EXHIBIT 10.37
CHANGE OF CONTROL AGREEMENT
This Change of Control Agreement (the "Agreement") is made and entered into
effective as of August 1, 2001, by and between Xxxx Xxxxxxxx (the "Employee")
and AvantGo, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company").
RECITALS
A. The Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board") believes that it is
in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders to provide the
Employee with an incentive to continue his or her employment with the Company.
B. The Board believes that it is imperative to provide the Employee with
certain benefits upon termination of the Employee's employment (i) in connection
with a Change of Control (defined below); and (ii) within one year of Employee's
commencement of employment with the Company.
In consideration of the mutual covenants herein contained, and in
consideration of the continuing employment of Employee by the Company, the
parties agree as follows:
1. At-Will Employment. The Company and the Employee acknowledge that
the Employee's employment is and shall continue to be at-will, as defined under
applicable law. If the Employee's employment terminates for any reason,
including (without limitation) any termination prior to a Change of Control, the
Employee shall not be entitled to any compensation, other than (i) as set forth
in as set forth in Section 2(b), if applicable; and (ii) as may be available in
accordance with the Company's established employee plans and written policies at
the time of termination. The terms of this Agreement shall terminate upon the
earliest of (a) the date on which Employee ceases to be employed as an employee
of the Company, (b) the date that all obligations of the parties hereunder have
been satisfied, or (c) one (1) year after a Change of Control.
2. Change of Control.
(a) Termination Following A Change of Control. If the Employee's
employment with the Company is terminated within one (1) year from start of
employment, then the Employee shall be entitled to receive severance benefits as
follows:
(i) Voluntary Resignation or Termination for Cause. If (A)
the Employee voluntarily resigns from the Company (other than as an Involuntary
Termination (as defined below)) or (B) the Company terminates the Employee's
employment for Cause (as defined below), then the Employee shall not be entitled
to receive any additional compensation. The Employee's benefits will be
terminated under the Company's then existing benefit plans and policies in
accordance with such plans and policies in effect on the date of termination or
as otherwise determined by the Board of Directors of the Company.
(ii) Involuntary Termination. If the Employee's employment
is terminated as a result of an Involuntary Termination other than for Cause,
the Employee shall be entitled to receive full and immediate vesting of twelve
months of unvested stock options and restricted stock grant for the Company's
securities held by the Employee on the date of termination, so that (a) each
such option shall be exercisable in full on the termination date in accordance
with the provisions of the Option Agreement and Plan pursuant to which such
option was granted and (b) all repurchase rights held by the Company with
respect to each such restricted stock grant shall lapse with respect to an
additional twelve months from the termination date, provided that the total
vesting shall not exceed 100% of the original number of options to
purchase shares granted, in accordance with the provisions of the Restricted
Stock Purchase Agreement pursuant to which such restricted stock was sold. In
addition, if the Employee's employment is terminated as a result of an
Involuntary Termination other than for Cause, the Employee shall be entitled to
receive six (6) months base salary at current rate of pay, the last quarter's
performance bonus amount, and payment of COBRA insurance coverage for the six
(6) month severance term.
(b) Termination Apart from a Change of Control. If the Employee's
employment with the Company is terminated at any time, then the Employee shall
be entitled to receive severance benefits as follows:
(i) Voluntary Resignation or Termination for Cause. If (A)
the Employee voluntarily resigns from the Company (other than as an Involuntary
Termination (as defined below)) or (B) the Company terminates the Employee's
employment for Cause (as defined below), then the Employee shall not be entitled
to receive any additional compensation. The Employee's benefits will be
terminated under the Company's then existing benefit plans and policies in
accordance with such plans and policies in effect on the date of termination or
as otherwise determined by the Board of Directors of the Company.
(ii) Involuntary Termination. If the Employee's employment
is terminated as a result of an Involuntary Termination other than for Cause,
the Employee shall be entitled to receive six (6) months base salary at current
rate of pay, the last quarter's performance bonus amount, and payment of COBRA
insurance coverage for the six (6) month severance term.
3. Definition of Terms. The following terms referred to in this
Agreement shall have the following meanings:
(a) Change of Control. "Change of Control" shall mean the
occurrence of any of the following events:
(i) Ownership. Any "Person" (as such term is used in
Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) is
or becomes the "Beneficial Owner" (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under said Act),
directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing fifty percent
(50%) or more of the total voting power represented by the Company's then
outstanding voting securities; provided that, at the time of such acquisition
the Company is subject to the periodic reporting requirements under the Act.
(ii) Merger/Sale of Assets. A merger or consolidation of the
Company, whether or not approved by the Board of Directors of the Company, other
than a merger or consolidation which would result in the voting securities of
the Company outstanding immediately prior thereto continuing to represent
(either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of
the surviving entity) at least fifty percent (50%) of the total voting power
represented by the voting securities of the Company or such surviving entity
outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation, or the approval by
the stockholders of the Company of a plan of 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.
(b) Cause. "Cause" shall mean (i) gross negligence or willful
misconduct in the performance of the Employee's duties to the Company that has
resulted or is likely to result in substantial and material damage to the
Company or its subsidiaries, (ii) repeated unexplained or unjustified absence
from the Company, (iii) a material and willful violation of any federal or state
law, (iv) commission of any act of fraud with respect to the Company, or (v)
conviction of a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude causing material
harm to the standing and reputation of the Company, in each case as determined
in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company.
(c) Involuntary Termination. "Involuntary Termination" shall
include any termination by the Company other than for Cause and the Employee's
voluntary termination, upon 30 days' prior written notice to the Company,
following (i) a material reduction or change in job duties or a change in job
title, responsibilities and requirements inconsistent with the Employee's
position with the Company and the Employee's prior duties, responsibilities and
requirements; (ii) any reduction of the Employee's base compensation (other than
in connection with a general decrease in base salaries for most officers of the
Company and any successor corporation); or (iii) the Employee's refusal to
relocate to a facility or location outside of the San Francisco Bay area.
4. Successors. Any successor to the Company (whether direct or
indirect and whether by purchase, lease, merger, consolidation, liquidation or
otherwise) to all or substantially all of the Company's business and/or assets
shall assume the obligations under this Agreement and agree expressly to perform
the obligations under this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent
as the Company would be required to perform such obligations in the absence of a
succession. The terms of this Agreement and all of the Employee's rights
hereunder shall inure to the benefit of, and be enforceable by, the Employee's
personal or legal representatives, executors, administrators, successors, heirs,
distributees, devisees and legatees.
5. Notice. Notices and all other communications contemplated by this
Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given when
personally delivered, when mailed by U.S. registered or certified mail, return
receipt requested and postage prepaid or when sent by confirmed facsimile or
electronic mail transmission. Mailed, faxed or e-mailed notices to the Employee
shall be addressed to the Employee at the home address, fax number or electronic
mail address which the Employee most recently communicated to the Company in
writing. In the case of the Company, mailed, faxed or e-mailed notices shall be
addressed to its corporate headquarters, and all notices shall be directed to
the attention of its Secretary.
6. Miscellaneous Provisions.
(a) No Duty to Mitigate. The Employee shall not be required to
mitigate the amount of any payment contemplated by this Agreement (whether by
seeking new employment or in any other manner), nor, except as otherwise
provided in this Agreement, shall any such payment be reduced by any earnings
that the Employee may receive from any other source.
(b) Waiver. No provision of this Agreement shall be modified,
waived or discharged unless the modification, waiver or discharge is agreed to
in writing and signed by the Employee and by an authorized officer of the
Company (other than the Employee). No waiver by either party of any breach of,
or of compliance with, any condition or provision of this Agreement by the other
party shall be considered a waiver of any other condition or provision or of the
same condition or provision at another time.
(c) Whole Agreement. No agreements, representations or
understandings (whether oral or written and whether express or implied) which
are not expressly set forth in this Agreement have been made or entered into by
either party with respect to the subject matter hereof. This Agreement
supersedes any agreement of the same title and concerning similar subject matter
dated prior to the date of this Agreement, and by execution of this Agreement
both parties agree that any such predecessor agreement shall be deemed null and
void.
(d) Choice of Law. The validity, interpretation, construction and
performance of this Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of
California without reference to conflict of laws provisions.
(e) Severability. If any term or provision of this Agreement or
the application thereof to any circumstance shall, in any jurisdiction and to
any extent, be invalid or
unenforceable, such term or provision shall be ineffective as to such
jurisdiction to the extent of such invalidity or unenforceability without
invalidating or rendering unenforceable the remaining terms and provisions of
this Agreement or the application of such terms and provisions to circumstances
other than those as to which it is held invalid or unenforceable, and a suitable
and equitable term or provision shall be substituted therefor to carry out,
insofar as may be valid and enforceable, the intent and purpose of the invalid
or unenforceable term or provision.
(f) Arbitration. Any dispute or controversy arising under or in
connection with this Agreement may be settled at the option of either party by
binding arbitration in the County of San Mateo, California, in accordance with
the rules of the American Arbitration Association then in effect. Judgment may
be entered on the arbitrator's award in any court having jurisdiction. Punitive
damages shall not be awarded.
(g) Legal Fees and Expenses. The parties shall each bear their
own expenses, legal fees and other fees incurred in connection with this
Agreement.
(h) No Assignment of Benefits. The rights of any person to
payments or benefits under this Agreement shall not be made subject to option or
assignment, either by voluntary or involuntary assignment or by operation of
law, including (without limitation) bankruptcy, garnishment, attachment or other
creditor's process, and any action in violation of this subsection (h) shall be
void.
(i) Employment Taxes. All payments made pursuant to this
Agreement will be subject to withholding of applicable income and employment
taxes.
(j) Assignment by Company. The Company may assign its rights
under this Agreement to an affiliate, and an affiliate may assign its rights
under this Agreement to another affiliate of the Company or to the Company;
provided, however, that no assignment shall be made if the net worth of the
assignee is less than the net worth of the Company at the time of assignment. In
the case of any such assignment, the term "Company" when used in a section of
this Agreement shall mean the corporation that actually employs the Employee.
(k) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts,
each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together will
constitute one and the same instrument.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties has executed this Agreement, in
the case of the Company by its duly authorized officer, as of the day and year
first above written.
AVANTGO, INC. XXXX XXXXXXXX
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxx /s/ Xxxx Xxxxxxxx
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Name: Xxxxxxx Xxxx
Title: Chief Executive Officer
Address: 00000 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxx. Xxxxxxx:
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000