printer-friendly

Sample Business Contracts

Change of Control Agreement - AvantGo Inc. and Richard Owen

Free Change in Control Forms

Sponsored Links

                          CHANGE OF CONTROL AGREEMENT

     This Change of Control Agreement (the "Agreement") is made and entered into
effective as of January 24, 2000, by and between RICHARD OWEN (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 at any time within one (1) year after
a Change of Control, 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 each
unvested stock option and restricted stock grant for the Company's securities
held by the Employee on the date of termination so that (a)
<PAGE>

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 in their entirety
on the termination date in accordance with the provisions of the Restricted
Stock Purchase Agreement pursuant to which such restricted stock was sold.

               (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 immediate vesting of a portion of each
unvested stock option and restricted stock grant for the Company's securities
held by the Employee on the date of termination such that (a) each such option
shall be vested with respect to an additional 25% of the shares thereunder (but
not to exceed 100% of the shares thereunder) on the termination date in
accordance with the provisions of the Option Agreement and Plan pursuant to
which such option was granted and (b) the Company's repurchase rights with
respect to each such restricted stock grant shall lapse with respect to an
additional 25% of the shares thereunder (but not to exceed 100% of the shares
thereunder) on the termination date in accordance with the provisions of the
Restricted Stock Purchase Agreement pursuant to which such restricted stock was
sold.

          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.

                                      -2-
<PAGE>

               (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

                                      -3-
<PAGE>

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.

                                      -4-
<PAGE>

          (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.

                                      -5-
<PAGE>

     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.                                  RICHARD OWEN



By: /s/ Felix Lin                              /s/ Richard Owen
    ----------------------------               ---------------------------
Name:  Felix Lin
Title: Chief Executive Officer

Address: 1700 Amphlett Boulevard, Suite 300    Address:
         San Mateo, CA 94402

                                      -6-