Document:

Document

FORM OF
INDEMNIFICATION AND ADVANCEMENT AGREEMENT
This Indemnification and Advancement Agreement (“Agreement”) is made as of ________ __, 20____ by and between Bandwidth Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and ______________, [a member of the Board of Directors/an officer] of the Company (“Indemnitee”).  This Agreement supersedes and replaces any and all previous Agreements between the Company and Indemnitee covering indemnification and advancement of expenses.  
RECITALS
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) believes that highly competent persons have become more reluctant to serve publicly-held corporations as directors, officers or in other capacities unless they are provided with adequate protection through insurance or adequate indemnification and advancement of expenses against inordinate risks of claims and actions against them arising out of their service to and activities on behalf of the corporation;
WHEREAS, the Board has determined that, in order to attract and retain qualified individuals, the Company will attempt to maintain on an ongoing basis, at its sole expense, liability insurance to protect persons serving the Company and its subsidiaries from certain liabilities.  Although the furnishing of such insurance has been a customary and widespread practice among United States-based corporations and other business enterprises, the Company believes that, given current market conditions and trends, such insurance may be available to it in the future only at higher premiums and with more exclusions.  At the same time, directors, officers and other persons in service to corporations or business enterprises are being increasingly subjected to expensive and time-consuming litigation relating to, among other things, matters that traditionally would have been brought only against the Company or business enterprise itself.  The Second Amended and Restated Bylaws (the “Bylaws”) and the Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the “Certificate of Incorporation”) of the Company require indemnification of the officers and directors of the Company.  Indemnitee may also be entitled to indemnification pursuant to the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”).  The Bylaws, Certificate of Incorporation and the DGCL expressly provide that the indemnification provisions set forth therein are not exclusive, and thereby contemplate that contracts may be entered into between the Company and members of the Board, the Company’s officers and other persons with respect to indemnification and advancement of expenses;
WHEREAS, the uncertainties relating to such insurance, to indemnification and to advancement of expenses may increase the difficulty of attracting and retaining such persons;
WHEREAS, the Board has determined that the increased difficulty in attracting and retaining such persons is detrimental to the best interests of the Company and its stockholders and that the Company should act to assure such persons that there will be increased certainty of such protection in the future;
WHEREAS, it is reasonable, prudent and necessary for the Company contractually to obligate itself to indemnify, and to advance expenses on behalf of, such persons to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law so that they will serve or continue to serve the Company free from undue concern that they will not be so indemnified; 

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WHEREAS, this Agreement is a supplement to and in furtherance of the Bylaws, the Certificate of Incorporation and any resolutions adopted pursuant thereto, as well as any rights of Indemnitee under any directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policy, and is not a substitute therefor, and does not diminish or abrograte any rights of Indemnitee thereunder; and
WHEREAS, Indemnitee does not regard the protection available under the Bylaws, the Certificate of Incorporation, the DGCL and insurance as adequate in the present circumstances, and may not be willing to serve or continue to serve as an officer or director without adequate additional protection, and the Company desires Indemnitee to serve or continue to serve in such capacity.  Indemnitee is willing to serve, continue to serve and to take on additional service for or on behalf of the Company on the condition that Indemnitee be so indemnified and be advanced expenses.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the covenants contained herein, the Company and Indemnitee do hereby covenant and agree as follows:
Section 1.Services to the Company.  Indemnitee agrees to serve as a [director/officer] of the Company.  Indemnitee may at any time and for any reason resign from such position (subject to any other contractual obligation or any obligation imposed by operation of law).  This Agreement does not create any obligation on the Company to continue Indemnitee in such position and is not an employment contract between the Company (or any of its subsidiaries or any Enterprise) and Indemnitee.  
Section 2.Definitions.  As used in this Agreement:
(a)“Agent” means any person who is authorized by the Company or an Enterprise to act for or represent the interests of the Company or an Enterprise, respectively.
(b)A “Change in Control” occurs upon the earliest to occur after the date of this Agreement of any of the following events:
i.Acquisition of Stock by Third Party.  Any Person (as defined below) is or becomes the Beneficial Owner (as defined below), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing fifteen percent (15%) or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities unless the change in relative beneficial ownership of the Company’s securities by any Person results solely from (A) a reduction in the aggregate number of outstanding shares of securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors or (B) the conversion or other disposition of shares of the Company’s Class B common stock held by stockholders of the Company, in each case, other than as permitted in the Certificate of Incorporation to not be deemed a conversion from the Company’s Class B common stock to the Company’s Class A common stock;
ii.Change in Board of Directors.  During any period of two (2) consecutive years (not including any period prior to the execution of this Agreement), individuals who at the beginning of such period constitute the Board, and any new director (other than a director designated by a person who has entered into an agreement with the Company to effect a transaction described in Sections 2(b)i., 2(b) iii. or 2(b) iv. hereof) whose election by the Board or nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the directors then still in office who either were directors at the beginning of the period or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved, cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the members of the Board;
iii.Corporate Transactions.  The effective date of a merger or consolidation of the Company with any other entity, other than a merger or consolidation which 

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would result in the voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior to such merger or consolidation continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the surviving entity) more than 51% of the combined voting power of the voting securities of the surviving entity outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation and with the power to elect at least a majority of the board of directors or other governing body of such surviving entity;
iv.Liquidation.  The approval by the stockholders of the Company of a complete liquidation of the Company or an agreement for the sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets; and
v.Other Events.  There occurs any other event of a nature that would be required to be reported in response to Item 6(e) of Schedule 14A of Regulation 14A (or a response to any similar item on any similar schedule or form) promulgated under the Exchange Act (as defined below), whether or not the Company is then subject to such reporting requirement, unless such event was a result of the conversion of shares held by stockholders of the Company.
vi.For purposes of this Section 2(b), the following terms have the following meanings:
1“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time.
2“Person” has the meaning as set forth in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act; provided, however, that Person excludes (i) the Company, (ii) any trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company and (iii) any entity owned, directly or indirectly, by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of stock of the Company.
3“Beneficial Owner” has the meaning given to such term in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act; provided, however, that Beneficial Owner excludes any Person otherwise becoming a Beneficial Owner by reason of the stockholders of the Company approving a merger of the Company with another entity.
(c)“Corporate Status” describes the status of a person who is or was acting as a director, officer, employee, fiduciary, or Agent of the Company or an Enterprise.
(d)“Disinterested Director” means a director of the Company who is not and was not a party to the Proceeding in respect of which indemnification is sought by Indemnitee.
(e)“Enterprise” means any other corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other entity for which Indemnitee is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee or Agent.
(f)“Expenses” includes all reasonable attorneys’ fees, retainers, court costs, transcript costs, fees and other costs of experts and other professionals, witness fees, travel expenses, duplicating costs, printing and binding costs, telephone charges, postage, delivery service fees, any federal, state, local or foreign taxes imposed on Indemnitee as a result of the 

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actual or deemed receipt of any payments under this Agreement, ERISA excise taxes and penalties and all other disbursements, obligations or expenses of the types customarily incurred in connection with prosecuting, defending, preparing to prosecute or defend, investigating, being or preparing to be a witness in, or otherwise participating in, a Proceeding.  Expenses also include (i) Expenses incurred in connection with any appeal resulting from any Proceeding, including without limitation the premium, security for, and other costs relating to any cost bond, supersedeas bond, or other appeal bond or its equivalent, and (ii) for purposes of Section 14(d) of this Agreement only, Expenses incurred by Indemnitee in connection with the interpretation, enforcement or defense of Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement, by litigation or otherwise.  The parties agree that for the purposes of any advancement of Expenses for which Indemnitee has made written demand to the Company in accordance with this Agreement, all Expenses included in such demand that are certified by affidavit of Indemnitee’s counsel as being reasonable in the good faith judgment of such counsel will be presumed conclusively to be reasonable.  Expenses, however, do not include amounts paid in settlement by Indemnitee or the amount of judgments or fines against Indemnitee.
(g)“Independent Counsel” means a law firm, or a member of a law firm, that is experienced in matters of corporation law and neither presently is, nor in the past five years has been, retained to represent:  (i) the Company or Indemnitee in any matter material to either such party (other than with respect to matters concerning the Indemnitee under this Agreement, or of other indemnitees under similar indemnification agreements), or (ii) any other party to the Proceeding giving rise to a claim for indemnification hereunder.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term “Independent Counsel” does not include any person who, under the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing, would have a conflict of interest in representing either the Company or Indemnitee in an action to determine Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement.  The Company agrees to pay the reasonable fees and expenses of the Independent Counsel.
(h)“Potential Change in Control” means the occurrence of any of the following events: (i) the Company enters into any written or oral agreement, undertaking or arrangement, the consummation of which would result in the occurrence of a Change in Control; (ii) any Person or the Company publicly announces an intention to take or consider taking actions which if consummated would constitute a Change in Control; (iii) any Person who becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 5% or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors increases his beneficial ownership of such securities by 5% or more over the percentage so owned by such Person on the date hereof; or (iv) the Board adopts a resolution to the effect that, for purposes of this Agreement, a Potential Change in Control has occurred. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall any such agreement, undertaking, arrangement, public announcement, acquisition of securities or beneficial ownership, or Board resolution relating to an increase in ownership or beneficial interest by David A. Morken or his affiliates constitute a Potential Change in Control.
(i)The term “Proceeding” includes any threatened, pending or completed action, suit, claim, counterclaim, cross claim, arbitration, mediation, alternate dispute resolution mechanism, investigation, inquiry, administrative hearing or any other actual, threatened or completed proceeding, whether brought in the right of the Company or otherwise and whether of a civil, criminal, administrative, legislative, regulatory or investigative (formal or informal) nature, including any appeal therefrom, in which Indemnitee was, is or will be involved as a party, potential party, non-party witness or otherwise by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status or by reason of any action taken by Indemnitee (or a failure to take action by Indemnitee) or of any action (or failure to act) on Indemnitee’s part while acting pursuant to Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, in each case whether or not serving in such capacity at the time any liability or Expense is incurred for which indemnification, reimbursement or advancement of Expenses can 

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be provided under this Agreement.  A Proceeding also includes a situation the Indemnitee believes in good faith may lead to or culminate in the institution of a Proceeding.
Section 3.Indemnity in Third-Party Proceedings.  The Company will indemnify Indemnitee in accordance with the provisions of this Section 3 if Indemnitee is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or a participant in any Proceeding, other than a Proceeding by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor.  Pursuant to this Section 3, the Company will indemnify Indemnitee to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law against all Expenses, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement (including all interest, assessments and other charges paid or payable in connection with or in respect of such Expenses, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement) actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection with such Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein, if Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company and, in the case of a criminal Proceeding had no reasonable cause to believe that Indemnitee’s conduct was unlawful.  
Section 4.Indemnity in Proceedings by or in the Right of the Company.  The Company will indemnify Indemnitee in accordance with the provisions of this Section 4 if Indemnitee is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or a participant in any Proceeding by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor.  Pursuant to this Section 4, the Company will indemnify Indemnitee to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection with such Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein, if Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company.  The Company will not indemnify Indemnitee for Expenses under this Section 4 related to any claim, issue or matter in a Proceeding for which Indemnitee has been finally adjudged by a court to be liable to the Company, unless, and only to the extent that, the Court of Chancery of the state of Delaware (the “Delaware Court”) or any court in which the Proceeding was brought determines upon application by Indemnitee that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, Indemnitee is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnification.
Section 5.Indemnification for Expenses of a Party Who is Wholly or Partly Successful. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Company will indemnify Indemnitee against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee in connection with any Proceeding to the extent that Indemnitee is successful, on the merits or otherwise.  If Indemnitee is not wholly successful in such Proceeding but is successful, on the merits or otherwise, as to one or more but less than all claims, issues or matters in such Proceeding, the Company will indemnify Indemnitee against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection with or related to each successfully resolved claim, issue or matter to the fullest extent permitted by law.  For purposes of this Section 5 and without limitation, the termination of any claim, issue or matter in such a Proceeding by dismissal, with or without prejudice, will be deemed to be a successful result as to such claim, issue or matter.
Section 6.Indemnification for Expenses of a Witness.  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement and to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Company will indemnify Indemnitee against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection with any Proceeding to which Indemnitee is not a party but to which Indemnitee is a witness, deponent, interviewee or otherwise asked to participate or provide information.
Section 7.Partial Indemnification.  If Indemnitee is entitled under any provision of this Agreement to indemnification by the Company for some or a portion of Expenses, but not, 

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however, for the total amount thereof, the Company will indemnify Indemnitee for the portion thereof to which Indemnitee is entitled.
Section 8.Additional Indemnification.  Notwithstanding any limitation in Sections 3, 4 or 5 of this Agreement, the Company will indemnify Indemnitee to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law (including but not limited to, the DGCL and any amendments to or replacements of the DGCL adopted after the date of this Agreement that expand the Company’s ability to indemnify its officers and directors) if Indemnitee is a party to or threatened to be made a party to any Proceeding (including a Proceeding by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor). 
Section 9.Exclusions.  Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement, the Company is not obligated under this Agreement to make any indemnification payment to Indemnitee in connection with any Proceeding:
(a)for which payment has actually been made to or on behalf of Indemnitee under any insurance policy or other indemnity provision, except to the extent provided in Section 16(b) of this Agreement and except with respect to any excess beyond the amount paid under any insurance policy or other indemnity provision; or
(b)for (i) an accounting of profits made from the purchase and sale (or sale and purchase) by Indemnitee of securities of the Company within the meaning of Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act (as defined in Section 2(b) of this Agreement) or similar provisions of state statutory law or common law, (ii) any reimbursement of the Company by the Indemnitee of any bonus or other incentive-based or equity-based compensation or of any profits realized by the Indemnitee from the sale of securities of the Company, as required in each case under the Exchange Act (including any such reimbursements that arise from an accounting restatement of the Company pursuant to Section 304 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”), or the payment to the Company of profits arising from the purchase and sale by Indemnitee of securities in violation of Section 306 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act) or (iii) any reimbursement of the Company by Indemnitee of any compensation pursuant to any compensation recoupment or clawback policy adopted by the Board or the compensation committee of the Board, including but not limited to any such policy adopted to comply with stock exchange listing requirements implementing Section 10D of the Exchange Act; or
(c)initiated by Indemnitee, including any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) initiated by Indemnitee against the Company or its directors, officers, employees or other indemnitees, unless (i) the Proceeding or part of any Proceeding is to enforce Indemnitee’s rights to indemnification or advancement, of Expenses, including a Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) initiated pursuant to Section 14 of this Agreement, (ii) the Board authorized the Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) prior to its initiation or (iii) the Company provides the indemnification, in its sole discretion, pursuant to the powers vested in the Company under applicable law.
Section 10.Advances of Expenses.  
(a)The Company will advance, to the extent not prohibited by law, the Expenses incurred by Indemnitee in connection with any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) not initiated by Indemnitee or any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) initiated by Indemnitee if (i) the Proceeding or part of any Proceeding is to enforce Indemnitee’s rights to obtain indemnification or advancement of Expenses from the Company or Enterprise, including a proceeding initiated pursuant to Section 14 of this Agreement or (ii) the Board authorized the Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) prior to its initiation. The Company will advance the Expenses within thirty (30) days after the receipt by the Company of a 

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statement or statements requesting such advances from time to time, whether prior to or after final disposition of any Proceeding.  
(b)Advances will be unsecured and interest free.  Indemnitee hereby undertakes to repay any amounts so advanced (without interest) to the extent that it is ultimately determined that Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified by the Company, thus Indemnitee qualifies for advances upon the execution of this Agreement and delivery to the Company.  No other form of undertaking is required other than the execution of this Agreement.  The Company will make advances without regard to Indemnitee’s ability to repay the Expenses and without regard to Indemnitee’s ultimate entitlement to indemnification under the other provisions of this Agreement.   
Section 11.Procedure for Notification of Claim for Indemnification or Advancement.
(a)Indemnitee will notify the Company in writing of any Proceeding with respect to which Indemnitee intends to seek indemnification or advancement of Expenses hereunder as soon as reasonably practicable following the receipt by Indemnitee of written notice thereof.  Indemnitee will include in the written notification to the Company a description of the nature of the Proceeding and the facts underlying the Proceeding and provide such documentation and information as is reasonably available to Indemnitee and is reasonably necessary to determine whether and to what extent Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification following the final disposition of such Proceeding.  Indemnitee’s failure to notify the Company will not relieve the Company from any obligation it may have to Indemnitee under this Agreement, and any delay in so notifying the Company will not constitute a waiver by Indemnitee of any rights under this Agreement.  The Secretary of the Company will, promptly upon receipt of such a request for indemnification or advancement, advise the Board in writing that Indemnitee has requested indemnification or advancement.
(b)The Company will be entitled to participate in the Proceeding at its own expense.
Section 12.Procedure Upon Application for Indemnification.  
(a)Unless a Change of Control has occurred, the determination of Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification will be made:
i.by a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors, even though less than a quorum of the Board; 
ii.by a committee of Disinterested Directors designated by a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors, even though less than a quorum of the Board; 
iii. if there are no such Disinterested Directors or, if such Disinterested Directors so direct, by written opinion provided by Independent Counsel selected by the Board; or 
iv.if so directed by the Board, by the stockholders of the Company.
(b)If a Change in Control has occurred, the determination of Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification will be made by written opinion provided by Independent Counsel selected by Indemnitee (unless Indemnitee requests such selection be made by the Board)
(c) The party selecting Independent Counsel pursuant to subsection (a)iii. or (b) of this Section 12 will provide written notice of the selection to the other party.  The notified 

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party may, within ten (10) days after receiving written notice of the selection of Independent Counsel, deliver to the selecting party a written objection to such selection; provided, however, that such objection may be asserted only on the ground that the Independent Counsel so selected does not meet the requirements of “Independent Counsel” as defined in Section 2 of this Agreement, and the objection will set forth with particularity the factual basis of such assertion.  Absent a proper and timely objection, the person so selected will act as Independent Counsel.  If such written objection is so made and substantiated, the Independent Counsel so selected may not serve as Independent Counsel unless and until such objection is withdrawn or the Delaware Court has determined that such objection is without merit.  If, within thirty (30) days after the later of submission by Indemnitee of a written request for indemnification pursuant to Section 11(a) of this Agreement and the final disposition of the Proceeding, Independent Counsel has not been selected or, if selected, any objection to such selection has not been resolved, either the Company or Indemnitee may petition the Delaware Court for resolution of any objection made by the Company or Indemnitee to the other’s selection of Independent Counsel and/or for the appointment as Independent Counsel of a person selected by such court or by such other person as such court designates.  Upon the due commencement of any judicial proceeding or arbitration pursuant to Section 14(a) of this Agreement, Independent Counsel will be discharged and relieved of any further responsibility in such capacity (subject to the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing).
(d)Indemnitee will cooperate with the person, persons or entity making the determination with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification, including providing to such person, persons or entity upon reasonable advance request any documentation or information which is not privileged or otherwise protected from disclosure and which is reasonably available to Indemnitee and reasonably necessary to such determination.  The Company will advance and pay any Expenses incurred by Indemnitee in so cooperating with the person, persons or entity making the indemnification determination irrespective of the determination as to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification and the Company hereby indemnifies and agrees to hold Indemnitee harmless therefrom.  The Company promptly will advise Indemnitee in writing of the determination that Indemnitee is or is not entitled to indemnification, including a description of any reason or basis for which indemnification has been denied and providing a copy of any written opinion provided to the Board by Independent Counsel.
(e)If it is determined that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, the Company will make payment to Indemnitee within thirty (30) days after such determination.  
Section 13.Presumptions and Effect of Certain Proceedings.
(a)In making a determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification hereunder, the person or persons or entity making such determination will, to the fullest extent not prohibited by law, presume Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification under this Agreement if Indemnitee has submitted a request for indemnification in accordance with Section 11(a) of this Agreement, and the Company will, to the fullest extent not prohibited by law, have the burden of proof to overcome that presumption.  Neither the failure of the Company (including by its directors or Independent Counsel) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of any action pursuant to this Agreement that indemnification is proper in the circumstances because Indemnitee has met the applicable standard of conduct, nor an actual determination by the Company (including by its directors or Independent Counsel) that Indemnitee has not met such applicable standard of conduct, will be a defense to the action or create a presumption that Indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct.
(b)If the determination of the Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification has not been made pursuant to Section 12 of this Agreement within sixty (60) days after the later of 

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(i) receipt by the Company of Indemnitee’s request for indemnification pursuant to Section 11(a) of this Agreement and (ii) the final disposition of the Proceeding for which Indemnitee requested Indemnification (the “Determination Period”), the requisite determination of entitlement to indemnification will, to the fullest extent not prohibited by law, be deemed to have been made and Indemnitee will be entitled to such indemnification, absent (i) a misstatement by Indemnitee of a material fact, or an omission of a material fact necessary to make Indemnitee’s statement not materially misleading, in connection with the request for indemnification, or (ii) a prohibition of such indemnification under applicable law.  The Determination Period may be extended for a reasonable time, not to exceed an additional thirty (30) days, if the person, persons or entity making the determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification in good faith requires such additional time for the obtaining or evaluating of documentation and/or information relating thereto; and provided, further, the Determination Period will not apply (i)  if the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by the stockholders pursuant to Section 12(a) iv. of this Agreement and if (A) within fifteen (15) days after receipt by the Company of the request for such determination the Board has resolved to submit such determination to the stockholders for their consideration at an annual meeting thereof to be held within seventy-five (75) days after such receipt and such determination is made thereat, or (B) a special meeting of stockholders is called within fifteen (15) days after such receipt for the purpose of making such determination, such meeting is held for such purpose within sixty (60) days after having been so called and such determination is made thereat, or (ii) if the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by Independent Counsel.
(c)The termination of any Proceeding or of any claim, issue or matter therein, by judgment, order, settlement or conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, will not (except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement) of itself adversely affect the right of Indemnitee to indemnification or create a presumption that Indemnitee did not act in good faith and in a manner which Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company or, with respect to any criminal Proceeding, that Indemnitee had reasonable cause to believe that Indemnitee’s conduct was unlawful.
(d)For purposes of any determination of good faith, Indemnitee will be deemed to have acted in good faith if Indemnitee acted based on the records or books of account of the Company, its subsidiaries, or an Enterprise, including financial statements, or on information supplied to Indemnitee by the directors or officers of the Company, its subsidiaries, or an Enterprise in the course of their duties, or on the advice of legal counsel for the Company, its subsidiaries, or an Enterprise or on information or records given or reports made to the Company or an Enterprise by an independent certified public accountant or by an appraiser, financial advisor or other expert selected with reasonable care by or on behalf of the Company, its subsidiaries or an Enterprise.  Further, Indemnitee will be deemed to have acted in a manner “not opposed to the best interests of the Company,” as referred to in this Agreement if Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in the best interests of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee benefit plan.  The provisions of this Section 13(d) are not exclusive and do not limit in any way the other circumstances in which the Indemnitee may be deemed to have met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in this Agreement.
(e)The knowledge and/or actions, or failure to act, of any director, officer, trustee, partner, managing member, fiduciary, agent or employee of the Enterprise may not be imputed to Indemnitee for purposes of determining Indemnitee’s right to indemnification under this Agreement.
Section 14.Remedies of Indemnitee.  

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(a)Indemnitee may commence litigation against the Company in the Delaware Court to obtain indemnification or advancement of Expenses provided by this Agreement in the event that (i) a determination is made pursuant to Section 12 of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification under this Agreement, (ii) the Company does not advance Expenses pursuant to Section 10 of this Agreement, (iii) the determination of entitlement to indemnification is not made pursuant to Section 12 of this Agreement within the Determination Period, (iv) the Company does not indemnify Indemnitee pursuant to Section 5 or 6 or the second to last sentence of Section 12(d) of this Agreement within ten (10) days after receipt by the Company of a written request therefor, (v) the Company does not indemnify Indemnitee pursuant to Section 3, 4, 7 or 8 of this Agreement within ten (10) days after a determination has been made that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification or (vi) in the event that the Company or any other person takes or threatens to take any action to declare this Agreement void or unenforceable, or institutes any litigation or other action or Proceeding designed to deny, or to recover from, the Indemnitee the benefits provided or intended to be provided to the Indemnitee hereunder.  Alternatively, Indemnitee, at Indemnitee’s option, may seek an award in arbitration to be conducted by a single arbitrator pursuant to the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association.  Indemnitee must commence such Proceeding seeking an adjudication or an award in arbitration within one hundred and eighty (180) days following the date on which Indemnitee first has the right to commence such Proceeding pursuant to this Section 14(a); provided, however, that the foregoing clause does not apply in respect of a Proceeding brought by Indemnitee to enforce Indemnitee’s rights under Section 5 of this Agreement.  The Company will not oppose Indemnitee’s right to seek any such adjudication or award in arbitration.
(b)If a determination is made pursuant to Section 12 of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification, any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 14 will be conducted in all respects as a de novo trial, or arbitration, on the merits and Indemnitee may not be prejudiced by reason of that adverse determination.  In any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 14, the Company will have the burden of proving Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification or advancement of Expenses, as the case may be, and will not introduce evidence of the determination made pursuant to Section 12 of this Agreement.
(c)If a determination is made pursuant to Section 12 of this Agreement that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, the Company will be bound by such determination in any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 14, absent (i) a misstatement by Indemnitee of a material fact, or an omission of a material fact necessary to make Indemnitee’s statement not materially misleading, in connection with the request for indemnification, or (ii) a prohibition of such indemnification under applicable law.
(d)The Company is, to the fullest extent not prohibited by law, precluded from asserting in any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 14 that the procedures and presumptions of this Agreement are not valid, binding and enforceable and will stipulate in any such court or before any such arbitrator that the Company is bound by all the provisions of this Agreement.  
(e)It is the intent of the Company that, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the Indemnitee not be required to incur legal fees or other Expenses associated with the interpretation, enforcement or defense of Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement by litigation or otherwise because the cost and expense thereof would substantially detract from the benefits intended to be extended to the Indemnitee hereunder.  The Company, to the fullest extent permitted by law, will (within ten (10) days after receipt by the Company of a written request therefor) advance to Indemnitee such Expenses which are incurred by Indemnitee in connection with any action concerning this Agreement, Indemnitee’s right to indemnification or 

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advancement of Expenses from the Company, or concerning any directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies maintained by the Company, and will indemnify Indemnitee against any and all such Expenses unless the court determines that each of the Indemnitee’s claims in such Proceeding were made in bad faith or were frivolous or are prohibited by law.
Section 15.Establishment of Trust. 
(a)In the event of a Potential Change in Control or a Change in Control, the Company will, upon written request by Indemnitee, create a trust for the benefit of Indemnitee (the “Trust”) and from time to time upon written request of Indemnitee will fund such Trust in an amount sufficient to satisfy the reasonably anticipated indemnification and advancement obligations of the Company to the Indemnitee in connection with any Proceeding for which Indemnitee has demanded indemnification and/or advancement prior to the Potential Change in Control or Change in Control (the “Funding Obligation”). The trustee of the Trust (the “Trustee”) will be a bank or trust company or other individual or entity chosen by the Indemnitee and reasonably acceptable to the Company. Nothing in this Section 15 relieves the Company of any of its obligations under this Agreement. 
(b)The amount or amounts to be deposited in the Trust pursuant to the Funding Obligation will be determined by mutual agreement of the Indemnitee and the Company or, if the Company and the Indemnitee are unable to reach such an agreement, by Independent Counsel selected in accordance with Section 12(b) of this Agreement. The terms of the Trust will provide that, except upon the consent of both the Indemnitee and the Company, upon a Change in Control: (i) the Trust may not be revoked, or the principal thereof invaded, without the written consent of the Indemnitee; (ii) the Trustee will advance Expenses incurred by Indemnitee, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, within two (2) business days of a request by the Indemnitee; (iii) the Company will continue to fund the Trust in accordance with the Funding Obligation; (iv) the Trustee will promptly pay to the Indemnitee all amounts for which the Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification pursuant to this Agreement or otherwise; and (v) all unexpended funds in such Trust revert to the Company upon mutual agreement by the Indemnitee and the Company or, if the Indemnitee and the Company are unable to reach such an agreement, by Independent Counsel selected in accordance with Section 12(b) of this Agreement, that the Indemnitee has been fully indemnified under the terms of this Agreement. New York law (without regard to its conflicts of laws rules) governs the Trust and the Trustee will consent to the exclusive jurisdiction of Delaware Court, in accordance with Section 25 of this Agreement.
Section 16.Non-exclusivity; Survival of Rights; Insurance; Subrogation.  
(a)The indemnification and advancement of Expenses provided by this Agreement are not exclusive of any other rights to which Indemnitee may at any time be entitled under applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws, any agreement, a vote of stockholders or a resolution of directors, or otherwise.  The indemnification and advancement of Expenses provided by this Agreement may not be limited or restricted by any amendment, alteration or repeal of this Agreement in any way with respect to any action taken or omitted by Indemnitee in Indemnitee’s Corporate Status occurring prior to any amendment, alteration or repeal of this Agreement.  To the extent that a change in Delaware law, whether by statute or judicial decision, permits greater indemnification or advancement of Expenses than would be afforded currently under the Bylaws, the Certificate of Incorporation, or this Agreement, it is the intent of the parties hereto that Indemnitee enjoy by this Agreement the greater benefits so afforded by such change.  No right or remedy herein conferred is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every other right and remedy is cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or 

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otherwise.  The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, will not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other right or remedy.
(b)The Company hereby acknowledges that Indemnitee may have certain rights to indemnification, advancement of Expenses and/or insurance provided by one or more other Persons with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated. The relationship between the Company and such other Persons, other than an Enterprise, with respect to the Indemnitee’s rights to indemnification, advancement of Expenses and insurance is described by this subsection, subject to the provisions of subsection (d) of this Section 16 with respect to a Proceeding concerning Indemnitee’s Corporate Status with an Enterprise.
i.The Company hereby acknowledges and agrees: 
1)the Company’s obligations to Indemnitee are primary and any obligation of any other Persons, other than an Enterprise, are secondary (i.e., the Company is the indemnitor of first resort) with respect to any request for indemnification or advancement of Expenses made pursuant to this Agreement concerning any Proceeding;
2) the Company is primarily liable for all indemnification and indemnification or advancement of Expenses obligations for any Proceeding, whether created by law, the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws, contract (including this Agreement) or otherwise;
3)any obligation of any other Persons with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated to indemnify Indemnitee and/or advance Expenses to Indemnitee in respect of any proceeding are secondary to the obligations of the Company’s obligations;
4)the Company will indemnify Indemnitee and advance Expenses to Indemnitee hereunder to the fullest extent provided herein without regard to any rights Indemnitee may have against any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated or insurer of any such Person; and 
ii.the Company irrevocably waives, relinquishes and releases (A) any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated from any claim of contribution, subrogation, reimbursement, exoneration or indemnification, or any other recovery of any kind in respect of amounts paid by the Company to Indemnitee pursuant to this Agreement and (B) any right to participate in any claim or remedy of Indemnitee against any Person, whether or not such claim, remedy or right arises in equity or under contract, statute or common law, including, without limitation, the right to take or receive from any Person, directly or indirectly, in cash or other property or by set-off or in any other manner, payment or security on account of such claim, remedy or right.  
iii.In the event any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated or their insurers advances or extinguishes any liability or loss for Indemnitee, the payor has a right of subrogation against the Company or its insurers for all amounts so paid which would otherwise be payable by the Company or its insurers under this Agreement.  In no event will payment by any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated or their insurers affect the obligations of the Company hereunder or shift primary liability for the Company’s obligation to indemnify or advance of Expenses to any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated.  
iv.Any indemnification or advancement of Expenses provided by any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated is specifically in excess over the Company’s obligation to indemnify and advance Expenses or any valid and collectible insurance 

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(including but not limited to any malpractice insurance or professional errors and omissions insurance) provided by the Company. 
(c)To the extent that the Company maintains an insurance policy or policies providing liability insurance for directors, officers, employees or agents of the Company, the Company will obtain a policy or policies covering Indemnitee to the maximum extent of the coverage available for any such director, officer, employee or agent under such policy or policies, including coverage in the event the Company does not or cannot, for any reason, indemnify or advance Expenses to Indemnitee as required by this Agreement.  If, at the time of the receipt of a notice of a claim pursuant to this Agreement, the Company has director and officer liability insurance in effect, the Company will give prompt notice of such claim or of the commencement of a Proceeding, as the case may be, to the insurers in accordance with the procedures set forth in the respective policies.  The Company will thereafter take all necessary or desirable action to cause such insurers to pay, on behalf of the Indemnitee, all amounts payable as a result of such Proceeding in accordance with the terms of such policies.  Indemnitee agrees to assist the Company efforts to cause the insurers to pay such amounts and will comply with the terms of such policies, including selection of approved panel counsel, if required.
(d)The Company’s obligation to indemnify or advance Expenses hereunder to Indemnitee for any Proceeding concerning Indemnitee’s Corporate Status with an Enterprise will be reduced by any amount Indemnitee has actually received as indemnification or advancement of Expenses from such Enterprise. The Company and Indemnitee intend that any such Enterprise (and its insurers) be the indemnitor of first resort with respect to indemnification and advancement of Expenses for any Proceeding related to or arising from Indemnitee’s Corporate Status with such Enterprise.  The Company’s obligation to indemnify and advance Expenses to Indemnitee is secondary to the obligations the Enterprise or its insurers owe to Indemnitee.  Indemnitee agrees to take all reasonably necessary and desirable action to obtain from an Enterprise indemnification and advancement of Expenses for any Proceeding related to or arising from Indemnitee’s Corporate Status with such Enterprise. 
(e)In the event of any payment made by the Company under this Agreement, the Company will be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of recovery of Indemnitee from any Enterprise or its insurance carrier.  Indemnitee will execute all papers required and take all action necessary to secure such rights, including execution of such documents as are necessary to enable the Company to bring suit to enforce such rights.
Section 17.Duration of Agreement.  This Agreement continues until and terminates upon the later of: (a) ten (10) years after the date that Indemnitee ceases to serve as a [director/officer] of the Company or (b) one (1) year after the final termination of any Proceeding then pending in respect of which Indemnitee is granted rights of indemnification or advancement of Expenses hereunder and of any Proceeding commenced by Indemnitee pursuant to Section 14 of this Agreement relating thereto.  The indemnification and advancement of Expenses rights provided by or granted pursuant to this Agreement are binding upon and be enforceable by the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns (including any direct or indirect successor by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise to all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Company), continue as to an Indemnitee who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company or of any other Enterprise, and inure to the benefit of Indemnitee and Indemnitee’s spouse, assigns, heirs, devisees, executors and administrators and other legal representatives. 
Section 18.Severability.  If any provision or provisions of this Agreement is held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable for any reason whatsoever: (a) the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement (including without limitation, each portion of any Section of this Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal 

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or unenforceable, that is not itself invalid, illegal or unenforceable) will not in any way be affected or impaired thereby and remain enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law; (b) such provision or provisions will be deemed reformed to the extent necessary to conform to applicable law and to give the maximum effect to the intent of the parties hereto; and (c) to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this Agreement (including, without limitation, each portion of any Section of this Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that is not itself invalid, illegal or unenforceable) will be construed so as to give effect to the intent manifested thereby.
Section 19.Interpretation.  Any ambiguity in the terms of this Agreement will be resolved in favor of Indemnitee and in a manner to provide the maximum indemnification and advancement of Expenses permitted by law.  The Company and Indemnitee intend that this Agreement provide to the fullest extent permitted by law for indemnification and advancement in excess of that expressly provided, without limitation, by the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws, vote of the Company stockholders or disinterested directors, or applicable law.
Section 20.Enforcement.
(a)The Company expressly confirms and agrees that it has entered into this Agreement and assumed the obligations imposed on it hereby in order to induce Indemnitee to serve as a director or officer of the Company, and the Company acknowledges that Indemnitee is relying upon this Agreement in serving or continuing to serve as a director or officer of the Company.
(b)This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, oral, written and implied, between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof; provided, however, that this Agreement is a supplement to and in furtherance of the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws, any directors’ and officers’ insurance maintained by the Company and applicable law, and is not a substitute therefor, nor to diminish or abrogate any rights of Indemnitee thereunder.
Section 21.Modification and Waiver.  No supplement, modification or amendment of this Agreement is binding unless executed in writing by the parties hereto.  No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement will be deemed or constitutes a waiver of any other provisions of this Agreement nor will any waiver constitute a continuing waiver.
Section 22.Notice by Indemnitee.  Indemnitee agrees promptly to notify the Company in writing upon being served with any summons, citation, subpoena, complaint, indictment, information or other document relating to any Proceeding or matter which may be subject to indemnification or advancement of Expenses covered hereunder.  The failure of Indemnitee to so notify the Company does not relieve the Company of any obligation which it may have to the Indemnitee under this Agreement or otherwise. 
Section 23.Notices.  All notices, requests, demands and other communications under this Agreement will be in writing and will be deemed to have been duly given if (a) delivered by hand to the other party, (b) sent by reputable overnight courier to the other party or (c) sent by electronic mail, with receipt of oral confirmation that such communication has been received:
(a)If to Indemnitee, at the address indicated on the signature page of this Agreement, or such other address as Indemnitee provides to the Company.

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(b)If to the Company to:
Bandwidth Inc.
900 Main Campus Drive
(800) 808-5150
Attention:  R. Brandon Asbill
Email:   basbill@bandwidth.com

or to any other address as may have been furnished to Indemnitee by the Company.
Section 24.Contribution.  To the fullest extent permissible under applicable law, if the indemnification provided for in this Agreement is unavailable to Indemnitee for any reason whatsoever, the Company, in lieu of indemnifying Indemnitee, will contribute to the amount incurred by Indemnitee, whether for judgments, fines, penalties, excise taxes, amounts paid or to be paid in settlement and/or for Expenses, in connection with any claim relating to an indemnifiable event under this Agreement, in such proportion as is deemed fair and reasonable in light of all of the circumstances of such Proceeding in order to reflect (i) the relative benefits received by the Company and Indemnitee as a result of the event(s) and/or transaction(s) giving cause to such Proceeding; and/or (ii) the relative fault of the Company (and its directors, officers, employees and agents) and Indemnitee in connection with such event(s) and/or transaction(s).
Section 25.Applicable Law and Consent to Jurisdiction.  This Agreement and the legal relations among the parties are governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to its conflict of laws rules.  Except with respect to any arbitration commenced by Indemnitee pursuant to Section 14(a) of this Agreement, the Company and Indemnitee hereby irrevocably and unconditionally (i) agree that any action or Proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement may be brought only in the Delaware Court and not in any other state or federal court in the United States of America or any court in any other country, (ii) consent to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Delaware Court for purposes of any action or Proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement, (iii) waive any objection to the laying of venue of any such action or Proceeding in the Delaware Court and (iv) waive, and agree not to plead or to make, any claim that any such action or Proceeding brought in the Delaware Court has been brought in an improper or inconvenient forum.
Section 26.Identical Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which will for all purposes be deemed to be an original but all of which together constitutes one and the same Agreement.  Only one such counterpart signed by the party against whom enforceability is sought needs to be produced to evidence the existence of this Agreement.
Section 27.Headings.  The headings of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and do not constitute part of this Agreement or affect the construction thereof.

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be signed as of the day and year first above written.
 BANDWIDTH INC.                    INDEMNITEE

By:                                            
Name:                            Name:
Office:                            Address:            
                                            
                                            

-16-Document

Exhibit 10.51

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") is made and entered into as of December 6, 2019 (the "Effective Date"), by and between Bandwidth Inc. ("Bandwidth"), a Delaware corporation with its principal place of business at 900 Main Campus Drive, Suite 100, Raleigh, North Carolina 27606, and Scott Mullen ("Executive").

BACKGROUND

A.Executive is Bandwidth's Chief Technology Officer.

B.Bandwidth and Executive now desire to enter into this Agreement in order to formalize the terms and conditions of employment pursuant to this Agreement.

C.All initially capitalized terms are either defined herein (but not necessarily where first used) or are defined in Exhibit A attached hereto and incorporated herein by this reference.

AGREEMENT

In consideration of the foregoing, the agreements made herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties agree as follows:

1Employment Period. Bandwidth agrees to employ Executive and Executive agrees to serve Bandwidth for the period beginning on the Effective Date and ending at 11:59 p.m., Raleigh, North Carolina, local time, until December 31, 2019 (as may be extended, the "Employment Period"). The Employment Period will automatically extend for consecutive additional one (1) year periods unless either party provides the other with written notice to the contrary no less than sixty (60) days prior to the expiration of the then current Employment Period. If notice of non-extension is provided by Bandwidth, this Agreement and Executive’s employment shall terminate at the end of the then current Employment Period, and such termination of employment shall be treated as a termination by Bandwidth other than for Cause. This Agreement may be terminated before the expiration of the Employment Period only pursuant to Section 4. Bandwidth and Executive each acknowledges and agrees that this Agreement does not interrupt the continuity of Executive's employment.

2Nature of Duties.

2.1Executive will serve as Bandwidth's Chief Technology Officer. As such, Executive will act in conformity with the management policies, guidelines and directions issued by Bandwidth's Chief Executive Officer (the "Chief Executive Officer"), and will have general charge and supervision of those functions and such other responsibilities as the Chief Executive Officer determines and assigns; provided they are not inconsistent with the functions and duties typically performed by, and the responsibility of, Chief Technology Officer of like corporations. Executive will report to the Chief Executive Officer.

2.2Executive will work exclusively for Bandwidth on a full-time basis, with his primary office at Bandwidth’s headquarters. During normal business hours Executive will devote substantially all of his

			
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Exhibit 10.51

business time and attention to Bandwidth's business. The foregoing does not prohibit Executive from engaging in civic, professional and business activities that do not interfere with his duties to Bandwidth, and that otherwise do not violate this Agreement.

1.3Executive will perform his duties and responsibilities hereunder diligently, faithfully and
loyally.

3Compensation and Benefits.

3.1Base Salary and Expenses.

3.1.1During the Employment Period, Bandwidth will pay to Executive a salary at the initial rate of $290,000.16 per annum (the "Base Salary"). The Base Salary will be earned and paid in equal installments, semi-monthly, or at such other interval as the Bandwidth’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) or Compensation Committee of the Board (the “Compensation Committee”) directs, but no less often than once each month. At the beginning of each year during the Employment Period, the Chief Executive Officer will in good faith review the Base Salary and recommend to the Board and/or Compensation Committee any changes for determination by the Board and/or the Compensation Committee. Bandwidth shall be entitled to withhold, or cause to be withheld, any amount of federal, state, city or other withholding taxes or other amounts either required by law or authorized by Executive with respect to payments made to Executive in connection with his employment hereunder.

3.1.2Bandwidth will reimburse Executive for all reasonable out-of-pocket business expenses incurred by Executive on Bandwidth's behalf during the Employment Period, so long as such expenses are reimbursable under Bandwidth’s policies in effect from time to time. At Executive's request, expenses will be advanced before an expenditure is incurred, or they will be paid by Bandwidth directly to third parties from which goods or services are being obtained.

3.2Bonus Compensation.

3.2.1In addition to the Base Salary, Bandwidth will pay to Executive bonus compensation each year during the Employment Period of up to 40% of the Base Salary (or more if Bandwidth exceeds its corporate objectives established from time to time pursuant to Section 3.2.2 below and the pro-rata calculations provided in Section 3.2.2 below yield more than forty percent (40%) of the Base Salary) (the "Bonus Compensation"). The Bonus Compensation will be adjusted based on Executive’s individual achievement of personal objectives established from time to time pursuant to Section 3.2.2 below; for example, if Bandwidth achieves one hundred percent (100%) of each of the corporate objectives established from time to time pursuant to Section 3.2.2 below and Executive achieves one hundred one percent (101%) of Executive’s personal objectives, the Bonus Compensation calculated pursuant to the first sentence of this Section 3.2.1 would be multiplied by 1.01. The individual performance objectives and the relative weighting of the respective corporate objectives established from time to time pursuant to Section 3.2.2 below will be reviewed by the Chief Executive Officer, who will make recommendations to the Board and/or the Compensation Committee for determination by the Board and/or the Compensation Committee at the beginning of each calendar year.

			
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Exhibit 10.51

3.2.2The Bonus Compensation will be earned, if at all, upon satisfaction of criteria, reviewed by the Chief Executive Officer, who will make recommendations to the Board and/or the Compensation Committee for determination by the Board and/or the Compensation Committee, based on Executive’s individual performance objectives and Bandwidth’s corporate objectives. The Bonus Compensation based on Executive’s individual performance objectives will be earned pro-rata upon Executive attaining each objective, as reasonably reviewed by the Chief Executive Officer, who will make recommendations to the Board and/or the Compensation Committee for determination by the Board and/or the Compensation Committee. The Bonus Compensation based on Bandwidth’s corporate objectives will be earned upon Bandwidth meeting its corporate objectives established from time to time pursuant to this Section 3.2.2 provided for in its annual Budget pro-rata based upon the relative weighting of the respective corporate objectives established from time to time pursuant to this Section 3.2.2, each as reasonably reviewed by the Chief Executive Officer, who will make recommendations to the Board and/or the Compensation Committee for determination by the Board and/or the Compensation Committee not later than March 15th for each calendar year. The Chief Executive Officer may review and recommend for determination by the Board and/or the Compensation Committee other corporate objectives and corresponding Budget targets on an annual basis.

3.2.3Bonus Compensation will be paid no later than March 15th of the year succeeding the calendar year with respect to which the Bonus Compensation, if any, is calculated.

3.2.4In addition to the Bonus Compensation, the Chief Executive Officer will from time to time review Executive’s efforts on behalf of Bandwidth and may make recommendations to the Board and/or the Compensation Committee for determination by the Board and/or the Compensation Committee a special bonus for extraordinary service. Special bonuses, if any, will not count as any other compensation payable under this Agreement.

3.3Stock Options and Restricted Stock.

3.3.1All of Executive's then outstanding unvested Bandwidth stock options and Bandwidth restricted stock will immediately vest, and the options will be exercisable for the remainder of their full original term at grant without regard to any provision in the plan under which such securities were granted that may otherwise reduce the term, upon the earlier of:

3.3.1.1Executive's death prior to termination or expiration of this Agreement; or

3.3.1.2Change in Control.

3.3.2This Section 3.3 is intended to be an award agreement itself, and is intended to supplement the terms and conditions of any and all other award agreements between Bandwidth and Executive relating to any options or restricted stock granted to Executive by Bandwidth, and the terms of this Section 3.3 will govern the terms of such other award agreements in the event of any conflicts, regardless of whether such other agreements are heretofore or have previously been entered into by the parties.

3.4Severance. If Bandwidth terminates Executive other than for Cause, or Executive resigns for Good Reason, then Bandwidth will pay to Executive an amount ("Severance") equal to (i) one hundred

			
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Exhibit 10.51

percent (100%) the then-current Base Salary, plus (ii) one hundred percent (100%) of the Bonus Compensation, determined as if Executive and Bandwidth will have achieved one hundred percent (100%) of the objectives or targets described in Section 3.2.1 above. Such amount, less any applicable taxes and other similar amounts, will be paid in equal installments over a twelve (12) month period following the termination in accordance with Bandwidth’s standard payroll practices and procedures. The receipt of any severance benefits provided for pursuant to this Agreement or otherwise will be dependent upon Executive’s delivery to Bandwidth of an effective general release of claims in a form reasonably satisfactory to Bandwidth not later than thirty (30) days after the date of Executive’s termination of employment (or such longer period as may be required by applicable law), and shall be paid or commence no later than thirty (30) days thereafter, with the first payment to include any amounts that would have been payable on payroll dates occurring after Executive’s termination of employment and prior to such first payment.

3.5Vacation. During the Employment Period, Executive will be entitled to take vacation time in accordance with Bandwidth's policies, but no less than 25 days of paid vacation per year. Bandwidth and Executive will reasonably agree on when vacation time can be taken, and how many weeks can be taken consecutively. In the event that all or any part of the vacation is not taken for any reason during any year, there will be no compensation paid in lieu thereof, and accrued and unused vacation time will not be carried over and added to the vacation time for the succeeding year in accordance with such policy, unless otherwise approved by the Chief Executive Officer.

3.6Health, Disability, Retirement, Death and Insurance Benefits.

3.6.1Bandwidth will provide Executive with the same health, disability, retirement, death and other fringe benefits as are generally provided to the executive employees of Bandwidth in accordance with such terms, conditions and eligibility requirements as may from time to time be established or modified by Bandwidth; provided, that Bandwidth will pay the entire premium for Executive’s then-current coverage under Bandwidth's group health insurance plan unless Bandwidth reasonably determines that paying the entire premium would be discriminatory and could subject Executive to adverse income tax consequences. Bandwidth shall, to the extent allowable by law, regulation, contract and policy, continue to pay Executive's basic medical insurance premiums for twelve (12) months following a termination of Executive by Bandwidth other than for Cause, whether or not this coverage is required to be available under COBRA.

3.6.2Upon a termination of Executive by Bandwidth other than for Cause, Bandwidth will also pay Executive a lump sum amount equal to twelve (12) months of premiums for the term life insurance coverage Bandwidth had in effect for Executive as of the date of his termination of employment. Such amount will be payable, less applicable withholdings, with the first payment of Severance. Executive will have all rights to convert or purchase such life insurance policies as provided under the terms of the plan and policies.

3.7Indemnification. During the Employment Period and after Executive’s termination of employment, Bandwidth shall indemnify Executive and hold Executive harmless from and against any claim, loss or cause of action arising from or out of Executive’s performance as an officer, director or employee of Bandwidth or any of its subsidiaries or other affiliates or in any other capacity, including any fiduciary capacity, in which Executive serves at Bandwidth’s request, in each case to the maximum extent permitted by law and under Bandwidth’s Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws. This indemnification

			
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Exhibit 10.51

right is in addition to any similar rights under any statute, Bandwidth’s Certificate of Incorporation, By- Laws and under any other applicable agreements that now exist or may exist from time to time. During the Employment Period and for at least 3 years following Executive’s termination of employment, Executive shall be covered by any policy of directors and officers’ liability insurance maintained by Bandwidth for the benefit of its officers and directors.

4Termination.

4.1Executive's employment with Bandwidth will terminate automatically upon Executive's
death.

4.2Bandwidth may terminate Executive’s employment at any time.

4.3If at any time during the Employment Period Bandwidth (i) assigns Executive to serve in a capacity other than as Bandwidth's Chief Technology Officer or assigns Executive to perform tasks inconsistent with such position, in each case, which results in a material diminution in Executive’s authority, duties or responsibilities, or (ii) Bandwidth materially breaches any provision of this Agreement, then Executive may resign his employment by providing notice to Bandwidth within thirty (30) days of such event of the reasons for his resignation under this provision. Bandwidth shall have thirty (30) days following receipt of such notice to remedy and cure the alleged diminution or breach. If Bandwidth does not cure such breach, Executive shall resign his employment and such resignation will be deemed to be a termination by Bandwidth other than for Cause and/or a resignation by Executive for "Good Reason." Executive can resign at any time other than for Good Reason.

4.4Bandwidth will have the right to terminate Executive at any time, immediately, for Cause. "Cause" will mean: (i) Executive is convicted of any felony (or Executive pleads guilty or nolo contendere thereto); (ii) Executive fails or refuses to perform, in any material respect, the written policies or directives of the Chief Executive Officer, unless such failure is corrected within thirty (30) days following his receipt of written notice of such failure from Bandwidth that specifically identifies the manner in which the Chief Executive Officer believes Executive has substantially failed to materially perform his duties; (iii) Executive materially breaches this Agreement or any other agreement between Bandwidth and Executive, including, without limitation, any applicable nondisclosure agreement, unless such failure is corrected within thirty (30) days following his receipt of written notice of such failure from Bandwidth that specifically identifies the manner in which the Chief Executive Officer believes Executive has breached the agreement; or (iv) the gross or willful misconduct by Executive with regard to Bandwidth or any employee of Bandwidth that is materially injurious to Bandwidth or such employee.

			
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Exhibit 10.51

5Effects of Termination.

5.1Upon Executive’s termination of employment for any reason (including death), he will be entitled to receive (in addition to any compensation and benefits he is entitled to receive under Section 3 above, if applicable): (i) any earned but unpaid Base Salary, (ii) any earned but unpaid Bonus Compensation, (iii) unreimbursed business expenses in accordance with Bandwidth’s policies for which expenses Executive has provided appropriate documentation, (iv) a lump sum cash amount equal to the value of his unused vacation days in accordance with the standard written policy of Bandwidth, and (v) any vested amounts or benefits to which Executive is then entitled under the terms of the benefit plans then sponsored by Bandwidth in accordance with their terms. All of Bandwidth's other obligations under this Agreement will end immediately upon Executive’s termination of employment.

5.2Any controversy or claim arising out of or relating to the benefits and entitlements of Executive following a Change of Control will be resolved by binding arbitration in Raleigh, North Carolina with the American Arbitration Association, pursuant to their commercial arbitration rules then in effect. The determination of the arbitrator will be conclusive and binding on Bandwidth and Executive, and judgment may be entered on the arbitrator's award in any court of competent jurisdiction. The prevailing party may recover its attorneys’ fees and expenses incurred in such dispute, including the cost of the Arbitration if the prevailing party initiated the action.

6Stockholder Vote. Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, in the event that any amounts payable to Executive hereunder, alone or together with other payments that Executive has a right to receive from Bandwidth, would constitute an "excess parachute payment" (as defined in Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code")), then Bandwidth will reduce the amounts payable to the minimum extent necessary to avoid the payment of any excess parachute payments and to avoid Executive being subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code. In the event that any payment or benefit intended to be provided hereunder is required to be reduced pursuant to this Section, then the reduction shall occur in the following order: (a) reduction of cash payments described in Section 3 (with such reduction being applied to the payments in the reverse order in which they would otherwise be made, that is, later payments shall be reduced before earlier payments);
(b) cancellation of acceleration of vesting on any equity awards for which the exercise price exceeds the then fair market value of the underlying equity; and (c) cancellation of acceleration of vesting of equity awards not covered under (b) above. In the event that acceleration of vesting of equity awards is to be cancelled, such acceleration of vesting shall be cancelled in the reverse order of the date of grant of such equity awards, that is, later equity awards shall be canceled before earlier equity awards. Without limiting the foregoing, if Bandwidth is not then a public company, it will use its best efforts to secure the approval of its stockholders to exempt the excess parachute payments from the loss of corporate tax deductions imposed under Section 280G and the excise tax imposed under Section 4999. If Bandwidth becomes publicly traded, it will comply with Section 951 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act that requires public companies subject to the federal proxy rules to provide their shareholders with an advisory vote on: executive compensation; the desired frequency of say-on-pay votes; and on golden parachute arrangements, and will seek shareholder votes under Internal Revenue Code Section 162(m), and any other law, regulation or rule that requires a shareholder vote on this Agreement, or that permits a vote to preserve tax benefits or avoid tax penalties.

			
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7Covenant Not To Compete.

7.1Inducement. This covenant between Executive and Bandwidth is being executed and delivered by Executive in consideration of Executive's employment with Bandwidth and each party's rights and obligations agreed to hereunder (including, without limitation, the Base Salary, Bonus Compensation, and other benefits and payments set forth herein). Executive acknowledges that Bandwidth's business and Executive's responsibilities are international in scope. Executive further acknowledges that the covenant not to compete with Bandwidth contained in this Section 7 was and has been a condition of his employment since Executive was originally employed by Bandwidth.

7.2Restricted Activities ─ Duration. Except as otherwise consented to or approved by the Chief Executive Officer in writing, Executive agrees that during the term of this Agreement and for twelve
(12) months after Executive's employment with Bandwidth ends;, regardless of the time, manner or reasons for termination, and regardless of whether terminated by Executive or Bandwidth, but only so long as Bandwidth does not breach its obligations in this Agreement, Executive will not, directly or indirectly, acting alone or as a member of a partnership or as an owner, director, officer, employee, manager, representative or consultant of any corporation or other business entity:

7.2.1engage in any business in competition with the business that is conducted by Bandwidth in the United States, Canada or any European, Asian, Pacific or other foreign country in which Bandwidth then or thereafter transacts business or is making a bona fide attempt to do so;

7.2.2induce, request or attempt to influence any customers or suppliers of Bandwidth to curtail or cancel their business or prospective business with Bandwidth or in any way interfere with Bandwidth's business relationships; or

7.2.3induce, solicit, assist or facilitate the inducement or solicitation by a third person of any employee, officer, agent or representative of Bandwidth, to terminate their respective relationship with Bandwidth or in any way interfere with Bandwidth's employee, officer, agent or representative relationships.

7.3Tolling; Relief of Obligations. In the event that Executive breaches any provision of this Section 7, that violation will toll the running of the restricted period set forth in Section 7.2 from the date of commencement of such violation until such violation ceases.

7.4"Blue Penciling" or Modification. If the length of time, geographic area or scope of restricted business activity set forth in Section 7.2 is deemed unreasonably restrictive or unreasonable in any other respect in any court proceeding, Executive and Bandwidth agree and consent to such court's modifying or reducing such restriction(s) to the extent deemed reasonable under the circumstances then presented.

7.5Definitions. As used in this Section 7, the following terms will have the following definitions:

(i)The terms “compete” or “in competition,” as used herein, will be deemed to

			
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include, without limitation, becoming or being an employee, owner, partner, consultant, agent, stockholder, director, or officer of any person, partnership, firm, corporation or other entity (other than Bandwidth) which engages in (i) the business of developing, providing, offering and selling (A) retail VoIP services, including, without limitation, IP based unified communications services and trunking services; wholesale VoIP services; (B) wholesale origination, termination or SMS services; (C) emergency solutions for telecommunications carriers, including, without limitation, end-to-end call control and support, real-time address validation, automated provisioning and/or geospatial routing; (D) communication platform as a service (or CPaaS) solutions, including, without limitation, application program interfaces deploying, causing the use of, or using origination, termination, or SMS services; and/or (E) product(s) or service(s) to which any of clauses (A) through (D) apply and/or any product(s) or service(s) that perform substantially similar functions to which any of clauses (A) through (D) apply, or (ii) any other business conducted by Bandwidth immediately prior to such termination (or in which Bandwidth shall at such time be actively preparing to engage). Notwithstanding the foregoing, ownership of five (5%) percent or less of any class of securities of an entity will not constitute competition with Bandwidth.

(ii)The phrases “engage in a business” or “engage in a line of business” and similar phrases will be deemed to include marketing or otherwise selling products or researching, writing, developing, designing, distributing, testing or manufacturing products or services or otherwise preparing to market or sell products or services.

8Nondisclosure of Confidential Information.

8.1Executive acknowledges that the discharge of his duties under this Agreement will necessarily involve his access to Confidential Information. Executive acknowledges that the unauthorized use by him or disclosure by him of such Confidential Information to third parties might cause irreparable damage to Bandwidth and Bandwidth's business. Accordingly, Executive agrees that at all times after the date hereof he will not copy, publish, disclose, divulge to or discuss with any third party nor use for his own benefit or that of others, without the prior express written consent of the Chief Executive Officer, except in the normal conduct of his duties under this Agreement, any Confidential Information, it being understood and acknowledged by Executive that all Confidential Information created, compiled or obtained by Executive or Bandwidth, or furnished to Executive by any person while Executive is associated with Bandwidth remains its exclusive property.

8.2Promptly upon termination of his employment, irrespective of the time or manner thereof or reason therefor, and whether such termination is by Bandwidth or Executive, Executive agrees to return and surrender to Bandwidth all tangible Confidential Information in any manner in his control or possession, as well as all other Bandwidth property.

8.3Pursuant to the Defend Trade Secrets Act of 2016, Executive understands that:

An individual may not be held criminally or civilly liable under any federal or state trade secret law for the disclosure of a trade secret that: (a) is made (i) in confidence to a federal, state, or local government official, either directly or indirectly, or to an attorney; and (ii) solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law; or (b) is made in a complaint or other document that is filed under seal in a lawsuit or other proceeding.

			
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Further, an individual who files a lawsuit for retaliation by an employer for reporting a suspected violation of law may disclose the employer's trade secrets to the attorney and use the trade secret information in the court proceeding if the individual: (a) files any document containing the trade secret under seal; and (b) does not disclose the trade secret, except pursuant to court order.

9Remedies Inadequate.

9.1Executive acknowledges that the services to be rendered by him to Bandwidth as contemplated by this Agreement are special, unique and of extraordinary character. Executive expressly agrees and understand that the remedy at law for any breach by him of Section 7 or 8 of this Agreement will be inadequate and that the damages flowing from such breach are not readily susceptible to being measured in monetary terms. Accordingly, upon adequate proof of Executive's violation of any legally enforceable provision of Section 7 or 8, Bandwidth will be entitled to immediate injunctive relief, including, without limitation, a temporary order restraining any threatened or further breach. In the event any equitable proceedings are brought to enforce the provisions of any of Section 7, 8 or 9, Executive agrees that he will not raise in such proceedings any defense that there is an adequate remedy at law, and Executive hereby waives any such defense. Nothing in this Agreement will be deemed to limit Bandwidth's remedies at law or in equity for any breach by Executive of any of the provisions of Section 7 or 8 which may be pursued or availed of by Bandwidth. Without limiting the generality of the immediately preceding sentence, any covenant on Executive's part contained in Section 7 or 8, which may not be specifically enforceable will nevertheless, if breached, give rise to a cause of action for monetary damages.

9.2Executive has carefully considered, and has had adequate time and opportunity to consult with his own counsel or other advisors regarding the nature and extent of the restrictions upon him and the rights and remedies conferred upon Bandwidth under Sections 7, 8 and 9, and hereby acknowledges and agrees that such restrictions are reasonable in time, territory and scope, are designed to eliminate competition which otherwise would be unfair to Bandwidth, do not stifle the inherent skill and experience of Executive, would not operate as a bar to Executive's sole means of support, are fully required to protect the legitimate interests of Bandwidth and do not confer a benefit upon Bandwidth disproportionate to the detriment to Executive.

9.3The covenants and agreements made by Executive in Sections 7, 8 and 9 will survive full payment by Bandwidth to Executive of the amounts to which Executive is entitled under this Agreement, the expiration of the Employment Period and this Agreement.

10Rights. Executive acknowledges and agrees that any procedure, design feature, schematic, invention, improvement, development, discovery, know how, concept, idea or the like (whether or not patentable, registrable under copyright or trademark laws, or otherwise protectable under similar laws) that Executive may conceive of, suggest, make, invent, develop or implement, during the course of his service pursuant to this Agreement (whether individually or jointly with any other person or persons), relating in any way to the business of Bandwidth or to the general industry of which Bandwidth is a part, as will all physical embodiments and manifestations thereof, and all patent rights, copyrights, trademarks (or applications therefor) and similar protections therein (all of the foregoing referred to as "Work Product"), will be the sole, exclusive and absolute property of Bandwidth. All Work Product will be

			
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deemed to be works for hire and, in addition to the Work Product being works for hire, Executive hereby assigns to Bandwidth all right, title and interest in, to and under such Work Product, including without limitation, the right to obtain such patents, copyright registrations, trademark registrations or similar protections as Bandwidth may desire to obtain. Executive will immediately disclose all Work Product to Bandwidth and agrees, at any time, upon Bandwidth's request and without additional compensation, to execute any documents and otherwise to cooperate with Bandwidth respecting the perfection of its right, title and interest in, to and under such Work Product, and in any litigation or controversy in connection therewith, all expenses incident thereto to be borne by Bandwidth.

11Assignment of Payment Rights. In no event will Bandwidth be obligated to make any payment under this Agreement to any assignee or creditor of Executive, other than to the estate of Executive after his death. Prior to the time of payment under this Agreement, neither Executive nor his legal representative will have any right by way of anticipation or otherwise to dispose of any interest under this Agreement.

12Bandwidth's Obligations Unfunded. Except as to any benefits that may be required to be funded under any benefit plan of Bandwidth pursuant to law, as provided for in this Agreement or pursuant to other agreements and which are not for the sole benefit of Executive, the obligations of Bandwidth under this Agreement are not funded and Bandwidth will not be required to set aside or deposit in escrow any monies in advance of the due date for payment thereof to Executive.

13Notices. Any notice to be given hereunder by Bandwidth to Executive will be deemed to be given if delivered to Executive in person, if emailed to Executive at his business email address or if mailed or overnighted to Executive at his address last known on the records of Bandwidth, and any notice to be given by Executive to Bandwidth will be directed either to Bandwidth's Chief Executive, Secretary or General Counsel, and in any case it will be deemed to be given if delivered in person, if emailed to the address at his business email address or if mailed or overnighted to the person at his address last known on the records of Bandwidth, unless any party will have duly notified the other parties in writing of a change of address. All notices are deemed given when delivered to such address, or if otherwise actually received by the addressee.

14Section 409A.

14.1In order to ensure compliance with Code Section 409A and the regulations and guidance promulgated thereunder (collectively “Section 409A”), the provisions of this Section 14 shall govern in all cases over any contrary or conflicting provision in this Agreement (other than a comparable Section 409A provision that is expressly intended to govern over this provision by its terms). The intent of the parties is that payments and benefits under this Agreement comply with, or be exempt from, Section 409A and, accordingly, to the maximum extent permitted, this Agreement shall be interpreted and administered to be in compliance therewith. Executive acknowledges and agrees that Bandwidth has made no representation to Executive as to the tax treatment of the compensation and benefits provided pursuant to this Agreement and that Executive is solely responsible for all taxes due with respect to such compensation and benefits.

14.2To the extent necessary to comply with Section 409A, references in this Agreement to “termination of employment” or “terminates employment” (and similar references) shall have the same

			
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meaning as “separation from service” under Code Section 409A(a)(2)(A)(i), and no payment subject to Section 409A that is payable upon a termination of employment shall be paid unless and until (and not later than applicable in compliance with Section 409A) when Executive incurs a “separation from service” under Code Section 409A(a)(2)(A)(i) (a “Separation from Service”). In addition, if Executive is a “specified employee” within the meaning of Section 409A at the time of his Separation from Service, any nonqualified deferred compensation subject to Section 409A that would otherwise have been payable on account of, and within the first six months following, Executive’s Separation from Service, and not by reason of another event under Section 409A, will become payable on the first business day after six months following the date of Executive’s Separation from Service or, if earlier, the date of Executive’s death.

14.3Consistent with the requirements of Section 409A, to the extent that any reimbursement or in-kind benefit provided is taxable and subject to Section 409A, unless stated otherwise –
(i) reimbursements and in-kind benefits will be provided only during the period during which Executive is employed or receiving Severance; (ii) the expenses eligible for reimbursement or the in-kind benefits provided in any given calendar year will not affect the expenses eligible for reimbursement or the in-kind benefits provided in any other calendar year; (iii) the reimbursement of an eligible expense must be made no later than the last day of calendar year following the calendar year in which the expense was incurred; and (iv) the right to reimbursements or in-kind benefits cannot be liquidated or exchanged for any other benefit.

14.4For purposes of Section 409A, Executive’s right to receive any installment payments pursuant to this Agreement shall be treated as a right to receive a series of separate and distinct payments. If a Separation from Service occurs prior to the date of an Unapproved Change in Control, each payment of Severance and each other payment hereunder that is made within 2-1/2 months following the end of the year that contains the date of Executive’s Separation from Service is intended to be exempt from Section 409A as a short-term deferral within the meaning of the final regulations under Section 409A, each such payment that is made later than 2-1/2 months following the end of the year that contains the date of Executive’s Separation from Service is intended to be exempt under the two-times exception of Treasury Reg. § 1.409A-1(b)(9)(iii), up to the limitation on the availability of that exception specified in the regulation, and each payment that is made after the two-times exception ceases to be available shall be subject to delay (if necessary) in accordance with Section 14.2 above. Continued medical coverage is intended to be exempt from Section 409A under the exemption for health benefits in Treas. Reg. § 1.409A- 1(b)(9)(v)(B).

14.5In no event may Executive, directly or indirectly, designate the calendar year of any payment to be made under this Agreement that is considered nonqualified deferred compensation subject to Section 409A. In no event shall the timing of Executive’s execution of the general release of claims, directly or indirectly, result in Executive designating the calendar year of payment of any nonqualified deferred compensation subject to Section 409A, and if such a payment that is subject to execution of the general release of claims could be made in more than one taxable year, payment shall be made in the later taxable year.

15Amendments. This Agreement will not be modified or discharged, in whole or in part, except by an agreement in writing signed by all parties.

			
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16Entire Agreement. Except as expressly provided for herein, this Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof. The parties are not relying on any other representation, express or implied, oral or written. This Agreement supersedes any prior employment agreement, written or oral, between Executive and Bandwidth; provided, however that other non-competition, non-solicitation, confidentiality agreements, and other restrictive covenant agreements between Executive and Bandwidth remain in effect and this Agreement and such other agreements may be enforced by Bandwidth independently or simultaneously.

17Captions; Terms. The captions contained in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and do not affect the meaning of any terms or provisions hereof. References to "termination of employment," "termination of Executive," "termination of this Agreement," "termination of the Employment Period," and any other terms of similar meaning will all be deemed equivalent. Masculine, feminine and neuter pronouns are interchangeable as context requires.

18Binding Effect. The parties may not assign this Agreement and may not assign or delegate any right or duty hereunder and any attempt to do so is void. Subject to the foregoing, the rights and obligations of Bandwidth hereunder will inure to the benefit of, and will be binding upon, Bandwidth and its successors and assigns, and the rights and obligations of Executive hereunder will inure to the benefit of, and will be binding upon, Executive and his heirs, personal representatives and estate.

19Severable Provisions. The provisions of this Agreement are severable, and if any one or more provisions may be determined to be illegal or otherwise unenforceable, in whole or in part, the remaining provisions and any partially enforceable provision will be binding and enforceable to the extent enforceable in any jurisdiction.

20Governing Law and Venue. This Agreement will be interpreted, construed, and enforced in all respects in accordance with the laws of the State of North Carolina, without regard to conflict of laws. Other than disputes that by the terms of this Agreement are to be resolved through binding arbitration, any and all actions brought arising out of, or based in whole or in part upon this Agreement or the employment relationship between Executive and Bandwidth, will be brought in either a federal or state court sitting in Raleigh, North Carolina, and the parties consent to jurisdiction and venue thereof.

			
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Exhibit 10.51

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this Agreement on the day and year first above written, effective the Effective Date.

															
			Bandwidth:
					
			BANDWIDTH INC.
					
			By	/s/ David A. Morken	
					
			Its	CEO	
					
					
			Executive:
					
				/s/ Scott Mullen	
					
				Scott Mullen	
					

			
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Exhibit 10.51

EXHIBIT A
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
DEFINITIONS

"Approved Change in Control" of Bandwidth means a Change in Control of Bandwidth of a nature that would be required to be reported in response to Item 5.01 of the Current Report on Form 8-K, as if in effect on the Effective Date, pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act") if the transaction causing such a change will have been approved by the affirmative vote of at least a majority of the Continuing Directors.

"Change in Control" means, and will be deemed to have occurred at such time as: (i) any "person" (as such term is used in Section 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act) becomes the "beneficial owner" (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of fifty percent (50%) or more prior to Bandwidth's first underwritten public offering and twenty-five percent (25%) or more after, but not as a result of, Bandwidth's first underwritten public offering, or more of the combined voting power of Bandwidth's Voting Securities; (ii) sale of all or substantially all of the assets of Bandwidth, or any merger, consolidation, or reorganization to which Bandwidth is a party and as the result of which Bandwidth's stockholders prior to the transaction do not own at least fifty percent (50%) of the voting power of the surviving entity in the election of directors; or (iii) individuals who constitute the Continuing Directors cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of Bandwidth's Board of Directors. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no event unilaterally caused by Executive by virtue of his stock ownership will be a Change in Control. Further notwithstanding the foregoing, a Change in Control shall not be deemed to occur unless the transaction also constitutes a change in the ownership or effective control of Bandwidth or a change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of Bandwidth, each as defined in Code Section 409A(a)(2)(A)(v) and the regulations promulgated thereunder; however, a Change in Control shall be deemed to occur if the transaction constitutes a change in the ownership or effective control of Bandwidth or a change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of Bandwidth, each as defined in Code Section 409A(a)(2)(A)(v) and the regulations promulgated thereunder, regardless of whether it satisfies the foregoing.

"Budget" will mean for each year, Bandwidth's management financial targets approved by the Board of Directors for the year in question.

"Confidential Information" means all information or trade secrets of any type or description belonging to Bandwidth that are proprietary and confidential to Bandwidth and are not publicly disclosed or are only disclosed with restrictions. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Confidential Information includes strategic plans for carrying on business, other business plans, cost data, internal financial information, customer lists, employee lists, vendor lists, business partner or alliance lists, drawings, designs, schematics, flow charts, specifications, inventions, calculations, discoveries and any letters, papers, documents or instruments disclosing or reflecting any of the foregoing, and all information revealed to, acquired or created by Executive during Executive's employment by Bandwidth relating to any of the foregoing.

"Continuing Directors" will mean and include the persons constituting Bandwidth's Board of Directors as of the Effective Date, and any person who becomes a director of Bandwidth subsequent to the

			
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date hereof whose election, or nomination for election by Bandwidth's stockholders, was approved by an affirmative vote of at least a majority of the then Continuing Directors (either by a specific vote or if Bandwidth is then subject to the proxy rules of the Exchange Act then by approval of the proxy statement of Bandwidth in which such person is named as a nominee for director or of the inclusion of such person in such Proxy Statement as such a nominee, in any case without objection by any member of such approving majority of the then Continuing Directors to the nomination of such person or the naming of such person as a director nominee).

“Good Reason” means that if, at any time during the Employment Period without Executive’s consent, Bandwidth (i) assigns Executive to serve in a capacity other than as the Company’s Chief Technology Officer or assigns Executive to perform tasks inconsistent with such position, in each case, which results in a material overall diminution in Executive’s authority, duties or responsibilities, or (ii) Bandwidth materially breaches any provision of this Agreement, then Executive may resign his employment by providing notice to Bandwidth within thirty (30) days of such event of the reasons for his resignation under this provision. Bandwidth shall have thirty (30) days following receipt of such notice to remedy and cure the alleged diminution or breach. If Bandwidth does not cure such breach, Executive shall resign his employment within thirty (30) days of Bandwidth’s cure period, and such resignation will be deemed to be a resignation by Executive for Good Reason.

"Operating Earnings" will mean earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization and excluding (i) capital expenditures, (ii) extraordinary gains and losses, and (iii) any bonus(es) paid or payable pursuant to Section 3.5 and/or Section 3.6 of the agreement to which this Exhibit A is attached, unless Bandwidth has accrued for the payment of such bonus(es) in connection with Bandwidth’s calculation of Operating Earnings target for the purposes of Section 3.2.

"Unapproved Change in Control" of Bandwidth will mean any Change in Control of Bandwidth that is not an Approved Change in Control.

"Voting Securities" means Bandwidth's outstanding securities ordinarily having the right to vote at elections of directors.
			
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