Exhibit 10.19

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

 

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”), dated as of January 29, 2004, between
ANNTAYLOR STORES CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and
Katherine Lawther Krill (the “Executive”).

 

WHEREAS, the Company desires to provide for the continued employment of the
Executive with the Company and the Executive wishes to continue such employment,
all in accordance with the terms and conditions provided herein;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the respective covenants
and agreements of the parties herein contained, and intending to be legally
bound hereby, the parties hereto agree as follows:

 

1. Employment. The Company hereby agrees to continue to employ the Executive,
and the Executive hereby agrees to be employed by and continue to serve the
Company, effective as of January 29, 2004 (the “Effective Date”), on the terms
and conditions set forth herein.

 

2. Term. The term of this Agreement shall commence as of the Effective Date and
will end on May 3, 2007; provided, however, that commencing on May 3, 2007, and
each such anniversary thereafter, the term of the Executive’s employment shall
automatically be extended for one additional year, unless, no later than 90 days
prior to such anniversary, either party shall have given notice (a “Non-Renewal
Notice”) to the other that it does not wish to extend this Agreement. References
hereinafter to the “Term” of this Agreement shall refer to both the initial term
and any extended term of the Agreement hereunder. Notwithstanding expiration of
the Term or other provisions that survive by their intent, the provisions of
Sections 4, 7 and 8 hereof shall continue in effect.

 

3. Position and Duties. The Executive shall serve as President – AnnTaylor Loft,
and shall have such responsibilities, duties and authority consistent with such
position as may from time to time be determined by the Chief Executive Officer
of the Company (the “CEO”). The Executive shall devote substantially all of her
working time and efforts to the business and affairs of the Company; provided
that, this Agreement shall not be interpreted to prohibit the Executive from
making passive investments, engaging in charitable activities or, subject to the
prior approval of the Board or CEO, serving on the board of directors of other
corporations. The Executive shall report directly to the CEO.

 

4. Indemnification. To the fullest extent permitted by law and the Company’s
certificate of incorporation and by-laws, the Company shall indemnify the
Executive for all amounts (including, without limitation, judgments, fines,
awards, settlement payments, losses, damages, costs and expenses, including
reasonable attorneys’ fees) incurred or paid by the Executive in connection with
any action, proceeding, suit or

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investigation arising out of or relating to the performance by the Executive of
services for, or acting as a fiduciary of any employee benefit plans, programs
or arrangements of the Company or as a director, officer or employee of, the
Company or any subsidiary thereof. The Executive shall be covered by the
Company’s D&O insurance policy in accordance with its terms, as in effect from
time to time. Following the Term, the Company shall continue to indemnify the
Executive with respect to such services performed during the Term, to the same
extent as the Company indemnifies its officers, directors, employees and
fiduciaries, as applicable.

 

5. Compensation and Related Matters.

 

(a) Annual Compensation.

 

(i) Base Salary. During the period of the Executive’s employment hereunder, the
Company shall pay to the Executive an annual base salary at a rate not less than
$800,000 (effective as of January 1, 2004), such salary to be paid in conformity
with the Company’s policies relating to salaried employees. This salary may be
(but is not required to be) increased from time to time, subject to and in
accordance with the annual executive performance review procedures of the
Company and, if increased, shall not thereafter be decreased.

 

(ii) Annual Bonus. During the period of Executive’s employment hereunder, the
Executive shall be eligible to participate in the Company’s annual bonus plan as
in effect from time to time, and shall be entitled to receive such amounts (a
“Bonus”) as may be authorized, declared and paid by the Company pursuant to the
terms of such plan. The Company currently maintains a Management Performance
Compensation Plan (the “Performance Plan”) pursuant to which it pays performance
bonus compensation to certain of its executives and employees. It is agreed that
the Executive shall participate in the Performance Plan. The Executive’s
Performance Percentage (as that term is defined in the Performance Plan) shall
be established at 70% per annum. The Executive shall also participate in the
Long Term Cash Incentive Compensation Plan and the 2004 Long Term Cash Incentive
Plan, if adopted by the Company and approved by the shareholders, and her Target
Award (as defined in such plans) shall be 45%.

 

(b) Stock Option. As of the Effective Date, the Executive will be granted a
time-vested non-qualified stock option to acquire 100,000 shares of the
Company’s common stock (“Shares”) under the Company’s 2003 Equity Incentive Plan
(the “2003 Plan”), subject to Compensation Committee approval of the grant. The
exercise price per Share shall be equal to the Fair Market Value (as defined in
the 2003 Plan) of a Share on the Effective Date. 33,334 options shall vest and
become exercisable on the first anniversary of the Effective Date and 33,333
shall vest and become exercisable on each of the second and third anniversaries
of the Effective Date, provided the Executive has remained continuously employed
by the Company until the applicable date (except as provided in Section 6A(d)(5)
hereof). Subject to the provisions herein, the options granted

 

 

                                                                                               
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hereunder shall contain such other terms and conditions as are set forth in the
Company’s standard form of stock option agreements, including, but not limited
to, accelerated exercisability upon the occurrence of a “change in control”,
which term shall have the same meaning as the term “Acceleration Event,” as
defined in the 2003 Plan (hereinafter referred to as a “Change in Control”).

 

(c) Restricted Stock. The Executive will be granted 35,000 time-vested
restricted Shares (the “Restricted Shares”) under the 2003 Plan on the Effective
Date, subject to Compensation Committee approval of the grant. 11,666 Restricted
Shares shall vest on, and be delivered to the Executive promptly following, the
first anniversary of the Effective Date, and 11,667 Restricted Shares shall vest
on, and be delivered to the Executive promptly following, each of the second and
third anniversaries of the Effective Date, provided the Executive has remained
continuously employed by the Company until the applicable anniversary date
(except as provided in Section 6A(d)(5) hereof). The Company shall enter into a
restricted stock award agreement with the Executive for the above grant of
Restricted Shares, incorporating the vesting terms in this Agreement and
otherwise on the terms and conditions set forth in the Company’s standard form
of restricted stock award agreement, including, but not limited to, accelerated
vesting upon the occurrence of a Change in Control.

 

(d) Other Benefits. During the Executive’s employment hereunder, the Executive
shall continue to be entitled to participate in all other employee benefit
plans, programs and arrangements of the Company, as now or hereinafter in
effect, which are applicable to the Company’s employees generally or to its
executive officers, as the case may be, subject to and on a basis consistent
with the terms, conditions and overall administration of such plans, programs
and arrangements; provided, however, that the Executive hereby acknowledges and
agrees that she will not participate in the Company’s Special Severance Plan.
During the period of the Executive’s employment hereunder, the Executive shall
be entitled to participate in and receive any fringe benefits or perquisites
which may become available to the Company’s executive employees. Without
limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Company shall provide the
Executive with financial planning and tax preparation services on a tax-free
basis

 

(e) Vacations and Other Leaves. The Executive shall be eligible for a paid time
off bank of 25 days per year and paid holidays and sick days, all as determined
in accordance with applicable Company plans and policies.

 

(f) Expenses. During the Executive’s employment hereunder, the Executive shall
be entitled to receive prompt reimbursement for all reasonable and customary
expenses incurred by the Executive in performing services hereunder, including
all expenses of travel and accommodations while away from home on business or at
the request of and in the service of the Company; provided that, such expenses
are incurred and accounted for in accordance with the policies and procedures
established by the Company.

 

 

                                                                                               
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         6. Termination. (a) The Executive’s employment hereunder may be
terminated without breach of this Agreement only under the following
circumstances:

 

(i) Death. The Executive’s employment hereunder shall terminate upon her death.

 

(ii) Cause. The Company may terminate the Executive’s employment hereunder for
“Cause”. For purposes of this Agreement, the Company shall have “Cause” to
terminate the Executive’s employment hereunder upon (1) the Executive’s
conviction for the commission of any act or acts constituting a felony under the
laws of the United States or any state thereof, (2) action by the Executive
toward the Company involving dishonesty, (3) the Executive’s refusal to abide by
or follow reasonable written directions of the Board of Directors or the CEO,
which does not cease within ten business days after such written notice
regarding such refusal has been given to the Executive by the Company, (4) the
Executive’s gross nonfeasance which does not cease within ten business days
after written notice regarding such nonfeasance has been given to the Executive
by the Company, or (5) failure of the Executive to comply with the provisions of
Section 7 (prior to cessation of employment following a Change of Control of the
Company) or 8 of this Agreement, or other willful conduct by the Executive which
is intended to have and does have a material adverse impact on the Company.

 

(iii) Disability. If, as a result of the Executive’s incapacity due to physical
or mental illness, the Executive shall have been absent from her duties
hereunder on a full-time basis for the entire period of six (6) consecutive
months, and within thirty (30) days after written Notice of Termination (as
defined in Section 6(b) below) is given (which may occur before or after the end
of such six (6) month period) shall not have returned to the performance of her
duties hereunder on a full-time basis, the Executive’s employment hereunder
shall terminate for “Disability”.

 

(iv) Termination by the Executive for Good Reason. The Executive may terminate
her employment hereunder for “Good Reason”. For purposes of this Agreement, the
Executive shall have “Good Reason” to terminate her employment hereunder (1)
upon a failure by the Company to comply with any material provision of this
Agreement which has not been cured within ten business days after notice of such
noncompliance has been given by the Executive to the Company, (2) upon action by
the Company resulting in a diminution of the Executive’s title or authority, (3)
upon the Company’s relocation of the Executive’s principal place of employment
outside of the New York City metropolitan area, or (4) one year after a Change
in Control.

 

(v) Termination by the Executive without Good Reason and Termination by the
Company without Cause. The Company may terminate the Executive’s employment
hereunder without Cause and the Executive may terminate her employment
voluntarily hereunder without Good Reason.

 

 

 

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(b) Notice of Termination. Any termination of the Executive’s employment by the
Company or by the Executive (other than termination under Section 6(a)(i)
hereof) shall be communicated by written Notice of Termination to the other
party hereto in accordance with Section 10 hereof. For purposes of this
Agreement, a “Notice of Termination” shall mean a notice which shall indicate
the specific termination provision in this Agreement relied upon and shall set
forth in reasonable detail the fact and circumstances claimed to provide a basis
for termination of the Executive’s employment under the provision so indicated.

 

(c) Date of Termination. “Date of Termination” shall mean (i) if the Executive’s
employment is terminated by her death, the date of her death, (ii) in the event
that the Term shall expire as a result of a Non-Renewal Notice provided by the
Company to the Executive, the date of the expiration of the then current Term,
and (iii) in each other case, the date specified in the Notice of Termination;
provided that, if within thirty days after any Notice of Termination is given,
the party receiving such Notice of Termination notifies the other party that a
dispute exists concerning the characterization for purposes of this Agreement of
such termination and if the party disputing such matter prevails in such dispute
as evidenced by a binding and final arbitration award, then the Date of
Termination shall retroactively be adjusted to be the date specified as such in
the award or, if no date is so specified, then as of the date on which such
award is issued.

 

6A. Compensation Upon Termination or During Disability.

 

(a) Disability. During any period that the Executive fails to perform her duties
hereunder as a result of incapacity due to physical or mental illness, the
Executive shall continue to receive her full salary at the rate then in effect
for such period and other applicable benefits provided to active employees until
her employment is terminated pursuant to Section 6(a)(iii) hereof. Subject to
the provisions of Section 7 hereof, in the event the Executive’s employment is
terminated pursuant to Section 6(a)(iii) hereof, then

 

(i) as soon as practicable thereafter, the Company shall pay the Executive all
unpaid amounts, if any, to which the Executive is entitled as of the Date of
Termination under Section 5(a) hereof and shall pay to the Executive, in
accordance with the terms of the applicable plan or program, all other unpaid
amounts to which Executive is then entitled under any compensation or benefit
plan or program of the Company (collectively, “Accrued Obligations”);

 

(ii) following the Date of Termination and for a period of twelve (12) months
thereafter, the Company shall pay the Executive monthly an amount equal to (x)
the quotient of (A) the sum of (1) the Executive’s annual base salary at the
rate in effect as of the Date of Termination and (2) the average of the annual
Bonuses earned by the Executive in the three fiscal years of the Company

 

 

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ended immediately prior to the Date of Termination, divided by (B) the number
twelve (12) (such quotient being referred to herein as the “Severance
Payments”), minus (y) any amounts payable to the Executive during such month as
a disability benefit under a Company paid plan; and

 

(iii) at the same time as bonuses are paid to other Company executives, the
Company shall pay the Executive a Bonus with respect to the fiscal year in which
occurs the Date of Termination, such Bonus to be based upon actual performance
for such fiscal year and pro rated to reflect the number of days in such fiscal
year through and including the Date of Termination.

 

(b) Death. If the Executive’s employment is terminated by her death, the Company
shall pay to the person(s) or entity set forth in Section 9(b) hereof the
Accrued Obligations, the Severance Payments and the other payments provided in
Section 6A(a)(iii), at the time(s) set forth in Sections 6A(a)(i)-(iii) hereof.

 

(c) Termination for Cause; Voluntary Termination Without Good Reason. If the
Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company for Cause or voluntarily by
the Executive for other than Good Reason (including by reason of the expiration
of the Term of this Agreement as a result of a Non-Renewal Notice having been
given by the Executive), the Company shall pay the Accrued Obligations to the
Executive at the time(s) set forth in Section 6A(a)(i) hereof and the Company
shall have no further payment obligations to the Executive under this Agreement.

 

(d) Termination Without Cause; Termination for Good Reason; Non-Renewal. If (i)
the Company shall terminate the Executive’s employment other than for Disability
pursuant to Section 6(a)(iii) or for Cause, (ii) the Executive shall terminate
her employment for Good Reason, or (iii) the Term of this Agreement expires as a
result of a Non-Renewal Notice having been provided by the Company, then,
subject to the provisions of Sections 7 and 8 hereof:

 

(1) the Company shall pay the Accrued Obligations to the Executive at the
time(s) set forth in Section 6A(a)(i) hereof;

 

(2) (A) unless clause (B) below applies, then following the Date of Termination
and for the longer of twelve months thereafter or the remaining Term of this
Agreement, the Company shall pay to the Executive monthly an amount equal to the
Severance Payments (as defined in Section 6A(a)(ii) hereof), or (B) in the event
the Date of Termination occurs following a Change in Control, then, within five
days after the Date of Termination, the Company shall pay to the Executive in a
lump sum an amount equal to the product of (X) the sum of the Executive’s annual
salary at the rate in effect as of the Date of Termination and the average of
the total bonuses earned by the Executive, including bonuses paid under the
Performance Plan and the Company’s Long Term Cash Incentive Compensation Plan
and all successor plans, in the three fiscal years

 

 

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of the Company ended immediately prior to the Date of Termination (or, if
higher, in the three fiscal years of the Company ended immediately prior to the
Change in Control) multiplied by (Y) two and one-half (2½). For purposes of this
subsection (2): (I) if the Date of Termination occurs prior to the occurrence of
a Change in Control but during the pendency of a Potential Change in Control (as
hereinafter defined), such Date of Termination shall be deemed to have occurred
following a Change in Control, and (II) a “Potential Change in Control” shall be
deemed to have occurred if the event set forth in any one of the following
clauses shall have occurred:

 

(i) the Company enters into an agreement, the consummation of which would result
in the occurrence of a Change in Control;

 

(ii) the Company or any person (as defined in Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), as modified and used in
Sections 13(d) and 14(d) thereof (a “Person”), except that such term shall not
include (w) the Company or any of its subsidiaries, (x) a trustee or other
fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company or
any of its affiliates, (y) an underwriter temporarily holding securities
pursuant to an offering of such securities, or (z) a corporation owned, directly
or indirectly, by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same
proportions as their ownership of stock of the Company) publicly announces an
intention to take or to consider taking actions which, if consummated, would
constitute a Change in Control;

 

(iii) any Person becomes the beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under
the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company
representing 15% or more of either the then outstanding shares of common stock
of the Company or the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding
securities (not including the securities beneficially owned by such Person or
any securities acquired directly from the Company); or

 

(iv) the Board of Directors adopts a resolution to the effect that, for purposes
of this subsection (2), a Potential Change in Control has occurred.

 

The pendency of a Potential Change in Control shall immediately cease upon the
adoption of a resolution of the Company’s Board of Directors to that effect. For
purposes of this Agreement, the period during or with respect to which the
Executive is entitled to receive payments hereunder is referred to as the
“Severance Period”;

 

(3) the Company shall pay to the Executive, at the same time as bonuses are paid
to other Company executives, a Bonus with respect to the fiscal year in which
occurs the Date of Termination, such Bonus to be based upon actual performance
for such fiscal year and pro rated to reflect the number of days in such fiscal
year through and including the Date of Termination; and

 

 

                                                                                  
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(4) The Executive shall continue to be provided with the same medical and life
insurance coverage as existed immediately prior to the Notice of Termination or
Notice of Non-Renewal, as the case may be, such coverage to continue throughout
the period with respect to which the Executive is entitled to receive Severance
Payments (or, if clause (B) of Section 6A(d)(2) applies, for a period of two and
one-half years following the Date of Termination); provided, however, that
benefits otherwise receivable by the Executive pursuant to this Section 6A(d)(4)
shall be reduced to the extent that benefits of the same type are received by or
made available by a subsequent employer to the Executive during the Severance
Period (and any such benefits received by or made available to the Executive
shall be reported to the Company by the Executive).;

 

(5) any unvested restricted stock shall become fully vested and any unvested
stock options shall become fully vested and exercisable, in each case whether
granted pursuant hereto, previously or otherwise;

 

(6) the Executive shall be entitled to continue to exercise all outstanding
options that were or became exercisable as of the Date of Termination until the
90th day following expiration of the Severance Period (or, if Clause (B) of
Section 6A(d)(2) applies, for a period of two and one-half years after the Date
of Termination, but in no event after expiration of the term of such options);
and

 

(7) The Executive shall be provided with outplacement services commensurate with
her position.

 

(e) Gross-Up Payment. In the event that any payment or benefit received or to be
received by the Executive in connection with a Change in Control or the
termination of the Executive’s employment, whether such payments or benefits are
received pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or any other plan, arrangement
or agreement with the Company, any person whose actions result in a Change in
Control or any person affiliated with the Company or such person (all such
payments and benefits being hereinafter called “Total Payments”), would be
subject (in whole or part), to the tax (the “Excise Tax”) imposed under Section
4999 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), the Company
shall pay to the Executive such additional amounts (the “Gross-Up Payment”) as
may be necessary to place the Executive in the same after-tax position as if no
portion of the Total Payments had been subject to the Excise Tax. In the event
that the Excise Tax is subsequently determined to be less than the amount taken
into account hereunder, the Executive shall repay to the Company, at the time
that the amount of such reduction in Excise Tax is finally determined, the
portion of the Gross-Up Payment attributable to such reduction (plus that
portion of the Gross-Up Payment attributable to the Excise Tax and federal,
state and local income tax imposed on the Gross-Up Payment

 

 

                                                                                   
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being repaid by the Executive to the extent that such repayment results in a
reduction in Excise Tax and/or a federal, state or local income tax deduction)
plus interest on the amount of such repayment at the rate provided in Section
1274(b)(2)(B) of the Code. In the event that the Excise Tax is determined to
exceed the amount taken into account hereunder (including by reason of any
payment the existence or amount of which cannot be determined at the time of the
Gross-Up Payment), the Company shall make an additional Gross-Up Payment in
respect of such excess (plus any interest, penalties or additions payable by the
Executive with respect to such excess) at the time that the amount of such
excess is finally determined. The Executive and the Company shall each
reasonably cooperate with the other in connection with any administrative or
judicial proceedings concerning the existence or amount of liability for Excise
Tax with respect to the Total Payments.

 

7. Nonsolicitation; Noncompete.

 

(a) Subject to (c) below, during the period of the Executive’s employment,
during the period she is receiving Severance Payments hereunder and, in the case
where the Executive’s employment is terminated for Cause or the Executive
voluntarily terminates her employment without Good Reason, for a period of
twelve months following such termination, the Executive shall not initiate
discussions with any person who is then an executive employee of the Company
(i.e., director level or above) with the intent of soliciting or inducing such
person to leave his or her employment with a view toward joining the Executive
in the pursuit of any business activity (whether or not such activity involves
engaging or participating in a Competitive Business, as defined below).
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement to the contrary, in the
event the Executive fails to comply with the preceding sentence, all rights of
the Executive and her surviving spouse or other beneficiary hereunder to any
future Severance Payments and continuing life insurance and medical coverage and
all rights with respect to restricted stock and exercisability of stock options
shall be forfeited; provided that, the foregoing shall not apply if such failure
of compliance commences following a Change in Control.

 

(b) Subject to (c) below, as long as the Executive receives Severance Payments,
or in the case where the Executive’s employment is terminated for Cause or the
Executive voluntarily terminates her employment without Good Reason, for a
period of twelve months following such termination, the Executive shall not,
without the prior written consent of the Company (which consent shall not be
unreasonably withheld), engage or participate in any business which is “in
competition” (as defined below) with the business of the Company or any of its
50% or more owned affiliates (such business being referred to herein as a
“Competitive Business”). Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement
to the contrary, in the event the Executive fails to comply with the preceding
sentence, all rights of the Executive and her surviving spouse or other
beneficiary hereunder to any future Severance Payments, and continuing life
insurance and medical coverage and all rights with respect to restricted stock
and exercisability of stock options shall be forfeited; provided that, the
foregoing shall not apply if such failure of compliance commences following a
Change in Control.

 

 

                                                                                             
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(c) In the event of a violation of Sections 7(a) or 7(b) hereof, the remedies of
the Company shall be limited to (i) if such violation occurs during the period
of Executive’s employment hereunder, termination of the Executive for Cause and
the associated rights of the Company specified herein resulting therefrom, (ii)
regardless of when such violation occurs, forfeiture by the Executive of the
payments, benefits and other rights set forth in sections (a) and (b) above if
and to the extent provided in such sections, and (iii) the right to seek
injunctive relief in accordance with and to the extent provided in Section 14
hereof; provided such injunctive relief may only be sought for competitive
activity under Section (b) above if such activity occurs during employment or
after Executive’s dismissal for Cause or Executive voluntarily terminates her
employment for Good Reason.

 

(d) For purposes hereof, a business will be “in competition” with the business
of the Company or its 50% or more owned affiliates only if (i) the Company’s
business with which the other business competes accounted for 20% or more of the
Company’s consolidated revenues as of the end of its most recently completed
fiscal year prior to the Date of Termination, and (ii) the entity (including all
50% or more owned affiliates) through which the other business is or will be
operated maintains a “women’s apparel” business which generated at least $50
million in revenue during the entity’s most recently completed fiscal year ended
prior to the date the Executive commences (or proposes to commence) to engage or
participate in the other business. For purposes hereof, “women’s apparel” shall
consist of dresses, jackets, pants, shorts, skirts, blouses, sweaters, T-shirts,
outerwear, footwear and accessories.

 

(e) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Executive’s engaging in the following
activities shall not be construed as engaging or participating in a Competitive
Business: (i) investment banking; (ii) passive ownership of less than 2% of any
class of securities of a public company; (iii) engaging or participating in
noncompetitive businesses of an entity which also operates a business which is
“in competition” with the business of the Company or its affiliates; (iv)
serving as an outside director of an entity which operates a business which is
“in competition” with the business of the Company or its affiliates, so long as
such business did not account for 10% or more of the consolidated revenues of
such entity as of the end of its most recently completed fiscal year prior to
the date the Executive commences (or proposes to commence) serving as an outside
director; (v) engaging in a business involving licensing arrangements so long as
such business is not an in-house arrangement for any entity “in competition”
with the business of the Company or its affiliates; (vi) affiliation with an
advertising agency, and (vii) after cessation of employment, engaging or
participating in the “wholesale” side of the women’s apparel business, which for
purposes hereof shall mean the design, manufacture and sale of piece goods and
women’s apparel to unrelated third parties, provided that if the entity for
which the Executive so engages or participates (including its affiliates) also
conducts a retail women’s apparel business, then effective upon the Executive’s
engaging or participating in such business, all continuing life insurance and
medical coverage provided by the Company shall cease and all Severance Payments
shall cease except for amounts representing the excess (if any) of the
Executive’s annual base salary hereunder (at the rate

 

 

                                                                               
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in effect as of the Date of Termination) over the Executive’s base salary
received from such entity and its affiliates, which amounts shall continue to be
paid by the Company for the remainder of the period in which the Executive is
entitled to receive Severance Payments hereunder. The exceptions contained in
subsection (vii) above and subsection (iii) above to the extent covered by
subsection (vii) shall not be applicable if the Executive’s cessation of
employment is voluntary by the Executive without Good Reason and her new
engagement or participation involves “wholesale” operations which include or
also conduct retail sales of women’s apparel other than factory outlet or
discount stores to liquidate unsold women’s apparel of such wholesale
operations.

 

8. Protection of Confidential Information.

 

(a) The Executive acknowledges that her employment by the Company will,
throughout the Term of this Agreement, involve her obtaining knowledge of
confidential information regarding the business and affairs of the Company. In
recognition of the foregoing, the Executive covenants and agrees that:

 

(i) except in compliance with legal process, she will keep secret all
confidential matters of the Company which are not otherwise in the public domain
and will not intentionally disclose them to anyone outside of the Company,
wherever located (other than to a person to whom disclosure is reasonably
necessary or appropriate in connection with the performance by Executive of her
duties as an executive officer of the Company), either during or after the Term,
except with the prior written consent of the Board of Directors or a person
authorized thereby; and

 

(ii) she will deliver promptly to the Company on termination of her employment
or at any other time the Company may so request, all memoranda, notes, records,
customer lists, reports and other documents (and all copies thereof) relating to
the business of the Company which she obtained while employed by, or otherwise
serving or acting on behalf of, the Company and which she may then possess or
have under her control.

 

(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 14 of this Agreement, if the
Executive commits a breach of the provisions of Section 8(a)(i) or 8(a) (ii),
the Company shall have the right and remedy to have such provisions specifically
enforced by any court having equity jurisdiction, it being acknowledged and
agreed that any such breach or threatened breach will cause irreparable injury
to the Company and that money damages will not provide an adequate remedy to the
Company.

 

9. Successors; Binding Agreement.

 

(a) Neither this Agreement nor any rights hereunder shall be assignable or
otherwise subject to hypothecation by the Executive (except by will or by
operation of the laws of intestate succession) or by the Company, except that
the Company

 

 

                                                                                        
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will require any successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger,
consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business and/or
assets of the Company, by agreement in form and substance reasonably
satisfactory to the Executive, to expressly assume and agree to perform this
Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be
required to perform it if no such succession had taken place. Failure of the
Company to obtain such assumption and agreement prior to the effectiveness of
any such succession shall be a breach of this Agreement and shall entitle the
Executive to compensation from the Company in the same amount and on the same
terms as she would be entitled to hereunder if she terminated her employment for
Good Reason except that for purposes of implementing the foregoing, the date on
which any such succession becomes effective shall be deemed the Date of
Termination. As used in this Agreement, “Company” shall mean the Company as
herein before defined and any successor to its business and/or assets as
aforesaid which executes and delivers the agreement provided for in this Section
9 or which otherwise becomes bound by all the terms and provisions of this
Agreement by operation of law.

 

(b) This Agreement and all rights of the Executive hereunder shall inure to the
benefit of and be enforceable by the Executive’s personal or legal
representatives, executors, administrators, successors, heirs, devisees and
legatees. If the Executive should die while any amounts would still be payable
to her hereunder if she had continued to live, all such amounts, unless
otherwise provided herein, shall be paid in accordance with the terms of this
Agreement to the Executive’s devisee, legatee, or other designee or, if there is
no such designee, to the Executive’s estate.

 

10. Notice. For the purposes of this Agreement, notices, demands and all other
communications provided for in this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be
deemed to have been duly given when (i) personally delivered to the Executive or
an executive officer of the Company, (ii) five (5) business days after being
mailed by United States certified or registered mail, return receipt requested,
postage prepaid, or (iii) one business day after being shipped by an overnight
courier service, to the address as follows:

 

If to the Company:

 

AnnTaylor Stores Corporation

142 West 57 th Street

New York, New York 10019

Attn: General Counsel

 

If to the Executive:

 

Katherine Lawther Krill

333 Stamford Avenue

Stamford, CT 06902

 

 

                                                                                  
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or to such other address as a party may have furnished to the other in writing
in accordance herewith, except that notices of change of address shall be
effective only upon receipt.

 

11. Miscellaneous. No provisions of this Agreement may be modified, waived or
discharged unless such waiver, modification or discharge is agreed to in a
writing signed by the Executive and such officer of the Company as may be
specifically designated by the Board of Directors. No waiver by either party
hereto at any time of any breach by the other party hereto of, or compliance
with, any condition or provision of this Agreement to be performed by such other
party shall be deemed a waiver of similar or dissimilar provisions or conditions
at the same or at any prior or subsequent time. No agreements or
representations, oral or otherwise, express or implied, with respect to the
subject matter hereof have been made by either party which are not set forth
expressly in this Agreement. The validity, interpretation, construction and
performance of this Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of New
York without regard to its conflicts of law principles. All payments hereunder
shall be subject to applicable Federal, State and local tax withholding
requirements.

 

12. Validity. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision or provisions
of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other
provision of this Agreement, which shall remain in full force and effect.

 

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

 

14. Arbitration. Any dispute or controversy arising under or in connection with
this Agreement shall be settled exclusively by arbitration, conducted before a
panel of three arbitrators in New York City in accordance with the rules of the
American Arbitration Association then in effect. Judgment may be entered on the
arbitrator’s award in any court having jurisdiction; provided that, the Company
shall be entitled to seek a restraining order or injunction in any court of
competent jurisdiction to prevent any continuation of any violation of the
provisions of Section 7 or 8 of the Agreement and the Executive hereby consents
that such restraining order or injunction may be granted without the necessity
of the Company’s posting any bond and further provided that, the Executive shall
be entitled to seek specific performance of her right to be paid until the Date
of Termination during the pendency of any dispute or controversy arising under
or in connection with this Agreement. Each party shall bear its own costs and
expenses (including, without limitation, legal fees) in connection with any
arbitration proceeding instituted hereunder; provided that the Company shall pay
directly or reimburse the Executive for any legal fees incurred by Executive in
any arbitration in which she prevails.

 

15. Entire Agreement. The provisions of this Agreement, including specifically
those pertaining to vesting and/or exercisability of options and restricted
stock awards, shall, to the extent more favorable to Executive, supersede
inconsistent provisions

 

 

                                                                                                        
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contained in the restricted stock award agreements and stock option agreements
previously issued to Executive and in the Company’s standard forms for such
agreements for purposes of awards to be made to Executive in the future. This
Agreement sets forth the entire agreement of the parties hereto in respect of
the subject matter contained herein and supercedes any other prior agreements,
promises, covenants, arrangements, communications, representations or
warranties, whether oral or written, by any officer, employee or representative
of any party hereto, including without limitation, the Employment Agreement
dated as of May 3, 2001, as amended, which is replaced hereby as of the
Effective Date.

 

  ANNTAYLOR STORES CORPORATION

  By:/s/J. Patrick Spainhour                         Name: J. Patrick
Spainhour                   Title: Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

  /s/Katherine Lawther Krill                    Katherine Lawther Krill

 

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