Document:

<PAGE>   1
                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.29

               [REGENT PACIFIC MANAGEMENT CORPORATION LETTERHEAD]

March 12, 2001

Mr. Charles P. Waite, Jr., Director
Mr. Steven M. Krausz, Director
Verity, Inc.
894 Ross Drive
Sunnyvale, CA 94089

RE: FOURTH AMENDMENT TO RETAINER AGREEMENT BETWEEN REGENT PACIFIC MANAGEMENT
    CORPORATION AND VERITY, INC.

This Fourth Amendment to Retainer Agreement sets forth certain amendments to the
Retainer Agreement between Regent Pacific Management Corporation, a California
corporation ("Regent Pacific"), and Verity, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and
its wholly-owned and controlled subsidiaries (collectively, "Verity") dated July
31, 1997, as amended April 13, 1998, March 12, 1999 and February 9, 2000 (the
"Original Retainer Agreement", "First Amendment", "Second Amendment" and "Third
Amendment" respectively). Except for the amendments expressly contained herein,
the Original Retainer Agreement, First Amendment, Second Amendment and Third
Amendment shall remain in full force and effect.

1. The paragraph of the Original Retainer Agreement as amended by the First
Amendment, Second Amendment and Third Amendment entitled "Fees" is hereby
amended in its entirety as follows:

     "FEES: We have agreed to provide the work product included in this
     agreement for a period of sixty-one (61) months, including services
     covering a non-cancelable period beginning on July 31, 1997 and ending on
     February 28, 2002 (the "Non-Cancelable Period"). This service shall be
     $50,000 per week, payable in four (4) week increments, each to be paid in
     advance of each Regent Pacific standard four-week billing period. It is
     agreed and understood between us that the payment of such cash fees are to
     be made immediately preceding the start of each four-week billing period,
     and that failure to pay such periodic payments when due shall constitute a
     breach of this agreement by Verity. It is further understood that Regent
     Pacific's fees are to be paid in advance of the work to be performed, and
     that the initial payment is to be paid on or before July 31, 1997. It is
     further agreed that such cash payments are earned in full upon receipt by
     Regent Pacific, by virtue of our accepting this agreement and the
     responsibilities it entails, and are nonrefundable."

2. The paragraph of the Original Retainer Agreement as amended by the First
Amendment, Second Amendment and Third Amendment entitled "Term of Agreement" is
hereby amended in its entirety as follows:
<PAGE>   2
                                 [REGENT PACIFIC(R) MANAGEMENT CORPORATION LOGO]

      "TERM OF AGREEMENT: The term of this agreement shall be for sixty-one (61)
      months, unless earlier terminated in accordance with this paragraph.
      Regent Pacific hereby commits the availability of its resources to Verity
      under this agreement for the full sixty-one (61) month term of the
      engagement, or for the full term of the agreement, if such term is
      extended by Verity as provided in this paragraph. Verity may discharge
      Regent Pacific at any time after the Non-Cancelable Period provided that
      Verity has delivered a 60-day written notice of intent to cancel this
      agreement. Verity may, at its option, extend the term of this agreement
      for an additional twenty-six (26) week period beyond the sixty-one (61)
      month period by providing written notice to Regent Pacific at any time on
      or before February 28, 2002. If Verity elects to exercise its option to
      extend the term of this agreement for such twenty-six (26) week period,
      the Non-Cancelable Period also shall be extended automatically through
      August 31, 2002. Regent Pacific may withdraw from this assignment at any
      time with Verity's consent or for good cause without Verity's consent.
      Good cause also includes Verity's breach of this agreement (including
      Verity's failure to pay any invoice within five working days of
      presentation), or any fact or circumstance that would render our
      continuing participation in the assignment unethical or unlawful."

Very truly yours,

REGENT PACIFIC MANAGEMENT CORPORATION

By: /s/ GARY J. SBONA
    ------------------------------------
    Gary J. Sbona
    Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

THE FOREGOING IS HEREBY APPROVED AND AGREED TO:
Dated: March 13, 2001

VERITY, INC.
(Signifies full agreement with all terms and conditions)

By: /s/ CHARLES P. WAITE                 By: /s/ STEVEN M. KRAUSZ
   -----------------------------------       -----------------------------------
   Charles P. Waite, Jr., Director           Steven M. Krausz, Director
   on Behalf of the Board of Directors       on Behalf of the Board of Directors<PAGE>   1
                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.30

                                PROMISSORY NOTE

January 2, 2001

$2,057,631.72

                                                           Sunnyvale, California

     FOR VALUE RECEIVED, ANTHONY J. BETTENCOURT ("BORROWER"), an employee of
VERITY, INC. ("COMPANY"), hereby unconditionally promises to pay to the order
of Company, in lawful money of the United States of America and in immediately
available funds, the principal sum of Two Million, Fifty-seven Thousand, Six
Hundred and Thirty-one Dollars and Seventy-two Cents ($2,057,631.72) (the
"LOAN") together with accrued and unpaid interest thereon, each due and payable
on the dates and in the manner set forth below.

     It is the intent of the parties that the purpose of this Note is not for
consumer, family or household purposes.

     1.   PRINCIPAL REPAYMENT. The outstanding principal amount of the Loan
shall be due and payable on May 31, 2001 (the "Maturity Date").

     2.   INTEREST RATE. Borrower further promises to pay interest on the
outstanding principal amount hereof from the date hereof until payment in full,
which interest shall be payable at the rate of five and ninety-four
one-hundredths percent (5.94%) per annum or the maximum rate permissible by law
(which under the laws of the State of California shall be deemed to be the laws
relating to permissible rates of interest on commercial loans), whichever is
less, and shall be compounded monthly. Interest shall be due and payable not
later than the Maturity Date and shall be calculated on the basis of a 360 day
year for the actual number of days elapsed.

     3.   PLACE OF PAYMENT. All amounts payable hereunder shall be payable at
the office of Company unless another place of payment shall be specified in
writing by Company.

     4.   APPLICATION OF PAYMENTS. Payment on this Note shall be applied first
to accrued interest, if any, and thereafter to the outstanding principal
balance hereof.

     5.   DEFAULT. Each of the following events shall be an "EVENT OF DEFAULT"
hereunder:

          (a)  Borrower fails to pay timely any of the principal amount due
under this Note on the date the same becomes due and payable or any accrued
interest or other amounts due under this note on the date the same becomes due
and payable;

          (b)  Borrower files a petition or action for relief under any
bankruptcy, insolvency or moratorium law or any other law for the relief of, or
relating to, debtors, now or hereafter in effect, or makes any assignment for
the benefit of creditors or takes any action in furtherance of any of the
foregoing;

<PAGE>   2
          (c) An involuntary petition is filed against Borrower (unless such
petition is dismissed or discharged within sixty (60) days) under any
bankruptcy statute now or hereafter in effect, or a custodian, receiver,
trustee, assignee for the benefit of creditors (or other similar official) is
appointed to take possession, custody or control of any property of Borrower;

          (d) Borrower's employment by or association with Company is terminated
for any reason or no reason, including, without limitation, death of Borrower.

Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default hereunder, all unpaid principal,
accrued interest and other amounts owing hereunder shall, at the option of the
Company, and, in the case of an Event of Default pursuant to (b) or (c) above,
automatically, be immediately due, payable and collectible by Company pursuant
to applicable law. Company shall have all rights and may exercise any remedies
available to it under law, successively or concurrently. Borrower expressly
acknowledges and agrees that Company shall have the right to offset any
obligations of Borrower hereunder against salaries, bonuses or other amounts
that may be payable to Borrower by Company.

       6. WAIVER. Borrower waives presentment and demand for payment, notice of
dishonor, protest and notice of protest of this Note, and shall pay all costs of
collection when incurred, including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys'
fees, costs and other expenses.

       The right to plead any and all statutes of limitations as a defense to
any demands hereunder is hereby waived to the full extent permitted by law.

       7. GOVERNING LAW. This Note shall be governed by, and construed and
enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of California, excluding
conflict of laws principles that would cause the application of laws of any
other jurisdiction.

       8. SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS. The provisions of this Note shall inure to the
benefit of and be binding on any successor to Borrower and shall extend to any
holder hereof. Borrower shall not, without prior written consent of holder,
assign any of its rights or obligations hereunder.

BORROWER:                                         /s/ ANTHONY J. BETTENCOURT
                                                  ------------------------------
                                                  Anthony J. Bettencourt

                                       2

Source: [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00023-of-00352.parquet"}, [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00023-of-00352.parquet"}]]