Document:

Exhibit 10.5

 

SENDGRID, INC.

INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT

 

THIS INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of               , between SendGrid, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and             (“Indemnitee”).

 

RECITALS

 

A.                                    Highly competent persons have become more reluctant to serve corporations as directors or officers or in other capacities unless they are provided with adequate protection through insurance or adequate indemnification against inordinate risks of claims and actions against them arising out of their service to and activities on behalf of the corporation;

 

B.                                    Although furnishing of insurance to protect persons serving a corporation and its subsidiaries from certain liabilities has been a customary and widespread practice among United States-based corporations and other business enterprises, the Company believes that, given current market conditions and trends, such insurance may be available to it in the future only at higher premiums and with more exclusions. At the same time, directors, officers, and other persons in service to corporations or business enterprises are being increasingly subjected to expensive and time-consuming litigation relating to, among other things, matters that traditionally would have been brought only against the Company or business enterprise itself. The Bylaws and Certificate of Incorporation of the Company require indemnification of the executive officers and directors of the Company and permit indemnification of other officers and certain other persons. Indemnitee may also be entitled to indemnification pursuant to the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (“DGCL”). The Bylaws, Certificate of Incorporation, and the DGCL expressly provide that their respective indemnification provisions are not exclusive, and contemplate that contracts may be entered into between the Company and members of the Board, officers, and other persons with respect to indemnification;

 

C.                                    The uncertainties relating to such liability insurance and to indemnification have increased the difficulty of attracting and retaining such persons;

 

D.                                    The Board has determined that the increased difficulty in attracting and retaining such persons is detrimental to the best interests of the Company’s stockholders, and that the Company should act to assure such persons that there will be increased certainty of protection in the future;

 

E.                                    It is reasonable, prudent, and necessary for the Company to contractually obligate itself to indemnify, and to advance expenses on behalf of, such persons to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law so that they will serve or continue to serve the Company free from undue concern that they will not be so indemnified;

 

F.                                     This Agreement is a supplement to and in furtherance of the Company’s Bylaws and Certificate of Incorporation and any resolutions adopted pursuant to such indemnification, and will not be deemed a substitute therefor, nor to diminish or abrogate any rights of Indemnitee;

 

G.                                   Indemnitee does not regard the protection available under the Company’s Bylaws and Certificate of Incorporation and insurance as adequate in the present circumstances, and may not be willing to serve as an officer or director without adequate protection, and the Company desires Indemnitee to serve in such capacity. Indemnitee is willing to serve, continue to serve, and to take on additional service for or on behalf of the Company on the condition that he or she be so indemnified; and

 

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H.                                   Indemnitee may have certain rights to indemnification and insurance provided by other entities or organizations which Indemnitee and such other entities and organizations intend to be secondary to the primary obligation of the Company to indemnify Indemnitee as provided in this Agreement, with the Company’s acknowledgement and agreement to the foregoing being a material condition to Indemnitee’s willingness to serve on the Board.

 

I.                                        This Agreement supersedes and replaces in its entirety any previous indemnification agreement entered into between the Company and the Indemnitee.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of Indemnitee’s agreement to serve as an officer or a director from and after the date first written above, the parties agree as follows:

 

1.                                      Indemnity of Indemnitee. The Company agrees to hold harmless and indemnify Indemnitee to the fullest extent permitted by law, as such may be amended from time to time in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. In furtherance of the this indemnification, and without limiting the generality of such indemnification:

 

(a)                                 Proceedings Other Than Proceedings by or in the Right of the Company. Indemnitee will be entitled to the rights of indemnification provided in this Section 1(a) if, by reason of his or her Corporate Status, the Indemnitee is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or participant in any Proceeding other than a Proceeding by or in the right of the Company. Pursuant to this Section 1(a), Indemnitee will be indemnified against all Expenses, judgments, penalties, fines, and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him or her, or on his or her behalf, in connection with such Proceeding or any claim, issue, or matter. This indemnification is provided if the Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner the Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company, and with respect to any criminal Proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe the Indemnitee’s conduct was unlawful.

 

(b)                                 Proceedings by or in the Right of the Company. Indemnitee will be entitled to the rights of indemnification provided in this Section 1(b) if, by reason of his or her Corporate Status, the Indemnitee is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or participant in any Proceeding brought by or in the right of the Company. Pursuant to this Section 1(b), Indemnitee will be indemnified against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by the Indemnitee, or on the Indemnitee’s behalf, in connection with such Proceeding if the Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner the Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the Company. Indemnification will not be provided against such Expenses if made in respect of any claim, issue, or matter in such Proceeding as to which Indemnitee will have been adjudged to be liable to the Company unless and to the extent that the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware will determine that such indemnification may be made.

 

(c)                                  Indemnification for Expenses of a Party Who is Wholly or Partly Successful. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, to the extent that Indemnitee is, by reason of his or her Corporate Status, a party to and is successful, on the merits or otherwise, in any Proceeding, he or she will be indemnified to the maximum extent permitted by law against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him or her or on his or her behalf in connection therewith. If Indemnitee is not wholly successful in such Proceeding but is successful, on the merits or otherwise, as to one or more but less than all claims, issues or matters in such Proceeding, the Company will indemnify Indemnitee against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him or her or on his or her behalf in connection with each successfully resolved claim, issue, or matter. For purposes of this Section, the termination of any claim, issue or matter in such a Proceeding by dismissal, with or without prejudice, will be deemed to be a successful result as to such claim, issue, or matter.

 

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2.                                      Additional Indemnity. In addition to, and without regard to any limitations on, the indemnification provided for in Section 1, the Company agrees to indemnify and hold Indemnitee harmless against all Expenses, judgments, penalties, fines, and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him or her or on his or her behalf if, by reason of his or her Corporate Status, he or she is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or participant in any Proceeding (including a Proceeding by or in the right of the Company), including, without limitation, any and all liability arising out of the negligence or active or passive wrongdoing of Indemnitee. The only limitation that will exist on the Company’s obligations pursuant to this Agreement will be that the Company will not be obligated to make any payment to Indemnitee that is finally determined (under the procedures, and subject to the presumptions, in Sections 6 and 7) to be unlawful.

 

3.                                      Contribution.

 

(a)                                 Whether or not the indemnification provided in Sections 1 and 2 is available, in respect of any threatened, pending, or completed action, suit, or proceeding in which the Company is jointly liable with Indemnitee (or would be if joined in such action, suit, or proceeding), the Company will pay, in the first instance, the entire amount of any judgment or settlement of such action, suit, or proceeding without requiring Indemnitee to contribute to such payment, and the Company  waives and relinquishes any right of contribution it may have against Indemnitee. The Company will not enter into any settlement of any action, suit, or proceeding in which the Company is jointly liable with Indemnitee (or would be if joined in such action, suit, or proceeding) unless such settlement provides for a full and final release of all claims asserted against Indemnitee. The Company will not settle any action or claim in a manner that would impose any penalty or admission of guilt or liability on Indemnitee without Indemnitee’s written consent.

 

(b)                                 Without diminishing or impairing the obligations of the Company in the preceding subparagraph, if Indemnitee elects or is required to pay all or any portion of any judgment or settlement in any threatened, pending, or completed action, suit, or proceeding in which the Company is jointly liable with Indemnitee (or would be if joined in such action, suit, or proceeding), the Company will contribute to the amount of Expenses, judgments, fines, and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred and paid or payable by Indemnitee in proportion to the relative benefits received by the Company and all officers, directors, or employees of the Company, other than Indemnitee, who are jointly liable with Indemnitee (or would be if joined in such action, suit, or proceeding), on the one hand, and Indemnitee, on the other hand, from the transaction from which such action, suit or proceeding arose. To the extent necessary to conform to law, the proportion determined on the basis of relative benefit may be further adjusted by reference to the relative fault of the Company and all officers, directors, or employees of the Company other than Indemnitee who are jointly liable with Indemnitee (or would be if joined in such action, suit or proceeding), on the one hand, and Indemnitee, on the other hand, in connection with the events that resulted in such expenses, judgments, fines, or settlement amounts, as well as any other equitable considerations which the applicable law may require to be considered. The relative fault of the Company and all officers, directors, or employees of the Company, other than Indemnitee, who are jointly liable with Indemnitee (or would be if joined in such action, suit or proceeding), on the one hand, and Indemnitee, on the other hand, will be determined by reference to, among other things, the degree to which their actions were motivated by intent to gain personal profit or advantage, the degree to which their liability is primary or secondary, and the degree to which their respective conduct is active or passive.

 

(c)                                  The Company agrees to fully indemnify and hold Indemnitee harmless from any claims of contribution which may be brought by the Company’s officers, directors, or employees, other than Indemnitee, who may be jointly liable with Indemnitee.

 

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(d)                                 To the fullest extent permissible under applicable law, if the indemnification provided for in this Agreement is unavailable to Indemnitee for any reason whatsoever, the Company, in lieu of indemnifying Indemnitee, will contribute to the amount incurred by Indemnitee, whether for judgments, fines, penalties, excise taxes, amounts paid or to be paid in settlement or for Expenses, in connection with any claim relating to an indemnifiable event under this Agreement, in such proportion as is deemed fair and reasonable in light of all of the circumstances of such Proceeding to reflect: (i) the relative benefits received by the Company and Indemnitee as a result of the events and  transactions giving cause to such Proceeding; and (ii) the relative fault of the Company (and its directors, officers, employees, and agents) and Indemnitee in connection with such events and transactions.

 

4.                                      Indemnification for Expenses of a Witness. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, to the extent that Indemnitee is, by reason of his or her Corporate Status, a witness, or is made (or asked) to respond to discovery requests, in any Proceeding to which Indemnitee is not a party, he or she will be indemnified against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him or her or on his or her behalf in connection therewith.

 

5.                                      Advancement of Expenses. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Company will advance all Expenses incurred by or on behalf of Indemnitee in connection with any Proceeding by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status within 30 days after the receipt by the Company of a statement from Indemnitee requesting such advance or advances, whether prior to or after final disposition of such Proceeding. Such statement will reasonably evidence the Expenses incurred by Indemnitee and will include or be preceded or accompanied by a written undertaking by or on behalf of Indemnitee to repay any Expenses advanced if it is ultimately determined that Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified against such Expenses. Any advances and undertakings to repay pursuant to this Section 5 will be unsecured and interest free.

 

6.                                      Procedures and Presumptions for Determination of Entitlement to Indemnification. The parties agree that the following procedures and presumptions will apply in the event of any question as to whether Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification under this Agreement:

 

(a)                                 To obtain indemnification under this Agreement, Indemnitee will submit to the Company a written request with such documentation and information as is reasonably available to Indemnitee and is reasonably necessary to determine whether and to what extent Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification. The Secretary of the Company will, promptly on receipt of such a request for indemnification, advise the Board in writing that Indemnitee has requested indemnification. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any failure of Indemnitee to provide such request to the Company, or to provide such a request in a timely fashion, will not relieve the Company of any liability that it may have to Indemnitee unless, and to the extent that, such failure actually and materially prejudices the interests of the Company.

 

(b)                                 On written request by Indemnitee for indemnification pursuant to the first sentence of Section 6(a), Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification will be determined in the specific case:

 

(1) by one of the following four methods, which will be at the election of the Board, unless a Change in Control has occurred:

 

(i) by a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors, even though less than a quorum;

 

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(ii) by a committee of Disinterested Directors designated by a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors, even though less than a quorum;

 

(iii) if there are no Disinterested Directors or if the Disinterested Directors so direct, by Independent Counsel in a written opinion to the Board, a copy of which will be delivered to the Indemnitee; or

 

(iv) if so directed by the Board, by the stockholders of the Company; or

 

(2) if a Change in Control has occurred, by Independent Counsel in a written opinion to the Board, a copy of which will be delivered to the Indemnitee.

 

(c)                                  If the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by Independent Counsel pursuant to Section 6(b), the Independent Counsel will be selected as provided in this Section 6(c). The Independent Counsel will be selected by the Board and notify the Indemnitee by written notice. Within 10 days after such notice has been given, Indemnitee may deliver the Company a written objection to such selection. But, that objection may only be asserted on the ground that the Independent Counsel does not meet the requirements of “Independent Counsel” as defined in Section 13, and the objection will include with particularity the factual basis of such assertion. Absent a proper and timely objection, the person so selected will act as Independent Counsel. If a written objection is made and substantiated, the Independent Counsel selected may not serve as Independent Counsel unless and until such objection is withdrawn or a court has determined that such objection is without merit. If no Independent Counsel will have been selected and not objected to within 20 days after submission by Indemnitee of a written request for indemnification pursuant to Section 6(a), either the Company or Indemnitee may petition the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or other court of competent jurisdiction for resolution of any objection made by the Indemnitee to the Company’s selection of Independent Counsel or for the appointment of a person selected by the court or by such other person as the court designates to serve as Independent Counsel. The person with respect to whom all objections are so resolved or the person so appointed will act as Independent Counsel under Section 6(b). The Company will pay any and all reasonable fees and expenses of Independent Counsel incurred by such Independent Counsel in connection with acting pursuant to Section 6(b), and the Company will pay all reasonable fees and expenses incident to the procedures of this Section 6(c), regardless of the manner in which such Independent Counsel was selected or appointed. In no event will Indemnitee be liable for fees and expenses incurred by such Independent Counsel.

 

(d)                                 In making a determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification under this Agreement, the person or persons or entity making such determination will presume that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification under this Agreement. Anyone seeking to overcome this presumption will have the burden of proof and the burden of persuasion by clear and convincing evidence. Neither the failure of the Company (including by its Board or Independent Counsel) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of any action pursuant to this Agreement that indemnification is proper in the circumstances because Indemnitee has met the applicable standard of conduct, nor an actual determination by the Company (including by its Board or Independent Counsel) that Indemnitee has not met such applicable standard of conduct, will be a defense to the action or create a presumption that Indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct.

 

(e)                                  Indemnitee will be deemed to have acted in good faith if Indemnitee’s action is based on the records or books of account of the Enterprise, including financial statements, or on information supplied to Indemnitee by the officers of the Enterprise in the course of their duties, or on the advice of legal counsel for the Enterprise or on information or records given or reports made to the Enterprise by an independent certified public accountant or by an appraiser or other expert selected with

 

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reasonable care by the Enterprise. In addition, the knowledge and actions, or failure to act, of any director, officer, agent, or employee of the Enterprise will not be imputed to Indemnitee for purposes of determining the right to indemnification under this Agreement. Whether or not the foregoing provisions of this Section 6(e) are satisfied, it will in any event be presumed that Indemnitee has at all times acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the Company. Anyone seeking to overcome this presumption will have the burden of proof and the burden of persuasion by clear and convincing evidence.

 

(f)                                   If the person, persons, or entity empowered or selected under Section 6 to determine whether Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification has not have made a determination within 60 days after receipt by the Company of the request, the requisite determination of entitlement to indemnification will be deemed to have been made, and Indemnitee will be entitled to such indemnification absent (i) a misstatement by Indemnitee of a material fact or an omission of a material fact necessary to make Indemnitee’s statement not materially misleading in connection with the request for indemnification, or (ii) a prohibition of such indemnification under applicable law. Such 60-day period may be extended for a reasonable time, not to exceed an additional 30 days, if the person, persons, or entity making such determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification in good faith requires such additional time to obtain or evaluate documentation or information relating thereto. The provisions of this Section 6(f) will not apply if the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by the stockholders pursuant to Section 6(b) and if (A) within 15 days after receipt by the Company of the request for such determination, the Board or the Disinterested Directors, if appropriate, resolve to submit such determination to the stockholders for their consideration at an annual meeting to be held within 75 days after such receipt, and such determination is made at that annual meeting, or (B) a special meeting of stockholders is called within 15 days after such receipt for the purpose of making such determination, such meeting is held for such purpose within 60 days after having been so called and such determination is made at that annual meeting.

 

(g)                                 Indemnitee will cooperate with the person, persons. or entity making such determination with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification, including providing such person, persons, or entity on reasonable advance request any documentation or information which is not privileged or otherwise protected from disclosure and which is reasonably available to Indemnitee and reasonably necessary to such determination. Any Independent Counsel, member of the Board, or stockholder of the Company will act reasonably and in good faith in making a determination regarding the Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification under this Agreement. Any costs or expenses (including attorneys’ fees and disbursements) incurred by Indemnitee in so cooperating with the person, persons, or entity making such determination will be borne by the Company (irrespective of the determination as to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification), and the Company indemnifies and agrees to hold Indemnitee harmless therefrom.

 

(h)                                 The Company acknowledges that a settlement or other disposition short of final judgment may be successful if it permits a party to avoid expense, delay, distraction, disruption, and uncertainty. In the event that any action, claim, or proceeding to which Indemnitee is a party is resolved in any manner other than by adverse judgment against Indemnitee (including, without limitation, settlement of such action, claim or proceeding with or without payment of money or other consideration) it will be presumed that Indemnitee has been successful on the merits or otherwise in such action, suit, or proceeding. Anyone seeking to overcome this presumption will have the burden of proof and the burden of persuasion by clear and convincing evidence.

 

(i)                                    The termination of any Proceeding or of any claim, issue, or matter in any Proceeding, by judgment, order, settlement or conviction, or on a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, will not (except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement) of itself adversely affect

 

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the right of Indemnitee to indemnification or create a presumption that Indemnitee did not act in good faith and in a manner which he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company or, with respect to any criminal Proceeding, that Indemnitee had reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was unlawful.

 

7.                                      Remedies of Indemnitee.

 

(a)                                 In the event that (i) a determination is made pursuant to Section 6 that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification under this Agreement, (ii) advancement of Expenses is not timely made pursuant to Section 5, (iii) no determination of entitlement to indemnification is made pursuant to Section 6(b) within 90 days after receipt by the Company of the request for indemnification, (iv) payment of indemnification is not made pursuant to this Agreement within 10 days after receipt by the Company of a written request for such payment, or (v) payment of indemnification is not made within 10 days after a determination has been made that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification or such determination is deemed to have been made pursuant to Section 6, Indemnitee will be entitled to an adjudication in an appropriate court of the State of Delaware, or in any other court of competent jurisdiction, of Indemnitee’s entitlement to such indemnification. Indemnitee will commence such proceeding seeking an adjudication within 180 days following the date on which Indemnitee first has the right to commence such proceeding pursuant to this Section 7(a). The Company will not oppose Indemnitee’s right to seek any such adjudication.

 

(b)                                 In the event that a determination has been made pursuant to Section 6(b) that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification, any judicial proceeding commenced pursuant to this Section 7 will be conducted in all respects as a de novo trial on the merits, and Indemnitee will not be prejudiced by reason of the adverse determination under Section 6(b).

 

(c)                                  If a determination has been made pursuant to Section 6(b) that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, the Company will be bound by such determination in any judicial proceeding commenced pursuant to this Section 7, absent (i) a misstatement by Indemnitee of a material fact or an omission of a material fact necessary to make Indemnitee’s misstatement not materially misleading in connection with the application for indemnification, or (ii) a prohibition of such indemnification under applicable law.

 

(d)                                 In the event that Indemnitee, pursuant to this Section 7, seeks a judicial adjudication of his or her rights under, or to recover damages for breach of, this Agreement, or to recover under any directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies maintained by the Company, the Company will pay on his or her behalf, in advance, any and all expenses (of the types described in the definition of Expenses) actually and reasonably incurred by him or her in such judicial adjudication, regardless of whether Indemnitee ultimately is determined to be entitled to such indemnification, advancement of expenses, or insurance recovery.  The Company authorizes the Indemnitee from time to time to retain counsel of Indemnitee’s choice, at the expense of the Company to the extent provided hereunder or under applicable law, to advise and represent Indemnitee in connection with any such judicial adjudication or recovery, including without limitation the initiation or defense of any litigation or other legal action, whether by or against the Company or any director, officer, stockholder, or other person affiliated with the Company.

 

(e)                                  The Company will be precluded from asserting in any judicial proceeding commenced pursuant to this Section 7 that the procedures and presumptions of this Agreement are not valid, binding, and enforceable, and will stipulate in any such court that the Company is bound by all the provisions of this Agreement. The Company will indemnify Indemnitee against any and all Expenses and, if requested by Indemnitee, will (within 10 days after receipt by the Company of a written request

 

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therefore) advance, to the extent not prohibited by law, such expenses to Indemnitee, which are incurred by Indemnitee in connection with any action brought by Indemnitee for indemnification or advance of Expenses from the Company under this Agreement or under any directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies maintained by the Company, regardless of whether Indemnitee ultimately is determined to be entitled to such indemnification, advancement of Expenses, or insurance recovery, as the case may be.

 

(f)                                   Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, no determination as to entitlement to indemnification under this Agreement will be required to be made prior to the final disposition of the Proceeding.

 

8.                                      Non-Exclusivity; Survival of Rights; Insurance; Primacy of Indemnification; Subrogation.

 

(a)                                 The rights of indemnification and to receive advancement of Expenses as provided by this Agreement will not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which Indemnitee may at any time be entitled under applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws, any agreement, a vote of stockholders, a resolution of Board, or otherwise. No amendment, alteration, or repeal of this Agreement or of any provision of this Agreement will limit or restrict any right of Indemnitee under this Agreement in respect of any action taken or omitted by such Indemnitee in his or her Corporate Status prior to such amendment, alteration, or repeal. To the extent that a change in the DGCL, whether by statute or judicial decision, permits greater indemnification or advancement of Expenses than would be afforded currently under the Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaws, and this Agreement, it is the intent of the parties of this Agreement that Indemnitee will enjoy all greater benefits so afforded by such change. No right or remedy in this Agreement conferred is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every other right and remedy will be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given under this Agreement or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy under this Agreement, or otherwise, will not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other right or remedy.

 

(b)                                 To the extent that the Company maintains an insurance policy or policies providing liability insurance for directors, officers, employees, or agents, or fiduciaries of the Company or of any other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan, or other enterprise that such person serves at the request of the Company, the Company will procure such insurance policy or policies under which the Indemnitee will be covered in accordance with its or their terms to the maximum extent of the coverage available for any director, officer, employee, agent, or fiduciary under such policy or policies. If, at the time of the receipt of a notice of a claim pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, the Company has director and officer liability insurance in effect, the Company will give prompt notice of the commencement of such proceeding to the insurers in accordance with the procedures in the respective policies. The Company will thereafter take all necessary or desirable action to cause such insurers to pay, on behalf of the Indemnitee, all amounts payable as a result of such proceeding in accordance with the terms of such policies.

 

(c)                                  The Company acknowledges that Indemnitee has or may have in the future certain rights to indemnification, advancement of expenses, or insurance provided by other entities or organizations (collectively, the “Secondary Indemnitors”). The Company agrees that (i) it is the indemnitor of first resort (i.e., its obligations to Indemnitee are primary and any obligation of the Secondary Indemnitors to advance expenses or to provide indemnification for the same expenses or liabilities incurred by Indemnitee are secondary), (ii) it will be required to advance the full amount of expenses incurred by Indemnitee and will be liable for the full amount of all Expenses, judgments, penalties, fines, and amounts paid in settlement to the extent legally permitted and as required by the terms of this Agreement, the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws (or any other agreement

 

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between the Company and Indemnitee), without regard to any rights Indemnitee may have against the Secondary Indemnitors, and (iii) it irrevocably waives, relinquishes, and releases the Secondary Indemnitors from any and all claims against the Secondary Indemnitors for contribution, subrogation, or any other recovery of any kind in respect thereof. The Company further agrees that no advancement or payment by the Secondary Indemnitors on behalf of Indemnitee with respect to any claim for which Indemnitee has sought indemnification from the Company will affect the foregoing and the Secondary Indemnitors will have a right of contribution and be subrogated to the extent of such advancement or payment to all of the rights of recovery of Indemnitee against the Company. The Company and Indemnitee agree that the Secondary Indemnitors are express third party beneficiaries of the terms of this Section 8(c).

 

(d)                                 Except as provided in Section 8(c), in the event of any payment under this Agreement, the Company will be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of recovery of Indemnitee (other than against the Secondary Indemnitors), who will execute all papers required and take all action necessary to secure such rights, including execution of such documents as are necessary to enable the Company to bring suit to enforce such rights.

 

(e)                                  Except as provided in Section 8(c), the Company will not be liable under this Agreement to make any payment of amounts otherwise indemnifiable under this Agreement if and to the extent that Indemnitee has otherwise actually received such payment under any insurance policy, contract, agreement, or otherwise.

 

(f)                                   Except as provided in Section 8(c), the Company’s obligation to indemnify or advance Expenses under this Agreement to Indemnitee who is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee, or agent of any other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan, or other enterprise will be reduced by any amount Indemnitee has actually received as indemnification or advancement of expenses from such other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan, or other enterprise.

 

9.                                      Exceptions to Right of Indemnification. Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement, the Company will not be obligated under this Agreement to make any indemnity in connection with any claim made against Indemnitee:

 

(a)                                 for which payment has actually been made to or on behalf of Indemnitee under any insurance policy or other indemnity provision, except with respect to any excess beyond the amount paid under any insurance policy or other indemnity provision, provided, that the foregoing will not affect the rights of Indemnitee or the Secondary Indemnitors in Section 8(c);

 

(b)                                 for an accounting of profits made from the purchase and sale (or sale and purchase) by Indemnitee of securities of the Company within the meaning of Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act, or similar provisions of state statutory law or common law;

 

(c)                                  in connection with any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) initiated by Indemnitee, including any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) initiated by Indemnitee against the Company or its directors, officers, employees, or other indemnitees, unless (i) the Board authorized the Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) prior to its initiation, or (ii) the Company provides the indemnification, in its sole discretion, pursuant to the powers vested in the Company under applicable law;

 

(d)                                 with respect to remuneration paid to Indemnitee if it is determined by final judgment or other final adjudication that such remuneration was in violation of law (and, in this respect,

 

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both the Company and Indemnitee have been advised that the SEC believes that indemnification for liabilities arising under the federal securities laws is against public policy and is, therefore, unenforceable and that claims for indemnification should be submitted to appropriate courts for adjudication, as indicated in the last paragraph of this Section 9); or

 

(e)                                  in connection with any claim for reimbursement of the Company by Indemnitee of any bonus or other incentive-based or equity-based compensation or of any profits realized by Indemnitee from the sale of securities of the Company, as required in each case under the Exchange Act (including any such reimbursements that arise from an accounting restatement of the Company pursuant to Section 304 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, or the payment to the Company of profits arising from the purchase and sale by Indemnitee of securities in violation of Section 306 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act), if Indemnitee is held liable therefor (including pursuant to any settlement).

 

For purposes of this Section 9, a final judgment or other adjudication may be reached in either the underlying proceeding or action in connection with which indemnification is sought or a separate proceeding or action to establish rights and liabilities under this Agreement.

 

Any provision herein to the contrary notwithstanding, the Company will not be obligated pursuant to the terms of this Agreement to indemnify Indemnitee or otherwise act in violation of any undertaking appearing in and required by the rules and regulations promulgated under the Securities Act, or in any registration statement filed with the SEC under the Securities Act. Indemnitee acknowledges that paragraph (h) of Item 512 of Regulation S-K promulgated under the Securities Act currently generally requires the Company to undertake, in connection with any registration statement filed under the Securities Act, to submit the issue of the enforceability of Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement in connection with any liability under the Securities Act on public policy grounds to a court of appropriate jurisdiction and to be governed by any final adjudication of such issue. Indemnitee specifically agrees that any such undertaking will supersede the provisions of this Agreement and to be bound by any such undertaking.

 

10.                               Duration of Agreement. All agreements and obligations of the Company contained herein will continue during the period Indemnitee is an officer or director of the Company (or is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise) and will continue thereafter so long as Indemnitee will be subject to any Proceeding (or any proceeding commenced under Section 7) by reason of his or her Corporate Status, whether or not he or she is acting or serving in any such capacity at the time any liability or expense is incurred for which indemnification can be provided under this Agreement. This Agreement will be binding on and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the parties of this Agreement and their respective successors (including any direct or indirect successor by purchase, merger, consolidation, or otherwise to all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Company), assigns, spouses, heirs, executors, and personal and legal representatives.

 

11.                               Security. To the extent requested by Indemnitee and approved by the Board, the Company may at any time and from time to time provide security to Indemnitee for the Company’s obligations under this Agreement through an irrevocable bank line of credit, funded trust, or other collateral. Any such security, once provided to Indemnitee, may not be revoked or released without the prior written consent of the Indemnitee.

 

12.                               Enforcement.

 

(a)                                 The Company expressly confirms and agrees that it has entered into this Agreement and assumes the obligations imposed on it to induce Indemnitee to serve as an officer or

 

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director of the Company, and the Company acknowledges that Indemnitee is relying on this Agreement in serving as an officer or director of the Company.

 

(b)                                 Other than as provided in this Agreement, this Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties with respect to this subject matter and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, oral, written and implied, between the parties with respect to this subject matter, including without limitation any previous indemnification agreement entered into between the Company and the Indemnitee.

 

13.                               Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement:

 

(a)                                 “Beneficial Owner” has the meaning given to such term in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act; provided, however, that Beneficial Owner will exclude any Person otherwise becoming a Beneficial Owner by reason of the stockholders of the Company approving a merger of the Company with another entity.

 

(b)                                 “Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

(c)                                  “Change in Control” means the earliest to occur after the date of this Agreement of any of the following events:

 

(i)                                    Acquisition of Stock by Third Party.  Any Person is or becomes the Beneficial Owner (as defined above), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 40% or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities;

 

(ii)                                Change in Board.  During any period of two (2) consecutive years (not including any period prior to the execution of this Agreement), individuals who at the beginning of such period constitute the Board, and any new director (other than a director designated by a person who has entered into an agreement with the Company to effect a transaction described in clause (i), (iii) or (iv) of this definition of Change in Control) whose election by the Board or nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the directors then still in office who either were directors at the beginning of the period or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved, cease for any reason to constitute a least a majority of the members of the Board;

 

(iii)                            Corporate Transactions. The effective date of a merger or consolidation of the Company with any other entity, other than a merger or consolidation which would result in the voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior to such merger or consolidation continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the surviving entity) more than 30% of the combined voting power of the voting securities of the surviving entity outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation and with the power to elect at least a majority of the Board or other governing body of such surviving entity;

 

(iv)                             Liquidation. The approval by the stockholders of the Company of a complete liquidation of the Company or an agreement for the sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets; and

 

(v)                                 Other Events. There occurs any other event of a nature that would be required to be reported in response to Item 6(e) of Schedule 14A of Regulation 14A (or a response to any similar item on any similar schedule or form) promulgated under the Exchange Act, whether or not the Company is then subject to such reporting requirement.

 

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(d)           “Corporate Status” describes the status of a person who is or was a director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of the Company or of any other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise that such person is or was serving at the express written request of the Company.

 

(e)           “Disinterested Director” means a non-executive director of the Company who is not and was not a party to the Proceeding in respect of which indemnification is sought by Indemnitee.

 

(f)            “Enterprise” means the Company and any other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise that Indemnitee is or was serving at the express written request of the Company as a director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary.

 

(g)           “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

(h)           “Expenses” includes all documented and reasonable attorneys’ fees, retainers, court costs, transcript costs, fees of experts, witness fees, travel expenses, duplicating costs, printing and binding costs, telephone charges, postage, delivery service fees, and all other disbursements or expenses of the types customarily incurred in connection with prosecuting, defending, preparing to prosecute or defend, investigating, participating, or being or preparing to be a witness in a Proceeding, or responding to, or objecting to, a request to provide discovery in any Proceeding. Expenses also will include Expenses incurred in connection with any appeal resulting from any Proceeding and any federal, state, local, or foreign taxes imposed on the Indemnitee as a result of the actual or deemed receipt of any payments under this Agreement, including without limitation the premium, security for, and other costs relating to any cost bond, supersede as bond, or other appeal bond or its equivalent. Expenses will not include amounts paid in settlement by Indemnitee or the amount of judgments or fines against Indemnitee.

 

(i)            “Independent Counsel” means a law firm, or a member of a law firm, that is experienced in matters of corporation law and neither presently is, nor in the past five years has been, retained to represent: (i) the Company or Indemnitee in any matter material to either such party (other than with respect to matters concerning Indemnitee under this Agreement, or of other indemnitees under similar indemnification agreements), or (ii) any other party to the Proceeding giving rise to a claim for indemnification under this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term “Independent Counsel” will not include any person who, under the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing, would have a conflict of interest in representing either the Company or Indemnitee in an action to determine Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement. The Company agrees to pay the reasonable fees of the Independent Counsel referred to above and to fully indemnify such counsel against any and all Expenses, claims, liabilities and damages arising out of or relating to this Agreement or its engagement pursuant hereto.

 

(j)            “Person” for purposes of the definition of Beneficial Owner and Change in Control set forth above, will have the meaning as set forth in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act; provided, however, that Person will exclude (i) the Company, (ii) any trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company, and (iii) any corporation owned, directly or indirectly, by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of stock of the Company.

 

(k)           “Proceeding” includes any threatened, pending or completed action, suit, arbitration, alternate dispute resolution mechanism, investigation, inquiry, administrative hearing or any other actual, threatened or completed proceeding, whether brought by or in the right of the Company or otherwise and whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, in which Indemnitee was, is or will be involved as a party or otherwise, by reason of the fact that Indemnitee is or was an officer or director

 

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of the Company, by reason of any action taken by him or her or of any inaction on his or her part while acting as an officer or director of the Company, or by reason of the fact that he or she is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other Enterprise; in each case whether or not he or she is acting or serving in any such capacity at the time any liability or expense is incurred for which indemnification can be provided under this Agreement; including one pending on or before the date of this Agreement, but excluding one initiated by an Indemnitee pursuant to Section 7 of this Agreement to enforce his or her rights under this Agreement.

 

(l)            “Sarbanes-Oxley Act” will mean the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended.

 

(m)          “SEC” will mean the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

(n)           “Securities Act” will mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

14.          Severability. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision hereof will in no way affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, this Agreement is intended to confer upon Indemnitee indemnification rights to the fullest extent permitted by applicable laws. In the event any provision hereof conflicts with any applicable law, such provision will be deemed modified, consistent with the aforementioned intent, to the extent necessary to resolve such conflict.

 

15.          Modification and Waiver. No supplement, modification, termination or amendment of this Agreement will be binding unless executed in writing by both of the parties hereto. No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement will be deemed or will constitute a waiver of any other provisions hereof (whether or not similar) nor will such waiver constitute a continuing waiver.

 

16.          Notice By Indemnitee. Indemnitee agrees promptly to notify the Company in writing upon being served with or otherwise receiving any summons, citation, subpoena, complaint, indictment, information or other document relating to any Proceeding or matter which may be subject to indemnification covered under this Agreement. The failure to so notify the Company will not relieve the Company of any obligation which it may have to Indemnitee under this Agreement or otherwise unless and only to the extent that such failure or delay materially prejudices the Company.

 

17.          Notices. All notices and other communications given or made pursuant to this Agreement will be in writing and will be deemed effectively given:  (a) upon personal delivery to the party to be notified, (b) when sent by confirmed electronic mail or facsimile if sent during normal business hours of the recipient, and if not so confirmed, then on the next business day, (c) 5 days after having been sent by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, or (d) one (1) day after deposit with a nationally recognized overnight courier, specifying next day delivery, with written verification of receipt. All communications will be sent:

 

	
(a)
    	
 
    	
To Indemnitee at the address on the books and   records of the Company.
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
(b)
    	
 
    	
To the Company at:
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
SendGrid, Inc.
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
1801 California Street
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Suite 500
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Denver, CO 80202
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Attention: General Counsel
    

 

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or to such other address as may have been furnished to Indemnitee by the Company or to the Company by Indemnitee, as the case may be.

 

18.          Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which will be deemed an original, but all of which together will constitute one and the same Agreement. This Agreement may also be executed and delivered by facsimile signature, electronic mail  (including pdf or any electronic signature complying with the U.S. federal ESIGN Act of 2000, Uniform Electronic Transactions Act or other applicable law) or other transmission method and in two or more counterparts, each of which will be deemed an original, but all of which together will constitute one and the same instrument and be deemed to have been duly and validly delivered and be valid and effective for all purposes.

 

19.          Headings. The headings of the paragraphs of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and will not be deemed to constitute part of this Agreement or to affect the construction thereof.

 

20.          Governing Law and Consent to Jurisdiction. This Agreement and the legal relations among the parties will be governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to its conflict of laws rules. The Company and Indemnitee hereby irrevocably and unconditionally (i) agree that any action or proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement will be brought only in the Chancery Court of the State of Delaware (the “Delaware Court”), and not in any other state or federal court in the United States of America or any court in any other country, (ii) consent to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Delaware Court for purposes of any action or proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement, (iii) appoint, to the extent such party is not otherwise subject to service of process in the State of Delaware, irrevocably National Registered Agents, Inc. as its agent in the State of Delaware for acceptance of legal process in connection with any such action or proceeding against such party with the same legal force and validity as if served upon such party personally within the State of Delaware, (iv) waive any objection to the laying of venue of any such action or proceeding in the Delaware Court, and (v) waive, and agree not to plead or to make, any claim that any such action or proceeding brought in the Delaware Court has been brought in an improper or inconvenient forum.

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO FOLLOW]

 

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The parties have executed this Agreement on and as of the day and year first above written.

 

	
 
    	
SENDGRID, INC.
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
INDEMNITEE
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Name:Exhibit 10.6

 

SENDGRID, INC.

 

EXECUTIVE SEVERANCE BENEFIT PLAN

 

Section 1.                                          INTRODUCTION.

 

The SendGrid, Inc. Executive Severance Benefit Plan (the “Plan”) is hereby established effective as of the Effective Date.  The purpose of the Plan is to provide for the payment of severance benefits to selected employees of SendGrid, Inc. (the “Company”) that constitute a select group of management or highly compensated employees in the event that such employees become subject to involuntary employment terminations.  This Plan document also is the Summary Plan Description for the Plan.

 

For purposes of the Plan, the following terms are defined as follows:

 

(a)                                 “2017 Plan” means the Company’s 2017 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended.

 

(b)                                 “Affiliate” means any “parent” or “subsidiary” of the Company as such terms are defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.  The Plan Administrator shall have the authority to determine the time or times at which “parent” or “subsidiary” status is determined within the foregoing definition.

 

(c)                                  “Annual Base Salary” means the annualized base pay amount (excluding incentive pay, premium pay, commissions, overtime, bonuses and other forms of variable compensation) as in effect immediately prior to a Covered Termination.

 

(d)                                 “Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company; provided, however, that if the Board has delegated authority to administer the Plan to the Compensation Committee of the Board, then “Board” shall also mean the Compensation Committee.

 

(e)                                  “Cause” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in any Individual Service Arrangement defining such term and, in the absence of such agreement, such term means, with respect to an Eligible Employee, the occurrence of any of the following events: (i) such Eligible Employee’s commission of any felony or any crime involving fraud, dishonesty or moral turpitude under the laws of the United States or any state thereof; (ii) such Eligible Employee’s attempted commission of, or participation in, a fraud or act of dishonesty against the Company; (iii) such Eligible Employee’s intentional, material violation of any contract or agreement between the Eligible Employee and the Company or of any statutory duty owed to the Company; (iv) such Eligible Employee’s unauthorized use or disclosure of the Company’s confidential information or trade secrets; or (v) such Eligible Employee’s gross misconduct.

 

(f)                                   “Change in Control” shall have the meaning provided to such term in the 2017 Plan.

 

(g)                                 “Closing” means the initial closing of the Change in Control as defined in the definitive agreement executed in connection with the Change in Control.  In the case of a series of transactions constituting a Change in Control, “Closing” means the first closing that satisfies the threshold of the definition for a Change in Control.

 

(h)                                 “COBRA” means the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985.

 

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(i)                                    “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

 

(j)                                    “Company” means SendGrid, Inc. or, following a Change in Control, the surviving Entity resulting from such event.

 

(k)                                 “Covered Period” means the period commencing on the Closing of a Change in Control and ending twelve (12) months following the Closing of a Change in Control.

 

(l)                                    “Covered Termination” means an employee’s termination from all positions he or she then holds with the Company, which termination constitutes a “separation from service” (as defined under Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(h) without regard to any alternative definition thereunder), and (i) which is due to a termination by the Company without Cause and other than as a result of death or disability or (ii) due to a termination by the Eligible Employee with Good Reason.

 

(m)                             “Director” means a member of the Board.

 

(n)                                 “Effective Date” means the date of the underwriting agreement between the Company and the underwriter(s) managing the initial public offering of the Company’s common stock, pursuant to which the Company’s common stock is priced for the initial public offering.

 

(o)                                 “Eligible Employee” means an employee of the Company that meets all the requirements to be eligible to receive Plan benefits as set forth in Section 2, including timely provision of an effective Release (as such term is defined in Section 2(b)).

 

(p)                                 “Employment Agreement” means any individual employment offer letter, contract or agreement that an Eligible Employee has with the Company.

 

(q)                                 “Entity” means a corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other entity.

 

(r)                                  “Equity Award” means each compensatory equity award granted to an Eligible Employee, whether under the 2017 Plan, or otherwise.

 

(s)                                   “Good Reason” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in any Individual Service Arrangement defining such term, if any, and shall also mean the occurrence of any of the following events without the Eligible Employee’s written consent; provided however, that any resignation by the Eligible Employee due to any of the following events shall be deemed for Good Reason only if (i) the employee gives the Company written notice of the intent to terminate for Good Reason within thirty (30) days after the occurrence of any of the events and that the employee asserts that grounds for a resignation for Good Reason exist as a result which is not corrected within thirty (30) days after the Company (or any successor thereto) receives such written notice from the employee; and (ii) the employee resigns within one hundred twenty (120) days of the first occurrence of the applicable event: (A) a material diminution of the Eligible Employee’s duties, position or responsibilities, provided, however, a mere change in title or reporting relationship following a Change in Control will not by itself constitute “Good Reason” for the Eligible Employee’s resignation, and further provided, however, that the acquisition of the Company and subsequent conversion of the Company as a whole to a division or unit of the acquiring entity will not by itself result in a “diminution;” (B) a reduction by the Company in the Eligible Employee’s base salary as in effect immediately prior to such reduction by more than ten percent (10%) (unless such reduction is made pursuant to an across the board reduction applicable to senior executives of the Company); or (C) the material relocation of the Eligible Employee’s assigned 

 

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office location resulting in an increase in the Eligible Employee’s one-way commuting distance from the Eligible Employee’s then current principal place of employment by more than thirty (30) miles.

 

(t)                                    “Individual Severance Arrangement” means any Employment Agreement providing for severance or change in control benefits to an Eligible Employee or any other severance arrangement between the Eligible Employee and the Company other than the Plan, in each case that remains in effect through the date of a Covered Termination.

 

(u)                                 “Plan Administrator” means the Board prior to the Closing and the Representative upon and following the Closing.

 

(v)                                 “Qualified Plan” means a plan sponsored by the Company or an Affiliate that is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code.

 

(w)                               “Representative” means one or more members of the Board or other persons or Entities designated by the Board prior to or in connection with a Change in Control that will have authority to administer and interpret the Plan upon and following the Closing as provided in Section 8(a).

 

(x)                                 “Severance Period” means, either (i) six (6) months (or in the Case of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, twelve (12) months) following a Covered Termination that is outside of the Covered Period or (ii) twelve (12) months (or in the case of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, eighteen (18) months) following a Covered Termination during the Covered Period.

 

(y)                                 “Target Bonus” means, with respect to an Eligible Employee, the Eligible Employee’s target annual bonus under the Company’s annual cash bonus plan or policy, or if the Company does not maintain such a plan or policy, the target annual bonus under the terms of the Eligible Employee’s Employment Agreement or other agreement with the Company, in each case applicable to such Eligible Employee for the calendar year in which the Covered Termination of such Eligible Employee occurs.  If no cash bonus plan or policy or such an agreement is in effect for the employee for the year in which the Covered Termination occurs, the Target Bonus for such employee will be $0.

 

(z)                                  “Termination Date” means the effective date of an Eligible Employee’s Covered Termination.

 

Section 2.                                          ELIGIBILITY FOR BENEFITS.

 

(a)                                 Eligible Employee.  An employee of the Company is eligible to participate in the Plan if (i) the employee is a Senior Vice President or higher level officer; (ii) the Board has designated such employee as eligible to participate in the Plan and notified such employee in writing of the employee’s eligibility to participate; (iii) such employee’s employment with the Company terminates due to a Covered Termination; and (iv) such employee meets the other Plan eligibility requirements set forth in this Section 2 and the Plan.  The determination of whether an employee is an Eligible Employee shall be made by the Plan Administrator, in its sole discretion, and such determination shall be binding and conclusive on all persons.

 

(b)                                 Release Requirement.  In order to be eligible to receive benefits under the Plan, the employee also must execute a separation agreement and release containing, among other provisions, a general release of claims in favor of the Company and related persons and entities, confidentiality, return of property and non-disparagement, in a form and manner determined by the Company(the “Release”), and the Release must become effective within the applicable time period set forth therein, but in no event more than sixty (60) days following the Termination Date of the applicable Covered Termination.  The 

 

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Release may be incorporated into a termination agreement or other agreement with the Eligible Employee.

 

(c)                                  No Duplicative Benefits Provided Under Plan.  This Plan does not supersede the terms of any Individual Severance Arrangement or Equity Award in effect as of the Effective Date.  Unless otherwise determined by the Plan Administrator in its discretion, if an employee is an Eligible Employee and otherwise eligible to receive severance benefits under this Plan that are of the same category and would otherwise duplicate the benefits available under the terms of any Individual Severance Arrangement (“Duplicative Benefits”) such Eligible Employee will receive severance benefits under the Individual Severance Arrangement in lieu of any Plan benefits to the extent such benefits are Duplicative Benefits, and severance benefits will be provided under the Plan only to the extent, if any, that Plan benefits are not Duplicative Benefits.

 

(d)                                 Exceptions to Benefit Entitlement.  An employee who otherwise is an Eligible Employee will not receive benefits under the Plan in the following circumstances, as determined by the Plan Administrator in its sole discretion:

 

(1)                                 The employee is terminated by the Company for any reason (including due to the employee’s death or disability) or voluntarily terminates employment with the Company in any manner, and in either case, such termination does not constitute a Covered Termination.  Voluntary terminations include, but are not limited to, resignation, retirement or failure to return from a leave of absence on the scheduled date.

 

(2)                                 The employee voluntarily terminates employment with the Company in order to accept employment with another entity that is wholly or partly owned (directly or indirectly) by the Company or an Affiliate.

 

(3)                                 The employee is offered an identical or substantially equivalent or comparable position with the Company or an Affiliate.  For purposes of the foregoing, a “substantially equivalent or comparable position” is one that provides the employee substantially the same level of responsibility and compensation.

 

(4)                                 The employee is offered immediate reemployment by a successor to the Company or an Affiliate or by a purchaser of the Company’s assets, as the case may be, following a Change in Control  in a “substantially equivalent or comparable position” as defined in Section 2(d)(3).  For purposes of the foregoing, “immediate reemployment” means that the employee’s employment with the successor to the Company or an Affiliate or the purchaser of its assets, as the case may be, results in uninterrupted employment such that the employee does not incur a lapse in pay or benefits as a result of the change in ownership of the Company or the sale of its assets.  For the avoidance of doubt, an employee who becomes immediately reemployed as described in this Section 2(d)(4) by a successor to the Company or an Affiliate or by a purchaser of the Company’s assets, as the case may be, following a Change in Control shall continue to be an Eligible Employee following the date of such reemployment.

 

(5)                                 The employee is rehired by the Company or an Affiliate and recommences employment prior to the date benefits under the Plan are scheduled to commence.

 

Section 3.                                          AMOUNT OF BENEFIT.

 

(a)                                 Severance Benefit.  Benefits under the Plan shall be provided to an Eligible Employee as follows, subject to any delay in payment that may be required by Section 5:

 

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(1)                                 Base Compensation.  The Eligible Employee will be entitled to receive an amount equal to the Eligible Employee’s Annual Base Salary (disregarding for this purpose, any reduction of the Eligible Employee’s Base Salary that results in a termination for Good Reason) for the Severance Period payable in substantially equal installments in accordance with the Company’s regular payroll practice over such period, commencing within 60 days after the Termination Date; provided, however, that if the 60-day period begins in one calendar year and ends in a second calendar year, such payments shall begin to be paid in the second calendar year and the initial payment shall include a catch-up payment to cover amounts retroactive to the day immediately following the Termination Date.

 

(2)                                 Pro-Rated Target Bonus. An amount equal to the Eligible Employee’s Target Bonus, pro-rated based on the number of days actually served in the calendar year during which the Termination Date occurs will be payable to the Eligible Employee within 60 days after the Termination Date; provided, however, that if the 60-day period begins in one calendar year and ends in a second calendar year, such payment shall be made in the second calendar year.

 

(3)                                 Accelerated Vesting of Stock Awards.

 

(1)                                 If, in connection with a Change in Control, (x) an Equity Award is assumed or continued by the successor or acquiror entity in such Change in Control or such Equity Award is substituted for a similar award of the successor or acquiror entity, and (y) an Eligible Employee experiences a Covered Termination during the Covered Period, then effective as of the effective date of the Release, to the extent not previously vested: (A) the vesting and exercisability of all outstanding stock options to purchase the Company’s common stock that are subject to time-based vesting restrictions that are held by the Eligible Employee on such date shall be accelerated in full, (B) any reacquisition or repurchase rights held by the Company in respect of common stock issued pursuant to any other stock award granted to the Eligible Employee by the Company that lapse based on the Eligible Employee’s continued performance of services shall lapse in full, and (C) the vesting of any other Equity Awards that are subject to time-based vesting restrictions granted to the Eligible Employee by the Company, and any issuance of shares triggered by the vesting of such stock awards, shall be accelerated in full; provided, however, that the foregoing provisions shall not apply to stock awards issued under or held in any Qualified Plan.  For purposes any Equity Awards that are subject to performance-based vesting shall only vest, if at all, in accordance with the terms of the applicable Plan and award agreement with respect thereto.

 

(2)                                 If, in connection with a Change in Control, an Equity Award that is subject to time-based vesting shall terminate and will not be so assumed or continued by the successor or acquiror entity in such Change in Control or substituted for a similar award of the successor or acquiror entity, then, each Eligible Employee will receive the benefit described in Section 3(a)(3)(1), above, effective as of immediately prior to the Closing with respect to each such Equity Award.

 

(3)                                 In order to give effect to the intent of the foregoing provision, notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in the Eligible Employee’s stock option and other stock award agreements or the applicable equity incentive plan under which such Equity Award was granted that provides that any then unvested portion of the stock option or other stock award will immediately expire upon the Eligible Employee’s termination of service, the stock options and stock awards referred to in this Section 3(a)(3) shall remain outstanding after an Eligible Employee’s Covered Termination to the extent necessary to give effect to the potential vesting acceleration in this Section 3(a)(3) (e.g., if an Eligible Employee’s Covered Termination occurs prior to the Closing), provided that no further vesting of any such Equity Awards shall occur during such period.

 

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(4)                                 Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, the Eligible Employee’s Equity Awards shall remain subject to the terms of the applicable Company plan and award documents under which such stock option and other stock award was granted, including any provision for earlier termination of such stock awards upon a “corporate transaction,” “change in control” or similar event under the terms of the applicable Company equity incentive plan or substantially equivalent provisions applicable to such stock option or stock award.  In the event that the terms and conditions of an Individual Severance Arrangement or Equity Awards would provide more favorable benefits with respect to the accelerated vesting of Equity Awards in connection with a Change in Control and/or a Covered Termination than the terms and conditions of this Plan, then the Eligible Employee shall remain eligible to receive such benefits under such Individual Severance Arrangement or Equity Award, and not the applicable terms of this Plan.

 

(4)                                 Payment of Continued Group Health Plan Benefits.

 

(i)                                    Provided that the Eligible Employee is a participant in the Company’s group health plans as of immediately prior to the Covered Termination, if the Eligible Employee timely elects continued group health plan continuation coverage under COBRA with respect to such group health plans, the Company shall directly pay to the Company’s group health care provider an amount equal to the COBRA premiums, less the amount the Eligible Employee would have had to pay to receive group health coverage for the Eligible Employee and the Eligible Employee’s covered dependents based on the cost sharing levels in effect on the Eligible Employee’s Termination Date (which for the avoidance of doubt the Eligible Employee shall be required to pay directly to the Company’s group health care provider together with any administrative or additional costs due with respect to such COBRA coverage), for the Eligible Employee and the Eligible Employee’s covered dependents under such plans during the period commencing on the Termination Date and ending upon the last day of the Severance Period following the Covered Termination (the “COBRA Payment Period”).  Upon the conclusion of such period of insurance premium payments made by the Company, the Eligible Employee will be responsible for the entire payment of premiums (or payment for the cost of coverage) required under COBRA for the duration of the Eligible Employee’s eligible COBRA coverage period.  For purposes of this Section, (A) references to COBRA shall be deemed to refer also to analogous provisions of state law and (B) any applicable insurance premiums that are paid by the Company shall not include any amounts payable by the Eligible Employee under an Internal Revenue Code Section 125 health care reimbursement plan, which amounts, if any, are the Eligible Employee’s sole responsibility.

 

(ii)                                Notwithstanding the foregoing, if at any time the Company determines, in its sole discretion, that it cannot provide the COBRA premium benefits without potentially incurring financial costs or penalties under applicable law (including, without limitation, Section 2716 of the Public Health Service Act), then in lieu of paying COBRA premiums on the Eligible Employee’s behalf, the Company will instead pay the Eligible Employee on the last day of each remaining month of the COBRA Payment Period a fully taxable cash payment equal to the COBRA premium for that month, subject to applicable tax withholding (such amount, the “Special Severance Payment”), such Special Severance Payment to be made without regard to the Eligible Employee’s election of COBRA coverage or payment of COBRA premiums and without regard to the Eligible Employee’s continued eligibility for COBRA coverage during the COBRA Payment Period.  Such Special Severance Payment shall end upon expiration of the COBRA Payment Period.

 

(b)                                 Additional Benefits.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may, in its sole discretion, provide benefits to employees who are not Eligible Employees (“Non-Eligible Employees”) chosen by the Board, in its sole discretion, and the provision of any such benefits to a Non-Eligible Employee shall in no way obligate the Company to provide such benefits to any other Non-Eligible Employee, even if similarly situated.  If benefits under the Plan are provided to a Non-Eligible 

 

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Employee, references in the Plan to “Eligible Employee” (and similar references) shall be deemed to refer to such Non-Eligible Employee.

 

(c)                                  Certain Reductions.  The Company, in its sole discretion, shall have the authority to reduce an Eligible Employee’s severance benefits, in whole or in part, by pay and benefits provided during a period following written notice of a plant closing or mass layoff, pay and benefits in lieu of such notice, or other similar benefits payable to the Eligible Employee by the Company or an Affiliate that become payable in connection with the Eligible Employee’s termination of employment pursuant to (i) any applicable legal requirement, including, without limitation, the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act or any other similar state law, (ii) any Company policy or practice providing for the Eligible Employee to remain on the payroll for a limited period of time after being given notice of the termination of the Eligible Employee’s employment, or (iii) any other severance benefit agreement or arrangement between the Company and the Eligible Employee, and the Plan Administrator shall so construe and implement the terms of the Plan, in each case to the extent compliant with Section 409A of the Code.  Any such reductions that the Company determines to make pursuant to this Section 3(c) shall be made such that any benefit under the Plan shall be reduced solely by any similar type of benefit under such legal requirement, agreement, policy or practice (i.e., any cash severance benefits under the Plan shall be reduced solely by any cash payments or severance benefits under such legal requirement, agreement, policy or practice, and any continued insurance benefits under the Plan shall be reduced solely by any continued insurance benefits under such legal requirement, agreement, policy or practice).  The Company’s decision to apply such reductions to the severance benefits of one Eligible Employee and the amount of such reductions shall in no way obligate the Company to apply the same reductions in the same amounts to the severance benefits of any other Eligible Employee, even if similarly situated.  In the Company’s sole discretion, such reductions may be applied on a retroactive basis, with severance benefits previously paid being re-characterized as payments pursuant to the Company’s statutory obligation.

 

(d)                                 Parachute Payments.  The following provisions shall not supersede any provisions to the contrary provided under any Individual Severance Arrangement, if applicable:

 

(1)                                 Any provision of the Plan to the contrary notwithstanding, if any payment or benefit an Eligible Employee would receive from the Company pursuant to the Plan or otherwise (“Payment”) would (i) constitute a “parachute payment” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code, and (ii) but for this sentence, be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code (the “Excise Tax”), then such Payment will be equal to the Reduced Amount (defined below).  The “Reduced Amount” shall be either (x) the largest portion of the Payment that would result in no portion of the Payment being subject to the Excise Tax or (y) the largest portion, up to and including the total, of the Payment, whichever amount, 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 the Eligible Employee’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 payments or benefits constituting “parachute payments” is necessary so that the Payment equals the Reduced Amount, reduction shall occur in the manner that results in the greatest economic benefit for the Eligible Employee.  If more than one method of reduction will result in the same economic benefit, the items so reduced will be reduced pro rata.

 

(2)                                 In the event it is subsequently determined by the Internal Revenue Service that some portion of the Reduced Amount as determined pursuant to clause (x) in the preceding paragraph is subject to the Excise Tax, the Eligible Employee agrees to promptly return to the Company a sufficient amount of the Payment so that no portion of the Reduced Amount is subject to the Excise Tax.  For the avoidance of doubt, if the Reduced Amount is determined pursuant to clause (y) in the preceding

 

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paragraph, the Eligible Employee will have no obligation to return any portion of the Payment pursuant to the preceding sentence.

 

(3)                                 Unless the Eligible Employee and the Company agree on an alternative accounting firm or law firm, the accounting firm engaged by the Company for general tax compliance purposes as of the day prior to the effective date of the Change in Control shall perform the foregoing calculations.  If the accounting firm so engaged by the Company is serving as accountant or auditor for the individual, entity or group effecting the Change in Control, the Company shall appoint a nationally recognized accounting or law firm to make the determinations required hereunder.  The Company shall bear all expenses with respect to the determinations by such accounting or law firm required to be made hereunder.

 

Section 4.                                          RETURN OF COMPANY PROPERTY.

 

An Eligible Employee will not be entitled to any severance benefit under the Plan unless and until the Eligible Employee returns all Company Property.  For this purpose, “Company Property” means all Company documents (and all copies thereof) and other Company property which the Eligible Employee had in his or her possession at any time, including, but not limited to, Company files, notes, drawings, records, plans, forecasts, reports, studies, analyses, proposals, agreements, financial information, research and development information, sales and marketing information, operational and personnel information, specifications, code, software, databases, computer-recorded information, tangible property and equipment (including, but not limited to, computers, facsimile machines, mobile telephones, servers), credit cards, entry cards, identification badges and keys; and any materials of any kind which contain or embody any proprietary or confidential information of the Company (and all reproductions thereof in whole or in part).

 

Section 5.                                          TAX WITHHOLDING; OFFSET; SECTION 409A.

 

All payments under the Plan will be subject to applicable withholding for federal, state and local taxes.  If an Eligible Employee is indebted to the Company on his or her termination date, the Company reserves the right to offset any severance payments under the Plan by the amount of such indebtedness.  All severance benefits provided under the Plan are intended to satisfy the requirements for an exemption from application of Section 409A of the Code to the maximum extent that an exemption is available and any ambiguities herein shall be interpreted accordingly.

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, any payments and benefits provided under the Plan that constitute “deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code and the regulations and other guidance thereunder and any state law of similar effect (collectively “Section 409A”) shall not commence in connection with an Eligible Employee’s termination of employment unless and until the Eligible Employee has also incurred a “separation from service,” as such term is defined in Treasury Regulations Section 1.409A-1(h) (“Separation from Service”), unless the Company reasonably determines that such amounts may be provided to the Eligible Employee without causing the Eligible Employee to incur the adverse personal tax consequences under Section 409A.

 

It is intended that (i) each installment of any benefits payable under the Plan to an Eligible Employee be regarded as a separate “payment” for purposes of Treasury Regulations Section 1.409A-2(b)(2)(i), (ii) all payments of any such benefits under the Plan satisfy, to the greatest extent possible, the exemptions from the application of Section 409A provided under Treasury Regulations Sections 1.409A-1(b)(4) and 1.409A-1(b)(9)(iii), and (iii) any such benefits consisting of COBRA premiums also satisfy, to the greatest extent possible, the exemption from the application of Section 409A 

 

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provided under Treasury Regulations Section 1.409A-1(b)(9)(v).  However, if the Company determines that any such benefits payable under the Plan constitute “deferred compensation” under Section 409A and the Eligible Employee is a “specified employee” of the Company, as such term is defined in Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i), then, solely to the extent necessary to avoid the imposition of the adverse personal tax consequences under Section 409A, (A) the timing of such benefit payments shall be delayed until the earlier of (1) the date that is six (6) months and one (1) day after the Eligible Employee’s Separation from Service and (2) the date of the Eligible Employee’s death (such applicable date, the “Delayed Initial Payment Date”), and (B) the Company shall (1) pay the Eligible Employee a lump sum amount equal to the sum of the benefit payments that the Eligible Employee would otherwise have received through the Delayed Initial Payment Date if the commencement of the payment of the benefits had not been delayed pursuant to this paragraph and (2) commence paying the balance, if any, of the benefits in accordance with the applicable payment schedule.

 

In no event shall payment of any benefits under the Plan be made prior to an Eligible Employee’s Termination Date or prior to the effective date of the Release.  If the Company determines that any payments or benefits provided under the Plan constitute “deferred compensation” under Section 409A, and the Eligible Employee’s Separation from Service occurs at a time during the calendar year when the Release could become effective in the calendar year following the calendar year in which the Eligible Employee’s Separation from Service occurs, then regardless of when the Release is returned to the Company and becomes effective, the Release will not be deemed effective any earlier than the latest permitted effective date.

 

Section 6.                                          REEMPLOYMENT.

 

In the event of an Eligible Employee’s reemployment by the Company during the period of time in respect of which severance benefits pursuant to the Plan have been paid, the Company, in its sole and absolute discretion, may require such Eligible Employee to repay to the Company all or a portion of such severance benefits as a condition of reemployment.

 

Section 7.                                          TRANSFER AND ASSIGNMENT.

 

The rights and obligations of an Eligible Employee under this Plan may not be transferred or assigned without the prior written consent of the Company.  The Plan shall be binding upon any entity or person who is a successor by merger, acquisition, consolidation or otherwise to the business formerly carried on by the Company without regard to whether or not such entity or person actively assumes the obligations hereunder and without regard to whether or not a Change in Control occurs.

 

Section 8.                                          RIGHT TO INTERPRET AND ADMINISTER PLAN; AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION.

 

(a)                                 Interpretation and Administration.  Prior to the Closing, the Board shall be the Plan Administrator and shall have the exclusive discretion and authority to establish rules, forms, and procedures for the administration of the Plan and to construe and interpret the Plan and to decide any and all questions of fact, interpretation, definition, computation or administration arising in connection with the operation of the Plan, including, but not limited to, the eligibility to participate in the Plan and amount of benefits paid under the Plan.  The rules, interpretations, computations and other actions of the Board shall be binding and conclusive on all persons.  Upon and after the Closing, the Plan will be interpreted and administered in good faith by the Representative who shall be the Plan Administrator during such period.  All actions taken by the Representative in interpreting the terms of the Plan and administering the Plan upon and after the Closing will be final and binding on all Eligible Employees.  Any references in this Plan to the “Board” or “Plan Administrator” with respect to periods following the Closing shall mean the Representative.

 

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(b)                                 Amendment.  The Plan Administrator reserves the right to amend this Plan at any time in its discretion; provided, however, that any amendment of the Plan that would adversely affect a particular employee will not be effective as to such employee without his or her written consent if at the time of such amendment such employee previously has been terminated in a Covered Termination.

 

(c)                                  Termination.  The Plan will automatically terminate following satisfaction of all the Company’s obligations under the Plan.  The Plan may be earlier terminated at any time at the discretion of the Plan Administrator, provided, however, that no such discretionary termination by the Plan Administrator may be implemented with respect to any employee without his or her written consent if at such time the employee previously has been terminated in a Covered Termination.

 

Section 9.                                          NO IMPLIED EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT.

 

The Plan shall not be deemed (i) to give any employee or other person any right to be retained in the employ of the Company or (ii) to interfere with the right of the Company to discharge any employee or other person at any time, with or without cause, which right is hereby reserved.

 

Section 10.                                   LEGAL CONSTRUCTION.

 

This Plan is intended to be governed by and shall be construed in accordance with the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”) and, to the extent not preempted by ERISA, the laws of the State of Delaware.

 

Section 11.                                   CLAIMS, INQUIRIES AND APPEALS.

 

(a)                                 Applications for Benefits and Inquiries.  Any application for benefits, inquiries about the Plan or inquiries about present or future rights under the Plan must be submitted to the Plan Administrator in writing by an applicant (or his or her authorized representative).  The Plan Administrator is:

 

SendGrid, Inc.

Board of Directors

1801 California Street, Suite 500

Denver, CO 80202

 

(b)                                 Denial of Claims.  In the event that any application for benefits is denied in whole or in part, the Plan Administrator must provide the applicant with written or electronic notice of the denial of the application, and of the applicant’s right to review the denial.  Any electronic notice will comply with the regulations of the U.S. Department of Labor.  The notice of denial will be set forth in a manner designed to be understood by the applicant and will include the following:

 

(1)                                 the specific reason or reasons for the denial;

 

(2)                                 references to the specific Plan provisions upon which the denial is based;

 

(3)                                 a description of any additional information or material that the Plan Administrator needs to complete the review and an explanation of why such information or material is necessary; and

 

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(4)                                 an explanation of the Plan’s review procedures and the time limits applicable to such procedures, including a statement of the applicant’s right to bring a civil action under Section 502(a) of ERISA following a denial on review of the claim, as described in Section 11(d) below.

 

This notice of denial will be given to the applicant within ninety (90) days after the Plan Administrator receives the application, unless special circumstances require an extension of time, in which case, the Plan Administrator has up to an additional ninety (90) days for processing the application.  If an extension of time for processing is required, written notice of the extension will be furnished to the applicant before the end of the initial ninety (90) day period.

 

This notice of extension will describe the special circumstances necessitating the additional time and the date by which the Plan Administrator is to render its decision on the application.

 

(c)                                  Request for a Review.  Any person (or that person’s authorized representative) for whom an application for benefits is denied, in whole or in part, may appeal the denial by submitting a request for a review to the Plan Administrator within sixty (60) days after the application is denied.  A request for a review shall be in writing and shall be addressed to:

 

SendGrid, Inc.

Board of Directors

1801 California Street, Suite 500

Denver, CO 80202

 

A request for review must set forth all of the grounds on which it is based, all facts in support of the request and any other matters that the applicant feels are pertinent.  The applicant (or his or her representative) shall have the opportunity to submit (or the Plan Administrator may require the applicant to submit) written comments, documents, records, and other information relating to his or her claim.  The applicant (or his or her representative) shall be provided, upon request and free of charge, reasonable access to, and copies of, all documents, records and other information relevant to his or her claim.  The review shall take into account all comments, documents, records and other information submitted by the applicant (or his or her representative) relating to the claim, without regard to whether such information was submitted or considered in the initial benefit determination.

 

(d)                                 Decision on Review.  The Plan Administrator will act on each request for review within sixty (60) days after receipt of the request, unless special circumstances require an extension of time (not to exceed an additional sixty (60) days), for processing the request for a review.  If an extension for review is required, written notice of the extension will be furnished to the applicant within the initial sixty (60) day period.  This notice of extension will describe the special circumstances necessitating the additional time and the date by which the Plan Administrator is to render its decision on the review.  The Plan Administrator will give prompt, written or electronic notice of its decision to the applicant. Any electronic notice will comply with the regulations of the U.S. Department of Labor.  In the event that the Plan Administrator confirms the denial of the application for benefits in whole or in part, the notice will set forth, in a manner calculated to be understood by the applicant, the following:

 

(1)                                 the specific reason or reasons for the denial;

 

(2)                                 references to the specific Plan provisions upon which the denial is based;

 

(3)                                 a statement that the applicant is entitled to receive, upon request and free of charge, reasonable access to, and copies of, all documents, records and other information relevant to his or her claim; and

 

11

 

(4)                                 a statement of the applicant’s right to bring a civil action under Section 502(a) of ERISA.

 

(e)                                  Rules and Procedures.  The Plan Administrator will establish rules and procedures, consistent with the Plan and with ERISA, as necessary and appropriate in carrying out its responsibilities in reviewing benefit claims.  The Plan Administrator may require an applicant who wishes to submit additional information in connection with an appeal from the denial of benefits to do so at the applicant’s own expense.

 

(f)                                   Exhaustion of Remedies.  No legal action for benefits under the Plan may be brought until the applicant (i) has submitted a written application for benefits in accordance with the procedures described by Section 11(a) above, (ii) has been notified by the Plan Administrator that the application is denied, (iii) has filed a written request for a review of the application in accordance with the appeal procedure described in Section 11(c) above, and (iv) has been notified that the Plan Administrator has denied the appeal.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Plan Administrator does not respond to an Eligible Employee’s claim or appeal within the relevant time limits specified in this Section 11, the Eligible Employee may bring legal action for benefits under the Plan pursuant to Section 502(a) of ERISA.

 

Section 12.                                   BASIS OF PAYMENTS TO AND FROM PLAN.

 

The Plan shall be unfunded, and all cash payments under the Plan shall be paid only from the general assets of the Company.

 

Section 13.                                   OTHER PLAN INFORMATION.

 

(a)                                 Employer and Plan Identification Numbers.  The Employer Identification Number assigned to the Company (which is the “Plan Sponsor” as that term is used in ERISA) by the Internal Revenue Service is 27-0554600.  The Plan Number assigned to the Plan by the Plan Sponsor pursuant to the instructions of the Internal Revenue Service is 510.

 

(b)                                 Ending Date for Plan’s Fiscal Year.  The date of the end of the fiscal year for the purpose of maintaining the Plan’s records is December 31.

 

(c)                                  Agent for the Service of Legal Process.  The agent for the service of legal process with respect to the Plan is:

 

SendGrid, Inc.

1801 California Street, Suite 500

Denver, CO 80202

 

In addition, service of legal process may be made upon the Plan Administrator.

 

(d)                                 Plan Sponsor.  The “Plan Sponsor” is:

 

SendGrid, Inc.

1801 California Street, Suite 500

Denver, CO 80202

(888) 985-7363

 

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(e)                                  Plan Administrator.  The Plan Administrator is the Board prior to the Closing and the Representative upon and following the Closing.  The Plan Administrator’s contact information is:

 

SendGrid, Inc.

Board of Directors or Representative

1801 California Street, Suite 500

Denver, CO 80202

(888) 985-7363

 

The Plan Administrator is the named fiduciary charged with the responsibility for administering the Plan.

 

Section 14.                                   STATEMENT OF ERISA RIGHTS.

 

Eligible Employees in this Plan (which is a welfare benefit plan sponsored by SendGrid, Inc.) are entitled to certain rights and protections under ERISA.  If you are an Eligible Employee, you are considered a participant in the Plan and, under ERISA, you are entitled to:

 

(a)                                 Receive Information About Your Plan and Benefits

 

(1)                                 Examine, without charge, at the Plan Administrator’s office and at other specified locations, such as worksites, all documents governing the Plan and a copy of the latest annual report (Form 5500 Series), if applicable, filed by the Plan with the U.S. Department of Labor and available at the Public Disclosure Room of the Employee Benefits Security Administration;

 

(2)                                 Obtain, upon written request to the Plan Administrator, copies of documents governing the operation of the Plan and copies of the latest annual report (Form 5500 Series), if applicable, and an updated (as necessary) Summary Plan Description.  The Plan Administrator may make a reasonable charge for the copies; and

 

(3)                                 Receive a summary of the Plan’s annual financial report, if applicable.  The Plan Administrator is required by law to furnish each Eligible Employee with a copy of this summary annual report.

 

(b)                                 Prudent Actions by Plan Fiduciaries.  In addition to creating rights for Eligible Employees, ERISA imposes duties upon the people who are responsible for the operation of the employee benefit plan.  The people who operate the Plan, called “fiduciaries” of the Plan, have a duty to do so prudently and in the interest of you and other Eligible Employees and beneficiaries.  No one, including your employer, your union or any other person, may fire you or otherwise discriminate against you in any way to prevent you from obtaining a Plan benefit or exercising your rights under ERISA.

 

(c)                                  Enforce Your Rights.  If your claim for a Plan benefit is denied or ignored, in whole or in part, you have a right to know why this was done, to obtain copies of documents relating to the decision without charge, and to appeal any denial, all within certain time schedules.

 

Under ERISA, there are steps you can take to enforce the above rights.  For instance, if you request a copy of Plan documents or the latest annual report from the Plan, if applicable, and do not receive them within thirty (30) days, you may file suit in a Federal court.  In such a case, the court may require the Plan Administrator to provide the materials and pay you up to $110 a day until you receive the materials, unless the materials were not sent because of reasons beyond the control of the Plan Administrator.

 

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If you have a claim for benefits which is denied or ignored, in whole or in part, you may file suit in a state or Federal court.

 

If you are discriminated against for asserting your rights, you may seek assistance from the U.S. Department of Labor, or you may file suit in a Federal court.  The court will decide who should pay court costs and legal fees.  If you are successful, the court may order the person you have sued to pay these costs and fees.  If you lose, the court may order you to pay these costs and fees, for example, if it finds your claim is frivolous.

 

(d)                                 Assistance with Your Questions.  If you have any questions about the Plan, you should contact the Plan Administrator.  If you have any questions about this statement or about your rights under ERISA, or if you need assistance in obtaining documents from the Plan Administrator, you should contact the nearest office of the Employee Benefits Security Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, listed in your telephone directory or the Division of Technical Assistance and Inquiries, Employee Benefits Security Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue N.W., Washington, D.C. 20210.  You may also obtain certain publications about your rights and responsibilities under ERISA by calling the publications hotline of the Employee Benefits Security Administration.

 

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