Exhibit 10.9
December 9, 1998
Dear ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇:
This letter sets forth the agreement (the "Agreement") that we have reached
concerning my separation from Chordiant Software, Inc. ("Chordiant" or the
"Company"). If these terms are acceptable, please sign where indicated and
return a signed copy of this letter agreement to me.
1. Employment Separation. I will continue as an employee of Chordiant
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through December 31, 1998 (Termination Date"). During this employment period,
Chordiant will continue to compensate me at my current base salary (including
car allowance) and continue to provide me with my current benefits. Effective as
of the close of business on December 31, 1998, my employment with Chordiant will
terminate and, except as provided herein, all salary, benefits and other
compensation will end. On the Termination Date, Chordiant will pay me all of my
accrued salary, and all accrued but unused vacation, subject to standard payroll
deductions and withholdings.
2. Severance Payments. Beginning on January 1, 1999 or the Effective Date
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(as defined in paragraph 13 below), whichever is later, Chordiant will make
severance payments to me in the form of continuation of the base salary and car
allowance in effect on the Termination Date for a period of twelve (12) months
(the "Severance Period"), payable on the Company's ordinary payroll dates,
subject to standard payroll deductions and withholdings.
3. Health Benefits. To the extent provided by the federal COBRA law or, if
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applicable, state insurance laws, and by the Company's current group health
insurance policies, I will be eligible to continue my group health insurance
benefits at my own expense after the Termination Date. Later, I may be able to
convert to an individual policy through the provider of the Company's health
insurance, if I wish.
4. Equity. I have previously purchased seven million five hundred thousand
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(7,500,000) shares of Common Stock, currently held in the name of ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇,
Trustee of the ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Family Trust, dated October 13, 1993; Chordiant has no
repurchase rights in respect of such shares. I have been granted options to
purchase an aggregate of forty thousand seven hundred forty six (40,746) shares
of Common Stock, all of which shares are vested as of November 30, 1998, and
exercisable in accordance with the terms of the applicable stock option
agreements. I have also been granted an option to purchase four thousand forty
five (4,045) shares of Common Stock, none of which shares are vested as of
November 30, 1998. Under the terms of such option grant, the vesting of such
shares will continue to vest for so long as I serve as a member of the Board of
Directors. Under the terms of such option grant, I will be entitled to exercise
all or any portion of any vested shares of the foregoing options at any time on
or prior to the thirtieth (30th) day following the date I cease to be a member
of the Board of Directors.
5. Other Compensation or Benefits. I acknowledge that, except as expressly
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provided in this Agreement, I will not receive any additional compensation,
severance or benefits after the Termination Date.
6. Expense Reimbursement. I agree that, within ten (10) business days of
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the Termination Date, I will submit my final documented expense reimbursement
statement reflecting all business expenses I incurred through the Termination
Date, if any, for which I seek reimbursement. The Company will reimburse I for
these expenses pursuant to its regular business practice.
7. Return of Company Property. By the Termination Date, I agree to return
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to the Company all Company documents (and all copies thereof) and other Company
property that I have had in my possession at any time, including, but not
limited to, Company files, notes, drawings, records, business plans and
forecasts, financial information, specifications, computer-recorded information,
tangible property (including, but not limited to, computers), credit cards,
entry cards, identification badges and keys; and, any materials of any kind that
contain or embody any proprietary or confidential information of the Company
(and all reproductions thereof).
8. Public Announcement. We will mutually agree on the content of a public
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announcement concerning my separation from Chordiant. Any public comments by
Chordiant or me concerning my separation will be consistent with the content of
the agreed-upon announcement.
9. Proprietary Information Agreement. I hereby confirm that I will abide
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by the Employee Confidentiality Agreement that I entered into with the Company
(attached hereto as Exhibit A).
10. Nondisparagement. I agree not to make any disparaging remarks
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concerning Chordiant, and Chordiant, and its officers and directors, agree not
to make any disparaging remarks about me.
11. Confidentiality. The provisions of this Agreement will be held in
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strictest confidence by me and the Company and will not be publicized or
disclosed in any manner whatsoever; provided, however, that: (a) I may disclose
this Agreement to my immediate family; (b) the parties may disclose this
Agreement in confidence to their respective attorneys, accountants, auditors,
tax preparers, and financial advisors; (c) the Company may disclose this
Agreement as necessary to fulfill standard or legally required corporate
reporting or disclosure requirements; and (d) the parties may disclose this
Agreement insofar as such disclosure may be necessary to enforce its terms or as
otherwise required by law. In particular (and without limitation), I agree not
to discuss this Agreement with any present or former Company employee or
contractor, or third party, except as expressly permitted in this paragraph.
12. Release by Me. In exchange for the severance payments and other
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consideration under this Agreement to which I would not otherwise be entitled
and except as otherwise set forth in this Agreement, I hereby release, acquit
and forever discharge the Company, its parents and subsidiaries, and its and
their officers, directors, agents, servants, employees, shareholders,
successors, assigns and affiliates, of and from any and all claims, liabilities,
demands, causes of action, costs, expenses, attorneys fees, damages, indemnities
and obligations of every kind and nature, in law, equity, or otherwise, known
and unknown, suspected and unsuspected, disclosed and undisclosed, arising out
of or in any way related to agreements, events, acts or conduct at any time
prior to and including the date this Agreement is signed, including but not
limited to: all such claims and demands directly or indirectly arising out of
or in any way connected with my employment with the Company or the termination
of that employment; claims or demands related to salary, bonuses, commissions,
stock, stock options, or any other ownership interests in the Company, vacation
pay, fringe benefits, expense reimbursements, severance pay, or any other form
of compensation; claims pursuant to any federal, state or local law, statute or
cause of action including, but not limited to, the federal Civil Rights Act of
1964, as amended; the federal Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990; the
California Fair Employment and Housing Act, as amended; tort law; contract law;
wrongful discharge; discrimination; harassment; fraud; defamation; emotional
distress; and breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, this release specifically excludes claims that I
may have for
indemnification relating to any act or omission by me within the authorized
course and scope of my employment with the Company; claims that arise out of the
Company's obligations under this Agreement; and claims that arise after the date
I sign this Agreement related to my rights as a shareholder of Choridant or as a
member of the Company's Board of Directors.
13. ADEA Waiver. I acknowledge that I am knowingly and voluntarily waiving
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and releasing any rights I may have under the federal Age Discrimination in
Employment Act of 1967, as amended. I also acknowledge that the consideration
given for the waiver in the above paragraph is in addition to anything of value
to which I was already entitled. I further acknowledge that I have been advised
by this writing, as required by the ADEA that: (a) my waiver and release do not
apply to any claims that may arise after I sign this Agreement; (b) I have been
advised to consult with an attorney prior to executing this Agreement; (c) I
have twenty-one (21) days within which to consider this Agreement (although she
may choose to voluntarily execute this Agreement earlier); (d) I have seven (7)
days following the execution of this Agreement to revoke the Agreement; (e) this
Agreement will not be effective until the date upon which the revocation period
has expired, which will be the eighth day after this Agreement is executed by
me, provided that the Company has also signed the Agreement by that date
("Effective Date").
14. Release by the Company. The Company hereby releases, acquits and
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forever discharges me and my agents, successors, assigns and affiliates from any
and all claims, liabilities, demands, causes of action, costs, expenses,
attorneys fees, damages, indemnities, and obligations of every kind and nature,
in law, equity, or otherwise, known and unknown, suspected and unsuspected,
disclosed and undisclosed arising out of or in any way related to agreements,
events, acts or conduct at any time prior to and including the date the Company
executes this Agreement, relating to any act or omission by me within the
authorized course and scope of my employment with the Company, with the
exception of any claim arising out of my obligations under this Agreement or my
proprietary information obligations.
15. Section 1542 Waiver. In giving these releases, which includes claims
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that may be unknown to the parties at present, the Company and I both
acknowledge that each has read and each understands Section 1542 of the
California Civil Code, which reads as follows: "A general release does not
extend to claims which the creditor does not know or suspect to exist in his
favor at the time of executing the release, which if known by him must have
materially affected his settlement with the debtor." The Company and I hereby
expressly waive and relinquish all rights and benefits under that section and
any law of any jurisdiction of similar effect with respect to their respective
releases of any claims I may have against the Company or the Company may have
against me.
16. Entire Agreement. We agree that this letter agreement, including
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Exhibit A, contains all of our agreements and understandings and fully
supercedes any prior agreements, promises, warranties, representations or
understandings that we may have had regarding the subject matter of this letter
agreement. It is entered into without reliance on any promise or representation,
written or oral, other than those expressly contained herein. This Agreement may
not be modified or amended except in a writing signed by both me and a duly
authorized officer of the Company. This Agreement will bind the heirs, personal
representatives, successors and assigns of the Company and me, and inure to the
benefit of the Company and me, the parties' heirs, successors and assigns. If
any provision of this Agreement is determined to be invalid or unenforceable, in
whole or in part, this determination will not affect any other provision of this
Agreement and the provision in question will be modified by the court so as to
be rendered enforceable. The laws of the State of California will govern this
letter agreement.
17. Acknowledgements. We agree that (a) we have had the opportunity to
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consult counsel in regard to this letter agreement, (b) that we have read and
understand the agreement, and (c) that we are entering into this letter
agreement freely and voluntarily and based on our own judgment and not on any
representations or promises, other than those contained in this letter
agreement.
To acknowledge the Company's agreement, please sign on the line provided below
and return the original to me.
Sincerely,
/s/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
The conditions set forth in this letter agreement are accepted and agreed to:
CHORDIANT SOFTWARE, INC.
By: /s/ ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: President & CEO
Date: 12/10/98
Exhibit A - Employee Confidentiality Agreement
EXHIBIT A
EMPLOYEE CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENT
EXHIBIT A
[LOGO] Employee Confidentiality & Invention Agreement
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Date: 7/20/95
In consideration of my employment or continued employment with ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇
Consulting, Inc., a California corporation ("▇. ▇▇▇▇▇"), I agree to the
following:
1. I understand that during the term of my employment with ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇, I may
produce, obtain, make known or learn about certain information which has
commercial value in the business in which ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇, is engaged and which is
treated by ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇ as confidential. This information may have been
created, discovered or developed by ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇ or otherwise received by ▇.
▇▇▇▇▇ from third parties subject to a duty to maintain the confidentiality
of such information. All such information is hereinafter called
"Proprietary Information." Proprietary Information includes, but is not
limited to, trade secrets, inventions, (whether patentable or not), ideas,
processes, programs, formulas, materials, substances, technology, research,
know-how, improvements, discoveries, developments, designs, inventions,
techniques, marketing plans, strategies, forecasts, new products,
unpublished financial statements, budgets, projections, prices, costs, and
customer lists.
2. I understand that all Proprietary Information shall be the sole property of
▇. ▇▇▇▇▇ and ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇ shall be the sole owner of all patents, copyrights
and other rights in connection therewith. I hereby assign to ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇ any
rights I may have or acquire in such Proprietary Information and in any
Proprietary Information that I may make or conceive while working for ▇.
▇▇▇▇▇. I will promptly disclose to ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇ any Proprietary Information
that is made or conceived or reduced to practice or learned by me, either
alone or jointly with others, during the period of my services to ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇
that are related to or useful in the business of ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇ or result from
tasks assigned me by ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇ or result from use of premises owned, leased,
or contracted for by ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇. At all times, both during the term of my
employment with ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇ and after its termination, I will keep in
strictest confidence and trust all Proprietary Information, and I will not
use, reproduce or disclose any Proprietary Information without the written
consent of ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇, except as may be necessary in the ordinary course of
performing my duties as an employee of ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇.
3. I further agree to do all acts necessary, both during and after the
termination of my employment, to assist ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇ in every proper way to
obtain and enforce patents or copyrights on Proprietary Information in any
and all countries, and to that end I will execute all documents for use in
applying for and obtaining such patents thereon and enforcing same, as J.
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇ desire, together with any assignments thereof to ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇ or
persons designated by it. ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇ shall pay all reasonable expenses
related to such activities.
4. I understand that any provision in this Agreement requiring me to assign my
rights in any invention does not apply to any invention which qualifies
under the provisions of Section 2870 of the California Labor Code, which
states the following:
(a) Any provision in an employment agreement which provides that an
employee shall assign, or offer to assign, any of his or her rights in
an invention to his or her employer shall not apply to an invention
that the employee developed entirely on his or her own time without
using the employer's equipment, supplies, facilities, or trade secret
information except for those inventions that either:
(1) Relate at the time of conception or reduction to practice of the
invention to the employer's business, or actual or demonstrably
anticipated research or development of the employer.
(2) Result from any work performed by the employee for the employer.
(b) To the extent a provision in an employment agreement purports to
require an employee to assign an invention otherwise excluded from
being required to be assigned under subdivision (a), the provision is
against the public policy of this state and is unenforceable.
5. I understand that, in performing my work for ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇, I am not to breach
any obligation of confidentiality or duty that I have to any former
employer or other, person. If my work for ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇ begins to involve an
area of research or any other aspect of ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇'▇ business that I believe
would conflict with any obligation of confidentiality that I may have to a
former employer or any other person, I will promptly notify my direct
supervisor or an officer of ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇ so that any potential conflict can be
avoided or resolved.
6. I understand that nothing contained in this Agreement implies an obligation
on the part of ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇ to retain my services as an employee for any
specified period of time. I acknowledge and agree that my employment with
▇. ▇▇▇▇▇ is at will and may be terminated by ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇ or me at any time for
any or for no reason.
By signing this Agreement, I acknowledge that I have received a copy of this
Agreement and written notification of the provisions of Labor Code Section 2870.
Employee Signature: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
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