Severance Agreement dated 08/02/2002



  
 Exhibit 10.23 
  
 August 2nd, 2002 
  
 Mr. Dennis W. Evans 

 
 Dear Dennis: 
  
 This letter is to confirm the agreement (the “Agreement”) between you and Computer Access Technology Corporation (the “Company”) regarding your separation from employment with the Company. 
  

	 	1.
	 
	Your employment with the Company will terminate as of September 30, 2002. Commencing October 1, 2002, the Company will pay you in semi-monthly installments of
$8,333.33 on the normal Company pay dates commencing October 15, 2002, less all applicable withholdings including, but not limited to, normal payroll taxes, until the earlier of (a) the later of March 31, 2003 or the date you become employed
elsewhere, or (b) September 30, 2003 (the “Cash Severance”). You will give the Company notice within five (5) business days if another company employs you or engages you to provide services prior to September 30, 2003. 



  

	 	2.
	 
	In the paycheck that you will receive on September 30, 2002, you will be paid a gross amount that includes all of your earned compensation, accrued but unused
Personal Excused Time as of such date, a refund of your Employee Stock Purchase Plan deductions, and all expenses that you will have incurred on the Company’s behalf for which you are entitled to be reimbursed pursuant to the Company’s
expense reimbursement policies. You agree that prior to the execution of this Agreement you were not entitled to receive any further monetary payments from the Company, other than the severance amount set forth in your employment agreement dated May
1, 2000, and that the only payments and benefits that you are entitled to receive from the Company in the future are your base salary through September 30, 2002 and those other payments specified in this Agreement. This Agreement is intended to
provide you additional consideration. 
 

  

	 	3.
	 
	Provided that you execute and deliver all documents necessary to continue your Company medical, dental and vision benefits plans coverage under COBRA, the
Company shall pay on your behalf COBRA premium expenses under the current Company medical, dental and vision benefits plans. The Company shall pay such COBRA premium expenses until the earlier of (a) the later of March 31, 2003 or the date you
become employed elsewhere or (b) September 30, 2003. 
 

  

	 	4.
	 
	Subject to the terms of the applicable group policies, the Company shall, until the earlier of (a) the later of March 31, 2003 or the date you become employed
elsewhere or (b) September 30, 2003, pay on your behalf applicable premium expenses under the Company’s life, AD&D, and short and long-term disability policies, and facilitate your continuation under the Company’s Voluntary Life
Insurance policy by permitting you to continue to pay the applicable premiums by means of payroll deductions. If the terms of the applicable life, AD&D, and short or long-term disability policies prohibit their continuation due to the
termination of your employment, then the Company will pay you an amount equal to the applicable premium expenses monthly up to a maximum of $250.00 so that you may provide for your own insurance coverage. 
 








  

	 	5.
	 
	All stock options granted to you under the Company’s Stock Option Plan(s) shall vest immediately and your option grants shall be amended to provide that
you may exercise any part or all of your options in one or more purchases at any time on or before September 30, 2004. 
 

  

	 	6.
	 
	You represent that you will return to the Company on or before September 30, 2002, any and all Company property you have or had in your possession, including
but not limited to any and all Company-owned computer equipment at your residence, any cellular telephone, any pager, any office keys and corporate credit cards issued to you and used for Company business or business-related expenses and any other
property of the Company. The Company reserves the right to audit all expenses charged to the corporate credit card to ascertain if they are legitimate business expenses for all expense reports submitted by you after the execution of this Agreement.

 

  

	 	7.
	 
	In consideration for receiving the Cash Severance and other consideration described above, you waive and release and promise never to assert any claims or
causes of action, whether or not now known, against the Company or its predecessors, successors, subsidiaries, officers, directors, agents, employees and assigns, with respect to any matter including but not limited to those arising out of or
connected with your employment with the Company or the termination of that employment, including without limitation, claims of wrongful discharge, emotional distress, defamation, breach of contract, breach of the covenant of good faith and fair
dealing, any claims of discrimination based on sex, age, race, national origin, or on any other basis, under public policy, the California Fair Employment and Housing Act, the California Labor Code, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the
Fair Labor Standards Act,, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (“ADEA”); and all other state or federal laws and regulations relating to employment or discrimination including any and all
analogous state or federal counterparts to any state or federal laws or regulations. Nothing in this Agreement shall prohibit you from exercising legal rights that are, as a matter of law, not subject to waiver such as: (1) your rights, if any,
under applicable worker’s compensation laws; (2) your right, if any, to seek unemployment benefits; and (3) your right, if any, to file a charge with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) challenging the validity of
your waiver of claims under the ADEA. Notwithstanding this waiver and release, your right to indemnification and defense as set forth in your Agreement with the Company dated August 9, 2000 (the “Indemnification Agreement”) shall remain in
effect. 
 

  

	 	8.
	 
	You expressly waive and release any and all rights and benefits under Section 1542 of the Civil Code of the State of California (or any analogous law of
any other state), 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.” 
 

  

	 	9.
	 
	At all times in the future, you will remain bound by the Proprietary Information and Invention provisions of the employment agreement dated May 1, 2000, a copy
of which is attached for your reference. Notwithstanding any other provision herein, your obligation to maintain confidentiality and to not misappropriate Company proprietary information and trade secrets shall remain in full force and effect.

 

  

	 	10.
	 
	You further agree that you will not use, misappropriate or divulge any proprietary information of the Company, including, but not limited to the identities of
customers or any other customer information, pending transactions, confidential customer requirements or other proprietary information protected under the Uniform Trade Secrets Act, California Civil Code Section 3426. You agree to fully comply with
the provisions and prohibitions set forth under the Uniform Trade Secrets Act barring disclosure of proprietary information, and, you agree not to use proprietary information of the Company obtained in the course of your employment with the Company
to compete against the
 
 


 
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Company. You acknowledge that the identities of clients of the Company and any other information related to the client are proprietary information and trade secrets of the Company. 



  

	 	11.
	 
	You agree that personally, or through your agents, you will not discredit, disparage or defame the Company, its officers, agents, directors, supervisors,
employees and/or representatives, unless pursuant to a lawful process. The Company agrees that it, its Board of Directors and executive officers for purposes of Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, will not discredit, disparage or
defame you, unless pursuant to a lawful process. 
 

  

	 	12.
	 
	Unless pursuant to a lawful process, you agree that you will not disclose to others the fact or terms of this Agreement, except that you may disclose such
information to your attorney or accountant in order for such individuals to render services to you. 
 

  

	 	13.
	 
	You agree that except as expressly provided in this Agreement, this Agreement renders null and void any and all prior agreements between you and the Company
other than the Indemnification Agreement. 
 

  

	 	14.
	 
	Notwithstanding any other rights, claims or causes of actions the Company may otherwise assert, you agree that the Company may discontinue any and all payments
pursuant to this Agreement based on any breach of the terms and conditions herein, including but not limited to paragraphs 1, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12. 
 

  

	 	15.
	 
	You acknowledge and agree that no promises or representations were made which do not appear written herein and that this Agreement contains the entire agreement
of the parties as to the subject matter hereof. This Agreement shall be construed to be fully enforceable however, if for any reason this Agreement or any part hereof is determined to be void or unenforceable, the Agreement and/or any remaining part
hereof shall be construed without reference to such void or inapplicable provisions to be an enforceable Agreement between the parties. 
 

  

	 	16.
	 
	To the full extent permitted by law, any controversy involving the construction or application of any terms, covenants or conditions of this Agreement, or any
claims arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the breach thereof will be submitted to and settled by final and binding arbitration in Santa Clara County, California in accordance with the rules of the American Arbitration Association. All
reasonable fees and cost associated with the arbitration, along with the prevailing party’s reasonable legal fees, will be paid by the non-prevailing party to the full extent permitted by law. 
 

  

	 	17.
	 
	The effectiveness of this Agreement is conditioned upon its approval by the Company’s Board of Directors. 
 

  

	 	18.
	 
	You have up to twenty-one (21) days after receipt of this Agreement within which to review it, and to discuss it with an attorney of your own choosing regarding
whether or not you wish to execute it. Furthermore, you have seven (7) days after you have signed this Agreement during which time you may revoke this Agreement. 
 

  
 If you wish to revoke this Agreement, you may do so by delivering a letter of revocation to me. Because of this revocation period, you understand that the obligations of
the parties set forth in this Agreement shall not become effective or enforceable until the eighth day after the date you sign this Agreement. 

 
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 Please indicate your agreement with the above terms by signing and dating below.

  
 
	  	 	 Sincerely,
 
	 
	  	 	  
	  	 	 

	  	 	 Jean-Louis Gassée
 President and CEO
 

 
  
 My signature below signifies my agreement with the above terms.
Furthermore, I acknowledge that I have read and understand the foregoing Agreement and that I sign this Agreement including its provisions regarding the release of all claims voluntarily, with full appreciation that I am forever foreclosed from
pursuing any of the rights I have waived. 
  
 
	  	 	  	 	  
	 
	 Signed:
 	 	  	 	  	 	 Dated:
 	 	  
	  	 	 
	 	  	 	  	 	 

	  	 	 Dennis W. Evans
 	 	  	 	  	 	  

 

 
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