Document:

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                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.17

                            INCOME SECURITY AGREEMENT

      This INCOME SECURITY AGREEMENT is dated as of October 4, 2004 (the
"Effective Date"), by and between Adams Laboratories, Inc., a Texas corporation,
(the "Company") and Susan Witham ("Employee").

                                  INTRODUCTION

      Employee is a key management employee of the Company.

      The Company considers the establishment and maintenance of a sound and
vital management team to be essential to protecting and enhancing the interests
of the Company and its stockholders.

      The Company wishes to enhance its ability to retain able managers by
providing them with the assurance of severance benefits in certain circumstances
as provided herein.

      NOW, THEREFORE, in order to induce Employee to continue in the employment
of the Company and in consideration of the mutual covenants herein contained,
and other good and valuable consideration, the Company and Employee agree as
follows:

                                    AGREEMENT

                                    ARTICLE 1
                   ENTITLEMENT UPON TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT

      1.1 Eligibility. Subject to Section 1.2 hereof, the Company shall pay
Employee the payments and benefits in Article 2 hereof if:

            (a)   The Company terminates Employee's employment without Cause,
      other than as a result of death or Disability; or

            (b)   Employee resigns for Good Reason upon or within one year after
      a Change in Control.

      1.2 Release Required. As a condition to the Company's obligation to pay
the payments and benefits pursuant to Article 2 hereof, Employee shall be
required to comply with Article 4 hereof and to execute and not revoke within
the revocation period provided therein, if applicable, a comprehensive release,
covenant not to sue, noncompetition, nonsolicitation, and non-disparagement
agreement from Employee in favor of the Company, its executives, officers,
directors, affiliates, and all related parties, in substantially the form as is
attached as Exhibit A hereto, including such modifications as the Company may in
its sole discretion require to cause such agreement to be enforceable.

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                                    ARTICLE 2
                          COMPENSATION UPON TERMINATION

      2.1 Severance Benefits. If Employee is entitled to payment and benefits
pursuant to Article 1, the Company shall pay or provide Employee the following:

            (a) base salary for the period from the beginning of the payroll
      period immediately before the Date of Termination through the Date of
      Termination at the highest rate in effect within the one hundred eighty
      days before the Date of Termination;

            (b) one year of annual base salary at the highest rate in effect
      within the one hundred eighty days before the Date of Termination, payable
      in substantially equal installments no less frequently than monthly over a
      twelve-month period, commencing promptly following the Date of
      Termination;

            (c) any annual bonus awarded by the Compensation Committee for any
      previously completed fiscal year but unpaid as of the Date of Termination;

            (d) Company paid premiums for group health plan coverage for the
      benefit of Employee, Employee's spouse and dependents for one year
      following the Date of Termination, to the extent Employee elects and he,
      his spouse and dependents are eligible for COBRA continuation coverage for
      such period; and

            (e) the benefits of the indemnification provided by the Company's
      certificate of incorporation, bylaws, or otherwise, and in the event of a
      Change in Control, such indemnification shall be no less favorable to
      Employee as provided by the Company's certificate of incorporation,
      bylaws, or otherwise, immediately before the Change in Control, and any
      changes subject to a Change in Control to the certificate of
      incorporation, bylaws, or otherwise reducing the indemnification granted
      to such Employee shall not affect the rights granted hereunder.

      2.2 No Mitigation. The amount of any payment provided for in this Article
shall not be reduced, offset or subject to recovery by the Company by reason of
any compensation earned by Employee as the result of employment by another
employer after the Date of Termination or otherwise.

      2.3 Offset. The payments and benefits hereunder shall be offset by any
severance benefits payable to Employee under any other severance plan, program
or arrangement.

                                    ARTICLE 3
                           LIMITATION ON COMPENSATION

      3.1 Parachute Payment Limitation. If any of the payments or benefits
payable to Employee under this Agreement plus, if any, any other payments or
benefits to which Employee is also entitled, are subject to an excise tax under
Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code") or
any successor section thereto, the Company shall pay Employee either (a) all
payments and benefits under the Agreement and all other payments and benefits to
which he is entitled, or (b) the amount of the payments and benefits under this
Agreement and all other payments

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and benefits to which he is entitled, reduced to the minimum extent necessary to
cause no excise tax to be incurred, whichever results in Employee retaining a
greater after-tax amount.

      3.2 Auditor's Determination. All determinations required to be made under
this Article shall be made by the independent outside certified public
accounting firm last used by the Company before the event described in Code
Section 280G giving rise to the excise tax, or such other certified public
accounting firm as the parties shall mutually agree, which auditors shall
provide detailed supporting calculations to the Company and Employee. In
computing taxes, the auditors shall use the highest marginal federal, state and
local income tax rates applicable to Employee and shall assume the phase out of
personal exemptions and personal deductions to the extent projected to be
applicable to Employee for purposes of computing federal income tax liability.

                                    ARTICLE 4
                      PROTECTION OF PROPRIETARY INFORMATION

      4.1 Conditions of Payment and Benefits. The Company's obligation to pay
the payments and benefits under Article 2 is contingent upon Employee's
compliance with his obligations under this Article, and if Employee breaches any
provision of this Article, he shall be required to repay all such payments and
benefits; provided, however, this shall not limit the Company's other available
legal or equitable remedies, including without limitation the Company's right to
seek specific performance of the obligations set forth herein.

      4.2 Noncompetition. As an inducement for the Company to enter into this
Agreement and to pay the severance payments and benefits to which Employee would
not otherwise be entitled, and to protect the confidential and proprietary
information and client relationships developed by the Company the parties agree
as follows:

            (a) For a period of one year from the Date of Termination, Employee
      will not, directly engage or invest in, own, manage, operate, finance,
      control or participate in the ownership, management, operations, financing
      or control of, lend his name or any similar or any similar name to, lend
      his credit to, or render services or advice to any business, other than
      the Company, with regard to products or activities that include the
      manufacture or sale of respiratory pharmaceuticals which are competitive
      with the products of the Company or any Company subsidiary (including
      products in development or under consideration by the Company during
      Employee's employment) (such competitive products being referred to
      collectively, as "Respiratory Pharmaceutical Business") anywhere in the
      United States; provided, however, that Employee may purchase or otherwise
      acquire up to (but not more than) four percent of any class of securities
      of any enterprise (but without otherwise) participating in the activities
      of such enterprise) if such securities are listed on any national or
      regional securities exchange or have been registered under Section 12(g)
      of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Employee agrees that
      this covenant is reasonable with respect to its duration, geographical
      area, and scope.

            (b) For a period of one year following the Date of Termination,
      Employee further agrees that he will not, directly or indirectly, either
      for himself or any other person, (i) induce or attempt to induce any
      employee of the Company or any Company subsidiary, with whom Employee had
      material contact during his employment, to leave the employ of the Company
      or any Company subsidiary, (ii) in any way interfere with the relationship
      between the Company or any Company subsidiary and any former, current or
      future employee of the

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      Company or any Company subsidiary, (iii) employ, or otherwise engage as an
      employee, independent contractor, or otherwise, any former, current or
      future employee of the Company or any Company subsidiary to cease doing
      business with the Company or any Company subsidiary, or in any way
      interfere with the relationship between any former, current or future
      customer, supplier, licensee, or business relation of the company or any
      Company subsidiary.

            (c) For a period of one year following the Date of Termination,
      Employee further agrees that he will not, directly or indirectly, either
      for himself or any other person, in competition with the Company, solicit
      the Respiratory Pharmaceutical Business of any customer of the Company or
      any Company subsidiary with whom Employee had material contact during his
      employment with the Company.

      4.3 Confidentiality. All Confidential Information and Trade Secrets and
all physical embodiments thereof received or developed by Employee while
employed by the Company are confidential to and are and will remain the sole and
exclusive property of the Company. Employee will hold such Confidential
Information and Trade Secrets in trust and strictest confidence, and will not
use, reproduce, distribute, disclose or otherwise disseminate the Confidential
Information and Trade Secrets or any physical embodiments thereof and may in no
event take any action causing or fail to take the action necessary in order to
prevent, any Confidential Information and Trade Secrets disclosed to or
developed by Employee to lose its character or cease to qualify as Confidential
Information or Trade Secrets.

      4.4 Return of Company Property. Upon request by the Company, provided that
the Company shall act in good faith and adhere to a reasonableness standard in
the evaluation of Employee's compliance with this provision, Employee will
promptly deliver to the Company all property belonging to the Company,
including, without limitation, all Confidential Information and Trade Secrets
(and all embodiments thereof) then in Employee's custody, control or possession.

      4.5 Survival. The covenants of confidentiality set forth herein will apply
to any Confidential Information and Trade Secrets disclosed by the Company or
developed by Employee prior to or after the date hereof. The covenants
restricting the use of Confidential Information will continue for a period of
three years following the Date of Termination. The covenants restricting the use
of Trade Secrets will continue following the Date of Termination for so long as
permitted by applicable law.

                                    ARTICLE 5
                             SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS

      5.1 No Assignment by Employee. Employee may not assign this Agreement.
This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by Employee's
personal or legal representatives, executors, administrators, successors, heirs,
distributees, devisees, and legatees. If Employee should die while any amount
would still be payable hereunder if Employee had continued to live, all such
amounts, unless otherwise provided herein, shall be paid in accordance with the
terms of this Agreement to Employee's estate.

      5.2 Assignment by the Company. The Company may assign this Agreement only
to any entity which acquires all or substantially all of the Company's assets or
to any entity which acquires all or substantially all of the Company's business
including without limitation by way of stock sale. The permitted assignment of
this Agreement by the Company shall be a novation and in the event of

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such assignment, Adams Laboratories, Inc. shall cease to have any obligations
hereunder and Employee's rights shall be solely with respect to the assignee. In
such event, the assignee shall be deemed to be the "Company" for purposes of
this Agreement and Employee shall not be deemed to have terminated employment
from the Company until Employee shall have terminated employment from the
assignee.

                                    ARTICLE 6
                               GENERAL PROVISIONS

      6.1 Termination and Amendment. This Agreement may be terminated or amended
only by mutual agreement of the Company and Employee, provided, however, that
this Agreement shall expire upon Employee's employment termination under
circumstances not entitling him to payments and benefits hereunder, or if
Employee is entitled to payment and benefits hereunder, upon the Company
satisfying all of its obligations hereunder. The provisions of Article 4 hereof
shall survive termination or expiration of this Agreement.

      6.2 Taxes. All payments to be made to Employee under this Agreement will
be subject to required withholding for taxes.

      6.3 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of New Jersey without regard to principles
of choice of laws.

      6.4 Notice. For purposes of this Agreement, notices and all other
communications provided for in this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be
deemed to have been duly given when delivered or five days after being mailed by
United States registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage
prepaid and addressed, in the case of the Company, to the addresses set forth
below or, in the case of Employee, to the address set forth below Employee's
signature, or to such other address as either party may have furnished to the
other in writing in accordance herewith, except that notice of change of address
shall be effective only upon receipt.

          Send notice to:           General Counsel
                                    Adams Laboratories, Inc.
                                    Colonial Court
                                    409 Main Street
                                    Chester, New Jersey 07930-2526

          With a copy to:           Secretary of the Company
                                    Adams Laboratories, Inc.
                                    Colonial Court
                                    409 Main Street
                                    Chester, New Jersey 07930-2526

      6.5 Severability. The invalidity and unenforceability of any particular
provision of this Agreement shall not affect any other provision of this
Agreement, and the Agreement shall be construed in all respects as if the
invalid or unenforceable provision were omitted.

      6.6 Miscellaneous. No provision of this Agreement may be modified, waived
or discharged unless such modification, waiver or discharge is agreed to in a
writing signed by Employee and a duly authorized officer of the Company. No
waiver by a party hereto at any time of

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any breach by the other party hereto of, or of compliance with, any condition or
provision of this Agreement to be performed by such other party shall be deemed
a waiver of similar or dissimilar provisions or conditions at the same or at any
prior or subsequent time. No agreements or representations, oral or otherwise,
express or implied, with respect to the subject matter hereof have been made by
either party which are not expressly set forth in this Agreement.

      6.7 DISPUTE RESOLUTION. ANY DISPUTE OR CONTROVERSY ARISING UNDER OR IN
CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE SETTLED EXCLUSIVELY BY ARBITRATION IN
THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RULES OF THE AMERICAN ARBITRATION
ASSOCIATION ("AAA"), WITHOUT APPLICATION OF ANY SUPPLEMENTARY RULES PROMULGATED
BY THE AAA. JUDGMENT MAY BE ENTERED ON THE ARBITRATORS' AWARD IN ANY COURT
HAVING JURISDICTION OVER THE PARTIES AND EACH PARTY CONSENTS TO THE JURISDICTION
OF THE COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY FOR SUCH PURPOSE. AFTER A CHANGE IN
CONTROL, IN THE EVENT EMPLOYEE PREVAILS IN WHOLE OR IN PART IN SUCH PROCEEDING,
THE COMPANY SHALL PAY EMPLOYEE'S REASONABLE FEES AND EXPENSES INCURRED IN
CONNECTION WITH SUCH DISPUTE OR CONTROVERSY (INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION,
REASONABLE ATTORNEYS' FEES AND EXPENSES) AND ALL COSTS OF THE ARBITRATION.
NOTWITHSTANDING THE FOREGOING, THE COMPANY MAY SEEK RELIEF IN A COURT OF LAW OR
EQUITY SEEKING EQUITABLE RELIEF IN THE EVENT OF ANY BREACH OF ARTICLE 4 BY
EMPLOYEE. BY THIS PROVISION IT IS THE INTENT OF EACH PARTY TO WAIVE ANY RIGHT TO
A JURY TRIAL ON ANY DISPUTE OR CONTROVERSY ARISING UNDER OR IN CONJUNCTION WITH
THIS AGREEMENT.

EMPLOYEES INITIALS: /s/ SW
                   ________

ON BEHALF OF THE COMPANY: /s/ MV
                         ________

                                    ARTICLE 7
                                   DEFINITIONS

      7.1 Cause means "Cause" as defined in any employment agreement between the
Company and Employee or, if none:

            (a) willful refusal by Employee to follow a lawful direction of his
      supervisor or the Board of Directors of the Company, provided the
      direction is not materially inconsistent with the duties or
      responsibilities of Employee's job position of the Company, which refusal
      continues after his supervisor or the Board of Directors has given written
      notice of Employee's failure to follow the direction;

            (b) willful misconduct or reckless disregard by Employee of his
      duties or of the interest or property of the Company;

            (c) Employee's breach of the covenants set forth in Article 4 of
      this Agreement;

            (d) any act by Employee of fraud, material misappropriation,
      significant dishonesty, or act involving moral turpitude;

            (e) commission by Employee of a felony; or

            (f) Employee's addiction to the use of drugs or alcohol, or
      Employee's intoxication with alcohol or illegal drugs while on the
      Company's premises or in the performance of Employee's duties.

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      7.2 Change in Control means and includes the occurrence of any one of the
following events but shall specifically exclude a Public Offering:

            (a) the acquisition by any Person or Persons (other than any Person
      owning equity securities representing more than ten percent of the value
      or voting power of the Company's equity securities as of the Effective
      Date or any employee benefit plan of the Company) acting in concert of
      equity securities of the Company if, after the transaction, the acquiring
      Person or Persons own, control, or hold equity securities representing
      more than fifty percent of the value or voting power of the Company's
      outstanding equity securities;

            (b) a reorganization, merger, share exchange combination or
      consolidation, with respect to which persons who were the stockholders of
      the Company immediately prior to such reorganization, merger, share
      exchange combination or consolidation do not, immediately thereafter, own
      equity securities of the survivor representing more than fifty percent of
      the value or voting power of the survivor's outstanding equity securities;
      or

            (c) the sale, transfer or assignment of all or substantially all of
      the assets of the Company other than to a company that is controlling,
      controlled by, or under common control with the Company.

      7.3 Confidential Information means data and information relating to the
business of the Company or an affiliate (which does not rise to the status of a
Trade Secret) which is or has been disclosed to Employee or of which Employee
became aware as a consequence of or through his relationship to the Company or
an affiliate and which has value to the Company or an affiliate and is not
generally known to its competitors. Confidential Information shall not include
any data or information that has been voluntarily disclosed to the public by the
Company or an affiliate (except where such public disclosure has been made by
Employee without authorization) or that has been independently developed and
disclosed by others, or that otherwise enters the public domain through lawful
means without breach of any obligations of confidentiality owed to the Company
or any of its affiliates.

      7.4 Date of Termination means the effective date of Employee's termination
of employment from the Company and all of its subsidiaries.

      7.5 Disability has the meaning assigned such term in the Company's
long-term disability plan, from time to time in effect, or if none, an illness
or injury of Employee which results in Employee's inability to perform, with
reasonable accommodation, the essential duties of his employment for the Company
for at least one hundred eighty days in a twelve-month period.

      7.6 Good Reason means, without Employee's written consent:

            (a) any reduction by the Company in the rate of, or failure to pay
      at least monthly, Employee's annual base salary; or

            (b) a material reduction in Employee's level of responsibility,
      position (including status, office, title, reporting relationships or
      working conditions), authority or duties.

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      An event described above shall constitute "Good Reason" only if Employee
gives notice to the Company of the occurrence of the event within thirty days
after the occurrence of the event, within fifteen days thereafter the Company
shall fail to remedy fully the event, and Employee shall resign within sixty
days after the Company's failure to timely remedy such event.

      7.7 Person means any individual, corporation, partnership, group,
association or other person, as such term is used in Section 14(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

      7.8 Public Offering shall mean a public offering of any class or series of
the Company's equity securities pursuant to a registration statement filed by
the Company under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

      7.9 Trade Secrets means information including, but not limited to,
technical or nontechnical data, formulae, patterns, compilations, programs,
devices, methods, techniques, drawings, processes, financial data, financial
plans, product plans or lists of actual or potential customers or suppliers
which (a) derives economic value, actual or potential, from not being generally
known to, and not being readily ascertainable by proper means by, other persons
who can obtain economic value from its disclosure or use, and (b) is the subject
of efforts that are reasonable under the circumstances to maintain its secrecy.
Without limiting the foregoing, Trade Secret means any item of confidential
information that constitutes a "trade secret(s)" under the common law or
statutory law of the State of New Jersey.

      This Agreement may be executed in several counterparts, each of which
shall be deemed to be an original but all of which together will constitute one
and the same instrument.

                            ADAMS LABORATORIES, INC.

                            /s/ Michael J. Valentino
                            ____________________________________________
                            By: Michael J. Valentino
                            Title: President and Chief Executive Officer

                            EMPLOYEE

                            /s/ Susan Witham
                            ____________________________________________

                            Address: ___________________________________

                            ____________________________________________

                            ____________________________________________

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                                    EXHIBIT A

                         RELEASE, AGREEMENT PURSUANT TO
                            INCOME SECURITY AGREEMENT

      This Agreement (this "Agreement") is made this ___ day of _____, 200_, by
ADAMS LABORATORIES, INC. (the "Employer") and Susan Witham (the "Employee").

                                  Introduction

      Employee and the Employer entered into an Income Security Agreement dated
October 4, 2004 (the "Income Security Agreement").

      The Income Security Agreement requires that as a condition to the
Employer's obligation to pay payments and benefits under the Income Security
Agreement (the "Severance Benefits"), Employee must provide a release and agree
to certain other conditions as provided herein.

      NOW, THEREFORE, the parties agree as follows:

1.    [FOR EMPLOYEE UNDER AGE 40: THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE
      THE DATE ON WHICH EMPLOYEE SIGNS THIS AGREEMENT ("THE EFFECTIVE DATE"), AT
      WHICH TIME THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE FULLY EFFECTIVE AND ENFORCEABLE.]

      [FOR EMPLOYEE AGE 40 AND OVER OR GROUP TERMINATION OF EMPLOYEES AGE 40 AND
      OVER: EMPLOYEE HAS BEEN OFFERED [TWENTY-ONE (21) DAYS] [FORTY-FIVE (45)
      DAYS IF GROUP TERMINATION] FROM RECEIPT OF THIS AGREEMENT WITHIN WHICH TO
      CONSIDER THIS AGREEMENT. THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE THE
      DATE EIGHT (8) DAYS AFTER THE DATE ON WHICH EMPLOYEE SIGNS THIS AGREEMENT
      ("THE EFFECTIVE DATE"). FOR A PERIOD OF SEVEN (7) DAYS FOLLOWING
      EMPLOYEE'S EXECUTION OF THIS AGREEMENT, EMPLOYEE MAY REVOKE THIS
      AGREEMENT, AND THIS AGREEMENT SHALL NOT BECOME EFFECTIVE OR ENFORCEABLE
      UNTIL SUCH SEVEN (7) DAY PERIOD HAS EXPIRED. EMPLOYEE MUST COMMUNICATE THE
      DESIRE TO REVOKE THIS AGREEMENT IN WRITING. EMPLOYEE UNDERSTANDS THAT HE
      OR SHE MAY SIGN THE AGREEMENT AT ANY TIME BEFORE THE EXPIRATION OF THE
      [TWENTY-ONE (21) DAY] [FORTY-FIVE (45) DAY] REVIEW PERIOD. TO THE DEGREE
      EMPLOYEE CHOOSES NOT TO WAIT [TWENTY-ONE (21) DAYS] [FORTY-FIVE (45) DAYS]
      TO EXECUTE THIS AGREEMENT, IT IS BECAUSE EMPLOYEE FREELY AND UNILATERALLY
      CHOOSES TO EXECUTE THIS AGREEMENT BEFORE THAT TIME. EMPLOYEE'S SIGNING OF
      THE AGREEMENT TRIGGERS THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE SEVEN (7) DAY REVOCATION
      PERIOD.]

2.    In exchange for Employee's execution of this Agreement and in full and
      complete settlement of any and all claims, the Employer will provide
      Employee with the Severance Benefits.

3.    [FOR EMPLOYEE AGE 40 OR OVER OR GROUP TERMINATION OF EMPLOYEES AGE 40 AND
      OVER: EMPLOYEE ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT THIS AGREEMENT IS IN
      COMPLIANCE WITH THE AGE DISCRIMINATION IN EMPLOYMENT ACT AND THE OLDER
      WORKERS BENEFIT PROTECTION ACT AND THAT THE RELEASES SET FORTH IN THIS
      AGREEMENT SHALL BE APPLICABLE, WITHOUT LIMITATION, TO ANY CLAIMS BROUGHT
      UNDER THESE ACTS.]

<PAGE>

      The release given by Employee in this Agreement is given solely in
      exchange for the consideration set forth in this Agreement and such
      consideration is in addition to anything of value that Employee was
      entitled to receive prior to entering into this Agreement.

      Employee has been advised to consult an attorney prior to entering into
      this Agreement [FOR EMPLOYEE AGE 40 OR OVER OR GROUP TERMINATION OF
      EMPLOYEES AGE 40 AND OVER: AND THIS PROVISION OF THE AGREEMENT SATISFIES
      THE REQUIREMENT OF THE OLDER WORKERS BENEFIT PROTECTION ACT THAT EMPLOYEE
      BE SO ADVISED IN WRITING].

      [FOR UNDER AGE 40: EMPLOYEE HAS BEEN OFFERED AN AMPLE OPPORTUNITY FROM
      RECEIPT OF THIS AGREEMENT WITHIN WHICH TO CONSIDER THIS AGREEMENT.]

      By entering into this Agreement, Employee does not waive rights or claims
      that may arise after the date this Agreement is executed.

4.    [FOR GROUP TERMINATION OF EMPLOYEES AGE 40 AND OVER: THE EMPLOYER HAS
      ________________________________________________ [THE EMPLOYER TO DESCRIBE
      CLASS, UNIT, OR GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS COVERED BY TERMINATION PROGRAM, ANY
      ELIGIBILITY FACTORS, AND TIME LIMITS APPLICABLE] AND SUCH EMPLOYEES
      COMPRISE THE "DECISIONAL UNIT." ATTACHED AS "ATTACHMENT 1" TO THIS
      AGREEMENT IS A LIST OF AGES AND JOB TITLES OF PERSONS IN THE DECISIONAL
      UNIT WHO WERE AND WHO WERE NOT SELECTED FOR TERMINATION AND THE OFFER OF
      CONSIDERATION FOR SIGNING THE AGREEMENT.]

5.    This Agreement shall in no way be construed as an admission by the
      Employer that it has acted wrongfully with respect to Employee or any
      other person or that Employee has any rights whatsoever against the
      Employer. The Employer specifically disclaims any liability to or wrongful
      acts against Employee or any other person on the part of itself, its
      employees or its agents.

6.    As a material inducement to the Employer to enter into this Agreement,
      Employee hereby irrevocably releases the Employer and each of the owners,
      stockholders, predecessors, successors, directors, officers, employees,
      representatives, attorneys, affiliates (and agents, directors, officers,
      employees, representatives and attorneys of such affiliates) of the
      Employer and all persons acting by, through, under or in concert with them
      (collectively the "Releasees"), from any and all charges, claims,
      liabilities, agreements, damages, causes of action, suits, costs, losses,
      debts and expenses (including attorneys' fees and costs actually incurred)
      of any nature whatsoever, known or unknown, including, but not limited to,
      rights arising out of alleged violations of any contracts, express or
      implied, any covenant of good faith and fair dealing, express or implied,
      or any tort, or any legal restrictions on the Employer's right to
      terminate employees, or any federal, state or other governmental statute,
      regulation, or ordinance, including, without limitation: (1) Title VII of
      the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended by the Civil Rights Act of 1991
      (race, color, religion, sex, and national origin discrimination); (2) the
      Employee Retirement Income Security Act ("ERISA"); (3) 42 U.S.C.Section
      1981 (discrimination); (4) the Americans with Disabilities Act (disability
      discrimination); (5) the Equal Pay Act; [FOR EMPLOYEE AGE 40 OR OVER OR
      GROUP TERMINATION OF EMPLOYEES AGE 40 AND OVER: (6) THE AGE DISCRIMINATION
      IN EMPLOYMENT ACT; (7) THE OLDER WORKERS BENEFIT PROTECTION ACT;] (6)
      Executive Order 11246 (race, color, religion, sex, and national origin
      discrimination); (7) Executive Order 11141 (age discrimination); (8)
      Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (disability discrimination);

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      (9) negligence; (10) negligent hiring and/or negligent retention; (11)
      intentional or negligent infliction of emotional distress or outrage; (12)
      defamation; (13) interference with employment; (14) wrongful discharge;
      (15) invasion of privacy; or (16) violation of any other legal or
      contractual duty arising under the laws of the State of New Jersey or the
      laws of the United States ("Claim" or "Claims"), which Employee now has,
      or claims to have, or which Employee at any time heretofore had, or
      claimed to have, or which Employee at any time hereinafter may have, or
      claim to have, against each or any of the Releasees, in each case as to
      acts or omissions by each or any of the Releasees occurring up to and
      including the Effective Date.

7.    The release in the preceding paragraph of this Agreement does not apply to
      (a) all benefits and awards (including without limitation cash and stock
      components) which pursuant to the terms of any compensation or benefit
      plans, programs, or agreements of the Employer are earned or become
      payable, but which have not yet been paid, and (b) pay for accrued but
      unused vacation that the Employer is legally obligated to pay Employee, if
      any, and only if the Employer is so obligated, (c) unreimbursed business
      expenses for which Employee is entitled to reimbursement under the
      Employer's policies, and (d) any rights to indemnification that Employee
      has from the Employer or under any directors and officers or other
      insurance policy the Employer maintains.

8.    Employee promises that he will not make statements detrimental to the
      interests of any of the Releasees or engage in activities detrimental to
      any of the Releasees. Employee agrees not to make any statements about any
      of the Releasees to the press (including without limitation any newspaper,
      magazine, radio station or television station) without the prior written
      consent of the Employer. The obligations set forth in the two immediately
      preceding sentences will expire two years after the Effective Date.
      Employee will also cooperate with the Employer and its affiliates if the
      Employer requests Employee's testimony. To the extent practicable and
      within the control of the Employer, the Employer will use reasonable
      efforts to schedule the timing of Employee's participation in any such
      witness activities in a reasonable manner to take into account Employee's
      then current employment, and will pay the reasonable documented
      out-of-pocket expenses that the Employer pre-approves and that Employee
      incurs for travel required by the Employer with respect to those
      activities.

9.    Employee agrees not to disclose the existence or terms of this Agreement
      or the Income Security Agreement to anyone. However, Employee may disclose
      them to a member of his immediate family or legal or financial advisors if
      necessary and on the condition that the family member or advisor similarly
      does not disclose these terms to anyone. Employee understands that he will
      be responsible for any disclosure by a family member or advisor as if he
      had disclosed it himself. This restriction does not prohibit Employee's
      disclosure of this Agreement or its terms to the extent necessary during a
      legal action to enforce this Agreement or to the extent Employee is
      legally compelled to make a disclosure. However, Employee will notify the
      Employer promptly upon becoming aware of that legal necessity and provide
      it with reasonable details of that legal necessity.

10.   Employee has not filed or caused to be filed any lawsuit, complaint or
      charge with respect to any Claim he releases in this Agreement. Employee
      promises never to file or pursue a lawsuit, complaint or charge based on
      any Claim released by this Agreement, except that Employee may participate
      in an investigation or proceeding conducted by an agency of the United
      States Government or of any state. Employee also has not assigned or
      transferred any

                                       3
<PAGE>

      claim he is releasing, nor has he purported to do so. [FOR GROUP
      TERMINATION OF EMPLOYEES AGE 40 AND OVER: EMPLOYEE COVENANTS AND AGREES
      NOT TO INSTITUTE, OR PARTICIPATE IN ANY WAY IN ANYONE ELSE'S ACTIONS
      INVOLVED IN INSTITUTING, ANY ACTION AGAINST ANY OF THE MEMBERS OF THE
      DECISIONAL UNIT WITH RESPECT TO ANY CLAIM RELEASED HEREIN.]

11.   Employee acknowledges that if Employee breaches any of the conditions set
      forth herein or in Article 4 of the Income Security Agreement, Employee
      shall not be entitled to any of the Severance Benefits, and shall be
      obligated to return to Employer upon demand an amount equal to all
      Severance Benefits that Employee has received, and reimburse Employer for
      any legal fees incurred in connection with the breach or enforcement of
      these provisions, but this shall not limit any other remedies available to
      the Employer.

12.   The Employer and Employee agree that the terms of this Agreement shall be
      final and binding and that this Agreement shall be interpreted, enforced
      and governed under the laws of the State of New Jersey. The provisions of
      this Agreement can be severed, and if any part of this Agreement is found
      to be unenforceable, the remainder of this Agreement will continue to be
      valid and effective.

13.   This Agreement sets forth the entire agreement between the Employer and
      Employee and fully supersedes any and all prior agreements or
      understandings, written and/or oral, between the Employer and Employee
      pertaining to the subject matter of this Agreement.

14.   Employee is solely responsible for the payment of any fees incurred as the
      result of an attorney reviewing this agreement. In any litigation
      concerning the validity or enforceability of this contract or in any
      litigation to enforce the provisions of this contract, the prevailing
      party shall be entitled to recover reasonable attorneys' fees and costs,
      including court costs and expert witness fees and costs.

Employee's signature below indicates Employee's understanding and agreement with
all of the terms in this Agreement.

Employee should take this Agreement home and carefully consider all of its
provisions before signing it. [FOR EMPLOYEE AGE 40 OR OVER OR GROUP TERMINATION
OF EMPLOYEES AGE 40 AND OVER: EMPLOYEE MAY TAKE UP TO [TWENTY-ONE (21) DAYS]
[FORTY-FIVE (45) DAYS IF GROUP TERMINATION] TO DECIDE WHETHER EMPLOYEE WANTS TO
ACCEPT AND SIGN THIS AGREEMENT. ALSO, IF EMPLOYEE SIGNS THIS AGREEMENT, EMPLOYEE
WILL THEN HAVE AN ADDITIONAL SEVEN (7) DAYS IN WHICH TO REVOKE EMPLOYEE'S
ACCEPTANCE OF THIS AGREEMENT AFTER EMPLOYEE HAS SIGNED IT. THIS AGREEMENT WILL
NOT BE EFFECTIVE OR ENFORCEABLE, NOR WILL ANY CONSIDERATION BE PAID, UNTIL AFTER
THE SEVEN (7) DAY REVOCATION PERIOD HAS EXPIRED.] Again, Employee is free and
encouraged to discuss the contents and advisability of signing this Agreement
with an attorney of Employee's choosing.

EMPLOYEE SHOULD READ CAREFULLY. THIS AGREEMENT INCLUDES A RELEASE OF ALL KNOWN
AND UNKNOWN CLAIMS. EMPLOYEE IS STRONGLY ADVISED TO CONSULT WITH AN ATTORNEY
BEFORE EXECUTING THIS DOCUMENT.

                                       4
<PAGE>

      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Employee and the Employer have executed this agreement
effective as of the date first written above.

                                    EMPLOYEE

                                    ______________________________________
                                    Print Name

                                    ______________________________________
                                    Signature

                                    ______________________________________
                                    Date Signed

                                    ADAMS LABORATORIES, INC.

                                    By:___________________________________

                                    Title:________________________________

                                       5
<PAGE>

                                  ATTACHMENT I

         [INSERT DESCRIPTIVE NAME OF DECISIONAL UNIT FROM THE AGREEMENT]

                   EMPLOYEES COMPRISING THE "DECISIONAL UNIT"

<TABLE>
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</TABLE><PAGE>
                                                                   Exhibit 10.18

                                   CONFIDENTIAL             FINAL EXECUTION COPY

                               EXECUTIVE AGREEMENT

            THIS EXECUTIVE AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") is made as of September
17, 2003 (the "Effective Date"), by and between Ziff Davis Media Inc., a
Delaware corporation (the "Company") and Paul O'Reilly ("Executive"). Certain
definitions are set forth in the Appendix to this Agreement.

            In consideration of the representations and covenants set forth
herein, the parties hereby agree as follows:

      1. Employment. The Company shall employ Executive, and Executive hereby
accepts employment with the Company, upon the terms and conditions set forth in
this Agreement for the period beginning September 22, 2003 and ending December
31, 2008 or earlier pursuant to Section 4 hereof (the "Employment Period").

      2. Position and Duties.

      (a) During the Employment Period, Executive shall (subject to promotion)
serve as the Vice President, Ziff Davis Events, of the Company and shall have
the normal duties, responsibilities and authority implied by such positions.
Executive shall hold similar positions with any Affiliate of the Company to the
extent Executive may be so appointed by the Company in its sole discretion.

      (b) Executive shall report directly to the Company's Chief Operating
Officer ("COO"), the Company's President ("President") and the Company's Chief
Executive Officer ("CEO") or such other senior Company executive as the CEO may
direct, and shall devote his best efforts and substantially all of his business
time and attention to the business and affairs of the Company (and to the extent
applicable, its Affiliates). Executive shall perform Executive's duties and
responsibilities to the best of Executive's abilities in a diligent and
professional manner.

      3. Base Salary; Benefits and Bonuses.

      (a) During the Employment Period, Executive's base salary shall be
$225,000 per annum, or such higher rate as the Company may designate from time
to time (the "Base Salary"), which salary shall be payable by the Company in
regular installments in accordance with the Company's general payroll practices.

      (b) In addition to the Base Salary, during the Employment Period Executive
shall be eligible to receive an annual bonus (the "Bonus") calculated from an
annual bonus pool (the "Bonus Pool") allocated by the Company to the TM Media
Principals. On or prior to March 31 of each calendar year, beginning with the
calendar year beginning January 1, 2004, the Company's board of directors, CEO,
President or CFO, after consultation by the CEO, President or CFO with one or
more of the TM Media Principals, shall approve a budget for the Initial Events
and their development and implementation which shall include a reasonable target
(the "Budgeted TM EBITDA") for TM EBITDA for such year and, during the
Employment Period, the Company shall give written notice of Budgeted TM EBITDA
to Executive within ten (10) business days after it has been approved by the
CEO, President or CFO of the Company; provided, however, that Budgeted TM EBITDA
for any particular calendar year shall, without more and without prejudice to
any other target being deemed reasonable, automatically be deemed to be
reasonable if (A) Budgeted TM EBITDA does not exceed the sum of (x) actual TM
EBITDA with respect to the immediately preceding calendar year plus (y) an
amount of additional EBITDA that reasonably may be projected for such year
taking into account the Company's preceding or anticipated capital expenditures,
economies of scale and similar efficiencies) or (B) TM Media Principals then
employed by the Company
<PAGE>
                                  CONFIDENTIAL

and holding at least 60% (based upon Personal Share percentages) of the
aggregate Personal Shares do not deliver written notice that they believe that
such Budgeted TM EBITDA is not reasonable within fifteen (15) days after receipt
of written notice of Budgeted TM EBITDA from the Company. If, for any calendar
year, TM EBITDA for such calendar year exceeds Budgeted TM EBITDA (such excess,
the "Excess Amount"), then the Company will allocate to the Bonus Pool an amount
equal to the lesser of (i) 50% of the aggregate base salaries for the relevant
calendar year for the TM Media Principals continuously employed by the Company
throughout the entire relevant calendar year and (ii) the Excess Amount. The
percentage determined by dividing (x) the amount required to be allocated to the
Bonus Pool pursuant to the immediately foregoing sentence by (y) the aggregate
base salaries for the relevant calendar year for the TM Media Principals
continuously employed by the Company throughout the entire relevant calendar
year is referred to herein as the "Bonus Percentage." On or before April 15 of
each year during the Employment Period, beginning April 15, 2005, the Company
shall pay Executive (provided Executive is still employed as a full-time
employee by the Company or any of its Affiliates on the date such payment is
made) an amount in cash equal to the product of (A) the Bonus Percentage
multiplied by (B) the Base Salary of Executive during such prior calendar year.
For example and without limiting the foregoing, if (i) Budgeted TM EBITDA for a
calendar year is $2,000,000, (ii) actual TM EBITDA for such calendar year is
$3,000,000 and (iii) the aggregate base salaries for such calendar year of the
TM Media Principals (all of whom were continuously employed by the Company
throughout the entire calendar year) is $850,000, then (A) the Bonus Pool shall
be $425,000, and (B) the Bonus Percentage shall be 50%. For example and without
limiting the foregoing, if (i) Budgeted TM EBITDA for a calendar year is
$2,000,000, (ii) actual TM EBITDA for such calendar year (before reduction on
account of the Bonus Pool for such calendar year) is $2,250,000 and (iii) the
aggregate base salaries for such calendar year of the TM Media Principals (all
of whom were continuously employed by the Company throughout the entire calendar
year) is $850,000, then (A) the Bonus Pool shall be $250,000 and (B) the Bonus
Percentage shall be 29%.

      (c) During the Employment Period, (i) Executive shall be entitled to
participate in all of the Company's employee benefit plans and programs for
which senior executive employees of the Company are generally eligible, which
currently include, but shall not be limited to, health insurance, dental
insurance, life insurance, short-term and long-term disability insurance and
participation in the Company's 401(k) plan and (ii) Executive shall be eligible
for three (3) weeks of paid vacation in accordance with the policies of the
Company. Executive's right to participate in any employee benefit plans or
programs of the Company shall be subject to the Company's right to amend, modify
or terminate any such plan or program in accordance with its terms and
applicable law and subject in each case to any applicable waiting periods or
other restrictions contained in such benefit plans or programs.

      (d) The Company shall reimburse Executive for all reasonable business
expenses incurred by Executive in the course of performing Executive's duties
under this Agreement which are consistent with the Company's policies in effect
from time to time for senior executive employees of the Company with respect to
travel, entertainment and other business expenses, subject to the Company's
requirements with respect to reporting and documentation of such expenses as per
Company policies.

      (e) All payments to Executive shall be subject to customary withholding as
may be required by law.

      4. Termination; Severance.

      (a) The Employment Period (i) shall terminate upon Executive's death; (ii)
may be terminated by the Company upon delivery of written notice to Executive at
any time with Cause or without Cause; (iii) may be terminated by Company for
Incapacity upon delivery of written notice to Executive within 30 days following
the end of the relevant Incapacity or while the relevant Incapacity is
continuing; and (iv)

                                       2
<PAGE>
                                  CONFIDENTIAL

may be terminated by Executive at any time upon delivery of written notice to
Company for Good Reason or other than for Good Reason. Executive acknowledges
and agrees that nothing contained herein or in any other agreement or document
shall entitle Executive to remain in the employment of the Company or any of its
Affiliates. "Termination" means such time as of which Executive ceases to be
employed by the Company, for any reason, whether on account of termination by
the Company, resignation by Executive, Executive's death or otherwise and
"Termination Date" means the date on which Termination occurs.

      (b) Upon any Termination, Executive shall be entitled to receive
Executive's Base Salary earned through the Termination Date, prorated on a daily
basis together with all accrued but unpaid vacation time earned by Executive
during the calendar year in which such Termination occurs, reimbursements of
expenses incurred during the Employment Period and reimbursable in accordance
with and after compliance with Company policies, and any Bonus in respect of a
prior, completed calendar year which is then due and owing and has not been
paid. Except as set forth in Section 4(d) or as required by applicable law,
Executive shall not be entitled to receive Executive's Base Salary or any
bonuses or other benefits from the Company in respect of any period after the
Termination Date.

      (c) In the event Executive's employment is terminated (i) by the Company
with Cause or for Incapacity, (ii) by Executive other than for Good Reason, or
(iii) upon Executive's death or upon any Termination on or after December 31,
2008, the Company shall have no obligation to make any severance or other
similar payment to or on behalf of Executive.

      (d) In the event that Executive's employment is terminated (i) by the
Company without Cause or (ii) by Executive for Good Reason (in either case prior
to December 31, 2008), following such Termination and upon execution and
delivery by Executive within thirty (30) calendar days after the Termination
Date of a general release in favor of the Company and its Affiliates and its and
their respective officers, directors, employees, representatives, agents and
attorneys, and the successors and assigns of each of the foregoing, in form and
substance satisfactory to the Company (provided, however, that the Company shall
not require such general release to include any claim alleging a right to
receive indemnification from the Company related to any action, suit or
proceeding that may be brought against Executive by any third party in
connection with Executive's status as an executive of the Company or any
payments or other rights to which Executive may be entitled under the Stock
Purchase Agreement), the Company shall, through the first (1st) anniversary of
the Termination Date, (x) pay Executive his annual Base Salary (as in effect on
the Termination Date) in regular installments in accordance with the Company's
general payroll practices and (y) if Executive elects under COBRA to maintain
health insurance benefits through the Company's group plan (if any), pay that
portion of the premium for such benefits that the Company would have paid had
Executive remained an employee of the Company for such period. After payment of
the severance amounts described in this Section 4(d), the Company shall have no
obligation to make any further severance or other payment or provide any other
benefit to or on behalf of Executive, other than payments that may become due
and owing to Executive in accordance with the terms of the Stock Purchase
Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that Executive shall
breach any of Executive's obligations under Section 5 of this Agreement (except
any breach which Executive carries the burden of proving is solely of a
technical nature, is immaterial and was inadvertent) or Executive's obligations
pursuant to Section 5(a) of this Agreement are terminated as determined in
accordance with the terms hereof, then, in addition to any other rights that the
Company may have under this Agreement or otherwise, the Company shall be
relieved from and shall have no further obligation to pay Executive any amounts
to which Executive would otherwise be entitled pursuant to this Section 4.

      5. Noncompete, Non-Solicitation.

                                       3
<PAGE>
                                  CONFIDENTIAL

      (a) Noncompete. In further consideration of the compensation to be paid to
Executive hereunder, Executive acknowledges that in the course of Executive's
employment with the Company and any applicable Affiliate thereof, Executive will
during the Employment Period become familiar with the trade secrets, business
plans and business strategies and with other Confidential Information (as
defined on the Appendix hereto) concerning each of the Company and any
applicable Affiliate of the Company (and their respective predecessors,
successors and assigns) and that Executive's services have been and shall be of
special, unique and extraordinary value to the Company and any applicable
Affiliate of the Company. Therefore, Executive agrees that, during the period
from the beginning of the Employment Period through and including the date that
is the one-year anniversary of the last day of the Employment Period (such
period, the "Noncompete Period"), Executive shall not directly or indirectly
(whether for Executive or for any other Person) own any interest in, operate,
manage, control, engage in, participate in (whether as an officer, director,
employee, partner, agent, representative or otherwise), invest in, permit
Executive's name to be used by, consult with, advise, render services for (alone
or in association with any other Person), or otherwise assist in any manner (i)
any of International Data Group, Inc.; CMP Media, Inc. (a subsidiary of United
Business Media PLC); The Future Network Plc; CNET Networks, Inc.; MediaLive
International, Inc.; Penton Media, Inc.; Jupitermedia Corporation; Deutsche
Messe AG; or DMG World Media, (ii) any Person that engages in, or owns, invests
in, operates, manages or controls any venture or enterprise which directly or
indirectly engages or proposes to engage in, any business or enterprise which
manufactures, designs, produces, renders or sells products or services which
compete with the products and services of the Company and its Affiliates
(including, but not limited to, the Initial Events, Other Events, other events,
conferences or businesses of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries from which
TM Media Revenues are to be calculated, or any products, services, or events the
Company is in the process of developing), as the Company's and its Affiliates'
businesses existed at or at any time during the Employment Period and prior to
termination of the Noncompete Period (the "Restricted Enterprises"), or (iii)
any successor, assignee, subsidiary, division or Affiliate of any Listed Person
or Restricted Person, or (iv) any Person in which, to the Knowledge of
Executive, any Person listed in clause (i) or clause (ii) of this Section 5(a)
owns an interest or participates, which any Person listed in clause (i) or
clause (ii) of this Section 5(a) manages or controls (whether as an officer,
director, employee, partner, agent, representative or otherwise), or to which
any Person listed in clause (i) or clause (ii) of this Section 5(a) otherwise
provides management or financial support. Any Person listed in clause (i) of
this Section 5(a), or clause (iii) or clause (iv) of this Section 5(a) by virtue
of its relationship with a Person listed in clause (i) of this Section 5(a),
shall be referred to as a "Listed Person." Any Person listed in clause (ii) of
this Section 5(a), or clause (iii) or clause (iv) of this Section 5(a) by virtue
of its relationship with a Person listed in clause (ii) of this Section 5(a),
shall be referred to as a "Restricted Person." Notwithstanding the foregoing,
Executive may provide advice, services or assistance otherwise prohibited by
this Section 5(a) to a Restricted Person that is not a Listed Person, but solely
to the extent that any advice, services or assistance that Executive provides
for such Restricted Person that is not a Listed Person is not for the benefit
of, does not relate to, and is not in respect of, any of the Restricted
Enterprises of such Restricted Person that is not a Listed Person. Nothing
herein shall prohibit Executive from being an owner, indirectly through a mutual
fund or other similar pooled investment vehicle, of a passive investment in the
stock of a corporation which is publicly traded, so long as no TM Media
Principal has any other participation in the business of any such corporation.
The Company and Executive expressly acknowledge and agree that each and every
restriction imposed by this Section 5(a) is reasonable with respect to subject
matter, time period and geographical area.

      (b) Non-Solicitation. Executive agrees that during the Noncompete Period,
Executive shall not, and shall not permit any of his or her Affiliates to,
directly or indirectly through another Person (a) induce or attempt to induce
any employee of the Company or any Affiliate of the Company to leave the employ
of the Company or such Affiliate, or in any way interfere with the relationship
between the Company or any Affiliate of the Company and any employee thereof,
(b) hire any person who was an employee of the Company or any Affiliate of the
Company at any time during the 24 month period immediately preceding

                                       4
<PAGE>
                                  CONFIDENTIAL

the termination of the employment of Executive with the Company, (c) call on,
solicit or service any customer, supplier, licensee, licensor, franchisee or
other business relation of the Company or any Affiliate of the Company in order
to induce or attempt to induce such Person to cease or reduce doing business
with the Company or such Affiliate, or in any way interfere with the
relationship between any such customer, supplier, licensee or business relation
and the Company or any Affiliate of the Company, including, without limitation,
making any negative statements or communications about the Company or any of its
Affiliates, or (d) directly or indirectly acquire or attempt to acquire any
operating business in the United States of America to which the Company or any
of its Affiliates has made an acquisition proposal prior to the Termination Date
of Executive relating to the possible acquisition of such business (an
"Acquisition Target") by the Company or any of its Affiliates, or take any
action to induce or attempt to induce any Acquisition Target to consummate any
acquisition, investment or other similar transaction with any Person other than
the Company or any of the Company's Affiliates.

      (c) General. If the final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction
declares that any term or provision of this Section 5 is invalid or
unenforceable, Executive agrees that the court making the determination of
invalidity or unenforceability shall have the power to reduce the scope,
duration, or area of the term or provision, to delete specific words or phrases,
or to replace any invalid or unenforceable term or provision with a term or
provision that is valid and enforceable and that comes closest to expressing the
intention of the invalid or unenforceable term or provision, and this Agreement
shall be enforceable as so modified after the expiration of the time within
which the judgment may be appealed. Because Executive's services are unique and
because Executive has access to Confidential Information and Work Product (as
defined on the Appendix hereto), the parties hereto agree that money damages
would not be an adequate remedy for any breach of this Agreement. Therefore, in
the event a breach or threatened breach of this Agreement, the Company or its
successors or assigns may, in addition to other rights and remedies existing in
their favor, apply to any court of competent jurisdiction for specific
performance and/or injunctive or other relief in order to enforce, or prevent
any violations of, the provisions hereof (without posting a bond or other
security). Executive agrees that the restrictions contained in Section 5 are
reasonable and that Executive has received consideration in exchange therefor.

      (d) Additional Services for the Company. In the event that, following
termination of the Employment Period, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
engages Executive as an employee, consultant or advisor to the Company or any of
its Subsidiaries, no violation of Section 5(a) shall be deemed to result from
any post-termination employment, consulting or advisory services provided by the
Executive to or on behalf of the Company and its Subsidiaries in accordance with
the written instructions of, or the written employment, consulting or advisory
duties of Executive to, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

      (e) Termination of Non-Compete Obligations. Notwithstanding anything
herein to the contrary, the obligations of Executive pursuant to Section 5(a)
shall be terminated in the event that Executive is no longer employed by the
Company or any of its Affiliates and (i) any payment by the Company of any
portion of the Subsequent Purchase Price (as defined in the Stock Purchase
Agreement) then due and owing as determined pursuant to the Stock Purchase
Agreement is not paid when due and such default is not cured on or prior to the
30th day after written notice of such default is delivered by the Executive to
the Company, or (ii) in the event that any liquidation, dissolution or winding
up of Buyer, or any bankruptcy proceeding to which Buyer is party as debtor, is
consummated and, with respect to bankruptcy proceedings only, the obligations of
Buyer to pay any portion of the Subsequent Purchase Price are rejected or
reduced in connection therewith.

      6. Other Terms and Conditions. The terms and conditions set forth on the
Appendix attached hereto are incorporated herein by reference as if fully set
forth herein and constitute an integral part of this Agreement.

                                       5
<PAGE>
                                  CONFIDENTIAL

                                     * * * *

                                       6
<PAGE>

                                  CONFIDENTIAL

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

                                          ZIFF DAVIS MEDIA INC.

                                          By: __________________________________

                                          Its: _________________________________

                                          EXECUTIVE:

                                          ______________________________________

                                       7
<PAGE>
                                  CONFIDENTIAL

                         APPENDIX TO EXECUTIVE AGREEMENT

      1. Notices. Any notice provided for in this Agreement must be in writing
and must be either personally delivered, mailed by first class mail (postage
prepaid and return receipt requested) or sent by reputable overnight courier
service (charges prepaid) to the recipients at the address indicated below or to
such other address or to the attention of such other person as the recipient
party shall have specified by prior written notice to the sending party: (a) if
to Executive: 535 Woodlands Road, Harrison, New York 10528, and (b) if to the
Company: Ziff Davis Media Inc., 28 E. 28th Street, New York, New York 10016,
Attention: General Counsel. Any notice under this Agreement shall be deemed to
have been given five (5) calendar days after deposit in the U.S. mail, if
mailed, or otherwise when so delivered or sent otherwise.

      2. Representations and Warranties.

      (a) By the Company. In connection with the execution and delivery of this
Agreement, the Company represents and warrants to Executive as of the Effective
Date that (i) the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement have
been duly and validly authorized by all necessary corporate action and (ii) this
Agreement constitutes a valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable
in accordance with its terms (subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, moratorium or other laws affecting creditors rights generally
and subject to general principles of equity, regardless of whether considered in
a proceeding in equity or at law).

      (b) By Executive. In connection with the execution and delivery of this
Agreement, Executive represents and warrants to the Company as of the Effective
Date that (i) this Agreement constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation
of Executive, enforceable in accordance with its terms (subject to applicable
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other laws affecting
creditors rights generally and subject to general principles of equity,
regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law), and the
execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by Executive does not and
shall not conflict with, violate or cause a breach of any agreement, contract or
instrument to which Executive is a party or any judgment, order or decree to
which Executive is subject; (ii) Executive is not a party to or bound by any
employment agreement, noncompete agreement or confidentiality agreements with
any person or entity other than the Company, with the exception of that certain
Employment Agreement, dated April 7, 1998, with CMP Media LLC and that certain
Confidential Letter Agreement, dated September 20, 2001, (each of which such
agreements Executive represents will not be violated by performance of his
obligations on behalf of the Company); (iii) Executive has consulted with
independent legal counsel regarding his/her rights and obligations under this
Agreement and that Executive fully understands the terms and conditions
contained herein; and (iv) Executive has obtained advice from persons other than
the Company and its counsel regarding the tax effects of the transaction
contemplated hereby.

      3. General Provisions.

      (a) Severability. Whenever possible, each provision of this Agreement
shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under
applicable law, but if any provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid,
illegal or unenforceable in any respect under any applicable law or rule in any
jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect
any other provision or any other jurisdiction, but this Agreement shall be
reformed, construed and enforced in such jurisdiction as if such invalid,
illegal or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein.

      (b) Complete Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the complete agreement
and understanding among the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof
and supersedes and preempts
<PAGE>
                                  CONFIDENTIAL

any prior understandings, agreements or representations by or among the parties,
written or oral, which relate to the subject matter hereof; provided that in no
event shall the Stock Purchase Agreement be deemed superseded or preempted by
this Agreement.

      (c) Counterparts; Signatures Received via Facsimile. This Agreement may be
executed in separate counterparts, each of which is deemed to be an original and
all of which taken together constitute one and the same agreement. Signatures
received via facsimile shall be deemed originals for all purposes.

      (d) Successors and Assigns. Except as otherwise provided herein, this
Agreement shall bind and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by
Executive, the Company and their respective successors and assigns; provided
that the rights and obligations of the parties under this Agreement shall not be
assignable without the prior written consent of the other party.

      (e) GOVERNING LAW. THE CORPORATE LAW OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE WILL GOVERN
ALL ISSUES CONCERNING THE RELATIVE RIGHTS OF THE COMPANY AND ITS STOCKHOLDERS.
ALL OTHER ISSUES CONCERNING THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO ANY
CHOICE OF LAW OR CONFLICT OF LAW PROVISION OR RULE (WHETHER OF THE STATE OF NEW
YORK OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION) THAT WOULD CAUSE THE APPLICATION OF THE LAW OF
ANY JURISDICTION OTHER THAN THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

      (f) Jurisdiction. The state and federal courts located in New York County,
New York (the "Permitted Courts"), shall have sole and exclusive jurisdiction of
any dispute arising out of or related to this Agreement (including without
limitation allegations of the breach or attempted breach thereof) (a
"Proceeding"). Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this paragraph alters
any agreement the parties may previously have made or may in the future make to
arbitrate disputes. Each of the parties hereby expressly consents to the
personal jurisdiction of each of the Permitted Courts with respect to any
Proceeding and waives any objection, whether on the grounds of venue, residence
or domicile or on the ground that the Proceeding has been brought in an
inconvenient forum, to any Proceeding brought in a Permitted Court. Executive
agrees that a final judgment of a Permitted Court in any Proceeding shall be
conclusive and binding upon Executive and may be enforced in other courts to
whose jurisdiction Executive or his or her assets is or may be subject, by suit
upon such judgment.

      (g) Remedies. Each of the parties to this Agreement shall be entitled to
enforce its rights under this Agreement specifically, to recover damages and
costs (including reasonable attorney's fees) caused by any breach of any
provision of this Agreement and to exercise all other rights existing in its
favor. The parties hereto agree and acknowledge that money damages would not be
an adequate remedy for any breach of the provisions of this Agreement and that
any party may in its sole discretion apply to any court of law or equity of
competent jurisdiction (without posting any bond or deposit) for specific
performance and/or other injunctive relief in order to enforce or prevent any
violations of the provisions of this Agreement.

      (h) Interpretation. The Article and Section headings used herein are for
convenience only and do not define, limit or construe the content of such
sections. The parties acknowledge that they are entering into this Agreement
after consulting with counsel and based upon equal bargaining power, with each
party having the ability to participate in its preparation. The terms of this
Agreement shall not be interpreted in favor of or against any party on account
of the draftsperson, but shall be interpreted solely for the purpose of fairly
effectuating the intent of the parties hereto.

      (i) Survival. The provisions set forth in Section 3(b), Section 4 and
Section 5 of the Agreement and the provisions set forth in this Appendix shall
survive and continue in full force and effect in accordance with their terms
notwithstanding any termination of the Employment Period.

                                       ii
<PAGE>
                                  CONFIDENTIAL

      (j) Amendment and Waiver. The provisions of this Agreement may be amended
and waived only by means of a written instrument signed by each of the Company
and Executive.

      4. Certain Definitions.

      (a) "Affiliate" has the meaning given to such term in the Stock Purchase
Agreement.

      (b) "Cause" with respect to the basis for termination by the Company of
the employment of the Executive with the Company means (i) the commission by
Executive of a felony or crime involving moral turpitude; (ii) the commission of
any other act or omission by Executive constituting fraud against the Company or
any of its Affiliates, customers, vendors or suppliers, (iii) the material
violation by Executive of any duty to the Company under applicable law, which
violation is not cured within fifteen (15) calendar days after receipt of
reasonably detailed written notice thereof by the Company to Executive; (iv) the
substantial failure by Executive to act as reasonably directed by the CEO,
President or COO of the Company in connection with Executive's employment duties
on behalf of Company, which failure is not cured within fifteen (15) calendar
days after receipt of reasonably detailed written notice thereof by Executive;
(v) willful or reckless misconduct or gross negligence (which, in the case of
gross negligence by Executive is not cured within fifteen (15) calendar days
after receipt of reasonably detailed written notice thereof to Executive) in
connection with the performance of Executive's employment duties on behalf of
the Company; (vi) any material breach by Executive of this Agreement or of the
Stock Purchase Agreement (with it being understood that, without limiting the
generality of the foregoing, any breach of Section 5 of this Agreement or
Section 8E or Section 9C of the Stock Purchase Agreement shall be deemed to be a
material breach of this Agreement or the Stock Purchase Agreement, as
applicable), which breach (if curable) is not cured within fifteen (15) calendar
days after receipt of reasonably detailed written notice thereof to Executive;
or (vii) any material breach by Executive of the Company's written policies of
which actual notice has been given to Executive, which breach is not cured
within fifteen (15) calendar days after receipt of reasonably detailed written
notice thereof to Executive.

      (c) "COBRA" means the requirements of Part 6 of Subtitle B of Title I of
the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, and Section
4980B of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended and any successor
statutes thereto.

      (d) "Confidential Information" means all information of a confidential or
proprietary nature (whether or not specifically labeled or identified as
"confidential"), in any form or medium, that is or was disclosed to, or
developed or learned by, Executive in connection with Executive's employment
pursuant hereto during the Employment Period and that relates to the business,
products, services, financing, research or development of the Company or any of
its Affiliates or their respective suppliers, distributors or customers.
Confidential Information includes, but is not limited to, the following: (i)
internal business information (including information relating to strategic and
staffing plans and practices, business, training, marketing, promotional and
sales plans and practices, cost, rate and pricing structures, accounting and
business methods); (ii) identities of, individual requirements of, specific
contractual arrangements with, and information about, any of the Company's or
any of its Affiliates' suppliers, distributors and customers and their
confidential information; (iii) trade secrets, know-how, compilations of data
and analyses, techniques, systems, formulae, research, records, reports,
manuals, documentation, models, data and data bases relating thereto; (iv)
inventions, innovations, improvements, developments, methods, designs, analyses,
drawings, reports and all similar or related information (whether or not
patentable); and (v) Acquisition Targets and potential acquisition candidates.
Confidential Information shall not include information that Executive can
demonstrate: (a) is or becomes publicly known through no wrongful act or breach
of obligation of confidentiality by Executive; (b) was rightfully received by
Executive from a third party (other than the Company or any of its successors or
Affiliates) without a breach of any obligation of confidentiality by such third
party; (c) was known to Executive prior to his

                                      iii
<PAGE>
                                  CONFIDENTIAL

employment with the Company and its Affiliates, or (d) is required to be
disclosed pursuant to any applicable law or court order; provided, however, that
Executive provides the Company with prior written notice of the requirement for
disclosure that details the Confidential Information to be disclosed and
cooperates with the Company to preserve the confidentiality of such information
to the extent possible.

      (e) "Good Reason" means, with respect to the basis for termination by
Executive of the employment of Executive with the Company, the occurrence,
without Executive's consent, of any of the following: (i) unless corrected
within fifteen (15) calendar days after written notice by Executive to the CEO,
President or COO of the Company of objection thereto, the assignment to
Executive of any duties or responsibilities materially inconsistent with
Executive's then existing executive position with the Company (which shall not
at any time during his or her employment be less than Vice President, Ziff Davis
Events, of the Company) or a diminution of Executive's title(s), or a
substantial adverse alteration in the nature or status of Executive's duties or
responsibilities; (ii) a reduction in Executive's base salary, except for
across-the-board base salary reductions similarly affecting all senior
executives of the Company; (iii) the Company requires Executive to relocate
from, or the Company relocates the workplace of Executive with the Company from,
the New York metropolitan area or (iv) any portion of the Purchase Price (as
defined in the Stock Purchase Agreement) due and payable to Executive as
determined in accordance with the terms of the Stock Purchase Agreement is not
paid in full when due, and such breach is not cured within fifteen (15) calendar
days after receipt by the Company of written notice thereof.

      (f) "Incapacity" means, with respect to the basis of termination by the
Company of the employment of Executive with the Company, the disability of
Executive caused by any physical or mental injury, illness or incapacity as a
result of which Executive has been or will be unable to effectively perform his
or her essential employment duties as determined by the Company in good faith
upon professional medical or psychological advice, for a period of ninety (90)
consecutive calendar days or a period of one hundred and twenty (120) calendar
days during any one hundred and eighty (180) calendar day period. For the
purposes of this Agreement, termination for Incapacity shall be by, and
effective upon, delivery to Executive of written notice by the Company of
termination for Incapacity.

      (g) "Initial Events" shall have the meaning ascribed to it in the Stock
Purchase Agreement.

      (h) "Knowledge" means actual knowledge after reasonable investigation.

      (i) "Other Events" shall have the meaning ascribed to it in the Stock
Purchase Agreement.

      (j) "Person" means an individual or a corporation, partnership, limited
liability company, trust, unincorporated organization, association or other
entity.

      (k) "Personal Share" shall have the meaning ascribed to it in the Stock
Purchase Agreement.

      (l) "Stock Purchase Agreement" means that certain Stock Purchase
Agreement, dated as of September 17, 2003, by and among TM Media Inc., the TM
Media Principals, and the Company, as the same may be amended from time to time.

      (m) "Subsidiaries" shall have the meaning ascribed to it in the Stock
Purchase Agreement.

      (n) "TM EBITDA" means, for any period, without duplication, the net income
of the Company and its Affiliates (on a consolidated basis) and their respective
successors and assigns derived directly from TM Media Revenues for such period,
plus, to the extent (but only to the extent) deducted in determining such net
income for such period, (A) income tax expense, (B) interest expense for
indebtedness for borrowed money and (C) amortization and depreciation expense;
provided that in

                                       iv
<PAGE>
                                  CONFIDENTIAL

calculating net income of the Company derived directly from TM Media Revenues,
net income shall be reduced by an amount for each fiscal year to account for
general and administrative expenses related to such TM Media Revenues
(including, without limitation, allocation of: rent expense; salary and benefit
costs, accounting, information technology and legal expense; and cost of
insurance), which amount shall be reasonably related to the overall general and
administrative costs incurred in generating TM Media Revenues. The components of
TM EBITDA shall be calculated in accordance with United States generally
accepted accounting principles as in effect from time to time, consistently
applied, and TM EBITDA shall be calculated in a consistent manner with Budgeted
TM EBITDA.

      (o) "TM Media Principals" means, collectively, James Hasl, Julie Herness,
Paul O'Reilly and Monica Vila.

      (p) "TM Media Revenues" shall have the meaning ascribed to it in the Stock
Purchase Agreement.

      (q) "Work Product" means all inventions, innovations, improvements,
developments, methods, processes, designs, analyses, drawings, reports and all
similar or related information (whether or not patentable or reduced to practice
or comprising Confidential Information) and any copyrightable work, trade mark,
trade secret or other intellectual property rights (whether or not comprising
Confidential Information) and any other form of Confidential Information, any of
which relate to the Company's or any of its Affiliates' actual or anticipated
business, research and development or existing or future products or services
and which were or are conceived, reduced to practice, contributed to, developed,
made or acquired by Executive (whether alone or jointly with others) while
employed by the Company (or its successors or assigns) and its Affiliates.

                                       v

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