Exhibit
10.1


 


EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT


 


This Executive Employment
Agreement (“Agreement”) is entered into this 26th day of January, 2005,
by and between Timothy Knight (“Executive”) and INVESTools Inc. (the “Company”).


 


RECITALS


 


WHEREAS, contemporaneous
with the execution of this Agreement, the Company, Prophet Financial Systems,
Inc. (“Prophet”) and Timothy Knight and certain other named parties are
entering into a certain Stock Purchase Agreement (the “SPA”);


 


WHEREAS, this Agreement
is contemplated by Section 3.6(a)(iv) of the SPA;


 


WHEREAS, in conjunction with the transaction, the Company will be
paying to the shareholders of Prophet approximately $8,000,000 for all their
Prophet stock consisting of 100% of the outstanding stock of Prophet, therefore
acquiring Prophet’s business and its customer goodwill;


 


WHEREAS, as an executive and principal shareholder of Prophet,
Executive has had access to, and gained significant knowledge about, the
Confidential Information, as herein defined, relating to Prophet’s business,
including trade secrets, proprietary methods, processes, marketing information,
pricing and customer information;


 


WHEREAS, in the course of
Executive’s employment with the Company, Executive will have access to the
Confidential Information, as herein defined, relating to the business of the
Company;


 


WHEREAS, the Company
would not employ Executive but for Executive’s covenants and promises contained
in this Agreement; and


 


WHEREAS, Executive’s
covenants and promises contained in this Agreement played a major role in the
Company’s valuation of the purchase price for the stock of Prophet, Prophet’s
business and customer goodwill, and the Company would not have paid as much
consideration for Prophet’s stock, its business and customer goodwill, in the
absence of Executive’s covenants and promises contained in this Agreement.


 


NOW, THEREFORE, in
consideration of the Company’s acquisition of Prophet’s stock, Prophet’s
business and its customer goodwill, as well as the other mutual promises hereinafter
contained, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the
parties hereto agree as follows:


 


1.                                      Employment.  The Company agrees to employ Executive and
Executive hereby accepts such employment from the Company upon the terms and
conditions set forth in this


 


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Agreement for the period
beginning upon Closing, as such term is defined in the SPA, and continuing for
a period of two years (unless otherwise terminated earlier in accordance with Section 5
hereof) (“Initial Employment Period”). 
Upon the expiration of the Initial Employment Period, this Agreement
shall be automatically renewed for consecutive one-year periods unless either
party provides a notice of non-renewal for any reason at least 30 days prior to
the end of the Initial Employment Period or any additional one-year period (the
“Renewal Employment Period”) (the Initial Employment Period and any
Renewal Employment Periods shall be referred to collectively herein as the “Employment
Period”).


 


2.                                      Nature
of Duties.   Executive
shall be employed as the Vice President of Technology.  As such, Executive shall work exclusively for
the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries and shall have all of the
customary powers and duties associated with that position.  Executive shall report to the Chief Executive
Officer of the Company or his designee. 
Executive shall also be subject to the Company’s supervisory procedures
and approval practices, as are generally in effect from time-to-time.


 


3.                                      Place of Performance. 
Executive shall perform his duties at or within a reasonable vicinity of
Palo Alto, California, except for required travel on the Company’s business.


 


4.                                      Compensation and Related Matters.


 


(a)                                  Base Salary.  During
the first year of the Employment Period, the Company shall pay Executive a base
salary at an annual rate of $180,000.00. 
The Company shall pay Executive his base salary in conformity with the
Company’s salary payment practices generally applicable to other similarly
situated Company executives.  After the
first year of the Employment Period, the Company may, in its sole discretion,
increase Executive’s base salary from time to time during the remainder of the
Employment Period.


 


(b)                                  Bonuses.  During the
Employment Period, Executive shall be eligible for a bonus, on an annual
basis.  The amount of bonus shall be
targeted at up to 35% of Executive’s base salary, but the exact amount of such
bonus, if any, shall be determined within the sole discretion of the Company.


 


(c)                                  Standard Benefits. 
During the Employment Period, Executive shall be entitled to participate
in all employee benefit plans and programs, including paid vacations, generally
available to other similarly situated Company executives, subject to the terms
and conditions of the applicable plans.


 


(d)                                  Expenses.  Executive shall be entitled to receive prompt
reimbursement for all reasonable and customary travel and business expenses he
incurs in connection with his employment hereunder.  Executive must account for those expenses in
accordance with the policies and procedures established by the Company.


 


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(e)                                  Stock Options.   The Company shall grant Executive options to
purchase 50,000 shares of the Company’s common stock at an exercise price per
share equal to the price per share as of the date of Closing, as that term is
defined in the SPA, subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable stock
option agreement and stock plan.


 


5.                                      Termination.  The Company or Executive may terminate this
Agreement and Executive’s employment as provided below:


 


a.                                       Termination
by the Company for Cause.  The
Company shall have the right to immediately terminate Executive’s employment at
any time for any of the following reasons (each of which is referred to herein
as “Cause”) by giving Executive written notice of the effective date of
termination (which effective date may be the date of such notice):


 


(i)                                     Any
intentional act by Executive of fraud or dishonesty including, but not limited
to, stealing or falsification of Company records, with respect to any aspect of
the Company’s business;


 


(ii)                                  Any
intentional failure by Executive to follow the lawful instructions or
directions from the Chief Executive Officer of the Company or his designee;


 


(iii)                               failure by Executive to
perform in any manner under this Agreement after being given notice of such
failure by the Company, along with an explanation of such failure of
performance;


 


(iv)                              misappropriation
of Company funds or of any corporate opportunity;


 


(v)                                 conviction
of Executive of a felony, or of a crime that the Company, in its sole
discretion, determines involves a subject matter which may reflect negatively
on the Company’s reputation or business (or a plea of nolo contendere thereto);


 


(vi)                              gross,
willful or wanton negligence, misconduct, or conduct which constitutes a breach
of any fiduciary duty or duty of loyalty owed to the Company by Executive;


 


(vii)                           Any intentional and material
violation of any lawful Company policy, rule, regulation or directive;


 


(viii)                        conduct on the part of
Executive, even if not in connection with the performance of his duties
contemplated under this Agreement, that


 


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is
reasonably likely to result in serious prejudice to the interests of the
Company, as determined by the Company in its reasonable discretion, and
Executive fails to cease such conduct immediately upon receipt of notice to
cease such conduct;


 


(ix)                                acceptance
by Executive of employment with another employer; or


 


(x)                                   violation
of federal or state securities laws as determined in the reasonable discretion
of the Company.


 


If the Company
terminates Executive’s employment for any of the reasons set forth above, the
Company shall have no further obligations to Executive hereunder from and after
the effective date of termination and shall have all other rights and remedies
available under this or any other agreement and at law or in equity and
Executive gets nothing else.


 


b.                                       Termination
by the Company Without Cause.  The
Company shall have the right to terminate Executive without Cause for any
reason by providing 30 days’ written notice to Executive.  If the Company terminates Executive without
Cause by providing 30 days’ notice, the Company shall pay Executive through the
date of termination and, subject to the limitations set forth below, the
Company shall provide Executive with severance payments equal to six months’
base salary (based on Executive’s annual salary on the date of termination),
less applicable taxes.  Such severance
payments shall be paid in bi-weekly installments (“Installment Severance
Payments”) over the six-month period following the date of termination
(referred to herein as the “Severance Period”) in accordance with the
Company’s normal payroll practices and schedule.  In the event Executive is in violation of Sections
6, 7, 8, 9 or 11, the Company shall be entitled
to immediately cease the payment of the Installment Severance Payments, the
Company’s severance obligation shall terminate and expire, and the Company
shall have no further obligations hereunder from and after the date of
such  violation and shall have all other
rights and remedies available under this Agreement or any other agreement and
at law or in equity.


 


Additionally, for
purposes of this Section 5(b), Executive’s Effective Termination at
any time shall be treated as a termination by the Company without Cause and the
Executive shall be entitled to the Severance Payments described within this Section 5(b).  For purposes of this Agreement, the term “Effective
Termination” shall
mean that any of the following are undertaken without Executive’s express
written consent: (i) the assignment to Executive of any duties or
responsibilities that results in a material diminution of Executive’s position,
authority, or scope of responsibilities; or (ii) a reduction in Executive’s
annual base salary, except to the extent the salary of all other similarly
situated executives of the Company, or successor thereof, are similarly
reduced.


 


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c.                                       Voluntary
Termination by Executive.  In the
event that Executive’s
employment with the Company is voluntarily terminated by Executive for any
reason other than an Effective Termination as described in Section 5(b),
the Company shall have no further obligations hereunder from and after the date
of such termination and shall have all other rights and remedies available
under this Agreement or any other agreement and at law or in equity.


 


d.                                       Termination Upon Death. 
In the event that Executive shall die during his employment by the
Company, the Company shall pay to Executive’s estate any compensation due that
would otherwise have been payable through the date of death.


 


e.                                       Termination
Upon Disability.  In the event that
Executive shall become disabled during his employment by the Company, Executive’s
employment hereunder shall terminate and the Company shall provide Executive
with severance payments equal to three months’ salary (based on Executive’s
monthly salary on the date of termination), less applicable taxes.  Such severance payments shall be paid
bi-weekly over a period of three months in accordance with the Company’s normal
payroll practices and schedule.   For
purposes of this Agreement, Executive shall become “disabled” if he shall
become, because of illness or incapacity, unable to perform the essential
functions of his job under this Agreement with or without reasonable
accommodation for a continuous period of 90 days during the Employment Period.


 


6.                                      Nondisclosure.  Executive acknowledges that during his
employment with Prophet and as a shareholder of Prophet, he acquired
substantial knowledge with respect to the operations of Prophet’s business,
including Confidential Information, as defined below.  In addition, Executive acknowledges that
during his employment with the Company, the Company will provide to Executive,
and Executive will acquire, Confidential Information, as defined below.  During the term of this Agreement, Executive
shall keep secret and retain in strictest confidence, and shall not, without
the prior written consent of the Chief Executive Officer of the Company,
furnish, make available or disclose to any third party or use for the benefit
of himself or any third party, except in the furtherance of his job duties with
the Company except as may be required by law, regulation or legal process, any
Confidential Information.  Executive
shall not, at any time after his employment with the Company has ended (for
whatever reason), use or divulge to any person or entity, directly or
indirectly, any Confidential Information, or use any Confidential Information
in subsequent employment of any nature except as may be required by law,
regulation or legal process.  As used in
this Agreement, “Confidential Information” shall mean any information
relating to the business or affairs of the Company and its affiliates and
predecessors (including Prophet) including, but not limited to, trade secrets,
information relating to financial statements, operations manuals, systems
manuals, customer identities, customer profiles, customer preferences, partner
or investor identities, employees, suppliers, project designs, project methods,
advertising programs, advertising techniques, target markets, servicing methods,
equipment, programs, strategies and information, market analyses, profit
margins, pricing information, cost structure, past, current or future marketing
strategies, or any other proprietary information used by the Company or its
affiliates; provided however, that


 


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Confidential Information
shall not include any information which is in the public domain or becomes
known in the industry through no wrongful act on the part of Executive.  Executive acknowledges that the Confidential
Information is vital, sensitive, confidential and proprietary to the Company
and that he is under a contractual and common law duty to not disclose the
Confidential Information to any third party at any time.  Executive acknowledges and agrees that his
non-disclosure obligation applies to all Confidential Information of Prophet
and the Company, no matter when he obtained knowledge of or access to such
Confidential Information.


 


7.                                      Non-Competition.                                                 In
consideration of the substantial purchase price being paid by the Company for
Prophet, Prophet’s business and customer goodwill, and the substantial
consideration being paid to Executive for his shares of common stock, and in
order to protect the Company’s legitimate business interests in its
Confidential Information (as defined herein) (including trade secrets) and the
value and goodwill of the Company’s or Prophet’s business, and to reduce the
likelihood of irreparable damage which would occur in the event such
information is provided to or used by a competitor of the Company or Prophet,
Executive agrees for so long as he is an employee of the Company or an
affiliate thereof, and for an additional period thereafter until the later
of  two years from the closing of the SPA
or one year from the end of the Employment Period (the “Noncompetition Term”),
not to, directly or indirectly, either through any form of ownership or as an
individual, director, officer, principal, agent, employee, employer, adviser,
consultant, shareholder (other than passive investments in public companies by
Executive resulting in less than 2% ownership of each such company), partner,
or in any other individual or representative capacity whatsoever, either for his own benefit or for the benefit of
any person or entity, without the prior written consent of the Company (which
consent may be withheld in its reasonable discretion), engage in any manner in
the Business, as defined below, in the United States of America or any other
location where either the Company or Prophet has conducted or currently is
conducting business as of the date of this Agreement or conducts business
during the Employment Period or the Noncompetition Term.  For purposes of this Agreement, “Business”
means (i) online investor analytical tools and (ii) investor education
industries (whether or not online).  Any
such acts during the Employment Period and/or the Noncompetition Term shall be
considered breaches and violations of this Agreement.


 


Executive hereby
acknowledges that the geographic boundaries, scope of prohibited activities and
the time duration of the provisions of this Section 7 are
reasonable and are no broader than are necessary to protect the legitimate
business interests of the Company, including protecting the value and goodwill
of the Company in acquiring the stock of Prophet, Prophet’s business and
customer goodwill.  Executive further
acknowledges that the Company would not have entered into the SPA, pay the
substantial consideration for the capital stock of Prophet, its business and
customer goodwill, or pay to Executive the substantial consideration for his
shares of common stock, but for his covenants or promises contained in this Section 7.


 


It is the desire
and intent of the parties that the provisions of this Section 7
shall be enforced to the fullest extent permissible under the laws and public
policies applied in each jurisdiction in which enforcement is sought.  Accordingly, although Executive agrees that
the restrictions contained in this Section 7 are reasonable for the
purposes of preserving the business


 


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of the Company and its
proprietary rights, if any particular provision of this Section 7
shall be adjudicated to be invalid or unenforceable, such provision shall be
deemed amended to delete therefrom the portion thus adjudicated to be invalid
or unenforceable, such deletion to apply only with respect to the operation of
such provision in the particular jurisdiction in which such adjudication is
made.  Notwithstanding the preceding
sentence, it is expressly understood and agreed that, although Executive agrees
that the restrictions contained in this Section 7 are reasonable,
if a final determination is made by a court of competent jurisdiction or
pursuant to an arbitration that the scope, time or territory or any other
restriction contained in this Section 7 is unenforceable against
him, the provisions of this Section 7 shall be deemed reformed to
apply as to such maximum scope, time and territory and to such maximum extent as
such court or arbitration may finally determine to be enforceable.


 


Executive
acknowledges that damages at law would be an inadequate remedy for the breach
or threatened breach by Executive of any provision of this Section 7,
and agrees in the event of such breach or threatened breach that the Company
may obtain temporary and permanent injunctive relief (any requirements for
posting of bond for injunction are hereby expressly waived) restraining
Executive from such breach, and, to the extent permissible under applicable
statutes and rules of procedure, a temporary injunction may be granted
immediately upon the commencement of any such suit.  Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be
construed as prohibiting the Company from pursuing other remedies available at
law or in equity for such breach or threatened breach of this Section 7.


 


8.                                      Non-Interference or Solicitation.  Timothy Knight agrees that during his
employment with the Company and for an additional period of two years from the
end of the Employment Period that neither he nor any individual, partner(s),
limited partnership, corporation or other entity or business with which he is
in any way affiliated, including without limitation, any partner, limited
partner, director, officer, shareholder or employee of any such entity or
business, will request, induce or attempt to influence, directly or indirectly,
any employee of the Company to terminate their employment with the Company or
Prophet.  Timothy Knight further agrees
that during the period beginning with the commencement of his employment with
the Company and ending two years from the end of the Employment Period, he
shall not, directly or indirectly, as an individual, employee, agent,
consultant, owner, director, partner or in any other individual or
representative capacity of any other person, entity or business, solicit or
encourage any present or future customer or client of the Company or Prophet to
terminate, limit or otherwise adversely alter his, her or its relationship with
the Company or seek to provide goods and services related to the Business to
any present or future clients or customers of the Company or Prophet.


 


9.                                      Work
Product.  For purposes of this Section 9,
“Work Product” shall mean all intellectual property rights, including
all trade secrets, U.S. and international copyrights, trademarks, trade names,
patentable inventions, discoveries and other intellectual property rights in
any work product that is created in connection with Executive’s work for the
Company or using the Company’s materials. 
In addition, all rights in any preexisting Work Product provided


 


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to the Company during
Executive’s employment shall automatically become part of the Work Product
hereunder, whether or not it arises specifically out of Executive’s Work.  For purposes of this Agreement, “Work”
shall mean (1) any direct assignments and required performance by or for the
Company, and (2) any other productive output that relates to the business of
the Company and is produced during Executive’s employment by the Company.  For this purpose, Work may be considered
present even after normal working hours, away from the Company’s premises, on
an unsupervised basis, alone or with others if it relates to the Business.  Unless otherwise approved in writing by the
Chief Executive Officer or the Board of Directors of the Company, this
Agreement shall apply to all Work Product created in connection with all Work
conducted before or after the date of this Agreement.


 


The Company shall own all
rights in the Work Product.  To this end,
all Work Product shall be considered work made for hire for the Company.  If any of the Work Product may not, by operation
of law or agreement, be considered Work made by Executive for hire for the
Company (or if ownership of all rights therein do not otherwise vest
exclusively in the Company immediately), Executive agrees to assign, and upon
creation thereof does hereby automatically assign, without further
consideration, the ownership thereof to the Company.  Executive hereby irrevocably relinquishes for
the benefit of the Company and its assigns any moral rights in the Work Product
recognized by applicable law.  The Company
shall have the right to obtain and hold, in whatever name or capacity it
selects, copyrights, registrations, and any other protection available in the
Work Product.


 


Executive agrees to
perform upon the request of the Company, during or after Executive’s Work or
employment with the Company, such further standalone acts as may be necessary
or desirable to transfer, perfect, and defend the Company’s ownership of the
Work Product, including by (1) executing, acknowledging, and delivering any
requested affidavits and documents of assignment and conveyance, (2) obtaining
and/or aiding in the enforcement of copyrights, trade secrets, and (if
applicable) patents with respect to the Work Product in any countries, and (3)
providing testimony in connection with any proceeding affecting the rights of
the Company in any Work Product.  However,
in the event that completing the acts described above in this third paragraph
of Section 9 exceeds a “Reasonable Period” of time, the
Company shall pay the Executive, $200 per hour for such post-termination work
by him which exceeds this Reasonable Period. For purposes of this Agreement,
Reasonable Period shall be defined as any amount of work completed by the
Executive which exceeds 30 hours in the aggregate, post-termination.


 


10.                               No Exclusions. 
Executive hereby represents that Executive has not heretofore created
any Work Product or prepared any work which is the subject of any Work Product
that Executive wishes to exclude from the provisions of Section 9
above.


 


11.                               Return
of Documents.  Executive agrees that
if Executive’s relationship with the Company is terminated (for whatever
reason), Executive shall not take with Executive, but will leave with the
Company, all work product, Confidential Information, records, files, memoranda,
reports, financial information, price lists, customer lists, supplier lists,
documents and other


 


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information, in whatever
form (including on computer disk), and any copies thereof, or if such items are
not on the premises of the Company, Executive agrees to return such items
immediately upon Executive’s termination or at the request of the Company.  Executive acknowledges that all such items
are and remain the property of the Company.


 


12.                               Severability
and Reformation.  If any provision of
this Agreement is held to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable under any
present or future law, and if the rights or obligations of Executive or the
Company under this Agreement would not be materially and adversely affected
thereby, such provision shall be fully severable, and this Agreement shall be
construed and enforced as if such illegal, invalid or unenforceable provision
had never comprised a part thereof, the remaining provisions of this Agreement
shall remain in full force and effect and shall not be affected by the illegal,
invalid or unenforceable provision or by its severance herefrom, and in lieu of
such illegal, invalid or unenforceable provision, there shall be added
automatically as a part of this Agreement a legal, valid and enforceable
provision as similar in terms to such illegal, invalid or unenforceable
provision as may be possible, and the Company and Executive hereby request the
court or arbitrator to whom disputes relating to this Agreement are submitted
to reform the otherwise unenforceable provision in accordance with this Section 12.


 


13.                               Injunctive
Relief.  Executive acknowledges that
the breach of any of the covenants contained herein, including, without
limitation, the confidentiality covenants contained in Section 6,
the non-competition covenants in Section 7 and the non-solicitation
covenants in Section 8, will give rise to injury to the Company and
will deprive the Company of the benefit of its purchase of Prophet’s stock,
Prophet’s business and its customer goodwill. 
Accordingly, Executive agrees that the Company shall be entitled to
injunctive relief to prevent or cure breaches or threatened breaches of the
provisions of this Agreement and to enforce specific performance of the terms
and provisions hereof in any court of competent jurisdiction, in addition to any
other legal or equitable remedies which may be available.  Executive further acknowledges and agrees
that the enforcement of a remedy hereunder by way of injunction shall not
prevent Executive from earning a reasonable livelihood.  Executive further acknowledges and agrees
that the covenants contained herein are necessary for the protection of the
Company’s legitimate business interests and are reasonable in scope and
content.  Nothing herein shall prevent
the Company from pursuing a legal and/or equitable action against Executive for
any damages caused by his breach of this Agreement.  Furthermore, nothing herein shall limit the
remedies available to the Company for any breach of the SPA.


 


14.                               Headings.  The headings used in this Agreement have
been inserted for convenience and do not constitute matter to be construed or
interpreted in connection with this Agreement.


 


15.                               Governing
Law.  THIS AGREEMENT WILL BE GOVERNED
BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA,
WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO ANY PRINCIPLE OF CONFLICT OF LAWS THAT WOULD REQUIRE
THE APPLICATION OF THE LAW OF ANY OTHER JURISDICTION.


 


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16.                               Survival.  Executive’s termination from employment
and/or the termination of this Agreement, for whatever reason, shall not reduce
or terminate Executive’s covenants and agreements set forth herein.


 


17.                               Notices.  Any notice necessary under this Agreement
shall be in writing and shall be considered delivered three days after mailing
if sent certified mail, return receipt requested, or when received, if sent by
telecopy, prepaid courier, express mail or personal delivery to the following
addresses:


 


If to the Company:


 


INVESTools,
Inc.


5959 Corporate Drive


Suite LL250


Houston, Texas 77036


Attention: Paul A.
Helbling


Telecopy: (281) 588-9797


 


with a copy to:


 


Locke Liddell & Sapp
LLP


3400 Chase Tower


600 Travis Street


Houston, Texas 77002


Attention: John Andrew
Mouer


Telecopy:  (713) 229-2660


 


If to the Executive:


 


Timothy
Knight


Prophet
Financial Systems, Inc.


658
High Street


Palo
Alto, CA  94301


Telecopy:  (650) 322-4184


 


with a copy to:


 


Latham & Watkins LLP


135 Commonwealth Drive


Menlo Park, CA 94025


Attention: Ora Fisher,
Gregory Chin


Telecopy: (650) 463-2600


 


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18.                               Entire Agreement. 
Except as provided herein, this Agreement, including the Recitals and
introductions, embodies the entire agreement and understanding of the parties
hereto in respect of the subject matter contained herein and supersedes all
prior conflicting or inconsistent agreements, consents and understandings
relating to such subject matter. 
Executive acknowledges and agrees that there is no oral or other
agreement between the Company and Executive which has not been incorporated in
this Agreement.  This Agreement may only
be modified pursuant to Section 22 and nothing herein shall effect
the parties’ obligations under the SPA.


 


19.                               No
Waiver.  The forbearance or failure
of one of the parties hereto to insist upon strict compliance by the other with
any provisions of this Agreement, whether continuing or not, shall not be
construed as a waiver of any rights or privileges hereunder.  No waiver of any right or privilege of a
party arising from any default or failure hereunder of performance by the other
shall affect such party’s rights or privileges in the event of a further
default or failure of performance.


 


20.                               Assignment.  No approval shall be required for the Company
to assign this Agreement to any affiliate or successor in interest to the
Company’s business.  Executive shall not
assign his obligations under this Agreement. 
Any assignment made by either party in contravention of this Section 20
shall be null and void for all purposes.


 


21.                               Binding
Effect.  This Agreement shall be
binding on and inure to the benefit of the parties and their respective
permitted successors and assigns.


 


22.                               Modification.  This Agreement may be modified only by a
written agreement signed by both parties. 
Any such written modification may only be signed by Chief Executive
Officer of the Company.


 


23.                               Knowledge.  Executive
acknowledges that he has had the opportunity to read and review this Agreement
and that he understands all of the terms of this Agreement and its
importance.  Executive further
acknowledges that the Company would not enter into the SPA, pay the substantial
consideration for Prophet’s stock, or provide him with the resulting benefit of
such payment without this Agreement. 
Executive recognizes and agrees that the enforcement of this Agreement
is necessary and essential to ensure the preservation, continuity and value of
the Company’s business, including its stock and customer goodwill, and Prophet’s
and the Company’s Confidential Information. 
Executive also recognizes and agrees that the enforcement of this
Agreement is necessary to allow the Company to realize and derive all of the
benefits, rights, and expectations of conducting such business and owning and
protecting the Company’s business, including its stock and customer goodwill,
as well as its Confidential Information. 
Executive acknowledges that the Company encourages Executive to consider
consulting with an attorney prior to execution of this Agreement by Executive.


 


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24.                               Counterparts.  This
Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be
deemed to be an original instrument, and all of which together shall constitute
one and the same Agreement.


 


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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the
parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the day and year first above
written.


 


	
   

  	
  TIMOTHY KNIGHT

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
  /s/ Timothy Knight

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
  INVESTOOLS INC.

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
  /s/ Lee K. Barba

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
  Lee K. Barba

  
	
   

  	
  Chief Executive Officer

  



 


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