Document:

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                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.6

November 1, 1999

Mark Simcoe
3500 Parkway Lane
Suite 555
Norcross, GA  30092

Dear Mark,

This letter is to clarify the verbal agreement between you and SynQuest, Inc. in
the event of that SynQuest terminates your employment. If SynQuest terminates
your employment without cause you will be entitled to receive six (6) months of
your then current base salary as severance compensation, provided that, if
requested, you execute a standard release of the company in the form of release
then being used by the company for other terminated employees.

You are not entitled to any severance compensation in the event you voluntarily
terminate your employment with the SynQuest, or in the event your employment is
terminated by SynQuest for cause.

SynQuest, Inc.

By: /s/ John Bartels
   ------------------------
John Bartels

Agreed:

/s/ Mark Simcoe
-------------------------
Mark Simcoe<PAGE>   1
CONFORMED COPY
EFFECTIVE 11/9/99

                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.7

                                 SYNQUEST. INC.

                             1997 STOCK OPTION PLAN

                               DATED JUNE 4. 1997

                  AS AMENDED OCTOBER 29. 1997 JANUARY 23. 1998

                                 AUGUST 24. 1998

                                 OCTOBER 1. 1998

                              AND NOVEMBER 9. 1999

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                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

ss.1.    PURPOSE

ss.2.    DEFINITIONS

         2.1.     "Board"
         2.2.     "Change in Control"
         2.3.     "Code"
         2.4.     "Director"
         2.5.     "Fair Market Value"
         2.6.     "ISO"
         2.7.     "Key Employee"
         2.8.     "1933 Act"
         2.9.     "NQO"
         2.10.    "Option"
         2.11.    "Option Agreement"
         2.12.    "Option Price"
         2.13.    "Parent"
         2.14.    "Plan"
         2.15.    "Stock"
         2.16.    "Subsidiary"
         2.17.    "SynQuest"
         2.18.    "Ten Percent Shareholder"

ss.3.      SHARES SUBJECT TO OPTIONS

ss.4.      EFFECTIVE DATE

ss.5.      ADMINISTRATION

ss.6.      ELIGIBILITY

ss.7.      GRANT OF OPTIONS

         7.1.     Grant
         7.2.     $100,000 Limit

ss.8.      OPTION PRICE

ss.9.      EXERCISE PERIOD

ss.10.     NONTRANSFERABILITY

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ss.11.     SECURITIES REGISTRATION AND RESTRICTIONS

         11.1.    Investment Representation
         11.2.    Registration or Qualification of Shares

ss.12.     LIFE OF PLAN

ss.13.     ADJUSTMENT

ss.14.     CHANGE IN CONTROL

ss.15.     AMENDMENT OR TERMINATION

ss.16.     MISCELLANEOUS

         16.1.    No Shareholder Rights
         16.2.    Employment
         16.3.    Shareholder Agreement
         16.4.    Withholding
         16.5.    Construction

<PAGE>   4

                                     SS. 1.

                                     PURPOSE

                  The purpose of this Plan is to promote the interests of
SynQuest and its related companies by granting Options to purchase Stock to Key
Employees and Directors in order (a) to encourage a sense of proprietorship on
the part of Key Employees and Directors who will be largely responsible for the
continued growth of SynQuest, (b) to furnish such Key Employees and Directors
with further incentive to develop and promote the business and financial success
of SynQuest and (c) to induce such Key Employees and Directors to continue in
the service of SynQuest, by providing a means whereby such selected individuals
may purchase stock in SynQuest.

                                     SS. 2.

                                   DEFINITIONS

                  Each term set forth in this ss. 2 shall have the meaning set
forth opposite such term for purposes of this Plan and, for purposes of such
definitions, the singular shall include the plural and the plural shall include
the singular.

         2.1.     "BOARD" -- means the Board of Directors of SynQuest.

         2.2.     "CHANGE IN CONTROL" -- means (a) the sale of all or
substantially all of the assets of SynQuest, whether in a single transaction or
in a series of transactions occurring within any single 12 month period, (b) the
sale by one or more shareholders of SynQuest, in a single transaction or in
series of transactions occurring within any single 12 month period, of more than
50% of the issued and outstanding capital stock of SynQuest to any individual,
corporation, trust or other entity which is not a shareholder, or is not
controlled by a shareholder, of SynQuest as of
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the date of grant of an Option; (c) a merger, reorganization, exchange of
stock or other securities, or other business combination between SynQuest and
another corporation, trust or other business entity which results in the present
shareholders of SynQuest owning less than 51% of the total issued and
outstanding capital stock of the surviving entity; or (d) the issuance of
capital stock of SynQuest after the date of grant of an Option, whether by
private placement or public offering or pursuant to the exercise of warrants,
options or conversion rights, which causes the existing shareholders of SynQuest
to own less than 51% of the total issued and outstanding capital stock of
SynQuest.

         2.3.     "CODE" -- means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

         2.4.     "DIRECTOR" -- means any member of the Board who is not any
employee of SynQuest or a Parent or Subsidiary.

         2.5.     "FAIR MARKET VALUE" -- means as of any date (a) the price that
the Board acting in good faith determines through any reasonable valuation
method that a share of Stock might change hands between a willing buyer and a
willing seller, neither being under any compulsion to buy or to sell and both
having reasonable knowledge of the relevant facts; provided, however, if the
Stock is publicly traded on such date, "Fair Market Value" means (b) the closing
price on such date for a share of Stock as reported by The Wall Street Journal
under the quotation system under which such closing price is reported or, if The
Wall Street Journal does not report such closing price, such closing price as
reported by a newspaper or trade journal selected by the Board or, if no such
closing price is available on such date, (c)such closing price as so reported in
accordance with ss. 2.5(b) for the immediately preceding business day or, if no
newspaper or trade journal reports such closing price or if no such price
quotation is available, (d) the price as determined in accordance with ss.
2.5(a).
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         2.6.     "ISO" -- means an option granted under this Plan to purchase
Stock that is intended to satisfy the requirements of ss. 422 of the Code.

         2.7.     "KEY EMPLOYEE" -- means an employee of SynQuest or any Parent
or Subsidiary, or a non-employee consultant retained by SynQuest or any Parent
or Subsidiary, who, in the judgment of the Board acting in its absolute
discretion, is a key to the success of SynQuest or a Parent or Subsidiary.

         2.8.     "1933 ACT" -- means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

         2.9.     "NQO" -- means an option granted under this Plan to purchase
stock that by its terms provides that it will not be treated as an incentive
stock option under ss. 422 of the Code or that fails to satisfy the requirements
of ss. 422 of the Code.

         2.10.    "OPTION" -- means an ISO or a NQO.

         2.11.    "OPTION AGREEMENT" -- means the written agreement or
instrument that sets forth the terms of an Option granted to a Key Employee or
Director under this Plan.

         2.12.    "OPTION PRICE" -- means the price that shall be paid to
purchase one share of Stock upon the exercise of an Option granted under this
Plan.

         2.13.    "PARENT" -- means any corporation that is a parent corporation
(within the meaning of ss. 424(e) of the Code) of SynQuest.

         2.14.    "PLAN" -- means this SynQuest, Inc. 1997 Stock Option Plan as
mended from time to time thereafter.

         2.15.    "STOCK" -- means the $.01 par value Common Stock of SynQuest.

         2.16.    "SUBSIDIARY" -- means any corporation that is a subsidiary
corporation (within the meaning of ss. 424 (f) of the Code) of SynQuest.

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<PAGE>   7

         2.17.    "SYNQUEST" -- means SynQuest, Inc. and any successor to such
corporation.

         2.18.    "TEN PERCENT SHAREHOLDER" -- means a person who owns (after
taking into account the attribution roles of ss. 424(d) of the Code) more than
10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of either
SynQuest, a Parent or a Subsidiary.

                                     SS. 3.

                            SHARES SUBJECT TO OPTIONS

                  There shall be 3,800,000 shares of Stock reserved for use
under this Plan. Such shares of Stock shall he reserved to the extent that the
Board deems appropriate from authorized but unissued shares of Stock and from
shares of Stock that have been reacquired by SynQuest. Any shares of Stock
subject to an Option that remain unissued after the cancellation, expiration or
exchange of such Option for another Option shall again become available for use
under this Plan, but any shares of Stock used to satisfy a withholding
obligation under ss. 16.4 of this Plan shall not again be available for use
under this Plan.

                                     SS. 4.

                                 EFFECTIVE DATE

                  The effective date of this Plan shall be the date the Plan is
adopted by the Board, provided SynQuest's shareholders (acting at a duly called
meeting of such shareholders) approve the establishment of this Plan within 12
months after the date the Board adopts this Plan. Any Option granted before such
shareholder approval automatically shall be granted subject to such

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approval. If there is no such approval by SynQuest's shareholders, this Plan
shall not go into effect and the grant of any Options under this Plan shall be
null and void.

                                     SS. 5.

                                 ADMINISTRATION

                  This Plan shall be administered by the Board. The Board,
acting in its absolute discretion, shall exercise such powers and take such
action as expressly called for under this Plan and, further, the Board shall
have the power to interpret this Plan, and the respective Option Agreements
entered into hereunder, and to take such other action in the administration and
operation of this Plan as the Board deems equitable under the circumstances,
which action shall be final and binding on SynQuest, on each affected Key
Employee and Director and on each other person directly or indirectly affected
by such action.

                                     SS. 6.

                                   ELIGIBILITY

                  Key Employees and Directors shall be eligible for the grant of
NQOs under this Plan. Only Key Employees who are current employees of SynQuest
or a Parent or Subsidiary shall be eligible for the grant of ISOs under this
Plan.

                                     SS. 7.

                                GRANT OF OPTIONS

         7.1.     Grant. The Board acting in its absolute discretion shall grant
Options to Key Employees and Directors under this Plan from time to time to
purchase shares of Stock and,

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further, shall have the right to grant new Options in exchange for the
cancellation of outstanding Options that have a higher or lower option Price.
Each grant of an option shall be evidenced by an Option Agreement, and each
Option Agreement shall

         (a)      specify whether the Option is an ISO or NQO, and

         (b)      incorporate such other terms and conditions as the Board
                  acting in its absolute discretion deems consistent with the
                  terms of this Plan, including (without limitation) a
                  limitation on the number of shares subject to the Option which
                  first become exercisable during any particular period.

To the extent the Board grants an Option that SynQuest intends to constitute an
incentive stock option under ss. 422 of the Code but such Option fails to
satisfy the requirements under ss. 422 of the Code, such Option shall be treated
as a NQO. If the Board grants an ISO and a NQO to an eligible Key Employee on
the same date, the right of the Key Employee to exercise the ISO shall not be
conditioned on his or her failure to exercise the NQO.

         7.2.     $100,000 Limit. The aggregate Fair Market Value of the shares
of Stock subject to ISOs and other incentive stock options (that satisfy the
requirements under ss. 422 of the Code) granted to an eligible Key Employee
under this Plan and under any other stock option plan adopted by SynQuest, a
Parent or a Subsidiary that first become exercisable in any calendar year shall
not exceed $100,000. Such Fair Market Value figure shall be determined by the
Board on the date the ISO or other incentive stock option is granted. The Board
shall interpret and administer the limitation set forth in this ss. 7.2 in
accordance with ss. 422(d) of the Code, and the Board shall treat this ss. 7.2
as in effect only for those periods for which ss. 422(d) of the Code is in
effect.

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                                     SS. 8.

                                  OPTION PRICE

                  The Option Price for each share of Stock subject to an ISO
shall be set by thc Board at the time the Option is granted, but such price
shall not be set at less than the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the
date the ISO is granted or, if the ISO is granted to an eligible Key Employee
who is a Ten Percent Shareholder, the Option Price for each share of Stock
subject to such ISO shall be no less than 110% of the Fair Market Value of a
share of Stock on the date the ISO is granted. The Option Price for a NQO may be
less than the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the date the NQO is
granted but shall under no circumstances be less than adequate consideration (as
determined by the Board) for such a share. The option Price shall be payable in
full upon the exercise of any Option, and an option Agreement at the discretion
of the Board may provide for the payment of the Option Price either in cash or
in Stock held by the Key Employee or Director or in any combination of cash and
such Stock. If an Option Agreement allows the payment of the Option Price in
whole or in part in Stock, such payment shall be made in Stock acceptable to the
Board which the Key Employee or Director has held for at least 6 months. Any
payment made in Stock shall be treated as equal to the Fair Market Value of such
Stock as of the date the properly endorsed certificate for such Stock is
delivered to the Board.

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                                     SS. 9.

                                 EXERCISE PERIOD

                  Each Option granted under this Plan shall be exercisable in
whole or in part at such time or times as set forth in the related Option
Agreement, but no Option Agreement shall make an option exercisable on or after
the earlier of

         (a)      the date that is the fifth anniversary of the date the Option
                  is granted, if the option is an ISO and the eligible Key
                  Employee is a Ten Percent Shareholder on the date the Option
                  is granted, or

         (b)      the date that is the tenth anniversary of the date the Option
                  is granted, if the option is a NQO or if the option is an ISO
                  and is granted to an eligible Key Employee who is not a Ten
                  Percent Shareholder on the date the Option is granted.

An Option Agreement may provide for the exercise of an option after the
employment of a Key Employee or the service of a Director has terminated for any
reason whatsoever, including death or disability; provided, however, to the
extent an ISO remains or becomes exercisable on or after the last day of the 3
consecutive month period that immediately follows the last day of a Key
Employee's continuous period of employment by SynQuest, a Parent or a Subsidiary
(other than as a result of death or disability), the Option after such date no
longer will qualify for any special income tax benefits under ss. 422 of the
Code.

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                                    SS. 10.

                               NONTRANSFERABILITY

                  No option granted under this Plan shall be transferable by a
Key Employee or Director, and such option shall be exercisable during the
lifetime of a Key Employee or Director only by such Key Employee or Director,
except that (1) an Option may be transferred by will or by the laws of descent
and distribution, and the person or persons to whom an Option is transferred by
will or by the laws of descent and distribution will be treated as the Key
Employee or Director under this Plan, and (2) in the case of an NQO only, a Key
Employee or Director may transfer the NQO (whether by gift or sale), in whole or
in part, to an entity (including without limitation a partnership, limited
partnership, corporation, limited liability company, or trust), if (and only if)
all of the beneficial interests of the transferee entity are held by the Key
Employee or Director, the Key Employee's or Director's spouse, and/or the Key
Employee's or Director's direct lineal descendants, and the entity to which the
NQO is so transferred will be treated as the Key Employee or Director under this
Plan.

                                    SS. 11.

                    SECURITIES REGISTRATION AND RESTRICTIONS

11.1.             Investment Representation. Each Option Agreement shall provide
that, if so requested by SynQuest, the Key Employee or Director shall make a
written representation to SynQuest that he or she will not sell or offer for
sale any of such Stock unless a registration statement shall be in effect with
respect to such Stock under the 1933 Act and any applicable state securities law
or he or she shall have furnished to SynQuest an opinion in form and substance
satisfactory to SynQuest of legal counsel satisfactory to SynQuest that such

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registration is not required. Certificates representing the Stock transferred
upon the exercise of an Option may, at the discretion of SynQuest, bear a legend
to the effect that the Key Employee or Director agrees to hold such Stock for
investment and not with a view to resale or distribution to the public and that
such Stock has not been registered under the 1933 Act or any applicable state
securities law and that such Stock cannot be sold or offered for sale in the
absence of an effective registration statement as to such Stock under the 1933
Act and any applicable state securities law or an opinion in form and substance
satisfactory to SynQuest of legal counsel satisfactory to SynQuest that such
registration is not required.

         11.2.    Registration or Qualification of Shares. If the Board
determines that registration or qualification of shares is necessary or
desirable, SynQuest shall, at its expense, take such action as may be required
to effect such registration or qualification.

                                    SS. 12.

                                  LIFE OF PLAN

                  No Option shall be granted under this Plan on or after the
earlier of (a) the tenth anniversary of the effective date of this Plan (as
determined under ss. 4 of this Plan), in which event this Plan shall continue in
effect thereafter until all outstanding Options have been exercised in full or
no longer are exercisable, or (b) the date on which all of the Stock reserved
under ss. 3 of this Plan has (as a result of the exercise of options) been
issued or no longer is available for use under this Plan, in which event this
Plan also shall terminate on such date.

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<PAGE>   14

                                    SS. 13.

                                   ADJUSTMENT

                  The number, kind or class (or any combination thereof) of
shares of Stock reserved under ss. 3 of this Plan and the number, kind or class
(or any combination thereof) of shares of Stock subject to options granted under
this Plan and the option Price of such Options shall be adjusted by the Board in
an equitable manner to reflect any change in the capitalization of SynQuest,
including, but not limited to, such changes as stock dividends or stock splits.
Furthermore, the Board shall have the right to adjust (in a manner which
satisfies the requirements of ss. 424(a) of the Code) the number, kind or class
(or any combination thereof) of shares of Stock reserved under ss. 3 of this
Plan and the number, kind or class (or any combination thereof) of shares
subject to Options granted under this Plan and the Option Price of such options
in the event of any corporate transaction described in ss. 424(a) of the Code,
which provides for the substitution or assumption of such Options in order to
take into account on an equitable basis the effect of such transaction. If any
adjustment under this ss. 13 would create a fractional share of Stock or a right
to acquire a fractional share of Stock, such fractional share shall be
disregarded and the number of shares of Stock reserved under this Plan and the
number subject to any Options granted under this Plan shall be the next lower
number of shares of Stock, rounding all fractions downward. An adjustment made
under this ss. 13 by the Board shall be conclusive and binding on all affected
persons and, further, shall not constitute an increase in "the number of shares
reserved under ss. 3" within the meaning of ss. 15(a) of this Plan.

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<PAGE>   15

                                    SS. 14.

                                CHANGE IN CONTROL

                  If there is a Change in Control, SynQuest shall notify each
Key Employee or Director who has an Option outstanding and each such Key
Employee or Director thereafter shall have the right to exercise in full any
option previously granted to him or her that is then outstanding
(notwithstanding that such Option may not otherwise have fully vested under the
terms of the applicable option Agreement).

                                    SS. 15.

                            AMENDMENT OR TERMINATION

                  Plan may be amended by the Board from time to time to the
extent that the Board deems necessary or appropriate; provided, however, no such
amendment shall be made absent the proper approval of the shareholders of
SynQuest (a) to increase the number of shares reserved under ss. 3 of this Plan,
(b) to change the class of employees eligible for options under ss. 6 of this
Plan, or (c) to comply with applicable provisions of the Code, state law or NASD
or exchange listing rules, which require such shareholder approval. The Board
also may suspend the granting of Options under this Plan at any time and may
terminate this Plan at any time; provided, however, the Board shall not have the
right unilaterally to modify, amend or cancel any Option granted before such
suspension or termination unless (i) the Key Employee or Director consents in
writing to such modification, amendment or cancellation or (ii) there is a
dissolution or liquidation of SynQuest or a transaction described in ss. 13 or
ss. 14 of this Plan.

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<PAGE>   16

                                    SS. 16.

                                  MISCELLANEOUS

         16.1.    No Shareholder Rights. No Key Employee or Director shall have
any rights as a shareholder of SynQuest as a result of the grant of an Option to
him or to her under this Plan or his or her exercise of such Option pending the
actual delivery of Stock subject to such Option to such Key Employee or
Director.

         16.2.    Employment. The grant of an Option to a Key Employee or
Director under this Plan shall not constitute a contract of employment or a
right to continue to serve on the Board and shall not confer on a Key Employee
or Director any rights upon his or her termination of employment or services as
a Director in addition to those rights, if any, expressly set forth in the
Option Agreement that evidences his or her Option.

         16.3.    Shareholder Agreement. SynQuest shall have the right to
require a Key Employee or Director to enter into such employment, shareholder,
buy-sell, right of first refusal or other agreement or agreements that SynQuest
deems appropriate under the circumstances as a condition to the grant or to the
exercise of any Option.

         16.4.    Withholding. Each Option grant shall be made subject to the
condition that the Key Employee or Director consents to whatever action the
Board directs to satisfy the federal and state tax withholding requirements, if
any, that the Board in its discretion deems applicable to the exercise of such
option. The Board also shall have the right to provide, in an option Agreement,
that a Key Employee or Director may elect to satisfy federal and state tax
withholding requirements through a reduction in the number of shares of Stock
actually transferred to him or to her under this Plan.

                                       13

<PAGE>   17

         16.5.    Construction. This Plan shall be construed under the laws of
the State of Georgia. The headings in this Plan are for convenience of reference
purposes only.

                                       14

<PAGE>   18

                  IN WITNESS WHEREOF, SynQuest, Inc. has caused its duly
authorized officer to execute this Plan, as amended this 1st day of February,
1998 to evidence its adoption of this Plan, as amended.

                                      SYNQUEST, INC.

                                      /s/ Joe Trino

                                      By:      Joe Trino

                                      Title:   Chief Executive Officer

                                       15

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