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                                                                   EXHIBIT 10(U)

                             FIRST UNION CORPORATION

                    2000 CASH PERFORMANCE AND RETENTION PLAN

1.       ESTABLISHMENT AND PURPOSE

         First Union Corporation, a North Carolina corporation (the
"Corporation"), hereby establishes an incentive compensation plan, which shall
be known as the "FIRST UNION CORPORATION 2000 CASH PERFORMANCE AND RETENTION
PLAN" (the "Plan").

         The purposes of the Plan are to (a) help align the long-term financial
interests of Participants with those of stockholders; (b) reinforce a
performance-oriented culture/strategy; (c) incent and reward employees for
increasing the Corporation's common stock earnings per share over time; and (d)
motivate and retain the services of Participants upon whose judgment, interest
and special effort the successful conduct of the Corporation's operations are
dependent.

2.       EFFECTIVE DATE AND DURATION

         The Plan shall become effective on August 15, 2000, and shall remain in
effect, subject to the right of the Board to amend or terminate the Plan at any
time pursuant to the terms hereof, until all Units subject to it shall have been
paid or forfeited according to the Plan's provisions.

3.       DEFINITIONS

         (a)      "1934 Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, including the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

         (b)      "Aggregate Unit Value" means, with respect to the value of
Units awarded to a Participant, the greater of (i) the sum of the Annual Unit
Values as determined on the applicable Unit Value Determination Date(s),
multiplied by the number of Units awarded to such Participant or (ii) the
Retention Amount.

         (c)      "Annual Unit Value" means the annual value assigned to each
Unit as set forth in Section 7(a) as determined on the applicable Unit Value
Determination Date.

         (d)      "Award" means, individually or collectively, a Unit award made
pursuant to the terms of the Plan.

         (e)      "Award Agreement" means an agreement entered into by the
Corporation and each Participant setting forth the terms and provisions
applicable to Awards.

         (f)      "Beneficial Owner" or "Beneficial Ownership" shall have the
meaning ascribed to such term in Rule 13d-3 of the General Rules and Regulations
under the 1934 Act.

         (g)      "Board" means the Board of Directors of the Corporation.

         (h)      "Change of Control" means a change in control of the
Corporation of a nature that would be required to be reported in response to
Item 6(e) of Schedule 14A of Regulation 14A promulgated under the 1934 Act;
provided, however, that, without limitation, such a Change of Control shall be
deemed to have occurred if (i) any one person, or more than one person acting as
a group, acquires Beneficial Ownership of Shares that, together with Shares held
by such person or group, possesses more than 50 percent of the total Fair Market
Value or total voting power of the Shares, (ii) any one person, or more than one
person acting as a group, acquires (or has acquired during the 12-month period
ending on the date of the most recent acquisition by such person or persons)
Beneficial Ownership of Shares possessing 20 percent or more of the total voting
power of the Shares, or (iii) a majority of members of the Board is replaced
during any 12-month period by directors whose appointment or election is not
endorsed by a majority of the members of the Board prior to the date of such
appointment or election.

         (i)      "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (or
any successor thereto), including any rules and regulations promulgated
thereunder.

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         (j)      "Committee" means the Human Resources Committee of the Board
or such other committee as is appointed by the Board to administer the Plan.

         (k)      "Corporation" means (i) First Union Corporation and any entity
that is directly or indirectly controlled by the Corporation, or (ii) any entity
in which the Corporation has a significant equity interest, as determined by the
Committee.

         (l)      "Covered Officer" means, for a calendar year, a Participant
who is one of the group of executive officers of the Corporation designated by
the Committee in writing as "Covered Officers".

         (m)      "Date of Termination of Employment" means, with respect to an
Employee who is terminating employment with the Corporation, (i) the last day
such Employee performs actual services for the Corporation as an Employee, (ii)
the 91st day of a bona fide leave of absence when such Employee's right to
continue employment with the Corporation is not guaranteed by law or contract
or, if later, on the date that such legal or contractual guarantee lapses, (iii)
the date that such Employee is deemed to have a Disability, or (iv) the date of
such Employee's death, as applicable.

         (n)      "Disability", with respect to an Employee, means having
received long-term disability benefits under the Corporation's Long-Term
Disability Plan for a period of 12 consecutive months.

         (o)      "Early Retirement" means termination of a Participant's
employment upon satisfaction of the requirements for early retirement under the
Corporation's pension plan.

         (p)      "Earnings Per Share Growth" means the difference, expressed as
a percentage, between the Corporation's net income applicable to common
stockholders per Share in a fiscal year versus the Corporation's net income
applicable to common stockholders per Share in the immediately preceding fiscal
year. When calculating the Corporation's net income applicable to common
stockholders for purposes of this Plan, the Committee may include or exclude
items (including, without limitation: one-time gains or losses on the sale of
assets; restructuring or restructuring-related charges; or merger or
merger-related charges) as it determines in its sole discretion.

         (q)      "Employee" means an employee of the Corporation.

         (r)      "Fair Market Value" means the closing sales price of the
Shares on the New York Stock Exchange Composite Tape on the valuation date, or,
if there were no sales on the valuation date, the closing sales price on the New
York Stock Exchange Composite Tape on the first trading day before such
valuation date.

         (s)      "Final Unit Value Determination Date" means the date upon
which the final Annual Unit Value is calculated immediately prior to payment to
Participants of the Unit Value Payment; unless otherwise specified in the
applicable Award Agreement, the Final Unit Value Determination Date shall be
December 31, 2003.

         (t)      "Normal Retirement" means termination of a Participant's
employment upon satisfaction of the requirements for normal retirement under the
terms of the Corporation's pension plan.

         (u)      "Participant" means an Employee of the Corporation who has
been granted an Award under the Plan.

         (v)      "Performance-Based Exception" means the performance-based
exception set forth in Code Section 162(m)(4)(C) from the deductibility
limitations of Code Section 162(m).

         (w)      "Performance Goals" means performance goals based on any of
the following criteria and established by the Committee prior to April 1 of each
year: earnings or earnings growth; return on equity, assets or investment;
revenues; expenses; stock price; market share; charge-offs; or reductions in
non-performing assets. Such Performance Goals may be particular to an Employee
or the division, department, branch, line of business, subsidiary or other unit
in which the Employee works, or may be based on the performance of the
Corporation generally.

         (x)      "Plan" is defined in Section 1 herein.

         (y)      "Plan Year" means a twelve-month period beginning with January
1 of each year.

         (z)      "Retention Amount" shall equal (in U.S. dollars), with respect
to a Participant, the Participant's base salary as of January 1, 2001.

         (aa)     "Retirement" means either Early Retirement or Normal
Retirement.

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         (bb)     "Shares" means the common stock of the Corporation, par value
$3.33 1/3 per share.

         (cc)     "Unit" means the right to receive a payment in cash equal to
the Aggregate Unit Value as of the Final Determination Date, as set forth in the
applicable Award Agreement.

         (dd)     "Unit Value Determination Date" means the date upon which the
Annual Unit Value is calculated; unless otherwise specified in the applicable
Award Agreement, the Unit Value Determination Date shall mean December 31 of the
applicable Plan Year.

         (ee)     "Unit Value Payment" means the cash payment to the Participant
of the Aggregate Unit Value as of the Final Unit Value Determination Date (or as
provided in Section 7(c)).

         (ff)     "Unit Value Payment Date" means the date on which the Unit
Value Payment is made.

         (gg)     "Without Cause" shall mean the Corporation terminating a
Participant's employment with the Corporation for any reason other than a
termination of a Participant's employment due to:

                  (i)      any act or omission that constitutes a material
         breach of the Participant's obligation to the Corporation, or the
         repeated failure or refusal of the Participant to perform
         satisfactorily any duties reasonably required of the Participant;

                  (ii)     the commission of any fraud, misappropriation,
         embezzlement or other dishonest act that may reasonably be expected to
         have injurious effect on the Corporation;

                  (iii)    reporting to work under the influence of alcohol,
         narcotics or unlawful controlled substances, or any other material
         violation of any of the Corporation's employment policies or
         procedures;

                  (iv)     conviction of a felony or of a misdemeanor, or
         conduct in violation of state or federal law or that would constitute a
         basis for a criminal charge or indictment of a felony or of a
         misdemeanor involving dishonest or fraudulent conduct;

                  (v)      violation of any securities or commodities laws, any
         rules or regulations pursuant to such laws, or the rules and
         regulations of any securities or commodities exchange or association of
         which the Corporation is a member, or violation of any similar federal,
         state or local law, regulation, ordinance or licensing requirement
         applicable to employees of financial institutions, or the loss or
         suspension of any license from any securities or commodities exchange
         or association of which the Corporation is a member; or

                  (vi)     conduct that may reasonably be expected to have a
         material adverse effect on the financial interest or business
         reputation of the Corporation.

4.       ADMINISTRATION

         (a)      The Committee. The Committee shall be responsible for
administering the Plan. If considered appropriate by the Board in light of
applicable laws, rules, or regulations, the Committee shall be comprised of two
or more non-employee members of the Board each of whom is a "Non-Employee
Director" within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 under the 1934 Act and an "outside
director" within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code. Any action taken
with respect to Covered Officers for purpose of meeting the Performance-Based
Exception shall be taken by the Committee only if all of the members of the
Committee are "outside directors" within the meaning of Code Section 162(m).

         (b)      Committee Authority. The Committee may at any time alter,
amend, suspend or discontinue the Plan and/or any or all Award Agreements, to
the extent permitted by applicable law. Except as limited by applicable law, or
by the Corporation's Articles of Incorporation or By-laws, and subject to the
provisions herein, the Committee shall have full and exclusive power to
interpret the Plan and to adopt such rules, regulations, and guidelines for
carrying out the Plan as it may deem necessary or proper, all of which powers
shall be executed in the best interests of the Corporation and in keeping with
the provisions and objectives of the Plan. These powers include, but are not
limited to (i) selecting Award recipients and the extent of their participation;
(ii) establishing all Award terms and conditions; (iii) adopting procedures and
regulations governing Awards; and (iv) making all other determinations necessary
or advisable for the administration of the Plan. In addition, except as provided
herein, in the Corporation's Articles of Incorporation or By-laws, or pursuant
to applicable law, the Committee shall have authority, in its sole discretion,
to accelerate the date that any Award which was not
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otherwise exercisable or vested shall become exercisable or vested in whole or
in part without any obligation to accelerate such date with respect to any other
Awards granted to any Participant. All determinations, interpretations or other
actions taken or made by the Committee pursuant to the provisions of the Plan
shall be final, binding and conclusive on all persons interested herein.

                  The Committee may delegate to one or more officers of the
         Corporation the authority to carry out some or all of its
         responsibilities, provided that the Committee may not delegate its
         authority and powers in any way which would be inconsistent with the
         requirements of the Code or the 1934 Act. The Committee may at any time
         rescind the authority delegated to any such officers.

                  No member of the Committee shall be liable for any action or
         determination with respect to the Plan, and the members shall be
         entitled to indemnification and reimbursement in the manner provided in
         the Corporation's Articles of Incorporation. In the performance of its
         functions under the Plan, the Committee shall be entitled to rely upon
         information and advice furnished by the Corporation's officers,
         accountants, counsel and any other party the Committee deems necessary,
         and no member of the Committee shall be liable for any action taken or
         not taken in reliance upon any such advice.

5.       PARTICIPATION

         The individuals who shall be eligible to receive Awards under the Plan
shall be officers or other selected key Employees as the Committee shall approve
from time to time.

         In the event of a change in a Participant's duties and
responsibilities, or a transfer of the Participant to a different position, the
Committee may terminate any Award granted to such Participant or reduce the
number of Units subject thereto commensurate with the transfer or change in
responsibility, as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion.

6.       AVAILABLE UNITS

         The aggregate number of Units that may be granted under the Plan shall
be 7,500,000. The number of Units that may be represented by Awards granted to
any single Participant under the Plan shall not exceed 250,000.

7.       AWARDS

                  (a)      Grant. Each Award shall be evidenced by an Award
         Agreement that shall specify the number of Units granted, the Unit
         Value Determination Dates, the Retention Amount, the Final Unit Value
         Determination Date, the Performance Goals (if any), the Unit Value
         Payment Date, and such other provisions as the Committee shall
         determine. Units shall be payable at such times and be subject to such
         restrictions and conditions as the Committee shall in each instance
         approve and which shall be set forth in the applicable Award Agreement,
         which may include, but are not limited to, continuous service with the
         Corporation, and which need not be the same for each Award for each
         Participant.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
         ------------------------------------------    -------------------
          EARNINGS PER SHARE GROWTH AS OF THE UNIT         UNIT VALUE
                  VALUE DETERMINATION DATE
         ------------------------------------------    -------------------
         <S>                                           <C>
                   Less than 10.0%                            $   0
         ------------------------------------------    -------------------
                   10.0% to 10.99%                            $4.50
         ------------------------------------------    -------------------
                   11.0% to 11.99%                            $6.00
         ------------------------------------------    -------------------
                   12.0% to 12.49%                            $8.00
         ------------------------------------------    -------------------
         Each full 1/2% in excess of 12.49%            An additional $0.50
         ------------------------------------------    -------------------
</TABLE>

                  (b)      Unit Value Payment. A Participant shall be entitled
         to receive the Unit Value Payment following the Final Unit Value
         Determination Date. The Corporation shall pay the Participant the Unit
         Value Payment on the Unit Value Payment Date, which will be as soon as
         reasonably practicable following the Final Unit Value Determination
         Date, and may include such payment to the Participant in the
         Corporation's normal payroll system. In order to receive the Unit Value
         Payment, except as provided in Section 7(c) or Section 10, a
         Participant must be an Employee as of the Unit Value Payment Date.

                  (c)      Termination. If the employment of a Participant with
         the Corporation shall terminate by reason of death, Disability,
         Retirement or Without Cause, any then outstanding Units granted to such
         Participant shall become immediately payable on the Date of Termination
         of Employment and such Units will be cancelled on the Date of
         Termination of Employment. A termination of employment by reason of
         death, Disability, Retirement or Without Cause will entitle the
         Participant (or his beneficiary) to receive the sum of the Annual Unit
         Values as of the Date of Termination of Employment, subject to the
         following two sentences. In the event the Date of Termination of
         Employment of a Participant who terminates employment by reason of
         death, Disability, Retirement or Without Cause occurs on or after
         November 1 of any Plan Year, such Participant shall receive the Annual
         Unit Value for that entire year, payable as soon as reasonably
         practicable after the Unit Value Determination Date for such year. In
         the event the sum of the Annual Unit Values as of the Date of
         Termination of Employment of a Participant who terminates

<PAGE>   5

         employment by reason of death, Disability, Retirement or Without Cause
         is zero, the Participant shall be entitled to receive a payment per
         Unit equal to the result obtained by multiplying (1) the Retention
         Amount, by (2) the quotient of (A) the number of months the Participant
         has been employed by the Corporation from January 1, 2001 to the Date
         of Termination of Employment, divided by (B) 36. Unless the Committee
         determines otherwise, if the employment of a Participant with the
         Corporation shall terminate for any reason other than death,
         Disability, Retirement or Without Cause, any then outstanding Units
         granted to such Participant will be forfeited on the Date of
         Termination of Employment and such Participant shall not be entitled to
         receive any payments for such Units.

8.       PAYMENTS AND PAYMENT DEFERRALS

         Unit Value Payments will be in the form of cash. In addition, the
Committee may stipulate in an Award Agreement, either at the time of grant or by
subsequent amendment, that a Unit Value Payment or portion of a Unit Value
Payment be delayed in the event that Section 162(m) of the Code (or any
successor or similar provision of the Code affecting tax deductibility) would
disallow a tax deduction by the Corporation for all or a portion of such Unit
Value Payment. The period of any such delay in Unit Value Payment shall be until
the Unit Value Payment, or portion thereof, is tax deductible, or such earlier
date as the Committee shall determine.

9.       TRANSFERABILITY

         Neither the Awards nor the Units may be sold, transferred, pledged,
assigned or otherwise alienated or hypothecated. All rights with respect to any
Award and Units granted to a Participant shall be available during his or her
lifetime only to such Participant.

10.      CHANGE OF CONTROL

         In the event of (i) any merger, consolidation, or acquisition where the
stockholders of the Corporation on the effective date of such merger,
consolidation, or acquisition do not own at least 50% of the outstanding shares
of voting stock of the surviving corporation, or (ii) any Change of Control,
each Award shall (a) immediately become fully vested, nonforfeitable and
payable, and (b) have an Aggregate Unit Value of the greater of (x) the
Retention Amount plus $10.00 per Unit, or (y) the Retention Amount plus the sum
of the Annual Unit Values as of the date on which either (i) or (ii) above
occurs, as applicable.

11.      AWARD AGREEMENTS

         Each Award shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement setting forth the
terms, conditions, and limitations for such Award, the provisions applicable in
the event the Participant's employment terminates, and the Corporation's
authority unilaterally or bilaterally to amend, modify, suspend, cancel, or
rescind any Award. The Committee need not require the execution of any such
agreement by the recipient.

12.      TAX WITHHOLDING

         The Corporation shall have the right to deduct from any Unit Value
Payment a sufficient amount to cover withholding of any federal, state or local
or other governmental taxes or charges required by law or such greater amount of
withholding as the Committee shall determine from time to time and as permitted
or required by applicable rules and regulations, or to take such other action as
may be necessary to satisfy any such withholding obligations.

13.      OTHER BENEFIT AND COMPENSATION PROGRAMS

         Unless otherwise specifically determined by the Committee, Unit Value
Payments to Participants shall not be deemed a part of a Participant's regular,
recurring compensation for purposes of calculating payments or benefits under
the Corporation's benefit plans or severance program. Further, the Corporation
may adopt other compensation programs, plans or arrangements as it deems
appropriate.

14.      UNFUNDED PLAN

         Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, the Plan shall be
unfunded and shall not create (or be construed to create) a trust or a separate
fund or funds. The Plan shall not establish any fiduciary relationship between
the Corporation and any Participant or other person. To the extent any person
holds any rights by virtue of an Award, such rights shall constitute general
unsecured liabilities of the Corporation and shall not confer upon any such
person any right, title, or interest in any assets of the Corporation.

<PAGE>   6

15.      REGULATORY APPROVALS

         The implementation of the Plan and the granting of any Award, shall be
subject to the Corporation's procurement of all approvals and permits required
by regulatory authorities having jurisdiction over the Corporation or the Plan.

16.      RIGHTS AS A STOCKHOLDER

         A Participant shall have no rights as a stockholder of the Corporation
with respect to Units covered by an Award.

17.      FUTURE RIGHTS

         No person shall have any claim or right to be granted an Award, and the
grant of an Award shall not be construed as giving a Participant the right to be
retained in the employ of the Corporation or to participate in any other
compensation or benefit plan, program or arrangement of the Corporation. In
addition, the Corporation expressly reserves the right at any time to dismiss a
Participant free from any liability or any claim under the Plan, except as
provided herein or in any agreement entered into hereunder.

18.      GOVERNING LAW

         The Plan and all Award Agreements shall be construed in accordance with
and governed by the laws of the State of North Carolina.

19.      SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS

         The Plan and any applicable Award Agreement shall be binding on all
permitted successors and assigns of a Participant, including, without
limitation, the estate of such Participant and the executor, administrator or
trustee of such estate, or any receiver or trustee in bankruptcy or
representative of the Participant's creditors. In addition, the Plan and any
applicable Award Agreement shall be binding on all the Corporation's successors
(whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to
all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Corporation. As
used in this Plan, "Corporation" shall mean the Corporation as hereinbefore
defined and any successor to its business and/or assets as aforesaid or which
otherwise becomes bound by all the terms and provisions of this Agreement by
operation of law or otherwise.

20.      INDEMNIFICATION

         Each person who is or shall have been a member of the Committee or of
the Board shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Corporation against and
from any loss, cost, liability, or expense that may be imposed upon or
reasonably incurred by him in connection with or resulting from any claim,
action, suit, or proceeding to which he may be a party or in which he may be
involved by reason of any action taken or failure to act under the Plan and
against and from any and all amounts paid by him in settlement thereof, with the
Corporation's approval, or paid by him in satisfaction of any judgment in any
such action, suit, or proceeding against him, provided he shall give the
Corporation an opportunity, at its own expense, to handle and defend the same
before he undertakes to handle and defend it on his own behalf. The foregoing
right of indemnification shall not be exclusive of any other rights of
indemnification to which such persons may be entitled under the Corporation's
Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws, as a matter of law, or otherwise, or any
power that the Corporation may have to indemnify them or hold them harmless.<PAGE>   1
                                                                 EXHIBIT 10.31

                    EMPLOYMENT AND NON-COMPETITION AGREEMENT

            This EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") is made as of the 20th
day of February, 2001 by and between SYBASE, INC., a Delaware corporation
("Sybase"), and RICK ADAM, an individual residing at Cherry Hills, Co. (the
"Employee").

                                   BACKGROUND

            The Employee is a shareholder of [NEON] and is employed by [NEON].
Sybase and [NEON] have entered into an Agreement And Plan of Reorganization
dated of even date herewith (the "Merger Agreement") which requires, among other
things, that the Employee enter into this Agreement as part of the merger
described in the Merger Agreement (the "Merger"). This Agreement is to be
effective only upon the Effective Date (as defined in the Merger Agreement) at
which time Sybase will assign all of its rights and obligations under this
Agreement to the Surviving Corporation (as defined in the Merger Agreement).
Sybase wishes to secure on behalf of the Surviving Corporation the services of
the Employee upon the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth, and the
Employee wishes to render such services to the Surviving Corporation upon the
terms and conditions hereinafter set forth.

            NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual
covenants herein contained and for other good and valuable consideration, the
receipt and adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties agree as
follows:

1)    EMPLOYMENT BY THE SURVIVING CORPORATION. Sybase agrees to employ the
      Employee as Division President of the Surviving Corporation, and the
      Employee accepts such employment and agrees to perform such duties as are
      consistent with his title and position. Employee's duties shall be those
      customarily performed by a person holding the same title at a company of
      similar size and industry as the Surviving Corporation, and he shall
      report directly to the John Chen of the Surviving Corporation. The
      Employee agrees to devote his full business time to the business of the
      Surviving Corporation and/or its Affiliates and to faithfully, diligently
      and competently perform his duties hereunder.

2)    TERM OF EMPLOYMENT. The Term of this Agreement shall commence on the
      Effective Date and continue until terminated as set forth herein. The
      parties agree that Employee's employment will be "at will" employment and
      may be terminated at any time with or without cause or notice. Employee
      understands and agrees that neither his job performance nor promotions,
      commendations, bonuses or the like give rise to or in any way serve as the
      basis

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     for modification, amendment or extension, by implication or otherwise, of
     his employment hereunder.

3)   COMPENSATION. As compensation for all services to be rendered by the
     Employee to the Surviving Corporation and/or its Affiliates in all
     capacities during the Term, the Employee shall receive the following
     compensation and benefits:

     a)  SALARY. An annual base salary of ($400,000) (the "Base Salary"), less
         required withholdings, which shall be paid on a regular basis in
         accordance with the Surviving Corporation's normal payroll procedures
         and policies.

     b)  BONUS. The Employee shall be eligible to receive bonuses in accordance
         with such bonus plans as are applicable to employees of the Surviving
         Corporation from time to time. For calendar year 2001, the targeted
         bonus is $200,000 less required withholdings (which bonus shall only be
         payable to the extent earned under the terms of the applicable bonus
         plan).

     c)  PARTICIPATION IN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS. The Employee shall be
         permitted during the Term, if and to the extent eligible, to
         participate in all employee benefit plans, policies and practices now
         or hereafter maintained by or on behalf of the Surviving Corporation
         for employees having positions with the Surviving Corporation
         commensurate with the Employee's position with the Surviving
         Corporation. Nothing in this Agreement shall preclude the Surviving
         Corporation from terminating or amending any such plans or coverage so
         as to eliminate, reduce or otherwise change any benefit payable
         thereunder, so long as such change similarly affects all Surviving
         Corporation employees having positions with the Surviving Corporation
         that are commensurate with the Employee's position with the Surviving
         Corporation.

     d)  EXPENSES. The Surviving Corporation shall pay or reimburse the Employee
         for all reasonable expenses actually incurred or paid by the Employee
         during the Term in the performance of the Employee's duties under this
         Agreement, upon submission and approval of expense statements, vouchers
         or other supporting information, in accordance with the then customary
         practices of the Surviving Corporation.

     e)  VACATION. The Employee shall be entitled to vacation in accordance with
         Sybase policy.

     f)  WITHHOLDING OF TAXES. The Surviving Corporation may withhold from any
         compensation payable under this Agreement all federal, state, city and
         other taxes as shall be required pursuant to any law or governmental
         regulation or ruling.

     g)  STOCK OPTIONS. The Surviving Corporation shall grant to Employee stock
         options (the "Employee Option") to acquire up to 155,000 shares of
         Sybase, Inc common stock. The stock options granted to Employee shall
         vest such that 1/8th of such option shares shall

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<PAGE>   3
          vest six months after the Effective Date, and 1/48th of such option
          shares shall vest each month thereafter through the 48th month after
          the Effective Date. Otherwise, the stock options granted will be upon
          the same terms and conditions as are generally provided under the
          Sybase, Inc. Stock Plans.

4)   TERMINATION

     a)   TERMINATION UPON DEATH. If the Employee dies during the Term, this
          Agreement shall terminate as of the date of his death.

     b)   TERMINATION UPON DISABILITY. If, during the Term, the Employee
          becomes physically or mentally disabled, the Surviving Corporation
          may, by written notice to the Employee, terminate this Agreement, in
          which event the Term shall terminate 30 days after the date upon
          which the Surviving Corporation shall have given notice to the
          Employee of its intention to terminate this Agreement because of such
          disability. Disability shall be determined in accordance with the
          terms of the applicable policies and benefit plans of the Surviving
          Corporation.

     c)   TERMINATION FOR CAUSE. The Surviving Corporation may at any time by
          written notice to the Employee terminate this Agreement immediately,
          and the Employee shall have no right to receive any compensation or
          benefit hereunder on and after the date of such notice, in the event
          that an event of "Cause" occurs. For purposes of this Agreement
          "Cause" shall mean:

          (i)   the continuous failure by the Employee to perform the material
                duties and responsibilities that are reasonably consistent with
                his position which remain uncured for a period of fifteen (15)
                days after receipt of notice thereof from the Surviving
                Corporation;

          (ii)  a conviction of, a plea of nolo contendere, a guilty plea or
                confession by the Employee to a felony or the committing of an
                act of fraud or material dishonesty against, or the or
                embezzlement, theft or misappropriation of property belonging
                to, the Surviving Corporation or its Affiliates;

          (iii) the Employee personally engaging in conduct that he reasonably
                should know or that he intends to be seriously injurious to the
                business of the Surviving Corporation or its Affiliates (it
                being understood that business decisions made by the Employee
                in good faith are not to be considered grounds for termination
                for Cause); or

          (iv)  the material breach by the Employee of this Agreement or the
                Nondisclosure and Assignment of Inventions Agreement which is
                not cured within fifteen (15) days after receipt of notice
                thereof from the Surviving Corporation (except for a breach of

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<PAGE>   4
                  Section 7 hereof or a breach of the Nondisclosure and
                  Assignment of Inventions Agreement for which no cure period
                  is provided).

      d)    TERMINATION WITHOUT CAUSE. The Surviving Corporation may terminate
            this Agreement at any time, without cause, and the Employee shall
            have no right to receive any compensation or benefit hereunder
            after such termination except as set forth in Section 5 below.
            Employee may terminate this Agreement without cause, and the
            Employee shall have no right to receive any compensation or benefit
            hereunder after such termination.

      c)    SURRENDER OF RECORDS AND PROPERTY. Upon termination of his
            employment with the Surviving Corporation, Employee shall deliver
            promptly to the Surviving Corporation all property and all tangible
            forms of Confidential Information in accordance with the terms of
            the Nondisclosure and Assignment of Inventions Agreement between
            Sybase and the Employee.

5)    SEVERANCE PAYMENTS AND OTHER RIGHTS.

      a)    CERTAIN SEVERANCE PAYMENTS AND OTHER RIGHTS. If, during the Term,
            the Surviving Corporation terminates this Agreement pursuant to
            Section 4(d), all compensation payable to the Employee under
            Section 3 shall cease as of the date of termination specified in
            the Surviving Corporation's notice (the "Termination Date"), and
            the Surviving Corporation shall pay or provide to the Employee the
            following, provided that the Employee first enters into and does
            not revoke a binding written agreement releasing all claims, known
            or unknown, that the Employee has or might have against the
            Surviving Corporation in connection with this Agreement and other
            employment arrangements with the Surviving Corporation and its
            Affiliates and for wrongful discharge, and provided further that
            the Employee has not violated the terms of Section 7 of this
            Agreement. (Payment of the severance payments does not constitute
            an acknowledgement by the Surviving Corporation of the Employee's
            compliance with the terms of Section 7.) All severance payments
            shall be subject to applicable tax withholding, and shall be in
            lieu of any further payments under this Agreement or under any
            other employment arrangements between the Employee and the
            Surviving Corporation.

            (i)   a lump sum amount equal to the Employee's Total Targeted
                  Earnings ("TTE") :i.e., Base Salary plus bonus) in effect on
                  the Termination Date for a period equal to 18 months;

            (ii)  for a period equal to the earlier of 24 mos or (y) the date
                  upon which Employee and his covered dependents become covered
                  under comparable group health, plans of another employer,
                  payment of applicable premiums under COBRA for group health
                  coverage in order to provide the Employee and his covered
                  dependents equivalent

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<PAGE>   5

                     coverage to that which they were entitled to while Employee
                     was an employee of the Surviving Corporation immediately
                     prior to his termination; and

               (iii) all previously accrued vacation pay.

          b)   PAYMENTS UPON TERMINATION FOR CAUSE, DEATH OR DISABILITY. If this
               Agreement is terminated by the Surviving Corporation pursuant to
               Sections 4(a), 4(b) or 4(c), the Employee shall receive only the
               amounts owing through the Termination Date.

     6)   REPRESENTATION AND WARRANTY OF EMPLOYEE. The Employee represents and
          warrants that neither the execution nor the delivery of this
          Agreement, nor the employment of the Employee by the Surviving
          Corporation will result in the breach of any agreement to which the
          Employee is a party, except where any such breach would not have a
          material adverse effect on the business, financial condition or
          operations of the Surviving Corporation.

     7)   COVENANTS. The Employee acknowledges that: (i) he is one of the
          limited number of persons who will develop the business of the
          Surviving Corporation; (ii) his work for the Surviving Corporation has
          brought him and will continue to bring him into close contact with
          many confidential affairs not readily available to the public; and
          (iii) the covenants contained in this Section 7 will not involve a
          substantial hardship upon his future livelihood. In light of such
          acknowledgement, and in partial consideration of the several
          agreements made by Sybase with the Employee in the Merger Agreement
          and in order to induce the Surviving Corporation to enter into this
          Agreement and the Merger Agreement, the Employee covenants and agrees
          that:

          a)   NON-COMPETE. During the period of his employment by the Surviving
               Corporation under this Agreement and for 18 months following the
               termination of the Employee's employment for any reason, provided
               the Surviving Corporation is not in breach of its obligations
               under Section 5, the Employee shall not, directly or indirectly:
               (i) in any manner whatsoever engage in any capacity with any
               Restricted Business in a Restricted Territory (as such terms are
               defined below) for the Employee's own benefit or for the benefit
               of any Person other than the Surviving Corporation; or (ii) have
               any interest as owner, sole proprietor, shareholder, partner,
               lender, director, officer, manager, employee, consultant, agent
               or otherwise in any Restricted Business in a Restricted
               Territory; provided, however, that the Employee may hold,
               directly or indirectly, solely as an investment, not more than
               two percent (2%) of the outstanding securities of any person or
               entity which are listed on any national securities exchange or
               regularly traded in the over-the-counter market notwithstanding
               the fact that such person or entity is a Restricted Business in a
               Restricted Territory.

               "Restricted Business" shall mean (A) a business which is
               competitive with the Surviving Corporation's business engaged in
               by the Surviving Corporation at the date of his

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<PAGE>   6

          termination of employment (the "Surviving Corporation's Business")
          and (B) Oracle Systems Corporation, Informix Corporation, the
          database product groups or organizations of Computer Associates, the
          database product groups or organizations of Microsoft Corporation and
          the database product groups or organizations of IBM. Notwithstanding
          the above, the Employee may become an employee of or consultant to or
          have an interest as owner, sole proprietor, shareholder, partner,
          lender, director, officer, manager, employee, consultant, agent or
          otherwise in a business unit of a larger enterprise which enterprise
          then has another business unit engaged in a business competitive with
          the Surviving Corporation's Business, provided that the business unit
          of the larger enterprise for which Employee provides services or in
          which he has an interest is neither (1) in a business competitive
          with the Surviving Corporation's Business and is located in a
          geographically separate location from the competitive business unit
          and the Employee has no responsibility and has no role whatsoever in
          the competing business unit nor (2) a company or business unit listed
          in clause B of this paragraph.

          "Restricted Territory" shall mean the larger of (i) the counties,
          cities and states of the United States of America and each political
          subdivision of Canada, Australia, Japan, each member of the European
          Economic Community and any other country in which the Surviving
          Corporation's products are sold or licensed during the term of the
          non-compete obligations or (ii) if (i) is found unenforceable, the
          counties, cities, states and political subdivisions of any country in
          which the Surviving Corporation's products are sold, distributed or
          licensed during the term of the non-compete obligations.

          The parties intend that the covenants contained in this Section 7(a)
          shall be construed as a series of separate covenants, one for each
          county, city, state and other political subdivision of each country
          in the Restricted Territory. Except for geographic coverage, each
          separate covenant shall be deemed identical in terms to the covenant
          contained in the preceding paragraphs. If, in any judicial
          proceeding, a court shall refuse to enforce any of the separate
          covenants (or any part thereof) deemed included in said paragraphs,
          then such unenforceable covenant (or such part) shall be deemed
          eliminated from this Agreement for the purpose of those proceedings
          to the extent necessary to permit the remaining separate covenants
          (or portions thereof) to be enforced by such court. It is the intent
          of the parties that the covenants set forth herein be enforced to the
          maximum degree permitted by applicable law.

          In the event that the provisions of this Section 7(a) should ever be
          deemed to exceed the scope, time or geographic limitations of
          applicable law regarding covenants not to compete, then such
          provisions shall be reformed to the maximum scope, time or geographic
          limitations, as the case may be, permitted by applicable laws.

     b)   NON-DISCLOSURE OF CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION. Concurrently with the
          execution of this Agreement, the Employee shall enter into a
          Nondisclosure And Assignment of Inventions

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<PAGE>   7
          Agreement in the form attached hereto.

     c)   NON-SOLICITATION OF EMPLOYEES OF AND CONSULTANTS TO THE SURVIVING
          CORPORATION. During the period of his employment by the Surviving
          Corporation under this Agreement and for 18 months following the
          termination of the Employee's employment for any reason, the Employee
          shall not, directly or indirectly, initiate communications with,
          solicit, persuade, entice, induce or encourage any individual who is
          then or who has been within the preceding 12-month period, an
          employee of or consultant to the Surviving Corporation to terminate
          an employment or consulting relationship with the Surviving
          Corporation, as the case may be, or to become employed by or enter
          into a contract or other agreement with any other person, and the
          Employee shall not approach any such employee or consultant for any
          such purpose or authorize or knowingly approve the taking of any such
          actions by any other person.

    d)    NON-SOLICITATION OF CUSTOMERS. During the period of his employment by
          the Surviving Corporation under this Agreement and for 18 months
          following the termination of the Employee's employment for any
          reason, the Employee shall not, directly or indirectly, solicit,
          persuade, entice, induce, encourage (or assist in connection with any
          of the foregoing) any person who is then or has been within the
          preceding 24-month period a customer or account of the Surviving
          Corporation, or any infomediary, affiliate, service provider or
          fulfillment entity that does  business with the Surviving
          Corporation, or any actual customer leads whose identity the Employee
          learned during the course of his employment with the Surviving
          Corporation, to terminate or to adversely alter its contractual or
          other relationship with the Surviving Corporation.

     e)   RIGHTS AND REMEDIES UPON BREACH. If the Employee breaches or
          threatens to commit a breach of, any of the provisions of this
          Section 7 (collectively, the "Restrictive Covenants"), the Surviving
          Corporation shall have the right and remedy to seek from any court of
          competent jurisdiction specific performance of the Restrictive
          Covenants or injunctive relief against any act which would violate
          any of the Restrictive Covenants, it being acknowledged and agreed
          that any such breach or threatened breach will cause irreparable
          injury to the Surviving Corporation and that money damages will not
          provide an adequate remedy to the Surviving Corporation.

     f)   REPRESENTATION OF THE EMPLOYEE. The Employee is (i) familiar with the
          covenants in this Section 7, (ii) is fully aware of his obligations
          hereunder, (iii) finds the length of time, scope and geographic
          coverage of these covenants to be reasonable, and (iv) is receiving
          specified, bargained-for consideration for these covenants.

8)   MISCELLANEOUS.

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<PAGE>   8
     a)   NOTICES. Any notice or other communication required or which may be
          given hereunder shall be in writing and shall be delivered
          personally, telecopied, telegraphed or telexed, or sent by certified,
          registered or express mail, postage prepaid, to the parties at the
          following addresses, or at such other addresses as shall be specified
          by the parties by like notice, and shall be deemed given when so
          delivered personally, telecopied, telegraphed or telexed, or if
          mailed, two (2) days after the date of mailing, as follows:

if to the Surviving Corporation, to the officer of the Surviving Corporation
holding the tile of Secretary, to him or her at the Surviving Corporation's
Principal Place of Business

with copies to:

               General Counsel
               Sybase, Inc.
               6475 Christie Ave.
               Emeryville, CA 94698
               Telecopier: (510) 922-4558

if to the Employee, to him at the address set forth on the first page hereof

with copies to:

               Rick Adam
               6500 Greenwood Plaza Blvd.
               Englewood, CA 80111
               Telecopier: (303) 409-8677

     b)   ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement contains the entire agreement
          between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and
          supersedes all prior contracts and other agreements, written or oral,
          with respect thereto.

     c)   WAIVERS AND AMENDMENTS. This Agreement may be amended, modified,
          superseded, cancelled, renewed or extended, and the terms and
          conditions hereof may be waived, only by a written instrument signed
          by the parties or, in the case of a waiver, by the party waiving
          compliance.

     d)   GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in
          accordance with and subject to, the laws of the State of California
          without regard to its conflicts of laws principles.

     e)   ASSIGNMENT. This Agreement, and the Employee's rights and obligations
          hereunder, may not be assigned by the Employee. The Surviving
          Corporation may assign this Agreement

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<PAGE>   9
     and its rights, together with its obligations, hereunder only in connection
     with any sale, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of
     its assets or business, whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise. This
     Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties
     hereto and any successors and permitted assigns.

f)   DEFINITIONS. For purposes of this Agreement:

     (i)     "Affiliate" shall mean a Person that, directly or indirectly,
              controls or is controlled by, or is under common control with the
              Surviving Corporation;

     (ii)    "Control" as used with respect to any Person, shall mean the
              possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or
              cause the direction of the management or policies, whether through
              ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; and

     (iii)    "Person" means an individual, sole proprietorship, partnership,
              corporation, association, joint stock Surviving Corporation,
              trust, joint venture, unincorporated organization, institution,
              entity or government (whether federal, state, local or otherwise
              including without limitation, or any department, agency, or
              political subdivision thereof).

g)   COUNTERPARTS; FACSIMILE EXECUTION. This Agreement may be executed in two or
     more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original but all of
     which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Facsimile
     execution and delivery of this Agreement is legal, valid and binding
     execution and delivery for all purposes.

h)   HEADINGS. The headings in this Agreement are for reference purposes only
     and shall in no way affect the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.

i)   SURVIVAL. Sections 4(c), 5, 6, 7 and this Section 8 shall survive
     termination of this Agreement for any reason.

j)   SEVERABILITY. To the extent any provision of this Agreement shall be
     invalid or unenforceable, it shall be considered deleted herefrom and the
     remainder of such provision and of this Agreement shall be unaffected and
     shall continue in full force and effect. In furtherance and not in
     limitation of the foregoing, should the duration of geographical extent of,
     or business activities covered by any provision of this Agreement be in
     excess of that which is valid and enforceable under applicable law, then
     such provision shall be construed to cover only that duration, extent or
     activities which may validly and enforceably be covered.

k)   ADR. Except as provided herein, no civil action with respect to any
     dispute, claim or controversy arising out of or relating to this agreement
     may be commenced until the matter has been submitted to JAMS/ENDISPUTE, or
     its successor, for mediation. Either

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<PAGE>   10
     party may commence mediation by providing to JAMS/ENDISPUTE and the other
     party a written request for mediation, setting forth the subject of the
     dispute and the relief requested. The parties will cooperate with
     JAMS/ENDISPUTE and with one another in selecting a mediator from
     JAMS/ENDISPUTE's panel of neutrals, and in scheduling the mediation
     proceedings. The parties covenant that they shall participate in the
     mediation in good faith, and that they shall share equally in its costs.
     All offers, promises, conduct and statements, whether oral or written, made
     in the course of the mediation by any of the parties, their agents,
     employees, experts and attorneys, and by the mediator and any
     JAMS/ENDISPUTE employees, are confidential, privileged and inadmissible for
     any purpose, including impeachment, in any litigation or other proceeding
     involving the parties, provided that evidence that is otherwise admissible
     or discoverable shall not be rendered inadmissible or non-discoverable as
     a result of its use in the mediation. Either party may seek equitable
     relief prior to the mediation to preserve the status quo pending the
     completion of that process. Except for such an action to obtain equitable
     relief, neither party may commence a civil action with respect to the
     matters submitted to mediation until after the completion of the initial
     mediation session, or 45 days after the date of filing the written request
     for mediation, whichever occurs first. Mediation may continue after the
     commencement of a civil action, if the parties so desire. The provisions of
     this Clause may be enforced by any Court of competent jurisdiction, and the
     party seeking enforcement shall be entitled to an award of all costs, fees
     and expenses, including attorneys fees, to be paid by the party against
     whom enforcement is ordered.

l)   SUPERCEDES OLD AGREEMENTS. Employee agrees that the terms of this Agreement
     supercede the terms of any and all employment arrangements he may have had
     with the Surviving Corporation in their entirely (except that that certain
     Agreement dated 2/16/01, 2001 shall survive). Employee agrees that
     Employee's decision to terminate such employment arrangements and enter
     into this Agreement does not constitute constructive termination of any
     employment arrangement Employee had with [NEON].

m)   COSTS OF ENFORCEMENT OR DEFENSE. In the event of any litigation with
     respect to this Agreement, the prevailing party shall be entitled to be
     paid by the other party hereto all costs of enforcement or defense, as the
     case may be, paid or incurred in connection with the enforcement or
     defense, including reasonable attorney fees and legal costs.

n)   DELAYS OR OMISSIONS. No delay or omission to exercise any right, power or
     remedy accruing to either party upon any breach or default of the other
     party thereto shall impair any such right, power or remedy of such
     non-defaulting party, nor shall it be construed to be a waiver of any such
     breach or default or an acquiescence therein, or of or in any similar
     breach or default thereafter occurring; nor shall any waiver of a breach or
     default be deemed to be a waiver of any other breach or default.

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      o)    RULES OF CONSTRUCTION. Sybase and the Employee each acknowledge that
            they have been represented by competent counsel during the
            negotiation and execution of this Agreement and therefore waive the
            application of any law, regulation, holding or rule of construction
            providing that ambiguities in any agreement will be construed
            against the party drafting the agreement.

      p)    CLOSING. This Agreement shall become effective at the time of the
            Closing on the Effective Date.

            IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of
the date first above written.

                                          SYBASE, INC.

                                          By:___________________________
                                             Name:
                                             Title:

                                          EMPLOYEE:

                                          ______________________________
                                          Name:_________________________

Page 11

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