Exhibit 10.3


 


SEPARATION AGREEMENT AND RELEASE
(CALIFORNIA)


 


This Separation Agreement and Release (this “Agreement”)
is made by and between Ying Wu (“Employee”) and UTStarcom, Inc. (the “Company”)
(collectively, referred to as the “Parties” or individually, referred to as a “Party”).


 


WHEREAS, the Parties wish to resolve any and all
disputes, claims, complaints, grievances, charges, actions, petitions, and
demands that the Employee may have against the Company and any of the Releasees
as defined below, including, but not limited to, any and all claims arising out
of or in any way related to Employee’s employment with or separation from the
Company;


 


WHEREAS, concurrently with this Agreement, Employee
and UTStarcom (China) Co., Ltd. are entering into the Separation Agreement and
Release (China) dated even date herewith and attached as Exhibit B (the “China
Release”);


 


NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual
promises made herein, the Company and Employee hereby agree as follows:


 


1.     Consideration.


 


a.     The Company agrees to provide
Employee with a lump sum payment of twelve (12) months of Employee’s base
salary as in effect as of the date of such termination plus an additional one
hundred thousand ($100,000) dollars, less applicable withholding, payable within
ten (10) days after the Effective Date of this Agreement.


 


b.     In addition to the general
release of claims contained in this Agreement, Employee agrees that as a
condition precedent to receipt of the payment set forth in Section 1.a.
above, Employee will also execute and not revoke the China Release attached as Exhibit B.


 


2.     General Release of Claims.  Employee agrees that the foregoing
consideration represents settlement in full of all outstanding obligations owed
to Employee by the Company and its current and former officers, directors,
employees, agents, investors, attorneys, shareholders, administrators,
affiliates, divisions, and subsidiaries, and predecessor and successor
corporations and assigns (collectively, the “Releasees”).  Employee, on his own behalf and on behalf of his
respective heirs, family members, executors, agents, and assigns, hereby and
forever releases the Releasees from, and agrees not to sue concerning, or in
any manner to institute, prosecute, or pursue, any claim, complaint, charge,
duty, obligation, or cause of action relating to any matters of any kind,
whether presently known or unknown, suspected or unsuspected, that Employee may
possess against any of the Releasees arising from any omissions, acts, facts, or
damages that have occurred up until and including the Effective Date of this
Agreement, including, without limitation, any and all claims:  for violation of any federal, state, or
municipal statute, except as prohibited by law; for violation of the federal or
any state constitution; relating to, or arising from, Employee’s right to
purchase, or actual purchase of shares of stock of the Company; relating to or
arising from Employee’s employment relationship with the Company and the termination
of that relationship; arising out of any other laws and regulations relating to
employment or employment discrimination; for any loss, cost, damage, or expense
arising out of any dispute over the non-withholding or other tax treatment of
any of the proceeds received by Employee as a result of this Agreement; for
wrongful discharge of employment or any theory based on 


 

















 


contract, common law, or any statute; and for fraud, negligent or
intentional misrepresentation, negligent or intentional interference with
contract or prospective economic advantage, unfair business practices,
defamation, libel, and slander.  Employee
acknowledges that he is waiving and releasing any rights he may have under the
Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, as set forth in Exhibit A.


 


Employee agrees that the release set forth in this
section shall be and remain in effect in all respects as a complete general
release as to the matters released.  This
release does not extend to any obligations incurred under this Agreement.  This release does not release claims that
cannot be released as a matter of law, including, but not limited to:  (1) Employee’s right to file a charge with or
participate in a charge by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or
comparable state agency against the Company (with the understanding that any
such filing or participation does not give Employee the right to recover any
monetary damages against the Company; Employee’s release of claims herein bars Employee
from recovering such monetary relief from the Company); (2) claims
under Division 3, Article 2 of the California Labor Code (which includes
California Labor Code section 2802 regarding indemnity for necessary
expenditures or losses by employee); and (3) claims prohibited from
release as set forth in California Labor Code section 206.5 (specifically “any
claim or right on account of wages due, or to become due, or made as an advance
on wages to be earned, unless payment of such wages has been made”).


 


3.     California Civil Code Section 1542.  Employee acknowledges that he has been
advised to consult with legal counsel and is familiar with the provisions of
California Civil Code Section 1542, a statute that otherwise prohibits the
release of unknown claims, which provides as follows:


 


A GENERAL RELEASE DOES NOT EXTEND TO CLAIMS WHICH THE CREDITOR DOES NOT
KNOW OR SUSPECT TO EXIST IN HIS OR HER FAVOR AT THE TIME OF EXECUTING THE
RELEASE, WHICH IF KNOWN BY HIM OR HER MUST HAVE MATERIALLY AFFECTED HIS OR HER
SETTLEMENT WITH THE DEBTOR.


 


Employee, being aware of said code section, agrees to
expressly waive any rights he may have thereunder, as well as under any other
statute or common law principles of similar effect.


 


4.     Employment Relationship.  The Parties acknowledge and agree that the
employment relationship between the Parties terminated on June 1, 2007.


 


5.     Non-Disparagement.  Employee agrees to refrain from any
disparagement, defamation, libel, or slander of any of the Releasees, and agrees
to refrain from any tortious interference with the contracts and relationships
of any of the Releasees.


 


6.     Company Property.  Employee acknowledges that he has returned to
the Company all company property, including but not limited to his computer
laptop, and any documents that were in his possession, custody, or control
prior to the Effective Date.


 


7.     Effective Date.  Each Party has seven (7) days after that Party
signs this Agreement to revoke it.  This
Agreement will become effective on the eighth (8th) day after Employee signed
this Agreement, so long as it has been signed by the Parties and has not been
revoked by either Party before that date (the “Effective Date”).


 

















 


8.     Voluntary Execution of
Agreement.  Employee understands and
agrees that he executed this Agreement voluntarily, without any duress or undue
influence on the part of the Company or any third party, with the full intent
of releasing all of his claims against the Company and any of the other Releasees.  Employee acknowledges that:  he has read this Agreement; he has been
represented in the preparation, negotiation, and execution of this Agreement by
legal counsel of his own choice or has elected not to retain legal counsel; he
understands the terms and consequences of this Agreement and of the releases it
contains; and he is fully aware of the legal and binding effect of this
Agreement.


 


9.     Integration.  This Agreement, the China Release and any
outstanding stock option agreements between the Parties represent the entire
agreement and understanding between the Parties as to the subject matter herein
and supersedes all prior or contemporaneous agreements, whether written or oral.


 


10.   Choice of Law.  The validity, interpretation, construction
and performance of this Agreement, but not the China Release, shall be governed
by the laws of the State of California.


 


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Agreement on the
dates set forth below.


 


	
   

  	
   

  	
  YING WU, an individual

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  
	
  Dated: July 25, 2008

  	
   

  	
         /s/ Ying
  Wu

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
  Ying Wu

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
  UTSTARCOM, INC.

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  
	
  Dated: July 25, 2008

  	
   

  	
  By

  	
         /s/ Susan Marsch

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  	
  Susan Marsch, Vice President and General Counsel

  



 

















 


EXHIBIT A


 


Acknowledgment of Waiver of Claims under ADEA.  Employee acknowledges that he is waiving and
releasing any rights he may have under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act
of 1967 (“ADEA”), and that this waiver and release is knowing and
voluntary.  Employee agrees that this
waiver and release does not apply to any rights or claims that may arise under
the ADEA after the Effective Date of this Agreement.  Employee acknowledges that the consideration
given for this waiver and release is in addition to anything of value to which
Employee was already entitled.  Employee
further acknowledges that he has been advised by this writing that: (a) he
should consult with an attorney prior to executing this Agreement; (b) he
has twenty-one (21) days within which to consider this Agreement; (c) he
has seven (7) days following his execution of this Agreement to revoke
this Agreement; (d) this Agreement shall not be effective until after the
revocation period has expired; and (e) nothing in this Agreement prevents
or precludes Employee from challenging or seeking a determination in good faith
of the validity of this waiver under the ADEA, nor does it impose any condition
precedent, penalties, or costs for doing so, unless specifically authorized by
federal law.  In the event Employee signs
this Agreement and returns it to the Company in less than the 21-day period
identified above, Employee hereby acknowledges that he has freely and
voluntarily chosen to waive the time period allotted for considering this
Agreement.


 

















 


EXHIBIT B


 


SEPARATION AGREEMENT AND RELEASE
(CHINA)


 


This Separation Agreement and Release (this “China
Release”) is made by and between Ying Wu (“Employee”) and UTStarcom (China) Co., Ltd. (the “Company”)
(collectively, referred to as the “Parties” or individually, referred to as a “Party”).


 


WHEREAS, the Parties wish to resolve any and all
disputes, claims, complaints, grievances, charges, actions, petitions, and
demands that the Employee may have against the Company and any of the Releasees
as defined below, including, but not limited to, any and all claims arising out
of or in any way related to Employee’s employment with or separation from the
Company;


 


WHEREAS, concurrently with this Agreement, Employee
and UTStarcom, Inc. are entering into the Separation Agreement and Release
(California) dated even date herewith and to which this China Release is
attached as Exhibit B (the “Agreement”);


 


NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual
promises made herein, the Company and Employee hereby agree as follows:


 


1.        Consideration.  The Company agrees to provide Employee the
consideration set forth in Section 1 of the Agreement, which is a lump sum
payment of twelve (12) months of Employee’s base salary as in effect as of the
date of such termination plus an additional one hundred thousand USD ($100,000)
dollars, (subject to and reduced by the individual income tax), payable within
ten (10) days after the Effective Date of the Agreement.


 


2.        Release of Claims.  Employee agrees that the foregoing
consideration represents settlement in full of all outstanding obligations owed
to Employee by the Company and its current and former officers, directors,
employees, agents, investors, attorneys, shareholders, administrators,
affiliates, divisions, and subsidiaries, and predecessor and successor
corporations and assigns (collectively, the “Releasees”).  Employee, on his own behalf and on behalf of
his respective heirs, family members, executors, agents, and assigns, hereby
and forever releases the Releasees from, and agrees not to sue concerning, or
in any manner to institute, prosecute, or pursue, any claim, complaint, charge,
duty, obligation, or cause of action relating to any matters of any kind,
whether presently known or unknown, suspected or unsuspected, that Employee may
possess against any of the Releasees arising from any omissions, acts, facts,
or damages that have occurred up until and including the Effective Date of this
Agreement, including, without limitation, any and all claims:  for violation of any applicable laws, except as prohibited by law; relating to or
arising from Employee’s employment relationship with the Company and the
termination of that relationship; arising out of any other laws and regulations
relating to employment or employment discrimination; for any loss, cost,
damage, or expense arising out of any dispute over the non-withholding or other
tax treatment of any of the proceeds received by Employee as a result of this
Agreement; for wrongful discharge of employment or any theory based on
contract, common law, or any statute; and for fraud, negligent or intentional
misrepresentation, negligent or intentional interference with contract or
prospective economic advantage, unfair business practices, defamation, libel,
and slander.


 

















 


3.     Employment Relationship.  The Parties acknowledge and
agree that the employment relationship between the Parties terminated on June 1,
2007.


 


4.     Non-Disparagement.  Employee agrees to refrain from any disparagement,
defamation, libel, or slander of any of the Releasees, and agrees to refrain
from any tortious interference with the contracts and relationships of any of
the Releasees.


 


5.     Company Property.  Employee acknowledges that he has returned to
the Company all company property, including but not limited to his computer
laptop, and any documents that were in his possession, custody, or control
prior to the Effective Date.


 


6.     Choice of Law.  The
China Release is governed and construed by the laws of the People’s Republic of
China.


 


7.     Dispute Process. 
Any dispute arising from or relating to this China
Release shall be
submitted to the labor dispute arbitration tribunal in the place where the
Company is located for arbitration.


 


8.     Integration.  The Agreement, including Exhibits A and B,
together with any fully executed stock option agreements between the Parties,
represent the entire agreement and understanding between the Parties as to the
subject matter herein and supersedes all prior or contemporaneous agreements,
whether written or oral.


 


9.     Effective Date.  Each Party has seven (7) days after that
Party signs the Agreement and this Exhibit B to revoke it.  The Agreement will become effective on the
eighth (8th) day after Employee signed the Agreement and this Exhibit B,
so long as it has been signed by the Parties and has not been revoked by either
Party before that date (the “Effective Date”).


 


10.   Voluntary Execution of
Agreement.  Employee understands and
agrees that he executed the Agreement, including this Exhibit B,
voluntarily, without any duress or undue influence on the part of the Company
or any third party, with the full intent of releasing all of his claims against
the Company and any of the other Releasees. 
Employee acknowledges that:  he has
read the Agreement; he has been represented in the preparation, negotiation,
and execution of the Agreement by legal counsel of his own choice or has
elected not to retain legal counsel; he understands the terms and consequences
of the Agreement and of the releases it contains; and he is fully aware of the
legal and binding effect of the Agreement and its Exhibits.


 


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Agreement on the
dates set forth below.


 


	
   

  	
   

  	
  YING WU, an individual

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  
	
  Dated: July 25, 2008

  	
   

  	
                /s/
  Ying Wu

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
  Ying Wu

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
  UTSTARCOM
  (China) Co., Ltd.

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  
	
  Dated: July 25, 2008

  	
   

  	
  By

  	
          /s/ Hong Liang Lu

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  	
  Hong Liang Lu, legal representative