EXHIBIT 10.16
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Re: Amendment of Employment Agreement
Dear ▇▇▇▇▇▇:
We have agreed to amend your written employment agreement with Netscape
Communications Corporation (the "Company") of on or about November 6, 1995
(the "Agreement") to include the following paragraphs:
"Upon the occurrence of a Change in Control, the Company or any
successor entity shall be obligated to continue your Service over the
remainder of the vesting period in effect for the shares purchased or
purchasable under any stock option granted to you by the Company prior to the
Change in Control so that you shall have the opportunity to vest in all those
shares. You shall, however, have complete discretion in determining whether
you are to render such Service, and if so, whether it shall be performed as a
full time employee, part-time employee or independent consultant, as
permitted by the applicable stock option agreement. In particular, "Service"
shall mean the provision of services to the Company or any parent or
subsidiary by an individual in the capacity of an employee, a non-employee
member of the Board of Directors or a consultant, and such "Service" shall be
deemed to meet the level of employment, consulting or other services required
to continue vesting under your applicable stock option or stock purchase
agreements. The remaining terms of your Service during such vesting period,
including any cash compensation payable for such Service, shall be negotiated
in good faith by the Company or successor entity and you at the time of the
Change in Control. This paragraph shall only become applicable in the event
of a Change in Control, as deemed in the following paragraph, and in the
absence of such Change in Control, your employment shall remain "at will" in
accordance with the provisions of the Agreement.
For purposes of this Agreement, a Change in Control shall be deemed to
occur in the event of any of the following transactions: (A) a transaction or
series of related transactions over a twelve (12) month period (excluding an
initial public offering) in which the stockholders of the Company immediately
before such transaction or series of transactions do not retain in
substantially the same proportions as their ownership of shares of the
Company's voting stock immediately before such event, directly or indirectly
(including, without limitation, through their ownership of shares of the
voting stock of a corporation which, as a result of such sale or exchange,
owns the Company either directly or through one or more subsidiaries), at
least a majority of the beneficial interest in the voting stock of the
Company immediately after such transaction or related series of transactions,
(B) the acquisition of all or substantially all of the Company's assets, C)
the liquidation or dissolution of the Company or (D) a merger or
consolidation wherein the stockholders of the Company immediately before such
merger or consolidation do not retain in the substantially the same
proportions as their ownership of shares of the Company's voting stock
immediately before such event, directly or indirectly (including, without
limitation, through their ownership of shares of the voting stock of a
corporation, which, as a result of such merger or consolidation, owns the
Company either directly or
through one or more subsidiaries), at least of majority of the beneficial
interest in the voting stock of the Company immediately after such merger or
consolidation."
Except as amended by the foregoing paragraphs, the Agreement shall
remain in full force and effect.
Please sign and date this amendment on the spaces provided below to
confirm your acceptance of its terms.
Sincerely,
NETSCAPE COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
by: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
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▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, President and
Chief Executive Officer
I agree to and accept the terms and conditions of this amendment.
Dated: 1-23-97 /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
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▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
Dear ▇▇▇▇▇▇:
We are pleased to offer you employment as Vice President and Corporate
Controller, Chief Accounting Officer for Netscape Communications Corporation.
Your annual salary will be $150,000 per year. In addition, you will receive
a $50,000 annual bonus plan. Your starting date will be December 1, 1995 (or
earlier, subject to your availability) and you will be reporting to me.
As an employee of Netscape Communications Corporation, you will be eligible
to participate in a number of Company-sponsored benefits, including health
and medical benefits. New employee benefits orientation is each Monday at
l0:00 am in the HR Training Room at ▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇. Netscape has
established a stock option plan. Upon Board of Directors approval, the
Company will grant you an option to purchase up to 50,000 shares of common
stock. Your option will be subject to your execution of the Company's
standard stock option agreement, which will contain Netscape's customary
terns and conditions, including vesting, of the shares over a fifty month
period. In the event of a corporate change of control, your incentive stock
options will continue to vest as a consultant.
Employment with Netscape is not for a specific term and can be terminated by
you or by us at any time for any reason, with or without cause. Any
statements to contrary that may have been made to you by the Company or its
agents are superseded by this offer letter. We request that all of our
employees, to the extent possible, give us advance notice if they intend to
resign. If you accept this offer, the terms described in this letter shall
be the terms of your employment. Any additions or modifications of these
terms would have to be in writing and signed by you and an officer of the
Company.
Your employment is contingent on your executing the enclosed Netscape
Proprietary Information and Inventions Agreement and upon your providing the
Company with the legally required proof of your identity and authorization to
work in the United States.
We look forward to having you join us. If you accept the above-described
offer, please return a signed copy of this letter and the executed
Proprietary Information and Inventions Agreement to Netscape Human Resources.
This offer, if not accepted, will expire on October 23, 1995.
If you have any questions, please call me.
Sincerely,
/s/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
NETSCAPE COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
By: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
Chief Financial Officer
I accept this offer this 13th day of October
/s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
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