**Exhibit 10.28**

 

 

 

 

**Ariba, Inc.**

**807 11th Avenue**

**Sunnyvale, CA 94089**

 

**September 6, 2002**

 

Michael Schmitt 

807 11th Avenue 

Sunnyvale, CA 94089 

 

 

Dear Michael:

 

For good and valuable consideration, Ariba, Inc. (the“Company”) is pleased to offer you the following severance arrangement: 

 

1.    **Severance Pay**.    If the Company terminates your employment for any reason other than Cause or Permanent Disability, then the Company will continue to pay your cash compensation for aperiod of 12 months following the termination of your employment (the “Continuation Period”). For this purpose, your “cash compensation” will be deemed to be the sum of: 

 

(a)    Your base salary at the rate ineffect at the time of the termination of your employment; plus 

 

(b)    The lesser of (i) the sum of your actual bonuses for the last four completed fiscal quarters preceding the termination of your employment or (ii) your target bonuses for those four completedfiscal quarters. 

 

Your cash compensation will be paid in accordance with theCompany’s standard payroll procedures. 

 

However, thisParagraph 1 will not apply unless you (a) sign a general release of claims (in a form prescribed by the Company) of all known and unknown claims that you may then have against the Company or persons affiliated with the Company and (b) have returnedall Company property. In addition, all payments under this Paragraph 1 will be discontinued immediately if you fail to comply with Paragraph 2, 3, 4 or 5 below. 

 

“Cause” means (a) an unauthorized use or disclosure of the Company’s confidential information or trade secrets, which use or disclosurecauses material harm to the Company, (b) a material breach of any agreement between you and the Company, (c) a material failure to comply with the Company’s written policies or rules, (d) a conviction of, or plea of “guilty” or“no contest” to, a felony under the laws of the United States or any State, (e) gross negligence or willful misconduct or (f) a continued failure to perform assigned duties after receiving written notification of the failure from theCompany’s Chief Executive Officer. The 

Michael Schmitt 

September 6, 2002 

Page 2 

 

foregoing is not an exclusive list of all acts or omissions that the Company may consider as grounds for your termination without Cause. 

 

“Permanent Disability” means that you are unable to perform theessential functions of your position, with or without reasonable accommodation, for a period of at least 120 consecutive days because of a physical or mental impairment. 

 

2.    **Non-Solicitation**.    While you render services to the Company and during theContinuation Period (if any), you agree that you will not directly or indirectly, personally or through others, solicit or attempt to solicit the employment of any employee of the Company or any of the Company’s affiliates, whether on your ownbehalf or on behalf of any other person or entity. The term “employment” for purposes of this Paragraph 2 means to enter into an arrangement for services as a full-time or part-time employee, independent contractor, agent or otherwise. Youand the Company agree that this provision is reasonably enforced as to any geographic area in which the Company conducts its business. 

 

3.    **Non-Competition**.    While you render services to the Company and during the Continuation Period (if any), you agreethat you will not: 

(a)    Directly or indirectly, individually or in conjunction with others, engage inactivities that compete with the Company or work for any entity that is part of the Company’s Market; 

 

(b)    Solicit, serve, contract with or otherwise engage any existing or prospective customer, client or account ofthe Company on behalf of any entity that is part of the Company’s Market; or 

 

(c)    Cause or attempt to cause any existing or prospective customer, client or account of the Company to divertfrom, terminate, limit or in any manner modify, or fail to enter into, any actual or potential business relationship with the Company. 

 

You and the Company agree that this provision is reasonably enforced with reference to any geographic area in which the Company maintains any such relationship. Forpurposes of this Paragraph 3, the Company’s “Market” means (i) all companies that derive their revenue primarily from e-procurement software sales or sales of software or services aiding companies in sourcing activities; and(ii) those companies set forth on Exhibit A hereto. You and the Company agree that the Company’s Market is global in scope. 

 

You and the Company further agree that if any provision set forth in this paragraph is not enforceable under the laws of the state in which you are employed following thetermination of your employment with the Company, nothing in this Agreement shall prohibit you from engaging in such lawful conduct; provided however, that if you elect to do so your rights to any of the severance pay set forth in section 1 aboveshall be discontinued immediately. 

Michael Schmitt 

September 6, 2002 

Page 3 

 

4.    **Cooperation and Non-Disparagement**.    You agree that, during theContinuation Period, you will cooperate with the Company in every reasonable respect and will use your best efforts to assist the Company with the transition of your duties to your successor. You further agree that, during the Continuation Period,you will not in any way or by any means disparage the Company, the members of the Company’s Board of Directors or the Company’s officers and employees. 

 

5.    **Disclosure**.    You agree that, during the Continuation Period, you will inform any newemployer or other person or entity with whom you enter into a business relationship, before accepting employment or entering into a business relationship, of the existence of Paragraphs 2, 3 and 4 above. 

 

6.    **EmploymentRelationship**.    Notwithstanding the foregoing, employment with the Company is for no specific period of time. Your employment with the Company is “at will,” meaning that either you or the Company may terminate youremployment at any time and for any reason, with or without cause. Any contrary representations that may have been made to you are superseded by this offer. This is the full and complete agreement between you and the Company on this term. Althoughyour job duties, title, compensation and benefits, as well as the Company’s personnel policies and procedures, may change from time to time, the “at will” nature of your employment may only be changed in an express written agreementsigned by you and the Chief Executive Officer of the Company. 

 

7.    **Withholding Taxes**.    All forms of compensation referred to in this letter agreement are subject to reduction to reflect applicable withholding and payroll taxes and other deductionsrequired by law. 

 

8.    **EntireAgreement**.    This letter agreement supersedes and replaces any prior agreements, representations or understandings, whether written, oral or implied, between you and the Company with respect to the subject matter hereof.

 

9.    **Severability**.    If anyprovision of this letter agreement becomes or is deemed invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any applicable jurisdiction by reason of the scope, extent or duration of its coverage, then that provision will be deemed amended to the minimum extentnecessary to conform to applicable law so as to be valid and enforceable or, if the provision cannot be so amended without materially altering the intention of the parties, then the provision will be stricken and the remainder of this letteragreement will continue in full force and effect. If any provision of this letter agreement is rendered illegal by any present or future statute, law, ordinance or regulation (collectively, the “Law”), then that provision will be curtailedor limited only to the minimum extent necessary to bring the provision into compliance with the Law. All the other terms and provisions of this letter agreement will continue in full force and effect without impairment or limitation. 

 

10.    **Arbitration**.    You and the Companyagree to waive any rights to a trial before a judge or jury and agree to arbitrate before a neutral arbitrator any and all claims or disputes arising out of 

Michael Schmitt 

September 6, 2002 

Page 4 

 

this letter agreement and any and all claims arising from or relating to your employment with the Company, including (but not limited to) claims against anycurrent or former employee, director or agent of the Company, claims of wrongful termination, retaliation, discrimination, harassment, breach of contract, breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing, defamation, invasion of privacy, fraud,misrepresentation, constructive discharge or failure to provide a leave of absence, or claims regarding commissions, stock options or bonuses, infliction of emotional distress or unfair business practices. 

 

The arbitrator’s decision must be written and must include the findingsof fact and law that support the decision. The arbitrator’s decision will be final and binding on both parties, except to the extent applicable law allows for judicial review of arbitration awards. The arbitrator may award any remedies thatwould otherwise be available to the parties if they were to bring the dispute in court. The arbitration will be conducted in accordance with the National Rules for the Resolution of Employment Disputes of the American Arbitration Association;provided, however that the arbitrator must allow the discovery authorized by the California Arbitration Act or the discovery that the arbitrator deems necessary for the parties to vindicate their respective claims or defenses. The arbitration willtake place in Santa Clara County or, at your option, the county in which you primarily worked with the Company at the time when the arbitrable dispute or claim first arose. 

 

You and the Company will share the costs of arbitration equally, except that the Company will bear the cost of thearbitrator’s fee and any other type of expense or cost that you would not be required to bear if you were to bring the dispute or claim in court. Both the Company and you will be responsible for their own attorneys’ fees, and thearbitrator may not award attorneys’ fees unless a statute or contract at issue specifically authorizes such an award. 

 

This arbitration provision does not apply to (a) workers’ compensation or unemployment insurance claims or (b) claims concerning the validity,infringement or enforceability of any trade secret, patent right, copyright or any other trade secret or intellectual property held or sought by either you or the Company (whether or not arising under the Proprietary Information and InventionsAgreement between you and the Company). 

 

If an arbitrator orcourt of competent jurisdiction (the “Neutral”) determines that any provision of this arbitration provision is illegal or unenforceable, then the Neutral shall modify or replace the language of this arbitration provision with a valid andenforceable provision, but only to the minimum extent necessary to render this arbitration provision legal and enforceable. 

 

* * * * * 

 

You may indicate your agreement with these terms and accept this offer by signing and dating both the enclosed duplicate original of this letter agreementand returning them to me. This offer, if not accepted, will expire at the close of business on                                         , 2002. 

Michael Schmitt 

September 6, 2002 

Page 5 

 

Very truly yours,

Ariba, Inc.

By:
 
/s/    ROBERT M. CALDERONI

Title:
 
Chief Executive Officer

 

 

I have read and accept this employment offer: 

 

/s/    MICHAEL SCHMITT

Signature of Michael Schmitt

Dated:
 
September 6, 2002

Michael Schmitt 

September 6, 2002 

Page 6 

 

**Exhibit A**

 

 

    [*] 

    B2E Markets 

    Emportis

    Free Markets 

    Frictionless Commerce 

    Oracle 

    Peoplesoft 

 
***** **CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT HAS BEEN REQUESTED WITH RESPECT TO CERTAIN PORTIONS OF THIS AGREEMENT. SUCH PORTIONS WERE OMITTED FROM THIS FILING AND FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE SECURITIESAND EXCHANGE COMMISSION.**