Exhibit 10.10
Peter Platzer
Re: Foreign Assignment
Dear Peter:
This Letter Agreement will serve to confirm our mutual understanding of the terms and conditions applicable to your assignment (Assignment) to Luxembourg (the Host Country), where you will perform your responsibilities as Chief Executive Officer for Spire Global, Inc. (the Company). Your Assignment is scheduled to begin January 1, 2018. It is anticipated that your Assignment would last for at least 2 years. Your home city and country is San Francisco, CA, USA.
1. Compensation
1) | Base Salary: Your base compensation will consist of $300,000 USD Gross. You will remain on the United States Payroll during the length of your Assignment. |
2) | Equity Compensation: You will remain eligible to participate in the Companys the 2012 Stock Option and Grant Plan (the Plan), as described in the Plan and the applicable Stock Option Agreements. |
2. Benefits
You will remain enrolled in the Companys US Health & Welfare Benefit Plans, as in effect from time to time. You will either be eligible for local health benefits (if provided by the local entitys policy) or a private insurance benefit purchased by the Company (if the local health benefits cannot be provided by the local entitys policy), but no other benefits locally (i.e., pension, retirement savings, etc.). You may elect to cover your family members as well to the extent permitted by such plans. You are entitled to paid vacation in accordance with the Companys vacation policy, as in effect from time to time. Your work schedule and public holiday entitlement will be in accordance with local public and business practice in the Host Country. Recognizing the extensive amount that you are required to travel on the Companys behalf, you will be entitled to fly business class on all business-related travel.
3. Relocation
You will be eligible for relocation benefits during the term of your Assignment as outlined below, provided that you are performing services in accordance with this Assignment. Amounts included below may constitute taxable income to you, so the Company will gross up these amounts to offset taxes deducted from the reimbursement amounts. In addition, these amounts will not be taken into account as compensation for purposes of other company benefit plans.
1) | Work Permits/Visas: If legal work authorization is required, it must be granted before you depart for the Host Country. The Company will coordinate assistance for you to obtain the proper visas/work permits for you and your family. To the extent that you pay any visas or passport filing/application fees personally, you will be reimbursed. The Company will continue to pay the costs of your US Naturalization proceeding directly, provided, that should you pay any out of pocket costs personally in connection with this proceeding, you will be reimbursed. |
2) | Household Goods & Services Moving Allowance: You will receive a Household Goods and Service Moving Allowance equal to £7,500 GBP, which will be paid when you move into your residence in the Host Country. This allowance is intended to help compensate you for the transport of your household goods to the Host Country. |
3) | Present Housing and Automobile Arrangements: Given your Assignment, the Company understands you will retain your present home and automobile. All costs associated with it are your responsibility. |
4) | Transportation to the Host Country: The Company will reimburse the cost of a business class airfare ticket from your embarking location to the Host Country for you and your immediate family members. |
5) | Transportation from the Host Country: The Company will reimburse the cost of a business class airfare ticket from the Host Country to San Francisco, CA at the end of your Assignment for you and your immediate family members. |
6) | Host Country Housing Allowance: The Company will provide and pay for the rental of an apartment in an area within reasonable commuting distance to the Luxembourg office, not to exceed 4,250 Euro per month (exclusive of utilities) with a utility and tax allowance not to exceed an average of 850 Euro per month. If you elect housing, which results in a cost in excess of this allowance, you agree to pay the difference. |
7) | Host Country Automobile: The Company will provide you with an automobile deemed appropriate for your use in the Host Country. Insurance, maintenance, taxes, and registration costs for this vehicle will be borne by the Company. Fuel and parking expenses are your responsibility. |
8) | Home Leave: The Company will pay the business class round-trip airfare ticket for you and your immediate family to visit the U.S. twice during each twelve-month period (for non-business reasons). |
9) | Education: Recognizing that you have a child that must move with you and that local public (government funded) schools may not meet the needs for an education process that will prepare your child for re-entry into your local U.S. school system, the Company will pay the cost of a local Host Country international school reasonably suitable to prepare your child for re-entry into the U.S., and prior to your child reaching school age, a international nursery school. |
10) | Private Baby-Sitting / Day Care Services: Recognizing that both you and your wife are executives of the Company required to travel extensively on the Companys behalf, when both you and your wife are travelling on Company business, the Company will reimburse the costs of private babysitting or day care services incurred during such travel and the costs of travel for your child. |
11) | Tax Filing Services: While you are on Assignment, your U.S. Federal and state income tax and Host Country tax returns will be filed by a tax accounting firm mutual agreed upon between you and the Company. Recognizing that you file joint returns with your spouse, your spouses tax returns will also be included in these services. |
4. Tax Equalization/Tax Services
During your Assignment, you will continue to be responsible for payment of U.S. Federal and State income taxes as if you remained in the U.S. in your home state of California. The Companys intent is to minimize the effect of higher Host Country income tax rates and leave you in a net after-tax position substantially equivalent to what you would experience if you were subject only to U.S. Federal and state income taxes during this period. This will be effected in accordance with the Companys Tax Equalization Policy which you will be required to sign prior to your Assignment. This tax equalization will cover any equity compensation attributable to your Assignment.
5. Processing and Use of Employee Information
To manage the personal and employment administration aspects of your Assignment, the Company will need to process personal data relating to you. Therefore, the Company informs you that your personal data including the sensitive data if collected by the Company (the Data), which you provided to the Company or that it otherwise acquired in the course of the ordinary activity will be processed for correct execution, management and performance of your Assignment and this letter agreement. The Data will be kept secure and confidential in accordance with Company policy and national legislation.
6. Compliance with Laws
You also agree to perform all aspects of your job in accordance with all applicable laws, both in the U.S. and the Host Country to strictly follow all workplace safety rules, to protect the property of the Company, and to maintain the highest standards of personal and professional ethics.
7. Amendments
Any modifications to the terms of this Letter Agreement must be memorialized in writing and signed by both you and the Company.
8. Confidentiality
You acknowledge that the terms of this Letter Agreement are strictly confidential, and you agree not to disclose, communicate or otherwise publicize the terms to anyone (except for your immediate family, professional advisors and the relevant tax authorities).
Sincerely, |
/s/ Jonathan Rosenblatt |
Jonathan Rosenblatt Secretary |
I hereby agree and accept this Assignment under the terms and conditions set forth in this Letter Agreement.
/s/ Peter Platzer |
Peter Platzer, Chief Executive Officer |
Date: 12/12/2017 |
Spire Global, Inc.
575 Florida St. Suite# 150
San Francisco, CA 94110, United States
+1-415-356-3400 | spire.com
EXPATRIATION LETTER AMENDMENT
December 27, 2019
Dear Peter,
Reference is made to that Expatriation Letter entered into between you and Spire Global, Inc. (Spire) on December 12, 2017, attached hereto as Exhibit A.
You and Spire hereby agree to amend the Assignment period, as defined in the first paragraph of the Expatriation Letter, as follows:
Your Assignment is scheduled to begin January 1, 2018. It is anticipated that your Assignment would last for at least four years, until December 31, 2021.
Your employment terms and benefits will be adjusted accordingly to reflect this amendment.
Thank you.
SPIRE GLOBAL, INC. | ||
By: | Ananda Martin | |
Title: | General Counsel | |
/s/ Ananda Martin | ||
Date: | 12/27/2019 |
By: | Peter Platzer | |
/s/ Peter Platzer | ||
Date: 12/27/2019 |
Spire Global, Inc.
575 Florida St. Suite# 150
San Francisco, CA 94110, United States
+1-415-356-3400 | spire.com
Exhibit A
Expatriation Letter
ADDENDUM TO FOREIGN ASSIGNMENT LETTER
This Addendum to Foreign Assignment Letter (Addendum) supplements the terms and conditions of that certain Foreign Assignment Letter agreement, dated December 12, 2017, entered into between Peter Platzer (you) and Spire Global, Inc. (the Company), as may be amended from time to time (your Expatriation Letter), and your participation in the Companys Tax Equalization Policy (the Policy), as may be amended from time to time. This Addendum may be amended and superseded in writing only by specific reference to this Addendum and any applicable provision or provisions herein.
1. General. For purposes of clarity, except with respect to the benefits relating to the costs of your US naturalization proceeding under Section 3.1 of the Expatriation Letter (Naturalization Benefits) and the business class airfare tickets from Luxembourg (Host Country) to San Francisco, CA at the end of your assignment for you and your immediately family members under Section 3.5 of the Expatriation Letter (Return Trip Benefits), the benefits provided in your Expatriation Letter will be subject to your continued employment with the Company during the term of your assignment (Assignment) to the Host Country. Accordingly, such benefits will cease immediately upon the completion or cessation of your Assignment (including upon termination of your continued employment with the Company).
2. Naturalization Benefit. Any Company-paid Naturalization Benefits are subject to your continued employment with the Company through the applicable payment date. To the extent taxable to you, any Company-reimbursed Naturalization Benefits will be limited to such expenses that are incurred during your employment, and provided that in no event will the reimbursement be made after the fifteenth (15th) day of the third (3rd) month immediately following your taxable year in which the expense is incurred.
3. Return Airfare. Any Company-reimbursed Return Trip Benefits will be subject to your continued employment with the Company through the date that you and your immediate family complete any such return flight to San Francisco, CA, and provided that in no event will the reimbursement be made after the fifteenth (15th) day of the third (3rd) month immediately following your taxable year in which such return flight is completed.
4. Housing Allowance. Your utility and tax allowance under Section 3.6 of the Expatriation Letter will be paid on a monthly basis for such months that the related apartment rental is provided during the term of your Assignment.
5. Tax Equalization. Any tax equalization payments due to you under the Policy will be made no later than the end of your second taxable year beginning after your taxable year in which your U.S. Federal income tax return is required to be filed (including any extensions) for the year to which the compensation subject to the tax equalization payment relates, or, if later, your second taxable year beginning after the latest such taxable year in which your non-U.S. tax return or payment is required to be filed or made for the year to which the compensation subject to the tax equalization payment relates. Where such payments arise due to an audit, litigation or similar proceeding, or payments due under the Policy do not fall within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(b)(8)(iii), the payments will be made no later than the end of your taxable year next following your taxable year in which you are required to remit the related taxes to the taxing authorities.
6. Other Reimbursements and In-Kind Benefits. Unless specifically provided otherwise above, any taxable reimbursements of expenses or in-kind benefits provided during a taxable year of yours will not affect any expenses eligible for reimbursement, or in-kind benefits to be provided, in any of your other taxable years; any such reimbursement will be made no later than the last day of your taxable year that immediately follows the taxable year in which the expense was incurred; the right to any reimbursement or in-kind benefits will not be subject to liquidation or exchange for another benefit or payment; and the time period during which such expenses incurred or provision of in-kind benefits will be the term of your Assignment.
7. Section 409A. Each payment, benefit and compensatory arrangement under your Expatriation Letter or pursuant to your participation in the Companys Tax Equalization Policy is intended to be exempt from or comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the Treasury Regulations and other formal guidance provided thereunder and any state law equivalent (together, Section 409A), so that none of such payments, benefits and arrangements will be subject to additional tax under Section 409A, and any ambiguities or ambiguous terms will be interpreted to that affect. Each such payment, benefit and compensatory arrangement is intended to constitute a separate payment for purposes of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-2(b)(2). In no event will the Company or any of its subsidiaries or other affiliates have any liability, obligation or responsibility to reimburse or indemnify you or hold you harmless for any tax imposed, or other costs incurred, as a result of Section 409A.
To acknowledge and agree to the terms of this Addendum, please sign this Addendum in the space below and return to the General Counsel.
SPIRE GLOBAL, INC. |
/s/ Ananda Martin |
Ananda Martin |
General Counsel |
Acknowledged and Agreed:
/s/ Peter Platzer |
Peter Platzer, Chief Executive Officer |
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