Document:

Exhibit 10.5

 

Execution Version

 

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

 

This Employment Agreement (the “Agreement”), dated as of July 1, 2020 to be effective commencing on July 21, 2020 (the “Commencement Date”), is entered into by and between DoubleVerify Inc. (“Employer”) and Mark Zagorski, an individual (“Employee”, together with Employer, the “Parties”).

 

WHEREAS, Employer desires to employ Employee as the Chief Executive Officer of Employer, on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement; and

 

WHEREAS, Employee is willing to accept such employment on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual agreements set forth herein, Employer and Employee hereby agree as follows:

 

ARTICLE I

 

EMPLOYMENT, POSITION, DUTIES, RESPONSIBILITIES AND TERM

 

1.01                        Employment.  Employer agrees to, and does hereby, employ Employee, and Employee agrees to, and does hereby accept such employment, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement.

 

1.02                        Position Duties and Authority.  During the Term (as defined below), Employee shall serve as the Chief Executive Officer of Employer.  In such capacity, Employee shall have such responsibilities, duties and authority (collectively “functions”) as may, from time to time, be assigned by Employer’s Board of Directors (the “Board”); provided, such functions shall be commensurate with the integrity and status of Employee’s office and position with Employer.  Employee shall report directly to the Board.  During the Term, Employee shall serve Employer, faithfully and to the best of Employee’s ability, and shall devote substantially all of Employee’s business time, attention, skill and efforts to the business and affairs of Employer (including its subsidiaries and affiliates).  Notwithstanding the foregoing, during the Term, Employee may (i) engage in charitable, educational, religious, civic and other types of activities, and (ii) serve as a member of the board of directors of, or as an advisor (on a paid or unpaid basis) to, other companies as specified on Appendix A hereto (which list may be amended with the prior written consent of the Board) (such activities the “Permitted Activities”) and only to the extent that such Permitted Activities do not unreasonably

 

 

interfere with the performance of Employee’s duties hereunder or materially conflict with the business of Employer, its subsidiaries and affiliates.  Employee may serve as a member of the board of directors or similar governing body of another company or advise other companies subject to prior approval of the Board.  Employee shall be permitted to retain as Employee’s sole and exclusive property, any and all compensation, remuneration, proceeds, profits, assets or other consideration of any nature received or payable to Employee for or in connection with the Permitted Activities hereunder.  Employee’s principal base of operation for the performance of Employee’s duties under this Agreement shall be in New York; provided, however, that Employee shall temporarily travel in the course of performing such duties and responsibilities as shall from time to time be reasonably necessary to fulfill Employee’s obligations under this Agreement.

 

1.03                        Term of Employment.  Employee’s employment under this Agreement shall commence on the Commencement Date and shall continue until such employment is terminated pursuant to Article IV hereof (the “Term”).

 

1.04                        Board Position; Holdings Positions. In addition to the foregoing, for so long as Employee remains employed with Employer, (A) Employer shall take all reasonable actions of which it is capable to cause Employee to be nominated, elected or appointed, and serve as a member of Employer’s Board and (B) for so long as Employer is also a wholly-owned subsidiary of DoubleVerify Holdings, Inc. (“Holdings”), Employee shall also serve as Chief Executive Officer of Holdings and Holdings shall take all reasonable actions of which it is capable to cause Employee to be nominated, elected or appointed, and serve as a member of Holdings’ Board of Directors.

 

ARTICLE II

 

COMPENSATION, BENEFITS AND EXPENSES

 

2.01                        Compensation and Benefits.  For all services rendered by Employee in any capacity during the Term, including, without limitation, services as an officer, director or member of any committee of Employer, or any subsidiary, affiliate or division thereof, Employee shall be compensated as follows (subject, in each case, to the provisions of Article IV below):

 

(A)                               Base Salary and Bonus.  During the Term, Employer shall pay to Employee a base salary at the rate of $500,000 on an annualized basis (“Base Salary”).  Employee’s Base Salary shall be subject to periodic review and such periodic increases (but no decreases) as the Board shall deem appropriate in accordance with Employer’s procedures and practices in effect from time to time regarding the salaries of employees.

 

 

The term “Base Salary” as used in this Agreement shall refer to Base Salary as may be increased from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof.  Base Salary shall be payable in accordance with the customary payroll practices of Employer.  In addition, commencing in 2021, Employee shall be eligible for a target bonus in an amount equal to 100% of the Base Salary (“Bonus”) per annum determined and paid based upon the attainment by Employee of performance goals and objectives established by the Board.  Employee shall receive a bonus for 2020 that equals a pro rated amount of Employee’s full target Bonus  based on the number of days Employee is employed in 2020 (i.e., $224,658), which shall be payable only if Employee remains employed through December 31, 2020, and which shall be paid no later than March 15, 2021.

 

(B)                               Upfront Option Grant.

 

(i)                                     Effective as of the Commencement Date, Holdings will grant Employee an option (the “Upfront Option”) to purchase 6,500,000 shares of common stock of Holdings (the “Shares”) pursuant to the Pixel Group Holdings Inc. 2017 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) and an award agreement to be provided by Holdings (the “Option Award Agreement”).  The Plan and Option Award Agreement shall reflect the terms of the Upfront Options as set forth in this Agreement.  The Upfront Options shall be granted no later than thirty (30) days following the Commencement Date.  Half of the Upfront Option will be granted with an exercise price per Share equal to the Fair Market Value (as defined in the Plan) of a Share on the grant date (the “1X Portion”), and the remaining half of the Upfront Option will be granted with an exercise price per Share equal to two times the Fair Market Value of a Share on the grant date (the “2X Portion”).  Except following a termination by Employer for Cause or Employee’s breach of restrictive covenants, the Upfront Option shall have a one-year post-employment exercise period to the extent vested as of the date of termination (unless expressly provided otherwise).  The vested portion of the Upfront Option shall always consist of equal parts of the 1X Portion and the 2X Portion.

 

(ii)                                  Subject to Employee’s continued employment on the applicable vesting date (unless expressly provided otherwise below), 25% of the Upfront Option shall vest on the one-year anniversary of the Commencement Date and the remaining 75% of the Upfront Option shall vest in equal quarterly installments over the next 12 calendar quarters.

 

(iii)                               Upon the completion of an initial public offering of Holdings common stock (an “IPO”), the portion of the Upfront Option that would otherwise have vested between the date of the IPO and the twelve month anniversary of the date of the IPO will accelerate and fully vest on such date, subject to Employee’s continued employment through the date the IPO is consummated.  Any installment of the

 

 

Upfront Option that is not vested as of the date of an IPO will remain subject to its original vesting schedule forth in Section 2.01(B)(ii) as though the IPO had not occurred.

 

(iv)                              One hundred percent (100%) of the Upfront Option shall accelerate and fully vest in the event of the occurrence of a Change in Control as defined under the Plan, subject to Employee’s continued employment through the date the Change in Control is consummated.

 

(v)                                 In the event Employee’s employment with Employer is terminated by reason of Employee’s death, Disability, by Employer without Cause, or by Employee for Good Reason, the portion of the Upfront Option that would otherwise have vested between the date of termination and the twelve month anniversary of the date of termination will accelerate and fully vest on the date of termination.

 

(vi)                              In the event Employee’s employment with Employer is terminated by Employer for Cause or if the Employee breaches any of his restrictive covenants, 100% of the Upfront Option, whether vested or unvested, will immediately be forfeited.

 

(vii)                           In the event Employee’s employment with Employer is terminated by Employer for Cause or if the Employee breaches any of his restrictive covenants, Employer will be entitled to repurchase any Shares received upon exercise of the Upfront Option at an amount equal to the lower of (i) cost minus prior distributions and (ii) fair market value as of the date of the repurchase.

 

(C)                               Upfront Time RSU Grant.

 

(i)                                     Effective as of the Commencement Date, Holdings will grant Employee 500,000 time vesting restricted stock units (“Upfront Time RSUs”) pursuant to the Plan and an award agreement to be provided by Holdings (an “RSU Award Agreement”), with each Upfront Time RSU representing the right to receive one Share upon satisfaction of the vesting conditions set forth below.  The Upfront Time RSUs shall be granted no later than thirty (30) days following the Commencement Date.  The Upfront Time RSUs will vest solely based on continued service of Employee through the applicable vesting date.

 

(ii)                                  Subject to Employee’s continued employment on the applicable vesting date (unless expressly provided otherwise below), 25% of the Upfront Time RSUs shall vest on the one-year anniversary of the Commencement Date and the

 

 

remaining 75% of the Upfront Time RSUs shall vest in equal quarterly installments over the next 12 calendar quarters.

 

(iii)                               Upon the completion of an IPO, the portion of the Upfront Time RSUs that would otherwise have vested between the date of the IPO and the twelve month anniversary of the date of the IPO will accelerate and fully vest on such date, subject to Employee’s continued employment through the date the IPO is consummated.  Any installment of the Upfront Time RSU that is not vested as of the date of an IPO will remain subject to its original vesting schedule forth in Section 2.01(C)(ii) as though the IPO had not occurred.

 

(iv)                              One hundred percent (100%) of the Upfront Time RSUs shall accelerate and fully vest in the event of the occurrence of a Change in Control as defined under the Plan, subject to Employee’s continued employment through the date the Change in Control is consummated.

 

(v)                                 In the event Employee’s employment with Employer is terminated by reason of Employee’s death, Disability, by Employer without Cause, or by Employee for Good Reason, the portion of the Upfront Time RSUs that would otherwise have vested between the date of termination and the twelve month anniversary of the date of termination will accelerate and fully vest on the date of termination.

 

(vi)                              In the event Employee’s employment with Employer is terminated by Employer for Cause or if the Employee breaches any of his restrictive covenants, 100% of the Upfront Time RSUs and any Shares received in settlement thereof will immediately be forfeited and cancelled for no consideration.

 

(D)                               Upfront Performance RSUs.

 

(i)                                     Effective as of the Commencement Date, Holdings will grant Employee 500,000 performance vesting restricted stock units (“Upfront Performance RSUs”) pursuant to the Plan and an RSU Award Agreement, with each Upfront Performance RSU representing the right to receive one Share upon satisfaction of the vesting conditions set forth below.  The Upfront Performance RSUs shall be granted no later than thirty (30) days following the Commencement Date.

 

(ii)                                  The Upfront Performance RSUs will vest as follows:

 

 

(A)                               Prior to an IPO, the Upfront Performance RSUs will vest if the Fair Market Value (as defined in the Plan) of a Share is equal to at least two times the Fair Market Value of a Share as of the Commencement Date (the “Pricing Condition”).  The Holdings board expects to determine the Fair Market Value of the Shares prior to an IPO not less than twice per calendar year

 

(B)                               Following an IPO, the Upfront Performance RSUs will vest if the Pricing Condition is satisfied as of the close of trading on the principal exchange on which the Shares are then traded for 30 consecutive trading days.

 

Except as set forth in Section 2.01(D)(iii), Employee must remain employed through the date the performance goal set forth in the immediately preceding clauses (A) or (B) has been satisfied.  In all circumstance, if the performance goal set forth above has not been satisfied by the fourth anniversary of the Commencement Date, the Upfront Performance RSU shall be forfeited and cancelled for no consideration.

 

(iii)                               If the price per Share received by Holdings shareholders in a transaction constituting a Change in Control satisfies the Pricing Condition (as determined in good faith by the Holdings board), one hundred percent (100%) of the Upfront Performance RSUs shall accelerate and fully vest, subject to Employee’s continued employment through the date of the Change in Control.  If the Pricing Condition is not satisfied as of the consummation of a Change in Control, the Upfront Performance RSUs shall be forfeited and cancelled for no consideration.

 

(iv)                              In the event Employee’s employment with Employer is terminated by Employer for Cause or if the Employee breaches any of his restrictive covenants, 100% of the Upfront Performance RSUs and any Shares received in settlement thereof will immediately be forfeited and cancelled for no consideration.

 

(E)                                Sign-On Bonuses.

 

(i)                                     Cash.  Employer shall pay Employee a cash sign-on bonus equal to $125,000 (less all required withholdings) within 30 days after the Commencement Date (the “Sign-on Cash Bonus”).  If Employee is terminated for Cause or resigns without Good Reason prior to the six month anniversary of the Commencement Date, Employee shall be required to return the net, after-tax amount of the Sign-on Cash Bonus to Employer.

 

 

(ii)                                  RSUs.  Effective as of the Commencement Date, Holdings will grant Employee RSUs pursuant to the Plan and an RSU Award Agreement having a grant date value equal to $600,000 (the “Sign-on RSUs”) which will vest on the earlier of (i) one year anniversary of the Commencement Date, subject to Employee’s continued employment through such anniversary, (ii) the occurrence of a Change in Control as defined under the Plan, subject to Employee’s continued employment through the date the Change in Control is consummated, or (iii) termination of Employee’s employment with Employer by reason of Employee’s death, Disability, by Employer without Cause, or by Employee for Good Reason prior to the events described in the immediately preceding clauses (i) and (ii).  In the event Employee’s employment with Employer is terminated by Employer for Cause or if the Employee breaches any of his restrictive covenants, 100% of the Sign-on RSUs and any Shares received in settlement thereof will immediately be forfeited and cancelled for no consideration.

 

(F)                                 Annual Equity Awards.  Future grants of equity awards to Employee shall be subject to Holdings’ long-term stock incentive plan as in effect from time to time.  Commencing in the second year of the Term and annually thereafter until an initial public offering of Holdings, Holdings will grant annual Employee equity awards having a grant date fair value (as determined by the Holdings board or a duly constituted committee thereof in good faith) of not less than $1,000,000 (each, a “Pre-IPO Annual Grant”).  Employee’s initial Pre-IPO Annual Grant shall be made not later than December 31, 2021.  It is currently anticipated that sixty percent (60%) of each Pre-IPO Annual Grant will consist of Holdings restricted stock units and forty percent 40% of each Annual Grant will consist of Holdings stock options, in each case based on relative grant date fair value.  Each Pre-IPO Annual Grant will be subject to vesting conditions that are substantially similar to the vesting conditions applicable to the Upfront Option and Upfront Time RSU awards.  Following an initial public offering of Holdings, Employee’s annual equity awards shall be based upon performance and award guidelines established periodically by the Holdings board or a duly constituted committee thereof.

 

(G)                               Common Stock Investment.  Not later than January 21, 2021, Employee will invest not less than $125,000 in common stock of Holdings, and in connection with such investment Employee will become a party to the Stockholders Agreement of Holdings.  Promptly following an IPO, and subject to any restrictions imposed by applicable law or any policies of Holdings, Employee will make an additional investment in Holdings common stock of at least $125,000 through open market purchases.

 

(H)                              Benefits.  During the Term, Employee shall be entitled to participate in all of Employer’s employee benefit plans and programs, including medical coverage, as Employer generally maintains from time to time during the Term for the benefit of any of its employees, in each case subject to the eligibility requirements and

 

 

other terms and provisions of such plans or programs.  Employer may amend, modify or rescind any employee benefit plan or program and change employee contribution amounts to benefit costs without notice in its discretion, provided that (i) no such amendment shall apply in a retroactive manner and (ii) any such amendment must apply on the terms and conditions uniformly applicable to all employees of Employer.

 

2.02                        Expenses.  Employee shall be entitled to receive reimbursement from Employer for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by Employee during the Term in connection with the performance of Employee’s duties and obligations under this Agreement, according to Employer’s expense reimbursement policies in effect from time to time and provided that Employee shall submit documentation which Employer deems reasonable with respect to such expenses.

 

2.03                        Withholding and Deduction.  All payments to Employee pursuant to this Agreement are subject to applicable withholding and deduction requirements.

 

ARTICLE III

 

OTHER AGREEMENTS

 

3.01                        Confidentiality & IP Transfer Agreement.  Effective as of the Commencement Date, Employee shall execute the confidentiality and intellectual property transfer agreement attached hereto (the “Confidentiality & IP Agreement”).

 

ARTICLE IV

 

TERMINATION

 

4.01                        Events of Termination.  This Agreement and Employee’s employment hereunder shall terminate upon the occurrence of the earliest to occur of the following events:

 

(A)                               Expiration.  The fifth (5th) anniversary of the Commencement Date.

 

(B)                               Death.  In the event of Employee’s death, this Agreement and Employee’s employment hereunder shall automatically terminate effective as of the date and time of death.

 

 

(C)                               Termination by Employer for Cause.  Employer may, at its option, terminate this Agreement and Employee’s employment hereunder for Cause (as defined herein) upon giving notice of termination to Employee (following the expiration of the applicable cure period, if any) which notice specifies that Employer deems such termination to be for “Cause” hereunder and specifies in reasonable detail the grounds for such “Cause.” Employee’s employment shall terminate on the date on which such notice shall be given.  For purposes hereof, “Cause” shall mean Employee’s (i) conviction of, guilty plea to or confession of guilt of a felony, (ii) willful misconduct or gross negligence in the performance of services hereunder, willful act or omission constituting dishonesty, fraud or other malfeasance, whether occurring before or during employment with Employer, which in any such case is materially injurious (monetarily or otherwise) to the business, prospects, or operations of Employer or any controlled affiliate of Employer and which, if curable, remains uncured (to the reasonable satisfaction of the Board) for thirty (30) days after Employer provides written notice thereof to Employee, (iii) after a written warning and a 30-day opportunity to cure such violation, continued willful material violation by Employee of Employer’s written policies or procedures as uniformly applicable to all executive employees of Employer and as in effect from time to time, or (iv) after a written warning and a 30-day opportunity to cure such non-performance and breach, continued willful failure to perform Employee’s material duties hereunder or other material breach of this Agreement (including, without limitation, a breach of any of Employee’s obligations under Article V hereof); provided, however, that in the case of any act or omission described in clauses (ii), (iii) and/or (iv) above which is or are not capable of cure, Employer shall not be required to give such 30-day opportunity to cure same prior to any termination therefor; and provided further, however, that in the event that Employer shall have previously given such 30-day opportunity to cure a specific act of Employee described in clauses (ii), (iii) or (iv) above during the immediately preceding one (1) year, Employer shall not again be required to give such 30-day cure period for any second specific act which is the same act so committed by Employee as described in such clause (ii), (iii) or (iv), respectively.

 

(D)                               Without Cause by Employer.  Employer may, at its option, at any time terminate Employee’s employment for no reason or for any reason whatsoever (other than for Cause or due to death or Disability (as defined below)) upon written notice to the Employee.

 

(E)                                Termination by Employee.  Employee may terminate this Agreement and Employee’s employment hereunder at any time with or without Good Reason with notice to Employer.  However, if Employee terminates his employment without Good Reason, then he shall provide Employer with not less than sixty (60) days prior written notice, which period can be shortened at the sole discretion of Employer.  For purposes of this Agreement “Good Reason” shall mean, in the absence of a written consent of Employee:

 

 

(i)                                     any action by Employer which results in a material diminution in Employee’s title, position, authority or duties from those customarily provided or performed by Employee or typical of a Chief Executive Officer of a similarly situated company;

 

(ii)                                  any material failure by Employer to comply with or breach by Employer of any material provision of this Agreement, including the failure by Employer to grant the Upfront Option, the Upfront Time RSU, the Upfront Performance RSU or the Sign-on RSU on the terms and conditions set forth in Section 2.01(B) 2.01(C), 2.01(D) and 2.01(E), respectively;

 

(iii)                               any reduction in Employee’s Base Salary, eligibility for a Bonus or other amount owed to Employee hereunder;

 

(iv)                              a relocation of Employee’s workplace outside of New York, New York;

 

(v)                                 a change in reporting such that Employee no longer reports directly to the Board or reports to any officer, employee, director or other governing body of Employer at a lower level or with materially less authority, duties or responsibilities than the Board; or

 

(vi)                              Employee’s removal from the Board or failure to be appointed as a member of the Board except as a result of the termination of Employee’s employment by Employer for Cause.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, Employee shall not be entitled to terminate Employee’s employment with Employer for the occurrence of any Good Reason unless Employee (i) notifies the Employer of the occurrence of such Good Reason within ninety (90) days after its initial occurrence, (ii) provides Employer with thirty (30) days to cure the occurrence of such Good Reason event of which Employer is so notified, and (iii) elects to terminate Employee’s employment with Employer as a result of such Good Reason event within one (1) year after the occurrence thereof; provided, however, that in the event Employee shall have previously given such 30-day opportunity to cure any such occurrence or commission of an event of Good Reason during the immediately preceding one (1) year, Employee shall not again be required to give such 30-day cure period for any second such act constituting Good Reason committed by Employer.

 

 

(F)                                 Disability.  To the extent permitted by law, in the event of Employee’s medically determined physical or mental disability which makes it impossible for Employee to perform Employee’s material duties under this Agreement for a period of at least 90 consecutive days in any 12-month period or 120 non-consecutive days in any 12-month period, and which cannot be reasonably accommodated by Employer without undue hardship (“Disability”), Employer may terminate this Agreement and Employee’s employment hereunder upon at least 30 days’ prior written notice to Employee.

 

(G)                               Mutual Agreement.  This Agreement and Employee’s employment hereunder may be terminated at any time by the mutual written agreement of Employer and Employee.

 

4.02                        Employer’s Obligations Upon Termination.

 

(A)                               Expiration of Term; For Cause; Termination by Employee Other than For Good Reason; or Disability.  If (i) the Term expires as set forth in Section 4.01(A), or (ii) prior to the expiration of the Term, (a) Employer shall terminate this Agreement and Employee’s employment hereunder for Cause, (b) Employee shall terminate this Agreement and Employee’s employment hereunder other than for Good Reason, or (c) this Agreement and Employee’s employment hereunder shall terminate as a result of Employee’s Disability, in each case, Employer’s sole obligation to Employee under this Agreement shall be to (x) pay to Employee (or in the case of his Disability, to his legal representative) the amount of any Base Salary, but not yet paid to Employee, prior to the date of such termination, (y) reimburse Employee for any expenses incurred by Employee through the date of such termination (z) pay to Employee all accrued and unused vacation and accrued benefits through the date of such termination (such amounts described under sub-clauses (x) through (z) above being collectively herein referred to as the “Accrued Amounts”).  Notwithstanding the foregoing, in addition to the Accrued Amounts, upon termination of this Agreement and Employee’s employment hereunder solely as a result of Employee’s Disability, Employer shall additionally pay to Employee (or his legal representatives) that portion of Employee’s Bonus for the year in which such termination occurs as accrued by Employer through the date of such termination.

 

(B)                               Without Cause; Termination by Employee for Good Reason.  Upon the termination of this Agreement and Employee’s employment with Employer either (i) by Employer other than for Cause, as a result of Employee’s death or as a result of Employee’s Disability, or (ii) by Employee for Good Reason, in each case, Employer’s sole obligation to Employee under this Agreement shall be to pay or provide to Employee (a) all Accrued Amounts through and including the effective date of such termination, (b) continued payment of the Employee’s Base Salary for one (1) year following the

 

 

effective date of any such termination, payable on a semi monthly basis in accordance with the Employer’s normal payroll practices, subject to withholdings and deductions, (c) solely in the case of such a termination that is effective on or after the second anniversary of the Commencement Date, an amount equal to 50% of Employee’s target Bonus (based on the Base Salary in effect as of the date of termination), payable in equal installments for one (1) year following the effective date of any such termination on a semi monthly basis in accordance with the Employer’s normal payroll practices, subject to withholdings and deductions, and (d) continuation of Employee’s medical benefits through and including the date which is one (1) year from and after the effective date of any such termination of Employee’s employment contemplated hereunder; provided that if during this one (1) year period should Employee become employed as a consultant and/or employee for one or more entities and as a result be eligible to obtain comparable alternate medical benefits, then Employer shall cease continuation of Employee’s medical benefit and have no further liability for such payments and/or coverage.  The payments described in (b) and, if applicable, (c) shall commence or be paid on the sixtieth (60th) day following the date on which the termination occurs, with the first payment including any payments that would have been made had the sixty (60)-day delay provided herein not applied, subject to the Employee’s timely execution and non-revocation of the Release (as defined in Section 4.04).  For clarity, the expiration of the Term as set forth in Section 4.01(A) shall not constitute a termination by Employer other than for Cause or give Employee Good Reason to terminate his employment.

 

(C)                               Death.  If, during the Term, this Agreement and Employee’s employment hereunder shall terminate as a result of Employee’s death, Employer’s sole obligations to Employee’s estate under this Agreement shall be to pay or provide to Employee’s estate (a) the Accrued Amounts through the date of such termination and (b) that portion of Employee’s Bonus for the year in which such termination occurs as accrued by Employer through the date of such termination.

 

(D)                               Vested Benefits.  In addition to the payments and benefits set forth in this Section 4.02, amounts which are vested benefits or which Employee is otherwise entitled to receive under any plan, program, policy or practice (with the exception of those relating to severance, if any) on the date of termination, shall be payable in accordance with such plan, policy, practice or agreement.

 

4.03                        Survival; No Mitigation or Offset.  This Article IV and Article V and Article VI shall survive any expiration or termination of this Agreement.  All payments made or required to be made by Employer to Employee under this Article IV shall not be conditional upon or subject to either (i) any obligation of Employee to mitigate or expend any efforts to reduce or mitigate the amount of damages suffered by Employee or the amount of payments or obligations required to be made or performed by Employer under this Article IV or (ii) any reduction or right of offset for or in favor of Employer for or

 

 

with respect to any earnings profits, proceeds, compensation, benefits, or other amounts generated or received by Employee from or after the termination of Employee’s employment with Employer.

 

4.04                        Release.  Any payments to be made or benefits to be provided by Employer or any affiliate thereof (a) pursuant to this Article IV, (b) with respect to Employee’s equity awards in the event of a termination without Cause or resignation with Good Reason or (c) pursuant to any other provision hereof which requires receipt of a release from Employee, shall be subject to Employer’s receipt from Employee of an effective general release and agreement not to sue, in a written form reasonably satisfactory to both Employee (or his legal representative) and the Employer (the “Release”), pursuant to which (i) Employee makes certain customary representations and warranties, (ii) Employee agrees to be bound by certain confidentiality covenants, specified therein, and (iii) Employee agrees (a) to release all claims against the Employer and its respective subsidiaries, affiliates, and certain related parties, (b) not to maintain any action, suit, claim or proceeding against Employer or its respective subsidiaries, affiliates, and certain related parties, and (c) to be bound by certain non-disparagement covenants contained therein.  Notwithstanding the due date of any payment hereunder requiring a Release, Employer shall not be obligated to make any such payment until after the expiration of any revocation period available to Employee as applicable to the Release.

 

ARTICLE V

 

CONFIDENTIALITY, ASSIGNMENT OF INVENTIONS, NONCOMPETITION, NONSOLICITATION AND OTHER COVENANTS

 

5.01                        Confidentiality.  Employee shall observe all of his obligations under and shall comply with the terms and conditions of the Confidentiality & IP Agreement.  Employee’s breach of a covenant, representation or warranty in the Confidentiality & IP Agreement shall be a breach of this Section 5.01.

 

5.02                        Obligations to Other Persons/Representations & Warranties.  Employee hereby represents and warrants to Employer that (a) he has the legal capacity to execute and perform this Agreement; (b) this Agreement is a valid and binding obligation of the Employee enforceable against him in accordance with its terms; (c) his services hereunder will not conflict with, or result in a breach of, any agreement, understanding, order, judgment or other obligation to which he is presently a party or by which he is bound; (d) he is not subject to, or bound by, any covenant against competition, confidentiality obligation, intellectual property transfer obligation, or any other agreement, order, judgment or other obligation which would conflict with, restrict or limit the performance of the services he is to provide hereunder or restrict Employer in

 

 

any manner from engaging in its business, including without limitation, any element of the Business; (e) he does not have any non-disclosure or other obligations to any other individual or entity (including without limitation, any previous employer) concerning proprietary or confidential information that Employee learned of during any previous employment or associations which would conflict with, restrict or limit the performance of the services he is to provide hereunder; and (f) he does not have any non-competition agreements, non-solicitation agreements or other restrictive covenants with any previous employer or other Person (as defined below) which would conflict with, restrict or limit the performance of the services he is to provide hereunder.  Employee shall not disclose to Employer or induce Employer to use any secret or confidential information or material belonging to others, including, without limitation, Employee’s former employers and/or clients, if any.  Employee hereby acknowledges that, as of the date hereof, he is not aware of any actions, demands, causes of action or claims with respect to any matter, event or condition occurring or arising on or prior to the date hereof that may be brought by him or on his behalf against Employer, or against any of the officers, directors, shareholders, members, managers, direct or indirect equityholders, agents and/or employees of Employer nor against any of the respective heirs, successors, assigns and legal representatives of any of the foregoing.

 

5.03                        Certain Definitions.

 

“Associated With” a Person means to, directly or indirectly, own, manage, operate, join, finance, control, be employed by, receive remuneration from, participate in, consult with, or be connected in any manner with the ownership, management, financing, operation or control of or be connected as an officer, director, employee, partner, member, manager, trustee, principal, agent, representative, consultant, contractor, or otherwise, or use or expressly permit his name or any one or more of his or its tradenames to be used, in connection with such Person.  The foregoing shall not include the beneficial ownership solely as an unaffiliated, passive investor of less than five percent (5%) of any class of securities of any business, firm or entity having a class of equity securities actively traded on a national securities exchange, automated quotation system or over-the-counter market.

 

“Business” means (i) the verification and measurement of the quality of digital advertising, (ii) any substantially related business performed or marketed by Employer and in which Employee was materially involved during the period of Employee’s employment with Employer, and (iii) any material business that was a Planned New Business during the period of Employee’s employment with Employer.

 

“Client” means any Person who, during the six-month period immediately preceding the termination or cessation of Employee’s employment, had done business with Employer.

 

 

“Competing Business” means any Person who engages or is engaged in any element or elements of the Business.

 

“Person” means an individual, partnership, corporation, limited liability company, unincorporated organization or association, trust or joint venture or other entity, or a Governmental Authority (as defined in the next sentence).  “Governmental Authority” means any national, federal, state, provincial, county, municipal or local government, foreign or domestic, or the government of any political subdivision of any of the foregoing, or any entity, authority, agency, ministry or other similar body exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative authority or functions of or pertaining to government, including any court, authority or other quasi-governmental entity established to perform any of such functions.

 

“Planned New Business” during a specific time period, means any new line of business or new market which, during that time period, Employer was planning to enter (or any new product or service which, during that period, Employer was planning to market and/or sell); provided that for purposes of this definition, Employer shall have been “planning” something where (w) such planning involved discussion at the level of the board of directors or, for a limited liability company, the body performing the analogous function, (x) such planning was reduced to writing in a substantial form, such as a comprehensive business plan, by the board or such analogous body, (y) Employer committed material resources (human and either financial or technological) to the planning and implementation of the execution of that new business, and (z) such planning was known to Employee and with Employee being materially involved in its contemplation and implementation.

 

“Restricted Period” means the period commencing on the Commencement Date and ending at 11:59 p.m. New York time on the date that is twelve months after the effective date of any termination of Employee’s employment with Employer, regardless of whether such employment was then pursuant to or under this Agreement.

 

5.04                        Noncompetition; Nonsolicitation.  Employee acknowledges that in his capacity as Employer’s employee hereunder, he will create and have access to confidential information and to important business relationships.  Accordingly, Employee represents, warrants and covenants to Employer that, subject to the last sentence of this Section 5.04, he will not, directly or indirectly, (i) during the Restricted Period without the express prior written approval of the Board, be or become Associated With a Competing Business (other than severance-type or retirement-type benefits from entities constituting prior employers of Employee) or (ii) during the Restricted Period without the express prior written approval of the Board, (a) solicit, sell to or service, for the account of any Competing Business, or assist any Person in soliciting, selling to, or servicing, for the account of any Competing Business, any Client, (b) solicit, approach or induce any

 

 

Client to terminate or diminish its relationship with Employer or to explore, discuss, investigate or consider a business relationship with a Competing Business, (c) solicit, approach or induce any Person who is then (or was at any time in the six (6) months immediately prior to the termination or cessation of Employee’s employment) an employee of or consultant to Employer, to terminate or diminish his or her or its relationship with Employer or to be or become Associated With a Competing Business, or (d) otherwise interfere with the relationship between Employer and any of their respective Clients, employees, consultants, suppliers or service providers, or (e) take any steps to, or negotiate or enter into any oral or written agreement or understanding to, do any of the things referenced in (a), (b), (c), (d), or (e) of this Section 5.04.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, Employee shall not be deemed to have violated this Section 5.04 if he becomes Associated With a Competing Business but, during the entire Restricted Period, Employee refrains from (x) working in or for any business unit, subsidiary or division which engages or is engaged, directly or indirectly, in any element of the Business and (y) directly or indirectly engaging in any element of the Business other than for Employer as an employee thereof.

 

5.05                        Privacy.  Employee understands that Employer is or may be subject to certain privacy regulations and laws and that Employer has adopted policies concerning privacy and, from time to time, agrees with its clients and others with which it does business to undertake certain privacy obligations.  Employee shall comply with applicable laws regarding privacy, as in effect from time to time, and will comply with Employer’s privacy policies and procedures, as in effect from time to time, as well as any privacy obligations which Employer has undertaken and those which, in the future, Employer undertakes.

 

5.06                        Cooperation.  Employee shall reasonably cooperate both during and for a period of 12 months immediately after Employee’s employment with Employer, at Employer’s sole cost and expense (including Employee’s travel, room and board and Employee’s attorney fees if necessary and requested by Employer, subject to Employer’s policies and procedures for such expenses), with any investigation by Employer involving Employer or any employee or agent of Employer with respect to events that occurred during Employee’s tenure with Employer.  Should Employee be required to dedicate an aggregate of more than four (4) hours per week or sixteen (16) hours in total in providing any cooperative efforts or services hereunder, Employer shall compensate Employee for any such excess time expended based upon an hourly rate equal to the quotient of Employee’s Base Salary as in effect at the time of termination divided by 1800.

 

5.07                        Non-Disparagement.  Employee will not at any time make any statement, written or oral, to any person or entity, including in any forum or media, or take any action, in disparagement of Employer, Holdings, the Board, the Holdings board or any of

 

 

their respective current, former or future affiliates, or any current, former or future shareholders, partners, managers, members, officers, directors or employees of any of the foregoing (each, a “Company Party”), including negative references to or about any Company Party’s services, policies, practices, documents, methods of doing business, strategies, objectives, shareholders, partners, managers, members, officers, directors, or employees, or take any other action that may disparage any Company Party to the general public and/or any Company Party’s officers, directors, employees, clients, suppliers, investors, potential investors, business partners or potential business partners.

 

5.08                        Reasonable Restrictions/Damages Inadequate Remedy.  Employee acknowledges that the restrictions contained in this Article V are reasonable and necessary to protect the legitimate business interests of Employer and that any breach or threatened breach by Employee of any provision contained in this Article V will result in immediate irreparable injury to Employer for which a remedy at law would be inadequate.  Employee further acknowledges that the restrictions contained in this Article V will not prevent Employee from earning a livelihood during the Restricted Period.  Accordingly, Employee acknowledges that Employer shall be entitled to seek temporary, preliminary and permanent injunctive relief in any court of competent jurisdiction (without being obligated to post a bond or other collateral) in the event of any breach or threatened breach by Employee of the provisions of this Article V and to an equitable accounting of all earnings, profits and other benefits arising, directly or indirectly, from such breach, which rights shall be cumulative and in addition to (rather than instead of) any other rights or remedies to which Employer may be entitled at law or in equity.  Any remedy specified by any provision of this Agreement shall, unless expressly providing to the contrary, be a nonexclusive remedy for that provision and shall not preclude any and all other remedies at law or in equity from also being applicable.

 

5.09                        Separate Covenants.  The parties intend that the covenants and restrictions in this Article V be given the broadest interpretation permitted by law.  Accordingly, in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement should ever be adjudicated to exceed the time, geographic, product or service, or other limitations permitted by applicable law in any jurisdiction, then such provisions shall be deemed reformed in such jurisdiction to the maximum time, geographic, product or service, or other limitations permitted by applicable law.  If the covenants of Article V are determined to be wholly or partially unenforceable in any jurisdiction, such determination shall not be a bar to or in any way diminish Employer’s right to enforce such covenants in any other jurisdiction.  If, in any judicial or arbitration proceedings, a court of competent jurisdiction or arbitration panel should refuse to enforce all of the separate covenants and restrictions in this Article V, then such unenforceable covenants and restrictions shall be eliminated from the provisions of this Agreement for the purpose of such proceeding to the extent necessary to permit the remaining separate covenants and restrictions to be enforced in such proceeding.

 

 

ARTICLE VI

 

MISCELLANEOUS

 

6.01                        Benefit of Agreement and Assignment.  This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of Employer and its respective successors and assigns (including, without limitation, any purchaser of all or substantially all of the assets of either of the foregoing) and shall be binding upon Employer and its respective successors and assigns.  This Agreement shall also inure to the benefit of and be binding upon Employee and Employee’s heirs, administrators, executors and assigns.  Employee may not assign or delegate Employee’s duties under this Agreement without the prior written consent of Employer.  Employer may, upon written agreement executed by Employer and consented to by Employee (whose consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), assign and transfer this Agreement to another entity; provided, that any such permitted assignment shall not relieve Employer from any continuing responsibility or liability arising by reason of any violation, breach or default committed by any such permitted assignee hereunder.  Nothing in this Agreement shall preclude Employer from consolidating or merging into or with, or transferring all or substantially all of its assets to, or engaging in any other business combination with, any other Person provided (i) such Person expressly assumes this Agreement and all obligations and undertakings of Employer, as the case may be, hereunder and (ii) Employer shall continue to remain responsible and liable to Employee for or in connection with any violation, breach or default committed by any such Person hereunder.  Upon such a consolidation, merger, transfer of assets or other business combination and assumption, the terms “Employer” as used herein shall mean such other person or entity and this Agreement shall continue in full force and effect unless otherwise terminated pursuant to the terms hereof.

 

6.02                        Notices.  Any notice required or permitted hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given and received: (i) on the date delivered if personally delivered and signed confirmation is received, (ii) upon receipt by the receiving party of any notice sent by registered or certified mail (first-class mail, postage pre-paid, return receipt requested) or (iii) on the date delivered by nationally recognized overnight courier or similar courier service, in each case addressed to Employer or Employee, as the case may be, at the respective addresses indicated below or such other address as either party may in the future specify in writing to the other in accordance with this Section 6.02:

 

 

in the case of Employer to:

 

DoubleVerify Inc.

233 Spring Street

New York, New York 10013

Attn: General Counsel

 

and in the case of Employee to, to him at his most recent address as shown on the books and records of Employer.

 

6.03                        Entire Agreement.  This Agreement, including the schedules and exhibits hereto, contains the entire agreement of the parties hereto with respect to the terms and conditions of Employee’s employment during the Term and activities following termination of this Agreement and supersedes any and all prior agreements and understandings, whether written or oral, between the parties with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement.  This Agreement may not be changed or modified except by an instrument in writing, signed by both Employer and Employee.

 

6.04                        Section 280G.  If any payments by Employer to Employee contemplated hereunder, together with any other payments by Employer or its affiliates to Employee, are subject, in whole or in part, to the excise taxes (“Excise Taxes”) imposed by Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) and application of Section 280G of the Code can be avoided by a stockholder vote approving such payments pursuant to Section 280G(b)(5)(A) of the Code, and Employee elects to waive his rights to receive such payments and have such payments submitted for stockholder approval, then Employer and Employee shall use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain such stockholder vote to assure that the Excise Taxes and the provisions of Section 280G of the Code are not applicable with respect to such payments.

 

6.05                        Section 409A.  It is intended that (1) each installment of the payments provided under this Agreement is a separate “payment” for purposes of Section 409A of the Code and (2) that the payments satisfy, to the greatest extent possible, the exemptions from the application of Section 409A of the Code provided under Treasury Regulations 1.409A-1(b)(4), 1.409A-1(b)(9)(iii), and 1.409A-1(b)(9)(v).  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, if Employer determines (i) that on the date Employee’s employment with Employer terminates or at such other times that Employer determines to be relevant, the Employee is a “specified employee” (as such term is defined under Treasury Regulation 1.409A-1(i)) of Employer and (ii) that any payments to be provided to Employee pursuant to this Agreement are or may become subject to the additional tax under Section 409A(a)(1)(B) of the Code or any other taxes or penalties imposed under Section 409A of the Code if provided at the time otherwise required under this Agreement, then such payments shall be delayed until the date that is six months after the date of Employee’s “separation from service” (as such term is defined under Treasury

 

 

Regulation 1.409A-1(h)) with Employer, or, if earlier, the date of Employee’s death.  Any payments delayed pursuant to this Section 6.05 shall be made in lump sum on the first day of the seventh month following Employee’s “separation from service” (as such term is defined under Treasury Regulation 1.409A-1(h)), or, if earlier, the date of Employee’s death.  In addition, to the extent that any reimbursement, fringe benefit or other, similar plan or arrangement in which Employee participates during the term of Employee’s employment under this Agreement or thereafter provides for a “deferral of compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code, (i) the amount eligible for reimbursement or payment under such plan or arrangement in one calendar year may not affect the amount eligible for reimbursement or payment in any other calendar year (except that a plan providing medical or health benefits may impose a generally applicable limit on the amount that may be reimbursed or paid), and (ii) subject to any shorter time periods provided herein or the applicable plans or arrangements, any reimbursement or payment of an expense under such plan or arrangement must be made on or before the last day of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the expense was incurred.

 

6.06                        No Attachment.  Except as required by law, no right to receive payments under this Agreement shall be subject to anticipation, commutation, alienation, sale, assignment, encumbrance, charge, pledge, or hypothecation or to execution, attachment, levy, or similar process or assignment by operation of law, and any attempt, voluntary or involuntary, to effect any such action shall be null, void and of no effect; provided, however, that nothing in this Section 6.06 shall preclude the assumption of such rights by executors, administrators or other legal representatives of Employer or his estate and their assigning any rights hereunder to the person or persons entitled thereto.

 

6.07                        Source of Payment.  All payments provided for under this Agreement shall be paid in cash from the general funds of Employer.  Employer shall not be required to establish a special or separate fund or other segregation of assets to assure such payments, and, if Employer shall make any investments to aid it in meeting its obligations hereunder, Employee shall have no right, title or interest whatever in or to any such investments except as may otherwise be expressly provided in a separate written instrument relating to such investments.  Nothing contained in this Agreement, and no action taken pursuant to its provisions, shall create or be construed to create a trust of any kind, or a fiduciary relationship, between Employer and Employee or any other person.  To the extent that any person acquires a right to receive payments from Employer hereunder, such right, without prejudice to rights which employees may have, shall be no greater than the right of an unsecured creditor of Employer.

 

6.08                        No Waiver.  The waiver by other party of a breach of any provision of this Agreement shall not operate or be construed as a continuing waiver or as a consent to or waiver of any subsequent breach hereof.

 

 

6.09                        Headings.  The Article and Section headings in this Agreement are for the convenience of reference only and do not constitute a part of this Agreement and shall not be deemed to limit or affect any of the provisions hereof.

 

6.10                        Governing Law; Dispute Resolution.  This Agreement, and all matters arising directly or indirectly from this Agreement, shall be governed by, and construed and interpreted in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to the choice of law provisions thereof.  Any unresolved controversy or claim arising out of or relating to this Agreement, except (i) as otherwise provided in this Agreement or (ii) with respect to which a party seeks injunctive or other equitable relief, shall be submitted to arbitration by one arbitrator.  In connection with any arbitration conducted pursuant to this Agreement, an arbitrator will be selected in accordance with the rules of the American Arbitration Association (the “AAA”) then in effect.  The arbitration proceedings shall take place in New York City, in accordance with the rules of the AAA then in effect, and judgment upon any award rendered in such arbitration will be binding and may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof.  There shall be limited discovery prior to the arbitration hearing as follows: (a) exchange of witness lists and copies of documentary evidence and documents relating to or arising out of the issues to be arbitrated, (b) depositions of all party witnesses and (c) such other depositions as may be allowed by the arbitrators upon a showing of good cause.  Depositions shall be conducted in accordance with the New York Code of Civil Procedure.  The arbitrator shall be required to provide in writing to the parties the basis for the award or order of such arbitrator.  A court reporter shall record all hearings, with such record constituting the official transcript of such proceedings.  Each party will bear its own costs in respect of any disputes arising under this Agreement.  The arbitrator shall be directed to award the arbitrator’s compensation charges and the administrative fees of the AAA to the prevailing party.  The parties knowingly and voluntarily agree to this arbitration provision and acknowledge that arbitration shall be instead of any civil litigation, meaning that the parties each are waiving any rights to a jury trial.  Each of the parties to this Agreement consents to personal jurisdiction and venue for any equitable action sought in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York and any state court in the State of New York that is located in New York County (and in the appropriate appellate courts from any of the foregoing).

 

6.11                        Validity Severability.  In case any one or more of the provisions contained in this Agreement shall for any reason be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provision of this Agreement and such invalid, illegal and unenforceable provision shall be reformed and construed so that it will be valid, legal, and enforceable to the maximum extent permitted by law.

 

 

6.12                        Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original but all of which together will constitute one and the same instrument.

 

6.13                        Agreement to Take Actions.  Each party to this Agreement shall execute and deliver such documents, certificates, agreements and other instruments, and shall take all other actions, as may be reasonably necessary or desirable in order to perform his or its obligations under this Agreement.

 

6.14                        Counsel.  Employer has previously recommended that Employee engage counsel to assist him in reviewing this Agreement and all other matters relating to his employment arrangements hereunder.

 

[The remainder of this page is intentionally blank.

 

Signatures contained on the following page.]

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have duly executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

 

 

	
 
    	
EMPLOYER:
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
DoubleVerify Inc.
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/ R. Davis Noell
    
	
 
    	
Name: R. Davis Noell
    
	
 
    	
Title: Chairman
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
EMPLOYEE:
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
/s/ Mark Zagorski
    
	
 
    	
Mark Zagorski
    

 

 

Confidentiality and Intellectual Property Assignment Agreement

 

THIS AGREEMENT (“Agreement”) is entered into effective as of July 21, 2020, by Mark Zagorski, an individual (the “Employee”).

 

WHEREAS                                                      the Employee wishes to be employed by DoubleVerify Inc., a Delaware Corporation (the “Company”); and

 

WHEREAS                                                      the Company wishes to employ the Employee, subject to his/her executing of this Agreement in the Company’s favor.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, the Employee covenants and agrees towards the Company and any subsidiary and parent entity of the Company as follows:

 

1.                                      Confidential Information

 

1.1                               The Employee acknowledges that s/he will have access to confidential and proprietary information, including information concerning activities of the Company and any of its subsidiaries and affiliated companies, now or in the future (collectively, the “Group”), and that s/he will have access to technology regarding the product research and development, patents, copyrights, customers, suppliers (including customers and/or suppliers lists), marketing plans, strategies, forecasts, trade secrets, test results, formulas, processes, data, know-how, improvements, inventions, techniques and products (actual or planned) of the Group.  Such information in any form or media, whether documentary, written, oral or computer generated, shall be deemed to be and referred to herein as “Proprietary Information”.

 

1.2                               The Employee shall not disclose to any person or entity without the prior written consent of the Company any Proprietary Information, whether oral or in writing or in any other form, obtained by the Employee while in the employ of the Company (including, but not limited to, the processes and technologies utilized and to be utilized in the Group’s business, the methods and results of the Group’s research, technical or financial information, employment terms and conditions of the Employee and other Group’s employees or any other information or data relating to the

 

 

business of the Group or any information with respect to any of the Group’s customers, partners and suppliers).

 

1.3                               Proprietary Information shall be deemed to include any and all proprietary information disclosed by or on behalf of the Group irrespective of form, but excluding information that has become a part of the public domain not as a result of a breach of this Agreement by the Employee.

 

1.4                               The Employee agrees that all memoranda, books, notes, records (contained on any media whatsoever), charts, formulae, specifications, lists and other documents made, compiled, received, held or used by the Employee while in the employ of the Company, concerning any phase of the Group’s business or its trade secrets (the “Materials”), shall be the Company’s sole property and all originals or copies thereof shall be delivered by the Employee to the Company upon termination of the Employee’s employment for any reason whatsoever, or at any earlier or other time at the request of the Company, without the Employee retaining any copies thereof.

 

1.5                               The Employee recognizes that the Company, after signing Non Disclosure Agreements, has received and will receive from third parties their confidential or proprietary information, and agrees to hold all such confidential or proprietary information in strict confidence and not to disclose it to any person or entity or to use it except as necessary in carrying out the Employee’s duties in his/her employment.

 

2.                                      Ownership of Inventions

 

2.1                               The Employee will notify and disclose to the Company, or any persons designated by it, all information, improvements, inventions, formula, processes, techniques, know-how and data, whether or not patentable, made or conceived or reduced to practice or learned by the Employee, either alone or jointly with others, during the Employee’s employment with the Company (including after hours, on weekends or during vacation time) (all such information, improvements, inventions, formulae, processes, techniques, know-how, and data are hereinafter referred to as the: “Inventions” or “Invention”) immediately upon discovery, receipt or invention as applicable.  In the event that the Employee, for any reason, refrains from delivering the Invention upon grant of notice regarding the Invention, as described above, the Employee shall notify the Company of the Invention and specify in such notice the date in which the Invention

 

 

shall be delivered to the Company and the reason for delay in such delivery.  The Invention shall be delivered as soon as possible thereinafter.  All Inventions shall unconditionally be, become, and remain the sole and exclusive property of the Company forever.  Pursuant to Sections 101 and 201 of the United States Copyright law, all Inventions shall be “works made for hire.”

 

2.2                               Delivery of the notice and the Invention shall be in writing, supplemented with a detailed description of the Invention and the relevant documentation.  The Employee agrees that all the Inventions shall be the sole property of the Company and its assignees, and the Company and its assignees shall be the sole owner of all patents and other rights in connection with such Inventions.  The Employee hereby assigns to the Company any rights the Employee may have or acquire in such Inventions.  In order to avoid any doubt, it is hereby clarified that a lack of response from the Company with respect to the notice of the Invention or of its delivery, shall not be considered a waiver of ownership of the Invention, and in any event the Invention shall remain the sole property of the Company.

 

2.3                               The Employee further agrees as to all such Inventions to assist the Company, or any persons designated by it, in every proper way to obtain and from time to time enforce such inventions in any way including by way of patents over such Inventions in any and all countries, and to that effect the Employee will execute all documents for use in applying for and obtaining patents over and enforcing such Inventions, as the Company may desire, together with any assignments of such Inventions to the Company or persons or entities designated by it.

 

2.4                               The Employee shall not be entitled, with respect to all of the above, to any monetary consideration or any other consideration.

 

3.                                      Third Party Information

 

3.1                               The Employee will not disclose to the Company any proprietary or confidential information belonging to any third party, including any prior or current employer or contractor, unless the written approval of that third party was received.

 

 

3.2                               The Employee recognizes that the Company may receive in the future from third parties their confidential or proprietary information, subject to a duty on the Company’s part to maintain the confidentiality of such information and to use it only for certain limited purposes.  The employee agrees to hold all such confidential or proprietary information in the strictest confidence and not to disclose it to any person or entity or to use it except as necessary in carrying out his/her services for the Company, consistent with the Company’s agreement with such third party.

 

4.                                      General

 

4.1                               The Employee acknowledges that the provisions of this Agreement serve as an integral part of the terms of his employment and reflect the reasonable requirements of the Company in order to protect its legitimate interests.  If any provision of this Agreement (including any sentence, clause or part thereof) shall be adjudicated to be invalid or unenforceable, such provision shall be deemed amended to delete there from the portion thus adjudicated to be invalid or unenforceable, such deletion to apply only with respect to the operation of such provision in the particular jurisdiction in which such adjudication is made.  In addition, if any particular provision contained in this Agreement shall for any reason be held to be excessively broad as to duration, geographical scope, activity or subject, it shall be construed by limiting and reducing the scope of such provision so that the provision is enforceable to the fullest extent compatible with applicable law.

 

4.2                               The provisions of this Agreement shall continue and remain in full force and effect following the termination of the employment relationship between the Company and the Employee for whatever reason.  This Agreement shall not serve in any manner as to derogate from any of the Employee’s obligations and liabilities under any applicable law and/or under any other agreement with the Company.

 

4.3                               The Employee acknowledges that execution of this Agreement is a condition to his employment by the Company.

 

 

5.                                      All the terms and conditions set in this Agreement, shall survive the termination and/or expiration of any employment agreement with the Company or any subsidiary of the Company.

 

 

	
Mark Zagorski
    	
 
    	
/s/ Mark Zagorski
    	
 
    	
7/1/20
    
	
Name of Employee
    	
 
    	
Signature
    	
 
    	
Date
    

 

 

Appendix A - Permitted Activities

 

Board Memberships:

 

Recruitics

 

CXO

 

Advisory Roles:

 

SilverLine AthleticsExhibit 10.6

 

Execution Version
 Confidential

 

CONFIDENTIAL SEPARATION AGREEMENT

 

This Confidential Separation Agreement (this “Agreement”) is entered into on February 28, 2020 (the “Termination Date”) by and between Wayne Gattinella (“Employee”), DoubleVerify, Inc. (the “Company”), DoubleVerify Midco, Inc. (“Parent”), formerly known as Pixel Parent, Inc. and DoubleVerify Holdings, Inc. (“Holdco”), formerly known as Pixel Group Holdings, Inc.  Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the respective meanings set forth in the Employment Agreement (as defined below).

 

W I T N E S S E T H

 

WHEREAS, Employee, the Company and Parent are parties to that certain Second Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, dated as of September 19, 2017 (the “Employment Agreement”);

 

WHEREAS, Employee’s employment relationship with the Company has terminated by mutual agreement of Employee and the Company effective as of the Termination Date; and

 

WHEREAS, Employee, the Company, Parent and Holdco desire to settle and conclude their respective rights and obligations in connection with the termination of Employee’s employment with the Company.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the covenants herein contained and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:

 

1.                                      Accrued Amounts.  The Company shall pay Employee all Accrued Amounts to which the Employee is entitled pursuant to the Employment Agreement.  Payment of any remaining Base Salary owed to Employee will be made on the Company’s first regularly scheduled payroll date that falls after the Termination Date.  Employee acknowledges and agrees that as of the Termination Date he has no accrued and unused vacation time for which he is entitled to payment pursuant to the Employment Agreement.  Employee must submit claims for reimbursement of business expenses within 30 days after the Termination Date in order to be eligible for reimbursement thereof.

 

2.                                      Benefits in Consideration of Release of Claims.  Subject to (i) execution, delivery and non-revocation of the General Release of All Claims attached hereto as Exhibit A (the (“General Release”) on or within twenty-one (21) days after the date hereof and (ii) Employee’s continued compliance with the terms of this Agreement, the Confidentiality and Intellectual Property Transfer Agreement executed by Employee in favor of the Company on August 16, 2012 (the “Confidentiality & IP Agreement”) and

 

 

Article V of the Employment Agreement (which includes restrictive covenants relating to competition and solicitation, among other provisions and together with the Confidentiality & IP Agreement is herein referred to as the “Employee Covenants”) as set forth in Sections 5.A and 10 of this Agreement, the Company, Parent and Holdco hereby agree as follows:

 

A.                                    Termination Payments.

 

(i)                                     The Company shall pay to Employee an amount equal to the sum of his current annual Base Salary (i.e., $391,000) plus his annual target Bonus (i.e., $293,250), payable in equal installments on a semi-monthly basis over the 12 month period commencing on the Termination Date in accordance with the Company’s normal payroll practices, subject to required withholdings and deductions (the “Severance Payments”).  The first Severance Payment shall be made on the first payroll date that occurs on or after the date on which the General Release becomes irrevocable, and shall include any amounts that would have otherwise been due prior to such first payment date.

 

(ii)                                  If Employee properly elects to continue medical, vision and dental coverage in accordance with the continuation requirements of COBRA for coverage beginning on the first day of the month following the month in which the Termination Date falls, the Company shall pay a portion of the cost of the monthly COBRA coverage premium, so as to keep Employee’s contribution to medical coverage the same as when employed (the “COBRA Payments”), for the 12 months following the Termination Date.  During the time period that the Company is making the COBRA Payment, Employee shall be responsible for paying that portion of the COBRA Payment that is equal to Employee’s current monthly payment for medical, vision and dental coverage with the Company.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, if during the period in which COBRA Payments continue pursuant to this clause (ii), Employee becomes employed as a consultant and/or employee for one or more entities and as a result becomes eligible to obtain comparable alternate medical benefits from the entity he is providing such services to, then the Company shall cease continuation of Employee’s medical benefit and have no further liability for COBRA Payments.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, unless it would result in taxes, penalties and/or interest being imposed on Employee under Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), the Company may, at any time and in its sole discretion, accelerate the payment of any unpaid installment of the Severance Payments and/or the COBRA Payments.

 

B.                                    2019 and 2020 Bonus.  The Company shall pay Employee an amount equal to the sum (i) the unpaid portion of Employee’s actual bonus for the 2019 fiscal year (equal to $391,000) (the “2019 Bonus”) plus (ii) a pro rata portion of Employee’s

 

2

 

target bonus for 2020 (equal to $47,402) (the “2020 Pro Rata Bonus”), payable in a single lump sum cash payment no later than thirty (30) days after the General Release becomes irrevocable, subject to required withholdings and deductions.

 

C.                                    Employee and Holdco hereby agrees that effective as of the Termination Date, the Vested Portion of the Time-Based Options held by Employee shall be equal to 81.25% of the Time Based Option granted to Employee under the Pixel Group Holdings Inc. 2017 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan (the “2017 Equity Plan”) (i.e., in respect of 7,818,361.791 shares of Holdco common stock (“Shares”)).  Unless purchased earlier in accordance with Section 4 below, such Vested Portion of the Time-Based Option will remain exercisable for twelve (12) months following the Termination Date in accordance with the terms of 2017 Equity Plan and the Nonqualified Stock Option Award Agreement pursuant to which such Time-Based Options were granted (the “Award Agreement”).  Employee and Holdco acknowledge and agree that as of the Termination Date, each of (i) 18.75% the Time-Based Option granted to Employee under the 2017 Equity Plan (i.e., in respect of 1,804,237.394 Shares) and (ii) 100% of the Performance-Based Option granted to Employee under 2017 Equity Plan (i.e., in respect of 9,622,599 Shares) is forfeited effective as of the Termination Date without consideration therefor.  Capitalized terms used in this Section 2.C but not otherwise defined in this Agreement shall have the meanings given to them in the Award Agreement.  Employee will be permitted to pay for the exercise price for the Vested Portion of the Time-Based Options by net exercise (as permitted by clause (d) of the 2017 Equity Plan with the Committee’s (as defined in the 2017 Equity Plan) approval which has been (or will be granted).  In the event of a Change in Control on or prior to the last day of the exercise period of the Vested Portion of the Time-Based Options, any unexercised Time-Based Option will either (i) automatically be exercised immediately prior to such Change in Control on a net exercise basis or (ii) cancelled for fair value as set forth in Section 11.2(e) of the 2017 Equity Plan on the terms generally applicable to other holders of options under the 2017 Equity Plan, in either case if the Vested Portion of the Time-Based Options is “in the money” as of the closing of such Change in Control, and if the Vested Portion of the Time-Based Options is not “in the money” as of the closing of such Change in Control, it shall be cancelled as of the closing of such Change in Control for no consideration (provided, that any “out of the money” Vested Portion of the Time Based Option will have the same rights that holders of “out the money” options under the 2017 Equity Plan may have generally in respect of escrows, earn-outs and other deferred purchase price components pursuant to the Change in Control).  For purposes hereof, “in the money” means that the exercise price per Share applicable to the Time-Based Option is less than the per Share price payable upon the closing of the Change in Control, and “out of the money” means that means that the exercise price per Share applicable to the Time-Based Option is equal to or greater than the per Share price payable upon the closing of the Change in Control.  For the avoidance of doubt, the last day Employee can exercise the Vested Portion of the Time-Based Options is March 1, 2021, and the exercise price per Share of the Time-Based Option is currently $0.6667.  Finally, if requested by Employee, Holdco will

 

3

 

provide Employee with the Fair Market Value (as defined in the 2017 Equity Plan) of a Share within 10 business days of Employee’s request.

 

D.                                    Additional Benefit.  For a period of 12 months following the Termination Date, the Company will provide Employee, at no cost to him, with an access card for WeWork facilities in the New York City metropolitan area that provides at least the same level of access that Employee has as of the Termination Date, and will continue to reimburse Employee for his monthly parking on the same basis as currently.  The Company may, in its sole discretion, elect to pay Employee a lump sum equal to the cost of the benefits that would otherwise be provided pursuant to this Section 2.D

 

E.                                     Right to Set-Off.  Employee acknowledges and agrees that any amounts payable to him pursuant to this Section 2 may be reduced by any amounts that Employee owes to the Company or its affiliates for personal charges incurred using a corporate credit card or other charge account of the Company or its affiliates.

 

3.                                      Acknowledgements and Agreements by Employee and Company.

 

A.                                    Employee agrees and acknowledges that the payments and benefits provided under Section 2 are in excess of any amounts to which he would otherwise be entitled, whether pursuant to the Employment Agreement, the 2017 Equity Plan or any other contract, at law or otherwise, and are available to Employee solely in consideration of the execution and non-revocation of the General Release at the times set forth in Section 2, and continued compliance with the Employee Covenants and Employee’s compliance with certain terms and conditions of this Agreement as set forth in Sections 5.A and 10.

 

B.                                    Following the Termination Date and until the second anniversary of the Termination Date, Employee shall make himself reasonably available by telephone or via electronic mail (the manner depending on the demands of the specific projects) to consult, advise and assist in connection with such Company matters as may be requested by senior management of the Company.  Any such cooperation required from Employee shall be reasonable and shall take into account any responsibilities to which Employee is subject pursuant to subsequent employment or otherwise and any policies of any employer of Employee at the time of such request (including conflict of interest policies).  Furthermore, following the Termination Date, Employee shall furnish such information and assistance to the Company as may be reasonably required by the Company in connection with any legal matters or litigation that may arise relating to issues or matters of which Employee had knowledge during his employment with the Company; provided Employee shall not be required provide such information or assistance if to do so would require him to waive a legal privilege or would be adverse to his current business partners’ or employer’s business interests, in each case unless required by court order or subpoena.  The Company will promptly reimburse Employee for all reasonable and

 

4

 

documented expenses incurred by Employee in connection with providing this information and assistance.

 

C.                                    The Company, the Parent and Holdco, on its own behalf and on behalf of any Released Party (as defined in Exhibit A), acknowledges and agrees that it does not know of any claim it or any Released Party may have against Employee and that to its knowledge, Employee does not owe it or any Released Party any money or other funds except as set forth in Section 2.E.

 

4.                                      Holdco Purchase Right.

 

A.                                    Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the 2017 Equity Plan, the Award Agreement or the Stockholders Agreement of Holdco, by and among Holdco and its stockholders (including Employee) dated as of September 20, 2017, as the same has been and may be further amended from time to time (the “SHA”), Employee acknowledges and agrees that for a period of six (6) months following the Termination Date, Holdco shall have the right (but not the obligation) to purchase from Employee (i) all or a part of the unexercised portion of the Time-Based Option that Employee retains following the Termination Date pursuant to Section 2(C) and (ii) to the extent Employee exercises all or any portion of the Time-Based Option on or prior to the six (6) month anniversary of the Termination Date, all or any portion of the Shares acquired as a result of such exercise.  Notice of the Company’s exercise of its right to purchase Shares or Time-based Options hereunder must be delivered to Employee not later than the six (6) month anniversary of the Termination Date, and the closing of the purchase must occur not later than 60 days after such six (6) month anniversary.  The purchase price for any such purchased Share shall be paid in cash and shall be equal to $2.65 per Share.  The purchase price for any portion of the Time-Based Option shall be paid in cash and shall be equal to $2.65 per Share minus the applicable exercise price of the Time-Based Option, multiplied by the number of Shares underlying such purchased portion.  For clarity, nothing in this Agreement shall give Holdco any right to purchase Shares held by Employee to the extent they were acquired pursuant to the exercise of Holdco options issued to him pursuant to that certain Rollover Agreement by and among Employee, Holdco and the Company dated as of August 18, 2017 (“Rollover Shares”) and nothing in this Agreement impacts in any way the Rollover Shares.

 

B.                                    In connection with any repurchase of Employee’s Time-Based Option or Shares acquired upon the exercise thereof pursuant to Section 4(A), Employee agrees to enter into a stock purchase and/or option cancellation agreement containing customary representations and warranties from Employee regarding such purchase and cancellation (including representations and warranties regarding Employee’s title to and ownership of Shares, if applicable).  At the closing of any repurchase of Shares, Employee shall deliver all certificates or other instruments representing the purchased Shares, duly endorsed to the Company against delivery of the purchase price.  Any Shares and Time-Based Options purchased by the Company pursuant to this Section 4 shall be automatically

 

5

 

cancelled upon their purchase and Employee shall have no further rights in respect thereof other than the right to receive payment from the Company as set forth herein.

 

C.                                    By entering into this Agreement, Employee hereby appoints the Company as Employee’s true and lawful attorney-in-fact and custodian, with full power of substitution (the “Custodian”), and authorizes the Custodian to take such actions as the Custodian may deem necessary or appropriate to effect a purchase of Shares and/or the Time-Based Option under this Section 4, free and clear of all security interests, liens, claims, encumbrances, charges, options, restrictions on transfer, proxies and voting and other agreements of whatever nature, other than those arising under applicable securities laws, and to take such other action as may be necessary or appropriate in connection with such purchase from Employee.

 

D.                                    Employee acknowledges and agrees that the Company may assign any or all of its rights under this Section 4 to Providence VII U.S. Holdings L.P. or an affiliate thereof (“Providence Investor”) and Blumberg Capital II, L.P. or an affiliate thereof (the “Blumberg Investor”), and that each of the Providence Investor and the Blumberg Investor is an express and intended third party beneficiary of this Section 4.

 

5.                                      Restrictive Covenants; Confidentiality.

 

A.                                    Employee hereby confirms that Employee is and has been in compliance with all terms and conditions of (i) the Employee Covenants and (ii) the material terms of any other individual written agreement between Employee and the Company and/or any of its affiliates (provided that Employee shall not be deemed to be in breach of the representation in this clause (ii) in respect of facts, circumstances or events known to the Company as of the date hereof).  Employee and the Company hereby agree that the Employee Covenants are hereby incorporated by reference herein and shall continue to apply following the execution and delivery of this Agreement and Employee’s termination of employment in accordance with their terms.  The Company, the Parent, Holdco and Employee hereby further agrees and acknowledges that the sole forfeiture, clawback and/or offset remedy with respect to the continued payment of, and retention of, the payments and benefits set forth in Section 2 hereof (other than the Time-Based Options), and continued retention of the Time-Based Options and any Shares received upon exercise of such Options is governed solely by this Section 5.A and Section 10.  Employee acknowledges that the Employee Covenants include (but are not limited to) covenants related to the preservation of confidential information and noncompetition with the business of the Company and its affiliates).

 

(i)                                     For payments and benefits set forth in Section 2 hereof (other than the Time-Based Options), in addition to any remedy set forth in Section 10, such payments and benefits shall be subject to forfeiture, clawback and offset, and Employee shall be required to repay any such amounts to the Company previously received by him, if Employee materially breaches Sections 3.B or 5.B of this Agreement (and fails to cure

 

6

 

such breach, if curable, within 10 days after written notice by the Company of such breach), Employee brings a claim or suit (or threatens to bring a claim or suit) against the Company, the Parent, or Holdco or any third-party beneficiary of this Agreement with respect to a claim he released in Exhibit A (unless doing so is necessary to defend against a suit or claim brought by any such party against him), or Employee breaches the non-compete and non-solicit portions of the Employee Covenants or materially breaches the confidentiality or intellectual property covenants of the Employee Covenants;

 

(ii)                                  For the 12 months of accelerated vesting of the Time-Based Options granted to Employee hereunder, in addition to any remedy set forth in Section 10, such accelerated vesting shall be subject to forfeiture (and any shares acquired upon exercise thereof subject to repurchase in accordance with Section 6.25 of the SHA as a Cause termination) if Employee materially breaches Sections 3.B or 5.B of this Agreement (and fails to cure such breach, if curable, within 10 days after written notice by the Company of such breach), Employee brings a claim or suit (or threatens to bring a claim or suit) against the Company, the Parent, or Holdco or any third-party beneficiary of this Agreement with respect to a claim he released in Exhibit A (unless doing so is necessary to defend against a suit or claim brought by any such party against him), or Employee breaches the non-compete and non-solicit portions of the Employee Covenants or materially breaches the confidentiality or intellectual property covenants of the Employee Covenants;

 

(iii)                               For the Time-Based Options which were already vested as of the Termination Date without giving effect to the accelerate vesting described in the immediately preceding clause (ii), such Time-Based Options shall only be subject to forfeiture (and any shares acquired upon exercise subject to repurchase in accordance with Section 6.25 of the SHA as a Cause termination) if Employee materially breaches Section 5.B of this Agreement or Employee breaches the non-compete and non-solicit portions of the Employee Covenants or materially breaches the confidentiality or intellectual property covenants of the Employee Covenants.

 

This Section 5.A shall cease to apply as of the date of a Change in Control (as defined in the 2017 Equity Plan).

 

B.                                    To the fullest extent permitted by law, unless and until the Company or any of its affiliates publicly disclosed this Agreement in accordance with this Section 5.B, Employee agrees to keep the terms, amount and fact of this Agreement (including the General Release) completely confidential, and will not disclose any information concerning this Agreement to any person except (i) as necessary to enforce or defend this Agreement and (ii) to Employee’s immediate family, attorneys and professional representatives, each of whom Employee agrees shall be informed of and bound by this confidentiality clause.  To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Company, the Parent and Holdco agrees to keep the terms, amount and fact of this Agreement (including the General Release) completely confidential, and will not disclose any information

 

7

 

concerning this Agreement to any person except (i) as necessary to enforce or defend this Agreement and (ii) to its directors, attorneys and professional representatives and, to the extent necessary to implement the terms of this Agreement, its employees, each of whom the Company agrees shall be informed of and bound by this confidentiality clause.  In addition, it shall not be a breach for Employee to disclose the Employee Covenants to any recruiter, or potential or actual business partner or employer or for the Company to make this Agreement publicly available pursuant to the requirements of applicable securities laws.

 

C.                                    By executing this Agreement, Employee acknowledges that he hereby has been notified by this writing, in accordance with the Defend Trade Secrets Act of 2016, that (a) an individual shall not be held criminally or civilly liable under any federal or state trade secret law for the disclosure of a trade secret that is made in confidence to a federal, state, or local government official, or to an attorney, solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law, (b) an individual shall not be held criminally or civilly liable under any federal or state trade secret law for the disclosure of a trade secret that is made in a complaint or other document filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, if such filing is made under seal; and (c) an individual who files a lawsuit for retaliation by an employer for reporting a suspected violation of law may disclose the trade secret to the attorney of the individual and use the trade secret information in the court proceeding, if the individual files any document containing the trade secret under seal and does not disclose the trade secret except pursuant to court order.

 

6.                                      No Disparagement.  Following the Termination Date, Employee will not, directly or indirectly, intentionally make or publish any statement (including written, oral or electronic statements or other communications to the print or electronic media) intended to embarrass, impair the reputation of or otherwise disparage any of the Company, the Parent, Holdco, Providence Equity Partners, Blumberg Capital or any of their respective directors, officers, members, employees or senior executives, or that could reasonably be expected to embarrass, impair the reputation of or otherwise disparage any of such parties in any material way.  Following the Termination Date, the Company, the Parent, and Holdco agree that it will, and it will instruct its directors (or managers) and its senior executives, not to make any statement (including written, oral or electronic statements or other communications to the print or electronic media or any internal statement to any employee or other person) inconsistent with Employee having left the Company, the Parent and Holdco by mutual agreement, and the Company agrees that is shall issue a press release in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B (subject to de minimis changes made by the Company). No individual or entity shall be deemed to be in breach of this Section 6 or any other non-disparagement provision by making truthful statements as required by law or by any court, governmental, congressional or regulatory agency or body, or by testifying truthfully in any legal or administrative proceeding if such testimony is compelled or requested by a court.  Furthermore, it shall not be a violation of this Section 6 for the Company or any of its officers, executives, directors or

 

8

 

stockholders to make statements amongst themselves that are critical of Employee or make reasonable, customary or other appropriate public remarks as to the performance of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates with respect to periods that include the period of Employee’s employment, or for Employee to make critical statements to officers, executives, directors or stockholders of the Company as part of the assistance provided by him under Section 3.B above.

 

7.                                      Permitted Disclosures.  Notwithstanding Section 5 or Section 6, or anything to the contrary in the Confidentiality & IP Agreement or in any other Agreement between Employee and the Company or its affiliates (including the General Release), nothing contained in any of the foregoing shall (i) prohibit Employee from providing truthful testimony or accurate information in connection with any investigation being conducted into the business or operations of the Company or its affiliates by any government agency or other regulator that is responsible for enforcing a law on behalf of the government or otherwise providing information to the appropriate government regulatory agency or body regarding conduct or action undertaken or omitted to be taken by the Company or its affiliates that Employee reasonably believes is illegal or in material non-compliance with any financial disclosure or other regulatory requirement applicable to the Company or its affiliates, (ii) prohibit Employee from filing or disclosing any facts necessary to receive unemployment insurance, Medicaid, or other public benefits to which Employee may be entitled, (iii) prohibit Employee from making any necessary disclosures as otherwise required by law or (iv) require Employee to obtain the approval of, or give notice to, the Company or any of its employees or representatives to take any action permitted under clause (i), (ii) or (iii) of this Section 7.

 

8.                                      Company Property.  Employees hereby agrees to promptly (and in no event later than five days after the Termination Date) return to the Company any and all property, tangible or intangible, relating to its business, which Employee possesses or has control over at any time (including, but not limited to, company-provided credit cards, building or office access cards, keys, computer equipment, manuals, files, documents, records, software, customer data base and other data) and that Employee shall not retain any copies, compilations, extracts, excerpts, summaries or other notes of any such manuals, files, documents, records, software, customer data base or other data; provided Employee retain his laptop after the Company has, to its reasonable satisfaction, removed all Company files from it.  Employee also agrees to allow the Company to review, within reason, any personal electronic devices that previously contained Company email or documents and to allow them to wipe any Company files from those devices.  Employee is permitted to retain his personal papers, any information or documents which he reasonably believes are necessary for his personal tax purposes, and copies of the Employment Agreement, the Confidentiality & IP Agreement, the SHA, the 2017 Equity Plan, the Award Agreement, and this Agreement.

 

9

 

9.                                      No Admission.  This Agreement does not constitute and shall not be construed in any way as an admission of any wrongdoing or any violation of or noncompliance with any legal requirement or obligation by Employee or any of the Released Parties.

 

10.                               Additional Forfeiture; Clawback.  Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, in addition to the remedies in Section 5.A, if Employee is convicted of or enters a plea nolo of contendere to a felony crime involving dishonesty, breach of trust, or physical harm to any person, in each case based on an act or acts that occurred while Employee was employed by the Company, then (i) the Company shall have the right to cease the payment of any future installments of the Severance Payments and COBRA Payments, the 2019 Bonus and the 2020 Pro Rata Bonus, and Employee shall promptly return to the Company all installments of the Severance Payments and COBRA Payments, the 2019 Bonus and the 2020 Pro Rata Bonus previously paid, (y) Employee shall forfeit 100% of any Time-Based Options held by him, and (z) Employee’s Shares received upon the exercise of any Time-Based Options shall be subject to repurchase in accordance with Section 6.25 of the SHA as though Employee were terminated by the Company for Cause.  This Section 10 shall cease to apply on and following a Change in Control (as defined in the 2017 Equity Plan).

 

11.                               Miscellaneous.

 

A.                                    Entire Agreement.  This Agreement (including the General Release) and the Employee Covenants contain and constitute the entire understanding and agreement between the parties hereto and supersede and cancel any agreements, commitments or representations other than those set forth in this Agreement; provided that Sections 2.01(B)(vii), 6.04 and 6.05 of the Employment Agreement shall survive and be incorporated in full into this Agreement.  Except as expressly provided herein in respect of Article V of the Employment Agreement and Sections 2.01(B)(vii), 6.04 and 6.05, the Employment Agreement shall terminate as of the Termination Date.

 

B.                                    Severability.  If any provision of this Agreement is declared illegal, invalid, or unenforceable by any court of competent jurisdiction and cannot be modified to be enforceable, such provision will immediately become null and void, leaving the remainder of this Agreement in full force and effect; provided, that, if the General Release given by Employee is declared illegal, invalid or unenforceable other than as a result of any act or omission of the Company, the Parent, Holdco or their respective affiliates, this Agreement shall automatically be null and void and, to the fullest extent permitted by law, all payments and benefits provided to Employee pursuant to this Agreement shall be returned by Employee to the Company.

 

C.                                    Successors and Assigns; Third-Party Beneficiaries.  This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of Employee and the Company and their respective heirs, administrators, representatives, executors, successors and assigns.  This

 

10

 

Agreement shall also inure to the benefit of all the Released Parties and their respective heirs, administrators, representatives, executors, successors and assigns and, in respect of Section 3, Providence.  If Employee should die while any payments are due to Employee hereunder, such payments shall be paid to Employee’s estate.

 

D.                                    Amendments and Waivers.  This Agreement may be amended in a writing executed by the parties hereto.  Any waiver by a party hereto of a breach of any provision of this Agreement shall not operate as or be construed as a waiver of any subsequent breach hereof or as a waiver of a breach of any other provision.

 

E.                                     Taxes.  Employee shall be solely responsible for taxes imposed on Employee by reason of any compensation or benefits provided under this Agreement and all such compensation and benefits shall be subject to applicable Federal, state and local withholding requirements.

 

F.                                      Expiration; Rescission.  This Agreement will expire, and the parties hereto shall have no rights or obligations hereunder, if the General Release is not executed and delivered by Employee before the close of business on the twenty-first (21) day after the date hereof, or if such General Release is revoked by Employee as provided therein.

 

G.                                    Notice.  Any notice required or permitted hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given and received: (i) on the date delivered if personally delivered and signed confirmation is received, (ii) upon receipt by the receiving party of any notice sent by registered or certified mail (first-class mail, postage pre-paid, return receipt requested) or (iii) on the date delivered by nationally recognized overnight courier or similar courier service, in each case addressed to the Company, the Parent, Holdco or Employee, as the case may be, at the respective addresses indicated below or such other address as either party may in the future specify in writing to the other in accordance with this Section 11.G:

 

in the case of the Company, the Parent or Holdco to:

 

DoubleVerify Inc.

575 Eighth Ave., 7th Floor

New York, New York 10018
 Attention: Chief Executive Officer

 

with a copy to (which shall not constitute notice):

 

Providence VII U.S. Holdings L.P.
 c/o Providence Equity Partners L.L.C.
 50 Kennedy Plaza
 Providence, RI 02903
 Attention:      Davis Noell

 

11

 

and

 

Debevoise & Plimpton LLP
 919 Third Avenue
 New York, New York 10022
 Attention:      Franklin L. Mitchell

 

in the case of Employee to his most recent address on the books and records of the Company.

 

H.                                   Governing Law; Dispute Resolution. This Agreement, and all matters arising directly or indirectly from this Agreement, shall be governed by, and construed and interpreted in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to the choice of law provisions thereof. Any unresolved controversy or claim arising out of or relating to this Agreement, except (i) as otherwise provided in this Agreement or (ii) with respect to which a party seeks injunctive or other equitable relief, shall be submitted to arbitration by one arbitrator. In connection with any arbitration conducted pursuant to this Agreement, an arbitrator will be selected in accordance with the rules of the American Arbitration Association (the “AAA”) then in effect. The arbitration proceedings shall take place in New York City, in accordance with the rules of the AAA then in effect, and judgment upon any award rendered in such arbitration will be binding and may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof. There shall be limited discovery prior to the arbitration hearing as follows: (a) exchange of witness lists and copies of documentary evidence and documents relating to or arising out of the issues to be arbitrated, (b) depositions of all party witnesses and (c) such other depositions as may be allowed by the arbitrators upon a showing of good cause. Depositions shall be conducted in accordance with the New York Code of Civil Procedure. The arbitrator shall be required to provide in writing to the parties the basis for the award or order of such arbitrator. A court reporter shall record all hearings, with such record constituting the official transcript of such proceedings. Each party will bear its own costs in respect of any disputes arising under this Agreement. The arbitrator shall be directed to award the arbitrator’s compensation charges and the administrative fees of the AAA to the prevailing party. The parties knowingly and voluntarily agree to this arbitration provision and acknowledge that arbitration shall be instead of any civil litigation, meaning that the parties each are waiving any rights to a jury trial.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Section 11(G) shall not preclude any party to this Agreement from pursuing court action for the sole purpose of obtaining a temporary restraining order, preliminary injunction, permanent injunction or other equitable relief from any court of competent jurisdiction in circumstances in which such relief is appropriate, including, but not limited to, enforcement of the Employee Covenants.  Each of the parties to this Agreement consents to personal jurisdiction and venue for any equitable action sought in the United States District Court for the Southern District of

 

12

 

New York and any state court in the State of New York that is located in New York County (and in the appropriate appellate courts from any of the foregoing).

 

I.                                        Indemnification/D&O Liability Insurance.  Employee shall continue to be indemnified and advanced expenses for third party claims (or derivative claims) on the same basis as any director, manager or senior executive of the Company, the Parent or Holdco are indemnified and/or advanced expenses for the same or similar claims in respect of his service an officer and/or director of the Company, the Parent and Holdco.  In addition, the Company, the Parent and Holdco each agree to continue to cover Employee under its current directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies on a basis no less favorable to Employee than the basis on which any of its directors (or managers) or senior executives are so covered until suits can no longer be brought against Employee as a matter of law.

 

J.                                        Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts (including via facsimile or .pdf file), each of which shall be deemed to be an original but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.  This Agreement may be executed by the Company, the Parent and Holdco by affixing the facsimile or other electronic signature of a duly authorized officer or director of the Company, the Parent and Holdco and the use of such a facsimile or other electronic signature shall have the same validity and effect as the use of a signature affixed by hand.

 

[signature page follows]

 

13

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have duly executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

	
 
    	
Company:
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
DOUBLEVERIFY, INC.
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/ R. Davis Noell
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name: R. Davis Noell
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title: Director
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Parent:
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
DOUBLEVERIFY MIDCO,   INC.
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/ R. Davis Noell
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name: R. Davis Noell
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title: Director
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Holdco:
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
DOUBLEVERIFY HOLDINGS,   INC.
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/ R. Davis Noell
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name: R. Davis Noell
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title: Director
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
EMPLOYEE:
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
/s/ Wayne Gattinella
    
	
 
    	
Wayne Gattinella
    

 

 

EXHIBIT A

 

GENERAL RELEASE OF ALL CLAIMS

 

1.                                      General Release by Employee.  In consideration of the payments and benefits to be made under the Separation Agreement, dated as of February 28, 2020  (the “Separation Agreement”), and between Wayne Gattinella (“Employee”), DoubleVerify, Inc. (the “Company”), DoubleVerify Midco, Inc. (“Parent”), formerly known as Pixel Parent, Inc. and DoubleVerify Holdings, Inc. (“Holdco”), formerly known as Pixel Group Holdings, Inc., Employee, with the intention of binding Employee and Employee’s heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, does hereby release, remise, acquit and forever discharge the Company, Holdco, the Parent and their subsidiaries and affiliates (collectively, the “Company Affiliated Group”), Providence Equity Partners and the investment funds affiliated with Providence Equity Partners, Blumberg Capital and the investment funds affiliated with Blumberg Capital and the present and former officers, directors, executives, agents, shareholders, members, attorneys, employees, employee benefits plans (and the fiduciaries thereof), and the successors, predecessors and assigns of each of the foregoing (collectively, the “Released Parties”), of and from any and all claims, actions, causes of action, complaints, charges, demands, rights, damages, debts, sums of money, accounts, financial obligations, suits, expenses, attorneys’ fees and liabilities of whatever kind or nature in law, equity or otherwise, whether accrued, absolute, contingent, unliquidated or otherwise and whether now known, unknown, suspected or unsuspected which Employee, individually or as a member of a class, now has, owns or holds, or has at any time heretofore had, owned or held, against any Released Party (an “Action”), including, without limitation, arising out of or in connection with Employee’s service as an employee, officer and/or director to any member of the Company Affiliated Group (or the predecessors thereof), including (i) the termination of such service in any such capacity, (ii) for severance or vacation benefits, unpaid wages, salary or incentive payments, (iii) for breach of contract, wrongful discharge, impairment of economic opportunity, defamation, intentional infliction of emotional harm or other tort and (iv) for any violation of applicable state and local labor and employment laws (including, without limitation, all laws concerning harassment, discrimination, retaliation and other unlawful or unfair labor and employment practices), any and all Actions based on the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”), and any and all Actions arising under the civil rights laws of any federal, state or local jurisdiction, including, without limitation, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (“Title VII”), the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”), Sections 503 and 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (“ADEA”), excepting only:

 

(a)                                 rights of Employee under the Separation Agreement;

 

(b)                                 the right of Employee to receive benefits required to be provided in accordance with applicable law;

 

 

(c)                                  rights to indemnification (and/or advancement of expenses and/or contribution) Employee may have (i) under applicable corporate law, (ii) under the by-laws, certificate of incorporation or other corporate documents of the Company, the Parent, Holdco or any of their affiliates or (iii) as an insured under any director’s and officer’s liability insurance policy now or previously in force;

 

(d)                                 claims for benefits under any health, disability, retirement, supplemental retirement, deferred compensation, life insurance or other, similar employee benefit plan or arrangement of the Company Affiliated Group, excluding severance pay or termination benefits except as provided in the Separation Agreement;

 

(e)                                  claims for the reimbursement of unreimbursed business expenses incurred prior to the date of termination pursuant to applicable policy of the Company Affiliated Group;

 

(f)                                   claims that cannot be waived as a matter of law.

 

2.                                      No Admissions, Complaints or Other Claims.  Employee acknowledges and agrees that this Release of Claims is not to be construed in any way as an admission of any liability whatsoever by any Released Party, any such liability being expressly denied.  The Employee also acknowledges and agrees that Employee has not, with respect to any transaction or state of facts existing prior to the date hereof, (i) filed any Actions against any Released Party with any governmental agency, court or tribunal or (ii) assigned or transferred any Action to a third party.

 

3.                                      Application to all Forms of Relief.  This Release of Claims applies to any relief no matter how called, including, without limitation, wages, back pay, front pay, compensatory damages, liquidated damages, punitive damages for pain or suffering, costs and attorney’s fees and expenses.

 

4.                                      Specific Waiver.  The Employee specifically acknowledges that Employee’s acceptance of the terms of this Release of Claims is, among other things, a specific waiver of any and all Actions under Title VII, ADEA, ADA and any state or local law or regulation in respect of discrimination of any kind; provided, however, that nothing herein shall be deemed, nor does anything herein purport, to be a waiver of any right or Action which by law Employee is not permitted to waive, except that, with respect to any such right or Action under Title VII, ADEA, ADA and any state or local law or regulation in respect of discrimination, Employee does, to the extent permitted by applicable law, waive any right to money damages.

 

5.                                      Voluntariness.  Employee acknowledges and agrees that he is relying solely upon his own independent judgment and is legally competent to sign this Release of Claims.  Employee agrees that he is signing this Release of Claims of his own free will; that he has read and understood the Release of Claims before signing it; and that he is signing this Release of Claims in exchange for consideration that he believes is

 

 

satisfactory and adequate.  Employee also acknowledge and agree that he has been informed of the right to consult with legal counsel and has been encouraged and advised to do so before signing this Release of Claims.

 

6.                                      Complete Agreement/Severability.  This Release of Claims constitutes the complete and final agreement between the parties and supersedes and replaces all prior or contemporaneous agreements, negotiations, or discussions relating to the subject matter of this Release of Claims other than the Separation Agreement.  All provisions and portions of this Release of Claims are severable.  If any provision or portion of this Release of Claims or the application of any provision or portion of this Release of Claims shall be determined to be invalid or unenforceable to any extent or for any reason, all other provisions and portions of this Release of Claims shall remain in full force and shall continue to be enforceable to the fullest and greatest extent permitted by law.

 

7.                                      Acceptance and Revocability.  Employee acknowledges that Employee has been given a period of at least twenty-one (21) days within which to consider this Release of Claims, unless applicable law requires a longer period, in which case Employee shall be advised of such longer period and such longer period shall apply.  Employee may accept this Release of Claims at any time within this period of time by signing the Release of Claims and returning it to the Employer.  This Release of Claims shall not become effective or enforceable until seven (7) calendar days after Employee signs it.  Employee may revoke Employee’s acceptance of this Release of Claims at any time within that seven (7) calendar day period by sending written notice to the Company.  Such notice must be received by the Company within the seven (7) calendar day period in order to be effective and, if so received, would void this Release of Claims for all purposes.

 

8.                                      Governing Law.  Except for issues or matters as to which U.S. Federal law is applicable, this Release of Claims shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of New York without giving effect to the conflicts of law principles thereof.

 

[signature page follows]

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this EXHIBIT A to the Separation Agreement.

 

 

	
 
    	
/s/ Wayne Gattinella
    
	
 
    	
Wayne Gattinella
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Dated: 28 February 2020
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Acknowledged and   accepted
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
DOUBLEVERIFY, INC.
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/ R. Davis Noell
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name: R. Davis Noell
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title: Director
    

 

 

EXHIBIT B

 

PRESS RELEASE

 

DoubleVerify Announces CEO Transition

 

NEW YORK — FEBRUARY 28, 2020 — DoubleVerify (“DV”), a leading software platform for digital media measurement, data and analytics, announced that Wayne Gattinella has stepped down today as Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and President by mutual agreement with DV’s Board of Directors. The DV Board has engaged a leading executive search firm to assist in identifying a new CEO.

 

In the interim, the DV Board has established an Office of the CEO comprised of members of the Board and senior management to assume Mr. Gattinella’s responsibilities until a permanent CEO is identified. The Office will be led by Lead Director Laura Desmond, who will serve as Interim CEO. Ms. Desmond is a marketing industry veteran who has held several senior executive positions at Publicis Groupe over a two-decade tenure at the company, including CEO of Starcom Mediavest Group, which was the largest media agency globally.

 

Ms. Desmond commented, “DoubleVerify is led by a deep bench of outstanding senior talent, and I look forward to working closely with them during this interim period to ensure the continued success of the business and a seamless leadership transition. DV has tremendous momentum, and we are all staying focused on serving our customers, working with our business partners and, as always, executing on our strategic plans to deliver innovation and industry-leading insight to the digital marketing ecosystem.”

 

“It has truly been an honor and privilege to lead the DoubleVerify team for the past eight years,” said Mr. Gattinella. “I’m deeply grateful for the enormous talent and commitment of all DV employees and leave with the confidence that the company is in strong hands.”

 

About DoubleVerify

 

DoubleVerify is a leading software platform for digital media measurement, data and analytics. DV’s mission is to be the definitive source of transparency and data-driven insights into the quality and effectiveness of digital advertising for the world’s largest brands, publishers and digital ad platforms. DV’s technology platform provides advertisers with consistent and unbiased data and analytics that can be used to optimize the quality and return on their digital ad investments. Since 2008, DV has helped hundreds of Fortune 500 companies gain the most from their media spend by delivering

 

 

best in class solutions across the digital advertising ecosystem, helping to build a better industry. Learn more at www.doubleverify.com.

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