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                                                                    Exhibit 10.5

                            INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT

        THIS INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT ("Agreement") is made as of this 6th day
of September, 2002, by and between SmartForce, a Delaware corporation (the
"Company"), and ______________ ("Indemnitee").

        WHEREAS, the Company and Indemnitee recognize the increasing difficulty
in obtaining directors' and officers' liability insurance, the significant
increases in the cost of such insurance and the general reductions in the
coverage of such insurance;

        WHEREAS, the Company and Indemnitee further recognize the substantial
increase in corporate litigation in general, subjecting officers and directors
to expensive litigation risks at the same time as the availability and coverage
of liability insurance has been severely limited;

        WHEREAS, Indemnitee does not regard the current protection available as
adequate under the present circumstances, and Indemnitee and other officers and
directors of the Company may not be willing to continue to serve as officers and
directors without additional protection; and

        WHEREAS, the Company desires to attract and retain the services of
highly qualified individuals, such as Indemnitee, to serve as officers and
directors of the Company and to indemnify its officers and directors so as to
provide them with the maximum protection permitted by law.

        NOW, THEREFORE, the Company and Indemnitee hereby agree as follows:

         1. Indemnification.

                  (a) Third Party Proceedings. The Company shall indemnify
Indemnitee if Indemnitee is or was a party or is threatened to be made a party
to any threatened, pending or completed action or proceeding, whether civil,
criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the
right of the Company) by reason of the fact that Indemnitee is or was a
director, officer, employee or agent of the Company, or any subsidiary of the
Company, by reason of any action or inaction on the part of Indemnitee while an
officer or director or by reason of the fact that Indemnitee is or was serving
at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee or agent of
another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise,
against expenses (including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid
in settlement (if such settlement is approved in advance by the Company, which
approval shall not be unreasonably withheld) actually and reasonably incurred by
Indemnitee in connection with such action or proceeding if Indemnitee acted in
good faith and in a manner Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in, or not
opposed to, the best interests of the Company, and, with respect to any criminal
action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe Indemnitee's conduct
was unlawful. The termination of any action or proceeding by judgment, order,
settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent,
shall not, of itself, create a presumption that (i) Indemnitee did not act in
good faith and in a manner which Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in the
best interests of the Company, or
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(ii) with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, Indemnitee had
reasonable cause to believe that Indemnitee's conduct was unlawful.

                  (b) Proceedings By or in the Right of the Company. The Company
shall indemnify Indemnitee if Indemnitee was or is a party or is threatened to
be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or proceeding by
or in the right of the Company or any subsidiary of the Company to procure a
judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that Indemnitee is or was a
director, officer, employee or agent of the Company, or any subsidiary of the
Company, by reason of any action or inaction on the part of Indemnitee while an
officer or director or by reason of the fact that Indemnitee is or was serving
at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee or agent of
another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise,
against expenses (including attorneys' fees) and, to the fullest extent
permitted by law, amounts paid in settlement, in each case to the extent
actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee in connection with the defense or
settlement of such action or proceeding if Indemnitee acted in good faith and in
a manner Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in the best interests of the
Company and its stockholders, except that no indemnification shall be made in
respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which Indemnitee shall have been
adjudged to be liable to the Company in the performance of Indemnitee's duty to
the Company and its stockholders unless and only to the extent that the court in
which such action or proceeding is or was pending shall determine upon
application that, in view of all the circumstances of the case, Indemnitee is
fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for expenses and then only to the
extent that the court shall determine.

                  (c) Mandatory Payment of Expenses. To the extent that
Indemnitee has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any
action, suit or proceeding referred to in Paragraphs (a) and (b) of this
Paragraph 1 or the defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, Indemnitee
shall be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys fees) actually and
reasonably incurred by Indemnitee in connection therewith.

         2. Expenses; Indemnification Procedure.

                  (a) Advancement of Expenses. The Company shall advance all
expenses incurred by Indemnitee in connection with the investigation, defense,
settlement or appeal of any civil or criminal action or proceeding referenced in
Section 1(a) or (b) hereof (but not amounts actually paid in settlement of any
such action or proceeding). Indemnitee hereby undertakes to repay such amounts
advanced only if, and to the extent that, it shall ultimately be determined that
Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified by the Company as authorized
hereby. The advances to be made hereunder shall be paid by the Company to
Indemnitee within twenty (20) days following delivery of a written request
therefor by Indemnitee to the Company.

                  (b) Notice/Cooperation by Indemnitee. Indemnitee shall give
the Company notice in writing as soon as practicable of any claim made against
Indemnitee for which indemnification will or could be sought under this
Agreement. Notice to the Company shall be directed to the Chief Executive
Officer of the Company at the address shown on the signature page of this
Agreement (or such other address as the Company shall designate in writing to
Indemnitee). Notice shall be deemed received three business days after the date
postmarked if sent by domestic certified or registered mail, properly addressed;
otherwise notice shall be deemed received when such notice

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shall actually be received by the Company. Indemnitee's failure to provide
timely notice to the Company shall not affect the Company's obligation to
indemnify Indemnitee unless the Company has been materially prejudiced by the
delay or failure. In addition, Indemnitee shall give the Company such
information and cooperation as it may reasonably require and as shall be within
Indemnitee's power.

                  (c) Procedure. Any indemnification provided for in Section 1
shall be made no later than forty-five (45) days after receipt of the written
request of Indemnitee. If a claim under this Agreement, under any statute, or
under any provision of the Company's Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws
providing for indemnification, is not paid in full by the Company within
forty-five (45) days after a written request for payment thereof has first been
received by the Company, Indemnitee may, but need not, at any time thereafter
bring an action against the Company to recover the unpaid amount of the claim
and, subject to Section 12 of this Agreement, Indemnitee shall also be entitled
to be paid for the expenses (including attorneys' fees) of bringing such action.
It shall be a defense to any such action (other than an action brought to
enforce a claim for expenses incurred in connection with any action or
proceeding in advance of its final disposition) that Indemnitee has not met the
standards of conduct which make it permissible under applicable law for the
Company to indemnify Indemnitee for the amount claimed, but the burden of
proving such defense shall be on the Company, and Indemnitee shall be entitled
to receive interim payments of expenses pursuant to Subsection 2(a) unless and
until such defense may be finally adjudicated by court order or judgment from
which no further right of appeal exists. It is the parties' intention that if
the Company contests Indemnitee's right to indemnification, the question of
Indemnitee's right to indemnification shall be for the court to decide, and
neither the failure of the Company (including its Board of Directors, any
committee or subgroup of the Board of Directors, independent legal counsel, or
its stockholders) to have made a determination that indemnification of
Indemnitee is proper in the circumstances because Indemnitee has met the
applicable standard of conduct required by applicable law, nor an actual
determination by the Company (including its Board of Directors, any committee or
subgroup of the Board of Directors, independent legal counsel, or its
stockholders) that Indemnitee has not met such applicable standard of conduct,
shall create a presumption that Indemnitee has or has not met the applicable
standard of conduct.

                  (d) Notice to Insurers. If, at the time of the receipt of a
notice of a claim pursuant to Section 2(b) hereof, the Company has director and
officer liability insurance in effect, the Company shall give prompt notice of
the commencement of such proceeding to the insurers in accordance with the
procedures set forth in the respective policies. The Company shall thereafter
take all necessary or desirable action to cause such insurers to pay, on behalf
of the Indemnitee, all amounts payable as a result of such proceeding in
accordance with the terms of such policies.

                  (e) Selection of Counsel. In the event the Company shall be
obligated under Section 2(a) hereof to pay the expenses of any proceeding
against Indemnitee, the Company, if appropriate, shall be entitled to assume the
defense of such proceeding, with counsel approved by Indemnitee, which approval
shall not be unreasonably withheld, upon the delivery to Indemnitee of written
notice of its election so to do. After delivery of such notice, approval of such
counsel by Indemnitee and the retention of such counsel by the Company, the
Company will not be liable to Indemnitee under this Agreement for any fees of
counsel subsequently incurred by Indemnitee with respect to the same proceeding,
provided that (i) Indemnitee shall have the right to employ his counsel in any

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such proceeding at Indemnitee's expense; and (ii) if (A) the employment of
counsel by Indemnitee has been previously authorized by the Company, (B)
Indemnitee shall have reasonably concluded that there may be a conflict of
interest between the Company and Indemnitee in the conduct of any such defense
or (C) the Company shall not, in fact, have employed counsel to assume the
defense of such proceeding, then the fees and expenses of Indemnitee's counsel
shall be at the expense of the Company.

         3. Additional Indemnification Rights; Nonexclusivity.

                  (a) Scope. Notwithstanding any other provision of this
Agreement, the Company hereby agrees to indemnify the Indemnitee to the fullest
extent permitted by law, notwithstanding that such indemnification is not
specifically authorized by the other provisions of this Agreement, the Company's
Certificate of Incorporation, the Company's Bylaws or by statute. In the event
of any change, after the date of this Agreement, in any applicable law, statute
or rule which expands the right of a Delaware corporation to indemnify a member
of its board of directors or an officer, such changes shall be, ipso facto,
within the purview of Indemnitee's rights and the Company's obligations, under
this Agreement. In the event of any change in any applicable law, statute or
rule which narrows the right of a Delaware corporation to indemnify a member of
its Board of Directors or an officer, such changes, to the extent not otherwise
required by such law, statute or rule to be applied to this Agreement shall have
no effect on this Agreement or the parties' rights and obligations hereunder.

                  (b) Nonexclusivity. The indemnification provided by this
Agreement shall not be deemed exclusive of any rights to which Indemnitee may be
entitled under the Company's Certificate of Incorporation, its Bylaws, any
agreement, any vote of stockholders or disinterested directors, Delaware law or
otherwise, both as to action in Indemnitee's official capacity and as to action
in another capacity while holding such office. The indemnification provided
under this Agreement shall continue as to Indemnitee for any action taken or not
taken while serving in an indemnified capacity even though he may have ceased to
serve in such capacity at the time of any action or other covered proceeding.

         4. Partial Indemnification. If Indemnitee is entitled under any
provision of this Agreement to indemnification by the Company for some or a
portion of the expenses, judgments, fines or penalties actually or reasonably
incurred by him in the investigation, defense, appeal or settlement of any civil
or criminal action or proceeding, but not, however, for the total amount
thereof, the Company shall nevertheless indemnify Indemnitee for the portion of
such expenses, judgments, fines or penalties to which Indemnitee is entitled.

         5. Mutual Acknowledgement. Both the Company and Indemnitee acknowledge
that in certain instances Federal law or applicable public policy may prohibit
the Company from indemnifying its directors and officers under this Agreement or
otherwise. Indemnitee understands and acknowledges that the Company has
undertaken or may be required in the future to undertake with the Securities and
Exchange Commission to submit the question of indemnification to a court in
certain circumstances for a determination of the Company's right under public
policy to indemnify Indemnitee.

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         6. Directors' and Officers' Liability Insurance. The Company shall,
from time to time, make the good faith determination whether or not it is
practicable for the Company to obtain and maintain a policy or policies of
insurance with reputable insurance companies providing the officers and
directors of the Company with coverage for losses from wrongful acts, or to
ensure the Company's performance of its indemnification obligations under this
Agreement. Among other considerations, the Company will weigh the costs of
obtaining such insurance coverage against the protection afforded by such
coverage. In all policies of directors' and officers' liability insurance,
Indemnitee shall be named as an insured in such a manner as to provide
Indemnitee the same rights and benefits as are accorded to the most favorably
insured of the Company's directors, if Indemnitee is a director; or of the
Company's officers, if Indemnitee is not a director of the Company but is an
officer; or of the Company's key employees, if Indemnitee is not an officer or
director but is a key employee. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall
have no obligation to obtain or maintain such insurance if the Company
determines in good faith that such insurance is not reasonably available, if the
premium costs for such insurance are disproportionate to the amount of coverage
provided, if the coverage provided by such insurance is limited by exclusions so
as to provide an insufficient benefit, or if Indemnitee is covered by similar
insurance maintained by a subsidiary or parent of the Company.

         7. Severability. Nothing in this Agreement is intended to require or
shall be construed as requiring the Company to do or fail to do any act in
violation of applicable law. The Company's inability, pursuant to court order,
to perform its obligations under this Agreement shall not constitute a breach of
this Agreement. The provisions of this Agreement shall be severable as provided
in this Section 7. If this Agreement or any portion hereof shall be invalidated
on any ground by any court of competent jurisdiction, then the Company shall
nevertheless indemnify Indemnitee to the full extent permitted by any applicable
portion of this Agreement that shall not have been invalidated, and the balance
of this Agreement not so invalidated shall be enforceable in accordance with its
terms.

         8. Exceptions. Any other provision herein to the contrary
notwithstanding, the Company shall not be obligated pursuant to the terms of
this Agreement:

                  (a) Claims Initiated by Indemnitee. To indemnify or advance
expenses to Indemnitee with respect to proceedings or claims initiated or
brought voluntarily by Indemnitee and not by way of defense, except with respect
to proceedings brought to establish or enforce a right to indemnification under
this Agreement or any other statute or law, but such indemnification or
advancement of expenses may be provided by the Company in specific cases if the
Board of Directors has approved the initiation or bringing of such suit; or

                  (b) Lack of Good Faith. To indemnify Indemnitee for any
expenses incurred by the Indemnitee with respect to any proceeding instituted by
Indemnitee to enforce or interpret this Agreement, if a court of competent
jurisdiction determines that each of the material assertions made by the
Indemnitee in such proceeding was not made in good faith or was frivolous; or

                  (c) Insured Claims. To indemnify Indemnitee for expenses or
liabilities of any type whatsoever (including, but not limited to, judgments,
fines, ERISA excise taxes or penalties, and

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amounts paid in settlement) which have been paid directly to Indemnitee by an
insurance carrier under a policy of directors' and officers' liability insurance
maintained by the Company; or

                  (d) Claims Under Section 16(b). To indemnify Indemnitee for
expenses and the payment of profits arising from the purchase and sale by
Indemnitee of securities in violation of Section 16(b) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any similar successor statute.

         9. Construction of Certain Phrases.

                  (a) For purposes of this Agreement, references to the
"Company" shall include, in addition to the resulting corporation, any
constituent corporation (including any constituent of a constituent) absorbed in
a consolidation or merger which, if its separate existence had continued, would
have had power and authority to indemnify its directors, officers, employees or
agents, so that if Indemnitee is or was a director, officer, employee or agent
of such constituent corporation, or is or was serving at the request of such
constituent corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another
corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, Indemnitee
shall stand in the same position under the provisions of this Agreement with
respect to the resulting or surviving corporation as Indemnitee would have with
respect to such constituent corporation if its separate existence had continued.

                  (b) For purposes of this Agreement, references to "other
enterprises" shall include employee benefit plans; references to "fines" shall
include any excise taxes assessed on Indemnitee with respect to an employee
benefit plan; and references to "serving at the request of the Company" shall
include any service as a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company
which imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director, officer,
employee or agent with respect to an employee benefit plan, its participants, or
beneficiaries.

         10. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more
counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original.

         11. Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon the
Company and its successors and assigns, and shall inure to the benefit of
Indemnitee and Indemnitee's estate, heirs, legal representatives and assigns.

         12. Attorneys' Fees. In the event that any action is instituted by
Indemnitee under this Agreement to enforce or interpret any of the terms hereof,
Indemnitee shall be entitled to be paid all court costs and expenses, including
reasonable attorneys' fees, incurred by Indemnitee with respect to such action,
unless as a part of such action, the court of competent jurisdiction determines
that each of the material assertions made by Indemnitee as a basis for such
action were not made in good faith or were frivolous. In the event of an action
instituted by or in the name of the Company under this Agreement or to enforce
or interpret any of the terms of this Agreement, Indemnitee shall be entitled to
be paid all court costs and expenses, including attorneys' fees, incurred by
Indemnitee in defense of such action (including with respect to Indemnitee's
counterclaims and cross-claims made in such action), unless as a part of such
action the court determines that each of Indemnitee's material defenses to such
action were made in bad faith or were frivolous.

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         13. Notice. All notices, requests, demands and other communications
under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed duly given (i) if
delivered by hand and receipted for by the party addressee, on the date of such
receipt, or (ii) if mailed by domestic certified or registered mail with postage
prepaid, on the third business day after the date postmarked. Addresses for
notice to either party are as shown on the signature page of this Agreement, or
as subsequently modified by written notice.

         14. Consent to Jurisdiction. The Company and Indemnitee each hereby (a)
submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of any state or federal court sitting in
the State of Delaware in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to
this Agreement, (b) agrees that all claims in respect of such action or
proceeding may be heard and determined only in any such court, (c) waives any
claim of inconvenient forum or other challenge to venue in such court, and (d)
agrees not to bring any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this
Agreement in any other court. The Company and Indemnitee each hereby agrees to
accept service of any summons, complaint or other initial pleading made in the
manner provided for the giving of notices in Section 13. Nothing in this Section
14, however, shall affect the right of either party to serve such summons,
complaint or initial pleading in any other manner permitted by law.

         15. Choice of Law. This Agreement and any disputes hereunder shall be
governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of
Delaware without giving effect to any choice or conflict of law provision or
rule (whether of the State of Delaware or any other jurisdiction) that would
cause the application of laws of any jurisdiction other than those of the State
of Delaware.

         16. Entire Agreement. This Agreement sets forth the entire agreement of
the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter contained herein and
supercedes all prior agreements, whether oral or written, by any officer,
employee or representative of any party hereto in respect of the subject matter
contained herein; and any prior agreement of the parties hereto in respect of
the subject matter contained herein is hereby terminated and cancelled. For
avoidance of doubt, the parties confirm that the foregoing does not apply to or
limit the Indemnitee's rights under Delaware law or the Company's Certificate of
Incorporation or Bylaws.

        [The remainder of this page has been intentionally left blank.]

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

                                           SMARTFORCE

                                           By:
                                               -------------------------------

                                           Name:
                                                 -----------------------------

                                           Title:
                                                  ----------------------------

                                           AGREED TO AND ACCEPTED:

                                           [Name]

                                           Signature:
                                                      ------------------------

                                           Address:
                                                    --------------------------

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                                                                   Exhibit 10.15

                              EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

   THIS AGREEMENT, is entered into as of January 12, 1998, between SkillSoft
Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and Mark Townsend
("Employee").

                                 R E C I T A L S

   Company desires to obtain the services of Employee, on its own behalf and on
behalf of all existing and future Affiliated Companies (defined to mean any
corporation or other business entity or entities that directly or indirectly
controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with the Company), and
Employee desires to secure employment from the Company upon the following terms
and conditions.

                                    AGREEMENT

ACCORDINGLY, THE PARTIES AGREE AS FOLLOWS:

      1. Position, Period of Employment.

         (a) Period of Employment. The Company hereby employs Employee to render
services to the Company in the position and with the duties and responsibilities
described in Section 1(b) for the period (the "Period of Employment") commencing
on the date of this Agreement and ending upon the date this Agreement is
terminated in accordance with Section 3 below. Except as provided in Section 3
below, the Company shall pay Employee the compensation to which he is entitled
under Section 2(a) through the end of the Period of Employment, and thereafter
Company's obligations hereunder to pay or otherwise provide compensation and
benefits to Employee shall end.

         (b) Position. Employee hereby accepts employment with the Company as
Vice President-Product Development. Employee shall devote his best efforts and
his full time and attention to the performance of the services customarily
incident to such office and to such other services as may be reasonably
requested by the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board"). During the
Period of Employment, Employee will not accept any other employment of any
nature, excluding personal business carried on outside regular business hours
that does not materially interfere with the services required by this Agreement.
The Company shall retain full direction and control of the means and methods by
which Employee performs the above services and, subject to the terms of this
Section 1(b), of the place(s) at which such services are to be rendered. During
the term of this agreement, employee's principal location shall be in New
Hampshire.

         (c) Non-Compete/Conflict of Interest. Employee, during the Period of
Employment (as defined below), will not engage, directly or indirectly as an
employee, director, consultant, shareholder, partner or independent contractor
or in
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any other capacity, in any other business activity (whether or not pursued for
pecuniary advantage) that is competitive with, or that might place him in a
competing position to that of the Company or any other corporation or entity
that directly or indirectly is controlled by the Company (an "Affiliated
Company"); provided, however, that Employee may make passive personal
investments (not exceeding ownership of more than one (1) percent of the equity
interest in any company) in publicly-held companies that may compete with the
Company or any Affiliated Company.

   2. Compensation, Benefits, Expenses.

      (a) Compensation. In consideration of the services to be rendered
hereunder, including, without limitation, services to any Affiliated Company,
Employee shall be paid an amount equal to $6,042 (six thousand forty-two
dollars) twice per month, payable at the times and pursuant to the procedures
regularly established, and as they may be amended, by the Company during the
course of this Agreement. This rate shall be reviewed annually, in accordance
with the Company's salary review practices, and increased, in the Company's sole
discretion, to reflect increases in the cost of living and such other increases
as are awarded in accordance with the Company's regular salary review practices.

      (b) Restricted Stock. The Company shall sell Employee and Employee shall
purchase from the Company 600,000 shares of the Company's Common Stock upon the
terms and conditions set forth in that certain Restricted Stock Purchase
Agreement in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A, which the Company shall
execute and deliver to Employee concurrently with the signing by both parties of
this Agreement.

      (c) Bonus. Employee shall be eligible to participate in such bonus plans
as the Company may from time to time adopt for the benefit of similarly situated
employees of the Company. Employee's right to receive any such bonus shall be
subject to the terms of any Company bonus plan for which he may become a
participant and the terms determined by the Board or a Committee thereof
designating him as a participant or granting him an award thereunder.

      (d) Vacation. Employee shall be entitled to vacation in accordance with
the Company's vacation policies for similarly situated employees, as such
policies may be amended from time to time.

      (e) Benefits. As he becomes eligible therefor, the Company shall provide
Employee with the right to participate in and to receive benefits from all
present and future life, accident, disability, medical, pension, and savings
plans and all similar benefits made available generally to executives similarly
situated employees of the Company. The amount and extent of benefits to which
Employee is

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entitled shall be governed by the specific benefit plan, as it may be amended
from time to time.

      (f) Expenses. The Company shall reimburse Employee for reasonable travel
and other business expenses incurred by Employee in the performance of his
duties hereunder in accordance with the Company's general policies, as they may
be amended from time to time during the course of this Agreement.

   3. Termination of Employment.

      (a) By Death. The Period of Employment shall terminate automatically upon
the death of the Employee. The Company shall pay to the Employee's beneficiaries
or estate, as appropriate, the compensation to which he is entitled pursuant to
Section 2(a) through the end of the month in which death occurs. Thereafter, the
Company's obligations hereunder shall terminate. Nothing in this Section shall
affect any entitlement of the Employee's heirs to the benefits of any life
insurance plan.

      (b) By Disability. If, in the sole opinion of the Company's Board of
Directors (the "Board"), the Employee shall be prevented from properly
performing his duties hereunder by reason of any physical or mental incapacity
for a period of more than one hundred and twenty (120) consecutive days in any
twelve-month period, then, to the extent permitted by law, the Period of
Employment shall terminate on and the compensation to which Employee is entitled
pursuant to Section 2(a) shall be paid up through the last day of the month in
which the one hundred and twentieth day of incapacity occurs, and thereafter the
Company's obligations hereunder shall terminate. Nothing in this Section shall
affect Employee's rights under any disability plan in which he is a participant.

      (c) By Company For Cause. The Company may terminate, without liability,
the Period of Employment for Cause (as defined below) at any time with no
advance notice to Employee. The Company shall pay Employee the compensation to
which he is entitled pursuant to Section 2(a) prorated through the date of
termination. Termination shall be for Cause if: (i) because of any intentional
act or failure to act by Employee which, in the reasonable opinion of the Board,
is in bad faith and to the detriment of the Company or any Affiliated Company;
(ii) in the reasonable opinion of the Board, Employee refuses or fails to act in
accordance with any direction or order of the Board; (iii) in the reasonable
opinion of the Board, Employee shall fail in any material respect and on a
continuing basis to perform his duties pursuant to Section 1 hereof (other than
as a result of disability as provided for in Section 3(b)) and shall not have
cured such failure following thirty (30) days notice from a majority of the
members of the Board; (iv) Employee is convicted of a crime relating to his
employment by the Company or that has a material adverse

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effect on the Company or, in the reasonable opinion of the Board, Employee's
ability to perform services hereunder; or (v) because Employee, in the
reasonable opinion of the Board, breaches any material term of this Agreement,
provided the breach continues for a period of five (5) days after Employee
receives written notice of that breach from the Board. Employee hereby agrees
that the Company may terminate his employment with the Company under this
Section 3(c) without regard (1) to any general or specific policies (whether
written or oral) of the Company relating to the employment or termination of its
employees, or (2) to any statements made to Employee, whether made orally or
contained in any document (other than this Agreement), pertaining to Employee's
relationship with the Company.

      (d) By Employee For Good Reason. Employee may terminate, without
liability, the Period of Employment for Good Reason (as defined below) upon
twenty (20) days' advance written notice to the Company. The Company shall pay
Employee the compensation to which he is entitled pursuant to Section 2(a)
through the end of the notice period plus the Severance Benefits (as defined in
Section 3(f) below) and thereafter all obligations of the Company hereunder
shall terminate. Good Reason shall exist if (i) there is an assignment to the
Employee of any duties materially inconsistent with or which constitute a
material change in the Employee's position, duties, responsibilities, or status
with the Company, or a material change in the Employee's reporting
responsibilities, title, or offices; or removal of the Employee from any of such
positions, except in connection with the termination of the Period of Employment
for Cause, or due to disability, early or normal retirement as defined by the
Company's pension plan, death, or termination of the Period of Employment by the
Employee other than for Good Reason (provided that removal and/or failure to
re-elect Employee to the Board in accordance with Section 1(c) shall not be
deemed Good Reason for purposes of this Section 3(d)); (ii) there is a reduction
by the Company in the Employee's annual salary then in effect other than a
reduction similar in percentage to a reduction generally applicable to similarly
situated employees of the Company; or (iii) the Company acts in any way that
would adversely affect the Employee's participation in or materially reduce the
Employee's benefit under any benefit plan of the Company in which the Employee
is participating or deprive the Employee of any material fringe benefit enjoyed
by the Employee except those changes generally affecting similarly situated
employees of the Company.

      (e) At Will. At any time, either the Company or the Employee may
terminate, without liability, the Period of Employment for any reason, with or
without cause, on written notice to the other party. In the event Employee
elects to terminate the Period of Employment pursuant to this Section 3(e),
Employee shall give the Company not less than two (2) months' notice of such
termination. If the Employee terminates his employment pursuant to this Section
3(e), the Company shall have the option, in its sole discretion, to terminate
Employee immediately without the running of the notice period. If the Employee
terminates his

                                      -4-
<PAGE>
employment pursuant to this Section 3(e), the Company shall pay Employee the
compensation to which he is entitled pursuant to Section 2(a) through the end of
the notice period or through the day upon which any early termination is elected
by the Company pursuant to the foregoing sentence, and thereafter all
obligations of the Company shall terminate. In the event the Company elects to
terminate the Period of Employment pursuant to this Section 3(e), the Company
shall give Employee not less than three months notice of such termination.
Employee hereby agrees that the Company may dismiss him under this Section 3(e)
without regard (i) to any general or specific policies (whether written or oral)
of the Company relating to the employment or termination of its employees, or
(ii) to any statements made to Employee, whether made orally or contained in any
document, pertaining to Employee's relationship with the Company.

      (f) Severance Benefits.

         (1) Employee shall only be entitled to Severance Benefits hereunder in
the event that the Period of Employment shall be terminated (i) by Employee in
accordance with Section 3(d) and subject to the terms of said Section 3(d) or
(ii) by the Company in accordance with Section 3(e) and subject to the terms of
said Section 3(e). Upon full payment of and upon providing of such Severance
Benefits, Employee shall be deemed to have released the Company and each of its
officers, directors and agents from any and all claims, liabilities or causes of
action in favor of the Employee arising in connection with his prior employment
by the Company.

         (2) For purposes of this Agreement, "Severance Benefits" shall mean a
continuation by the Company for a period of six (6) months of: (i) Employee's
salary payable in accordance with the Company's payroll procedures pursuant to
Section 2(a) following termination; (ii) those benefits to which Employee is
entitled pursuant to Section 2(f) hereof, including but not limited to medical
benefits substantially similar to those provided Employee prior to termination
of employment; and (iii) the vesting and right to exercise any stock options
held by Employee at the time of termination. As a condition precedent to the
continued vesting and exercisability of Employee's stock options during said six
(6) month period, Employee agrees to perform, on request from the Company, up to
ten (10) hours of consulting service per month during said six (6) month period.
Subject to Employee fulfilling his consulting obligations to the Company as
provided in this Section 3(f)(2) during the Severance Period (as defined below),
Employee shall be deemed to continue as employee of the Company during the
Severance Period for the purpose of such stock options, and such stock options
shall thereafter terminate in accordance with their terms following expiration
of the Severance Period. No additional compensation shall be payable by the
Company for such consulting services beyond the Severance Benefits. The period
in which Employee shall be entitled to Severance Benefits shall hereinafter be
referred to as the "Severance

                                      -5-
<PAGE>
Period." Notwithstanding any other provision herein, if Employee accepts
employment at any entity or engages in any business activity that is or may be
competitive with the Company (or any affiliate thereof) prior to the end of such
six (6) month period, Employee shall then immediately inform the Company of such
employment and immediately cease to be eligible for any continuing Severance
Benefits, including any continued salary payments, medical, benefits and option
or share vesting.

      (g) Termination Obligations.

         (1) Employee hereby acknowledges and agrees that all personal property,
including, without limitation, all books, manuals, records, reports, notes,
contracts, lists, blueprints, and other documents, or materials, or copies
thereof, and equipment furnished to or prepared by Employee in the course of or
incident to his employment, belong to the Company and shall be promptly returned
to the Company upon termination of the Period of Employment. Following
termination, the Employee will not retain any written or other tangible material
containing any proprietary information of the Company.

         (2) Upon termination of the Period of Employment, the Employee shall be
deemed to have resigned from all offices and directorships then held with the
Company or any Affiliated Company.

   4. Proprietary Information Agreement. As a condition to his employment
with the Company, Employee shall execute and deliver a copy of the Company's
standard form Employee Proprietary Information and Inventions Agreement. Any
breach by Employee of such agreement shall be deemed a breach of this Agreement
for purposes of Section 3(c) hereof. Employee's obligations under such Employee
Proprietary Information and Inventions Agreement shall survive any termination
of the Period of Employment.

   5. Assignment; Successors and Assigns. Employee agrees that he will not
assign, sell, transfer, delegate or otherwise dispose of, whether voluntarily or
involuntarily, or by operation of law, any rights or obligations under this
Agreement, nor shall Employee's rights be subject to encumbrance or the claims
of creditors. Any purported assignment, transfer, or delegation shall be null
and void. Nothing in this Agreement shall prevent the consolidation of the
Company with, or its merger into, any other corporation, or the sale by the
Company of all or substantially all of its properties or assets, or the
assignment by the Company of this Agreement and the performance of its
obligations hereunder to any successor in interest or any Affiliated Company.
Subject to the foregoing, this Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure
to the benefit of the parties and their respective heirs, legal representatives,
successors, and permitted assigns, and shall not benefit any person or entity
other than those enumerated above.

                                      -6-
<PAGE>
   6. Notices. All notices or other communications required or permitted
hereunder shall be made in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given
if delivered by hand or mailed, postage prepaid, by certified or registered
mail, return receipt requested, and addressed to the Company at: 9 Chickadee
Court, Bedford, New Hampshire 03110 or to the Employee at: 8 Major Hale Drive,
Framingham, MA 01701.

Notice of change of address shall be effective only when done in accordance with
this Section.

   7. Entire Agreement. The terms of this Agreement are intended by the parties
to be the final expression of their agreement with respect to the employment of
Employee by the Company and may not be contradicted by evidence of any prior or
contemporaneous agreement. The parties further intend that this Agreement shall
constitute the complete and exclusive statement of its terms and that no
extrinsic evidence whatsoever may be introduced in any judicial, administrative,
or other legal proceeding involving this Agreement.

   8. Amendments; Waivers. This Agreement may not be modified, amended, or
terminated except by an instrument in writing, signed by the Employee and by a
duly authorized representative of the Company other than Employee. By an
instrument in writing similarly executed, either party may waive compliance by
the other party with any provision of this Agreement that such other party was
or is obligated to comply with or perform, provided, however, that such waiver
shall not operate as a waiver of, or estoppel with respect to, any other or
subsequent failure. No failure to exercise and no delay in exercising any right,
remedy, or power hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any
single or partial exercise of any right, remedy, or power hereunder preclude any
other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, remedy, or
power provided herein or by law or in equity.

   9. Severability; Enforcement. If any provision of this Agreement, or the
application thereof to any person, place, or circumstance, shall be held by a
court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, unenforceable, or void, the
remainder of this Agreement and such provisions as applied to other persons,
places, and circumstances shall remain in full force and effect. It is the
intention of the parties that the covenants contained in Section 1(d) shall be
enforced to the greatest extent (but to no greater extent) in times area, and
degree of participation as is permitted by the law of that jurisdiction whose
law is found to be applicable to any acts allegedly in breach of these
covenants. It being the purpose of this Agreement to govern competition by
Employee anywhere throughout the world, these covenants shall be governed by and
construed according to that law (from among those jurisdictions

                                      -7-
<PAGE>
arguably applicable to this Agreement and those in which a breach of this
Agreement is alleged to have occurred or to be threatened) which best gives them
effect.

   10. Governing Law. Subject to Section 9 hereof, the validity, interpretation,
enforceability, and performance of this Agreement shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the law of the State of New Hampshire.

   11. Employee Acknowledgment. Employee acknowledges (i) that he has consulted
with or has had the opportunity to consult with independent counsel of his own
choice concerning this Agreement and has been advised to do so by the Company,
and (ii) that he has read and understands the Agreement, is fully aware of its
legal effect, and has entered into it freely based on his own judgment.

   12. Exclusive. Both parties agree that this Agreement shall provide the
exclusive remedies for any breach by the Company of its terms.

   The parties have duly executed this Agreement as of the date first written
above.

COMPANY:                                                EMPLOYEE:

SkillSoft Corporation

By:     /s/ Charles E. Moran                            /s/  Mark Townsend
       ------------------------------------            -------------------------
Title:  President & Chief Executive Officer
       ------------------------------------

                                      -8-
<PAGE>
                                                                       EXHIBIT A

                              SKILLSOFT CORPORATION
                       RESTRICTED STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT

                  THIS AGREEMENT is entered into as of the 26th day of June,
1998, between SkillSoft Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and
Mark A. Townsend (the "Recipient").

                                    RECITALS:

                  WHEREAS, the Company has adopted the 1998 Stock Incentive Plan
(the "Plan"), which Plan is hereby incorporated in this Agreement by reference
and made a part of it; and

                  WHEREAS, the Company regards Recipient as a valuable
contributor to the Company, and has determined that it would be in the interest
of the Company and its stockholders to sell the Stock (as defined below) to the
Recipient as a reward for past efforts and an incentive for continued service
with the Company and increased achievements in the future by Recipient;

                  NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants
hereinafter set forth, the parties to this Agreement hereby agree as follows:

         1.       Restricted Stock Purchase. Contemporaneously with the
execution of this Agreement, the Company will issue to Recipient 600,000 shares
of Common Stock of the Company (the "Stock") for a consideration of $0.175 per
share ("Purchase Price"). Payment of the aggregate Purchase Price of $105,000
for the Stock shall be made to the Company as follows: (i) $52,500 shall be paid
in cash, and (ii) $52,500 shall be made by delivery of a promissory note, in the
form attached hereto as Exhibit A, each upon execution of this Agreement.
Recipient shall pledge the non-vested Stock as security for the promissory note
pursuant to a security agreement in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B. All
shares of Stock issued hereunder shall be deemed issued to Recipient as fully
paid and nonassessable shares, and Recipient shall have all rights of a
stockholder with respect thereto, including the right to vote, receive dividends
(including stock dividends), participate in stock splits or other
recapitalizations, and exchange such shares in a merger, consolidation or other
reorganization. The Company shall pay any applicable stock transfer taxes.

         2.       Repurchase Option.

                  (a) Transfer Restrictions. Except as provided in Section 3(f),
no Stock issued to the Recipient hereunder shall be sold, transferred by gift,
pledged, hypothecated, or otherwise transferred or disposed of by the Recipient
in contravention of Section 2 or Section 3 hereof other than by will or the laws
of descent and distribution (the "Permitted Transfers"). Except for Permitted
Transfers, no Stock issued to the Recipient hereunder shall be sold, transferred
by gift, pledged, hypothecated, or otherwise transferred or disposed of by the
Recipient prior to the date when the Recipient shall become vested in such Stock
pursuant to Section 4 hereof, and such Stock shall constitute "Non-Vested Stock"
until such date. Any
<PAGE>
attempt to transfer Stock in violation of this Section 2 or Section 3 shall be
null and void and shall be disregarded by the Company.

                  (b) Repurchase Option. Non-Vested Stock shall be subject to a
repurchase option in favor of the Company (the "Repurchase Option"). The
Repurchase Option shall be subject to the following terms and conditions. In the
event of the voluntary or involuntary termination of employment of Recipient
with the Company for any reason, with or without cause (including death or
disability), the Company shall, upon the date of such termination, have an
irrevocable, exclusive option for a period of three months from such date to
repurchase any or all of the Non-Vested Stock from Recipient or any person
receiving the Non-Vested Stock by operation of law or other involuntary
transfer, at the original Purchase Price for the Non-Vested Stock.

                  (c) Exercise of Repurchase Option. The Repurchase Option shall
be exercised by written notice by the Company to Recipient or his or her
executor and, at the Company's option, (i) by delivery to the Recipient or his
or her executor, with such notice, of a check in the amount of the original
Purchase Price for the Non-Vested Stock being repurchased (the "Repurchase
Amount"), or (ii) in the event the Recipient is indebted to the Company for all
or a portion of the Repurchase Amount, by cancellation by the Company of an
amount of such purchase money indebtedness equal to the Repurchase Amount for
the Stock being repurchased, or (iii) by a combination of (i) and (ii) so that
the combined payment and cancellation of indebtedness equals such Repurchase
Amount. Upon delivery by the Company of such notice and payment of the
Repurchase Amount in any of the ways described above, the Company shall become
the legal and beneficial owner of the Non-Vested Stock being repurchased and all
rights and interest therein or related thereto, and the Company shall have the
right to transfer to its own name the number of shares of Stock being
repurchased by the Company, without further action by Recipient.

                  (d) Assignment of Repurchase Option. The Repurchase Option may
be assigned by the Company to any third party.

                  (e) Escrow of Stock. For purposes of facilitating the
enforcement of the provisions of this Section 2, Recipient agrees, immediately
upon receipt of the certificate(s) for the Stock, to deliver such
certificate(s), together with an Assignment Separate from Certificate in the
form attached hereto as Exhibit C, executed in blank by Recipient and
Recipient's spouse (if required for transfer) with respect to each such stock
certificate, to the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the Company, or their
designee, to hold in escrow for so long as such Stock remains subject to any
Repurchase Option of the Company pursuant to this Section 2, with the authority
to take all such actions and to effectuate all such transfers and/or releases as
may be necessary or appropriate to accomplish the objectives of this Agreement
in accordance with the terms hereof. Stock may be held for an additional period
if subject to a Security Agreement as provided in this Agreement. Recipient
hereby acknowledges that the appointment of the Secretary or Assistant Secretary
of the Company (or their designee) as the escrow holder hereunder with the
stated authorities is a material inducement to the Company to make this
Agreement and that such appointment is coupled with an interest and is
accordingly irrevocable.

                                       2
<PAGE>
Recipient agrees that such escrow holder shall not be liable to any party hereto
(or to any other party) for any actions or omissions unless such escrow holder
is grossly negligent relative thereto. The escrow holder may rely upon any
letter, notice or other document executed by any signature purported to be
genuine and may resign at any time.

         3.       First Refusal Right.

                  (a) Grant of Right. The Company is hereby granted the right of
first refusal (the "First Refusal Right"), exercisable in connection with any
proposed sale or other transfer of the Stock acquired by Recipient hereunder.
For purposes of this Section 3, the term "transfer" shall include any
assignment, pledge, encumbrance or other disposition for value of the Stock
intended to be made by the Owner (defined below), but shall not include any of
the Permitted Transfers under Section 3(f). For purposes of this Section 3, the
term "Owner" shall include the Recipient or any subsequent holder of the Stock
who derives his or her chain of ownership through a transfer permitted by
Section 3(f).

                  (b) Notice of Intended Disposition. In the event the Owner
desires to accept a bona fide third-party offer for any or all of the Stock (the
shares subject to such offer to be hereinafter called, solely for the purposes
of this Section 3, the "Target Shares"), Owner shall promptly deliver to the
Secretary of the Company written notice (the "Disposition Notice") of the offer
and the basic terms and conditions thereof, including the proposed purchase
price.

                  (c) Exercise of Right. The Company (or its assignee) shall,
for a period of twenty (20) days following receipt of the Disposition Notice,
have the right to repurchase any or all of the Target Shares specified in the
Disposition Notice upon substantially the same terms and conditions specified
therein. Such right shall be exercisable by written notice (the "Exercise
Notice") delivered to Owner prior to the expiration of the twenty (20) day
exercise period. If the Exercise Notice pertains to all the Target Shares
specified in the Disposition Notice, then the Company (or its assignees) shall
effect the repurchase of such Target Shares, including payment of the purchase
price, not more than five (5) business days after delivery of the Exercise
Notice; and at such time Owner shall deliver to the Company the certificates
representing the Target Shares to be repurchased, each certificate to be
properly endorsed for transfer. The Target Shares so purchased shall thereupon
be canceled and cease to be issued and outstanding shares of the Company's
common stock. However, should the purchase price specified in the Disposition
Notice be payable in property other than cash or evidences of indebtedness, the
Company (or its assignees) shall have the right to pay the purchase price in the
form of cash equal in amount to the value of such property. If the Owner and the
Company (or its assignees) cannot agree on such cash value within ten (10) days
after the Company's receipt of the Disposition Notice, the valuation shall be
made by an appraiser of recognized standing selected by the Owner and the
Company (or its assignees) or, if they cannot agree on an appraiser within
twenty (20) days after the Company's receipt of the Disposition Notice, each
shall select an appraiser of recognized standing and the two appraisers shall
designate a third appraiser of recognized standing, whose appraisal shall be
determinative of such value. The closing shall then be held on the later of (i)
the fifth business day following

                                       3
<PAGE>
delivery of the Exercise Notice or (ii) the 15th day after such cash valuation
shall have been made.

                  (d) Non-Exercise of Right. In the event the Exercise Notice is
not given to Owner within twenty (20) days following the date of the Company's
receipt of the Disposition Notice, Owner shall have a period of ninety (90) days
thereafter in which to sell or otherwise dispose of the Target Shares upon terms
and conditions (including the purchase price) no more favorable to the third
party purchaser than those specified in the Disposition Notice. The third-party
purchaser shall acquire the Target Shares subject to all the terms and
provisions of this Agreement. All transferees of the Target Shares shall be
required as a condition of such transfer to agree in writing (in a form
satisfactory to the Company) that such transferee shall receive and hold the
Target Shares subject to the provisions of this Agreement. In the event Owner
does not sell or otherwise dispose of the Target Shares within the specified
ninety (90) day period, the Company's First Refusal Right shall continue to be
applicable to any subsequent disposition of the Target Shares by Owner until
such right lapses in accordance with Section 5.

                  (e) Partial Exercise of Right. In the event the Company (or
its assignees) makes a timely exercise of the First Refusal Right with respect
to a portion, but not all, of the Target Shares specified in the Disposition
Notice, Owner shall have the option, exercisable by written notice to the
Company delivered within ninety (90) days after the date of the Disposition
Notice, to effect the sale of the Target Shares pursuant to one of the following
alternatives:

                           (i) sale or other distribution of all the Target
                  Shares to a third-party purchaser in compliance with the
                  requirements of Section 3(d), as if the Company did not
                  exercise the First Refusal Right hereunder; or

                           (ii) sale to the Company (or its assignees) of the
                  portion of the Target Shares which the Company (or its
                  assignees) has elected to purchase, such sale to be effected
                  in substantial conformity with the provisions of Section 3(c).

Failure of Owner to deliver timely notification to the Company under this
Section 3(e) shall be deemed to be an election by Owner to sell the Target
Shares pursuant to alternative (ii) above.

                  (f) Exempt Transfers. The Company's First Refusal Right under
this Section 3 shall not apply to transfers of the Stock by will or the laws of
descent and distribution; provided, however, that all of the terms of this
Agreement shall remain in effect as to such transferred Stock. In addition,
Recipient may transfer all or a portion of the Stock to (i) a revocable trust
for the sole benefit of Recipient, his or her spouse, or his or her lineal
descendants, or (ii) to his or her spouse, siblings, lineal descendants thereof,
parents, or his or her lineal descendants subject to a nonrevocable voting trust
of a duration of 10 years without the written permission of the Company,
provided said Recipient is trustee and prior written notice (together with a
copy of the trust agreement) is given the Company within thirty (30) days
thereafter. The trustee shall hold such Stock subject to all the provisions
hereof, and shall make no further transfers other than as provided herein. Upon
the death, total disability, or termination

                                       4
<PAGE>
of employment of the transferor Recipient, the successor trustee or any
cotrustee (and any subsequent transferee) shall be required to sell, transfer or
present said Stock for purchase as provided herein, for the price and on the
terms hereafter set forth as if such successor trustee and subsequent transferee
were the transferor Recipient. Transferee shall make no further transfers other
than as provided herein, and any attempted transfer in violation of this Section
3 shall be null and void and shall be disregarded by the Company. All references
herein to Stock shall be deemed to include Stock owned by any such successor
trustee or subsequent transferee, except that payment for such trustee and
transferee Stock shall be made to the trustee and transferee instead of to the
original Recipient or his or her estate.

         4.       Vesting. For purposes of this Agreement, the term "vest" shall
mean with respect to any share of the Stock that such share is no longer
Non-Vested Stock subject to repurchase at the original Purchase Price set forth
in Section 2. If Recipient would become vested in any fraction of a share of
Stock on any date, such fractional share shall not vest and shall remain
Non-Vested Stock until the Recipient becomes vested in the entire share.
Commencing on February 12, 1998 and continuing on the monthly anniversary of
such date, 1/36 of the Stock subject to this Agreement shall vest.

         5.       Lapse. The Company's First Refusal Right under Section 3 above
shall lapse and cease to have effect upon the closing of the first underwritten
public offering of Common Stock of the Company that is pursuant to a
registration statement filed with, and declared effective by, the Securities and
Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"Securities Act"), covering the offer and sale of any Common Stock to the public
for the Company's account in a firmly underwritten offering for at least
$20,000,000.

         6.       Corporate Transactions.

                  (a) Definition. For purposes of this Section 6, a "Corporate
Transaction" shall include any of the following stockholder-approved
transactions to which the Company is a party:

                           (i) a merger or consolidation in which the Company is
                  not the surviving entity, except for (1) a transaction the
                  principal purpose of which is to change the state of the
                  Company's incorporation, or (2) a transaction in which the
                  Company's stockholders immediately prior to such merger or
                  consolidation hold (by virtue of securities received in
                  exchange for their shares in the Company) securities of the
                  surviving entity representing more than fifty percent (50%) of
                  the total voting power of such surviving entity immediately
                  after such transaction;

                           (ii) the sale, transfer or other disposition of all
                  or substantially all of the assets of the Company unless the
                  Company's stockholders immediately prior to such sale,
                  transfer or other disposition hold (by virtue of securities
                  received in exchange for their shares in the Company)
                  securities of the purchaser or other transferee representing
                  more than fifty percent (50%) of the total voting power of
                  such entity immediately after such transaction; or

                                       5
<PAGE>
                           (iii) any merger in which the Company is the
                  surviving entity but in which the Company's stockholders
                  immediately prior to such merger do not hold (by virtue of
                  their shares in the Company) securities of the surviving
                  entity held immediately prior to such transaction representing
                  more than fifty percent (50%) of the total voting power of the
                  surviving entity immediately after such transaction.

                  (b) Effect. In the event of any Corporate Transaction, (i) the
Company's Repurchase Option under Section 2 shall lapse and (ii) the Company's
First Refusal Right under Section 3 shall lapse.

         7.       Additional Securities. The term "Stock" also refers to all
securities received in replacement of the Stock, as a stock dividend or as a
result of any stock split, recapitalization, merger, reorganization, exchange or
the like, and all new or additional securities or other properties to which
Recipient is entitled by reason of Recipient's ownership of the Stock
(hereinafter called "Additional Securities"). Recipient shall be entitled to
direct the Company to exercise any warrant or option received as Additional
Securities upon supplying the funds necessary to do so, in which event the
securities so purchased shall constitute Additional Securities, but the
Recipient may not direct Company to sell any such warrant or option. If
Additional Securities consist of a convertible security, Recipient may exercise
any conversion right, and any securities so acquired shall be deemed Additional
Securities. All Stock shall be subject to the restrictions contained in this
Agreement.

         8.       Investment Representations.

                  (a) Investment Representations. This Agreement is made in
reliance upon the Recipient's representation to the Company, which by its
acceptance hereof the Recipient hereby confirms, that the shares of Stock to be
received by the Recipient will be acquired for investment for his or her own
account and not with a view to the sale or distribution of any part thereof
within the meaning of the Securities Act.

                  (b) Availability of Exemptions. The Recipient understands that
the Stock is not registered under the Securities Act on the basis that the sale
provided for in this Agreement and the issuance of securities hereunder is
exempt from registration under the Securities Act pursuant to Section 4(2)
thereof, and that the Company's reliance on such exemption is predicated on the
Recipient's representations set forth herein.

                  (c) Restrictions on Transfer. The Recipient understands that
the Stock may not be sold, transferred, or otherwise disposed of without
registration under the Securities Act or an exemption therefrom, and that in the
absence of an effective registration statement covering the Stock or an
available exemption from registration under the Securities Act, the Stock must
be held indefinitely. In particular, the Recipient is aware that the Stock may
not be sold pursuant to Rule 144 or Rule 701 promulgated under the Securities
Act unless all of the conditions of the applicable Rules are met. Among the
conditions for use of Rule 144 is the availability of current information to the
public about the Company. Such information is not

                                       6
<PAGE>
now available, and the Company has no present plans to make such information
available. The Recipient represents that, in the absence of an effective
registration statement covering the Stock, it will sell, transfer, or otherwise
dispose of the Stock only in a manner consistent with its representations set
forth herein and then only in accordance with the provisions of Section 8(d)
hereof.

                  (d) Procedure for Transfer. The Recipient agrees that in no
event will it make a transfer or disposition of any of the Stock (other than
pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act),
unless and until (i) the Recipient shall have notified the Company of the
proposed disposition and shall have furnished the Company with a statement of
the circumstances surrounding the disposition, (ii) such transfer is made in
accordance with the provisions of Section 2 and Section 3 above and (iii) if
requested by the Company, at the expense of the Recipient or transferee, the
Recipient shall have furnished to the Company either (A) an opinion of counsel,
reasonably satisfactory to the Company, to the effect that such transfer may be
made without registration under the Securities Act or (B) a "no action" letter
from the Securities and Exchange Commission to the effect that the transfer of
such securities without registration will not result in a recommendation by the
staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission that action be taken with
respect thereto. The Company will not require such a legal opinion or "no
action" letter in any transaction in compliance with Rule 144.

         9.       Legends; Stop Transfer.

                  (a) Required Legends. All certificates for shares of the Stock
shall bear the following legends:

         "THE SHARES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE BEEN ACQUIRED FOR
         INVESTMENT AND NOT WITH A VIEW TO, OR IN CONNECTION WITH, THE SALE OR
         DISTRIBUTION THEREOF. THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER
         THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933. THEY MAY NOT BE SOLD, OFFERED FOR SALE,
         PLEDGED OR HYPOTHECATED IN THE ABSENCE OF AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION
         STATEMENT AS TO THE SECURITIES UNDER SAID ACT OR AN OPINION OF COUNSEL
         SATISFACTORY TO THE COMPANY THAT SUCH REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED."

         "THE SHARES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE RESTRICTED BY THE TERMS
         OF, AND ARE SUBJECT TO A RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL OPTION AND A RIGHT OF
         REPURCHASE IN FAVOR OF THE COMPANY, AS PROVIDED IN A RESTRICTED STOCK
         PURCHASE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE COMPANY AND THE HOLDER HEREOF, OR ITS
         SUCCESSOR, A COPY OF WHICH IS AVAILABLE FROM THE COMPANY."

                                       7
<PAGE>
                  (b) Additional Legends. The certificates for shares of the
Stock shall also bear any legend required by any applicable state securities
law.

         10.      Lock-Up Agreement.

                  (a) Agreement. Recipient, if requested by the Company and the
lead underwriter of any public offering of the Common Stock or other securities
of the Company (the "Lead Underwriter"), hereby irrevocably agrees not to sell,
contract to sell, grant any option to purchase, transfer the economic risk of
ownership in, make any short sale of, pledge or otherwise transfer or dispose of
any interest in any Common Stock or any securities convertible into or
exchangeable or exercisable for or any other rights to purchase or acquire
Common Stock (except Common Stock included in such public offering or acquired
on the public market after such offering) during the 180-day period following
the effective date of a registration statement of the Company filed under the
Securities Act, or such shorter period of time as the Lead Underwriter shall
specify. Recipient further agrees to sign such documents as may be requested by
the Lead Underwriter to effect the foregoing and agrees that the Company may
impose stop-transfer instructions with respect to such Common Stock subject
until the end of such period. The Company and Recipient acknowledge that each
Lead Underwriter of a public offering of the Company's stock, during the period
of such offering and for the 180-day period thereafter, is an intended
beneficiary of this Section 10.

                  (b) Permitted Transfers. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
Section 10(a) shall not prohibit Recipient from transferring any shares of
Common Stock or securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for
the Company's Common Stock to the extent such transfer is not otherwise
prohibited by this Agreement, either during Recipient's lifetime or on death by
will or intestacy to Recipient's immediate family or to a trust the
beneficiaries of which are exclusively Recipient and/or a member or members of
Recipient's immediate family; provided, however, that prior to any such
transfer, each transferee shall execute an agreement pursuant to which each
transferee shall agree to receive and hold such securities subject to the
provisions of Section 10 hereof. For the purposes of this paragraph, the term
"immediate family" shall mean spouse, lineal descendant, father, mother, brother
or sister of the transferor.

                  (c) No Amendment Without Consent of Underwriter. During the
period from identification as a Lead Underwriter in connection with any public
offering of the Company's Common Stock until the earlier of (i) the expiration
of the lock-up period specified in Section 10(a) in connection with such
offering or (ii) the abandonment of such offering by the Company and the Lead
Underwriter, the provisions of the Section 10 may not be amended or waived
except with the consent of the Lead Underwriter.

         11.      NO EMPLOYMENT RIGHTS. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL NOT CONFER UPON
RECIPIENT ANY RIGHT WITH RESPECT TO CONTINUATION OF HIS OR HER EMPLOYMENT WITH
THE COMPANY OR ITS AFFILIATES, NOR SHALL IT INTERFERE IN ANY WAY WITH THE RIGHT
OF RECIPIENT OR THE COMPANY, OR ANY OF ITS AFFILIATES, TO TERMINATE RECIPIENT'S
EMPLOYMENT WITH THE

                                       8
<PAGE>
COMPANY AT ANY TIME FOR ANY REASON WITH OR WITHOUT CAUSE OR CHANGE THE TERMS OF
EMPLOYMENT OF RECIPIENT.

         12.      Section 83(b) Election. Recipient hereby represents that he or
she understands (a) the contents and requirements of a timely election made
pursuant to Section 83(b) of the Internal Revenue Code or similar provision of
state law (collectively, an "83(b) Election"), (b) the application of Section
83(b) to the purchase of Stock by Recipient pursuant to this Agreement, (c) the
nature of the election to be made by Recipient under Section 83(b) and (d) the
effect and requirements of the 83(b) Election under relevant state and local tax
laws. Recipient further represents that he or she intends to file an election
pursuant to Section 83(b), the form of which Election is attached hereto as
Exhibit D, with the Internal Revenue Service within thirty (30) days following
purchase of the Stock hereunder, and a copy of such election with his or her
federal tax return for the calendar year in which the date of this Agreement
falls. Recipient covenants to inform the Company of any change in Recipient's
state of residency. Recipient shall provide the Company with a copy of any
timely 83(b) Election. If Recipient makes a timely 83(b) Election, Recipient
shall immediately pay Company the amount necessary to satisfy any applicable
federal, state, and local income and employment tax withholding requirements. If
Recipient does not make a timely 83(b) Election, Recipient shall, either at the
time that the restrictions lapse under this Agreement or at the time withholding
is otherwise required by any applicable law, pay the Company the amount
necessary to satisfy any applicable federal, state, and local income and
employment tax withholding requirements.

         13.      Withholding. Recipient agrees to withholding of shares from
exercise for satisfaction of any applicable federal, state or local income tax
or employment tax withholding requirements.

         14.      Distributions. The Company shall disburse to Recipient all
dividends, interest and other distributions paid or made in cash or property
(other than Additional Securities) with respect to Stock and Additional
Securities, less any applicable federal or state withholding taxes.

         15.      Successors. This Agreement shall be binding upon and shall
inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective heirs,
executors, administrators, successors and assigns.

         16.      Notice. Any notice or other paper required to be given or sent
pursuant to the terms of this Agreement shall be sufficiently given or served
hereunder to any party when transmitted by express or certified mail, postage
prepaid, addressed to the party to be served as follows:

         Company:    SkillSoft Corporation
                     20 Industrial Park Drive
                     Nashua, NH  03062
                     Attn:  Secretary

                                       9
<PAGE>
         Recipient:  At Recipient's address as it appears under Recipient's
                     signature to this Agreement, or to such other address as
                     Recipient may specify in writing to the Company

Any party may designate another address for receipt of notices so long as notice
is given in accordance with this Section.

         17.      Spousal Consent. Recipient shall cause his or her spouse to
execute the Consent of Spouse attached hereto as Exhibit E concurrently with the
execution of this Agreement or, if later, at the time Recipient becomes married.

         18.      Delaware Law. The interpretation, performance and enforcement
of this Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware.

                  IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have duly executed this
Restricted Stock Purchase Agreement as of the date first above written.

                          SKILLSOFT CORPORATION
                          a Delaware corporation

                          By  _________________________________________________

                          Its  ________________________________________________

                          Recipient:

                          _____________________________________________________
                          Mark A. Townsend

                          Address:

                          8 Major Hale Drive
                          Framingham, MA  01701

                                       10
<PAGE>
                                    EXHIBIT A
                             SECURED PROMISSORY NOTE

$52,500                                                  _________________, 1998

                  FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned Mark Townsend, an
individual residing at ____________________________________ ("Maker"), hereby
promises to pay to SkillSoft Corporation, a Delaware corporation ("Payee"), on
the earlier of (i) ___________________, 2003 or (ii) the date Maker ceases to be
an employee of Payee, for any reason, the principal sum of Fifty-Two Thousand
Five Hundred Dollars ($52,500), in lawful money of the United States of America
and in immediately available funds, plus simple interest from the date hereof at
the rate of _____ percent (__%) per annum, payable in full on the date such
principal amount is due, provided however, that the last said installment shall
be in an amount necessary to repay in full the unpaid principal and interest
hereof.

                  Interest shall be computed on the basis of a year of 365 days
for the actual number of days elapsed. Should interest not be paid when due
hereunder, it shall be added to the principal and thereafter bear like interest
as the principal, but such unpaid interest so compounded shall not exceed an
amount equal to simple interest on the unpaid principal at the maximum rate
permitted by law.

                  This is the Promissory Note referred to in the Security
Agreement of even date herewith between Maker and Payee, and Payee is entitled
to all the benefits provided therein.

                  (i) Prepayments. Maker reserves the right to prepay the
outstanding principal amount of this Note in full or in part at any time during
the term of this Note without notice and without premium or penalty.

                  (ii) Events of Default and Remedies. Any one of the following
occurrences shall constitute an "Event of Default" under this Note:

                       (a) Maker fails to make payment of full principal amount
of this Note as and when the same becomes due and payable in accordance with the
terms hereof.

                       (b) Maker becomes insolvent or bankrupt, commits any act
of bankruptcy, generally fails to pay its debts as they become due, becomes the
subject of any proceedings or action of any regulatory agency or any court
relating to insolvency, or makes an assignment for the benefit of its creditors,
or enters into any agreement for the composition, extension, or readjustment of
all or substantially all of his or her obligations.

                       (c) Maker ceases to be an employee of Payee for any
reason.

                       Upon the occurrence of any Event of Default hereunder,
the entire unpaid principal balance of this Note (including accrued interest)
shall, at the option of the Payee and without notice or demand of any kind to
Maker or any other person,
<PAGE>
immediately become due and payable, and Payee shall have and may exercise any
and all rights and remedies available to it at law or in equity.

                  (iii) Attorneys' Fees and Costs. Maker promises to pay on
demand all reasonable out-of-pocket costs of and expenses of Payee in connection
with the collection of amounts due hereunder, including, without limitation,
attorneys' fees incurred in connection therewith, whether or not any lawsuit is
ever filed with respect thereto.

                  (iv) Miscellaneous.

                       (a) Waiver. Maker waives diligence, presentment, protest
and demand and also notice of protest, demand, dishonor and nonpayment of this
Note. No extension of time for the payment of this Note shall affect the
original liability under this Note of Maker. The pleading of any statute of
limitations as a defense to any demand against Maker is expressly waived by
Maker to the full extent permitted by law.

                       (b) Setoff. The obligation to pay Payee shall be absolute
and unconditional and the rights of Payee shall not be subject to any defense,
setoff, counterclaim or recoupment or by reason of any indebtedness or liability
at any time owing by Payee to Maker.

                  IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed and delivered
this Note as of the date first above written.

                                MAKER

                                ________________________________________________
                                Mark Townsend

                                       2
<PAGE>
                                    EXHIBIT B
                               SECURITY AGREEMENT

                  THIS SECURITY AGREEMENT is made and entered into as of this
____ day of ________, ____ by and between SkillSoft Corporation, a Delaware
corporation ("Secured Party"), and Mark Townsend , an individual residing at
________________________________ ("Debtor").

                  In consideration of the mutual covenants contained herein and
for other good and valuable consideration, the adequacy and receipt of which is
hereby acknowledged, the parties hereby agree as follows:

                  1. Definitions. The following terms have the following
meanings:

                     (a) The term "Collateral" shall mean (i) the tangible
assets owned by Debtor as of the date hereof and described in Exhibit A attached
hereto and (ii) all Proceeds of the foregoing Collateral. For purposes of this
Security Agreement, the term "Proceeds" includes whatever is receivable or
received when Collateral or proceeds thereof is sold, collected, exchanged or
otherwise disposed of, whether such disposition is voluntary or involuntary, and
includes, without limitation, all rights to payment, including return premiums,
with respect to any insurance relating thereto.

                     (b) The term "Obligations" shall mean all of the unpaid
principal sum of that certain Secured Promissory Note in the original principal
amount of $______ of even date herewith (the "Note") evidencing the indebtedness
of Debtor to Secured Party.

                     (c) The term "UCC" shall mean the Uniform Commercial Code
as the same may, from time to time, be in effect in the State of New Hampshire.

                     (d) Capitalized terms used herein shall have the meaning
set forth in the UCC unless otherwise set forth herein.

                     (e) The term "Event of Default" shall have the meaning set
forth in the Note.

                  2. Grant of Security Interest. As collateral security for
prompt and complete payment and performance under the Obligations, Debtor hereby
assigns, conveys, grants, pledges and transfers to and creates in favor of
Secured Party a security interest in the Collateral, including all Proceeds of
the foregoing and all accessions to, substitutions and replacements for the
foregoing. Debtor shall, upon execution of this Security Agreement, and of the
Note as Payee (as such term is defined in the Note), deliver all certificates
representing the Collateral together with a stock power executed in blank by
Debtor and Debtor's spouse with respect to such stock certificates to the
Secretary of Secured Party to be held in escrow until full satisfaction of
Debtor's obligations hereunder and under the Note with the authority to take all
such actions and to effectuate all such transfers and/or releases as may be
necessary or appropriate to accomplish the objectives of this Security Agreement
and the Note. In the event that the Proceeds from the disposition

<PAGE>
of the Collateral are insufficient to fully satisfy the amounts due and owing
under the Note, Debtor shall, subject to the limitations set forth in the UCC,
be liable for any deficiency.

                  3. Representations, Warranties and Covenants. Debtor
represents, warrants and covenants that:

                     (a) Title. Apart from the security interest in the
Collateral granted to Secured Party hereunder, Debtor has good and valid title
to the Collateral, free and clear of any and all liens, charges, claims,
security interests or encumbrances of any kind whatsoever.

                     (b) Transfer of Collateral. Debtor shall not sell, assign,
transfer, encumber or otherwise dispose of any of the Collateral or any interest
therein without the prior written consent of Secured Party. If any such
encumbrance is imposed, Debtor shall give Secured Party immediate written
notice.

                     (c) Perfection. Debtor shall, upon demand, do all such acts
as Secured Party may reasonably request to establish and maintain a perfected
security interest in the Collateral, including, without limitation, executing a
financing statement in the form prescribed by the New Hampshire Secretary of
State.

                  4. Remedies. Upon the occurrence of any Event of Default
hereunder, the entire unpaid principal balance of the Note shall, at the option
of the Payee and without notice or demand of any kind to Debtor or any other
person, immediately become due and payable, and Secured Party may proceed to
exercise any and all of the rights and remedies of a secured party under the UCC
and any other remedies available at law or in equity, with respect to the
Collateral.

                  IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this
Security Agreement to be executed as of the date first above written.

                             SECURED PARTY
                             SKILLSOFT CORPORATION
                             a Delaware corporation

                             By:__________________________________
                             Its:_________________________________

                             DEBTOR

                             _____________________________________
                             Mark Townsend

                                       2
<PAGE>
                                    EXHIBIT A
                            DESCRIPTION OF COLLATERAL

             300,000 shares of Common Stock of SkillSoft Corporation
<PAGE>
                                    EXHIBIT C
                   STOCK ASSIGNMENT SEPARATE FROM CERTIFICATE

                  FOR VALUE RECEIVED, Mark Townsend hereby sells, assigns and
transfers unto SkillSoft Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"),
300,000 (Three Hundred Thousand) shares of the Common Stock of the Company,
standing in his or her name on the books of SkillSoft Corporation, represented
by Certificate No. __ herewith, and does hereby irrevocably constitute and
appoint ________________ attorney to transfer the said stock in the books of
SkillSoft Corporation with full power of substitution.

DATED: ________________

                                         _______________________________________
                                         (Signature)

                                         _______________________________________
                                         (Printed Name)
<PAGE>
                                    EXHIBIT D
                          ELECTION UNDER SECTION 83(b)
                      OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986

                  The undersigned taxpayer hereby elects, pursuant to the
Internal Revenue Code, to include in gross income for 1998 the amount of any
compensation taxable in connection with the taxpayer's receipt of the property
described below;

                  1. The name, address, taxpayer identification number and
taxable year of the undersigned are:

                  TAXPAYER'S NAME:  MARK TOWNSEND
                  SPOUSE'S NAME:

                  TAXPAYER'S SOCIAL SECURITY NO.:
                  SPOUSE'S SOCIAL SECURITY NO.:

                  TAXABLE YEAR:  Calendar Year 1998

                  ADDRESS:

                  2. The property which is the subject of this election is:
600,000 shares of Common Stock of SkillSoft Corporation, a Delaware corporation.

                  3. The property was transferred to the undersigned on
______________, 1998.

                  4. The property is subject to the following restriction: Right
of repurchase by SkillSoft Corporation.

                  5. The fair market value of the property at the time of
transfer (determined without regard to any restriction other than a restriction
which by its terms will never lapse) is: $0.175 per share x 600,000 shares =
$105,000.

                  6. The undersigned paid $0.175 per share x 600,000 shares for
the property transferred or a total of $105,000.

                  The undersigned has submitted a copy of this statement to the
person for whom the services were performed in connection with the undersigned's
receipt of the above-described property. The undersigned taxpayer is the person
performing the services in connection with the transfer of said property.
<PAGE>
                  The undersigned will file this election with the Internal
Revenue Service office in which he or she files his or her annual income tax
return not later than 30 days after the date of transfer of the property. A copy
of the election also will be furnished to the person for whom the services were
performed. Additionally, the undersigned will include a copy of the election
with his or her income tax return for the taxable year in which property is
transferred. The undersigned understands that this election will also be
effective as an election under New Hampshire law.

Dated: _________________________       _________________________________________
                                                       Taxpayer

The undersigned spouse of taxpayer joins in this election.

Dated: _________________________       _________________________________________
                                                   Spouse of Taxpayer

                                       2
<PAGE>
                                    EXHIBIT E
                                CONSENT OF SPOUSE

                  I, _____________________, spouse of Mark Townsend, have read
and approved the foregoing Agreement. In consideration of the right of my spouse
to purchase shares of SkillSoft Corporation, as set forth in the Agreement, I
hereby appoint my spouse as my attorney-in-fact in respect to the exercise of
any rights of the Agreement insofar as I may have any rights under such
community property laws of the State of New Hampshire or similar laws relating
to marital property in effect in the state of our residence as of the date of
the signing of the foregoing Agreement.

Dated:  ____________________________By:_________________________________________
                                                      [Signature]

                                    ____________________________________________
                                                      Mark Townsend

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