>The terms of this promise were even disclosed in GoPro’s S-1 filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission as the company was gearing up to go public last year
Agreed, seems like this is nothing out of the ordinary. 'GoPro CEO decides not to get sued for 229M by his employee #1' would be another way to put it. I would say that this was committed to 'in writing' at that time, if not before.
Edit: From the S1 "Share of proceeds from sale of equity securities
During our development stage, Nicholas Woodman, our CEO, entered into a verbal agreement with Neil Dana, an employee since October 2004, pursuant to which Mr. Woodman agreed to share 10% of any proceeds he received from the sale of our equity securities held by Mr. Woodman. Pursuant to Mr. Woodman’s agreement with Mr. Dana, in March 2011, we paid Mr. Dana a cash payment of $6.1 million, and Mr. Woodman reimbursed us in the amount of $6.1 million. We recorded the payment to Mr. Dana as compensation expense. In release of any claim Mr. Dana had to further payments under his agreement with Mr. Woodman, in June 2011 we issued Mr. Dana fully vested options to purchase 6,584,427 shares of Class B common stock under our 2010 Plan at an exercise price of $0.763 per share, and in December 2011 issued to him 270,000 RSUs under our 2010 Plan that will be settled upon a qualified acquisition. We recorded compensation expense of $6.8 million in connection with the issuance of these options. In connection with our equity awards to Mr. Dana, Mr. Woodman entered into a separate agreement with us in December 2011 pursuant to which he agreed to contribute back to us the same number of shares of Class B common stock as are issued pursuant to the exercise of Mr. Dana’s options.
Mr. Dana has been employed by us since October 2004. During 2011, 2012 and 2013, Mr. Dana had total cash compensation, including base salary, bonus and other compensation, of $6.3 million (inclusive of the $6.1 million payment described above), $245,499 and $240,982, respectively."
Agreed, seems like this is nothing out of the ordinary. 'GoPro CEO decides not to get sued for 229M by his employee #1' would be another way to put it. I would say that this was committed to 'in writing' at that time, if not before.
Edit: From the S1 "Share of proceeds from sale of equity securities During our development stage, Nicholas Woodman, our CEO, entered into a verbal agreement with Neil Dana, an employee since October 2004, pursuant to which Mr. Woodman agreed to share 10% of any proceeds he received from the sale of our equity securities held by Mr. Woodman. Pursuant to Mr. Woodman’s agreement with Mr. Dana, in March 2011, we paid Mr. Dana a cash payment of $6.1 million, and Mr. Woodman reimbursed us in the amount of $6.1 million. We recorded the payment to Mr. Dana as compensation expense. In release of any claim Mr. Dana had to further payments under his agreement with Mr. Woodman, in June 2011 we issued Mr. Dana fully vested options to purchase 6,584,427 shares of Class B common stock under our 2010 Plan at an exercise price of $0.763 per share, and in December 2011 issued to him 270,000 RSUs under our 2010 Plan that will be settled upon a qualified acquisition. We recorded compensation expense of $6.8 million in connection with the issuance of these options. In connection with our equity awards to Mr. Dana, Mr. Woodman entered into a separate agreement with us in December 2011 pursuant to which he agreed to contribute back to us the same number of shares of Class B common stock as are issued pursuant to the exercise of Mr. Dana’s options. Mr. Dana has been employed by us since October 2004. During 2011, 2012 and 2013, Mr. Dana had total cash compensation, including base salary, bonus and other compensation, of $6.3 million (inclusive of the $6.1 million payment described above), $245,499 and $240,982, respectively."
S1 link http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1500435/0001193125144...