Document:

Separation Agreement and Release

 EXHIBIT 10.17 
  
 SEPARATION AGREEMENT AND RELEASE 
  
 RECITALS 
  
 This Separation Agreement and Release (“Agreement”) is made by and between Brian Kinard (Employee”) and Avanex Corporation
(“Company”) (jointly referred to as the “Parties”): 
  
 WHEREAS, Employee was employed by the Company as Vice President and General Council; 
  
 WHEREAS, the Company and Employee on May 02, 2004, entered into the Avanex Corporation’s Employment, Confidential Information, And Invention
Assignment Agreement (the “Confidentiality Agreement”); 
  
 WHEREAS, the Company and Employee on May 02, 2004, entered into the Avanex Corporation Indemnification Agreement (the “Indemnification Agreement”); 
  
 WHEREAS, Employee’s employment was terminated on June 17, 2005 (the “Termination Date”) and Employee agrees
that he, as of this date, has resigned all positions with the Company, including any and all positions that he holds with the Company’s subsidiaries. 
  
 WHEREAS, the Parties wish to resolve any and all disputes, claims, complaints, grievances, charges, actions, petitions and demands that the Employee may
have against the Company, including, but not limited to, any and all claims arising or in any way related to Employee’s employment with or separation from the Company; 
  
 NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises made herein, the Parties hereby agree as follows: 
  
 COVENANTS 
  
 1. Consideration. The Company agrees to pay Employee $36,000, less
applicable withholding, in accordance with the Company’s regular payroll practices. All payments under this Agreement will be made to Employee within five (5) business days after the Effective Date of this Agreement. 
  
 2. Benefits. Employee’s health insurance benefits will cease on
June 30, 2005, subject to Employee’s right to continue her health insurance under COBRA. Employee’s participation in all other benefits and incidents of employment ceased on the Termination Date. Employee ceased accruing employee benefits,
including, but not limited to, vacation time and paid time off, as of the Termination Date. 

 3. Confidential Information. Employee shall continue to maintain the confidentiality of all
confidential and proprietary information of the Company and shall continue to comply with the terms and conditions of the Confidentiality Agreement between Employee and the Company. Employee shall return all of the Company’s property and
confidential and proprietary information in his possession to the Company. By signing this Agreement, Employee represents and declares under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of California that she/he has returned all Company property.

  
 4. Payment of Salary. Employee acknowledges and
represents that the Company has paid all salary, wages, bonuses, accrued vacation, commissions and any and all other benefits due to Employee. 
  
 5. Release of Claims. Employee agrees that the foregoing consideration represents settlement in full of all outstanding obligations owed to
Employee by the Company and its officers, managers, supervisors, agents and employees. Employee, on his own behalf, and on behalf of his respective heirs, family members, executors, agents, and assigns, hereby fully and forever releases the Company
and its officers, directors, employees, agents, investors, shareholders, administrators, affiliates, divisions, subsidiaries, predecessor and successor corporations, and assigns (“the Releasees”), from, and agrees not to sue concerning,
any claim, duty, obligation or cause of action relating to any matters of any kind, whether presently known or unknown, suspected or unsuspected, that Employee may possess arising from any omissions, acts or facts that have occurred up until and
including the Effective Date of this Agreement including, without limitation: 
  
 (a) any and all claims relating to or arising from Employee’s employment relationship with the Company and the termination of that relationship; 
  
 (b) any and all claims relating to, or arising from, Employee’s right to purchase, or actual purchase of shares of
stock of the Company, including, without limitation, any claims for fraud, misrepresentation, breach of fiduciary duty, breach of duty under applicable state corporate law, and securities fraud under any state or federal law; 
  
 (c) any and all claims under the law of any jurisdiction including, but not
limited to, wrongful discharge of employment; constructive discharge from employment; termination in violation of public policy; discrimination; breach of contract, both express and implied; breach of a covenant of good faith and fair dealing, both
express and implied; promissory estoppel; negligent or intentional infliction of emotional distress; negligent or intentional misrepresentation; negligent or intentional interference with contract or prospective economic advantage; unfair business
practices; defamation; libel; slander; negligence; personal injury; assault; battery; invasion of privacy; false imprisonment; and conversion; 
  
 (d) any and all claims for violation of any federal, state or municipal statute, including, but not limited to, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964,
the Civil Rights Act of 1991, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, The Worker Adjustment and Retraining
Notification Act, the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act; the Family and Medical Leave Act; the California Family Rights Act; the California Fair Employment and Housing Act, and the California Labor Code, including, but not limited to Labor Code
sections 1400-1408; 
  

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 (e) any and all claims for violation of the federal, or any state, constitution; 
  
 (f) any and all claims arising out of any other laws and regulations relating
to employment or employment discrimination; 
  
 (g) any claim for
any loss, cost, damage, or expense arising out of any dispute over the non-withholding or other tax treatment of any of the proceeds received by Employee as a result of this Agreement; and 
  
 (h) any and all claims for attorneys’ fees and costs. 
  
 The Company and Employee agree that the release set forth in this section
shall be and remain in effect in all respects as a complete general release as to the matters released. This release does not extend to any obligations incurred under this Agreement. 
  
 6. Acknowledgement of Waiver of Claims Under ADEA. Employee acknowledges that he is waiving and releasing any rights
he may have under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (“ADEA”) and that this waiver and release is knowing and voluntary. Employee and the Company agree that this waiver and release does not apply to any rights or claims that
may arise under ADEA after the Effective Date of this Agreement. Employee acknowledges that the consideration given for this waiver and release Agreement is in addition to anything of value to which Employee was already entitled. Employee further
acknowledges that he/he has been advised by this writing that 
  
 (a) he should consult with an attorney prior to executing this Agreement; 
  
 (b) he has up to twenty-one (21) days within which to consider this Agreement; 
  
 (c) he has seven (7) days following his execution of this Agreement to revoke the Agreement; 
  
 (d) this Agreement shall not be effective until the revocation period has expired; and 
  
 (e) nothing in this Agreement prevents or precludes Employee from challenging
or seeking a determination in good faith of the validity of this waiver under the ADEA, nor does it impose any condition precedent, penalties or costs from doing so, unless specifically authorized by federal law. 
  
 7. Civil Code Section 1542. Employee represents that he is not aware
of any claim by him other than the claims that are released by this Agreement. Employee acknowledges that he has been advised by legal counsel and is familiar with the provisions of California Civil Code Section 1542, which provides as follows:

  

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 A GENERAL RELEASE DOES NOT EXTEND TO CLAIMS WHICH THE CREDITOR DOES NOT KNOW OR SUSPECT TO EXIST IN HIS
OR HER FAVOR AT THE TIME OF EXECUTING THE RELEASE, WHICH IF KNOWN BY HIM OR HER MUST HAVE MATERIALLY AFFECTED HIS OR HER SETTLEMENT WITH THE DEBTOR. 
  
 Employee, being aware of said code section, agrees to expressly waive any rights he may have thereunder, as well as under any other statute or common law
principles of similar effect. 
  
 8. No Pending or Future
Lawsuits. Employee represents that he has no lawsuits, claims, or actions pending in his name, or on behalf of any other person or entity, against the Company or any other person or entity referred to herein. Employee also represents that he
does not intend to bring any claims on his own behalf or on behalf of any other person or entity against the Company or any other person or entity referred to herein. 
  
 9. Application for Employment. While Company may offer to re-hire Employee, Employee understands and agrees that, as
a condition of this Agreement, he shall not be entitled to any employment with the Company, and he hereby waives any right, or alleged right, of employment or re-employment with the Company. Employee further agrees that he will not apply for
employment with the Company. 
  
 10. Confidentiality. The
Parties acknowledge that Employee’s agreement to keep the terms and conditions of this Agreement confidential was a material factor on which all parties relied in entering into this Agreement. Employee hereto agrees to use his best efforts to
maintain in confidence the existence of this Agreement, the contents and terms of this Agreement, and the consideration for this Agreement (hereinafter collectively referred to as “Settlement Information”). Employee agrees to take every
reasonable precaution to prevent disclosure of any Settlement Information to third parties, and agrees that there will be no publicity, directly or indirectly, concerning any Settlement Information. Employee agrees to take every precaution to
disclose Settlement Information only to those attorneys, accountants, governmental entities, and family members who have a reasonable need to know of such Settlement Information. 
  
 11. No Cooperation. Employee agrees he will not act in any manner that might damage the business of the Company.
Employee agrees that he will not encourage, counsel or assist any attorneys or their clients in the presentation or prosecution of any disputes, differences, grievances, claims, charges, or complaints by any third party against any of the Releasees,
unless under a subpoena or other court order to do so. Employee shall inform the Company in writing within three (3) days of receiving any such subpoena or other court order. 
  
 12. Non-Disparagement. Employee agrees to refrain from any defamation, libel or slander of the Releasees, and any
tortious interference with the contracts, relationships and prospective economic advantage of the Releasees. Employee agrees that he shall direct all inquiries by potential future employers to the Company’s Human Resources Department.

  
 13. Non-Solicitation. Employee agrees that for a period
of twelve (12) months immediately following the Effective Date of this Agreement, Employee shall not either directly or indirectly solicit, induce, recruit or encourage any of the Company’s employees or consultants to leave their employment, or
attempt to do so, either for him or any other person or entity. 
  

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 14. Breach. Employee acknowledges and agrees that any breach of any provision of this Agreement,
except as permitted by paragraph 6(e), shall constitute a material breach of this Agreement and shall entitle the Company immediately to recover and/or cease the severance benefits provided to Employee under this Agreement. 
  
 15. No Admission of Liability. The Parties understand and acknowledge
that this Agreement constitutes a compromise and settlement of actual or potential disputed claims. No action taken by the Parties hereto, or either of them, either previously or in connection with this Agreement shall be deemed or construed to be:

  
 (a) an admission of the truth or falsity of any claims made
or any potential claims; or 
  
 (b) an acknowledgment or admission
by either party of any fault or liability whatsoever to the other party or to any third party. 
  
 16. Costs. The Parties shall each bear their own costs, expert fees, attorneys’ fees and other fees incurred in connection with this Agreement, except as provided herein. 
  
 17. Arbitration. The Parties agree that any and all disputes arising
out of the terms of this Agreement, their interpretation, and any of the matters herein released, shall be subject to binding arbitration in Alameda County before the American Arbitration Association under its National Rules for the
Resolution of Employment Disputes, supplemented by the California Code of Civil Procedure. The Parties agree that the prevailing party in any arbitration shall be entitled to injunctive relief in any court of competent jurisdiction to enforce the
arbitration award. The Parties agree that the prevailing party in any arbitration shall be awarded its reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs. The Parties hereby agree to waive their right to have any dispute between them resolved in a court
of law by a judge or jury. This paragraph will not prevent either party from seeking injunctive relief (or any other provisional remedy) from any court having jurisdiction over the Parties and the subject matter of their dispute relating to
Employee’s obligations under this Agreement and the Confidentiality Agreement. 
  
 18. Authority. The Company represents and warrants that the undersigned has the authority to act on behalf of the Company and to bind the Company and all who may claim through it to the terms and conditions of
this Agreement. Employee represents and warrants that he has the capacity to act on his own behalf and on behalf of all who might claim through him/her to bind them to the terms and conditions of this Agreement. Each party warrants and represents
that there are no liens or claims of lien or assignments in law or equity or otherwise of or against any of the claims or causes of action released herein. 
  
 19. No Representations. Each party represents that it has had the opportunity to consult with an attorney, and has carefully read and understands
the scope and effect of the provisions of this Agreement. In entering into this Agreement, neither party has relied upon any representations or statements made by the other party hereto which are not specifically set forth in this Agreement.

  

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 20. Severability. In the event that any provision, or any portion thereof, becomes or is declared
by a court of competent jurisdiction to be illegal, unenforceable or void, this Agreement shall continue in full force and effect without said provision or portion of said provision. 
  
 21. Entire Agreement. This Agreement represents the entire agreement and understanding between the Company and
Employee concerning the subject matter of this Agreement and Employee’s relationship with the Company, and supersedes and replaces any and all prior agreements and understandings between the Parties concerning the subject matter of this
Agreement and Employee’s relationship with the Company, with the exception of the Stock Option Agreement, the Stock Plan and the Confidentiality Agreement and the Stock Option Agreements. 
  
 22. No Waiver. The failure of the Company to insist upon the
performance of any of the terms and conditions in this Agreement, or the failure to prosecute any breach of any of the terms and conditions of this Agreement, shall not be construed thereafter as a waiver of any such terms or conditions. This entire
Agreement shall remain in full force and effect as if no such forbearance or failure of performance had occurred. 
  
 23. No Oral Modification. This Agreement may only be amended in a writing signed by Employee and the Chief Executive Officer of the Company.

  
 24. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be construed,
interpreted, governed, and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of California, without regard to choice-of-law provisions. Employee hereby consents to personal and exclusive jurisdiction and venue in the State of California. 

 
 25. Effective Date. This Agreement is effective after it has been
signed by both parties and after seven (7) days have passed since Employee has signed the Agreement. 
  
 26. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, and each counterpart shall have the same force and effect as an original and
shall constitute an effective, binding agreement on the part of each of the undersigned. 
  
 27. Voluntary Execution of Agreement. This Agreement is executed voluntarily and without any duress or undue influence on the part or behalf of the Parties hereto, with the full intent of releasing all claims.
The Parties acknowledge that: 
  
 (a) They have read this
Agreement; 
  
 (b) They have been represented in the preparation,
negotiation, and execution of this Agreement by legal counsel of their own choice or that they have voluntarily declined to seek such counsel; 
  
 (c) They understand the terms and consequences of this Agreement and of the releases it contains; and 
  
 (d) They are fully aware of the legal and binding effect of this Agreement.

  

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 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Agreement on the respective dates set forth below.

  

					
	 	 	AVANEX CORPORATION.
			
	Dated: 23 June 2005	 	By:	 	 /s/ RICH YONKER

	 	 	 	 	 Rich Yonker
 Chief Financial Officer

			
	 	 	 	 	Brian Kinard, an individual
			
	Dated: 6/20/05	 	 	 	 /s/ W. BRIAN KINARD

	 	 	 	 	Brian Kinard
	 	 	 	 	 

  

 -7-Offer of Employment between Paul Negus and the Registrant

 EXHIBIT 10.18 
  
 October 8, 2002 
  
 Paul Negus 
 1709 Milton Street 
 Redwood City, CA 94061 
  
 OFFER OF EMPLOYMENT 
  
 Dear Paul: 
  
 I am pleased to offer you a position with Avanex (the “Company”) as its Vice President, Operations. This is a full-time, regular, exempt position of
considerable responsibility, integral to our continued business development and success. In this position you will be expected to devote your full business time, attention and energies to the performance of your duties with the Company. 

 
 The specifics of this offer are as follows: 

 
 Base Salary: You will be compensated at a bi-weekly rate of $7,500.00, paid every
other Friday, in accordance with the Company’s normal payroll procedures. (This represents an equivalent annual rate of pay of $195,000.00). The first and last payment by the Company to you will be adjusted, if necessary, to reflect a
commencement or termination date other than the first or last working day of a pay period. 
  
 Incentive Bonus: For fiscal year 2003, there is no formal incentive bonus program for senior executives. To the extent that any such bonuses are awarded for FY2003 and subsequent years, it will be at the
discretion of the Board of Directors and you will be considered along with the other senior executive for any such discretionary bonuses based on the criteria established by the Board. 
  
 Stock Options: On your first day of employment, you will be granted a stock option under the Company’s 1998 Stock Plan (the
“Plan”) to purchase 250,000 shares of the Company’s Common Stock at an exercise price equal to the then current fair market value on the date of grant, as determined under the Plan (the “Option”). The shares subject
to the Option shall vest as follows: 
  

	 	1.	12/48th of the shares subject to the Option
shall vest twelve (12) months after the date of commencement of employment and 1/48th of the shares subject to
the Option shall vest monthly thereafter, so that the Option shall be fully vested and exercisable four (4) years from the date of commencement of employment, subject to your continued service to the Company on the relevant vesting dates.

	 	2.	If Avanex terminates your employment for any reason except good cause during the first twelve (12) months after your employment begins, your options will be treated as having
vested beginning with the first full month of employment at the rate of 1/48th per month, and ending on the day
of your termination. For this purpose, “good cause” is defined as (1) any act of personal dishonesty taken by you in connection with your responsibilities as an employee and intended to result in your substantial personal enrichment,
(2) your conviction of a felony that is injurious to Avanex, or (3) a willful act by you that constitutes gross misconduct and which is injurious to Avanex. 

  

	 	3.	If you terminate your employment with Avanex for any reason during the first twelve (12) months after your employment begins, no shares subject to your Option will have vested
and you will not be entitled to exercise any portion of the shares of your Option. 

  

	 	4.	The acceleration of vesting and post-termination periods of exercisability of your Option will be substantially comparable to those that are contained in the standard form of option
agreement generally applicable to Avanex’s other senior executives. 

  

	 	5.	In all other respects, the Option shall be subject to the terms, definitions and provisions of the Plan and the stock option agreement by and between you and the Company, both of
which documents are incorporated herein by reference. 

  
 Start
Date: Your start date will be October 8, 2002. However, we shall provide you with an amount equal to an additional five days of wages as though you had worked from October 1, 2002, payable at your base salary rate on the next pay date
following your commencement of employment. 
  
 Work Location: Your place of work will be our offices in Fremont, California. 
  
 Reporting: You will report to Paul Engle, President and CEO. 
  
 Benefits: As a fulltime, regular Company employee, you will be eligible to participate in employee benefits plans currently and
hereafter maintained by the Company of general applicability to other employees of the Company, including, without limitation, the Company’s group medical, dental, vision, disability, life insurance, and flexible-spending account plans, subject
to the terms of those plans. The details regarding employee benefit plans will be provided at your orientation meeting with Human Resources. You should note that the Company reserves the right to cancel or change the benefit plans and programs it
offers to its employees at any time. 
  
 At-Will Employment: You should be
aware that your employment with the Company constitutes “at-will” employment. This means that your employment relationship with the Company may be terminated at any time with or without notice, with or without good cause or for any or no
cause, at either party’s option. You understand and agree that neither your job performance no promotions, commendations, bonuses or the like from the Company give rise to or in any way serve as the basis for modification, amendment, or
extension, by implication or otherwise, of your at-will employment with the Company. 
  
 Conflict of Interest: You agree that, during the term of your employment with the Company, you will not engage in any other employment, occupation, consulting or other business activity directly 

  

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related to the business in which the Company is now involved or becomes involved during the term of your employment, nor will you engage in any other
activities that conflict with your obligations to the Company. 
  
 In accepting
this offer, you are representing to the Company that (a) you are not a party to any employment agreement or other contract or arrangement which prohibits your full-time employment with the Company, (b) you do not know of any conflict which
would restrict your employment with the Company and (c) you have not and will not bring with you to your employment with the Company any documents, records or other confidential information belonging to former employers. We ask that, if you
have not already done so, you disclose to the Company any and all agreements relating to your prior employment that may affect your eligibility to be employed by the Company or limit the manner in which you may be employed. 
  
 Employment, Confidential Information and Invention Assignment Agreement: As a
condition of your employment with the Company, you must sign and comply with an Employment, Confidential Information, and Invention Assignment Agreement which requires, among other provisions, the assignment of rights to any invention made during
your employment at Avanex and non-disclosure of proprietary information. As a Company employee, you will be required to sign an acknowledgement that you have read and understand the Company policies and procedures (as set forth in the Company’s
Outlook “Public Files” system or other similar electronic system that the Company may designate), and you will be expected to abide by all Company policies and procedures. 
  
 Indemnification Agreement: The Company will offer you the opportunity to become a party to its standard form of indemnification
agreement for officers and directors. 
  
 Arbitration Agreement: As a
condition of your employment, you are also required to sign and comply with an Arbitration Agreement. Among other provisions, the Arbitration Agreement provides that in the event of certain disputes or claims relating to or arising out of our
employment relationship, you and the Company agree that (i) those disputes between you and the Company shall be fully and finally resolved by binding arbitration, (ii) you are waiving any and all rights to have such disputes resolved in
court by a judge or jury; (iii) the arbitrator shall have the power to award any remedies available under applicable law, except attorneys’ fees and costs, which can be awarded to the prevailing party only if authorized by statues or
contract, (iv) such disputes shall be resolved by a neutral arbitrator, and (v) the Company shall pay for any administrative hearing fees charged by the arbitrator. Please note that we must receive your signed Arbitration Agreement before
your first day of employment. 
  
 Reference and Background Checks: The
Company reserves the right to conduct reference checks and/or background investigations on all of its potential employees. Your job offer, therefore, is contingent upon a clearance of such a reference check and/or background investigation, if any.

  
 Immigration Verification: For purposes of federal immigration law, you
will be required to provide the Company documentary evidence of your identity and eligibility for employment in the United States. Such documentation must be provided to us within three (3) business days of your date of hire, or our employment
relationship with you may be terminated. 
  

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 This letter, along with the other aforementioned employment-related agreements and stock option described above, set
forth the terms of your employment with the Company and supersede in their entirety any and all prior agreements and understandings concerning your employment relationship with the Company, whether written or oral. The terms of this letter may only
be amended, canceled or discharged in writing signed by an authorized representative of the Company and by you. 
  
 Governing Law: This letter shall be governed by the internal substantive laws, but not the choice of law rules, of the State of California. You hereby agree to
exclusive personal jurisdiction and venue in the state and federal courts of the state of California. 
  
 Severability: In the event that any provision hereof becomes or is declared by the court of competent jurisdiction to be illegal, unenforceable, or void, this letter shall continue in full force and effect
without such provision. 
  
 To indicate your acceptance of this offer, please sign
and date this letter in the space provided below and return it to Human Resources. A duplicate original is enclosed for your records. 
  
 Paul, it is a pleasure extending this offer to you. We sincerely feel that Avanex can provide you with the opportunity to achieve rewarding results for both you and the
company, and we look forward to your contributions. 
  
 Sincerely, 
  
 AVANEX CORPORATION

  
 /s/ PAUL ENGLE 

 Paul Engle 
  
 President and CEO 
  

					
	Accepted:	 	 /s/ PAUL NEGUS

	 	Date: 10/8/02

  
 Enclosures 
 Duplicate Offer Letter 
 Employment,
Confidential Information, and Invention Assignment Agreement 
 Arbitration Agreement 
  

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