Document:

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                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.19

                     AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

     This Amendment No. 1 to the Employment Agreement between Hoover's, Inc. and
Russell Secker effective October 1, 2001 ("Agreement") is entered into as of
July 22, 2002 ("Amendment").

1.      The parties wish to eliminate Sections 6(a)-(e) and replace them with
            the following:

(a)     We each recognize that due to the nature of Executive's employment, and
your relationship with the Company, you have and will continue to have access
to, will continue to acquire, and will continue to assist in developing,
Proprietary Information (as defined below) and additional confidential
information with respect to its present and prospective services, technologies,
systems, clients, customers, agents, and sales and marketing methods. Executive
acknowledges that such information is of central importance to the Company's
business and that disclosure of it to or its use by others could cause
substantial loss to the Company. We each also recognize that an important part
of Executive's duties will be to develop good will for the Company through his
personal contact with the Company's clients, and that there is a danger that
this good will, a proprietary asset of the Company, may follow if and when your
relationship with the Company is terminated.

(b)     Executive agrees that during the term of his employment with the Company
and at any time thereafter, he will not disclose any Proprietary Information of
the Company without the prior written consent of the President or Board of
Directors of the Company, which may be withheld in their sole and absolute
discretion, except in connection with your duties to the Company (the
"Nondisclosure Agreement"). Executive also agrees that in connection with this
Nondisclosure Agreement, you are also bound by the non-compete provisions below.
Executive further acknowledges and agrees that the Company's conduct in
providing you with Proprietary Information in exchange for your Nondisclosure
Agreement gives rise to the Company's interest in restraining him from competing
against the Company as set forth below (the "Non-Compete Agreement"), and that
his agreement to the Non-Compete Agreement is designed to enforce his
Nondisclosure Agreement. Executive further acknowledges that all Records (as
defined below) are and shall remain the exclusive property of the Company, and
agrees that upon termination of his employment with the Company he shall return
all Records in his possession.

(c)     "Record" is defined as the Company's assets, including its: files,
accounts, records, customer lists, logbook, documents, drawings, models, plans,
specifications, manuals, books, forms, notes, reports, memoranda, studies,
surveys, software, flow charts, data, computer programs, listing of source code,
calculations, recordings, catalogues, compilations of information,
correspondence, confidential data of customers and all copies, abstracts or
summaries of the foregoing in any storage medium, as well as computers, computer
equipment, laptops, instruments, tools, storage devices, disks, equipment and
all other physical items related to the business of the Company (other than
merely personal items of a general professional nature), whether of a public
nature or not, and whether prepared by the employee or not.

(d)     "Proprietary Information" is defined as follows: any confidential
business or technical information or trade secrets of the Company which an
employee acquires while employed by the

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Company, whether or not conceived of, developed or prepared by the employee or
at his direction and includes:

               i.    Any information or compilation of information concerning
                     the Company's financial position, financing, purchasing,
                     accounting, marketing, merchandising, sales, salaries,
                     pricing, investments, costs, profits, plans for future
                     development, employees, prospective employees, research,
                     development, formulae, patterns, strategy, inventions,
                     plans, specifications, devices, products, procedures,
                     processes, operations, techniques, software, computer
                     programs or data;

               ii.   Any information or compilation of information concerning
                     the identity, plans, requirements, preferences, practices
                     and methods of doing business on specific customers,
                     suppliers, prospective customers and prospective suppliers
                     of the Company;

               iii.  Any other information or "know how" which is related to any
                     product, process, service, business or research of the
                     Company; and

               iv.   Any information which the Company acquires from another
                     party and treats as its proprietary information or
                     designates as "Confidential," whether or not owned or
                     developed by the Company.

               v.    The identity, skills and compensation of employees,
                     contractors, and consultants.

               vi.   Information related to inventions owned by the Company or
                     licensed from third parties.

(e)     Notwithstanding the foregoing, "Proprietary Information" does not
include any of the following:

1.   Information which is publicly known or which is generally employed by the
trade, whether on or after the date that an employee first acquires the
information;

2.   General information or knowledge which an employee would have learned in
the course of similar work elsewhere in the trade; or

3.   Information which an employee can prove was known by the employee before
the commencement of the employee's engagement by the Company.

     2. Section 7(a) is amended as follows:

(a)  The Company shall have the right to terminate the employment of Executive
under this Agreement at any time, and without notice, for "Cause" as hereinafter
defined. "Cause" is defined as any of the following, if they occur during the
period of your employment with the Company:

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     (i)   You have been or are guilty of (i) a criminal offense involving moral
           turpitude, (ii) criminal or dishonest conduct pertaining to the
           business or affairs of the Company (including, without limitation,
           fraud and misappropriation), (iii) any act or omission the intended
           or likely consequence of which is material injury to the Company's
           business, property or reputation, which act or omission continues
           uncured for a period of ten (10) days after you have received written
           notice from the Company, and (iv) gross negligence or willful
           misconduct which continues uncured for a period of ten (10) days
           after you have received written notice from the Company;

     (ii)  You persist, for a period of ten (10) days after written notice from
           the Company, in a course of conduct reasonably determined by the
           Company to be in material violation of your duties to the Company,
           including without limitation duties of care, loyalty and/or fiduciary
           duties;

     (iii) Your death; or

     (iv)  The continuous and uninterrupted inability to perform your duties on
           behalf of the Company, by reason of accident, illness, or disease,
           for a period of sixty (60) days from the first day of such inability
           to perform his duties.

3.   The parties wish to amend and replace entirely Section 7(g)(i) of the
Agreement with the following:

           (i)(A) as Severance Payments where there has been no Change in
           Control of Company, his then applicable salary compensation (payable
           monthly) for a period of six (6) months from the date of such
           termination, less all applicable withholdings required by state or
           federal law (and the Executive shall be under no obligation to
           mitigate his/her damages or seek other employment).

           (B) As Severance Payments following a Termination Upon Change in
           Control:

           1)  his then applicable salary compensation (payable monthly) for a
               period of twelve months in accordance with the Company's regular
               payroll schedule.

           2)  If after termination he elects COBRA continuation coverage for
               health insurance, the Company will pay the difference in premiums
               between what he paid while employed at the Company and the actual
               cost of the COBRA premiums, until the earlier of the date he is
               no longer eligible for COBRA or the conclusion of the Severance
               Payment Period.

           3)  He will also be entitled to receive the pro rata portion of your
               bonus for the then-current fiscal year, calculated by determining
               the maximum bonus for which you would be eligible for such full
               fiscal year and multiplying such amount by the number of days in
               such fiscal year through the date of termination divided by 365.
               For purposes of determining the maximum bonus for which he will
               be eligible, such maximum bonus is currently set at fifty percent
               (50%) of your base salary for the

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               fiscal year ending March 31, 2003; in the event that at any point
               in a subsequent fiscal year, the Company has not yet specified a
               bonus plan for him, then the maximum bonus to which you were
               entitled in the previous fiscal year will apply for the purposes
               of this Section.

           3)  In the event that any payment or distribution by the Company to
               or for the benefit of him as a result of a Termination Upon
               Change of Control (whether paid or payable or distributed or
               distributable pursuant to the terms of this Severance Agreement
               or otherwise) (a "Payment") is determined by the Company or its
               designated auditors or accountants to be subject to the excise
               tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code, or any
               interest or penalties are incurred by him with respect to such
               excise tax (such excise tax, together with any such interest and
               penalties, are hereinafter collectively referred to as the
               "Excise Tax"), then the Company shall pay to him an additional
               payment (a "Gross-Up Payment")

           4)  "Change of Control" shall mean:

                  1. The acquisition by any individual, entity or group (within
                  the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Securities
                  Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act")) (a
                  "Person") of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule
                  13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of 35% or more of
                  either (A) the then-outstanding shares of common stock of the
                  Company (the "Outstanding Company Common Stock") or (B) the
                  combined voting power of the then-outstanding voting
                  securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the
                  election of directors (the "Outstanding Company Voting
                  Securities"); provided, however, that, for purposes of this
                  Section, the following acquisitions shall not constitute a
                  Change of Control: (i) any acquisition directly from the
                  Company, (ii) any acquisition by the Company, or (iii) any
                  acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or related trust)
                  sponsored or maintained by the Company or any affiliated
                  company.

                  2.      Individuals who, as of the date hereof, constitute the
                  Board (the Incumbent Board") cease for any reason to
                  constitute at least a majority of the Board; provided,
                  however, that any individual becoming a director subsequent to
                  the date hereof whose election, or nomination for election by
                  the Company's shareholders, was approved by a vote of at least
                  a majority of the directors then comprising the Incumbent
                  Board shall be considered as though such individual were a
                  member of the Incumbent Board, but excluding, for this
                  purpose, any such individual whose initial assumption of
                  office occurs as a result of an actual or threatened election
                  contest with respect to the election or removal of directors
                  or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or
                  consents by or on behalf of a person other than the Board.

                  3.      Consummation of a reorganization, merger,
                  consolidation or sale or other disposition of all or
                  substantially all of the assets of the Company (a "Business
                  Combination"), in each case, unless, following such Business
                  Combination, (A) all or substantially all of the individuals
                  and entities that were the beneficial owners of the
                  Outstanding Company Common Stock and the Outstanding Company
                  Voting Securities immediately prior to such Business
                  Combination beneficially own directly or indirectly, more than
                  60% of the then-outstanding

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                  shares of common stock and the combined voting power of the
                  then-outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally
                  in the election of directors, as the case may be, of the
                  corporation resulting from such Business Combination
                  (including, without limitation, a corporation that, as a
                  result of such transaction, owns the Company or all or
                  substantially all of the Company's assets either directly or
                  through one or more subsidiaries) in substantially the same
                  proportions as their ownership immediately prior to such
                  Business Combination of the Outstanding Company Common Stock
                  and the Outstanding Company Voting Securities, as the case may
                  be, (B) no person (excluding any corporation resulting from
                  such Business Combination or any employee benefit plan (or
                  related trust) of the Company or such corporation resulting
                  from such Business Combination) beneficially owns, directly or
                  indirectly, 20% or more of, respectively, the then-outstanding
                  shares of common stock of the corporation resulting from such
                  Business Combination or the combined voting power of the
                  then-outstanding voting securities of such corporation, except
                  to the extent that such ownership existed prior to the
                  Business Combination, and (C) at least a majority of the
                  members of the board of directors of the corporation resulting
                  from such Business Combination were members of the Incumbent
                  Board at the time of the execution of the initial agreement or
                  of the action of the Board providing for such Business
                  Combination; or

                  4.      Approval by the shareholders of the Company of a
                  complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company.

           5)  "Termination Upon Change of Control" is defined as any of the
               following, if they occur within eighteen (18) months following a
               Change in Control:

                        i.  The Company terminates his employment without Cause;

                       ii.  The Company reduces his base salary from its current
                            level and he resigns within 30 days of such action;
                            or

                      iii.  The Company relocates his office more than fifty
                            (50) miles from his current office and he resigns
                            within 30 days of such action.

4.   The parties agree to eliminate Section 8(a)-(e) and replace it with the
following:

(a)  During Executive's employment with the Company, he will not, directly or
indirectly, participate in the ownership, management, operation, financing or
control of, or be employed by or consult for or otherwise render services to,
any person, corporation, firm, or other entity that competes with the Company in
the state of Texas, or in any other state in the United States, or in any
country in the world, in the conduct of the business of the Company as conducted
or as proposed to be conducted, nor shall you engage in any other activities
that conflict with his obligations to the Company. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, Executive is permitted to own up to 1% of any class of securities of
any corporation in competition with the Company that is traded on a national
securities exchange or through Nasdaq.

(b)  Executive agrees that for 12 months following the termination of his
employment for any reason:

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           (i) Executive will not directly or indirectly, in any jurisdiction
           where the Company is operating as of the date of your termination,
           whether as a partner, proprietor, employee, consultant, agent or
           otherwise, participate or engage in any business with any of the
           following companies without the prior written consent of the Company:

                          OneSource
                          Factiva
                          Multex/MarketGuide

           (ii) Executive will be restricted from employment with the units of
           Bloomberg, Dun & Bradstreet, Reuters, Reed-Elsevier, Thomson,
           InfoUSA, Dow Jones or Yahoo, as well as any new entities, that are
           actively engaged in the provision of business information to users on
           a paid, subscription basis; provided that in order to enforce this
           non-competition restriction as against any additional entity other
           than those set forth in Sections (c)(i) above or this paragraph (an
           "Additional Entity"), the Company shall have given notice to you of
           the inclusion of such Additional Entity to the restricted employer
           list at least thirty (30) days prior to the date on which you were
           terminated; provided that if the existence of such new company does
           not become generally known within the business community until within
           30 days of the date of his termination, the Company shall have thirty
           (30) days from the earlier of the date on which it became aware of
           the existence of such entity, or the date on which it should
           reasonably have become aware of the existence of such entity based on
           publicly available information, to inform you of the application of
           this provision to such entity.

(c)  Executive agrees that for 12 months following the termination of your
employment for any reason, you shall not, directly or indirectly:

           (i) For his own account, or for the account of others, interfere
           with, solicit, or accept for yourself, or for the benefit of anyone
           other than the Company, as measured at the time of your termination,
           any of the clients or customers of the Company, or perform any
           services of any competitive nature in connection with said clients or
           customers for anyone other than the Company. The restrictions will
           not prohibit Executive from soliciting clients or customers of the
           Company with respect to the provision of products or services that
           are in no way competitive with any products and/or services offered
           by the Company at such time.

           (ii) Urge any client or customer of the Company to discontinue
           business, in whole or in part, or not do business, with the Company.

(d)  Solicit, hire or arrange to hire any person who at the time of such hire or
within three (3) months prior to the time of such hire was an employee of the
Company, for yourself or for any business entity with which you may be, or may
be planning to be, affiliated or associated with, or otherwise interfere with
the retention of employees that the Company desires to retain as such.

(e)  Executive expressly acknowledges and agrees (i) that the restrictions set
forth in this entire Section are reasonable, in terms of scope, duration,
geographic area, and otherwise, (ii) that the protections afforded to the
Company hereunder are necessary to protect its legitimate business interests,
and (iii) that the agreement to observe such restrictions form a material part
of the consideration for this Severance Agreement. Executive specifically agrees
that the Non-Compete Agreement is to be enforced to the fullest extent permitted
by law. Accordingly, if a court of competent jurisdiction determines that the
scope and/or operation of any provision of the Non-

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Compete Agreement is too broad to be enforced as written, the Company and
Executive intend that the court should reform such provision to such narrower
scope and/or operation as it determines to be enforceable, provided, however,
that such reformation applies only with respect to the operation of such
provision in the particular jurisdiction with respect to which such
determination was made. If, however, any provision of the Non-Compete Agreement
is held to be illegal, invalid, or unenforceable under present or future law,
and not subject to reformation, then (i) such provision shall be fully
severable, (ii) this Agreement shall be construed and enforced as if such
provision was never a part of this Agreement, and (iii) the remaining provisions
of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and shall not be
affected by the illegal, invalid, or unenforceable provision or by its
severance.

     5. The parties agree to delete Section 9, Options and replace it with the
following:

Executive acknowledges receipt of all stock options issued to him pursuant to
the Agreement. Attached as Exhibit A are the salient terms of these stock
options.

     6. In all other respects, the Agreement shall remain in full force and
     effect.

HOOVER'S, INC.                                 EXECUTIVE

By:
    -------------------------------            --------------------------------
                                               Russell Secker
Its:
    -------------------------------

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[HOOVER'S LOGO]

                                    EXHIBIT A

                                 HOOVER'S, INC.

                        NOTICE OF GRANT OF STOCK OPTION,

                       PENDING BOARD OF DIRECTORS APPROVAL

     Notice is hereby given of the following option grant (the "Option") to
     purchase shares of the Common Stock of Hoover's, Inc. (the "Corporation"):

           OPTIONEE: Russell Secker

           GRANT DATE:  June 28, 2001

           VESTING COMMENCEMENT DATE: JUNE 29, 2001

           EXERCISE PRICE:  $4.51

           NUMBER OF OPTION SHARES: 13,000

           EXPIRATION DATE:  June 28, 2010

           EXERCISE SCHEDULE: The Option shall become exercisable with respect
     to fourteen percent (14%) of the Option Shares upon Optionee's completion
     of six months of Service from the Vesting Commencement Date. Thereafter,
     The options will vest ratably and monthly over the remaining 36 months of
     the vesting period. In no event shall the Option become exercisable for any
     additional Option Shares after Optionee's cessation of Service.

Optionee understands and agrees that the Option is granted subject to and in
accordance with the terms of the Hoover's, Inc. 1999 Stock Incentive Plan (the
"Plan"), and formal approval of the Corporation's Board of Directors. Optionee
further agrees to be bound by the terms of the Plan and the terms of the Option,
as set forth in the Stock Option Agreement to be provided by the Corporation
upon formal approval of the Option by the Corporation's Board of Directors. A
copy of the Plan is available upon request made to the Corporate Secretary at
the Corporation's principal offices.

NO EMPLOYMENT OR SERVICE CONTRACT. Nothing in this Notice or in the attached
Stock Option Agreement or in the Plan shall confer upon Optionee any right to
continue in Service with the Corporation. or its subsidiary, Hoover's Online
Europe Limited, for any period of specific duration or interfere with or
otherwise restrict in any way the rights of the Corporation (or any Parent or
Subsidiary employing or retaining Optionee) or of Optionee, which rights are
hereby expressly

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reserved by each, to terminate Optionee's Service at any time for any reason,
with or without cause.

     EMPLOYEE INDEMNITY. As a condition to acceptance of the Option, Optionee
will agree to the following: (i) in the event that PAYE is payable, Optionee
will indemnify the Corporation and/or Hoover's Online Europe Limited to the
extent of such PAYE; and (ii) in the event that secondary class I National
Insurance Contributions are payable by the Corporation or Hoover's Online Europe
Limited, Optionee will indemnify the Corporation and/or Hoover's Online Europe
Limited to the extent of such secondary Class I National Insurance
Contributions.

DEFINITIONS. All capitalized terms in this Notice shall have the meaning
assigned to them in this Notice or in the attached Stock Option Agreement.

DATED: June 28, 2001<Page>

                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.20

                                 AMENDMENT NO 1

                                       TO

                              EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

     This Amendment No. 1 to Employment Agreement ("AMENDMENT") is entered into
to be effective as of May 13, 2002 by and between Jeffrey R. Tarr ("EXECUTIVE"),
and Hoover's, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("COMPANY").

     WHEREAS, Executive and Company are parties to that certain Employment
Agreement dated to be effective as of May 22, 2001 (as amended hereby, the
"AGREEMENT"); and

     WHEREAS, Company and Executive now desire to amend the Agreement;

     NOW, THEREFORE, for and in consideration of the premises and the mutual
benefits to the parties arising out of this Amendment, the receipt and
sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged by the parties' execution and
delivery hereof, Company and Executive agree as follows:

     1.   AMENDMENTS TO THE AGREEMENT.

          (a)  AMENDMENT TO PARAGRAPH 3(b). Paragraph 3(b) of the Agreement is
hereby amended so as to read in its entirety as follows:

               "(b) Executive shall devote his full time, attention and energy
                    to the business of the Company; provided, however, that
                    Executive shall be entitled to (1) serve on corporate, civic
                    or charitable boards or committees (other than those of
                    entities which are competitors of the Company and its
                    affiliates), (2) belong to and attend functions of
                    professional organizations and generally engage in
                    professional development activities, including attending
                    conferences relating to such organizations and activities,
                    and (3) deliver lectures or fulfill speaking engagements;
                    provided further that such activities do not materially
                    impact on Executive's abilities to fully perform his
                    obligations to the Company."

          (b)  AMENDMENT  TO  PARAGRAPHS  6(a) AND 6(c).  Paragraphs  6(a) and
6(c) of the  Agreement  are hereby amended to include the following:

               "... and except after the term of his employment, to the extent
               such information is already known by Executive at the time it is
               disclosed to Executive, is or becomes generally known to the
               public through no wrongful act of Executive, is received by
               Executive from a third party without restriction on disclosure
               and without a breach of any obligation of confidentiality running
               to the Company, or is independently developed by Executive
               without the use of or reference to any Proprietary Information
               received from the Company."

          (c)  AMENDMENT TO PARAGRAPH 6(f). Paragraph 6(f) of the Agreement is
hereby amended so as to read in its entirety as follows:

               "(f) Executive acknowledges that any breach by Executive of this
                    Section 6 will result in irreparable harm to the Company
                    with respect to which no adequate remedy at law exists.
                    Accordingly, in addition to any other remedies available to
                    the Company with respect to any actual or threatened breach
                    of this Agreement, the Company shall be entitled to seek
                    temporary or permanent injunctive relief and Executive
                    consents to any temporary and permanent injunctive relief
                    which may be granted by a court of competent jurisdiction."

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          (d)  AMENDMENT TO PARAGRAPH 6(g). Paragraph 6(g) of the Agreement is
hereby amended so as to read in its entirety as follows:

               "(g) The Company's obligations under Section 7(h)(i) of this
                    Agreement (if any) shall cease in the event of Executive's
                    material breach of his obligations under this Section 6,
                    which material breach continues after ten (10) business
                    days' written notice and opportunity to cure (provided that
                    if the material breach will result in imminent and material
                    harm to the Company, then the Executive shall be required to
                    cure such material breach within the time period reasonably
                    requested by the Board to avoid such material harm)."

          (e)  AMENDMENT TO PARAGRAPH 7(a). Paragraph 7(a) of the Agreement is
hereby amended so as to read in its entirety as follows:

               "(a) The Company shall have the right to terminate the employment
                    of Executive under this Agreement at any time, and without
                    notice, for "Cause" as hereinafter defined. "Cause" for the
                    purpose of this Agreement shall mean any one or more of the
                    following:

                    (i)     the material breach or violation by Executive of
                            this Agreement or the failure of Executive to
                            perform in any material respect any of his
                            obligations under this Agreement for any reason
                            other than death or disability which failure or
                            breach continues after ten business (10) days
                            written notice and opportunity to cure (provided
                            that if the material breach or violation will result
                            in imminent and material harm to the Company, then
                            the Executive shall be required to cure such
                            material breach or violation within the time period
                            reasonably requested by the Board to avoid such
                            material harm),

                    (ii)    gross neglect of duties by Executive,

                    (iii)   misappropriation of Company assets or willful breach
                            of fiduciary duty as an officer of the Company,

                    (iv)    conviction of Executive of a felony, or

                    (v)     the willful failure or refusal of Executive to
                            follow in all material respects a lawful and ethical
                            direction from the Board, which directive is
                            consistent with the scope and nature of the
                            Executive's duties and responsibilities hereunder of
                            the Chief Executive Officer and President of a
                            company and which failure or refusal continues after
                            ten (10) business days' written notice and
                            opportunity to cure (provided that if the failure or
                            refusal will result in imminent and material harm to
                            the Company, then the Executive shall be required to
                            cure such failure or refusal within the time period
                            reasonably requested by the Board to avoid such
                            material harm)."

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          (f)  AMENDMENTS TO PARAGRAPH 7(c). Paragraph 7(c)(ii) of the Agreement
is hereby amended so as to read in its entirety as follows:

                    "(ii)   A material reduction in Executive's duties and/or
                            responsibilities as the Chief Executive Officer and
                            President, responsible for directing the operations
                            of the Company, which reduction in duties and/or
                            responsibilities continues after ten (10) days'
                            written notice to Company of Executive's objection
                            to this material reduction in duties and/or
                            responsibilities. A material reduction in duties
                            and/or responsibilities shall be considered taking
                            into account all of the facts and circumstances,
                            including without limitation the revenues, strategic
                            direction and the number of employees of the
                            operation(s) managed by Executive prior to and
                            following such reduction in Executive's duties
                            and/or responsibilities. For the avoidance of doubt,
                            the change in Executive's status from the Chief
                            Executive Officer of a public company to the Chief
                            Executive Officer of a division or a subsidiary of a
                            public or non-public company would be considered a
                            material reduction in duties for the purpose of this
                            Section 7(c)(ii)";

          In addition, a new paragraph 7(c) (iv) shall be added as follows, with
the current paragraph 7(c)(iv) redesignated as 7(c) (v):

                    "(ii)   The assignment of duties to Executive materially
                            inconsistent with either Executive's prior duties as
                            Chief Executive Officer of the Company or reasonable
                            duties assigned to a Chief Executive Officer of a
                            similar company."

          (g)  AMENDMENT TO PARAGRAPH 7(h)(i). Paragraph 7(h)(i) of the
Agreement is hereby amended so as to read in its entirety as follows:

               "(h) In the event of a termination by Company without Cause on or
                    prior to other termination of this Agreement, or the
                    termination by Executive for Good Reason on or prior to
                    other termination of this Agreement (the parties each
                    acknowledge that, in the event of an event constituting Good
                    Reason arising as a result of or following a Change of
                    Control of the Company, Executive will have a period of six
                    (6) months following such event to terminate this Agreement
                    and receive the compensation and benefits described below),
                    the Executive shall be entitled to the following:

                    (i)     as severance compensation, his then applicable
                            salary compensation for a period of twelve (12)
                            months, less all applicable withholdings required by
                            state or federal law (and the Executive shall be
                            under no obligation to mitigate his damages or seek
                            other employment) (the "Severance Payment"), which
                            Severance Payment shall be payable by the Company as
                            a lump sum within thirty (30) days of such
                            termination;"

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          (h)  ADDITION OF PARAGRAPH 7(i). The Agreement is hereby amended to
provide for the addition of Paragraph 7(i) to read in its entirety as follows:

               "(i) In addition to the Severance Payment and related benefits
                    provided for in Section 7(h) above, in the event of: (a) a
                    termination by the Company without Cause, within the period
                    commencing with a public announcement of the Company's
                    intention to effect a Change of Control of the Company and
                    continuing for a period of eighteen (18) months thereafter
                    (provided that the obligation to provide the benefits
                    described below will be triggered by this subparagraph (a)
                    only in the event that such Change of Control is completed),
                    or (b) a termination by the Executive within the first six
                    (6) months following a Change of Control of the Company
                    based on a significant reduction of Executive's compensation
                    or benefits, a relocation of Executive's office by a
                    distance of greater than 50 miles, or the death or
                    disability of Executive, or (c) termination by Executive for
                    any reason after completing a minimum of six (6) months of
                    Employment with the Company following a Change of Control of
                    the Company, the Executive shall be entitled to the
                    following:

                    (i)     as severance compensation, his then applicable
                            salary compensation (payable monthly) for a period
                            of six (6) months from the date of such
                            termination, less all applicable withholdings
                            required by state or federal law (and the
                            Executive shall be under no obligation to mitigate
                            his damages or seek other employment) (the "Change
                            of Control Severance Payment"),;

          (i)  ADDITION OF PARAGRAPH 7(j). The Agreement is hereby amended to
provide for the addition of Paragraph 7(j) to read in its entirety as follows:

               "(j) In addition to the Change of Control Severance Payment and
                    related benefits provided for in Section 7(i) above, in the
                    event of: (a) a termination by the Company without Cause,
                    within the period commencing with a public announcement of
                    the Company's intention to effect a Change of Control of the
                    Company and continuing for a period of eighteen (18) months
                    thereafter, or (b) a termination by the Executive for Good
                    Reason at any time within eighteen (18) months following a
                    public announcement of a Change of Control of the Company
                    (provided that the obligation to provide the benefits
                    described below will be triggered by subparagraphs (a) or
                    (b) only in the event that such Change of Control is
                    completed), the Executive shall be entitled to the
                    following:

                    (i)     the pro rata portion of his bonus for the
                            then-current fiscal year, calculated by multiplying
                            the maximum bonus for which Executive is eligible
                            for such full fiscal year (such maximum bonus is
                            currently set at fifty percent (50%) of Executive's
                            base salary for the fiscal year ending March 31,
                            2003; in the event that at any point in a subsequent
                            fiscal year, the Board has not yet specified a bonus
                            plan for Executive, then the maximum bonus to which
                            Executive was entitled in the previous fiscal year
                            will apply for the purposes of this paragraph) and
                            multiplying it by the number of days in such fiscal
                            year through the date of termination divided by 365;
                            and

                                        4
<Page>

                    (ii)    the option to continue to receive benefits equal to
                            or greater than those benefits provided under the
                            Company's health and disability benefit plans in
                            which Executive and/or his family are participating
                            as of the date of termination as described in
                            Section 5 at a cost no greater than the then current
                            cost of such benefits to Executive as of the date of
                            termination for a period of twelve (12) months
                            following the termination.

          (j)  Addition of Paragraph 7(k). The Agreement is hereby amended to
provide for the addition of Paragraph 7(k) to read in its entirety as follows

               (k)  "In addition to the Change of Control Severance Payment and
                    additional benefits provided for in Sections 7(i) and 7(j)
                    above, in the event of a termination by the Company without
                    Cause, within the period commencing with a public
                    announcement of the Company's intention to effect a Change
                    of Control of the Company and continuing for a period of
                    eighteen (18) months thereafter (provided that the
                    obligation to provide the payments described below will be
                    triggered by the above provision only in the event that such
                    Change of Control is completed), the Executive shall be
                    entitled to the following:

                    (i)     a cash payment equal to the aggregate value (as
                            calculated below) of that portion of Executive's
                            Eligible Stock Options (as defined below) that would
                            have become vested and exercisable by virtue of such
                            Change of Control of the Company and not otherwise
                            vested and exercisable on the date of Executive's
                            termination (such portion of the Eligible Stock
                            Options being the "CIC Options"). The value per CIC
                            Option shall be the difference between the fair
                            market value as of the date of such Change of
                            Control of the cash, securities or other
                            consideration payable in exchange for each share of
                            the Company's common stock in connection with such
                            Change of Control and the exercise price for such
                            CIC Option. By way of example, if: (i) Executive
                            would have been entitled to accelerated vesting and
                            exercise of 200,000 Eligible Stock Options by virtue
                            of the completion of a Change of Control and which
                            are not otherwise vested and exercisable on his date
                            of termination; (ii) the completed Change of Control
                            results in each share of the Company's common stock
                            being converted into the right to receive shares of
                            stock in the acquiring or resulting company valued
                            at $7.50 per share plus $2.00 in cash; and (iii) the
                            weighted average exercise price of the 200,000 CIC
                            Options is equal to $4.50 per share; then Executive
                            will be entitled to 200,000 times ($9.50 - $4.50) or
                            One Million Dollars ($1,000,000) pursuant to this
                            provision. The "Eligible Stock Options" refer to
                            options granted to the Executive to acquire: (i)
                            225,000 shares of the Company's common stock at an
                            exercise price of $3.40 per share granted on May 22,
                            2001; (ii) 150,000 shares of the Company's common
                            stock at an exercise price of $5.00 per share
                            granted on May 22, 2001; and (iii) 150,000 shares of
                            the Company's common stock at an exercise price of
                            $5.30 per share granted on May 13, 2002.

                                        5
<Page>

          (k)  Addition of Paragraph 7(l). The Agreement is hereby amended to
provide for the addition of Paragraph 7(l) to read in its entirety as follows:

               "(l) In the event that any payment or distribution by the Company
                    to or for the benefit of the Executive (whether paid or
                    payable or distributed or distributable pursuant to the
                    terms of this Agreement or otherwise,) (a "Payment") is
                    determined to be subject to the excise tax imposed by
                    Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code, or any interest
                    or penalties are incurred by the Executive with respect to
                    such excise tax (such excise tax, together with any such
                    interest and penalties, are hereinafter collectively
                    referred to as the "Excise Tax"), then the Company shall pay
                    to the Executive an additional payment (a "Gross-Up
                    Payment") in an amount such that after payment by Executive
                    of all such excise taxes on any such payment (including any
                    interest or penalties imposed with respect thereto)
                    including any Excise Tax imposed upon the Gross-Up Payment,
                    Executive retains an amount of the Gross-Up Payment equal to
                    the Excise Tax imposed upon all such payments."

          (l)  AMENDMENT TO PARAGRAPH 8(c). Paragraph 8(c) of the Agreement is
hereby amended so as to read in its entirety as follows:

               "(c) During the Non-Compete Period, the Executive shall not
                    solicit or encourage any of the following to discontinue
                    his, her or its relationship with the Company or any
                    subsidiary of the Company; (i) employees, (ii) suppliers,
                    distributors or customers, (iii) former employees whose
                    employment has been terminated for less than six (6) months,
                    or (iv) potential suppliers, distributors or customers
                    Executive had contact with or performed services for during
                    his employment with the Company;"

          (m)  Amendment TO PARAGRAPH 8(g). Paragraph 8(g) of the Agreement is
hereby amended so as to read in its entirety as follows:

               "(g) The Executive acknowledges that any breach by his of this
                    Agreement will result in irreparable harm to the Company
                    with respect to which no adequate remedy at law shall exist.
                    Accordingly, in addition to any other remedies available to
                    the Company with respect to any actual or threatened breach
                    of this Agreement, the Company shall be entitled to seek
                    temporary or permanent injunctive relief and the Executive
                    consents to the entry of any temporary and permanent
                    injunctive relief, (together with temporary restraining
                    orders ancillary to the same) which may be granted by a
                    court of competent jurisdiction;"

          (n)  AMENDMENT TO PARAGRAPH 8(h). Paragraph 8(h) of the Agreement is
hereby amended so as to read in its entirety as follows:

               "(h) The Company's obligations under Section 7(h)(i) of this
                    Agreement (if any) shall cease in the event of Executive's
                    material breach of his obligations under this Section 8,
                    which material breach continues after ten (10) business
                    days' written notice and opportunity to cure (provided that
                    if the material breach will result in imminent and material
                    harm to the Company, then the Executive shall be required to
                    cure such material breach within the time period reasonably
                    requested by the Board to avoid such material harm); and"

                                        6
<Page>

     2.   NO OTHER CHANGES/PROMISES. Except as specifically set forth in this
Amendment, the terms and provisions of the Agreement shall remain unmodified and
the Agreement is hereby confirmed by the parties as being in full force and
effect as amended herein. This Amendment and the Agreement constitute the entire
understanding of the parties with respect to the subject matter thereof, and no
other covenants have been made by either party to the other.

     3.   INCORPORATION OF PROVISIONS. The terms and provisions of Paragraphs
12-18 of the Agreement are incorporated herein by reference.

     4.   COUNTERPARTS. This Amendment may be executed in counterparts, each of
which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which, taken together, shall
constitute one and the same agreement.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Amendment to be executed
to be effective as of the day and year first above written.

                                    "COMPANY"

                                    HOOVERS, INC., a Delaware corporation

                                    By:
                                       -----------------------------------------
                                    Name:
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                    Title:
                                          --------------------------------------

                                    "EXECUTIVE"

                                    --------------------------------------------
                                    Jeffrey R. Tarr
                                    Social Security # :
                                                       -------------------------

                                        7

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