challenged by either party, shall be decided by a federal court located in the State of Colorado. Likewise, procedural questions which grow out of the dispute and bear on the final disposition are also matters for the arbitrator. The arbitrator shall: (a) have the authority to compel adequate discovery for the resolution of the dispute and to award such relief as would otherwise be permitted by law; (b) issue a written arbitration decision, to include the arbitrator’s essential findings and conclusions and a statement of the award; and (c) be authorized to award any or all remedies that Executive or the Company would be entitled to seek in a court of law. Executive and the Company shall equally share all JAMS’ arbitration fees. To the extent JAMS does not collect or Executive otherwise does not pay to JAMS an equal share of all JAMS’ arbitration fees for any reason, and the Company pays JAMS Executive’s share, Executive acknowledges and agrees that the Company shall be entitled to recover from Executive half of the JAMS arbitration fees invoiced to the parties (less any amounts Executive paid to JAMS) in a federal or state court of competent jurisdiction. Each party is responsible for its own attorneys’ fees, except as expressly set forth in Executive’s Confidentiality Agreement. Nothing in this letter agreement is intended to prevent either Executive or the Company from obtaining injunctive relief in court to prevent irreparable harm pending the conclusion of any such arbitration. Any rendering of any portion of this arbitration provision void or unenforceable, as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction, shall not affect the validity of the remainder of the arbitration provision. Any awards or orders in such arbitrations may be entered and enforced as judgments in the federal and state courts of any competent jurisdiction. To the extent a Colorado federal court determines that any applicable law prohibits mandatory arbitration of Excluded Claims, if Executive intends to bring multiple claims, including one or more Excluded Claims, the Excluded Claim(s) may be publicly filed with a court, while any other claims will remain subject to mandatory arbitration.
12.    Section 280G Matters. 
12.1    If any payment or benefit Executive will or may receive from the Company or otherwise (a “280G Payment”) would (i) constitute a “parachute payment” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code, and (ii) but for this Section, be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code (the “Excise Tax”), then any such 280G Payment provided pursuant to this Agreement (a “Payment”) shall be equal to the Reduced Amount. The “Reduced Amount” shall be either (x) the largest portion of the Payment that would result in no portion of the Payment (after reduction) being subject to the Excise Tax, or (y) the largest portion, up to and including the total, of the Payment, whichever amount (i.e., the amount determined by clause (x) or by clause (y)), after taking into account all applicable federal, state, and local employment taxes, income taxes, and the Excise Tax (all computed at the highest applicable marginal rate), results in 
9.
  









Executive’s receipt, on an after-tax basis, of the greater economic benefit notwithstanding that all or some portion of the Payment may be subject to the Excise Tax. If a reduction in a Payment is required pursuant to the preceding sentence and the Reduced Amount is determined pursuant to clause (x) of the preceding sentence, the reduction shall occur in the manner (the “Reduction Method”) that results in the greatest economic benefit for Executive. If more than one method of reduction will result in the same economic benefit, the items so reduced will be reduced pro rata (the “Pro Rata Reduction Method”). 


12.2    Notwithstanding any provision of this Section 12 to the contrary, if the Reduction Method or the Pro Rata Reduction Method would result in any portion of the Payment being subject to taxes pursuant to Section 409A that would not otherwise be subject to taxes pursuant to Section 409A, then the Reduction Method and/or the Pro Rata Reduction Method, as the case may be, shall be modified so as to avoid the imposition of taxes pursuant to Section 409A as follows: (A) as a first priority, the modification shall preserve to the greatest extent possible, the greatest economic benefit for Executive as determined on an after-tax basis; (B) as a second priority, Payments that are contingent on future events (e.g., being terminated without Cause), shall be reduced (or eliminated) before Payments that are not contingent on future events; and (C) as a third priority, Payments that are “deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A shall be reduced (or eliminated) before Payments that are not deferred compensation within the meaning of Section 409A.
12.3    The Company shall appoint a nationally-recognized accounting, consulting or law firm to make the determinations required by this Section 12. The Company shall bear all expenses with respect to the determinations by such firm required to be made hereunder.
12.4    If Executive receives a Payment for which the Reduced Amount was determined pursuant to clause (x) of and the Internal Revenue Service determines thereafter that some portion of the Payment is subject to the Excise Tax, Executive agrees to promptly return to the Company a sufficient amount of the Payment (after reduction pursuant to clause (x) of Section 12(i)) so that no portion of the remaining Payment is subject to the Excise Tax. For the avoidance of doubt, if the Reduced Amount was determined pursuant to clause (y) of Section 12(i), Executive shall have no obligation to return any portion of the Payment pursuant to the preceding sentence.
13.    General Provisions.
13.1    Notices. Any notices provided must be in writing and will be deemed effective upon the earlier of personal delivery (including personal delivery by fax) or the next day after sending by overnight carrier, to the Company at its primary office location and to Executive at the address as listed on the Company payroll.
13.2    Severability. Whenever possible, each provision of this Agreement will be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect under any applicable law or rule in any jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality or 
10.
  









unenforceability will not affect any other provision or any other jurisdiction, but this Agreement will be reformed, construed and enforced in such jurisdiction to the extent possible in keeping with the intent of the Parties.


13.3    Waiver. Any waiver of any breach of any provisions of this Agreement must be in writing to be effective, and it shall not thereby be deemed to have waived any preceding or succeeding breach of the same or any other provision of this Agreement.
13.4    Complete Agreement. This Agreement, together with the Confidentiality Agreement, constitutes the entire agreement between Executive and the Company with regard to this subject matter and is the complete, final, and exclusive embodiment of the Parties’ agreement with regard to this subject matter. This Agreement is entered into without reliance on any promise or representation, written or oral, other than those expressly contained herein, and it supersedes any other such promises, warranties or representations.  It is entered into without reliance on any promise or representation other than those expressly contained herein, and it cannot be modified or amended except in a writing signed by a duly authorized officer of the Company.
13.5    Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in separate counterparts, any one of which need not contain signatures of more than one Party, but all of which taken together will constitute one and the same Agreement.
13.6    Headings. The headings of the paragraphs hereof are inserted for convenience only and shall not be deemed to constitute a part hereof nor to affect the meaning thereof.
13.7    Successors and Assigns. This Agreement is intended to bind and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by Executive and the Company, and their respective successors, assigns, heirs, executors and administrators, except that Executive may not assign any of Executive’s duties hereunder and Executive may not assign any of Executive’s rights hereunder without the written consent of the Company, which shall not be withheld unreasonably.
13.8    Tax Withholding and Indemnification. All payments and awards contemplated or made pursuant to this Agreement will be subject to withholdings of applicable taxes in compliance with all relevant laws and regulations of all appropriate government authorities. Executive acknowledges and agrees that the Company has neither made any assurances nor any guarantees concerning the tax treatment of any payments or awards contemplated by or made pursuant to this Agreement. Executive has had the opportunity to retain a tax and financial advisor and fully understands the tax and economic consequences of all payments and awards made pursuant to the Agreement.
13.9    Choice of Law. All questions concerning the construction, validity and interpretation of this Agreement will be governed by the laws of the State of Colorado. 






11.
  








In Witness Whereof, the Parties have executed this Agreement on the day and year written below.


DIGITALOCEAN, LLC


By: /s/ Alan Shapiro    
Name: Alan Shapiro
Title: General Counsel


Date: November 15, 2022




EXECUTIVE




/s/ W. Matthew Steinfort    
W. Matthew Steinfort


 
Date: November 15, 2022
12.