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                             [BROADVIEW LETTERHEAD]



                                                                 May 16, 2001

                                                                 CONFIDENTIAL

Mr. David Hanssens
Vice President Corporate Development
West Group
610 Opperman Drive
PO Box 64526
Eagan, MN 55123

Dear Mr. Hanssens:


In connection with your consideration of a possible transaction with NewsEdge
Corporation (the "Company"), you have requested financial and other information
concerning the business and affairs of the Company. As a condition to the
Company's furnishing to you and your representatives financial and other
information which has not theretofore been made available to the public, you
agree to treat all such non-public information furnished to you in writing or
orally by the Company or its representatives on and after the date of this
agreement (herein collectively referred to as the "evaluation material"), as
follows:

(1)   You recognize and acknowledge the competitive value and confidential
nature of the evaluation material and the damage that could result to the
Company if information contained therein is disclosed to any third party. You
also recognize and acknowledge that the evaluation material is being provided to
you in reliance upon your acceptance of the terms of this agreement.

(2)   You agree that the evaluation material will be used solely for the purpose
of evaluating the proposed transaction. You also agree that you, your directors,
officers, employees and agents and representatives of your advisors, herein
collectively referred to as "your representatives," will not disclose or permit
the disclosure of any of the evaluation material now or hereafter received or
obtained from the Company or its representatives to any third party or otherwise
use or permit the use of the evaluation material in any way detrimental to
the Company, except as required by applicable law or legal process, without the
prior written consent of the Company, provided, however, that any such
information may be disclosed to such of your representatives who need to know
such information for the purpose of evaluating the proposed transaction and who
are advised of this agreement and agree to keep such


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[BROADVIEW LOGO]
Mr. David Hanssens                                                  May 16, 2001
Page 2


information confidential and to be bound by this agreement to the same extent as
if they were parties hereto, it being understood that you shall be responsible
for any breach of this agreement by your representatives.

(3)   In the event that the transaction contemplated by this agreement is not
consummated, neither you nor any of your representatives shall, without prior
written consent of the Company, use any of the evaluation material now or
hereafter received or obtained from the Company or its representatives for any
purpose.

(4)   In the event that the transaction contemplated by this agreement is not
consummated, all evaluation material (and all copies, summaries, and notes of
the contents or parts thereof) shall be returned upon the Company's request or
destroyed and not retained by you or your representatives in any form or for
any reason.

(5)   You and your representatives shall have no obligation hereunder with
respect to any information in the evaluation materials to the extent that such
information has been made publicly available nor any obligation with respect to
information which can be demonstrated by you to be already properly in your
possession on a non-confidential basis from sources other than the Company, or
its representatives other than by acts by you or your representatives in
violation of this agreement.

(6)   You are aware, and will advise your representatives who are informed of
the matters that are the subject of this Agreement, of the restrictions imposed
by the United States securities laws on the purchase or sale of securities by
any person who has received material, non-public information from the Company
and on the communication of such information to any other person who may
purchase or sell such securities in reliance upon such information. You and your
representatives will comply with all applicable securities laws in connection
with the purchase or sale, directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company
for as long as you or your representatives are in possession of material
non-public information about the Company.

(7)   This agreement shall be governed by the laws of the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts applicable to agreements made and to be performed within.


It is further agreed that the intention of NewsEdge Corporation to engage in
these discussions, and the subsequent exercise of that intention shall be kept
confidential by you.

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[BROADVIEW LOGO]
Mr. David Hanssens                                                  May 16, 2001
Page 3


Acceptance of the above terms shall be indicated by having this letter
countersigned on your behalf and returning one original to Broadview.

Sincerely,

BROADVIEW INTERNATIONAL LLC


For: NewsEdge Corporation



By: /s/ Rodd Langenhagen
   ------------------------------
   Rodd Langenhagen


Received and consented to this
17th day of May, 2001.

WEST GROUP


By: /s/ David Hanssens
   ------------------------------
   David Hanssens