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                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.41

                                  OFFER LETTER

December 27, 2002

Steven R. Springsteel
894 Ross Drive
Sunnyvale, CA 94089

Dear Steven,

Verity, Inc. ("Verity" or the "Company") is pleased to offer you the position of
Sr. Vice President of Finance and Administration and Chief Financial Officer, on
the following terms.

You will report to Gary J. Sbona, CEO and Chairman of the Board. You will work
at our facility located at 892 Ross Drive, Sunnyvale, CA 94089. Your starting
annual salary will be $320,000.00, less payroll deductions and all required
withholdings. For fiscal year 2003, you will receive a guaranteed bonus of
$64,000.00 less payroll deductions and all required withholdings, on or before
June 30, 2003, assuming as a condition of this payment that you are an employee
in good standing at that time. Beginning in fiscal year 2004, you will be
eligible to participate in the Company's employee bonus program, which provides
for an annual bonus of up to 20% of your gross earnings through fiscal year end
which is May 31, in the Company's discretion, provided that the Company meets
its objectives for revenues and net income and you are an employee in good
standing at the time bonuses are paid. The Company may change your position,
duties, work location and compensation from time to time as it deems necessary.

Subject to approval by the Company's Board of Directors (the "Board"), under the
Company's Stock Option Plan (the "Plan"), you will receive two (2) non-statutory
stock option grants. One option grant to purchase 150,000 shares will include a
one-year vesting schedule, under which 50% of your shares will vest after six
months of employment, with the remaining shares vesting at the rate of 8.33% per
month thereafter. In addition you will receive an option grant of 200,000 shares
with a two-year vesting schedule, under which 25% of your shares will vest after
six months of employment, with the remaining shares vesting at the rate of 4.17%
per month thereafter. All grants of the Company's Common Stock are at the fair
market value of the Common Stock on the date of grant as determined by the
Board. The Option grants will be subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan
and your grant agreements will include Change of Control Provisions until either
your Option is fully vested or your employment ends, whichever occurs first.

This offer is contingent upon acceptable reference checking and approval by the
Board of Directors.

Verity also offers an outstanding benefits package including life, vision,
medical and dental insurance coverage, a 401(k) tax deferred retirement plan,
employee stock purchase plan, flexible benefits and Personal Time Off, (PTO).
Details about these benefit plans will be provided after you commence
employment. Additionally, depending on your hire date, Verity offers up to ten
paid holidays per year. The Company may modify benefits from time to time as it
deems necessary.

As a Verity employee, you will be expected to abide by Company rules and
regulations, and sign and comply with the enclosed Proprietary Information and
Inventions Agreement which prohibits unauthorized use or disclosure of Verity's
proprietary information.

In your work for the Company, you will be expected not to use or disclose any
confidential information, including trade secrets, of any former employer or
other person to whom you have an obligation of confidentiality. Rather, you will
be expected to use only that information which is generally known and used by
persons with training and experience comparable to your own, which is common
knowledge in the industry or otherwise legally in the public domain, or which is
otherwise provided or developed by the Company. During our discussions about
your proposed job duties, you assured us that you would be able to perform those
duties within the guidelines just described.

You agree that you will not bring onto Company premises any unpublished
documents or property belonging to any former employer or other person to whom
you have an obligation of confidentiality.
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As an exempt salaried employee, you will be expected to work additional hours as
required by the nature of your work assignments and you will not be eligible to
receive overtime pay.

You may terminate your employment with Verity at any time and for any reason
whatsoever simply by notifying the Company. Likewise, the Company has the right
to terminate your employment with or without cause and without advance notice.
In the event of a Change in Control, as defined in Attachment A, you may be
entitled to benefits and salary outlined in same attachment. This at-will
employment relationship cannot be changed except in writing signed by a Verity
officer.

This letter, together with your Proprietary Information and Inventions
Agreement, forms the complete and exclusive statement of your employment
agreement with the Company. The employment terms in this letter supersede any
other agreements or promises made to you by anyone, whether oral or written, and
cannot be changed except in a writing signed by a Verity officer. As required by
law, this offer is subject to satisfactory proof of your right to work in the
United States.

Steven, we believe that employment with Verity will provide you with an
excellent opportunity for professional growth, as well as offering you the
excitement and rewards of working for a dynamic and growing company. We believe
that the single most important factor in our success has been our people. We are
hopeful that your skills and background can assist in Verity's continued
success.

If you wish to accept employment at Verity under the terms described above,
please sign and date this letter and the Proprietary Information and Inventions
Agreement, and return the originals to me or Marianne Kilkenny by January 6,
2003 (keeping copies for your files). We look forward to your first day at
Verity on January 13, 2003 as discussed previously.

Sincerely,

/s/ STEPHEN W. YOUNG
------------------------------------
Stephen W. Young
Chief Operating Officer

I agree to and accept this offer of employment with Verity, Inc. as of
January 13, 2003 :
------------------
   (START DATE)

/s/ STEVEN R. SPRINGSTEEL                        January 6, 2003
-------------------------                        ------------------------
Signature                                        Date

Enclosure:
Proprietary Information and Inventions Agreement
Benefit Summary
Attachment A

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                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.42

March 4, 2003

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

RE:      Sixth Amendment to Retainer Agreement between Regent Pacific Management
Corporation and Verity, Inc.

This Sixth 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 on April 13, 1998, March 12, 1999, February 9, 2000, and
March 13, 2001 and June 10, 2002 (the "Original Retainer Agreement", "First
Amendment", "Second Amendment", "Third Amendment", "Fourth Amendment" and "Fifth
Amendment" respectively). Except for the amendments expressly contained herein,
the Original Retainer Agreement, First Amendment, Second Amendment, Third
Amendment, Fourth Amendment and Fifth Amendment shall remain in full force and
effect.

1.  The paragraph of the Original Retainer Agreement as amended by the First
    Amendment, Second Amendment, Third Amendment, Fourth Amendment and Fifth
    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 ninety-one (91) months through February 28,
         2005, including services covering a non-cancelable period beginning on
         July 31, 1997 and ending on February 28, 2004 (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 payments 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, Third Amendment, Fourth Amendment and Fifth
    Amendment entitled "Term of Agreement" is hereby amended in its entirety as
    follows:

         "Term of Agreement: The term of this agreement shall be for ninety-one
         (91) months through February 28, 2005, 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 ninety-one (91) 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 ninety-one (91) month period by providing
         written notice to Regent Pacific at any time on or before February 28,
         2004. 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, 2004.
         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
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         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

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THE FOREGOING IS HEREBY APPROVED AND AGREED TO:

Dated: March 4, 2003
                     ----------------------

VERITY, INC.

(Signifies full agreement with all terms and conditions)

By:      /s/ CHARLES P. WAITE, JR.
    -----------------------------------------
         Charles P. Waite, Jr.
         Director, on Behalf of the Board of Directors

By:      /s/ STEVEN M. KRAUSZ
    -----------------------------------------
         Steven M. Krausz
         Director, on Behalf of the Board of Directors

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