Document:

exv10w6

Exhibit 10.6

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

     This Employment Agreement (this “Agreement”) is entered into as of September 12, 2008,
by and between The Advisory Board Company (the “Company”) and David L. Felsenthal
(“Executive”).

     1. Duties and Scope of Employment.

          (a) Positions and Duties. Effective as of September 1, 2008 (the “Commencement
Date”), the Company shall employ Executive as President of the Company. Executive shall report
directly to the Chief Executive Officer of the Company. Executive shall perform all the duties and
obligations reasonably associated with the position of President and consistent with the Bylaws of
the Company as in effect from time to time.

          (b) Obligations. Executive shall devote substantially all his business time and
efforts to the rendition of services to the Company, and he shall use good faith efforts to
discharge Executive’s obligations under this Agreement to the best of Executive’s ability. During
the Term, Executive agrees not to actively engage in any other employment, occupation, or
consulting activity for any direct or indirect remuneration without the prior approval of the
Board; provided, however, that (i) Executive may, without the approval of the Board of Directors of
the Company (the “Board”) or the Chief Executive Officer, serve in any capacity with any
civic, educational, or community organization and (ii) Executive may, with the prior approval of
the Chief Executive Officer or of the Board (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld),
serve as a director of any company that is not directly or indirectly in competition with the
Company, in each case as long as such activities or service do not materially interfere with his
duties and obligations to the Company.

     2. Term. The term of employment of Executive by the Company pursuant to this Agreement
shall commence on the Commencement Date and, unless earlier terminated pursuant to Section 7, shall
end on August 31, 2012 (the “Initial Term”); provided, however, that the term of
Executive’s employment under this Agreement shall be extended automatically for one additional year
as of the fourth anniversary and each subsequent anniversary of the Commencement Date (each such
additional year, an “Extended Term”; together with the Initial Term, the “Term”),
unless no later than one year prior to the last day of the then-current Term either the Board, on
behalf of the Company, or Executive gives written notice to the other that the Term shall not be so
extended. For example, notice of nonrenewal would need to be provided prior to September 1, 2011
for the Term not to renew automatically on September 1, 2012 for an additional one year.

     3. Compensation.

          (a) Base Salary. As of the Commencement Date, the Company shall pay Executive an
annual salary of $425,000 as compensation for his services (such annual salary, as is then
effective, “Base Salary”), payable in installments in accordance with the Company’s payroll
schedule from time to time (less any deductions required for Social Security, state, federal and
local withholding taxes, and any other authorized or mandated similar withholdings). The Base
Salary shall be reviewed by the Board and/or the Compensation Committee of the Board (the
“Committee”) no less frequently than annually and may be increased from its then-existing
level at the discretion of the Board or the Committee.

          (b) Annual Incentive Bonus. Executive shall be eligible to earn bonuses with respect
to each fiscal year (or partial fiscal year) during the Term based upon Executive’s achievement of
performance objectives set by the Committee after consultation with Executive. Executive’s initial
annual incentive bonus target is $200,000. The actual incentive bonus payable to Executive for any
fiscal year (or partial fiscal year) shall be based upon criteria established and approved by the
Board and/or the Committee in its sole discretion, which need not be objective performance
criteria, and may be less than (including zero) or greater than the annual incentive bonus target
for such fiscal year (or partial fiscal year). Executive may also receive special bonuses in
additional to his annual bonus eligibility at the discretion of the Committee.

 

 

          (c) Additional Compensation. Executive confirms and acknowledges that any element of
compensation other than Base Salary (which shall be determined in accordance with Section 3(a)),
including, without limitation, grants of equity-based compensation, are provided at the sole
discretion of the Board and/or the Committee, which also shall have the sole discretion to
determine the terms, amount and frequency of any such other element of compensation.

     4. Employee Benefits. During the Term, Executive shall be eligible to participate in
all benefit plans, policies and arrangements that are applicable to other senior executives of the
Company, as such plans, policies and arrangements may exist from time to time.

     5. Expenses. The Company shall reimburse Executive for all reasonable and necessary
business expenses incurred by him in the performance of his duties hereunder, in accordance with
its policies, and provided they are documented in a form satisfactory to the Internal Revenue
Service and consistent with Company policy with respect to such expenses. In addition, the Company
agrees, subject to the Chief Executive Officer’s approval, to reimburse Executive for membership
fees and other reasonable expenses incurred with respect to Executive’s participation in
professional development, community and business-related organizations.

     6. Compliance With Other Agreements. Executive and the Company are parties to (a) an
October 2001 letter agreement regarding equity award agreements between Executive and the Company
(such letter agreement and any and all oral agreements relating thereto with respect to the subject
matter thereof, the “2001 Arrangements”), and (b) an Agreement Concerning Exclusive
Services, Confidential Information, Business Opportunities, Non-Competition, Non-Solicitation and
Work Product dated October 18, 2001 (as such may be amended from time to time, the
“Non-Competition Agreement”). Effective as of the Commencement Date, this Agreement shall
supersede in its entirety the 2001 Arrangements. Executive and the Company hereby agree that,
notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Non-Competition Agreement, (i) if Executive’s
employment is terminated by the Company without Cause or by Executive for Good Reason pursuant to
this Agreement, Executive shall comply with the provisions of Sections 4(a) and 5(a) of the
Non-Competition Agreement, in each case for the period commencing on the Termination Date and
continuing through the second anniversary thereof, as if Executive’s employment was terminated by
the Company for Cause, (ii) a termination of Executive’s employment by Executive for Good Reason
pursuant to this Agreement shall constitute a termination of Executive’s employment by the Company
without Cause for purposes of the Non-Competition Agreement, (iii) effective as of the Commencement
Date, Sections 4(b), 4(d) and 5(b) and the last sentence of Section 5(a) of the Non-Competition
Agreement shall have no further force or effect, and (iv) the definition of “Cause” in the
Non-Competition Agreement shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in this Agreement.

     7. Termination.

          (a) Death or Disability. Executive’s employment shall terminate immediately upon his
death or Disability. For purposes of this Agreement, “Disability” means any physical or
mental disability or incapacity that can be expected to result in Executive’s death or that has
rendered Executive unable to carry out Executive’s duties and obligations to the Company for a
period of 90 consecutive days or for shorter periods aggregating to 120 days (whether or not
consecutive) during any consecutive 12 months of the Term. The Company, at its expense, may retain
a physician reasonably acceptable to Executive to confirm the existence of such disability or
incapacity.

          (b) Termination by the Company With Cause. The Board, on behalf of the Company, may
terminate Executive’s employment with Cause upon written notice to Executive of the alleged act or
omission constituting Cause, which notice shall set forth in reasonable detail the reason or
reasons that the Board believes Executive is to be terminated for Cause. For purposes of this
Agreement, “Cause” means the occurrence of any one or more of the following events:
(i) any willful act or willful omission (other than as a result of Disability) that represents a
breach of any of the terms of this Agreement to the material

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detriment of the Company; (ii) Executive’s conviction of, or plea of nolo contendere to, a
felony (other than a traffic infraction); or (iii) the commission by Executive of a material act of
fraud, theft or dishonesty against the Company. If an event described in clause (i) of the
preceding sentence is reasonably capable of being cured, (A) Executive shall be given 45 days from
the date of such written notice to effect a cure of such alleged act or omission constituting Cause
which, upon such cure to the reasonable satisfaction of the Board, shall no longer constitute a
basis for Cause, and (B) Executive shall be given an opportunity to make a presentation to the
Board (accompanied by counsel or other representative, if Executive so desires) at a meeting of the
Board held promptly following such 45-day cure period if the Board intends to determine that no
cure has occurred. At or following such meeting, the Board shall determine whether or not to
terminate Executive with Cause and shall notify Executive of its determination and the effective
date of such termination (which date may be no earlier than the date of the aforementioned Board
meeting). For purposes hereof, no act or omission shall be deemed “willful” if it was done with a
good faith belief that it was in the best interests of the Company.

          (c) Termination by Executive With Good Reason. Executive may terminate Executive’s
employment with the Company with Good Reason upon written notice to the Company of the alleged act
or omission constituting Good Reason, which notice shall set forth in reasonable detail the reason
or reasons that Executive believes his employment is to be terminated for Good Reason. For
purposes of this Agreement, “Good Reason” means, without Executive’s written consent, (i) a
reduction of Executive’s Base Salary, (ii) a reduction in Executive’s annual incentive bonus target
below Executive’s initial annual incentive bonus target, (iii) Executive is no longer the President
of (A) the Company, or (B) in the event of a Change of Control, the successor to the Company’s
business or assets, (iv) Executive is no longer reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer
of (A) the Company or (B) in the event of a Change of Control, the successor to the Company’s
business or assets, (v) if Executive serves on the Board during the Term after having been elected
or appointed to serve as a member of the Board (it being acknowledged by Executive and the Company
that there is no agreement or arrangement as of the date first written above that Executive will
serve on the Board) and then is no longer serving on (A) the Board or (B) in the event of a Change
of Control, the board of directors or similar governing body of the successor to the Company’s
business or assets, except in each case on account of removal from the Board for cause pursuant to
a vote of the stockholders of the Company or due to Executive’s resignation from, or refusal to
stand for reelection to, the Board, (vi) any material breach by the Company of any of the material
terms of this Agreement, (vii) during the one-year period following a Change of Control, Executive
is required to relocate his place of employment to a location that is more than thirty-five (35)
miles from the location of the Company’s headquarters as of the date first set forth above, or
(viii) a material diminution in Executive’s authority, responsibilities or duties; provided,
however, that for any of the foregoing to constitute Good Reason, Executive must provide written
notification of such event or condition constituting Good Reason within 90 days after Executive
knows of the occurrence of any such event or condition, and the Company shall have 60 days from the
date of receipt of such written notice to effect a cure of the event or condition constituting Good
Reason, and, upon cure thereof by the Company, such event or condition shall no longer constitute
Good Reason.

          (d) Termination by the Company Without Cause or by Executive Without Good Reason.
The Company may terminate Executive’s employment without Cause at any time upon 60 days’ written
notice to Executive. Executive may terminate Executive’s employment without Good Reason upon 60
days’ written notice to the Company. Nonrenewal of the Term by the Company shall constitute a
termination without Cause, effective as of the last day of the then-current Term.

     8. Effect of Termination.

          (a) Accrued Obligations. The Company shall pay all Accrued Obligations to Executive
(or Executive’s estate, in the case of termination of Executive’s employment on account of death)
within thirty (30) days following the effective date of the termination of Executive’s employment
(the “Termination Date”).

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          (b) Equity Awards.

          (i) Death or Disability. In the event Executive’s employment is terminated due to
Executive’s death or Disability, all restricted stock units, shares of restricted Company
common stock, options to purchase Company common stock, and other equity awards granted to
Executive by the Company (collectively, “Equity Awards”) shall become vested in full
as of the day immediately preceding the Termination Date (and, in the case of options, shall
be exercisable until the earlier of the expiration of such Equity Awards or the first
anniversary of the Termination Date).

          (ii) Termination by the Company Without Cause or by Executive with Good Reason. In the
event Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company without Cause or by Executive with
Good Reason, to, among other things, give effect to the 2001 Arrangements, all Equity Awards
granted to Executive by the Company prior to the Termination Date shall become vested as of
the day immediately preceding the Termination Date (and, in the case of options granted to
Executive by the Company on or after May 20, 2008, shall be exercisable until the earlier of
the expiration of such Equity Awards or the first anniversary of the Termination Date).

          (c) Severance. In the event of Executive’s “separation from service” with the
Company (as defined in Treas. Reg. § 1.409A-1(h)) due to a termination of Executive’s employment by
the Company without Cause or by Executive with Good Reason, Executive shall receive an amount equal
to two hundred percent (200%) of Executive’s then-current Base Salary for 12 full calendar months
in a single lump sum within 38 days after the date of such separation from service. In addition,
for a period of 18 months after the date of Executive’s separation from service, the Company shall
continue to provide medical, dental and vision care and life insurance benefits to Executive and/or
Executive’s family at least equal to those which would have been provided to them in accordance
with Section 4, provided that Executive agrees to elect COBRA coverage to the extent available
under the Company’s health insurance plans (and the Company shall reimburse the cost of any
premiums for such coverage on an after-tax basis).

          (d) Required Delay. In the event that any compensation with respect to Executive’s
termination is “deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) and the regulations promulgated thereunder
(“Section 409A”), the stock of the Company (or any of its affiliates) is publicly traded on
an established securities market or otherwise, and Executive is determined to be a “specified
employee,” as defined in Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code, payment of such compensation shall
be delayed as required by Section 409A.  Such delay shall last six months from the date of
Executive’s termination, except in the event of Executive’s death.  Within 30 days following the
end of such six-month period, or, if earlier, Executive’s death, the Company shall make a catch-up
payment to Executive equal to the total amount of such payments that would have been made during
the six-month period but for this Section 8(e).  Such catch-up payment shall bear simple interest
at the prime rate of interest as published by the Wall Street Journals’ bank survey as of the first
day of the six month period, which such interest shall be paid with the catch-up payment.  Wherever
payments under this Agreement are to be made in installments, each such installment shall be deemed
to be a separate payment for purposes of Section 409A.

     9. Conditions to Receipt of Severance; No Duty to Mitigate; Non-Exclusivity of Rights.

          (a) Waiver and Release Agreement. In consideration of the severance payments and
other benefits described in Section 8(c), to which severance payments and benefits Executive would
not otherwise be entitled, and as a precondition to Executive becoming entitled to such severance
payments and other benefits under this Agreement (other than on account of Executive’s death),
Executive agrees to execute and deliver to the Company within 30 days after the applicable date of
Executive’s separation of service a Waiver and Release Agreement in the form attached hereto as
Appendix A (the “Release”) and not revoking it during the revocation period
provided therein. The timing of severance payments under

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Section 8(c) shall be further governed by the following provisions:

          (i) In any case in which the Release (and the expiration of any revocation rights
provided therein) could only become effective in a particular tax year of Executive,
payments conditioned on execution of the release shall be made within 10 days after the
Release becomes effective and such revocation rights have lapsed.

          (ii) In any case in which the Release (and the expiration of any revocation rights
provided therein) could become effective in one of two taxable years of Executive depending
on when Executive executes and delivers the Release, payments conditioned on execution of
the Release shall be made within 10 days after the Release becomes effective and such
revocation rights have lapsed, but not earlier than the first business day of the later of
such tax years.

If Executive fails to execute and deliver the Release within 30 days after Executive’s separation
from service, or if Executive revokes such Release as provided therein, the Company shall have no
obligation to provide any of the severance payments or other benefits provided in Section 8(c).

          (b) No Duty to Mitigate. Executive shall not be required to mitigate the amount of
any payment contemplated by this Agreement, nor shall any earnings that Executive may receive from
any other source reduce any such payment.

          (c)  Non-Exclusivity of Rights. Nothing in this Agreement shall prevent or limit
Executive’s continuing or future participation in any plan, program, policy or practice provided by
the Company and for which Executive may qualify, nor shall anything herein limit or otherwise
affect such rights as Executive may have under any other contract or agreement with the Company at
or subsequent to the Termination Date, which shall be payable in accordance with such plan, policy,
practice or program or contract or agreement, except as explicitly modified by this Agreement.

     10. Certain Additional Payments.

          (a)  In the event it shall be determined that any payment, benefit or distribution by the
Company (or any other payor described in Treas. Reg. Sec. 1.280G-1, Q&A 10) to Executive or for
Executive’s benefit (a “Payment”) would be subject to the excise tax (the “Excise
Tax”) imposed under Section 4999 of the Code, Executive shall be entitled to receive an
additional payment (a “Gross-Up Payment”) in an amount such that, after payment by
Executive of all taxes (and any interest or penalties imposed with respect to such taxes),
including any income and employment taxes and Excise Taxes imposed upon the Gross-Up Payment,
Executive retains an amount of the Gross-Up Payment equal to the Excise Tax imposed upon such
Payments. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section, if it shall be determined that
Executive is entitled to a Gross-Up Payment, but that the portion of the Payments that would be
treated as “parachute payments” under Section 280G of the Code does not exceed $50,000, then no
Gross-Up Payment shall be made to Executive and the amounts payable under Section 8(c) shall be
reduced so that the Payments, in the aggregate, are reduced to the Safe Harbor Amount. The “Safe
Harbor Amount” is the greatest amount of payments in the nature of compensation that are contingent
on a Change in Control for purposes of Section 280G of the Code that could be paid to Executive
without giving rise to any Excise Tax. If the reduction of the amounts payable under Section 8(c)
would not result in a reduction of the Payments to the Safe Harbor Amount, no amounts payable under
this Agreement shall be reduced pursuant hereto and a Gross-Up Payment shall be made to Executive.

          (b) All determinations required to be made under this Section 10, including whether a
Gross-Up Payment or reduction is required and the amount of any Gross-Up Payment or reductions of
Payments, shall be made by a nationally recognized certified public accounting firm that shall be
designated by the Company and reasonably acceptable to Executive (the “Accounting Firm”).
The Accounting Firm shall provide detailed supporting calculations both to the Company and
Executive within 15 business days of the receipt of notice from Executive that there has been a
Payment or such earlier time as is requested by the Company or Executive. All fees and expenses of
the Accounting Firm

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shall be borne solely by the Company. Any Gross-Up Payment, as determined pursuant to this
Section, shall be paid by the Company to Executive within five business days of the receipt of the
Accounting Firm’s determination and in any event not later than the last day of the calendar year
after the calendar year in which the applicable Excise Tax is paid. If the Accounting Firm
determines that no Excise Tax is payable by Executive or that a reduction is required, it shall so
indicate to Executive in writing.

          (c) Any determination by the Accounting Firm shall be binding upon the Company and Executive
(absent manifest error), provided that, in the event that Executive’s tax advisor delivers to the
Accounting Firm and the Company a written opinion that the actual Excise Tax payable by Executive
is greater than the Excise Tax amount initially determined by the Accounting Firm by reason of (i)
manifest error, (ii) any Payment the existence or amount of which could not have been, or was not,
determined or known at the time the Excise Tax was initially determined or (iii) any determination,
claim or assertion made by any tax authority that the actual Excise Tax is greater than the amount
initially determined by the Accounting Firm, then, in any such case, the Accounting Firm shall
recalculate the amount of the Excise Tax and any required (or additional) Gross-Up Payment.  Any
such additional calculation or determination shall be performed consistent with this Section 10.

          (d) Executive shall notify the Company in writing of any written claim by the Internal
Revenue Service that, if successful, would require the payment by the Company of a Gross-Up
Payment.  Executive shall apprise the Company of the nature of such claim and the date on which
such claim is requested to be paid.  Executive shall not pay such claim prior to the expiration of
the 30-day period following the date on which Executive gives such notice to the Company (or such
shorter period ending on the date that any payment of taxes with respect to such claim is due).  If
the Company notifies Executive in writing prior to the expiration of such period that the Company
desires to contest such claim, Executive shall (i) give the Company any information reasonably
requested by the Company relating to such claim, (ii) take such action in connection with
contesting such claim as the Company shall reasonably request in writing from time to time,
including accepting legal representation with respect to such claim by an attorney reasonably
selected by the Company, (iii) cooperate with the Company in good faith in order effectively to
contest such claim, and (iv) permit the Company to participate in any proceedings relating to such
claim; provided, however, that (A) the Company shall bear and pay directly all costs and expenses
(including additional income taxes, interest and penalties) incurred in connection with such
contest, and shall indemnify and hold Executive harmless, on an after-tax basis, for any Excise Tax
or income tax (including interest or penalties) imposed as a result of such representation and
payment of costs and expenses, and (B) Executive’s obligation to cooperate with the Company shall
not require Executive to take any action, or forego taking any action, that would have an adverse
effect on Executive’s overall tax position.

          (e) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, in no event shall any payment
by the Company pursuant to this Section 10 be made later than the end of Executive’s taxable year
next following Executive’s taxable year in which Executive remits the related taxes.

     11. Definitions.  

          (a)  “Accrued Obligations” means the sum of (i) Executive’s Salary hereunder through
the Termination Date, (ii) the amount of any incentive compensation, deferred compensation and
other cash compensation accrued by Executive as of the Termination Date, and (iii) any expense
reimbursements and other cash entitlements accrued by Executive as of the Termination Date, in each
case to the extent not previously paid.

          (b) “Change of Control” means any of the following:

          (i)  the “acquisition” by a “person” or “group” (as those terms are used in Sections
13(d) and 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange
Act”), and the rules promulgated thereunder), other than by Permitted Holders (as
defined in Section

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11(d)), of beneficial ownership (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 13d-3) directly or
indirectly, of any securities of the Company or any successor of the Company immediately
after which such person or group owns securities representing 50% or more of the combined
voting power of the Company or any successor of the Company;

          (ii)  approval by the stockholders of the Company of any merger, consolidation or
reorganization involving the Company, unless either (A) the stockholders of the Company
immediately before such merger, consolidation or reorganization own, directly or indirectly
immediately following such merger, consolidation or reorganization, at least 60% of the
combined voting power of the company(ies) resulting from such merger, consolidation or
reorganization in substantially the same proportion as their ownership immediately before
such merger, consolidation or reorganization, or (B) one or more Permitted Holders are the
only stockholders of the company(ies) resulting from such merger, consolidation, or
reorganization;

          (iii)  approval by the stockholders of the Company of a transfer of 50% or more of the
assets of the Company or a transfer of assets that during the current or either of the prior
two fiscal years accounted for more than 50% of the Company’s revenues or income, unless the
person to which such transfer is made is either (A) a Subsidiary (as defined in the
Company’s 2005 Stock Incentive Plan), (B) wholly owned by all of the stockholders of the
Company, or (C) wholly owned by Permitted Holders; or

          (iv)  approval by the stockholders of the Company of a complete liquidation or
dissolution of the Company.

          (c) “Permitted Holders” means (i) the Company, (ii) any Subsidiary, or (iii) any
employee benefit plan of the Company or any Subsidiary.

     12. Arbitration. The parties shall endeavor to settle all disputes by amicable
negotiations. Any claim, dispute, disagreement or controversy that arises among the parties
relating to this Agreement that is not amicably settled shall be resolved by arbitration, as
follows:

          (a) Any such arbitration shall be heard in the District of Columbia, before a panel
consisting of one arbitrator, who shall be impartial. Except as the parties may otherwise agree,
the arbitrator shall be appointed in the first instance by the appropriate official in the District
of Columbia office of the American Arbitration Association or, in the event of his or her
unavailability by reason of disqualification or otherwise, by the appropriate official in the New
York City office of the American Arbitration Association. In determining the number and appropriate
background of the arbitrator, the appointing authority shall give due consideration to the issues
to be resolved, but his or her decision as to the identity of the arbitrator shall be final.
Except as otherwise provided in this Section 12, all of the arbitration proceedings shall be
conducted in accordance with the rules of the arbitrator.

          (b) An arbitration may be commenced by any party to this Agreement by the service of a
written request for arbitration upon the other affected parties. Such request for arbitration shall
summarize the controversy or claim to be arbitrated, and shall be referred by the complaining party
to the appointing authority for appointment of arbitrator ten days following such service or
thereafter. If the arbitrator is not appointed by the appointing authority within 30 days following
such reference, any party may apply to any court within the District of Columbia for an order
appointing an arbitrator qualified as set forth below.

          (c) The prevailing party in any arbitration under this Section 12 shall be entitled to
reimbursement from the losing party of all reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs in connection with
such arbitration. The parties hereby expressly waive punitive damages, and under no circumstances
shall an award contain any amount that in any way reflects punitive damages.

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          (d) Judgment on the award rendered by the arbitrator may be entered in any court having
jurisdiction thereof.

          (e) It is intended that controversies or claims submitted to arbitration under this
Section 12 shall remain confidential, and to that end it is agreed by the parties that neither the
facts disclosed in the arbitration, the issues arbitrated, nor the views or opinions of any persons
concerning them, shall be disclosed to third persons at any time, except to the extent necessary to
enforce an award or judgment or as required by law or in response to legal process or in connection
with such arbitration.

     13. Notices. All notices, requests, demands, and other communications called for
hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed given (a) on the date of delivery if delivered
personally, (b) one day after being sent by a well established commercial overnight service, or
(c) four days after being mailed by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, prepaid
and addressed to the parties or their successors at the following addresses, or at such other
addresses as the parties may later designate in writing:

If to the Company:

The Advisory Board Company

Attn: Chairman of the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors

2445 M Street, N.W.

Washington, D.C. 20037

If to Executive:

at the last residential address known by the Company as provided by Executive in writing.

     14. Miscellaneous.

          (a) This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the
District of Columbia (other than its choice of laws rules).

          (b) The paragraph headings and captions contained in this Agreement are for convenience only
and shall not be construed to define, limit or affect the scope or meaning of the provisions
hereof.

          (c) This Agreement represents the entire agreement and understanding between the parties and
supersedes all prior or contemporaneous agreements whether written or oral as to the subject matter
hereof. No waiver, alteration, or modification of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be
binding unless in a writing signed by duly authorized representatives of the Company and Executive.

          (d) If any provision hereof becomes or is declared by a court of competent jurisdiction to be
illegal, unenforceable, or void, this Agreement shall continue in full force and effect without
said provision.

          (e) The waiver of a breach of any term or provision of this Agreement, which must be in
writing, shall not operate as or be construed to be a waiver of any other previous or subsequent
breach of this Agreement.

          (f) All payments made pursuant to this Agreement shall be subject to withholding of
applicable taxes.

          (g) Executive acknowledges that he has had the opportunity to discuss this matter with and
obtain advice from his legal, tax and other professional advisors, has had sufficient time to, and
has carefully read and fully understands all the provisions of this Agreement, and is knowingly and
voluntarily entering into this Agreement.

          (h) This Agreement may be executed in counterparts (including by fax or PDF), and each
counterpart shall have the same force and effect as an original and shall constitute an effective,
binding agreement on the part of each of the undersigned.

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          (i) The respective rights and obligations of the parties hereunder shall survive any
termination of this Agreement and Executive’s employment with the Company to the extent necessary
to preserve the intended rights and obligations of the parties.

          (j) For purposes of Section 409A, each COBRA continuation reimbursement payment shall be
considered one of a series of separate payments.

          (k) Any amount that Executive is entitled to be reimbursed under this Agreement shall be
reimbursed to Executive as promptly as practical and in any event not later than the last day of
the calendar year after the calendar year in which the expenses are incurred, and the amount of the
expenses eligible for reimbursement during any calendar year shall not affect the amount of
expenses eligible for reimbursement in any other calendar year.

          (l) This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of (a) the heirs,
executors, and legal representatives of Executive upon Executive’s death and (b) any successor of
the Company. Any such successor of the Company shall be deemed substituted for the Company under
the terms of this Agreement for all purposes. For this purpose, “successor” means any person,
firm, corporation, or other business entity which at any time, whether by purchase, merger, or
otherwise, directly or indirectly acquires all or substantially all of the assets or business of
the Company.

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank.]

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

THE ADVISORY BOARD COMPANY

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	By:

	 	/s/ Leon D. Shapiro
 

Leon D. Shapiro
	 	 
	 	/s/ David L. Felsenthal
 

David L. Felsenthal
	 	 
	 

	 	Chairman, Compensation Committee	 	 	 	 	 	 

10

 

APPENDIX A

Form of Waiver and Release Agreement

     This WAIVER AND RELEASE AGREEMENT (this “Release”) is entered into as of [TO BE
DETERMINED AT TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT] (the “Effective Date”), by David L. Felsenthal
(the “Executive”) in consideration of severance pay and benefits (the “Severance
Payment”) provided to Executive by The Advisory Board Company, a Delaware corporation (the
“Company”), pursuant to Section 8(c) of the Employment Agreement by and between the Company
and Executive (the “Employment Agreement”).

     1.  Waiver and Release. Subject to the last sentence of the first paragraph of this
Section 1, Executive, on his own behalf and on behalf of his heirs, executors, administrators,
attorneys and assigns, hereby unconditionally and irrevocably releases, waives and forever
discharges the Company and each of its affiliates, parents, successors, predecessors, and the
subsidiaries, directors, owners, members, shareholders, officers, agents, and employees of the
Company and its affiliates, parents, successors, predecessors, and subsidiaries (collectively, all
of the foregoing are referred to as the “Employer”), from any and all causes of action,
claims and damages, including attorneys’ fees, whether known or unknown, foreseen or unforeseen,
presently asserted or otherwise arising through the date of his signing of this Release, concerning
his employment or separation from employment. Subject to the last sentence of the first paragraph
of this Section 1, this Release includes, but is not limited to, any payments, benefits or damages
arising under any federal law (including, but not limited to, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of
1964, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of
1974, the Americans with Disabilities Act, Executive Order 11246, the Family and Medical Leave Act,
and the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, each as amended); any claim arising
under any state or local laws, ordinances or regulations (including, but not limited to, any state
or local laws, ordinances or regulations requiring that advance notice be given of certain
workforce reductions); and any claim arising under any common law principle or public policy,
including, but not limited to, all suits in tort or contract, such as wrongful termination,
defamation, emotional distress, invasion of privacy or loss of consortium. Notwithstanding any
other provision of this Release to the contrary, this Release does not encompass, and Executive
does not release, waive or discharge, the obligations of the Company (a) to make the payments and
provide the other benefits contemplated by the Employment Agreement, or (b) under any restricted
stock agreement, option agreement or other agreement pertaining to Executive’s equity ownership, or
(c) under any indemnification or similar agreement with Executive.

     Executive understands that by signing this Release, he is not waiving any claims or
administrative charges which cannot be waived by law. He is waiving, however, any right to
monetary recovery or individual relief should any federal, state or local agency (including the
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission) pursue any claim on his behalf arising out of or related
to his employment with and/or separation from employment with the Company.

     Executive further agrees without any reservation whatsoever, never to sue the Employer or
become a party to a lawsuit on the basis of any and all claims of any type lawfully and validly
released in this Release.

     2.  Acknowledgments. Executive is signing this Release knowingly and voluntarily. He
acknowledges that:

          (a)  He is hereby advised in writing to consult an attorney before signing this Release;

          (b)  He has relied solely on his own judgment and/or that of his attorney regarding the
consideration for and the terms of this Release and is signing this Release knowingly and
voluntarily of his own free will;

 

 

          (c)  He is not entitled to the Severance Payment unless he agrees to and honors the terms of
this Release;

          (d)  He has been given at least twenty-one (21) calendar days to consider this Release, or he
expressly waives his right to have at least twenty-one (21) days to consider this Release;

          (e)  He may revoke this Release within seven (7) calendar days after signing it by submitting
a written notice of revocation to the Employer. He further understands that this Release is not
effective or enforceable until after the seven (7) day period of revocation has expired without
revocation, and that if he revokes this Release within the seven (7) day revocation period, he
shall not receive the Severance Payment;

          (f)  He has read and understands the Release and further understands that, subject to the
limitations contained herein, it includes a general release of any and all known and unknown,
foreseen or unforeseen claims presently asserted or otherwise arising through the date of his
signing of this Release that he may have against the Employer; and

          (g)  No statements made or conduct by the Employer has in any way coerced or unduly influenced
him or her to execute this Release.

     3.  No Admission of Liability. This Release does not constitute an admission of
liability or wrongdoing on the part of the Employer, the Employer does not admit there has been any
wrongdoing whatsoever against Executive, and the Employer expressly denies that any wrongdoing has
occurred.

     4.  Entire Agreement. There are no other agreements of any nature between the
Employer and Executive with respect to the matters discussed in this Release, except as expressly
stated herein, and in signing this Release, Executive is not relying on any agreements or
representations, except those expressly contained in this Release.

     5.  Execution. It is not necessary that the Employer sign this Release following
Executive’s full and complete execution of it for it to become fully effective and enforceable.

     6.  Severability. If any provision of this Release is found, held or deemed by a
court of competent jurisdiction to be void, unlawful or unenforceable under any applicable statute
or controlling law, the remainder of this Release shall continue in full force and effect.

     7.  Governing Law. This Release shall be governed by and construed in accordance with
the laws of the District of Columbia (other than its choice of laws rules).

     8.  Headings. Section and subsection headings contained in this Release are inserted
for the convenience of reference only. Section and subsection headings shall not be deemed to be a
part of this Release for any purpose, and they shall not in any way define or affect the meaning,
construction or scope of any of the provisions hereof.

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank.]

2

 

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has duly executed this Agreement as of the day and year
first herein above written.

	 	 	 	 	 
	 
	 

	 	 

David L. Felsenthal
	 	 

3exv10w1

Exhibit 10.1

Sourcefire

9770 Patuxent Woods Drive

Columbia, MD 21046

410-423-1900

August 22, 2008

Via: Electronic Mail

Mr. Thomas M. McDonough

Dear Tom:

This letter relates to the Sourcefire, Inc. Executive Retention Plan (the “Plan”) that we,
Sourcefire, Inc. have adopted.

Through this letter, you are being offered the opportunity to become a participant in the Plan and
thereby to be eligible to receive the voluntary severance benefits described below in the event of
your “qualifying termination.” A copy of the Plan is attached to this letter. You should read it
carefully and become comfortable with its terms and conditions, and those set forth below. In
order to commence participation in the Plan, you must execute this letter and return it to the
Company. By executing this letter, you will be establishing a “Participation Agreement” within the
meaning of the Plan, and you will thereby be acknowledging and agreeing to the following
provisions:

	 	•	 	that you have received and reviewed a copy of the Plan;
	 
	 	•	 	that terms not defined in this letter but beginning with initial capital letters
shall have the meaning assigned to them in the Plan;
	 
	 	•	 	that your participation in the Plan requires that you agree irrevocably and
voluntarily to the terms of the Plan and the terms set forth below; and
	 
	 	•	 	that you have had the opportunity to carefully evaluate this opportunity, and desire
to participate in the Plan according to the terms and conditions set forth herein.

Subject to the foregoing, we invite you to become a “Participant” in the Plan. Your participation
in the Plan will be effective upon your signing and returning this letter agreement to the
Company within thirty (30) days of your receipt of this letter agreement. Capitalized terms used
in this participation agreement but not otherwise defined will have the meaning set forth in the
Plan.

 

 

Mr. Thomas M. McDonough

August 22, 2008

Page 2 of 5

NOW, THEREFORE, you and the Company (hereinafter referred to as “the parties”) hereby AGREE
as follows:

     1. If while the Plan and this Participation Agreement are in effect, you become entitled to a
Retention Benefit in accordance with 4.2 of the Plan as a result of your Qualifying Termination,
then the following will be applicable.

          (a) Salary Continuation Benefits. Your cash Retention Benefits will be paid in the
form of salary continuation, at the time and the manner provided in Section 4.3(a) of the Plan.
The Benefit Period used to determine the amount and duration of your salary continuation benefits
will be six (6) months. Your salary continuation benefits will be determined based on your Base
Salary, as provided in Section 4.3(a) of the Plan.

          (b) COBRA Subsidy. You and your COBRA qualifying beneficiaries will be entitled to
COBRA continuation coverage at the active employee rates in effect on your Termination Date for the
duration of your Benefit Period. Thereafter, you will be entitled to continuation coverage at your
own expense at the COBRA premium rates then in effect and only to the extent you and/or your COBRA
qualifying beneficiaries remain eligible for COBRA coverage at that time.

          (c) Acceleration of Equity Awards. Your outstanding and unvested stock options will
accelerate and become vested, and the restrictions applicable to your outstanding restricted stock
award(s) will lapse and become vested, as follows: (i) the vesting of your outstanding and
unvested stock options will accelerate and become vested by twenty-five percent (25%) of the total
shares originally subject to such stock options; and (ii) the restrictions applicable to your
outstanding restricted stock award(s) will lapse and become vested by twenty-five percent (25%) of
the total shares originally subject to such restricted stock award(s); provided, however, that in
the event that as of your Date of Termination there are not a sufficient number of unvested options
(with respect to such stock options) or shares subject to restrictions (with respect to such
restricted stock award(s)) to allow for the accelerations and lapses described above, either in
full or in part, then, then such number of unvested option shares shall vest (with respect to such
stock options) or restrictions shall lapse (with respect to such restricted stock award(s)), as
necessary to give effect to the vesting acceleration and restriction lapses described in this
subsection 1(c), up to the number of then unvested shares subject to each such stock option, or the
number of then restricted shares subject to such restricted stock award(s), as the case may be.

          (d) Definition and Interpretation of Good Reason. As provided by Section 6.2 of the
Plan, the definition of “Good
Reason” found in Section 2.10 of the Plan shall be deleted in its entirety and replaced with
the following:

“‘Good Reason’ shall mean (i) a material decrease in the Participant’s
Base Salary, (ii) a material reduction or material adverse change in the
Participant’s authority, duties, title or, job responsibilities, or
reporting structure, (iii) a geographic relocation of the Participant
without his or her consent more than thirty (30) miles from the current
location of his or her

 

 

Mr. Thomas M. McDonough

August 22, 2008

Page 3 of 5

office as of the date hereof), or (iv) a willful and
continued material breach by the Company of this Agreement or the
‘Assignment of Inventions, Non-Disclosure, Non-Solicitation and
Non-Competition Agreement’ that has a material adverse effect on the
Participant; provided, however, that any proposed Termination of Employment
by the Participant shall be presumed to be other than for Good Reason,
unless the Participant first provides written notice to the Company within
ninety (90) days following the effective date of such event, and the Company
has been provided a period of at least thirty (30) days after receipt of the
Participant’s notice during which to cure, rescind or otherwise remedy the
actions, events, or circumstances described in such notice. The
Participant’s Termination of Employment shall not be considered to be for
Good Reason unless it occurs no more than one hundred and twenty (120) days
following the initial occurrence of the purported Good Reason event(s) as
described above”.

Notwithstanding any contrary provision in the Plan or this Participation Agreement, the parties
acknowledge and agree that the reassignment of managerial authority over the Company’s Information
Technology and Operations Department from you to the Company’s Chief Financial Officer shall not
constitute Good Reason.

     2. Loss of Eligibility. Even if you are otherwise eligible to receive the Retention
Benefits described in Paragraph 1 above, you will forfeit your entitlement to those benefits to the
extent described below in the following circumstances.

	 	•	 	Failure to Provide an Effective Release. As a condition of receiving
any Retention Benefits pursuant to the Plan and this Participation Agreement, you
must execute and not revoke a Release supplied by the Company. Payments of
Retention Benefits will not commence until your Release has become effective and
irrevocable.
	 
	 	•	 	Alternative Employment. If, subsequent to the commencement of Retention
Benefits, you secure alternative employment, your right to Company-subsidized
COBRA premiums will end but, subject to the terms of the Plan and your Notice of
Eligibility, you will remain eligible to receive salary continuation benefits.
	 
	 	•	 	Violation of Certain Obligations. If, subsequent to the commencement of
Retention Benefits, you violate the continuing non-disclosure, non-competition, or
non-solicitation provisions applicable to you under an agreement with the Company,
your right to continuing salary continuation benefits and Company-subsidized COBRA
premiums will end, and the Company will be entitled to recover any prior payments
made to you and to exercise any other rights and remedies it may have under the
terms of the applicable agreement.
	 
	 	•	 	Non-Qualifying Termination. If your employment with the Company ends in
circumstances that are not a Qualifying Termination (for example, you are

 

 

Mr. Thomas M. McDonough

August 22, 2008

Page 4 of 5

terminated by the Company for Cause or you voluntarily resign without Good Reason),
you will not be entitled to receive any Retention Benefits under the Plan.

     3. Waiver of Other Benefits; Non-Duplication. As a condition of and in consideration
of your becoming eligible to receive the Retention Benefits provided under the terms and conditions
of the Plan and this Participation Agreement, you agree to waive any and all rights, benefits, and
privileges to severance or similar benefits that you might otherwise be entitled to receive under
any other oral or written plan, employment agreement or arrangement (including, without limitation,
your existing Employment Agreement, dated August 9, 2002 with an effective date of September 9,
2002). You understand that this waiver is irrevocable, and that this Participation Agreement and
the Plan set forth the entire agreement between us with respect to any subject matter covered
herein. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if you are a participant in the Sourcefire, Inc. Executive
Change in Control Severance Plan (the “Executive Plan”) and you become eligible to receive
severance benefits thereunder as a result of your “qualifying termination” (as defined in the
Executive Plan), your waiver will not preclude your receipt of such severance benefits, but you
will forfeit any Retention Benefits you might otherwise be entitled to receive under the Plan as a
result of your Termination. In no event will you be entitled to receive benefits under both the
Plan and the Executive Plan as a result of your Termination.

     4. Tax Compliance. You understand and acknowledge that you are ultimately liable and
responsible for all taxes owed in connection with any Retention Benefits you may receive under the
Plan, regardless of any action the Company takes with respect to any tax withholding obligations
that arise in connection with these benefits. The Company makes no representation or undertaking
regarding the treatment of any tax withholding in connection with your Retention Benefits. While
the Company intends to operate the Plan in a manner that avoids the limitations imposed by Section
409A of the Internal Revenue Code, the Company makes no representation that the Plan will, in fact,
avoid these limitations or will comply with Section 409A to the extent it becomes applicable. The
Company makes no undertaking to prevent Section 409A from applying to this Plan or any Retention
Benefits made under it or to mitigate the effects of such provision on any payments made pursuant
to this Plan. You are encouraged to consult a tax adviser regarding the potential tax and other
implications of participation in the Plan in light of
your own personal circumstances. You understand and acknowledge that the Company in the
exercise of its sole discretion and without your consent, may amend or modify this letter agreement
and the Plan in any manner and delay the payment of amounts pursuant to this letter agreement and
the Plan to the minimum extent necessary to meet the requirements of Section 409A as amplified by
any Treasury regulations or guidance from the Internal Revenue Service as the Company deems
appropriate or advisable.

     5. Severability of Provisions. If any provision of the Plan, or of this Participation
Agreement, is determined to be unlawful, invalid or unenforceable, such provision shall be deemed
severed from the Plan or this Participation Agreement, respectively, but every other provision of
the Plan or of this Participation Agreement shall remain in full force and effect. In substitution
for any provision of the Plan or this Participation Agreement being held unlawful,

 

 

Mr. Thomas M. McDonough

August 22, 2008

Page 5 of 5

invalid or
unenforceable, there shall be substituted a provision of similar import reflecting the original
intent of the parties hereto to the fullest extent permissible under law.

     6. Acknowledgment. You recognize and agree that your execution of this Participation
Agreement results in your enrollment and participation in the Plan, that you agree to be bound by
the terms and conditions of the Plan and this Participation Agreement, and that you understand that
this Participation Agreement may not be amended or modified except pursuant to Section 6.2 of the
Plan.

     7. Amendment of Assignment of Inventions, Non-Disclosure, Non-Solicitation and
Non-Competition Agreement. In accordance with Section 12.6 of that certain Assignment of
Inventions, Non-Disclosure, Non-Solicitation and Non-Competition Agreement dated August 9, 2002
(the “Non-Disclosure Agreement”), Sourcefire and you hereby agree to amend and modify Section 5 of
the Non-Disclosure Agreement by striking the clause “with the exception of John McCurdy and John
Czupak” in its entirety. Except as amended hereby, the terms and conditions of the Non-Disclosure
Agreement shall remain in effect and Sourcefire and you hereby affirm and agree to be bound by the
terms and conditions thereof.

     8. Entire Agreement. This Participation Agreement, the participation agreement under
the Sourcefire, Inc. Executive Change in Control Severance Plan, the participation agreement under
the Sourcefire, Inc. 2008 Executive Annual Incentive Plan, the Non-Disclosure Agreement, and your
various employee stock option agreements and restricted stock agreements with Sourcefire contain
the entire understanding of you and Sourcefire with respect to your employment by Sourcefire and
supersede any and all prior understandings, written or oral, between you and Sourcefire, including
that certain Employment Agreement, dated August 9, 2002 with an effective date of September 9,
2002.

EFFECTIVE AS OF AUGUST 22, 2008

	 	 	 	 	 
	 	SOURCEFIRE, INC., a Delaware corporation

 	 
	 	By:  	/s/ John Burris
 	 
	 	 	Title: Chief Executive Officer  	 
	 	 	                  “Company” 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 	 
	 	Accepted and Agreed this 25th day of August, 2008.

THOMAS M. MCDONOUGH

 	 
	 	SIGNED:  	/s/ Thomas M. McDonough
 	 
	 	 	             “Participant”

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