DOCENT INC
S-1/A, EX-1.1, 2000-09-27
BUSINESS SERVICES, NEC
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                                                                     EXHIBIT 1.1

                               8,000,000 Shares

                                 DOCENT, INC.

                                 Common Stock

                               ($.001 Par Value)


                         EQUITY UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
                         -----------------------------


                                                           _______________, 2000



Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.
Dain Rauscher Incorporated
Thomas Weisel Partners LLC

As Representatives of the
   Several Underwriters
c/o  Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.
One South Street
Baltimore, Maryland 21202

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     Docent, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), proposes to sell to
the several underwriters (the "Underwriters") named in Schedule I hereto for
whom you are acting as representatives (the "Representatives") an aggregate of
8,000,000 shares of the Company's Common Stock, $.001 par value (the "Firm
Shares").  The respective amounts of the Firm Shares to be so purchased by the
several Underwriters are set forth opposite their names in Schedule I hereto.
The Company also proposes to sell, at the Underwriters' option, an aggregate of
up to 1,200,000 additional shares of the Company's Common Stock (the "Option
Shares") as set forth below.

     As the Representatives, you have advised the Company (a) that you are
authorized to enter into this Agreement on behalf of the several Underwriters,
and  (b) that the several Underwriters are willing, acting severally and not
jointly, to purchase the numbers of Firm Shares set forth opposite their
respective names in Schedule I, plus their pro rata portion of the Option Shares
if you elect to exercise the over-allotment option in whole or in part for the
accounts of the several Underwriters.  The Firm Shares and the Option Shares (to
the extent the aforementioned option is exercised) are herein collectively
called the "Shares."
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     Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. ("DBSI") has agreed to reserve up to 720,000
of the Firm Shares to be purchased by it under this Agreement for sale to the
Company's directors, officers, employees and business associates and other
parties related to the Company (collectively, "Participants"), as set forth in
the Prospectus under the heading "Underwriting" (the "Directed Share Program").
The Shares to be sold by DBSI and its affiliates pursuant to the Directed Share
Program are referred to hereinafter as the "Directed Shares."  Any Directed
Shares not orally confirmed for purchase by any Participants by the end of the
business day on which this Agreement is executed will be offered to the public
by the Underwriters as set forth in the Prospectus.

     In consideration of the mutual agreements contained herein and of the
interests of the parties in the transactions contemplated hereby, the parties
hereto agree as follows:

     1.   REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY.  The Company represents
          ---------------------------------------------
and warrants to each of the Underwriters as follows:

          (a)  A registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-34546) with
respect to the Shares has been prepared by the Company in conformity with the
requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act") and the rules
and regulations (the "Rules and Regulations") of the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "Commission") thereunder and has been filed with the Commission.
Copies of such registration statement, including any amendments thereto, the
preliminary prospectuses (meeting the requirements of the Rules and Regulations)
contained therein and the exhibits, financial statements and schedules, as
finally amended and revised, have heretofore been delivered by the Company to
you. Such registration statement, together with any registration statement filed
by the Company pursuant to Rule 462(b) of the Act, herein referred to as the
"Registration Statement," which shall be deemed to include all information
omitted therefrom in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in the Prospectus
referred to below, has become effective under the Act and no post-effective
amendment to the Registration Statement has been filed as of the date of this
Agreement.  Each preliminary prospectus included in the Registration Statement
prior to the time it becomes effective is herein referred to as a "Preliminary
Prospectus."  "Prospectus" means the  form of prospectus first filed with the
Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b).  Prospectus shall be deemed to include any
supplements or amendments thereto filed with the Commission after the date of
filing of the Prospectus under Rule 424(b) and prior to the termination of the
offering of the Shares by the Underwriters.

          (b)  The Company has been duly organized and is validly existing as a
corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, with
corporate power and authority to own or lease its properties and conduct its
business as described in the Registration Statement.  Each of the subsidiaries
of the Company as listed in Exhibit 21 to Item 16(a) of the Registration
Statement (collectively, the "Subsidiaries") has been duly organized and is
validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the
jurisdiction of its incorporation, with corporate power and authority to own or
lease its properties and conduct its business as described in the Registration
Statement. The Subsidiaries are the only subsidiaries, direct or indirect, of
the Company.  None of the Subsidiaries is a significant subsidiary as defined in
Rule 405 promulgated under the Act. None of the Subsidiaries except for Docent
(Netherlands) B.v. has significant assets or operations.

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The Company and each of the Subsidiaries are duly qualified to transact business
in all jurisdictions in which the conduct of their business requires such
qualification. The outstanding shares of capital stock of each of the
Subsidiaries have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and
non-assessable and are owned by the Company or another Subsidiary free and clear
of all liens, encumbrances and equities and claims; and no options, warrants or
other rights to purchase, agreements or other obligations to issue or other
rights to convert any obligations into shares of capital stock or ownership
interests in the Subsidiaries are outstanding.

          (c)  The outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company have been
duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable; the
Shares to be issued and sold by the Company have been duly authorized and when
issued and paid for as contemplated herein will be validly issued, fully paid
and non-assessable; and no preemptive rights of stockholders exist with respect
to any of the Shares or the issue and sale thereof.  Neither the filing of the
Registration Statement nor the offering or sale of the Shares as contemplated by
this Agreement gives rise to any rights, other than those which have been waived
or satisfied, for or relating to the registration of any shares of Common Stock
within 180 days of the date that the Registration Statement is declared
effective by the Commission.

          (d)  The information set forth under the caption "Capitalization" in
the Prospectus is true and correct.  All of the Shares conform to the
description thereof contained in the Registration Statement.  The  form of
certificates for the Shares conforms to the corporate law of the jurisdiction of
the Company's incorporation.

          (e)  The Commission has not issued an order preventing or suspending
the use of any Prospectus relating to the proposed offering of the Shares nor
instituted proceedings for that purpose.  The Registration Statement contains,
and the Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto will contain, all
statements which are required to be stated therein by, and will conform to the
requirements of, the Act and the Rules and Regulations.  The Registration
Statement and any amendments thereto do not contain, and will not contain, any
untrue statement of a material fact and do not omit, and will not omit, to state
any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading.  The Prospectus and any amendments and
supplements thereto do not contain, and will not contain, any untrue statement
of material fact; and do not omit and will not omit, to state any material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in
the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;
provided, however, that the Company makes no representations or warranties as to
information contained in or omitted from the Registration Statement or the
Prospectus, or any such amendment or supplement, in reliance upon, and in
conformity with, written information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of
any Underwriter through the Representatives, specifically for use in the
preparation thereof.

          (f)  The financial statements of the Company, together with related
notes and schedules as set forth in the Registration Statement, present fairly
the financial position and the results of operations and cash flows of the
Company, at the indicated dates and for the indicated

                                       3
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periods. The financial statements and related schedules have been prepared in
accordance with generally accepted principles of accounting, consistently
applied throughout the periods involved, except as disclosed therein, and all
adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of results for such periods have
been made. The summary financial and statistical data included in the
Registration Statement present fairly the information shown therein and such
data have been compiled on a basis consistent with the financial statements
presented therein and the books and records of the Company. The pro forma
financial information included in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus
present fairly the information shown therein, have been prepared in accordance
with the Commission's rules and guidelines with respect to pro forma financial
information, have been properly compiled on the pro forma bases described
therein, and, in the opinion of the Company, the assumptions used in the
preparation thereof are reasonable and the adjustments used therein are
appropriate to give effect to the transactions or circumstances referred to
therein.

          (g)  PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, who have certified certain of the
financial statements of the Company filed with the Commission as part of the
Registration Statement, are independent public accountants with respect to the
Company as required by the Act and the Rules and Regulations.

          (h)  There is no action, suit, claim or proceeding pending or, to the
knowledge of the Company, threatened against the Company or any of the
Subsidiaries before any court or administrative agency or otherwise which if
determined adversely to the Company or any of the Subsidiaries might result in
any material adverse change in the earnings, business,  management, properties,
assets, rights, operations, condition (financial or otherwise) or prospects of
the Company and of the Subsidiaries taken as a whole or prevent the consummation
of the transactions contemplated hereby, except as set forth in the Registration
Statement.

          (i)  The Company and the Subsidiaries have good and marketable title
to all of the properties and assets reflected in the financial statements (or as
described in the Registration Statement) hereinabove described, subject to no
lien, mortgage, pledge, charge or encumbrance of any kind except those reflected
in such financial statements (or as described in the Registration Statement) or
which are not material in amount.  The Company and the Subsidiaries occupy their
leased properties under valid and binding leases conforming in all material
respects to the description thereof set forth in the Registration Statement.

          (j)  The Company and the Subsidiaries have filed all federal, state,
local and foreign tax returns which have been required to be filed and have paid
all taxes indicated by said returns and all assessments received by them or any
of them to the extent that such taxes have become due and are not being
contested in good faith and for which an adequate reserve for accrual has been
established in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.  All
tax liabilities have been adequately provided for in the financial statements of
the Company, and the Company does not know of any actual or proposed additional
material tax assessments.

          (k)  Since the respective dates as of which information is given in
the Registration Statement, as it may be amended or supplemented, there has not
been any material adverse change

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or any development involving a prospective material adverse change in or
affecting the earnings, business, management, properties, assets, rights,
operations, condition (financial or otherwise) or prospects of the Company and
the Subsidiaries taken as a whole, whether or not occurring in the ordinary
course of business, and there has not been any material transaction entered into
or any material transaction that is probable of being entered into by the
Company or the Subsidiaries, other than transactions in the ordinary course of
business and changes and transactions described in the Registration Statement,
as it may be amended or supplemented. The Company and the Subsidiaries have no
material contingent obligations which are not disclosed in the Company's
financial statements or included in the Registration Statement.

          (l)  Neither the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries is or with the
giving of notice or lapse of time or both, will be, in violation of or in
default under its Charter or By-Laws or under any agreement, lease, contract,
indenture or other instrument or obligation to which it is a party or by which
it, or any of its properties, is bound and which default is of material
significance in respect of the condition, financial or otherwise of the Company
and the Subsidiaries taken as a whole or the business, management, properties,
assets, rights, operations, condition (financial or otherwise) or prospects of
the Company and the Subsidiaries taken as a whole.  The execution and delivery
of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions herein contemplated
and the fulfillment of the terms hereof will not conflict with or result in a
breach of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, any
indenture, mortgage, deed of trust or other agreement or instrument to which the
Company or any Subsidiary is a party, or of the Charter or By-Laws of the
Company or any order, rule or regulation applicable to the Company or any
Subsidiary of any court or of any regulatory body or administrative agency or
other governmental body having jurisdiction.

          (m)  Each approval, consent, order, authorization, designation,
declaration or filing by or with any regulatory, administrative or other
governmental body necessary in connection with the execution and delivery by the
Company of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions herein
contemplated (except such additional steps as may be required by the Commission,
the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (the "NASD") or such
additional steps as may be necessary to qualify the Shares for public offering
by the Underwriters under state securities or Blue Sky laws) has been obtained
or made and is in full force and effect.

          (n)  The Company and each of the Subsidiaries hold all material
licenses, certificates and permits from governmental authorities which are
necessary to the conduct of their businesses.  The Company and the Subsidiaries
each own or possess the right to use all patents, patent rights, trademarks,
trade names, service marks, service names, copyrights, license rights, know-how
(including trade secrets and other unpatented and unpatentable proprietary or
confidential information, systems or procedures) and other intellectual property
rights ("Intellectual Property") necessary to carry on their business in all
material respects.  Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, neither
the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries has infringed, and none of the Company
or the Subsidiaries has received notice of conflict with, any Intellectual
Property of any other person or entity.  The Company has taken all reasonable
steps necessary to secure interests in such Intellectual Property from third
parties.  There are no outstanding options, licenses or agreements of any kind
relating to the Intellectual Property of the Company that are required to be

                                       5
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described in the Prospectus and are not described in all material respects. The
Company is not a party to or bound by any options, licenses or agreements with
respect to the Intellectual Property of any other person or entity that are
required to be set forth in the Prospectus and are not described in all material
respects. None of the technology employed by the Company has been obtained or is
being used by the Company in violation of any contractual obligation binding on
the Company or any of its officers, directors or employees or otherwise in
violation of the rights of any persons. Except as set forth in the Registration
Statement, the Company has not received any written or oral communications
alleging that the Company has violated, infringed or conflicted with, or, by
conducting its business as set forth in the Prospectus, would violate, infringe
or conflict with, any of the Intellectual Property of any other person or
entity. The Company knows of no infringement by others of Intellectual Property
owned by or licensed to the Company.

          (o)  Neither the Company, nor to the Company's knowledge, any of its
affiliates, has taken or may take, directly or indirectly, any action designed
to cause or result in, or which has constituted or which might reasonably be
expected to constitute, the stabilization or manipulation of the price of the
shares of Common Stock to facilitate the sale or resale of the Shares.  The
Company acknowledges that the Underwriters may engage in passive market making
transactions in the Shares on The Nasdaq Stock Market in accordance with
Regulation M under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
"Exchange Act").

          (p)  Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is an "investment company"
within the meaning of such term under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (as
amended, the "1940 Act") and the rules and regulations of the Commission
thereunder.

          (q) The Company maintains a system of internal accounting controls
sufficient to provide reasonable assurances that (i) transactions are executed
in accordance with management's general or specific authorization; (ii)
transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial
statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles and to
maintain accountability for assets; (iii) access to assets is permitted only in
accordance with management's general or specific authorization; and (iv) the
recorded accountability for assets is compared with existing assets at
reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any
differences.

          (r)  The Company and each of the Subsidiaries carry, or are covered
by, insurance from insurers of recognized financial responsibility in such
amounts and covering such risks as is adequate for their respective businesses,
assets, employees, officers and directors  and the value of their respective
properties and as is customary for companies engaged in similar industries and
such insurance is in full force and effect.  The Company and each of the
Subsidiaries are in compliance with the terms of such policies in all material
respects.  Neither the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries has any reason to
believe that it will not be able to renew its existing insurance coverage as and
when such coverage expires or to obtain similar coverage from similar insurers
as may be necessary to continue its respective business.  Neither the Company
nor any of the Subsidiaries has been denied any insurance coverage which it has
sought or for which it has applied.

                                       6
<PAGE>

          (s)  The Company is in compliance in all material respects with all
presently applicable provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act
of 1974, as amended, including the regulations and published interpretations
thereunder (collectively, "ERISA"). No "reportable event" (as defined in ERISA)
has occurred with respect to any "pension plan" (as defined in ERISA) for which
the Company would have any liability.  The Company has not incurred and does not
expect to incur liability under (i) Title IV of ERISA with respect to
termination of, or withdrawal from, any "pension plan" or (ii) Sections 412 or
4971 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, including the regulations
and published interpretations thereunder (collectively, the "Code"); and each
"pension plan" for which the Company would have any liability that is intended
to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code is so qualified in all material
respects and nothing has occurred, whether by action or by failure to act, which
would cause the loss of such qualification.

          (t)  There are no affiliations or associations between any member of
the NASD and any of the Company's officers, directors or, to the best of the
knowledge of the Company, any stockholder of the Company, except as set forth in
the Registration Statement or otherwise disclosed in writing to the
Representatives.

          (u)  Except as described in the Prospectus, the Company has not sold
or issued any shares of Common Stock during the six-month period preceding the
date of the Prospectus, including any sales pursuant to Rule 144A under, or
Regulations D or S of, the Act, other than shares issued pursuant to employee
benefit plans, qualified stock options plans or other employee compensation
plans or pursuant to outstanding options, rights or warrants.

          (v)  There are no contracts or other documents which are required to
be described in the Prospectus or filed as exhibits to the Registration
Statement by the Act or by the Rules and Regulations and which have not been
described in the Prospectus or filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement
or incorporated therein by reference as permitted by the Rules and Regulations.

          (w) No relationship, direct or indirect, exists between or among the
Company on the one hand, and the directors, officers, stockholders, customers or
suppliers of the Company on the other hand, which is required to be described in
the Registration Statement or the Prospectus and which is not so described.

          (x)  Except as described in the Prospectus, neither the Company nor
any of the Subsidiaries is involved in any labor dispute nor, to the knowledge
of the Company, is any such dispute threatened.  The Company is not aware of any
existing or imminent labor disturbance by the employees of any of its principal
suppliers or contractors.  Except as described in the Prospectus, the Company is
not aware of any threatened or pending litigation between the Company or the
Subsidiaries and any of their respective executive officers and has not been
advised by officers of the Company or the Subsidiaries that such officers will
not remain in the employment of the Company or the Subsidiaries.

                                       7
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          (y)  Since the date as of which information is given in the Prospectus
through the date hereof, and except as may otherwise be disclosed in the
Prospectus, the Company has not (i) issued or granted any securities, (ii)
incurred any liability or obligation, direct or contingent, other than
liabilities and obligations which were incurred in the ordinary course of
business, (iii) entered into any transaction not in the ordinary course of
business or (iv) declared or paid any dividend on its capital stock.

         (z)  Neither the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries, nor any director,
officer, agent, employee or other person associated with or acting on behalf of
the Company or any of the Subsidiaries, has used any corporate funds for any
unlawful contribution, gift, entertainment or other unlawful expense relating to
political activity, made any direct or indirect unlawful payment to any foreign
or domestic government official or employee from corporate funds, violated or is
in violation of any provision of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977 or
made any bribe, rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback or other unlawful
payment.

         (aa)  There has been no storage, disposal, generation, manufacture,
refinement, transportation, handling or treatment of toxic wastes, medical
wastes, hazardous wastes or hazardous substances by the Company or any of the
Subsidiaries (or, to the knowledge of the Company, any of their predecessors in
interest) at, upon or from any of the property now or previously owned or leased
by the Company or the Subsidiaries in violation of any applicable law,
ordinance, rule, regulation, order, judgment, decree or permit or which would
require remedial action under any applicable law, ordinance, rule, regulation,
order, judgment, decree or permit, except for any violation or remedial action
which would not have, or could not be reasonably likely to have, singularly or
in the aggregate with all such violations and remedial actions, a material
adverse effect on the general affairs, management, financial position,
stockholders' equity or results of operations of the Company and the
Subsidiaries taken as a whole.  There has been no material spill, discharge,
leak, emission, injection, escape, dumping or release of any kind onto such
property or into the environment surrounding such property of any toxic wastes,
medical wastes, solid wastes, hazardous wastes or hazardous substances due to or
caused by the Company or any of the Subsidiaries or with respect to which the
Company or any of the Subsidiaries have knowledge. The terms "hazardous wastes",
"toxic wastes", "hazardous substances" and "medical wastes" shall have the
meanings specified in any applicable local, state, federal and foreign laws or
regulations with respect to environmental protection.

          (bb)  No consent, approval, authorization or order of, or
qualification with, any governmental body or agency, other than those obtained,
is required in connection with the offering of the Directed Shares in any
jurisdiction where the Directed Shares are being offered.

          (cc)  The Company has not offered, or caused DBSI or its affiliates to
offer, Shares to any person pursuant to the Directed Share Program with the
specific intent to unlawfully influence (i) a customer or independent contractor
of the Company to alter the customer's or independent contractor's level or type
of business with the Company, or (ii) a trade journalist or publication to write
or publish favorable information about the Company or its products.

                                       8
<PAGE>

     2.   PURCHASE, SALE AND DELIVERY OF THE FIRM SHARES; GRANT OF OPTION.
          ---------------------------------------------------------------

          (a)  On the basis of the representations, warranties and covenants
herein contained, and subject to the conditions herein set forth, the Company
agrees to sell to the Underwriters and each Underwriter agrees, severally and
not jointly, to purchase, at a price of $_____ per share, the number of Firm
Shares set forth opposite the name of each Underwriter in Schedule I hereof,
subject to adjustments in accordance with Section 9 hereof.

          (b)  Payment for the Firm Shares to be sold hereunder is to be made in
New York Clearing House funds by Federal wire transfer (same day) against
delivery of certificates therefor to the Representatives for the several
accounts of the Underwriters.  Such payment and delivery are to be made through
the facilities of the Depository Trust Company, New York, New York at 10:00
a.m., New York time, on the third business day after the date of this Agreement
or at such other time and date not later than five business days thereafter as
you and the Company shall agree upon, such time and date being herein referred
to as the "Closing Date."  As used herein, "business day" means a day on which
the New York Stock Exchange is open for trading and on which banks in New York
are open for business and are not permitted by law or executive order to be
closed.

          (c)  In addition, on the basis of the representations and warranties
herein contained and subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the
Company hereby grants an option to the several Underwriters to purchase the
Option Shares at the price per share as set forth in the first paragraph of this
Section 2.  The option granted hereby may be exercised in whole or in part by
giving written notice (i) at any time before the Closing Date and (ii) only once
thereafter within 30 days after the date of this Agreement, by you, as
Representatives of the several Underwriters, to the Company setting forth the
number of Option Shares as to which the several Underwriters are exercising the
option, the names and denominations in which the Option Shares are to be
registered and the time and date at which such certificates are to be delivered.
The time and date at which certificates for Option Shares are to be delivered
shall be determined by the Representatives but shall not be earlier than three
nor later than 10 full business days after the exercise of such option, nor in
any event prior to the Closing Date (such time and date being herein referred to
as the "Option Closing Date").  If the date of exercise of the option is three
or more days before the Closing Date, the notice of exercise shall set the
Closing Date as the Option Closing Date.  The number of Option Shares to be
purchased by each Underwriter shall be in the same proportion to the total
number of Option Shares being purchased as the number of Firm Shares being
purchased by such Underwriter bears to the total number of Firm Shares, adjusted
by you in such manner as to avoid fractional shares.  The option with respect to
the Option Shares granted hereunder may be exercised only to cover over-
allotments in the sale of the Firm Shares by the Underwriters.  You, as
Representatives of the several Underwriters, may cancel such option at any time
prior to its expiration by giving written notice of such cancellation to the
Company.  To the extent, if any, that the option is exercised, payment for the
Option Shares shall be made on the Option Closing Date in Federal (same day
funds) through the facilities of the Depository Trust Company in New York, New
York drawn to the order of the Company.

                                       9
<PAGE>

     3.   OFFERING BY THE UNDERWRITERS.
          ----------------------------

          It is understood that the several Underwriters are to make a public
offering of the Firm Shares as soon as the Representatives deem it advisable to
do so.  The Firm Shares are to be initially offered to the public at the initial
public offering price set forth in the Prospectus.  The Representatives may from
time to time thereafter change the public offering price and other selling
terms.  To the extent, if at all, that any Option Shares are purchased pursuant
to Section 2 hereof, the Underwriters will offer them to the public on the
foregoing terms.

          It is further understood that you will act as the Representatives for
the Underwriters in the offering and sale of the Shares in accordance with a
Master Agreement Among Underwriters entered into by you and the several other
Underwriters.

     4.   COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY.  The Company covenants and agrees with the
          ------------------------
several Underwriters that:

          (a)  The Company will (A) use its best efforts to cause the
Registration Statement to become effective or, if the procedure in Rule 430A of
the Rules and Regulations is followed, to prepare and timely file with the
Commission under Rule 424(b) of the Rules and Regulations a Prospectus in a form
approved by the Representatives containing information previously omitted at the
time of effectiveness of the Registration Statement in reliance on Rule 430A of
the Rules and Regulations, (B) not file any amendment to the Registration
Statement or supplement to the Prospectus of which the Representatives shall not
previously have been advised and furnished with a copy or to which the
Representatives shall have reasonably objected in writing or which is not in
compliance with the Rules and Regulations and  (C) file on a timely basis all
reports  required to be filed by the Company with the Commission subsequent to
the date of the Prospectus and prior to the termination of the offering of the
Shares by the Underwriters.

          (b)  The Company will advise the Representatives promptly (A) when the
Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto shall have become
effective, (B) of receipt of any comments from the Commission, (C) of any
request of the Commission for amendment of the Registration Statement or for
supplement to the Prospectus or for any additional information, and (D) of the
issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the
Registration Statement or the use of the Prospectus or of the institution or
threatening of any proceedings for that purpose.  The Company will use its best
efforts to prevent the issuance of any such stop order preventing or suspending
the use of the Prospectus and to obtain as soon as possible the lifting thereof,
if issued.

          (c)  The Company will cooperate with the Representatives in
endeavoring to qualify the Shares for sale under the securities laws of such
jurisdictions as the Representatives may reasonably have designated in writing
and will make such applications, file such documents, and furnish such
information as may be reasonably required for that purpose, provided the Company
shall not be required to qualify as a foreign corporation or to file a general
consent to service of process in any jurisdiction where it is not now so
qualified or required to file such a consent.  The

                                       10
<PAGE>

Company will, from time to time, prepare and file such statements, reports, and
other documents, as are or may be required to continue such qualifications in
effect for so long a period as the Representatives may reasonably request for
distribution of the Shares.

          (d)  The Company will deliver to, or upon the order of, the
Representatives, from time to time, as many copies of any Preliminary Prospectus
as the Representatives may reasonably request.  The Company will deliver to, or
upon the order of, the Representatives during the period when delivery of a
Prospectus is required under the Act, as many copies of the Prospectus in final
form, or as thereafter amended or supplemented, as the Representatives may
reasonably request.  The Company will deliver to the Representatives at or
before the Closing Date, four signed copies of the Registration Statement and
all amendments thereto including all exhibits filed therewith, and will deliver
to the Representatives such number of copies of the Registration Statement
(including such number of copies of the exhibits filed therewith that may
reasonably be requested) and of all amendments thereto, as the Representatives
may reasonably request.

          (e) The Company will comply with the Act and the Rules and
Regulations, and the Exchange Act, and the rules and regulations of the
Commission thereunder, so as to permit the completion of the distribution of the
Shares as contemplated in this Agreement and the Prospectus.  If during the
period in which a prospectus is required by law to be delivered by an
Underwriter or dealer, any event shall occur as a result of which, in the
judgment of the Company or in the opinion of the Underwriters, it becomes
necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus in order to make the statements
therein, in the light of the circumstances existing at the time the Prospectus
is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading, or, if it is necessary at any time
to amend or supplement the Prospectus to comply with any law, the Company
promptly will prepare and file with the Commission an appropriate amendment to
the Registration Statement or supplement to the Prospectus so that the
Prospectus as so amended or supplemented will not, in the light of the
circumstances when it is so delivered, be misleading, or so that the Prospectus
will comply with the law.

          (f)  The Company will make generally available to its security
holders, as soon as it is practicable to do so, but in any event not later than
15 months after the effective date of the Registration Statement, an earning
statement (which need not be audited) in reasonable detail, covering a period of
at least 12 consecutive months beginning after the effective date of the
Registration Statement, which earning statement shall satisfy the requirements
of Section 11(a) of the Act and Rule 158 of the Rules and Regulations and will
advise you in writing when such statement has been so made available.

          (g)  Prior to the Closing Date, the Company will furnish to the
Underwriters, as soon as they have been prepared by or are available to the
Company, a copy of any unaudited interim financial statements of the Company for
any period subsequent to the period covered by the most recent financial
statements appearing in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.

          (h)  For a period of 180 days from the date of the Prospectus, the
Company will not, directly or indirectly, (1) offer for sale, sell, pledge or
otherwise dispose of (or enter into any

                                       11
<PAGE>

transaction or device which is designed to, or could be expected to, result in
the disposition by any person at any time in the future of) any shares of Common
Stock or securities convertible into or exchangeable for Common Stock (other
than the Shares and shares issued pursuant to employee benefit plans, qualified
stock option plans or other employee compensation plans existing on the date
hereof or pursuant to currently outstanding options, warrants or rights), or
sell or grant options, rights or warrants with respect to any shares of Common
Stock or securities convertible into or exchangeable for Common Stock (other
than the grant of options pursuant to option plans existing on the date hereof),
or (2) enter into any swap or other derivatives transaction that transfers to
another, in whole or in part, any of the economic benefits or risks of ownership
of such shares of Common Stock, whether any such transaction described in clause
(1) or (2) above is to be settled by delivery of Common Stock or other
securities, in cash or otherwise, in each case without the prior written consent
of DBSI.

          (i)  The Company will use its best efforts to list, subject to notice
of issuance, the Shares on The Nasdaq Stock Market.

          (j)  The Company has caused each officer and director of the Company
to furnish to you, on or prior to the date of this Agreement, a letter or
letters, in form and substance satisfactory to the Underwriters, pursuant to
which each such person shall agree not to offer, sell, sell short or otherwise
dispose of any shares of Common Stock of the Company or other capital stock of
the Company, or any other securities convertible, exchangeable or exercisable
for shares of Common Stock or derivative of shares of Common Stock owned by such
person or request the registration for the offer or sale of any of the foregoing
(or as to which such person has the right to direct the disposition of) for a
period of 180 days after the date of this Agreement, directly or indirectly,
except with the prior written consent of  DBSI ("Lockup Agreements").

          (k)  The Company shall apply the net proceeds of its sale of the
Shares as set forth in the Prospectus and shall file such reports with the
Commission with respect to the sale of the Shares and the application of the
proceeds therefrom as may be required in accordance with Rule 463 under the Act.

          (l)  The Company shall not invest or otherwise use the proceeds
received by the Company from its sale of the Shares in such a manner as would
require the Company or any of the Subsidiaries to register as an investment
company under the 1940 Act.

          (m)  The Company will maintain a transfer agent and, if necessary
under the jurisdiction of incorporation of the Company, a registrar for the
Common  Stock.

          (n)  The Company will not take, directly or indirectly, any action
designed to cause or result in, or that has constituted or might reasonably be
expected to constitute, the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any
securities of the Company.

                                       12
<PAGE>

          (o)  The Company will comply with all applicable securities and other
applicable laws, rules and regulations in each jurisdiction in which the
Directed Shares are offered in connection with the Directed Share Program.

     5.   Costs and Expenses.
          ------------------

          The Company will pay all costs, expenses and fees incident to the
performance of the obligations of the Company under this Agreement, including,
without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the following:  accounting
fees of the Company; the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company; the
cost of preparing, printing and delivering to, or as requested by, the
Underwriters copies of the Registration Statement, Preliminary Prospectuses, the
Prospectus, this Agreement, the Underwriters' Invitation Letter, the Listing
Application with the Nasdaq Stock Market, the Blue Sky Survey and any
supplements or amendments thereto; the filing fees of the Commission; the filing
fees and expenses (including legal fees and disbursements) incident to securing
any required review by the NASD of the terms of the sale of the Shares; the
Listing Fee of the Nasdaq Stock Market; and the expenses, including the fees and
disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters, incurred in connection with the
qualification of the Shares under state securities or Blue Sky laws. The Company
agrees to pay all costs and expenses of the Underwriters, including the fees and
disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters, incident to the offer and sale of
Directed Shares by the Underwriters to employees and persons having business
relationships with the Company and the Subsidiaries.  The Company shall not,
however, be required to pay for any of the Underwriters' expenses (other than
those related to qualification under NASD regulation and state securities or
Blue Sky laws, and those incurred incident to the offer and sale of Directed
Shares) except that, if this Agreement shall not be consummated because the
conditions in Section 6 hereof are not satisfied, or because this Agreement is
terminated by the Representatives pursuant to Section 11 hereof, or by reason of
any failure, refusal or inability on the part of the Company to perform any
undertaking or satisfy any condition of this Agreement or to comply with any of
the terms hereof on its part to be performed, unless such failure to satisfy
said condition or to comply with said terms be due to the default or omission of
any Underwriter, then the Company shall reimburse the several Underwriters for
reasonable out-of-pocket expenses, including fees and disbursements of counsel,
reasonably incurred in connection with investigating, marketing and proposing to
market the Shares or in contemplation of performing their obligations hereunder.
The Company shall not in any event be liable to any of the several Underwriters
for damages on account of loss of anticipated profits from the sale by them of
the Shares.

     6.   Conditions of Obligations of the Underwriters.
          ---------------------------------------------

          The several obligations of the Underwriters to purchase the Firm
Shares on the Closing Date and the Option Shares, if any, on the Option Closing
Date are subject to the accuracy, as of the Closing Date or the Option Closing
Date, as the case may be, of the representations and warranties of the Company
contained herein, and to the performance by the Company of its covenants and
obligations hereunder and to the following additional conditions:

                                       13
<PAGE>

          (a)  The Registration Statement and all post-effective amendments
thereto shall have become effective and any and all filings required by Rule 424
and Rule 430A of the Rules and Regulations shall have been made, and any request
of the Commission for additional information (to be included in the Registration
Statement or otherwise) shall have been disclosed to the Representatives and
complied with to their reasonable satisfaction.  No stop order suspending the
effectiveness of the Registration Statement, as amended from time to time, shall
have been issued and no proceedings for that purpose shall have been taken or,
to the knowledge of the Company, shall be contemplated by the Commission and no
injunction, restraining order, or order of any nature by a federal or state
court of competent jurisdiction shall have been issued as of the Closing Date
which would prevent the issuance of the Shares.

          (b) No Underwriter shall have discovered and disclosed to the Company
on or prior to such Closing Date or Option Closing Date, as the case may be,
that the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement
thereto contains an untrue statement of a fact which, in the opinion of Gibson,
Dunn & Crutcher LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, is material or omits to state
a fact which, in the opinion of such counsel, is material and is required to be
stated therein or is necessary to make the statements therein not misleading.

          (c)  All corporate proceedings and other legal matters incident to the
authorization, form and validity of this Agreement, the Shares, the Registration
Statement and the Prospectus, and all other legal matters relating to this
Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby shall be reasonably
satisfactory in all material respects to counsel for the Underwriters, and the
Company shall have furnished to such counsel all documents and information that
they may reasonably request to enable them to pass upon such matters.

          (d)  The Representatives shall have received on the Closing Date or
the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, the opinion of Pillsbury Madison &
Sutro LLP, counsel for the Company, dated the Closing Date or the Option Closing
Date, as the case may be, addressed to the Underwriters to the effect that:

               (i)  The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly
existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of
Delaware, with corporate power and authority to own or lease its properties and
conduct its business as described in the Prospectus. Docent (Netherlands) B.V.
has been duly organized and is validly existing as a corporation in good
standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation, with corporate
power and authority to own or lease its properties and conduct its business as
described in the Prospectus. The Company has been duly qualified as a foreign
corporation for the transaction of business and is in good standing in all
jurisdictions in which the conduct of its business requires such qualification,
except where the failure to qualify would not have a materially adverse effect
upon the business of the Company and the Subsidiaries taken as a whole. The
outstanding shares of capital stock of Docent (Netherlands) B.V. have been duly
authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable and are
owned by the Company. To such counsel's knowledge, the outstanding shares of
capital stock of Docent (Netherlands) B.V. is owned free and clear of all liens,
encumbrances and equities and claims, and no options, warrants or other rights
to purchase, agreements or other

                                       14
<PAGE>

obligations to issue or other rights to convert any obligations into any shares
of capital stock or of ownership interests in Docent (Netherlands) B.V. are
outstanding.

          (ii)  The Company has authorized capitalization as set forth under the
caption "Capitalization" in the Prospectus.  The authorized shares of the
Company's Common Stock have been duly authorized.  The outstanding shares of the
Company's Common Stock have been duly authorized and validly issued and are non-
assessable and, to the best knowledge of such counsel, are fully paid.  [Company
counsel to specify in opinion that it reviewed officer's certificates/cancelled
checks, etc.]  The Shares conform in all material respects to the description
thereof contained in the Prospectus.  The certificates for the Shares, assuming
they are in the form filed with the Commission,  are in due and proper form in
all material respects.  The shares of Common Stock, including the Option Shares,
if any, to be sold by the Company pursuant to this Agreement have been duly
authorized and will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable when issued
and paid for as contemplated by this Agreement.  No preemptive rights of
stockholders exist with respect to any of the Shares or the issuance or sale
thereof (i) under the Company's Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws, each as
amended to date, and (ii) to the knowledge of such counsel, with respect to any
law that the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is subject to or any agreement
to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party.

          (iii)  Except as described in the Prospectus, to the knowledge of such
counsel, there are no outstanding securities of the Company convertible or
exchangeable into or evidencing the right to purchase or subscribe for any
shares of capital stock of the Company, and there are no outstanding or
authorized options, warrants or rights of any character obligating the Company
to issue any shares of its capital stock or any securities convertible or
exchangeable into or evidencing the right to purchase or subscribe for any
shares of such stock.  Except as described in the Prospectus, to the knowledge
of such counsel, no holder of any securities of the Company or any other person
has the right, contractual or otherwise, which has not been satisfied or
effectively waived,  to cause the Company to sell or otherwise issue to them, or
to permit them to underwrite the sale of, any of the Shares or the right to have
any shares of Common Stock or other securities of the Company included in the
Registration Statement or the right, as a result of the filing of the
Registration Statement, to require registration under the Act of any shares of
Common Stock or other securities of the Company within 180 days of the date that
the Registration Statement is declared effective by the Commission.

          (iv)  Based solely upon oral advice of the Staff of the Commission,
the Registration Statement has become effective under the Act as of the date and
time specified in the opinion, the Prospectus was filed with the Commission
pursuant to the subparagraph of Rule 424(b) of the Rules and Regulations
specified in the opinion, and to the knowledge of such counsel, no stop order
proceedings with respect thereto have been instituted or are pending, or are
threatened under the Act.

          (v)  The Registration Statement, the Prospectus and each amendment or
supplement thereto when they became effective or were filed with the Commission,
each complied as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the
Act and the applicable rules and

                                       15
<PAGE>

regulations thereunder (except that such counsel need express no opinion as to
the financial statements and related schedules and other financial data
therein).

          (vi)  The statements under the captions "Certain Transactions,"
"Management--Compensation Plans," "Management--Limitation on Liability and
Indemnification Matters," "Description of Capital Stock" and "Shares Eligible
for Future Sale" in the Prospectus, insofar as such statements constitute a
summary of documents referred to therein or matters of law, fairly summarize in
all material respects the information called for with respect to such documents
and matters.

          (vii)  Such counsel does not know of any contracts or documents
required to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement or described in
the Registration Statement or the Prospectus which are not so filed or described
as required, and such contracts and documents as are summarized in the
Registration Statement or the Prospectus are fairly summarized in all material
respects.

          (viii)  Such counsel knows of no material legal or governmental
proceedings pending or threatened against the Company or Docent (Netherlands)
B.V., except as set forth in the Prospectus.

          (ix)  The issuance and sale of the shares of Common Stock being
delivered on the date of such opinion, the execution and delivery of this
Agreement, the compliance by the Company with all provisions of this Agreement
and the consummation of the transactions herein contemplated do not and will not
conflict with or result in a breach of any of the terms or provisions of, or
constitute a default under, the Charter or By-Laws of the Company, or any
agreement or instrument filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement
pursuant to Item 601 of Regulation S-K, nor will such actions result in any
violations of any statute, order, rule or regulation known to such counsel of
any court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over the Company,
the Subsidiaries or their respective assets or property.

          (x)  This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered
by the Company.

          (xi)  No approval, consent, order, authorization, designation,
declaration or filing by or with any regulatory, administrative or other
governmental body is necessary in connection with the execution and delivery of
this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions herein contemplated
(other than as may be required by the NASD or as required by state securities
and Blue Sky laws as to which such counsel need express no opinion) except such
as have been obtained or made.

          (xii)  The Company is not, and will not become, as a result of the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and application
of the net proceeds therefrom as described in the Prospectus, required to
register as an investment company under the 1940 Act.

                                       16
<PAGE>

          In rendering such opinion Pillsbury Madison & Sutro LLP may rely as to
matters governed by the laws of states or jurisdictions other than Delaware and
California or federal laws on local counsel in such jurisdictions, provided that
in each case Pillsbury Madison & Sutro LLP shall state that they believe that
they and the Underwriters are justified in relying on such other counsel.  In
addition to the matters set forth above, such opinion shall also include a
statement to the effect that such counsel has no reason to believe that (i) the
Registration Statement, at the time it became effective under the Act (but after
giving effect to any modifications incorporated therein pursuant to Rule 430A
under the Act) and as of the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the
case may be, contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to
state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading, and (ii) the Prospectus, or any supplement
thereto, on the date it was filed pursuant to the Rules and Regulations and as
of the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, contained an
untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact
necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the
circumstances under which they are made, not misleading (except that such
counsel need express no view as to financial statements, schedules and
statistical information therein).  With respect to such statement, Pillsbury
Madison & Sutro LLP may state that their belief is based upon the procedures set
forth therein, but is without independent check and verification.

          (e)  The Representatives shall have received from Gibson, Dunn &
Crutcher LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, such opinion or opinions, dated the
Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, with respect to the
issuance and sale of the Shares, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and
other related matters as the Representatives may reasonably require, and the
Company shall have furnished to such counsel such documents as they reasonably
request for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon such matters.

          (f)  The Representatives shall have received at or prior to the
Closing Date from Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP a memorandum or summary, in form
and substance satisfactory to the Representatives, with respect to the
qualification for offering and sale by the Underwriters of the Shares under the
state securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as the Representatives
may reasonably have designated to the Company.

          (g)  The Representatives shall have received, on each of the date
hereof, the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, a
letter dated the date hereof, the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as
the case may be, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives, of
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP confirming that they are independent public
accountants within the meaning of the Act and the applicable published Rules and
Regulations thereunder and stating that in their opinion the financial
statements and schedules of the Company examined by them and included in the
Registration Statement comply in form in all material respects with the
applicable accounting requirements of the Act and the related published Rules
and Regulations; and containing such other statements and information as is
ordinarily included in

                                       17
<PAGE>

accountants' "comfort letters" to Underwriters with respect to the financial
statements and certain financial and statistical information contained in the
Registration Statement and the Prospectus.

          (h)  The Representatives shall have received on the Closing Date or
the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, a certificate or certificates of
the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer of the Company to
the effect that, as of the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case
may be, each of them severally represents as follows:

               (i)  The Registration Statement has become effective under the
Act and no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement
has been issued, and no proceedings for such purpose have been taken or are, to
his knowledge, contemplated by the Commission;

               (ii)  The representations and warranties of the Company contained
in Section 1 hereof are true and correct as of the Closing Date or the Option
Closing Date, as the case may be;

               (iii)  All filings required to have been made pursuant to Rules
424 or 430A under the Act have been made;

               (iv)  He has carefully examined the Registration Statement and
the Prospectus and, in his opinion, as of the effective date of the Registration
Statement, the statements contained in the Registration Statement were true and
correct, and such Registration Statement and the Prospectus did not omit to
state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to
make the statements therein not misleading, and since the effective date of the
Registration Statement, no event has occurred which should have been set forth
in a supplement to or an amendment of the Prospectus which has not been so set
forth in such a supplement or amendment; and

               (v)  Since the respective dates as of which information is given
in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, there has not been any
material adverse change or any development involving a prospective material
adverse change in or affecting the condition, financial or otherwise, of the
Company and the Subsidiaries taken as a whole or the earnings, business,
management, properties, assets, rights, operations, condition (financial or
otherwise) or prospects of the Company and the Subsidiaries taken as a whole,
whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business.

          (i)  The Company shall have furnished to the Representatives such
further certificates and documents confirming the representations and
warranties, covenants and conditions contained herein and related matters as the
Representatives may reasonably have requested.

          (j)  The Firm Shares and Option Shares, if any, shall have been
approved for listing upon notice of issuance on the Nasdaq Stock Market.

          (k)  The Lockup Agreements described in Section 4(j) are in full force
and effect.

                                       18
<PAGE>

          The opinions and certificates mentioned in this Agreement shall be
deemed to be in compliance with the provisions hereof only if they are in all
material respects satisfactory to the Representatives and to Gibson, Dunn &
Crutcher LLP, counsel for the Underwriters.

          If any of the conditions hereinabove provided for in this Section 6
shall not have been fulfilled when and as required by this Agreement to be
fulfilled, the obligations of the Underwriters hereunder may be terminated by
the Representatives by notifying the Company of such termination in writing or
by telegram at or prior to the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the
case may be.  In such event, the Company and the Underwriters shall not be under
any obligation to each other (except to the extent provided in Sections 5 and 8
hereof).

     7.   Conditions of the Obligations of the Company.
          --------------------------------------------

          The obligations of the Company to sell and deliver the portion of the
Shares required to be delivered as and when specified in this Agreement are
subject to the conditions that at the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date,
as the case may be, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the
Registration Statement shall have been issued and in effect or proceedings
therefor initiated or threatened.

     8.   Indemnification and Contribution.
          --------------------------------

          (a) The Company agrees:

          (1) to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter and each person,
     if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of either Section
     15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, against any losses,
     claims, damages or liabilities to which such Underwriter or any such
     controlling person may become subject under the Act or the Exchange Act or
     otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or
     actions or proceedings in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon
     (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact
     contained in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the
     Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto,  (ii) the omission or
     alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated
     therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in light
     of the circumstances under which they were made; or (iii) any alleged act
     or failure to act by any Underwriter in connection with, or relating in any
     manner to, the Shares or the offering contemplated hereby, and which is
     included as part of or referred to in any loss, claim, damage, liability or
     action arising out of or based upon matters covered by clause (i) or (ii)
     above (provided, that the Company shall not be liable under this clause
     (iii) to the extent that it is determined in a final judgment by a court of
     competent jurisdiction that such loss, claim, damage, liability or action
     resulted directly from any such acts or failures to act undertaken or
     omitted to be taken by such Underwriter through its gross negligence or
     willful misconduct); provided, however, that the Company will not be liable
     in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or
     liability arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement or alleged

                                       19
<PAGE>

     untrue statement, or omission or alleged omission made in the Registration
     Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus, or such amendment or
     supplement, in reliance upon and in conformity with written information
     furnished to the Company by or through the Representatives specifically for
     use in the preparation thereof; ; and provided further that the foregoing
     indemnity agreement with respect to any Preliminary Prospectus shall not
     inure to the benefit of any Underwriter from whom the person asserting any
     such losses, claims, damages or liabilities purchased Shares, or any person
     controlling such Underwriter, if a copy of the Prospectus (as then amended
     or supplemented if the Company shall have furnished any amendments or
     supplements thereto) was not sent or given by or on behalf of such
     Underwriter to such person at or prior to the written confirmation of the
     sale of the Shares to such person, and if the Prospectus (as so amended or
     supplemented) would have cured the defect giving rise to such losses,
     claims, damages or liabilities, unless such failure is the result of non-
     compliance by the Company with Section 4(d) hereof or unless the Company
     failed to provide such amendments or supplements to the Underwriters in a
     timely manner to in turn allow such Underwriters to deliver such amendments
     or supplements to the person purchasing Shares prior to the written
     confirmation of the sale of the Shares to such person.

          (2) to reimburse each Underwriter and each such controlling person
     upon demand for any legal or other out-of-pocket expenses reasonably
     incurred by such Underwriter or such controlling person in connection with
     investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage or liability,
     action or proceeding or in responding to a subpoena or governmental inquiry
     related to the offering of the Shares, whether or not such Underwriter or
     controlling person is a party to any action or proceeding.  In the event
     that it is finally judicially determined that the Underwriters were not
     entitled to receive payments for legal and other expenses pursuant to this
     subparagraph, the Underwriters will promptly return all sums that had been
     advanced pursuant hereto.

          (b) Each Underwriter severally and not jointly will indemnify and hold
harmless the Company, each of its directors, each of its officers who have
signed the Registration Statement  and each person, if any, who controls the
Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the
Exchange Act, against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which the
Company or any such director, officer or controlling person may become subject
under the Act or the Exchange Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims,
damages or liabilities (or actions or proceedings in respect thereof) arise out
of or are based upon (i)  any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of
any material fact contained in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary
Prospectus, the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, or (ii) the
omission or the alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in the
light of the circumstances under which they were made; and will reimburse any
legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by the Company or any such director,
officer or controlling person in connection with investigating or defending any
such loss, claim, damage, liability, action or proceeding; provided, however,
that each Underwriter will be liable in each case to the extent, but only to the
extent, that such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or
alleged omission has been made in the Registration Statement, any

                                       20
<PAGE>

Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus or such amendment or supplement, in
reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the
Company by or through the Representatives specifically for use in the
preparation thereof. This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any
liability which such Underwriter may otherwise have.

          (c)  In case any proceeding (including any governmental investigation)
shall be instituted involving any person in respect of which indemnity may be
sought pursuant to this Section 8, such person (the "indemnified party") shall
promptly notify the person against whom such indemnity may be sought (the
"indemnifying party") in writing.  No indemnification provided for in Section
8(a) or (b) shall be available to any party who shall fail to give notice as
provided in this Section 8(c) if the party to whom notice was not given was
unaware of the proceeding to which such notice would have related and was
materially prejudiced by the failure to give such notice, but the failure to
give such notice shall not relieve the indemnifying party or parties from any
liability which it or they may have to the indemnified party for contribution or
otherwise than on account of the provisions of Section 8(a) or (b).  In case any
such proceeding shall be brought against any indemnified party and it shall
notify the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying
party shall be entitled  to participate therein and, to the extent that it shall
wish, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume
the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to such indemnified party and
shall pay as incurred the fees and disbursements of such counsel related to such
proceeding.  In any such proceeding, any indemnified party shall have the right
to retain its own counsel at its own expense.  Notwithstanding the foregoing,
the indemnifying party shall pay as incurred (or within 30 days of presentation)
the fees and expenses of the counsel retained by the indemnified party in the
event  (i) the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have mutually
agreed to the retention of such counsel,  (ii) the named parties to any such
proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both the indemnifying party
and the indemnified party and representation of both parties by the same counsel
would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between
them or (iii) the indemnifying party shall have failed to assume the defense and
employ counsel acceptable to the indemnified party within a reasonable period of
time after notice of commencement of the action.  It is understood that the
indemnifying party shall not, in connection with any proceeding or related
proceedings in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the reasonable fees and
expenses of more than one separate firm for all such indemnified parties.  Such
firm shall be designated in writing by you in the case of parties indemnified
pursuant to Section 8(a) and by the Company in the case of parties indemnified
pursuant to Section 8(b).  The indemnifying party shall not be liable for any
settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent but if settled
with such consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the
indemnifying party agrees to indemnify the indemnified party from and against
any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment.  In addition,
the indemnifying party will not, without the prior written consent of the
indemnified party, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment
in any pending or threatened claim, action or proceeding of which
indemnification may be sought hereunder (whether or not any indemnified party is
an actual or potential party to such claim, action or proceeding) unless such
settlement, compromise or consent includes an unconditional release of each
indemnified party from all liability arising out of such claim, action or
proceeding.

                                       21
<PAGE>

          (d)   The Company and each subsidiary of the Company, whether direct
or indirect, jointly and severally, agree to indemnify and hold harmless DBSI
and its affiliates and each person, if any, who controls DBSI or its affiliates
within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange
Act, from and against any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities
(including, without limitation, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred
in connection with defending or investigating any such action or claim) (i)
caused by any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact
contained in any material prepared by or with the consent of the Company for
distribution to Participants in connection with the Directed Share Program, or
caused by any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading; (ii) caused by the failure of any Participant to pay for and accept
delivery of Directed Shares that the Participant has agreed to purchase; or
(iii) related to, arising out of, or in connection with the Directed Share
Program other than losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or expenses relating
thereto) that are finally judicially determined to have resulted from the bad
faith, gross negligence or willful misconduct of DBSI; provided, however, that
the Company will not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such
loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon an untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement, or omission or alleged omission made in
the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus, or such
amendment or supplement, in reliance upon and in conformity with written
information furnished to the Company by or through the Representatives
specifically for use in the preparation thereof; and provided further that the
foregoing indemnity agreement with respect to any Preliminary  Prospectus shall
not inure to the benefit of any Underwriter from whom the person asserting any
such losses, claims, damages or liabilities purchased Shares, or any person
controlling such Underwriter, if a copy of the Prospectus (as then amended or
supplemented if the Company shall have furnished any amendments or supplements
thereto) was not sent or given by or on behalf of such Underwriter to such
person at or prior to the written confirmation of the sale of the Shares to such
person, and if the Prospectus (as so amended or supplemented) would have cured
the defect giving rise to such losses, claims, damages or liabilities, unless
such failure is the result of non-compliance by the Company with Section 4(d)
hereof or unless the Company failed to provide such amendments or supplements to
the Underwriters in a timely manner to in turn allow such Underwriters to
deliver such amendments or supplements to the person purchasing Shares prior to
the written confirmation of the sale of the Shares to such person.

          (e)  To the extent the indemnification provided for in this Section 8
is unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under
Section 8(a), (b) or (d) above in respect of any losses, claims, damages or
liabilities (or actions or proceedings in respect thereof) referred to therein,
then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by
such indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages or
liabilities (or actions or proceedings in respect thereof) in such proportion as
is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company on the
one hand and the Underwriters on the other from the offering of the Shares.  If,
however, the allocation provided by the immediately preceding sentence is not
permitted by applicable law then each indemnifying party shall contribute to
such amount paid or payable by such indemnified party in such proportion as is
appropriate to reflect  not only such relative benefits but also the relative
fault of the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other in
connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses,
claims, damages or

                                       22
<PAGE>

liabilities (or actions or proceedings in respect thereof), as well as any other
relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company
on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other shall be deemed to be in the
same proportion as the total net proceeds from the offering (before deducting
expenses) received by the Company bear to the total underwriting discounts and
commissions received by the Underwriters, in each case as set forth in the table
on the cover page of the Prospectus. The relative fault shall be determined by
reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement
of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact
relates to information supplied by the Company on the one hand or the
Underwriters on the other and the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to
information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.

          The Company and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and
equitable if contributions pursuant to this Section 8(e) were determined by pro
rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such
purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the
equitable considerations referred to above in this Section 8(e).  The amount
paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims,
damages or liabilities (or actions or proceedings in respect thereof) referred
to above in this Section 8(e) shall be deemed to include any legal or other
expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with
investigating or defending any such action or claim.  Notwithstanding the
provisions of this subsection (e),  (i) no Underwriter shall be required to
contribute any amount in excess of the underwriting discounts and commissions
applicable to the Shares purchased by such Underwriter and  (ii) no person
guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of
the Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of
such fraudulent misrepresentation.  The Underwriters' obligations in this
Section 8(e) to contribute are several in proportion to their respective
underwriting obligations and not joint.

          (f)  In any proceeding relating to the Registration Statement, any
Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus or any supplement or amendment thereto,
each party against whom contribution may be sought under this Section 8 hereby
consents to the jurisdiction of any court having jurisdiction over any other
contributing party, agrees that process issuing from such court may be served
upon him or it by any other contributing party and consents to the service of
such process and agrees that any other contributing party may join him or it as
an additional defendant in any such proceeding in which such other contributing
party is a party.

          (g)  Any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses for which an
indemnified party is entitled to indemnification or contribution under this
Section 8 shall be paid by the indemnifying party to the indemnified party as
such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses are incurred.  The
indemnity and contribution agreements contained in this Section 8 and the
representations and warranties of the Company set forth in this Agreement shall
remain operative and in full force and effect, regardless of (i) any
investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or any person controlling
any Underwriter, the Company, its directors or officers or any persons
controlling the Company, (ii) acceptance of any Shares and payment therefor
hereunder, and (iii) any termination of this Agreement.  A successor to any
Underwriter, or to the

                                       23
<PAGE>

Company, its directors or officers, or any person controlling the Company, shall
be entitled to the benefits of the indemnity, contribution and reimbursement
agreements contained in this Section 8.

     9.   Default by Underwriters.
          -----------------------

          If on the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be,
any Underwriter shall fail to purchase and pay for the portion of the Shares
which such Underwriter has agreed to purchase and pay for on such date
(otherwise than by reason of any default on the part of the Company), you, as
Representatives of the Underwriters, shall use your reasonable efforts to
procure within 36 hours thereafter one or more of the other Underwriters, or any
others, to purchase from the Company such amounts as may be agreed upon and upon
the terms set forth herein, the Firm Shares or Option Shares, as the case may
be, which the defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters failed to purchase.  If
during such 36 hours you, as such Representatives, shall not have procured such
other Underwriters, or any others, to purchase the Firm Shares or Option Shares,
as the case may be, agreed to be purchased by the defaulting Underwriter or
Underwriters, then  (a) if the aggregate number of shares with respect to which
such default shall occur does not exceed 10% of the Firm Shares or Option
Shares, as the case may be, covered hereby, the other Underwriters shall be
obligated, severally, in proportion to the respective numbers of Firm Shares or
Option Shares, as the case may be, which they are obligated to purchase
hereunder, to purchase the Firm Shares or Option Shares, as the case may be,
which such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters failed to purchase, or  (b) if
the aggregate number of shares of Firm Shares or Option Shares, as the case may
be, with respect to which such default shall occur exceeds 10% of the Firm
Shares or Option Shares, as the case may be, covered hereby, the Company or you
as the Representatives of the Underwriters will have the right, by written
notice given within the next 36-hour period to the parties to this Agreement, to
terminate this Agreement without liability on the part of the non-defaulting
Underwriters or of the Company except to the extent provided in Section 8
hereof.  In the event of a default by any Underwriter or Underwriters, as set
forth in this Section 9, the Closing Date or Option Closing Date, as the case
may be, may be postponed for such period, not exceeding seven days, as you, as
Representatives, may determine in order that the required changes in the
Registration Statement or in the Prospectus or in any other documents or
arrangements may be effected.  The term "Underwriter" includes any person
substituted for a defaulting Underwriter.  Any action taken under this Section 9
shall not relieve any defaulting Underwriter from liability in respect of any
default of such Underwriter under this Agreement.

     10.  Notices. All communications hereunder shall be in writing and, except
          -------
as otherwise provided herein, will be mailed, delivered, telecopied or
telegraphed and confirmed as follows:

          (a) if to the Underwriters, to:  Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., One
South Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21202, Attention:
_____________________________; with a copy to: Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., 31
West 52nd Street, New York, New York 10019;  Attention: General Counsel; and
with a copy to Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, LLP, One Montgomery Street, Telesis
Tower, 31st Floor, San Francisco, California 94104, Attention:  Kenneth R. Lamb.

                                       24
<PAGE>

          (b) if to the Company, to:  Docent, Inc., 2444 Charleston Road,
Mountain View, California 94043, Attention:  Chief Executive Officer; with a
copy to Pillsbury Madison & Sutro LLP, 2550 Hanover Street, Palo Alto,
California  94304, Attention: Steven Wurzburg.

     11.  Termination.  This Agreement may be terminated:
          -----------

          (a)  by you by notice to the Company at any time prior to the Closing
Date if any of the following has occurred: (i) since the respective dates as of
which information is given in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, any
material adverse change or any development involving a prospective material
adverse change in or affecting the condition, financial or otherwise, of the
Company and the Subsidiaries taken as a whole or the earnings, business,
management, properties, assets, rights, operations, condition (financial or
otherwise) or prospects of the Company and the Subsidiaries taken as a whole,
whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business, (ii) any outbreak or
escalation of hostilities or declaration of war or national emergency or other
national or international calamity or crisis or change in economic or political
conditions if the effect of such outbreak, escalation, declaration, emergency,
calamity, crisis or change on the financial markets of the United States would,
in your reasonable judgment, make it impracticable or inadvisable to market the
Shares or to enforce contracts for the sale of the Shares, or (iii) suspension
of trading in securities generally on the New York Stock Exchange or the
American Stock Exchange or limitation on prices (other than limitations on hours
or numbers of days of trading) for securities on either such Exchange, (iv) the
enactment, publication, decree or other promulgation of any statute, regulation,
rule or order of any court or other governmental authority which in your opinion
materially and adversely affects or may materially and adversely affect the
business or operations of the Company, (v) declaration of a banking moratorium
by United States or New York State authorities, (vi) any downgrading, or
placement on any watch list for possible downgrading, in the rating of the
Company's debt securities by any "nationally recognized statistical rating
organization" (as defined for purposes of Rule 436(g) under the Exchange Act);
(vii) the suspension of trading of the Company's Common Stock by the Nasdaq
Stock Market, the Commission, or any other governmental authority or, (viii) the
taking of any action by any governmental body or agency in respect of its
monetary or fiscal affairs which in your reasonable opinion has a material
adverse effect on the securities markets in the United States; or

          (b)  as provided in Sections 6 and 9 of this Agreement.

     12.  Successors.
          ----------

          This Agreement has been and is made solely for the benefit of the
Underwriters and the Company and their respective successors, executors,
administrators, heirs and assigns, and the officers, directors and controlling
persons referred to herein, and no other person will have any right or
obligation hereunder.  No purchaser of any of the Shares from any Underwriter
shall be deemed a successor or assign merely because of such purchase.

     13.  Information Provided by Underwriters.
          ------------------------------------

                                       25
<PAGE>

          The Company and the Underwriters acknowledge and agree that the only
information furnished or to be furnished by any Underwriter to the Company for
inclusion in any Prospectus or the Registration Statement consists of legends
required by Item 502(b) of Regulation S-K under the Act and the information
under the caption "Underwriting" in the Prospectus.

     14.  Miscellaneous.
          -------------

          The reimbursement, indemnification and contribution agreements
contained in this Agreement and the representations, warranties and covenants in
this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect regardless of  (a) any
termination of this Agreement,  (b) any investigation made by or on behalf of
any Underwriter or controlling person thereof, or by or on behalf of the Company
or its directors or officers or any controlling person of the Company and (c)
delivery of and payment for the Shares under this Agreement.

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

          This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with,
the laws of the State of Maryland.

          The headings herein are inserted for convenience of reference only and
are not intended to be part of, or to affect the meaning or interpretation of
this Agreement.


                  [Remainder of Page Left Intentionally Blank]

                                       26
<PAGE>

     If the foregoing letter is in accordance with your understanding of our
agreement, please sign and return to us the enclosed duplicates hereof,
whereupon it will become a binding agreement among the Company and the several
Underwriters in accordance with its terms.

                         Very truly yours,

                         DOCENT, INC.

                         By
                            ---------------------------------------------
                              President and Chief Executive Officer

The foregoing Underwriting Agreement
is hereby confirmed and accepted as
of the date first above written.

DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC.


-------------------------------------
     Authorized Representative

DAIN RAUSCHER INCORPORATED


-------------------------------------
     Authorized Representative

THOMAS WEISEL PARTNERS LLC


-------------------------------------
     Authorized Representative


For themselves and as Representatives of the
several Underwriters listed on Schedule I



            [SIGNATURE PAGE TO DOCENT, INC. UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT]

                                       27
<PAGE>

                                  SCHEDULE I



                           Schedule of Underwriters



                                              Number of Firm Shares
     Underwriter                                 to be Purchased
     -----------                            ------------------------

Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.
Dain Rauscher Incorporated
Thomas Weisel Partners LLC



                                                   ---------
               Total                               8,000,000

                                       28


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