Document:

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                                                                   Exhibit 4.4

                          REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

                  This Registration Rights Agreement (this "Agreement") is made
and entered into as of September 30, 2002, by and among The viaLink Company, a
Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and the purchasers listed on Schedule I
hereto (the "Purchasers").

                  This Agreement is being entered into pursuant to the Series D
Convertible Preferred Stock Purchase Agreements, dated as of the date hereof
among the Company and the Purchasers (the "Purchase Agreements").

                  The Company and the Purchasers hereby agree as follows:

          1.      Definitions.

                  Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein shall
have the meanings given such terms in the Purchase Agreements. As used in this
Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

                  "Advice" shall have meaning set forth in Section 3(m).

                  "Affiliate" means, with respect to any Person, any other
Person that directly or indirectly controls or is controlled by or under common
control with such Person. For the purposes of this definition, "control," when
used with respect to any Person, means the possession, direct or indirect, of
the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of
such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or
otherwise; and the terms of "affiliated," "controlling" and "controlled" have
meanings correlative to the foregoing.

                  "Board" shall have meaning set forth in Section 3(n).

                  "Business Day" means any day except Saturday, Sunday and any
day which shall be a legal holiday or a day on which banking institutions in the
state of New York generally are authorized or required by law or other
government actions to close.

                  "Closing Date" means the date of the closing of the purchase
and sale of the Preferred Stock and Warrants pursuant to the Purchase
Agreements.

                  "Commission" means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

                  "Common Stock" means the Company's Common Stock, par value
$0.001 per share.
                  "Effectiveness Date" means with respect to the Registration
Statement the earlier of the 90th day following the Closing Date or the date
which is within five (5) days of the date on which the Commission informs the
Company that the Commission (i) will not review the Registration Statement or
(ii) that the Company may request the acceleration of the effectiveness of the
Registration Statement and the Company makes such request.

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                  "Effectiveness Period" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 2.

                  "Event" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7(e).

                  "Event Date" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7(e).

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

                  "Filing Date" means the 30th day following the Closing Date.

                  "Holder" or "Holders" means the holder or holders, as the case
may be, from time to time of Registrable Securities.

                  "Indemnified Party" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 5(c).

                  "Indemnifying Party" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 5(c).

                  "Losses" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5(a).

                  "Person" means an individual or a corporation, partnership,
trust, incorporated or unincorporated association, joint venture, limited
liability company, joint stock company, government (or an agency or political
subdivision thereof) or other entity of any kind.

                  "Preferred Stock" means the Series D Convertible Preferred
Stock, par value $.001 per share and stated value $12,000 per share, of the
Company issued to the Purchasers pursuant to the Purchase Agreements.

                  "Proceeding" means an action, claim, suit, investigation or
proceeding (including, without limitation, an investigation or partial
proceeding, such as a deposition), whether commenced or threatened.

                  "Prospectus" means the prospectus included in the Registration
Statement (including, without limitation, a prospectus that includes any
information previously omitted from a prospectus filed as part of an effective
registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A promulgated under the
Securities Act), as amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement, with
respect to the terms of the offering of any portion of the Registrable
Securities covered by the Registration Statement, and all other amendments and
supplements to the Prospectus, including post-effective amendments, and all
material incorporated by reference in such Prospectus.

                  "Registrable Securities" means (i) the shares of Common Stock
issuable upon conversion of the Preferred Stock (the "Conversion Shares") and
the shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants (the "Warrant
Shares"), and upon any stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization or similar
event with respect to such Conversion Shares, Warrant Shares or any Preferred
Stock; and (ii) the shares of Common Stock issued upon any redemption of
Preferred Stock pursuant to Section 8 of the Certificate of Designation;
provided, however,

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that Registrable Securities shall include (but not be limited to) a number of
shares of Common Stock equal to no less than 100% of the maximum number of
shares of Common Stock which would be issuable upon conversion of the Preferred
Stock and upon exercise of the Warrants, assuming such conversion and exercise
occurred on the Closing Date or the Filing Date, whichever date would result in
the greater number of Registrable Securities. Such registered shares of Common
Stock shall be allocated among the Holders pro rata based on the total number of
Registrable Securities issued or issuable as of each date that a Registration
Statement, as amended, relating to the resale of the Registrable Securities is
declared effective by the Commission. Notwithstanding anything herein contained
to the contrary, if the actual number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon
conversion of the Preferred Stock and upon exercise of the Warrants exceeds 100%
of the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the
Preferred Stock and upon exercise of the Warrants based upon a computation as at
the Closing Date or the Filing Date, the term "Registrable Securities" shall be
deemed to include such additional shares of Common Stock.

                  "Registration Statement" means the registration statements and
any additional registration statements contemplated by Section 2, including (in
each case) the Prospectus, amendments and supplements to such registration
statement or Prospectus, including pre- and post-effective amendments, all
exhibits thereto, and all material incorporated by reference in such
registration statement.

                  "Rule 144" means Rule 144 promulgated by the Commission
pursuant to the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time,
or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission having
substantially the same effect as such Rule.

                  "Rule 158" means Rule 158 promulgated by the Commission
pursuant to the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time,
or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission having
substantially the same effect as such Rule.

                  "Rule 415" means Rule 415 promulgated by the Commission
pursuant to the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time,
or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission having
substantially the same effect as such Rule.

                  "Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

                  "Special Counsel" means one special counsel to the Holders,
for which the Holders will be reimbursed by the Company pursuant to Section 4.

         2.       Shelf Registration.

                  On or prior to the Filing Date the Company shall prepare and
file with the Commission a "shelf" Registration Statement covering all
Registrable Securities for an offering to be made on a continuous basis pursuant
to Rule 415. The Registration Statement shall be on Form S-2 (except if the
Company is not then eligible to register for resale the Registrable Securities
on Form S-2, in which case such registration shall be on another appropriate
form in accordance herewith). The Company shall (i) not permit any securities
other than the Registrable Securities to be included in the Registration
Statement other than the

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securities listed on Schedule II hereto and (ii) use its best efforts to cause
the Registration Statement to be declared effective under the Securities Act as
promptly as possible after the filing thereof, but in any event prior to the
Effectiveness Date, and to keep such Registration Statement continuously
effective under the Securities Act until such date as is the earlier of (x) the
date when all Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement have
been sold or (y) the date on which the Registrable Securities may be sold
without any restriction pursuant to Rule 144 as determined by the counsel to the
Company pursuant to a written opinion letter, addressed to the Company's
transfer agent to such effect (the "Effectiveness Period"). If at any time and
for any reason, an additional Registration Statement is required to be filed
because at such time the actual number of shares of Common Stock into which the
Preferred Stock are convertible and the Warrants are exercisable exceeds the
number of shares of Registrable Securities remaining under the Registration
Statement, the Company shall have twenty (20) Business Days to file such
additional Registration Statement, and the Company shall use its best efforts to
cause such additional Registration Statement to be declared effective by the
Commission as soon as possible, but in no event later than forty-five (45) days
after filing. If at such time in the reasonable opinion of the Purchasers there
is not or will not be a sufficient number of Registrable Securities to be issued
upon conversion of the Preferred Stock then outstanding, or upon the exercise of
the Warrants then outstanding, the Purchasers shall be entitled to demand that
the Company prepare and file an additional Registration Statement.

         3.       Registration Procedures.

                  In connection with the Company's registration obligations
hereunder, the Company shall:

                  (a) Use its best efforts to prepare and file with the
Commission on or prior to the Filing Date, a Registration Statement on Form S-2
(or if the Company is not then eligible to register for resale the Registrable
Securities on Form S-2 such registration shall be on another appropriate form in
accordance herewith) in accordance with the method or methods of distribution
thereof as specified by the Holders (except if otherwise directed by the
Holders), and cause the Registration Statement to become effective and remain
effective as provided herein; provided, however, that not less than five (5)
Business Days prior to the filing of the Registration Statement or any related
Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto (including any document that
would be incorporated therein by reference), the Company shall (i) furnish to
the Holders and the Special Counsel, copies of all such documents proposed to be
filed, which documents (other than those incorporated by reference) will be
subject to the review of such Holders and the Special Counsel, and (ii) cause
its officers and directors, counsel and independent certified public accountants
to respond to such inquiries as shall be necessary, in the reasonable opinion of
counsel to such Holders, to conduct a reasonable investigation within the
meaning of the Securities Act. The Company shall not file the Registration
Statement or any such Prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto to
which the Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities or the Special
Counsel shall reasonably object in writing within three (3) Business Days of
their receipt thereof.

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                  (b) (i) Prepare and file with the Commission such amendments,
including post-effective amendments, to the Registration Statement as may be
necessary to keep the Registration Statement continuously effective as to the
applicable Registrable Securities for the Effectiveness Period and prepare and
file with the Commission such additional Registration Statements in order to
register for resale under the Securities Act all of the Registrable Securities;
(ii) cause the related Prospectus to be amended or supplemented by any required
Prospectus supplement, and as so supplemented or amended to be filed pursuant to
Rule 424 (or any similar provisions then in force) promulgated under the
Securities Act; (iii) respond as promptly as possible, but in no event later
than ten (10) business days, to any comments received from the Commission with
respect to the Registration Statement or any amendment thereto and as promptly
as possible provide the Holders true and complete copies of all correspondence
from and to the Commission relating to the Registration Statement; and (iv)
comply in all material respects with the provisions of the Securities Act and
the Exchange Act with respect to the disposition of all Registrable Securities
covered by the Registration Statement during the applicable period in accordance
with the intended methods of disposition by the Holders thereof set forth in the
Registration Statement as so amended or in such Prospectus as so supplemented.

                  (c) Notify the Holders of Registrable Securities to be sold
and the Special Counsel as promptly as possible (and, in the case of (i)(A)
below, not less than five (5) days prior to such filing) and (if requested by
any such Person) confirm such notice in writing no later than one (1) Business
Day following the day (i)(A) when a Prospectus or any Prospectus supplement or
post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement is filed; (B) when the
Commission notifies the Company whether there will be a "review" of such
Registration Statement and whenever the Commission comments in writing on such
Registration Statement and (C) with respect to the Registration Statement or any
post-effective amendment, when the same has become effective; (ii) of any
request by the Commission or any other Federal or state governmental authority
for amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or Prospectus or for
additional information; (iii) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop
order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement covering any or
all of the Registrable Securities or the initiation of any Proceedings for that
purpose; (iv) if at any time any of the representations and warranties of the
Company contained in any agreement contemplated hereby ceases to be true and
correct in all material respects; (v) of the receipt by the Company of any
notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification or exemption
from qualification of any of the Registrable Securities for sale in any
jurisdiction, or the initiation or threatening of any Proceeding for such
purpose; and (vi) of the occurrence of any event that makes any statement made
in the Registration Statement or Prospectus or any document incorporated or
deemed to be incorporated therein by reference untrue in any material respect or
that requires any revisions to the Registration Statement, Prospectus or other
documents so that, in the case of the Registration Statement or the Prospectus,
as the case may be, it will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact
or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to
make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they
were made, not misleading.

                  (d) Use its best efforts to avoid the issuance of, or, if
issued, obtain the withdrawal of, (i) any order suspending the effectiveness of
the Registration Statement or (ii) any

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suspension of the qualification (or exemption from qualification) of any of the
Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction, at the earliest practicable
moment.

                  (e) If requested by the Holders of a majority in interest of
the Registrable Securities, (i) promptly incorporate in a Prospectus supplement
or post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement such information as
the Company reasonably agrees should be included therein and (ii) make all
required filings of such Prospectus supplement or such post-effective amendment
as soon as practicable after the Company has received notification of the
matters to be incorporated in such Prospectus supplement or post-effective
amendment.

                  (f) Furnish to each Holder and the Special Counsel, without
charge, at least one conformed copy of each Registration Statement and each
amendment thereto, including financial statements and schedules, all documents
incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference, and all exhibits
to the extent requested by such Person (including those previously furnished or
incorporated by reference) promptly after the filing of such documents with the
Commission.

                  (g) Promptly deliver to each Holder and the Special Counsel,
without charge, as many copies of the Prospectus or Prospectuses (including each
form of prospectus) and each amendment or supplement thereto as such Persons may
reasonably request; and the Company hereby consents to the use of such
Prospectus and each amendment or supplement thereto by each of the selling
Holders in connection with the offering and sale of the Registrable Securities
covered by such Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto.

                  (h) Prior to any public offering of Registrable Securities,
use its best efforts to register or qualify or cooperate with the selling
Holders and the Special Counsel in connection with the registration or
qualification (or exemption from such registration or qualification) of such
Registrable Securities for offer and sale under the securities or Blue Sky laws
of such jurisdictions within the United States as any Holder requests in
writing, to keep each such registration or qualification (or exemption
therefrom) effective during the Effectiveness Period and to do any and all other
acts or things necessary or advisable to enable the disposition in such
jurisdictions of the Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement;
provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to qualify generally
to do business in any jurisdiction where it is not then so qualified or to take
any action that would subject it to general service of process in any such
jurisdiction where it is not then so subject or subject the Company to any
material tax in any such jurisdiction where it is not then so subject.

                  (i) Cooperate with the Holders to facilitate the timely
preparation and delivery of certificates representing Registrable Securities to
be sold pursuant to a Registration Statement, which certificates shall be free
of all restrictive legends, and to enable such Registrable Securities to be in
such denominations and registered in such names as any Holder may request at
least two (2) Business Days prior to any sale of Registrable Securities.

                  (j) Upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by Section
3(c)(vi), as promptly as possible, prepare a supplement or amendment, including
a post-effective amendment, to the Registration Statement or a supplement to the
related Prospectus or any

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document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference, and
file any other required document so that, as thereafter delivered, neither the
Registration Statement nor such Prospectus will contain an untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances
under which they were made, not misleading.

                  (k) Use its best efforts to cause all Registrable Securities
relating to such Registration Statement to be listed on the OTC Bulletin Board
or any other securities exchange, quotation system or market, if any, on which
similar securities issued by the Company are then listed as and when required
pursuant to the Purchase Agreements.

                  (l) Comply in all material respects with all applicable rules
and regulations of the Commission and make generally available to its security
holders earning statements satisfying the provisions of Section 11(a) of the
Securities Act and Rule 158 not later than 45 days after the end of any 12-month
period (or 90 days after the end of any 12-month period if such period is a
fiscal year) commencing on the first day of the first fiscal quarter of the
Company after the effective date of the Registration Statement, which statement
shall conform to the requirements of Rule 158.

                  (m) The Company may require each selling Holder to furnish to
the Company information regarding such Holder and the distribution of such
Registrable Securities as is required by law to be disclosed in the Registration
Statement, and the Company may exclude from such registration the Registrable
Securities of any such Holder who unreasonably fails to furnish such information
within a reasonable time after receiving such request.

                  If the Registration Statement refers to any Holder by name or
otherwise as the holder of any securities of the Company, then such Holder shall
have the right to require (if such reference to such Holder by name or otherwise
is not required by the Securities Act or any similar federal statute then in
force) the deletion of the reference to such Holder in any amendment or
supplement to the Registration Statement filed or prepared subsequent to the
time that such reference ceases to be required.

                  Each Holder covenants and agrees that (i) it will not sell any
Registrable Securities under the Registration Statement until it has received
copies of the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented as contemplated in
Section 3(g) and notice from the Company that such Registration Statement and
any post-effective amendments thereto have become effective as contemplated by
Section 3(c) and (ii) it and its officers, directors or Affiliates, if any, will
comply with the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act as
applicable to them in connection with sales of Registrable Securities pursuant
to the Registration Statement.

                  Each Holder agrees by its acquisition of such Registrable
Securities that, upon receipt of a notice from the Company of the occurrence of
any event of the kind described in Section 3(c)(ii), 3(c)(iii), 3(c)(iv),
3(c)(v) or 3(c)(vi), such Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of such
Registrable Securities under the Registration Statement until such Holder's
receipt of the copies of the supplemented Prospectus and/or amended Registration
Statement contemplated by Section 3(j), or until it is advised in writing (the
"Advice") by the Company that

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the use of the applicable Prospectus may be resumed, and, in either case, has
received copies of any additional or supplemental filings that are incorporated
or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such Prospectus or Registration
Statement.

                  (n) If (i) there is material non-public information regarding
the Company which the Company's Board of Directors (the "Board") reasonably
determines not to be in the Company's best interest to disclose and which the
Company is not otherwise required to disclose, or (ii) there is a significant
business opportunity (including, but not limited to, the acquisition or
disposition of assets (other than in the ordinary course of business) or any
merger, consolidation, tender offer or other similar transaction) available to
the Company which the Board reasonably determines not to be in the Company's
best interest to disclose, then the Company may postpone or suspend filing or
effectiveness of a registration statement for a period not to exceed 20
consecutive days, provided that the Company may not postpone or suspend its
obligation under this Section 3(n) for more than 45 days in the aggregate during
any 12 month period; provided, however, that no such postponement or suspension
shall be permitted for consecutive 20 day periods, arising out of the same set
of facts, circumstances or transactions.

     4.           Registration Expenses.

                  All fees and expenses incident to the performance of or
compliance with this Agreement by the Company, except as and to the extent
specified in Section 4, shall be borne by the Company whether or not the
Registration Statement is filed or becomes effective and whether or not any
Registrable Securities are sold pursuant to the Registration Statement. The fees
and expenses referred to in the foregoing sentence shall include, without
limitation, (i) all registration and filing fees (including, without limitation,
fees and expenses (A) with respect to filings required to be made with the OTC
Bulletin Board or any other securities exchange or market on which Registrable
Securities are required hereunder to be listed, (B) with respect to filings
required to be made with the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
and the NASD Regulation, Inc. and (C) in compliance with state securities or
Blue Sky laws (including, without limitation, fees and disbursements of counsel
for the Holders in connection with Blue Sky qualifications of the Registrable
Securities and determination of the eligibility of the Registrable Securities
for investment under the laws of such jurisdictions as the Holders of a majority
of Registrable Securities may designate)), (ii) printing expenses (including,
without limitation, expenses of printing certificates for Registrable Securities
and of printing prospectuses if the printing of prospectuses is requested by the
holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities included in the Registration
Statement), (iii) messenger, telephone and delivery expenses, (iv) fees and
disbursements of counsel for the Company and the Special Counsel for the
Holders, in the case of the Special Counsel, to a maximum amount of $5,000, (v)
Securities Act liability insurance, if the Company so desires such insurance,
and (vi) fees and expenses of all other Persons retained by the Company in
connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement, including, without limitation, the Company's independent public
accountants (including the expenses of any comfort letters or costs associated
with the delivery by independent public accountants of a comfort letter or
comfort letters). In addition, the Company shall be responsible for all of its
internal expenses incurred in connection with the consummation of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement (including, without limitation, all
salaries and expenses of its officers and employees performing legal or
accounting

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duties), the expense of any annual audit, the fees and expenses incurred in
connection with the listing of the Registrable Securities on any securities
exchange as required hereunder.

     5.           Indemnification.

                  (a) Indemnification by the Company. The Company shall,
notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement, indemnify and hold harmless
each Holder, the officers, directors, agents, brokers (including brokers who
offer and sell Registrable Securities as principal as a result of a pledge or
any failure to perform under a margin call of Common Stock), investment advisors
and employees of each of them, each Person who controls any such Holder (within
the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange
Act) and the officers, directors, agents and employees of each such controlling
Person, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, from and against any
and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, costs (including, without
limitation, costs of preparation and attorneys' fees) and expenses
(collectively, "Losses"), as incurred, arising out of or relating to any untrue
or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration
Statement, any Prospectus or any form of prospectus or in any amendment or
supplement thereto or in any preliminary prospectus, or arising out of or
relating to any omission or alleged omission of a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of any
Prospectus or form of prospectus or supplement thereto, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made) not misleading, except to the extent,
but only to the extent, that such untrue statements or omissions are based
solely upon information regarding such Holder or such other Indemnified Party
furnished in writing to the Company by such Holder expressly for use therein,
which information was reasonably relied on by the Company for use therein or to
the extent that such information relates to such Holder or such Holder's
proposed method of distribution of Registrable Securities and was reviewed and
expressly approved in writing by such Holder expressly for use in the
Registration Statement, such Prospectus or such form of Prospectus or in any
amendment or supplement thereto. The Company shall notify the Holders promptly
of the institution, threat or assertion of any Proceeding of which the Company
is aware in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

                  (b) Indemnification by Holders. Each Holder shall, severally
and not jointly, indemnify and hold harmless the Company, the directors,
officers, agents and employees, each Person who controls the Company (within the
meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act and Section 20 of the Exchange Act),
and the directors, officers, agents or employees of such controlling Persons, to
the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, from and against all Losses (as
determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final judgment not subject
to appeal or review), as incurred, arising solely out of or based solely upon
any untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement,
any Prospectus, or any form of prospectus, or arising solely out of or based
solely upon any omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of any Prospectus or form
of prospectus or supplement thereto, in the light of the circumstances under
which they were made) not misleading, to the extent, but only to the extent,
that such untrue statement or omission is contained in any information so
furnished in writing by such Holder or other Indemnifying Party to the Company
specifically for inclusion in the Registration Statement or such Prospectus and
that such information was reasonably relied upon by the Company for use in the
Registration

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Statement, such Prospectus or such form of prospectus or to the extent that such
information relates to such Holder or such Holder's proposed method of
distribution of Registrable Securities and was reviewed and expressly approved
in writing by such Holder expressly for use in the Registration Statement, such
Prospectus or such form of Prospectus.

                  (c) Conduct of Indemnification Proceedings. If any Proceeding
shall be brought or asserted against any Person entitled to indemnity hereunder
(an "Indemnified Party"), such Indemnified Party promptly shall notify the
Person from whom indemnity is sought (the "Indemnifying Party) in writing, and
the Indemnifying Party shall assume the defense thereof, including the
employment of counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Party and the
payment of all fees and expenses incurred in connection with defense thereof;
provided, that the failure of any Indemnified Party to give such notice shall
not relieve the Indemnifying Party of its obligations or liabilities pursuant to
this Agreement, except (and only) to the extent that it shall be finally
determined by a court of competent jurisdiction (which determination is not
subject to appeal or further review) that such failure shall have proximately
and materially adversely prejudiced the Indemnifying Party.

                  An Indemnified Party shall have the right to employ separate
counsel in any such Proceeding and to participate in the defense thereof, but
the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such
Indemnified Party or Parties unless: (1) the Indemnifying Party has agreed in
writing to pay such fees and expenses; or (2) the Indemnifying Party shall have
failed promptly to assume the defense of such Proceeding and to employ counsel
reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified Party in any such Proceeding; or (3)
the named parties to any such Proceeding (including any impleaded parties)
include both such Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying Party, and such
Indemnified Party shall have been advised by counsel (which shall be reasonably
acceptable to the Indemnifying Party) that a conflict of interest is likely to
exist if the same counsel were to represent such Indemnified Party and the
Indemnifying Party (in which case, if such Indemnified Party notifies the
Indemnifying Party in writing that it elects to employ separate counsel at the
expense of the Indemnifying Party, the Indemnifying Party shall not have the
right to assume the defense thereof and such counsel shall be at the expense of
the Indemnifying Party). The Indemnifying Party shall not be liable for any
settlement of any such Proceeding effected without its written consent, which
consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed. No Indemnifying Party
shall, without the prior written consent of the Indemnified Party, effect any
settlement of any pending Proceeding in respect of which any Indemnified Party
is a party, unless such settlement includes an unconditional release of such
Indemnified Party from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of
such Proceeding.

              All fees and expenses of the Indemnified Party (including
reasonable fees and expenses to the extent incurred in connection with
investigating or preparing to defend such Proceeding in a manner not
inconsistent with this Section) shall be paid to the Indemnified Party, as
incurred, within ten (10) Business Days of written notice thereof to the
Indemnifying Party (regardless of whether it is ultimately determined that an
Indemnified Party is not entitled to indemnification hereunder; provided, that
the Indemnifying Party may require such Indemnified Party to undertake to
reimburse all such fees and expenses to the extent it is finally judicially
determined that such Indemnified Party is not entitled to indemnification
hereunder).

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                  (d) Contribution. If a claim for indemnification under Section
5(a) or 5(b) is unavailable to an Indemnified Party because of a failure or
refusal of a governmental authority to enforce such indemnification in
accordance with its terms (by reason of public policy or otherwise), then each
Indemnifying Party, in lieu of indemnifying such Indemnified Party, shall
contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Party as a result
of such Losses, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative
fault of the Indemnifying Party and Indemnified Party in connection with the
actions, statements or omissions that resulted in such Losses as well as any
other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of such Indemnifying
Party and Indemnified Party shall be determined by reference to, among other
things, whether any action in question, including any untrue or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission of a material fact,
has been taken or made by, or relates to information supplied by, such
Indemnifying, Party or Indemnified Party, and the parties' relative intent,
knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such
action, statement or omission. The amount paid or payable by a party as a result
of any Losses shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth
in Section 5(c), any reasonable attorneys' or other reasonable fees or expenses
incurred by such party in connection with any Proceeding to the extent such
party would have been indemnified for such fees or expenses if the
indemnification provided for in this Section was available to such party in
accordance with its terms.

              The parties hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable
if contribution pursuant to this Section 5(d) were determined by pro rata
allocation or by any other method of allocation that does not take into account
the equitable considerations referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph.
No Person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section
11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any Person
who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.

              The indemnity and contribution agreements contained in this
Section are in addition to any liability that the Indemnifying Parties may have
to the Indemnified Parties

         6.       Rule 144.

              As long as any Holder owns Preferred Shares, Conversion Shares,
Warrants or Warrant Shares, the Company covenants to timely file (or obtain
extensions in respect thereof and file within the applicable grace period) all
reports required to be filed by the Company after the date hereof pursuant to
Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act and to promptly furnish the Holders
with true and complete copies of all such filings. As long as any Holder owns
Preferred Shares, Conversion Shares, Warrants or Warrant Shares, if the Company
is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the
Exchange Act, it will prepare and furnish to the Holders and make publicly
available in accordance with Rule 144(c) promulgated under the Securities Act
annual and quarterly financial statements, together with a discussion and
analysis of such financial statements in form and substance substantially
similar to those that would otherwise be required to be included in reports
required by Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, as well as any other
information required thereby, in the time period that such filings would have
been required to have been made under the Exchange Act. The Company further
covenants that it will take such further action as any Holder may reasonably

                                      -11-
<PAGE>

request, all to the extent required from time to time to enable such Person to
sell Conversion Shares and Warrant Shares without registration under the
Securities Act within the limitation of the exemptions provided by Rule 144
promulgated under the Securities Act, including providing any legal opinions
relating to such sale pursuant to Rule 144. Upon the request of any Holder, the
Company shall deliver to such Holder a written certification of a duly
authorized officer as to whether it has complied with such requirements.

         7.       Miscellaneous.

                  (a) Remedies. In the event of a breach by the Company or by a
Holder, of any of their obligations under this Agreement, each Holder or the
Company, as the case may be, in addition to being entitled to exercise all
rights granted by law and under this Agreement, including recovery of damages,
will be entitled to specific performance of its rights under this Agreement. The
Company and each Holder agree that monetary damages would not provide adequate
compensation for any losses incurred by reason of a breach by it of any of the
provisions of this Agreement and hereby further agrees that, in the event of any
action for specific performance in respect of such breach, it shall waive the
defense that a remedy at law would be adequate.

                  (b) No Inconsistent Agreements. Neither the Company nor any of
its subsidiaries has, as of the date hereof entered into and currently in
effect, nor shall the Company or any of its subsidiaries, on or after the date
of this Agreement, enter into any agreement with respect to its securities that
is inconsistent with the rights granted to the Holders in this Agreement or
otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof. Except as disclosed in Schedule
2.1(c) of the Purchase Agreements, neither the Company nor any of its
subsidiaries has previously entered into any agreement currently in effect
granting any registration rights with respect to any of its securities to any
Person. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, without the written
consent of the Holders of a majority of the then outstanding Registrable
Securities, the Company shall not grant to any Person the right to request the
Company to register any securities of the Company under the Securities Act
unless the rights so granted are subject in all respects to the prior rights in
full of the Holders set forth herein, and are not otherwise in conflict with the
provisions of this Agreement.

                  (c) No Piggyback on Registrations. Neither the Company nor any
of its security holders (other than the Holders in such capacity pursuant hereto
or as disclosed in Schedule 2.1(c) of the Purchase Agreements) may include
securities of the Company in the Registration Statement, and the Company shall
not after the date hereof enter into any agreement providing such right to any
of its securityholders, unless the right so granted is subject in all respects
to the prior rights in full of the Holders set forth herein, and is not
otherwise in conflict with the provisions of this Agreement.

                  (d) Piggy-Back Registrations. If at any time when there is not
an effective Registration Statement covering (i) Conversion Shares or (ii)
Warrant Shares, the Company shall determine to prepare and file with the
Commission a registration statement relating to an offering for its own account
or the account of others under the Securities Act of any of its equity
securities, other than on Form S-4 or Form S-8 (each as promulgated under the
Securities Act) or

                                      -12-
<PAGE>

their then equivalents relating to equity securities to be issued solely in
connection with any acquisition of any entity or business or equity securities
issuable in connection with stock option or other employee benefit plans, the
Company shall send to each holder of Registrable Securities written notice of
such determination and, if within thirty (30) days after receipt of such notice,
any such holder shall so request in writing, (which request shall specify the
Registrable Securities intended to be disposed of by the Purchasers), the
Company will cause the registration under the Securities Act of all Registrable
Securities which the Company has been so requested to register by the holder, to
the extent requisite to permit the disposition of the Registrable Securities so
to be registered, provided that if at any time after giving written notice of
its intention to register any securities and prior to the effective date of the
registration statement filed in connection with such registration, the Company
shall determine for any reason not to register or to delay registration of such
securities, the Company may, at its election, give written notice of such
determination to such holder and, thereupon, (i) in the case of a determination
not to register, shall be relieved of its obligation to register any Registrable
Securities in connection with such registration (but not from its obligation to
pay expenses in accordance with Section 4 hereof), and (ii) in the case of a
determination to delay registering, shall be permitted to delay registering any
Registrable Securities being registered pursuant to this Section 7(d) for the
same period as the delay in registering such other securities. The Company shall
include in such registration statement all or any part of such Registrable
Securities such holder requests to be registered; provided, however, that the
Company shall not be required to register any Registrable Securities pursuant to
this Section 7(d) that are eligible for sale pursuant to Rule 144(k) of the
Securities Act. In the case of an underwritten public offering, if the managing
underwriter(s) or underwriter(s) should reasonably object to the inclusion of
the Registrable Securities in such registration statement, then if the Company
after consultation with the managing underwriter should reasonably determine
that the inclusion of such Registrable Securities, would materially adversely
affect the offering contemplated in such registration statement, and based on
such determination recommends inclusion in such registration statement of fewer
or none of the Registrable Securities of the Holders, then (x) the number of
Registrable Securities of the Holders included in such registration statement
shall be reduced pro-rata among such Holders (based upon the number of
Registrable Securities requested to be included in the registration), if the
Company after consultation with the underwriter(s) recommends the inclusion of
fewer Registrable Securities, or (y) none of the Registrable Securities of the
Holders shall be included in such registration statement, if the Company after
consultation with the underwriter(s) recommends the inclusion of none of such
Registrable Securities; provided, however, that if Securities are being offered
for the account of other persons or entities as well as the Company, such
reduction shall not represent a greater fraction of the number of Registrable
Securities intended to be offered by the Holders than the fraction of similar
reductions imposed on such other persons or entities (other than the Company).

                  (e) Failure to File Registration Statement and Other Events.
The Company and the Purchasers agree that the Holders will suffer damages if the
Registration Statement is not filed on or prior to the Filing Date or declared
effective by the Commission within thirty (30) days of the Effectiveness Date
and maintained in the manner contemplated herein during the Effectiveness Time
or if certain other events occur. The Company and the Holders further agree that
it would not be feasible to ascertain the extent of such damages with precision.
Accordingly, if (A) the Registration Statement is not filed on or prior to the
Filing Date or declared effective

                                      -13-
<PAGE>

by the Commission within thirty (30) days of the Effectiveness Date (or in the
event an additional Registration Statement is filed because the actual number of
shares of Common Stock into which the Preferred Stock are convertible and the
Warrants are exercisable exceeds the number of shares of Common Stock initially
registered is not filed and declared effective with the time periods set forth
in Section 2), or (B) the Company fails to file with the Commission a request
for acceleration in accordance with Rule 461 promulgated under the Securities
Act within five (5) Business Days of the date that the Company is notified
(orally or in writing, whichever is earlier) by the Commission that a
Registration Statement will not be "reviewed," or not subject to further review,
or (C) the Registration Statement is filed with and declared effective by the
Commission but thereafter ceases to be effective as to all Registrable
Securities at any time prior to the expiration of the Effectiveness Period,
without being succeeded immediately by a subsequent Registration Statement filed
with and declared effective by the Commission, or (D) trading in the Common
Stock shall be suspended or if the Common Stock is delisted from the OTC
Bulletin Board for any reason for more than three (3) Business Days in the
aggregate, or (E) the conversion rights of the Holders are suspended for any
reason, or (F) the Company breaches in a material respect any covenant or other
material term or condition to this Agreement, the Certificate of Designation,
the Purchase Agreements (other than a representation or warranty contained
therein) or any other agreement, document, certificate or other instrument
delivered in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby,
and such breach continues for a period of thirty days after written notice
thereof to the Company, or (G) the Company has breached Section 3(n) (any such
failure or breach being referred to as an "Event," and for purposes of clauses
(A) and (E) the date on which such Event occurs, or for purposes of clause (B)
the date on which such five day period is exceeded, or for purposes of clause
(C) after more than fifteen Business Days, or for purposes of clause (D) the
date on which such three Business Day period is exceeded, or for clause (F) the
date on which such thirty day period is exceeded, being referred to as "Event
Date"), the Company shall pay an amount in cash as liquidated damages to each
Holder equal to 3% for the first calendar month and 1.5% per calendar month
thereafter of such Holder's pro rata share of the purchase price paid by all
Holders for all shares of Series A Preferred Stock purchased and then
outstanding pursuant to the Purchase Agreements for each thirty (30) day period
until the applicable Event has been cured, which shall be pro rated for such
periods less than thirty (30) days (the "Periodic Amount"); provided, however,
if the Registration Statement is not declared effective within thirty (30) days
of the Effectiveness Date in accordance with clause (A) above, liquidated
damages under this Section 7(e) shall accrue as of the Effectiveness Date.
Payments to be made pursuant to this Section 7(e) shall be due and payable
immediately upon demand at the option of the Holders in cash or as an accrual to
the Liquidation Preference Amount (as defined in the Certificate of Designation
of the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock). The parties agree that the
Periodic Amount represents a reasonable estimate on the part of the parties, as
of the date of this Agreement, of the amount of damages that may be incurred by
the Holders if the Registration Statement is not filed on or prior to the Filing
Date or has not been declared effective by the Commission on or prior to the
Effectiveness Date and maintained in the manner contemplated herein during the
Effectiveness Period or if any other Event as described herein has occurred.

                  (f) Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of this Agreement,
including the provisions of this sentence, may not be amended, modified or
supplemented, and waivers or consents to departures from the provisions hereof
may not be given, unless the same shall be in

                                      -14-
<PAGE>

writing and signed by the Company and each of the Holders. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, a waiver or consent to depart from the provisions hereof with respect
to a matter that relates exclusively to the rights of Holders and that does not
directly or indirectly affect the rights of other Holders may be given by
Holders of at least a majority of the Registrable Securities to which such
waiver or consent relates; provided, however, that the provisions of this
sentence may not be amended, modified, or supplemented except in accordance with
the provisions of the immediately preceding sentence.

                  (g) Notices. Any and all notices or other communications or
deliveries required or permitted to be provided hereunder shall be in writing
and shall be deemed given and effective on the earlier of (i) the date of
transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered via facsimile at the
facsimile telephone number specified for notice prior to 5:00 p.m., New York
City time, on a Business Day, (ii) the Business Day after the date of
transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered via facsimile at the
facsimile telephone number specified for notice later than 5:00 p.m., New York
City time, on any date and earlier than 11:59 p.m., New York City time, on such
date, (iii) the Business Day following the date of mailing, if sent by
nationally recognized overnight courier service or (iv) actual receipt by the
party to whom such notice is required to be given. The addresses for such
communications shall be with respect to each Holder at its address set forth
under its name on Schedule 1 attached hereto, or with respect to the Company,
addressed to:

                  The viaLink Company
                  13155 Noel Road
                  Suite 700
                  Dallas, Texas 75240
                  Attention: Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer
                  Tel. No.: (972) 934-5500
                  Fax No.:  (972) 934-5583

or to such other address or addresses or facsimile number or numbers as any such
party may most recently have designated in writing to the other parties hereto
by such notice.

                  (h) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding
upon and inure to the benefit of the parties and their successors and permitted
assigns and shall inure to the benefit of each Holder and its successors and
assigns. The Company may not assign this Agreement or any of its rights or
obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of each Holder. Each
Purchaser may assign its rights hereunder in the manner and to the Persons as
permitted under the Purchase Agreements.

                  (i) Assignment of Registration Rights. The rights of each
Holder hereunder, including the right to have the Company register for resale
Registrable Securities in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, shall be
automatically assignable by each Holder to any Affiliate of such Holder or any
other Holder or Affiliate of any other Holder of all or a portion of the
Preferred Stock or the Registrable Securities if: (i) the Holder agrees in
writing with the transferee or assignee to assign such rights, and a copy of
such agreement is furnished to the Company within a reasonable time after such
assignment, (ii) the Company is, within a

                                      -15-
<PAGE>

reasonable time after such transfer or assignment, furnished with written notice
of (a) the name and address of such transferee or assignee, and (b) the
securities with respect to which such registration rights are being transferred
or assigned, (iii) following such transfer or assignment the further disposition
of such securities by the transferee or assignees is restricted under the
Securities Act and applicable state securities laws, (iv) at or before the time
the Company receives the written notice contemplated by clause (ii) of this
Section, the transferee or assignee agrees in writing with the Company to be
bound by all of the provisions of this Agreement, (v) such transfer shall have
been made in accordance with the applicable requirements of the Purchase
Agreements, and (vi) at least 100,000 shares of Registrable Securities
(appropriately adjusted for any stock dividend, split or combination of the
Common Stock) are being transferred to such transferee or assignee in connection
with such assignment of rights. In addition, each Holder shall have the right to
assign its rights hereunder to any other Person with the prior written consent
of the Company, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. The rights to
assignment shall apply to the Holders (and to subsequent) successors and
assigns.

                  (j) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number
of counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an
original and, all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same
Agreement. In the event that any signature is delivered by facsimile
transmission, such signature shall create a valid binding obligation of the
party executing (or on whose behalf such signature is executed) the same with
the same force and effect as if such facsimile signature were the original
thereof.

                  (k) Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without regard
to principles of conflicts of law thereof.

                  (l) Cumulative Remedies. The remedies provided herein are
cumulative and not exclusive of any remedies provided by law.

                  (m) Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or
restriction of this Agreement is held to be invalid, illegal, void or
unenforceable in any respect, the remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants
and restrictions set forth herein shall remain in full force and effect and
shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated, and the parties hereto
shall use their reasonable efforts to find and employ an alternative means to
achieve the same or substantially the same result as that contemplated by such
term, provision, covenant or restriction. It is hereby stipulated and declared
to be the intention of the parties that they would have executed the remaining
terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions without including any of such that
may be hereafter declared invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable.

                  (n) Headings. The headings herein are for convenience only, do
not constitute a part of this Agreement and shall not be deemed to limit or
affect any of the provisions hereof.

                  (o) Shares Held by the Company and its Affiliates. Whenever
the consent or approval of Holders of a specified percentage of Registrable
Securities is required hereunder, Registrable Securities held by the Company or
its Affiliates (other than any Holder or transferees or successors or assigns
thereof if such Holder is deemed to be an Affiliate solely by reason of its

                                      -16-
<PAGE>

holdings of such Registrable Securities) shall not be counted in determining
whether such consent or approval was given by the Holders of such required
percentage.

                  [REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]

                                      -17-
<PAGE>

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Registration
Rights Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized persons as
of the date first indicated above.

                                                     THE VIALINK COMPANY

                                        By:_____________________________________
                                           Name:
                                           Title:

                                    PURCHASER

                                        By:_____________________________________
                                           Name:
                                           Title:

                                    PURCHASER

                                        By:_____________________________________
                                           Name:
                                           Title:

                                    PURCHASER

                                        By:_____________________________________
                                           Name:
                                           Title:

                                      -18-
<PAGE>

                                   Schedule I

                                      -19-
<PAGE>

                                   Schedule II

                                      -20-<PAGE>
                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.6a

                              CONSULTING AGREEMENT

         THIS CONSULTING AGREEMENT (the "Agreement") is made and entered into
this 1st day of August, 2002, by and between ZALE CORPORATION, a Delaware
corporate ("Company"), and ROBERT J. DINICOLA, a Texas resident ("Consultant").

                                   BACKGROUND:

         WHEREAS, Company desires to retain Consultant to provide certain
services to Company, and Consultant desires to provide such services to Company,
all subject to and in accordance with the terms and conditions contained herein.

         NOW, THEREFORE, FOR AND IN CONSIDERATION of the premise, the mutual
promises, covenants and agreements contain herein, and other good and valuable
consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of hereby acknowledged, the parties
hereto hereby agree as follows:

         1. SERVICES. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this
Agreement, Company hereby retains Consultant to provide to Company certain
consulting services as required by the Chief Executive Officer from time to time
(the "Services"), and Consultant agrees to render the Services to Company.
Consultant shall perform the Services upon the specific request of, and in
accordance with the directions of, Company in each instance.

         2. OBLIGATIONS OF CONSULTANT. In his performance of the Services
hereunder, Consultant shall at all times comply with and abide by the terms and
conditions set forth in this Agreement and all applicable policies and
procedures of Company. Consultant shall further perform the Services in
accordance with all applicable laws, rules and regulations and by following and
applying the highest professional guidelines and standards.

         3. COMPENSATION. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this
Agreement, and as full and complete compensation for the Services, Company shall
pay to Consultant, and Consultant shall accept, an annual fee of $150,000 each
year during the Term. Each annual fee shall be paid in twelve (12) equal monthly
payments on or before the last day of the month.

         4. EXPENSE REIMBURSEMENT. The Company shall pay or reimburse Consultant
for all reasonable business expenses incurred or paid by Consultant in the
course of performing his duties hereunder, including but not limited to
reasonable travel expenses for Consultant and his spouse. As a condition to such
payment or reimbursement, however, Consultant shall maintain and provide to the
Company reasonable documentation and receipts for such expenses.

         5. INDEPENDENT CONSULTANT. Both Consultant and Company, in the
performance of this Agreement, will be acting in their own separate capacities
and not as agents, employees, partners, joint venturers or associates of one
another. It is expressly understood and agreed that Consultant is an independent
contractor of Company in all manners and respects and that Consultant is not
authorized to bind Company to any liability or obligation or to represent that
he

<PAGE>

has any such authority. Consultant shall be solely responsible for all of his
withholding taxes, social security taxes, unemployment taxes, and workers'
compensation insurance premiums.

         6. TERM AND TERMINATION.

            (a) Unless sooner terminated pursuant to the terms hereof of this
Agreement shall commence as of the date hereof and continue for a period of five
(5) years (the "Term").

            (b) Notwithstanding anything else contained herein to the contrary,
and in addition to any other rights and remedies available at law, in equity or
hereunder, either party hereto may cancel and terminate this Agreement if the
other party fails to correct or cure any material breach hereunder within thirty
(30) days after it receives written notice of such breach from the non-breaching
party.

         7. NON-COMPETITION. Consultant agrees that during the Term and for a
period of eighteen (18) months from the date of the termination or expiration of
this Agreement, he will not, directly or indirectly, compete with the Company by
providing to any company that is in a "Competing Business" services
substantially similar to the services currently being provided by Consultant.
Competing Business shall be defined as any business that engages, in a material
way, in the wholesale or retail sale of jewelry in the United States, and
Consultant's employment function or affiliation is directly or indirectly in
such business of jewelry.

         8. NONSOLICITATION OF EMPLOYEES. For a period of two years after the
termination or expiration of this Agreement, Consultant shall not, on his own
behalf or on behalf of any other person, partnership, association, corporation,
or other entity, solicit or in any manner attempt to influence or induce any
employee of the Company or its subsidiaries or affiliates (known by the
Consultant to be such) to leave the employment of the company or its
subsidiaries or affiliates, nor shall he use or disclose to any person,
partnership association, corporation or other entity any information obtained
while an employee of the Company concerning the names and addresses of the
Company's employees.

         9. NONDISCLOSURE OF TRADE SECRETS. During the term of this Agreement,
Consultant will have access to and become familiar with various trade secrets
and proprietary and confidential information of the Company, its subsidiaries
and affiliates, including, but not limited to, processes, computer programs,
compilations of information, records, sale procedures, customer requirements,
pricing techniques, customer lists, methods of doing business and other
confidential information (collectively, referred to as "Trade Secrets") which
are owned by the Company, its subsidiaries and/or affiliates and regularly used
in the operation of its business, and as to which the Company, its subsidiaries
and/or affiliates take precautions to prevent dissemination to persons other
than certain directors, officers and employees. Consultant acknowledges and
agrees that the Trade Secrets (1) are secret and not known in the industry; (2)
give the Company or its subsidiaries or affiliates an advantage over competitors
who do not know or use the Trade Secrets; (3) are of such value and nature as to
make it reasonable and necessary to protect and preserve the confidentiality and
secrecy of the Trade Secrets; and (4) are valuable, special and unique assets of
the Company or its subsidiaries or affiliates, the disclosure of which could
cause substantial injury and loss of profits and goodwill to the Company or its

                                       2
<PAGE>

subsidiaries or affiliates. Consultant may not use in any way or disclose any of
the Trade Secrets, directly or indirectly, either during the term of this
Agreement or at any time thereafter, except as required in the course of his
employment under this Agreement, if required in connection with a judicial or
administrative proceeding, or if the information becomes public knowledge other
than as a result of an unauthorized disclosure by the Consultant. All files,
records, documents, information, data and similar items relating to the business
of the Company, whether prepared by Consultant or otherwise coming into his
possession, will remain the exclusive property of the Company and may not be
removed from the premises of the Company under any circumstances without the
prior written consent of the Board (except in the ordinary course of business
during Consultant's period of active employment under this Agreement), and in
any event must be promptly delivered to the Company upon termination of
Consultant's employment with the Company. Consultant agrees that upon his
receipt of any subpoena, process or other request to produce or divulge,
directly or indirectly, any Trade Secrets to any entity, agency, tribunal or
person, Consultant shall timely notify and promptly hand deliver a copy of the
subpoena, process or other request to the Board. For this purpose, Consultant
irrevocably nominates and appoints the Company (including any attorney retained
by the Company), as his true and lawful attorney-in-fact, to act in Consultant's
name, place and stead to perform any act that Consultant might perform to defend
and protect against any disclosure of any Trade Secrets.

         10. SEVERABILITY. The parties hereto intend all provisions of Sections
7, 8 and 9 hereof to be enforced to the fullest extent permitted by law.
Accordingly, should a court of competent jurisdiction determine that the scope
of any provision of Sections 7, 8 or 9 hereof is too broad to be enforced as
written, the parties intend that the court reform the provision to such narrower
scope as it determines to be reasonable and enforceable. In addition, however,
Consultant agrees that the nonsolicitation and nondisclosure agreements set
forth above each constitute separate agreements independently supported by good
and adequate consideration shall be severable from the other provisions of, and
shall survive, this Agreement. The existence of any claim or cause of action of
Consultant against the Company, whether predicated on this Agreement or
otherwise, shall not constitute a defense to the enforcement by the Company of
the covenants of Consultant contained in the nonsolicitation and nondisclosure
agreements. If any provision of this Agreement is held to be illegal, invalid or
unenforceable under present or future laws effective during the term hereof,
such provision shall be fully severable and this Agreement shall be construed
and enforced as if such illegal, invalid or unenforceable provision never
constituted a part of this Agreement; and the remaining provisions of this
Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and shall not be affected by the
illegal, invalid or unenforceable provision or by its severance herefrom.
Furthermore, in lieu of such illegal, invalid or unenforceable provision, there
shall be added as part of this Agreement, a provision as similar in its terms to
such illegal, invalid or enforceable provision as may be possible and be legal,
valid and enforceable.

         11. OWNERSHIP OF WORK PRODUCT. All work product, property, data,
documentation, information or materials conceived, discovered, developed or
created by Consultant pursuant to this Agreement (collectively, the "Work
Product") shall be owned exclusively by Company. To the greatest extent
possible, any "Work Product shall be deemed to be a "work made for hire" (as
defined in the United States Copyright Act, 17 U.S.C.A. Section 101 et seq., as
amended) and owned

                                       3
<PAGE>

exclusively by Company. Consultant hereby unconditionally and irrevocably
transfers and assigns to Company all right, title and interest in or to any Work
Product.

         12. NOTICES.

             (a) All notices provided for or required by this Agreement shall be
in writing and shall be delivered personally to the other party, or mailed by
certified or registered mail (return receipt requested), or delivered by a
recognized overnight courier service, as follows:

             If to Company:          Zale Corporation
                                     901 West Walnut Hill Lane
                                     Irving, TX 75038
                                     Attn:  Mary L. Forte, CEO
                                     with a copy to the Zale's Legal Department

             If to Consultant:       Robert J. DiNicola
                                     6211 St. Andrew's Drive
                                     Dallas, TX 7 205

             (b) Notices delivered pursuant to Section 12(a) hereof shall be
deemed given: at the time delivered, if personally delivered, three (3) business
days after being deposited in the mail, if mailed; and one (1) business day
after timely delivery to the courier, if by overnight courier service.

             (c) Either party hereto may change the address to which notice is
to be sent by written notice to the other party in accordance with the
provisions of this Section 12.

         13. MISCELLANEOUS.

             (a) This Agreement, including all Exhibits hereto (which are
incorporated herein by this reference), contains the entire agreement and
understanding concerning the subject matter hereof between the parties hereto.
No waiver, termination or discharge of this Agreement, or any of the terms or
provisions hereof, shall be binding upon either party hereto unless confirmed in
writing. This Agreement may not be modified or amended, except by a writing
executed by both parties hereto. No waiver by either party hereto of any term or
provision of this Agreement or of any default hereunder shall affect such
party's rights thereafter to enforce such term or provision or to exercise any
right or remedy in the event of any other default, whether or not similar.

             (b) The parties acknowledge and agree that this Agreement and the
obligations and undertakings of the parties under this Agreement will be
performable in Irving, Dallas County, Texas. This Agreement shall be governed by
and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware. If any
action is brought to enforce or interpret this Agreement, venue for the action
will lie in Irving, Dallas County, Texas.

                                       4
<PAGE>

             (c) Consultant may not assign this Agreement, in whole or in part,
without the prior written consent of Company, and any attempted assignment not
in accordance herewith shall be null and void and of no force or effect.

             (d) This Agreement shall be binding on and inure to the benefit of
the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns.

             (e) The headings contained herein are for the convenience of the
parties only and shall not be interpreted to limit or affect in any way the
meaning of the language contained in this Agreement.

             (f) 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 shall
constitute the same Agreement. Any signature page of any such counterpart, or
any electronic facsimile thereof, may be attached or appended to any other
counterpart to complete a fully executed counterpart of this Agreement, and any
telecopy or other facsimile transmission of any signature shall be deemed an
original and shall bind such party.

             (g) If any provision of this Agreement shall be held void,
voidable, invalid or inoperative, no other provision of this Agreement shall be
affected as a result thereof, and accordingly, the remaining provisions of this
Agreement shall remain in full force and effect as though such void, voidable,
invalid or inoperative provision had not been contained herein.

             (h) This Agreement shall not be construed more strongly against
either party hereto regardless of which party is responsible for its
preparation.

             (i) Upon the reasonable request of the other party, each party
hereto agrees to take any and all actions, including, without limitation, the
execution of certificates, documents or instruments, necessary or appropriate to
give effect to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.

                                       5
<PAGE>

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused their duly
authorized representatives to execute this Agreement as of the day and year
first above written.

                                    "Company"

                                    ZALE CORPORATION

                                    By:      /s/ Mary L. Forte
                                       -----------------------------------------
                                    Name:    Mary L. Forte
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                    Title:   Chief Executive Officer
                                          --------------------------------------

                                    "Consultant"

                                    /s/ Robert J. DiNicola
                                    --------------------------------------------
                                    Robert J. DiNicola

                                       6

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