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Exhibit 10.7  

EXECUTION COPY  

 
 

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

        THIS
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (the "Agreement") is entered into effective as of February 14, 2006 (the
"Effective Date"), by and between Linens 'n Things, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"),
Linens Holding Co., a Delaware corporation ("Holding"), and Robert J. DiNicola (the "Executive"). 

        WHEREAS,
the Company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Holding; 

        WHEREAS,
as of the Effective Date, the Company has consummated the merger of Laundry Merger Sub Co., a Delaware corporation ("Merger
Sub"), with and into the Company (the "Acquisition") pursuant to that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of
November 8, 2005 (the "Merger Agreement"), by and among Holding, Merger Sub and the Company; and 

        WHEREAS,
the Company desires to employ the Executive on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein and the Executive has agreed to be so employed. 

        NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual representations, warranties, covenants and agreements set forth herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and
sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, agree as follows:

         1.     Employment of Executive; Duties.  

         1.1   Title. During the Employment Period (as defined in  Section 2 hereof), the Executive shall serve as executive Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of the Company. The Executive shall
have the normal duties, responsibilities and authority commensurate with such positions. 

         1.2   Duties.

        (a)   During
the Employment Period, the Executive shall do and perform all services and acts necessary or advisable to fulfill the duties and responsibilities of the
Executive's position and shall render such services on the terms set forth herein. In addition, the Executive shall have such other executive and managerial powers and duties as may reasonably be
assigned to the Executive by the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board"), commensurate with the Executive serving as executive Chairman of the
Board and Chief Executive Officer. The Company may adjust the duties and responsibilities of Executive as executive Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, notwithstanding the specific
title set forth in Section 1.1 hereof, based upon the Company's needs from time to time. Except for sick leave, reasonable vacations and excused
leaves of absence, the Executive shall, throughout the Employment Period, devote the Executive's working time, attention, knowledge and skills, to such extent as may be necessary and appropriate as
determined by the Executive in his business judgment and in consultation with the Board, faithfully, and to the best of the Executive's ability, to the duties and responsibilities of the Executive's
positions in furtherance of the business affairs and activities of the Company and its subsidiaries and Affiliates (as defined in Section 5.4(a)
hereof). 

 

        (b)   The
Company recognizes that the Executive has entered into an employment agreement with GNC Corporation ("GNC"), pursuant
to which the Executive is serving as executive Chairman of the Board of GNC, and has entered into a consulting agreement with Apollo Management V, L.P.
("Apollo"), pursuant to which the Executive is providing consulting services to Apollo and certain of its affiliates. The Executive agrees to devote
sufficient business time, outside of the time required to fulfill the Executive's obligations under the employment agreement with GNC (or to serve as a member of the board of directors of GNC) and the
Executive's obligations under the consulting agreement with Apollo, to enable the Executive to fulfill the duties and responsibilities to the Company set forth in  Section 1.2(a) hereof. 

        (c)   During
the Employment Period, the Executive shall spend sufficient time at the Company's corporate headquarters in Clifton, New Jersey as the Executive and the Board
shall deem necessary to discharge the Executive's responsibilities hereunder, and the Company shall provide the Executive with an appropriate office and secretarial support at such corporate
headquarters. 

        (d)   The
Executive shall at all times be subject to, comply with, observe and carry out (a) the Company's rules, regulations, policies and codes of ethics and/or
conduct applicable to its employees generally and in effect from time to time and (b) such rules, regulations, policies, codes of ethics and/or conduct, directions and restrictions as the Board
may from time to time reasonably establish or approve for senior executive officers of the Company. 

        2.     Term of Employment.  

         2.1   Employment Period. The employment of the Executive hereunder shall continue
until
December 31, 2008 (the "Initial Employment Period"), unless terminated earlier in accordance with the provisions of  Section 4 of this Agreement.

        2.2   Extension. Unless terminated earlier in accordance with the provisions of
 Section 4 of this Agreement, the employment of the Executive hereunder shall continue after the end of the Initial Employment Period for
additional one (1)-year periods (each an "Extension Period" and, together with the Initial Employment Period, the
"Employment Period"), unless the Company or the Executive notifies the other in writing not less than one (1) year prior to the end of the
Initial Employment Period, or the end of the applicable Extension Period, of its or the Executive's election, in its or the Executive's sole discretion, not to extend the Employment Period. 

         3.     Compensation and General Benefits.  

         3.1   Base Salary.

        (a)   During
the Employment Period, the Company agrees to pay to the Executive an annual base salary in an amount equal to $1,350,000 (such base salary, as may be adjusted
from time to time pursuant to Section 3.1(b), is referred to herein as the "Base Salary"). The
Executive's Base Salary, less amounts required to be withheld under applicable law, shall be payable in equal installments in accordance with the Company's normal payroll practices and procedures in
effect from time to time for the payment of salaries to officers of the Company, but in no event less frequently than monthly. 

        (b)   The
Board or the Compensation Committee established by the Board (the "Compensation Committee") shall review the
Executive's performance on an annual basis and, based on such review, may change the Base Salary, as it, acting in its sole discretion, shall determine to be reasonable and appropriate. 

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         3.2   Bonus. With respect to the 2006 calendar year and with respect to each
calendar year that
commences during the Employment Period, the Executive shall be eligible to receive from the Company an annual performance bonus (the "Annual Bonus")
based upon the Company's attainment of annual goals established by the Board or the Compensation Committee, which are based on the Company's sales, earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and
amortization ("EBITDA") and cash generation goals. The Executive's target Annual Bonus shall be one hundred percent (100%) of the Executive's Base Salary if the Company exceeds the sales, EBITDA and
cash generation goals based on levels to be determined by the Board or the Compensation Committee for the applicable year. Any Annual Bonus earned shall be payable in full as soon as reasonably
practicable following the determination thereof, but in no event later than May 15 of the following year, and in accordance with the Company's normal payroll practices and procedures. Except as
otherwise expressly provided in Section 4 hereof, any Annual Bonus (or portion thereof) payable under this  Section 3.2 shall not be earned and
payable unless the Executive is employed by the Company on the last day of the period to which such Annual
Bonus relates. 

         3.3   Expenses.

        (a)   During
the Employment Period, in addition to any amounts to which the Executive may be entitled pursuant to the other provisions of this  Section 3.3 or elsewhere herein, the Executive shall be entitled to
receive reimbursement from the Company for all reasonable and necessary
expenses incurred by the Executive in performing the Executive's duties hereunder on behalf of the Company, subject to, and consistent with, the Company's policies for expense payment and
reimbursement, in effect from time to time, including, but not limited to, all reasonable expenses incurred in connection with hotels, meals, transportation and the like while in Clifton, New Jersey
and first-class air travel to and from the greater New York City-Southern New Jersey area (the "New York Area") for the Executive and his
spouse as reasonably necessary during the Employment Period. 

        (b)   If
the Executive elects to relocate his primary residence to the New York metropolitan area, the Company shall pay for all expenses incurred in connection with the sale
of the Executive's home in Dallas, Texas and the purchase of a home in the New York City Area (excluding the purchase price of the New York Area home, but including closing costs on the sale of the
Dallas home and purchase of the New York Area home) and relocation expenses, including, without limitation, moving, packing, storage of household goods and the like to the New York Area, and including
a tax gross-up for such expenses to the extent they are taxable income. The Executive shall take all reasonable steps necessary to seek reimbursement from Zale Corporation of any of the
relocation expenses Zale Corporation may be obligated to pay. In the event Zale Corporation reimburses the Executive for any portion of these relocation expenses, such payment shall be an offset
against the obligations of the Company under this Agreement. 

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         3.4   Fringe Benefits. During the Employment Period, in addition to any amounts to
which the Executive
may be entitled pursuant to the other provisions of this Section 3 or elsewhere herein, the Executive shall be entitled to participate in, and to
receive benefits under, any benefit plans, arrangements or policies made available by the Company to its employees generally, subject to and on a basis consistent with the terms, conditions and
overall administration of each such plan, arrangement or policy; provided, however, that the Executive
shall not be entitled to health insurance, prescription drug benefits or dental insurance provided by the Company except to the extent such insurance or benefits are not covered as benefits to the
Executive pursuant to the Executive's employment agreement with Zale Corporation dated as of August 1, 2001. Notwithstanding the foregoing, on each business day during the Employment Period
when the Executive is in the New York Area, the Executive shall be entitled to executive car service, at the Company's expense, for any transportation between the Company's corporate headquarters in
Clifton, New Jersey and the Executive's permanent or temporary residence in the New York Area or a New York Area airport, provided that to the extent
the Executive does not utilize such benefit, the Executive shall be entitled to cash compensation in an amount equivalent to the value of the benefit not used. 

         3.5   Employee Stock Options.

        (a)   On
or shortly after the Effective Date, Holding shall have adopted a stock option plan, in the form attached hereto as  Exhibit A and incorporated herein by reference (the "Plan"), for the grant of stock options to
employees or directors of Holding or of any subsidiary of Holding to purchase shares of Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share, of Holding (the "Common
Stock"). 

        (b)   On
or shortly after the Effective Date, pursuant to the Plan, the Executive shall be granted nonqualified options to purchase a total of 281,946 shares of Common Stock
on the terms set forth in the Grant Letter attached hereto as Exhibit B and incorporated herein by reference (the "Grant
Letter"). Holding and the Executive acknowledge and agree that the grant of the Performance Option (as defined in the Grant Letter) is subject to a review of the financial
accounting impact thereof on Holding. Holding and the Executive agree to cooperate in good faith with respect to any modification of the structure of the Performance Option to the extent necessary to
avoid unfavorable financial accounting treatment. If Holding and the Executive are not able to mutually agree on a modification of the Performance Option or if Holding reasonably determines that it is
not feasible to grant the Performance Option or any modification thereof because of the unfavorable accounting treatment that would likely result therefrom, then, in lieu of the Performance Option (or
any modification thereof), the number of shares of Common Stock subject to the Time Option (as defined in the Grant Letter) shall be increased to 281,946 shares. 

        (c)   In
the event of (i) the Executive's death or "Total Disability" (as defined in Section 4.2(b) hereof) or
(ii) a Change of Control (as defined in Exhibit C attached hereto), all of the Executive's then outstanding stock options granted pursuant
to the Plan shall vest in full and become immediately exercisable; provided, however, that the
Performance Option, if granted, shall not vest solely because of a Change of Control. 

        (d)   During
the Employment Period and subject to the approval of the administrator of the Plan, the Executive shall be eligible to participate in and be granted future awards
under the Plan. 

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         3.6   Stock Investment.

        (a)   On
the Effective Date, Holding agrees to offer and sell to Executive, and the Executive agrees to purchase from Holding, 40,000 shares of Common Stock for aggregate cash
consideration of $2,000,000 (the "Stock Purchase"). The Stock Purchase shall otherwise be on the terms set forth in a separate Subscription Agreement
entered into by and between the Company and the Executive in the form attached hereto as Exhibit D and incorporated herein by reference. 

        (b)   Upon
completion of the Stock Purchase, the Executive shall be granted an additional nonqualified stock option to purchase 40,000 shares of Common Stock on the terms set
forth in the Grant Letter. 

         3.7   Indemnification. On the Effective Date, Holding and Executive shall enter into an Indemnification
Agreement in the form
attached hereto as Exhibit E and incorporated herein by reference. 

        4.     Termination.

         4.1   General. The employment of the Executive hereunder (and the Employment
Period) shall terminate as
provided in Section 2 hereof, unless earlier terminated in accordance with the provisions of this  Section 4. 

        4.2   Death or Disability of the Executive.

        (a)   The
employment of the Executive hereunder (and the Employment Period) shall terminate upon (i) the death of the Executive and (ii) at the option of the
Company, upon not less than fifteen (15) days' prior written notice to the Executive or the Executive's personal representative or guardian, if the Executive suffers a "Total Disability" (as
defined in Section 4.2(b) hereof). Upon termination for death or Total Disability, (A) the Company shall pay to the Executive, guardian or
personal representative, as the case may be, the Executive's current Base Salary for the remainder of the Employment Period in effect immediately prior to the date of termination and (B) the
Company shall also pay to the Executive, guardian or personal representative, as the case may be, a prorated share of the Annual Bonus pursuant to  Section 3.2 hereof (based on the period of actual
employment) that the Executive would have been entitled to had the Executive worked the full
year during which the termination occurred, provided that bonus targets are met for the year of such termination. Any bonus shall be payable as soon as reasonably practicable following the
determination thereof, but in no event later than May 15 of the following year, and in accordance with the Company's normal payroll practices and procedures 

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        (b)   For
purposes of this Agreement, "Total Disability" shall mean (i) if the Executive is subject to a legal decree of
incompetency (the date of such decree being deemed the date on which such disability occurred), (ii) the written determination by a physician selected by the Company (which expense shall be
paid by the Company) that, because of a medically determinable disease, injury or other physical or mental disability, the Executive is unable substantially to perform, with or without reasonable
accommodation, the material duties of the Executive required hereby, and that such disability has lasted for ninety (90) consecutive days or any one hundred twenty (120) days during the
immediately preceding twelve (12)-month period or is, as of the date of determination, reasonably expected to last six (6) months or longer after the date of determination, in each case based
upon medically available reliable information or (iii) Executive's qualifying for benefits under the Company's long-term disability coverage, if any. In conjunction with determining
mental and/or physical disability for purposes of this Agreement, the Executive hereby consents to (x) any examinations that the Board or the Compensation Committee determines are relevant to a
determination of whether the Executive is mentally and/or physically disabled or are required by the Company physician, (y) furnish such medical information as may be reasonably requested and
(z) waive any applicable physician patient privilege that may arise because of such examination. All expenses incurred by the Executive under this subsection shall be paid by the Company. 

        (c)   With
respect to outstanding stock options and other equity-based awards held by the Executive as of the date of termination pursuant to this  Section 4.2, (i) as provided in Section 3.5(c), all of the Executive's stock
options granted pursuant to the Plan shall vest in full and become immediately exercisable and (ii) any such vested and exercisable options shall expire immediately following the expiration of
the one hundred eighty (180)-day period following such date of termination. 

        4.3   Termination by the Company Without Cause or Resignation by the Executive For Good Reason.

        (a)   The
Company may terminate the Executive's employment without "Cause" (as defined in Section 4.3(g)), and thereby
terminate the Executive's employment (and the Employment Period) under this Agreement at any time with no requirement for notice to the Executive. 

        (b)   The
Executive may resign, and thereby terminate the Executive's employment (and the Employment Period), at any time for "Good Reason" (as defined in  Section 4.3(f) hereof), upon not less than sixty
(60) days' prior written notice to the Company specifying in reasonable detail the reason
therefore; provided, however, that the Company shall have a reasonable opportunity to cure any such Good
Reason (to the extent possible) within thirty (30) days after the Company's receipt of such notice; and provided further that, if the Company is
not seeking to cure, the Company shall not be obligated to allow the Executive to continue working during such period and may, in its sole discretion, accelerate such termination of employment (and
the Employment Period) to any date during such period. 

        (i)    Executive
may not terminate employment under this Agreement for Good Reason regarding any of the Company's acts or omissions of which Executive had actual notice for
sixty (60) days or more prior to giving notice of termination for Good Reason. 

        (ii)   A
determination of whether the Executive legitimately has Good Reason for termination of the Executive's employment under this Agreement, and of whether the Company has
effectively cured and thus eliminated the grounds for such Good Reason, shall be made only by the members of the Board other than the Executive (the "Disinterested
Directors"), within the sole judgment and discretion of the Disinterested Directors, as determined by majority vote thereof. 

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        (c)   In
the event the Executive's employment is terminated pursuant to this Section 4.3, then, subject to  Section 4.3(d) hereof, the following provisions
shall apply: 

        (i)    The
Company shall continue to pay the Executive the Base Salary to which the Executive would have been entitled pursuant to  Section 3.1 hereof (at the Base Salary rate during the year of termination)
had the Executive remained in the employ of the Company until the
expiration of the Employment Period in effect immediately prior to the date of termination, with all such amounts payable in accordance with the Company's normal payroll practices and procedures in
the same manner and at the same time as though the Executive remained employed by the Company. 

        (ii)   If
such termination occurs upon or within six (6) months following a Change of Control (as defined in  Exhibit C attached hereto), the Company shall continue to pay the Executive the Base Salary
to which the Executive would have been entitled
pursuant to Section 3.1 hereof (at the Base Salary rate during the year of termination) for the greater of (A) the period set forth in  Section 4.3(c)(i)
 hereof or (B) a two (2)-year period following such date of termination, with all such amounts payable in
accordance with the Company's normal payroll practices and procedures in the same manner and at the same time as though the Executive remained employed by the Company. 

        (iii)  In
the event the Executive's employment is terminated pursuant to this Section 4.3 without Cause, and if the
Company has previously effected reductions in the Executive's Base Salary and the base salary of all executives at the same level as the Executive, which reductions were substantially similar, then
the Base Salary rate for purposes of Section 4.3(c)(i) or (ii) hereof shall be the Base Salary
rate in effect immediately prior to such reductions. 

        (iv)  The
Company shall pay to the Executive a prorated share of the Annual Bonus pursuant to Section 3.2 hereof (based
on the period of actual employment) that the Executive would have been entitled to had the Executive worked the full year during which the termination occurred, provided that bonus targets are met for
the year of such termination. The bonus shall be payable as soon as reasonably practicable following the determination thereof, but in no event later than May 15 of the following year, and in
accordance with the Company's normal payroll practices and procedures. 

        (v)   With
respect to outstanding options and other equity-based awards granted pursuant to the Plan held by the Executive as of the date of termination pursuant to this  Section 4.3, (A) any such options
that are not vested or exercisable as of such date of termination shall immediately expire and any such
equity-based awards that are not vested as of such date of termination shall immediately be forfeited and (B) any such options that are vested and exercisable as of such date of termination
shall expire immediately following the expiration of the one hundred eighty (180)-day period following such date of termination. 

        (vi)  The
Executive shall continue to be entitled to the perquisites available to the Executive immediately preceding the Executive's date of termination as provided in  Section 3.4, in each case
(A) through the expiration of the Employment Period in effect immediately prior to the date of termination or
(B) in the event that Executive's Base Salary is being paid pursuant to Section 4.3(c)(ii), for the period set forth therein. 

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        (d)   As
a condition precedent to the Executive's right to receive the benefits set forth in Section 4.3(c) hereof, the
Executive agrees to execute a release of the Company and its respective Affiliates, officers, directors, stockholders, employees, agents, insurers, representatives and successors from and against any
and all claims that the Executive may have against any such Person (as defined in Section 5.4(f) hereof) relating to the Executive's employment
by the Company and the termination thereof, such release to be in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Company. 

        (e)   Anything
in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, if it shall be determined that any payment, vesting, distribution or transfer by the Company or any
successor, or any Affiliate of the foregoing or by any other Person or that any other event occurring with respect to the Executive and the Company for the Executive's benefit, whether paid or payable
or distributed or distributable under the terms of this Agreement or otherwise (including under any employee benefit plan) (a "Payment") would be
subject to or result in the imposition of the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code")
(and any regulations or guidance promulgated or issued thereunder, any successor provision, and any similar provision of state or local income tax law) (collectively, the
"Excise Tax"), then the amount of the Payment shall be reduced to the highest amount that may be paid by the Company or other entity without subjecting
any such Payment to the Excise Tax (the "Payment Reduction"). The Executive shall have the right to designate those payments or benefits that shall be
reduced or eliminated under the Payment Reduction to avoid the imposition of the Excise Tax, subject to the confirmation of the Accounting Firm (as defined herein) with respect to the intended effect
thereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Payment Reduction shall not apply if the Executive would, on a net after-tax basis, receive less compensation than if the Payment were not so
reduced. 

        (i)    Subject
to the provisions of Section 4.3(e)(ii), all determinations required to be made under this  Section 4.3(e), including whether and when a Payment
is subject to Section 4999 and the assumptions to be utilized in arriving at such
determination and in determining an appropriate Payment Reduction, shall be made by KPMG LLP, or any other nationally recognized accounting firm that shall be the Company's outside auditors at the
time of such determination (the "Accounting Firm"), which Accounting Firm shall provide detailed supporting calculations to the Executive and the
Company within fifteen (15) business days of the receipt of notice from the Company or the Executive that there will be a Payment that the Person giving notice believes may be subject to the
Excise Tax. All fees and expenses of the Accounting Firm shall be borne by the Company. Any determination by the Accounting Firm shall be binding upon the Company and the Executive in determining
whether a Payment Reduction is required and the amount thereof (subject to Sections 4.3(e)(ii) and  (iii)), in the absence of material mathematical or legal
error. 

        (ii)   As
a result of uncertainty in the application of Section 4999 that may exist at the time of the initial determination by the Accounting Firm, it may be possible
that in making the calculations required to be made hereunder, the Accounting Firm shall determine that a Payment Reduction need not be made that properly should be made (an
"Overpayment") or that a Payment Reduction not properly needed to be made should be made (an
"Underpayment"). If, within seventy-five (75) days after the Accounting Firm's initial determination under  Section 4.3(e)(i), the Accounting Firm
shall determine that an Overpayment was made, any such Overpayment shall be treated for all purposes, to
the extent practicable and subject to applicable law, as a loan to the Executive with interest at the applicable Federal rate provided for in Section 1274(d) of the Code and shall be 

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repaid
by the Executive to the Company within thirty-five (35) days after the Executive receives notice of the Accounting Firm's determination;  provided, however, that the amount to be repaid by the Executive to the Company either as a loan or
otherwise as a lump sum payment (where a loan is not practicable or permitted by law) shall be reduced to the extent that any portion of the Overpayment to be repaid will not be offset by a
corresponding reduction in tax by reason of such repayment of the Overpayment. If the Accounting Firm shall determine that an Underpayment was made, any such Underpayment shall be due and payable by
the Company to the Executive within thirty-five (35) days after the Company receives notice of the Accounting Firm's determination. 

        (iii)  The
Executive shall give written notice to the Company of any claim by the Internal Revenue Service that, if successful, would require the payment by the Executive of
an Excise Tax, such notice to be provided within fifteen (15) days after the Executive shall have received written notice of such claim. The Executive shall cooperate with the Company in
determining whether to contest or pay such claim and shall not pay such claim without the written consent of the Company, which shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed. 

        (iv)  This  Section 4.3(e) shall remain in full force and effect following the termination of the Executive's employment
for any reason until the expiration of the statute of limitations on the assessment of taxes applicable to the Executive for all periods in which the Executive may incur a liability for taxes
(including Excise Taxes), interest or penalties arising out of the operation of this Agreement. 

        (f)    For
purposes of this Agreement, the Executive would be entitled to terminate the Executive's employment for "Good Reason"
if without the Executive's prior written consent: 

        (i)    the
Company fails to comply with any material obligation imposed by this Agreement; 

        (ii)   the
Company changes the Executive's position from that of Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer; provided,  however, that a change in the
Executive's duties or responsibilities without a change in the Executive's position as Chairman of the Board and Chief
Executive Officer shall not constitute Good Reason; and, provided further, that if Executive ceases to be Chief Executive Officer, but remains Chairman
of the Board, such change shall not constitute Good Reason; 

        (iii)  the
Company effects a reduction in the Executive's Base Salary, unless all executives at the same level as the Executive receive a substantially similar reduction in
base salary; or 

        (iv)  The
Company requires the Executive to relocate his residence. 

        (g)   For
purposes of this Agreement, "Cause" means the occurrence of any one or more of the following events, and the Company
shall have the sole discretion to determine the existence of Cause: 

        (i)    a
failure by the Executive to comply with any obligation under this Agreement; 

        (ii)   the
Executive's being indicted for (A) any felony or (B) any misdemeanor that causes or is likely to cause harm or embarrassment to the Company or any of
its Affiliates, in the reasonable judgment of the Board; 

        (iii)  theft,
embezzlement or fraud by the Executive in connection with the performance of the Executive's duties hereunder; 

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        (iv)  the
Executive's engaging in any activity that gives rise to a material conflict with the Company or any of its Affiliates; 

        (v)   the
misappropriation by the Executive of any material business opportunity of the Company or any of its Affiliates; 

        (vi)  any
failure to comply with, observe or carry out the Company's rules, regulations, policies and codes of ethics and/or conduct applicable to its employees generally and
in effect from time to time, including (without limitation) those regarding conflicts, potential conflicts of interest or the appearance of a conflict of interest 

        (vii) any
failure to comply with, observe or carry out the rules, regulations, policies, directions, codes of ethics and/or conduct and restrictions established or approved
by the Board from time to time for senior executive officers of the Company, including (without limitation) those regarding conflicts, potential conflicts of interest or the appearance of a conflict
of interest; 

        (viii) substance
abuse or use of illegal drugs that, in the reasonable judgment of the Board, (A) impairs the Executive's performance of the Executive's duties
hereunder or (B) causes or is likely to cause harm or embarrassment to the Company or any of its Affiliates; and 

        (ix)  engagement
in conduct that Executive knows or should know is injurious to the Company or any of its Affiliates. 

        4.4   Termination For Cause, Voluntary Resignation Other Than For Good Reason or Election Not to Extend the Employment
Period.

        (a)   (i) The
Company may, upon action of the Board, terminate the employment of the Executive (and the Employment Period) at any time for "Cause," (ii) the
Executive may voluntarily resign other than for Good Reason and thereby terminate the Executive's employment (and the Employment Period) under this Agreement at any time upon not less than thirty
(30)-days' prior written notice or (iii) either the Company or the Executive may elect not to extend or further extend the Employment Period pursuant to  Section 2.2 hereof. 

        (b)   The
following provisions shall apply upon termination by the Company for Cause, by the Executive as the result of resignation for other than for Good Reason, or by the
Company or the Executive at the end of the Employment Period as the result of an election not to extend or further extend the Employment Period: 

        (i)    The
Executive shall be entitled to receive all amounts of earned but unpaid Base Salary and benefits accrued through the date of such termination. Except as provided
below, all other rights of the Executive (and all obligations of the Company) hereunder shall terminate as of the date of such termination. 

        (ii)   With
respect to outstanding options and other equity-based awards held by the Executive as of the date of termination pursuant to this  Section 4.4, (A) any such options that are not vested or
exercisable as of such date of termination shall immediately expire and any such
equity-based awards that are not vested as of such date of termination shall immediately be forfeited, and (B) any such options that are vested and exercisable as of such date of termination
shall expire immediately following the expiration of the ninety (90)-day period following such date of termination. 

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        (c)   Before
the Company may terminate the Executive for Cause pursuant to Section 4.4(a)(i), the Disinterested
Directors shall deliver to the Executive a written notice of the Company's intent to terminate the Executive for Cause, and the Executive shall have been given a reasonable opportunity to cure any
such acts or omissions (which are susceptible of cure as reasonably determined by the Disinterested Directors by majority vote thereof) within thirty (30) days after the Executive's receipt of
such notice. 

         4.5   Resignation from Officer Positions. Upon the termination of the Executive's
employment for any
reason (unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Company and the Executive), the Executive will be deemed to have resigned, without any further action by the Executive, from any and all officer,
director and/or director positions that the Executive, immediately prior to such termination, (a) held with the Company or any of its Affiliates and (b) held with any other entities at
the direction of, or as a result of the Executive's affiliation with, the Company or any of its Affiliates. If for any reason this Section 4.5 is
deemed to be insufficient to effectuate such resignations, then Executive will, upon the Company's request, execute any documents or instruments that the Company may deem necessary or desirable to
effectuate such resignations. In addition, the Executive hereby designates the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of the Company and of any Affiliate to execute any such documents or instruments as
the Executive's attorney-in-fact to effectuate such resignations if execution by the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of the Company or Affiliate is deemed by the Company
or the Affiliate to be a more expedient means to effectuate such resignation or resignations. 

        4.6   Section 409A of the Code. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in
this Agreement, the
parties mutually desire to avoid adverse tax consequences associated with the application of Section 409A of the Code to this Agreement and agree to cooperate fully and take appropriate
reasonable actions to avoid any such consequences under Section 409A of the Code, including delaying payments and reforming the form of the Agreement if such action would reduce or eliminate
taxes and/or interest payable as a result of Section 409A of the Code. In this regard, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this  Section 4, to the extent necessary to comply with
Section 409A of the Code, any payment required under this  Section 4 shall be deferred for a period of six (6) months, regardless of the circumstances giving rise to or the basis for such
payment.
 

11

  

         5.     Confidentiality, Work Product and Non-Competition and Non-Solicitation.

         5.1   Confidentiality.

        (a)   In
connection with the Executive's employment with the Company, the Company promises to provide the Executive with access to "Confidential Information" (as defined in  Section 5.4(d) hereof) in support
of the Executive's employment duties. The Executive recognizes that the Company's business interests require a
confidential relationship between the Company and the Executive and the fullest practical protection and confidential treatment of all Confidential Information. At all times, both during and after the
Employment Period, the Executive shall not directly or indirectly: (i) appropriate, download, print, copy, remove, use, disclose, divulge, communicate or otherwise "Misappropriate" (as defined
in Section 5.4(e) hereof), any Confidential Information, including, without limitation, originals or copies of any Confidential Information, in
any media or format, except for the Company's benefit within the course and scope of the Executive's employment or with the prior written consent of a
majority of the Disinterested Directors; or (ii) take or encourage any action that would circumvent, interfere with or otherwise diminish the value or benefit of the Confidential Information to
any of the Company Parties (as defined in Section 5.4(b) hereof). 

        (b)   All
Confidential Information, and all other information and property affecting or relating to the business of the Company Parties within the Executive's possession,
custody or control, regardless of form or format, shall remain, at all times, the property of the respective Company Parties, the appropriation, use and/or disclosure of which is governed and
restricted by this Agreement. 

        (c)   The
Executive acknowledges and agrees that: 

        (i)    the
Executive occupies a unique position within the Company, and the Executive is and will be intimately involved in the development and/or implementation of
Confidential Information; 

        (ii)   in
the event the Executive breaches this Section 5.1 with respect to any Confidential Information, such breach
shall be deemed to be a Misappropriation of such Confidential Information; and 

        (iii)  any
Misappropriation of Confidential Information will result in immediate and irreparable harm to the Company. 

        (d)   Upon
receipt of any formal or informal request, by legal process or otherwise, seeking the Executive's direct or indirect disclosure or production of any Confidential
Information to any Person, the Executive shall promptly and timely notify the Company and provide a description and, if applicable, hand deliver a copy of such request to the Company. The Executive
irrevocably nominates and appoints the Company as the Executive's true and lawful attorney-in-fact to act in the Executive's name, place and stead to perform any act that the
Executive might perform to defend and protect against any disclosure of Confidential Information. 

        (e)   At
any time the Company may request, during or after the Employment Period, the Executive to deliver to the Company all originals and copies of Confidential Information
and all other information and property affecting or relating to the business of the Company Parties within the Executive's possession, custody or control, regardless of form or format, including,
without limitation any Confidential Information produced by the Executive. Both during and after the Employment Period, the Company shall have the right of reasonable access to review, inspect, copy
and/or confiscate any Confidential Information within the Executive's possession, custody or control. 

12

 

        (f)    Upon
termination or expiration of this Agreement, the Executive shall immediately return to the Company all Confidential Information, and all other information and
property affecting or relating to the business of the Company Parties, within the Executive's possession, custody or control, regardless of form or format, without the
necessity of a prior Company request. 

        (g)   During
the Employment Period, the Executive represents and agrees that the Executive will not use or disclose any confidential or proprietary information or trade
secrets of others, including but not limited to former employers, and that the Executive will not bring onto the premises of the Company or access such confidential or proprietary information or trade
secrets of such others, unless consented to in writing by said others, and then only with the prior written authorization of the Company. 

        5.2   Work Product/Intellectual Property.

        (a)   Assignment. The Executive hereby assigns to the Company all right, title and interest to all "Work Product" (as defined
in Section 5.4(h) hereof) that (i) relates to any of the Company Parties' actual or anticipated business, research and development or
existing or future products or services, or (ii) is conceived, reduced to practice, developed or made using any equipment, supplies, facilities, assets, information or resources of any of the
Company Parties (including, without limitation, any intellectual property rights). 

        (b)   Disclosure. The Executive shall promptly disclose Work Product to the Disinterested Directors and perform all actions
reasonably requested by the Company (whether during or after the Employment Period) to establish and confirm the ownership and proprietary interest of any of the Company Parties in any Work Product
(including, without limitation, the execution of assignments, consents, powers of attorney, applications and other instruments). The Executive shall not file any patent or copyright applications
related to any Work Product except with the written consent of a majority of the Disinterested Directors. 

         5.3   Non-Competition and Non-Solicitation.

        (a)   In
consideration of the Confidential Information being provided to the Executive as stated in Section 5.1 hereof,
and other good and valuable new consideration as stated in this Agreement, including, without limitation, employment and/or continued employment with the Company, and the business relationships,
Company goodwill, work experience, client, customer and/or vendor relationships and other fruits of employment that the Executive will have the opportunity to obtain, use and develop under this
Agreement, the Executive agrees to the restrictive covenants stated in this Section 5.3. 

        (b)   During
the Employment Period and until the end of the Restricted Period (as defined in Section 5.4(g) hereof), the
Executive agrees that the Executive will not, directly or indirectly, on the Executive's own behalf or on the behalf of any other Person, within the United States of America or in any other country or
territory in which the businesses of the Company are conducted: 

        (i)    engage
in a Competing Business, including, without limitation, by owning, managing, operating, controlling, being employed by, providing services as a consultant or
independent contractor to or participating in the ownership, management, operation or control of any Competing Business; 

13

 

        (ii)   induce
or attempt to induce any customer, vendor, supplier, licensor or other Person in a business relationship with any Company Party, for or with which the Executive
or employees working under the Executive's supervision had any direct or indirect responsibility or contact during the Employment Period, (A) to do business with a Competing Business or
(B) to cease, restrict, terminate or otherwise reduce business with the Company for the benefit of a Competing Business, regardless of whether the Executive initiates contact; or 

        (iii)  (A)
solicit, recruit, persuade, influence or induce, or attempt to solicit, recruit, persuade, influence or induce anyone employed or otherwise retained by any of the
Company Parties (including any independent contractor or consultant), to cease or leave their employment or contractual or consulting relationship with any Company Party, regardless of whether the
Executive initiates contact for such purposes or (B) hire, employ or otherwise attempt to establish, for any Person, any employment, agency, consulting, independent contractor or other business
relationship with any Person who is or was employed or otherwise retained by any of the Company Parties (including any independent contractor or consultant). 

        (c)   The
parties hereto acknowledge and agree that, notwithstanding anything in Section 5.3(b)(i) hereof,
(i) the Executive may own or hold, solely as passive investments, securities of Persons engaged in any business that would otherwise be included in  Section 5.3(b)(i), as long as with respect
to each such investment the securities held by the Executive do not exceed five percent (5%) of the
outstanding securities of such Person and such securities are publicly traded and registered under Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
"Exchange Act"), and (ii) the Executive may serve on the board of directors (or other comparable position) or as an officer of any entity at the
request of the Board; provided, however, that in the case of investments otherwise permitted under clause (i) above, the Executive shall not be
permitted to, directly or indirectly, participate in, or attempt to influence, the management, direction or policies of (other than through the exercise of any voting rights held by the Executive in
connection with such securities), or lend the Executive's name to, any such Person. 

        (d)   The
Executive acknowledges and agrees that, for purposes of this Section 5.3, indirect acts by the Executive shall
include, without limitation, an act by the Executive's spouse, ancestor, lineal descendant, lineal descendant's spouse, sibling or other member of the Executive's immediate family. 

        (e)   The
Executive acknowledges that (i) the restrictive covenants contained in this Section 5.3 hereof are
ancillary to and part of an otherwise enforceable agreement, such being the agreements concerning Confidential Information and other consideration as stated in this Agreement, (ii) at the time
that these restrictive covenants are made, the limitations as to time, geographic scope and activity to be restrained, as described herein, are reasonable and do not impose a greater restraint than
necessary to protect the good will and other legitimate business interests of the Company, including without limitation, Confidential Information (including trade secrets), client, customer and/or
vendor relationships, client and/or customer goodwill and business productivity, (iii) in the event of termination of the Executive's employment, the Executive's experiences and capabilities
are such that the Executive can 

14

 

obtain
gainful employment without violating this Agreement and without the Executive incurring undue hardship, (iv) based on the relevant benefits and other new consideration provided for in
this Agreement, including, without limitation, the disclosure and use of Confidential Information, the restrictive covenants of this Section 5.3,
as applicable according to their terms, shall remain in full force and effect even in the event of the Executive's involuntary termination from employment, with or without Cause and (v) the
Executive has carefully read this Agreement and has given careful consideration to the restraints imposed upon the Executive by this Agreement and consents to the terms of the restrictive covenants in
this Section 5.3, with the knowledge that this Agreement may be terminated at any time in accordance with the provisions hereof. 

        5.4   Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms shall have
the following
meanings: 

        (a)   An
"Affiliate" of any specified Person means any other Person, whether now or hereafter existing, directly or indirectly
controlling or controlled by, or under direct or indirect common control with, such specified Person. For purposes hereof, "control" or any other form thereof, when used with respect to any Person,
means the power to direct the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms "controlling"
and "controlled" shall have meanings correlative to the foregoing. 

        (b)   "Company Parties" means the Company, and its direct and indirect parents, subsidiaries and Affiliates, and their
successors in interest. 

        (c)   "Competing Business" means any business that competes with any of the Company Parties, including, without limitation, any
enterprise that engages in, owns or operates businesses that market, sell, distribute, manufacture or otherwise are involved in the home textile, housewares or home accessories industries. 

        (d)   Confidential Information. 

        (i)    Definition. "Confidential Information" means any and all material,
information, ideas, inventions, formulae, patterns, compilations, programs, devices, methods, techniques, processes, know how, plans (marketing, business, strategic, technical or otherwise),
arrangements, pricing and other data of or relating to any of the Company Parties (as well as their customers and/or vendors) that is confidential, proprietary or trade secret (A) by its
nature, (B) based on how it is treated or designated by a Company Party, (C) because the disclosure of which would have a material adverse effect on the business or planned business of
any of the Company Parties and/or (D) as a matter of law. 

        (ii)   Exclusions. Confidential Information does not include material, data, and/or information (A) that any Company
Party has voluntarily placed in the public domain, (B) that has been lawfully and independently developed and publicly disclosed by third parties, (C) that constitutes the general
non-specialized knowledge and skills gained by the Executive during the Employment Period or (D) that otherwise enters the public domain through lawful means;  provided, however, that the unauthorized appropriation, use or disclosure of Confidential Information by
the Executive, directly or indirectly, shall not affect the protection and relief afforded by this Agreement regarding such information. 

15

 

        (iii)  Inclusions. Confidential Information includes, without limitation, the following information (including without
limitation, compilations or collections of information) relating or belonging to any Company Party (as well as their clients, customers and/or vendors) and created, prepared, accessed, used or
reviewed by the Executive during or after the Employment Period: (1) product and manufacturing information, such as ingredients, combinations of
ingredients and manufacturing processes; (2) scientific and technical information, such as research and development, tests and test results,
formulae and formulations, studies and analysis; (3) financial and cost information, such as operating and production costs, costs of goods sold,
costs of supplies and manufacturing materials, non-public financial statements and reports, profit and loss information, margin information and financial performance information;
(4) customer related information, such as customer related contracts, engagement and scope of work letters, proposals and presentations,
customer-related contacts, lists, identities and prospects, practices, plans, histories, requirements and needs, price information and formulae and information concerning client or customer products,
services, businesses or equipment specifications; (5) vendor and supplier related information, such as the identities, practices, history or
services of any vendors or suppliers and vendor or supplier contacts; (6) sales, marketing and price information, such as marketing and sales
programs and related data, sales and marketing strategies and plans, sales and marketing procedures and processes, pricing methods, practices and techniques and pricing schedules and lists;
(7) database, software and other computer related information, such as computer programs, data, compilations of information and records, software
and computer files, presentation software and computer-stored or backed-up
information including, but not limited to, e-mails, databases, word processed documents, spreadsheets, notes, schedules, task lists, images and video;
(8) employee-related information, such as lists or directories identifying employees, representatives and contractors, and information regarding
the competencies (knowledge, skill, experience), compensation and needs of employees, representatives and contractors and training methods; and (9) business- and
operation-related information, such as operating methods, procedures, techniques, practices and processes, information about acquisitions, corporate or business opportunities,
information about partners and potential investors, strategies, projections and related documents, contracts and licenses and business records, files, equipment, notebooks, documents, memoranda,
reports, notes, sample books, correspondence, lists and other written and graphic business records. 

        (e)   "Misappropriate", or any form thereof, means: 

        (i)    the
acquisition of any Confidential Information by a Person who knows or has reason to know that the Confidential Information was acquired by theft, bribery,
misrepresentation, breach or inducement of a breach of a duty to maintain secrecy or espionage through electronic or other means (each, an "Improper
Means"); or 

        (ii)   the
disclosure or use of any Confidential Information without the express consent of the Company by a Person who (A) used Improper Means to acquire knowledge of
the Confidential Information (B) at the time of disclosure or use, knew or had reason to know that his or her knowledge of the Confidential Information was (x) derived from or through a
Person who had utilized Improper Means to acquire it, (y) acquired under circumstances giving rise to a duty to maintain its secrecy or limit its use or (z) derived from or through a
Person who owed a duty to the Company to maintain its secrecy or limit its use or (C) before a material change of his or her position, knew or had reason to know that it was Confidential
Information and that knowledge of it had been acquired by accident or mistake. 

16

 

        (f)    "Person" means any individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, association, business
trust, joint-stock company, estate, trust, unincorporated organization, government or other agency or political subdivision thereof or any other legal or commercial entity. 

        (g)   "Restricted Period" means the longer of (i) twelve (12) months after the date of termination of employment
(the Executive's last day of work for the Company) or (ii) the period during which the Executive is receiving payments from the Company pursuant to  Section 4 hereof. 

        (h)   "Work Product" means all patents and patent applications, all inventions, innovations, improvements, developments,
methods, designs, analyses, drawings, reports, creative works, discoveries, software, computer programs, modifications, enhancements, know-how, formulations, concepts and ideas, and all
similar or related information (in each case whether or not patentable), all copyrights and copyrightable works, all trade secrets, confidential information, and all other intellectual property and
intellectual property rights that are conceived, reduced to practice, developed or made by the Executive either alone or with others in the course of employment with the Company (including employment
prior to the date of this Agreement). 

         5.5   Remedies. Because the Executive's services are unique and because the
Executive has access to
Confidential Information, the Executive acknowledges and agrees that if the Executive breaches any of the provisions of Section 5 hereof, the
Company may suffer immediate and irreparable harm for which monetary damages alone will not be a sufficient remedy. The restrictive covenants stated in  Section 5 hereof are without prejudice to the
Company's rights and causes of action at law. 

         5.6   Interpretation; Severability.

        (a)   The
Executive has carefully considered the possible effects on the Executive of the covenants not to compete, the confidentiality provisions and the other obligations
contained in this Agreement, and the Executive recognizes that the Company has made every effort to limit the restrictions placed upon the Executive to those that are reasonable and necessary to
protect the Company's legitimate business interests. 

        (b)   The
Executive acknowledges and agrees that the restrictive covenants set forth in this Agreement are reasonable and necessary in order to protect the Company's valid
business interests. It is the intention of the parties hereto that the covenants, provisions and agreements contained herein shall be enforceable to the fullest extent allowed by law. If any covenant,
provision or agreement contained herein is found by a court having jurisdiction to be unreasonable in duration, scope or character of restrictions, or otherwise to be unenforceable, such covenant,
provision or agreement shall not be rendered unenforceable thereby, but rather the duration, scope or character of restrictions of such covenant, provision or agreement shall be deemed reduced or
modified with retroactive effect to render such covenant, provision or agreement reasonable or otherwise enforceable (as the case may be), 

17

 

and
such covenant, provision or agreement shall be enforced as modified. If the court having jurisdiction will not review the covenant, provision or agreement, the parties hereto shall mutually agree
to a revision having an effect as close as permitted by applicable law to the provision declared unenforceable. The parties hereto agree that if a court having jurisdiction determines, despite the
express intent of the parties hereto, that any portion of the covenants, provisions or agreements contained herein are not enforceable, the remaining covenants, provisions and agreements herein shall
be valid and enforceable. Moreover, to the extent that any provision is declared unenforceable, the Company shall have any and all rights under applicable statutes or common law to enforce its rights
with respect to any and all Confidential Information or unfair competition by the Executive. 

        6.     Miscellaneous.  

         6.1   Public Statements.

        (a)   Media Nondisclosure. The Executive agrees that during the Employment Period or at any time thereafter, except as may be
authorized in writing by the Company, the Executive will not directly or indirectly disclose or release to the Media any information concerning or relating to any aspect of the Executive's employment
or termination from employment with the Company and/or any aspect of any dispute that is the subject of this Agreement. For the purposes of this Agreement, the term
"Media" includes, without limitation, any news organization, station, publication, show, website, web log (blog), bulletin board, chat room and/or
program (past, present and/or future), whether published through the means of print, radio, television and/or the Internet or otherwise, and any member, representative, agent and/or employee of the
same. 

        (b)   Non-Disparagement. The Executive agrees that during the Employment Period or at any time thereafter, the
Executive will not make any statements, comments or communications in any form, oral, written or electronic to any Media or any customer, client or supplier of the Company or any of its Affiliates,
which would constitute libel, slander or disparagement of the Company or any of its Affiliates, including, without limitation, any such statements, comments or communications that criticize, ridicule
or are derogatory to the Company or any of its Affiliates; provided, however, that the terms of this  Section 6.1(b)
 shall not apply to communications between the Executive and, as applicable, the Executive's attorneys or other persons with whom
communications would be subject to a claim of privilege existing under common law, statute or rule of procedure. The Executive further agrees that the Executive will not in any way solicit any such
statements, comments or communications from others. 

18

 

         6.2   ARBITRATION. SUBJECT TO THE RIGHTS UNDER SECTION 6.3 HEREOF TO SEEK INJUNCTIVE OR OTHER EQUITABLE
RELIEF, BINDING
ARBITRATION SHALL BE THE EXCLUSIVE REMEDY FOR ANY AND ALL DISPUTES, CLAIMS OR CONTROVERSIES, WHETHER STATUTORY, CONTRACTUAL OR OTHERWISE, BETWEEN THE PARTIES HERETO ARISING UNDER OR RELATING TO THIS
AGREEMENT OR THE EXECUTIVE'S EMPLOYMENT BY OR TERMINATION FROM THE COMPANY (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE AMOUNT OF DAMAGES, OR THE CALCULATION OF ANY BONUS OR OTHER AMOUNT OR BENEFIT DUE)
(COLLECTIVELY, "DISPUTES"). THE PARTIES EACH WAIVE THE RIGHT TO A JURY TRIAL AND WAIVE THE RIGHT TO ADJUDICATE THEIR DISPUTES UNDER THIS AGREEMENT
OUTSIDE THE ARBITRATION FORUM PROVIDED FOR IN THIS AGREEMENT, EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE PROVIDED IN THIS AGREEMENT. In the event
either party provides a notice of arbitration of any dispute to the other party, the parties agree to submit that dispute to a single arbitrator selected from a panel of arbitrators of JAMS located in
the New York Area. The arbitration will be governed by the JAMS Comprehensive Arbitration Rules and Procedures in effect at the time the arbitration is commenced. If for any reason JAMS cannot serve
as the arbitration administrator, the Company may select an alternative arbitration administrator such as the American Arbitration Association, to serve under the terms of this Agreement. 

        (a)   VENUE. THE PARTIES STIPULATE AND AGREE THAT THE EXCLUSIVE VENUE OF ANY SUCH ARBITRATION PROCEEDING (AND OF ANY OTHER
PROCEEDING, INCLUDING ANY COURT PROCEEDING, UNDER THIS AGREEMENT) SHALL BE PASSAIC COUNTY, NEW JERSEY (THE "AGREED VENUE").

        (b)   Authority and Decision. The arbitrator shall have the authority to award the same damages and other relief that a court
could award. The arbitrator shall issue a reasoned award explaining the decision and any damages awarded. The arbitrator's decision will be final and binding upon the parties and enforceable by a
court of competent jurisdiction. The parties will abide by and perform any award rendered by the arbitrator. In rendering the award, the arbitrator shall state the reasons therefor, including (without
limitation) any computations of actual damages or offsets, if applicable. 

        (c)   Fees and Costs. In the event of arbitration under the terms of this Agreement, the fees charged by JAMS or other
arbitration administrator and the arbitrator shall be borne by the parties as determined by the arbitrator, except for any initial registration fee, which the parties shall bear equally. Otherwise,
the parties shall each bear their own costs, expenses and attorneys' fees incurred in arbitration; provided,  however, that the prevailing party shall be
entitled to recover and have awarded its attorneys' fees, court costs, arbitration expenses, and its portion
of the fees and costs charged by JAMS or other arbitration administrator, regardless of which party initiated the proceedings, in addition to any other relief to which it may be entitled. 

        (d)   Limited Scope. The following are excluded from binding arbitration under this Agreement: claims for workers' compensation
benefits or unemployment benefits; replevin; and claims for which a binding arbitration agreement is invalid as a matter of law. 

19

 

         6.3   Injunctive Relief. The parties hereto may seek injunctive relief in
arbitration;  provided, however, that as an exception to the arbitration agreement set forth in
Section 6.2 hereof, the parties, in addition to all other available remedies, shall each have the right to initiate an action in any court of
competent jurisdiction in order to request injunctive or other equitable relief regarding the terms of Sections 5 or  6.2 hereof. The exclusive venue of any
such proceeding shall be in the Agreed Venue. The parties agree (a) to submit to the jurisdiction of any
competent court in the Agreed Venue, (b) to waive any and all defenses the Executive may have on the grounds of lack of jurisdiction of such court and (c) that neither party shall be
required to post any bond, undertaking or other financial deposit or guarantee in seeking or obtaining such equitable relief. Evidence adduced in any such proceeding for an injunction may be used in
arbitration as well. The existence of this right shall not preclude or otherwise limit the applicability or exercise of any other rights and remedies that a party hereto may have at law or in equity. 

         6.4   Settlement of Existing Rights. In exchange for the other terms of this
Agreement, the Executive
acknowledges and agrees that: (a) the Executive's entry into this Agreement is a condition of employment and/or continued employment with the Company, as applicable; (b) except as
otherwise provided herein, this Agreement will replace any existing employment agreement between the parties and thereby act as a novation, if applicable; (c) the Executive is being provided
with access to Confidential Information, including, without limitation, proprietary trade secrets of one or more Company Parties, to which the Executive has not previously had access; (d) all
Company inventions and intellectual property developed by the Executive during any past employment with the Company and all goodwill developed with the Company's clients, customers and other business
contacts by the Executive during any past employment with Company, as applicable, is the exclusive property of the Company; and (e) all Confidential Information and/or specialized training
accessed, created, received or utilized by the Executive during any past employment with Company, as applicable, will be subject to the restrictions on Confidential Information described in this
Agreement, whether previously so agreed or not. 

        6.5   Entire Agreement; Waiver. This Agreement contains the entire agreement
between the Executive and
the Company with respect to the subject matter hereof, and supersedes any and all prior understandings or agreements, whether written or oral. No modification or addition hereto or waiver or
cancellation of any provision hereof shall be valid except by a writing signed by the party to be charged therewith. No delay on the part of any party to this Agreement in exercising any right or
privilege provided hereunder or by law shall impair, prejudice or constitute a waiver of such right or privilege. 

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

         6.7   Successors and Assigns; Binding Agreement. The rights and obligations of the
parties under this
Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their heirs, personal representatives, successors and permitted assigns. This Agreement is a personal contract, and,
except as specifically set forth herein, the rights and interests of the Executive herein may not be sold, transferred, assigned, pledged or hypothecated by any party without the prior written consent
of the others. As used herein, the term "successor" as it relates to the Company, shall include, but not be limited to, any successor by way of merger, consolidation or sale of all or substantially
all of such Person's assets or equity interests. 

20

 

        6.8   Representation by Counsel; Independent Judgment. Each of the parties hereto
acknowledges that
(a) it or the Executive has read this Agreement in its entirety and understands all of its terms and conditions, (b) it or the Executive has had the opportunity to consult with any
individuals of its or the Executive's choice regarding its or the Executive's agreement to the provisions contained herein, including legal counsel of its or the Executive's choice, and any decision
not to was the Executive's or its alone and (c) it or the Executive is entering into this Agreement of its or the Executive's own free will, without coercion from any source, based upon its or
the Executive's own independent judgment. 

        6.9   Interpretation. The parties and their respective legal counsel actively
participated in the
negotiation and drafting of this Agreement, and in the event of any ambiguity or mistake herein, or any dispute among the parties with respect to the provisions hereto, no provision of this Agreement
shall be construed unfavorably against any of the parties on the ground that the Executive, it, or the Executive's or its counsel was the drafter thereof. 

         6.10 Survival. The provisions of Sections 4.3(e), 5
and 6 hereof shall survive the termination of this Agreement. 

         6.11 Notices. All notices and communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be
deemed
properly given and effective when received, if sent by facsimile or telecopy, or by postage prepaid by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, or by other delivery service which
provides evidence of delivery, as follows: 

If
to the Company or Holding, to: 

Linens
'n Things, Inc.

6 Brighton Road

Clifton, New Jersey 07015

Attention: General Counsel 

with
a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to: 

Gardere
Wynne Sewell LLP

1601 Elm Street, Suite 3000

Dallas, Texas 75201-4761

Attention: Ronald M. Gaswirth, Esq.

Telephone: (214) 999-4601

Facsimile: (214) 999-3601

E-mail: rgaswirth@gardere.com 

If
to the Executive, to: 

Robert
J. DiNicola

6211 St. Andrews Drive

Dallas, Texas 75205 

or
to such other address as one party may provide in writing to the other party from time to time. 

         6.12 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which
shall be
deemed an original and all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Facsimile transmission of any signed original document or retransmission of any signed facsimile transmission
will be deemed the same as delivery of an original. At the request of any party, the parties will confirm facsimile transmission by signing a duplicate original document. 

        6.13 Captions. Paragraph headings are for convenience only and shall not be considered a part
of this
Agreement. 

21

 

         6.14 No Third Party Beneficiary Rights. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, no
entity
shall have any right to enforce any provision of this Agreement, even if indirectly benefited by it. 

         6.15 Withholding. Any payments provided for hereunder shall be paid net of any applicable
withholding
required under Federal, state or local law and any additional withholding to which Executive has agreed. 

[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]

22

        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have duly executed this Agreement, intending it as a document under seal, to be effective for all purposes
as of the Effective Date. 

	 	 	LINENS 'N THINGS, INC.
	

 	
 	

By:	

/s/  WILLIAM T. GILES      

	 	 	Name:	William T. Giles

	 	 	Title:	Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

	

 	
 	
LINENS HOLDING CO.
	

 	
 	

By:	

/s/  ANDREW JHAWAR      

	 	 	Name:	Andrew S. Jhawar

	 	 	Title:	Vice President

	

 	
 	
EXECUTIVE
	

 	
 	

  	

 
	

 	
 	

/s/  ROBERT J. DINICOLA      
 Name: Robert J. DiNicola

  

 
 

EXHIBIT C
  
    Definition of Change of Control

        "Change of Control" means: 

        (1)   any
event occurs the result of which is that any "Person," as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act, other than one or more Permitted Holders
or their Related Parties, becomes the beneficial owner, as defined in Rules l3d-3 and l3d-5 under the Exchange Act (except that a Person shall be deemed to have "beneficial
ownership" of all shares that any such Person has the right to acquire within one year) directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the Voting Stock of Holding or any successor company, including,
without limitation, through a merger or consolidation or purchase of Voting Stock of Holding; provided that none of the Permitted Holders or their
Related Parties have the right or ability by voting power, contract or otherwise to elect or designate for election a majority of the Board; provided
further that the transfer of 100% of the Voting Stock of Holding to a Person that has an ownership structure identical to that of Holding prior to such transfer, such that
Holding becomes a wholly owned Subsidiary of such Person, shall not be treated as a Change of Control for purposes of the indenture; 

        (2)   after
an initial public offering of Capital Stock of Holding, during any period of two (2) consecutive years, individuals who at the beginning of such period
constituted the Board, together with any new directors whose election by such Board or whose nomination for election by the stockholders of Holding was approved by a vote of a majority of the
directors of Holding then still in office who were either directors at the beginning of such period or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved, cease for any reason to
constitute a majority of the Board then in office; 

        (3)   the
sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition, in one or a series of related transactions other than a merger or consolidation, of all or substantially all
of the assets of Holding and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole to any Person or group of related Persons other than a Permitted Holder or a Related Party of a Permitted Holder; or 

        (4)   the
adoption of a plan relating to the liquidation or dissolution of Holding. 

        For
purposes of this definition, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below: 

        An
"Affiliate" of any specified Person means any other Person, whether now or hereafter existing, directly or indirectly controlling or
controlled by, or under direct or indirect common control with, such specified Person. For purposes hereof, "control" or any other form thereof, when used with respect to any Person, means the power
to direct the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms "controlling" and "controlled"
shall have meanings correlative to the foregoing. 

        "Apollo" means Apollo Management V, L.P. and its Affiliates or any entity controlled thereby or any of the partners thereof. 

        "Board" means the Board of Directors of Holding or any committee thereof duly authorized to act on behalf of such Board of Directors. 

        "Capital Stock" of any Person means any and all shares, interests, rights to purchase, warrants, options, participations or other
equivalents of or interests in, however designated, equity of such Person, including any Preferred Stock, but excluding any debt securities convertible into such equity. 

        "Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. 

        "Holding" means Linens Holding Co., a Delaware corporation. 

C-1

 

        "Permitted Holder" means any of Apollo, NRDC Real Estate Advisors I, LLC or Silver Point Capital Fund Investments, LLC. 

        "Person" means any individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, association, business trust,
joint-stock company, estate, trust, unincorporated organization, government or other agency or political subdivision thereof or any other legal or commercial entity. 

        "Preferred Stock" as applied to the Capital Stock of any corporation means Capital Stock of any class or classes, however designated, that
is preferred as to the payment of dividends, or as to the distribution of assets upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation or dissolution of such corporation, over shares of Capital Stock of any
other class of such corporation. 

        "Related Party" means: 

        (1)   any
controlling stockholder, 50% (or more) owned Subsidiary, or immediate family member (in the case of an individual) of any Permitted Holder; or 

        (2)   any
trust, corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other entity, the beneficiaries, stockholders, partners, members, owners or Persons beneficially
holding an 50% or more controlling interest of which consist of any one or more Permitted Holders and/or such other Persons referred to in the immediately preceding clause (1). 

        "Subsidiary" means, with respect to any specified Person: 

        (1)   any
corporation, association or other business entity of which more than 50% of the total voting power of shares of Capital Stock entitled (without regard to the
occurrence of any contingency and after giving effect to any voting agreement or stockholders' agreement that effectively transfers voting power) to vote in the election of directors, managers or
trustees of the corporation, association or other business entity is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by that Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person (or
a combination thereof); and 

        (2)   any
partnership (a) the sole general partner or the managing general partner of which is such Person or a Subsidiary of such Person or (b) the only general
partners of which are that Person or one or more Subsidiaries of that Person (or any combination thereof). 

        "Voting Stock" of an entity means all classes of Capital Stock of such entity then outstanding and normally entitled to vote in the
election of directors or all interests in such entity with the ability to control the management or actions of such entity. 

Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary in this Exhibit C, the definition of Change of Control shall be interpreted consistently with the definition of "Change of Control" contained in
Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), and regulations and guidance issued by the Internal Revenue Service
under Section 409A of the Code, including IRS Notice 2005-1. 

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EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

EXHIBIT C Definition of Change of ControlExhibit 10.8  

LINENS HOLDING CO.

6 Brighton Road

Clifton, NJ 07015  

March 27,
2006 

Robert
J. DiNicola

6211 St. Andrews Drive

Dallas, Texas 75205 

	Re:
	Grant of Stock Options

Dear
Bob: 

        We
are pleased to inform you that you have been granted options to purchase 321,946 shares of common stock of Linens Holding Co. (the "Company"). As further described below, the options
have varying features relating to vesting and are denominated as an "Investment Option", a "Time Option" and a "Performance Option", and are collectively referred to as the "Options". The Time Option
and the Performance Option have been granted pursuant to the Company's Stock Option Plan (the "Plan"), a copy of which is attached, and are subject in all respects to the provisions of the Plan,
except as specifically modified hereby. The Investment Option has not been granted under the Plan and shall have no effect on the number of options that may be awarded under the Plan. However, in all
other
respects, the Investment Option shall be treated as if it were awarded under the Plan, and shall be subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, except as specifically modified hereby. Capitalized
terms not otherwise defined in the text are defined in the Plan. 

	1.
	Investment Option:    The key terms of the Investment Option are as follows:

	(a)
	Number of Shares.    40,000

	(b)
	Exercise Price per Share.    $50.00

	(c)
	Vesting.    The Investment Option is fully vested and immediately exercisable.

	2.
	Time Option:    The key terms of the Time Option are as follows:

	(a)
	Number of Shares.    140,973

	(b)
	Exercise Price per Share.    $50.00

	(c)
	Vesting.    The Time Option will vest and become exercisable in four equal annual installments on February 14, 2007,
2008, 2009 and 2010, provided that the Time Option will become fully vested and exercisable (i) immediately prior to a "Change of Control" (as defined in the Employment Agreement among you, the
Company, and Linens 'n Things, Inc. dated as of February 14, 2006 (the "Employment Agreement")), or (ii) upon your ceasing to be an Employee by reason of your death or Disability.

	3.
	Performance Option:    The key terms of the Performance Option are as follows:

	(a)
	Number of Shares.    140,973

	(b)
	Exercise Price per Share.    $50.00

	(c)
	Vesting.

	(i)
	If
on any Measurement Date, the Value Per Share equals or exceeds the Target Stock Price (the "Performance Goal"), then (1) if such Measurement Date is other than the date of a
Linens Investors Liquidity Event, the Performance Option will vest and become exercisable in two equal annual installments on each of the first two anniversaries of such Measurement Date, provided
that if a Change of Control 

 

occurs
after any such Measurement Date, any unvested installment shall become fully vested immediately prior to the Change of Control, and (2) if such Measurement Date is the date of a Linens
Investors Liquidity Event, the Performance Option will become fully vested and immediately exercisable at such time. 

	(ii)
	If,
on any Measurement Date prior to a Qualified IPO, the Performance Goal would be satisfied by disregarding in the calculation of Net Equity Value, some portion, but not all, of
your Performance Option as well as similar performance options granted to other employees, then a portion of your Performance Option shall vest, as determined by the Option Committee in a fair and
equitable manner.

	(iii)
	Whether
or not the Performance Goal is achieved, if you cease to be an Employee by reason of your death or Disability, the Performance Option will become fully vested and
exercisable. 

	(d)
	Definitions.

	(i)
	"Fully
Diluted Shares" means, on any Measurement Date, the number of Shares outstanding, plus the number of Shares subject to all outstanding options, warrants and rights to acquire
Shares, whether or not exercisable.

	(ii)
	"Linens
Investors Liquidity Event" means any transaction (including, without limitation, a stock sale, redemption or buy back, merger, consolidation or otherwise) immediately
following which all of the Shares held by Linens Investors have been exchanged for or converted into consideration, all or substantially all of which consists of cash or readily marketable securities
that Linens Investors can immediately resell for cash at prevailing quoted prices without legal, contractual or market restrictions.

	(iii)
	"Measurement
Date" means (1) prior to a Qualified IPO, the last day of any fiscal quarter, starting with the last day of the fiscal quarter ending coincident with or next
following December 31, 2007, (2) following a Qualified IPO, each trading day, starting with the 90th trading day following the Qualified IPO, or (3) the date of a Linens Investors
Liquidity Event, whether before or after a Qualified IPO.

	(iv)
	"Net
Equity Value" means (1) 7.5 multiplied by the Company's consolidated operating earnings, before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization ("EBITDA") for the
four fiscal quarters ending upon a Measurement Date, plus (2) the sum of cash, cash equivalents, and the aggregate exercise price of all outstanding options or warrants to purchase Shares,
whether or not exercisable, in each case as of the Measurement Date, less (3) debt as of the Measurement Date. EBITDA, cash and debt shall be determined by the Option Committee based on the
Company's financial statements for such period, subject to such adjustments to reflect unusual, nonrecurring or extraordinary events as the Option Committee shall deem equitable and appropriate.

	(v)
	"Qualified
IPO" means a sale by the Company of Shares in an underwritten (firm commitment) public offering registered under the Securities Act of 1933, with gross proceeds to the
Company of not less than $150 million, resulting in the listing of the Shares on a nationally recognized stock exchange, including without limitation the Nasdaq National Market System.

	(vi)
	"Target
Stock Price" means $50, compounded at an annual rate of 25% from February 14, 2006 to the Measurement Date, provided that the Option Committee shall make such
adjustment to the Target Stock Price as it determines is equitable 

2

 

and
appropriate to reflect changes to the outstanding Shares or capital structure of the Company, including contributions and distributions of capital. 

	(vii)
	"Value
Per Share" means (1) prior to a Qualified IPO, the Net Equity Value divided by the Fully Diluted Shares, (2) following a Qualified IPO, the average closing
price of a Share for the period of 90 consecutive trading days ending on the Measurement Date, or (3) upon a Linens Investors Liquidity Event, the price per Share realized by Linens Investors. 

	4.
	Termination of the Options:    Whether or not exercisable or scheduled to become exercisable, the Options will terminate as
provided in Section 5 of the Plan; provided that (i) clause (ii) of Section 5(a) of the Plan shall not apply, and (ii) upon your ceasing to be an Employee under
circumstances pursuant to which you are entitled to receive the severance benefits set forth in the Employment Agreement, the Options, to the extent then vested, will remain exercisable until and
expire upon the 181st day following such termination, and (iii) the Performance Option will terminate no later than a Linens Investors Liquidity Event to the extent the Performance Goal is not
achieved at such time, or was not previously achieved.

	5.
	No Repurchase Right.    Section 8(c) of the Plan shall not apply to any Shares you acquire upon exercise of the
Options.

	6.
	Federal Taxes:    The Options granted to you are treated as "nonqualified options" for federal tax purposes, which means that
when you exercise, the excess of the value of the Shares issued on exercise over the exercise price paid for the Shares is income to you, subject to wage-based withholding and reporting.
When you sell the Shares acquired upon exercise, the excess (or shortfall) between the amount you receive upon the sale and the value of the shares at the time of exercise is treated as capital gain
(or loss). State and local taxes may also apply. You should consult your personal tax advisor for more information concerning the tax treatment of your Options. 

        We
are excited to give you this opportunity to share in our future success. Please indicate your acceptance of this option grant and the terms of the Plan by signing and returning a copy
of this letter. 

Sincerely,

	LINENS HOLDING CO.	 
	

By:	

/s/  WILLIAM T. GILES      
 William T. Giles

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer	

 
	

Agreed to and Accepted by:	

 
	

/s/  ROBERT J. DINICOLA      
 Name: Robert J. DiNicola	

 

3

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