NEWELL RUBBERMAID INC.
2002 DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN
(AMENDED AND RESTATED AS OF JANUARY 1, 2004)
Newell Rubbermaid Inc. hereby establishes, effective as of
January 1, 2002, the Newell Rubbermaid Inc. 2002 Deferred Compensation Plan on
the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth. Such Plan provides certain
eligible employees and directors with the opportunity to defer portions of their
base salary, bonus payments and director fees and, in conjunction with the
Newell Rubbermaid Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan, receive certain other
retirement benefits, all in accordance with the provisions of the Plan.
SECTION I
DEFINITIONS
For the purposes hereof, the following words and phrases shall
have the meanings set forth below, unless their context clearly requires a
different meaning:
1.1. "Account" means the bookkeeping account maintained by the
Committee on behalf of each Participant pursuant to Section 2.5. The sum of each
Participant's Sub-Accounts, in the aggregate, shall constitute his Account.
1.2. "Affiliate" means any corporation, joint venture,
partnership, unincorporated association or other entity that is affiliated,
directly or indirectly, with the Company and which is designated by the
Committee from time to time.
1.3. "Base Salary" means the annual base rate of cash
compensation (which, in the case of a Participant who is a Director, shall
include his annual director's fees or other similar amounts payable in cash)
payable by the Company and/or by any Affiliate to a Participant.
1.4. "Beneficiary" or "Beneficiaries" means the person or
persons, including one or more trusts, designated by a Participant in accordance
with the Plan to receive payment of the remaining balance of the Participant's
Account in the event of the death of the Participant prior to the Participant's
receipt of the entire amount credited to his Account.
1.5. "Board" means the Board of Directors of the Company.
1.6. "Bonus" means cash incentive compensation payable
pursuant to a bonus or other incentive compensation plan, whether such plan is
now in effect or hereafter established by the Company, which the Committee may
designate from time to time.
1.7. "Change in Control" means the occurrence of any of the
following events without the prior written approval of a majority of the entire
Board as it exists immediately prior to such event; provided that, in the case
of an event described in (i) or (iii) below, such approval
occurs before the time of such event and, in the case of an event described in
(ii) below, such approval occurs prior to the time that any other party to the
event described in (ii) (or any affiliate or associate thereof) acquires 20% or
more of the Voting Power:
(i) The acquisition by an entity, person or
group (including all affiliates or associates of such entity, person or
group) of beneficial ownership, as that term is defined in Rule 13d-3
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, of capital stock of the
Company entitled to exercise more than 50% of the outstanding voting
power of all capital stock of the Company entitled to vote in elections
of directors ("Voting Power");
(ii) The effective time of (A) a merger or
consolidation of the Company with one or more other corporations as a
result of which the holders of the outstanding Voting Power of the
Company immediately prior to such merger or consolidation (other than
the surviving or resulting corporation or any affiliate or associate
thereof) hold less than 50% of the Voting Power of the surviving or
resulting corporation, or (B) a transfer of a majority of the Voting
Power, or a Substantial Portion of the Property, of the Company other
than to an entity of which the Company owns at least 50% of the Voting
Power; or
(iii) The election to the Board of the Company, of
directors constituting a majority of the number of directors of the
Company then in the office.
For this purpose, "Substantial Portion of the Property of the Company" shall
mean 75% of the aggregate book value of the assets of the Company and its
affiliates and associates as set forth on the most recent balance sheet of the
Company, prepared on a consolidated basis, by its regularly employed,
independent, certified public accountants.
1.8. "Committee" means the committee appointed to administer
the Plan. Unless and until otherwise specified, the Committee under the Plan
shall be the Company's Benefit Plans Administrative Committee.
1.9. "Company" means Newell Rubbermaid Inc. and its
successors, including, without limitation, the surviving corporation resulting
from any merger or consolidation of Newell Rubbermaid Inc. with any other
corporation or corporations.
1.10. "Director" means a member of the Board.
1.11. "Disability" has the meaning given to such term in the
long-term disability plan of the Company or Affiliate, as applicable to any
Participant, or if no such plan exists, as determined by the Committee.
1.12. "Election Agreement" means a Participant's agreement, on
a form provided by the Committee, to defer his Base Salary and/or Bonus.
1.13. "Eligible Employee" means an employee of the Company or
an Affiliate who is, as determined by the Committee, a member of a "select group
of management or highly compensated employees," within the meaning of Sections
201, 301 and 401 of ERISA, and who
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is selected by the Committee to participate in the Plan. Unless otherwise
determined by the Committee, an Eligible Employee shall continue as such until
termination of employment.
1.14. "Employer Contributions" has the meaning given to such
term in Section 2.4.
1.15. "ERISA" means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act
of 1974, as amended.
1.16. "In-Service Sub-Account" means each bookkeeping
Sub-Account maintained by the Committee on behalf of each Participant pursuant
to Sections 2.5 and 2.6(ii). The Committee shall specify from time to time the
maximum number of In-Service Sub-Accounts that may be established for any one
Participant.
1.17. "Insolvent" means that the Company or an Affiliate,
whichever is applicable, has become subject to a pending voluntary or
involuntary proceeding as a debtor under the United States Bankruptcy Code or
has become unable to pay its debts as they mature.
1.18. "Participant" means any Eligible Employee or Director
who has at any time elected to defer the receipt of a Bonus and/or Base Salary
in accordance with the Plan, or who has received or is entitled to receive a
credit to his or her Account pursuant to Section 2.4, and who, in conjunction
with his Beneficiary, has not received a complete distribution of the amount
credited to his Account.
1.19. "Plan" means this deferred compensation plan, which
shall be known as the Newell Rubbermaid Inc. 2002 Deferred Compensation Plan.
1.20. "Retirement Sub-Account" means the bookkeeping
Sub-Account maintained by the Committee on behalf of each Participant pursuant
to Sections 2.5 and 2.6(i).
1.21. "SERP Cash Sub-Account" means the bookkeeping
Sub-Account maintained by the Committee on behalf of each Participant pursuant
to Sections 2.5 and 2.6(i).
1.22. "SERP Participant" means (i) each Eligible Employee
holding the title of vice-president of the Company as of December 31, 2003 who
accrued benefits under the Newell Operating Company Supplemental Retirement Plan
for Key Executives and who timely elected, on a form provided by the Committee,
to receive a credit to his SERP Cash Sub-Account under the Plan in lieu of all
benefits to which he would otherwise be entitled under the Newell Operating
Company Supplemental Retirement Plan for Key Executives, and (ii) each Eligible
Employee holding the title of division president or above of the Company as of
December 31, 2003.
1.23. "Sub-Account" means each bookkeeping Retirement
Sub-Account, In-Service Sub-Account and SERP Cash Sub-Account maintained by the
Committee on behalf of each Participant pursuant to Section 2.6.
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1.24. "Termination of Service Date" means the date a
Participant ceases to be an employee of the Company and its Affiliates by death,
retirement, Disability or otherwise. The "Termination of Service Date" of any
Participant who is a Director and who is not an Eligible Employee shall be the
date such Participant ceases to be a member of the Board.
1.25. "Year" means a calendar year.
1.26. "Years of Credited Service" has the meaning provided in
the Newell Rubbermaid Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan.
SECTION II
DEFERRALS, CONTRIBUTIONS AND ACCOUNTS
2.1. Eligibility for Deferral. Subject to Section 2.3, an
Eligible Employee or Director may elect to defer receipt of all or a specified
part of his Base Salary and/or Bonus for any Year in accordance with Section
2.2. An Eligible Employee's, or Director's, entitlement to defer shall cease
with respect to the Year following the Year in which he ceases to be an Eligible
Employee or Director, as applicable.
2.2. Election to Defer. Unless otherwise provided by the
Committee, an Eligible Employee or Director who desires to defer all or part of
his Base Salary and/or Bonus pursuant to the Plan must complete and deliver an
Election Agreement to the Committee before the first day of the Year for which
such compensation would otherwise be paid. An Eligible Employee or Director who
timely delivers an executed Election Agreement to the Committee shall be a
Participant. Unless otherwise provided by the Committee, an Election Agreement
that is timely delivered to the Committee shall be effective for the Year
following the Year in which the Election Agreement is delivered to the
Committee, unless such Election Agreement is revoked or modified with the
consent of the Committee or until terminated automatically upon either the
termination of the Plan, the Company or any Affiliate which employs the
Participant becoming Insolvent or the Participant's Termination of Service Date.
Notwithstanding the above, in the event that an individual first becomes an
Eligible Employee or Director during the course of a Year, rather than as of the
first day of a Year, the individual's Election Agreement must be filed no later
than thirty (30) days following the date he first becomes an Eligible Employee
or Director, as applicable, and such Election Agreement shall be effective only
with regard to Base Salary and Bonuses earned following the filing of the
Election Agreement with the Committee.
2.3. Amount Deferred. A Participant shall designate on the
Election Agreement the portion of his Base Salary and/or Bonus that is to be
deferred in accordance with the following rules.
(i) Base Salary. A Participant may defer up to
50% of the Base Salary that the Participant would otherwise receive
during the Year for services performed as an Eligible Employee,
provided, however, that the Participant shall not be permitted to defer
less than $2,000 of such amount during any one Year, and any such
attempted deferral shall not be effective. A Participant may defer up
to 100% of the Base Salary that the
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Participant would otherwise receive during the Year for services
performed as a Director, provided, however, that the portion of such
Base Salary that is eligible for deferral will be reduced by applicable
employment taxes if such reduction is required in order to provide the
Company or its Affiliates with a source of funds, from such Base
Salary, with which to pay such employment taxes.
(ii) Bonus. A Participant may defer up to 100% of
the Bonus that the Participant earns during the Year. Notwithstanding
the preceding sentence, the portion of a Participant's Bonus that is
eligible for deferral will be reduced by applicable employment taxes if
such reduction is required in order to provide the Company or its
Affiliates with a source of funds, from the Bonus, with which to pay
such employment taxes. In any event, a Participant shall not be
permitted to defer less than $2,000 of his Bonus during any one Year,
and any such attempted deferral shall not be effective. To the extent
permitted by the Committee, a Participant may specify in the Election
Agreement that different percentages or dollar amounts shall apply to
Bonuses payable under different bonus or incentive compensation plans.
2.4. Employer Contributions.
(i) In general. The Company or any Affiliate
may, in its discretion, credit contributions ("Employer Contributions")
under this Plan to one or more Sub-Accounts with respect to one or more
Participants. The amount and vesting schedule of such Employer
Contributions, if any, shall be determined by the Company or Affiliate
in its sole discretion; provided, however, that a Participant shall
have no vested interest in amounts credited to his SERP Cash
Sub-Account (and any related earnings) until he has six (6) Years of
Credited Service, at which time he shall acquire a ten percent (10%)
vested interest therein. Upon completion of each additional Year of
Credited Service, a Participant shall acquire additional vesting in the
amounts credited to his SERP Cash Sub-Account (and any related
earnings) according to the following schedule:
YEARS OF VESTED PERCENTAGE IN
CREDITED SERVICE THE SERP CASH SUB-ACCOUNT
---------------- -------------------------
5 or Less 0%
6 10%
7 20%
8 30%
9 40%
10 50%
11 60%
12 70%
13 80%
14 90%
15 100%
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Notwithstanding anything in this Plan to the contrary, a Participant
shall become fully vested in amounts credited to his SERP Cash
Sub-Account (and any related earnings) if he remains continuously
employed by the Company (and its Affiliates) until the earliest to
occur of the following events: (i) the Participant's 60th birthday;
(ii) the Participant's death; or (iii) the Participant's Disability.
(ii) Converted Benefit. No later than December
31, 2004, each SERP Participant shall have a credit made to his SERP
Cash Sub-Account in an amount equal to the lump sum present value of
his previously accrued benefits under the Newell Operating Company
Supplemental Retirement Plan for Key Executives, which benefits shall
be determined by the Committee in its sole discretion using reasonable
assumptions applied in a consistent manner for all affected
Participants.
2.5. Accounts.
(i) Crediting of Deferrals. Base Salary and/or
Bonus that a Participant elects to defer shall be treated as if it were
set aside in one or more Sub-Accounts on the date the Base Salary
and/or Bonus would otherwise have been paid to the Participant, in
accordance with procedures established from time to time by the
Committee. A Participant may specify, in his Election Agreement, the
portion of his deferral that is to be credited to a Retirement
Sub-Account and/or to one or more In-Service Sub-Accounts. To the
extent that a Participant does not specify the Sub-Account to which
deferrals shall be credited, such deferrals shall be credited to the
Participant's Retirement Sub-Account.
(ii) Crediting of Employer Contributions.
Employer Contributions, if any, shall be treated as if they were set
aside in one or more Sub-Accounts at such times as determined by the
Committee in its sole discretion. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any
amounts credited to a Participant's SERP Cash Sub-Account pursuant to
Section 2.4(ii) shall be credited as soon as administratively
practicable after the date on which the Participant elects to receive
such credit.
(iii) Crediting of Gains, Losses and Earnings to
Accounts. Each Sub-Account of a Participant will be credited with
gains, losses and earnings based on investment directions made by the
Participant in accordance with investment crediting options and
procedures established from time to time by the Committee. The
Committee specifically retains the right in its sole discretion to
change the investment crediting options and procedures from time to
time. By giving investment directions in accordance with the Plan, each
Participant shall thereby acknowledge and agree that the Company or any
Affiliate is not and shall not be required to make any investment in
connection with the Plan, nor is it required to follow the
Participant's investment directions in any actual investment it may
make or acquire in connection with the Plan or in determining the
amount of any actual or contingent liability or obligation of the
Company or an Affiliate thereunder or relating thereto. Any amounts
credited to a Participant's Sub-Account with respect to which a
Participant does not provide investment direction shall be credited
with gains, losses and earnings as if such amounts were invested in an
investment option to be selected by the Committee in its sole
discretion.
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2.6. Date of Distribution.
(i) Retirement Sub-Account and SERP Cash
Sub-Account. Subject to the following provisions, a Participant may
elect, on the first Election Agreement that he delivers to the
Committee pursuant to which amounts are credited to his Retirement
Sub-Account, to defer the distribution or commencement of the
distribution of his Retirement Sub-Account to (A) January of the Year
commencing immediately after the Year in which occurs his Termination
of Service Date or (B) January of any Year following his Termination of
Service Date provided that such Year is no later than the Year
following the Year in which the Participant attains age 65. Subject to
the following provisions, a Participant may make the same election with
respect to his vested SERP Cash Sub-Account at such times and on such
terms and conditions as the Committee shall determine.
(A) Termination Prior to Age 60. If a
Participant's Termination of Service Date occurs as a result
of his voluntary termination, or involuntary termination with
cause (as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion),
prior to his attainment of age 60, his Retirement Sub-Account
and his vested SERP Cash Sub-Account will be distributed as
soon as practicable after his Termination of Service Date. If
a Participant's Termination of Service Date occurs as a result
of his involuntary termination without cause (as determined by
the Committee in its sole discretion) prior to his attainment
of age 60, his Retirement Sub-Account and his vested SERP Cash
Sub-Account will be distributed or will commence to be
distributed in January of the Year elected by the Participant.
(B) Termination After Age 60 and Prior
to Age 65. If a Participant's Termination of Service Date
occurs after he attains age 60 and prior to his attainment of
age 65, his Retirement Sub-Account and his vested SERP Cash
Sub-Account will be distributed or will commence to be
distributed in January of the Year elected by the Participant.
(C) Termination After Age 65. If a
Participant's Termination of Service Date occurs after he
attains age 65, his Retirement Sub-Account and his vested SERP
Cash Sub-Account will be distributed or will commence to be
distributed in January of the Year commencing immediately
after his Termination of Service Date.
(ii) In-Service Sub-Account. Subject to the
following provisions, a Participant may elect, on the first Election
Agreement that he delivers to the Committee pursuant to which amounts
are credited to an In-Service Sub-Account, to defer the distribution or
commencement of the distribution of such In-Service Sub-Account to
January of any Year that commences prior to the Participant's
Termination of Service
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Date as long as that Year commences not less than two Years after the
date of the initial election pursuant to which amounts are credited to
such In-Service Sub-Account. If a Participant's Termination of Service
Date occurs as a result of his voluntary termination, or involuntary
termination with cause (as determined by the Committee in its sole
discretion), prior to the complete distribution of his In-Service
Sub-Account, amounts credited to that In-Service Sub-Account will be
distributed as soon as practicable after his Termination of Service
Date. If a Participant's Termination of Service Date occurs as a result
of his involuntary termination without cause (as determined by the
Committee in its sole discretion) prior to the complete distribution of
his In-Service Sub-Account, amounts credited to that In-Service
Sub-Account will be distributed pursuant to the payment schedule
elected by the Participant.
2.7. Form of Distribution.
(i) Retirement Sub-Account and SERP Cash
Sub-Account. Subject to the following provisions, a Participant may
elect, on the first Election Agreement that he delivers to the
Committee pursuant to which amounts are credited to his Retirement
Sub-Account, to receive his Retirement Sub-Account in cash in a single
lump sum or in annual installments over a period not in excess of ten
years. Subject to the following provisions, a Participant may make the
same election with respect to his vested SERP Cash Sub-Account at such
times and on such terms and conditions as the Committee shall
determine.
(A) Termination Prior to Age 60. If a
Participant's Termination of Service Date occurs as a result
of his voluntary termination, or involuntary termination with
cause (as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion),
prior to his attainment of age 60, his Retirement Sub-Account
and his vested SERP Cash Sub-Account will be distributed in a
single lump sum. If a Participant's Termination of Service
Date occurs as a result of his involuntary termination without
cause (as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion)
prior to his attainment of age 60, his Retirement Sub-Account
and his vested SERP Cash Sub-Account will be distributed in
the distribution form elected by the Participant.
(B) Termination After Age 60. If a
Participant's Termination of Service Date occurs after he
attains age 60, his Retirement Sub-Account and his vested SERP
Cash Sub-Account will be distributed in the distribution form
elected by the Participant.
(ii) In-Service Sub-Account. Subject to the
following provisions, a Participant may elect, on the first Election
Agreement that he delivers to the Committee pursuant to which amounts
are credited to an In-Service Sub-Account, to receive that In-Service
Sub-Account in cash in a single lump sum or in annual installments over
a period not in excess of five years. If a Participant's Termination of
Service Date occurs as a result of his voluntary termination, or
involuntary termination with cause (as determined
8
by the Committee in its sole discretion), prior to the complete
distribution of his In-Service Sub-Account, amounts credited to that
In-Service Sub-Account will be distributed in a single lump sum. If a
Participant's Termination of Service Date occurs as a result of his
involuntary termination without cause (as determined by the Committee
in its sole discretion) prior to the complete distribution of his
In-Service Sub-Account, amounts credited to that In-Service Sub-Account
will be distributed in the distribution form elected by the
Participant.
(iii) General. The lump sum payment or the first
installment, as the case may be, shall be made as specified in Section
2.6. In the event that a Sub-Account is paid in installments, the
amount of such Sub-Account remaining unpaid shall continue to be
credited with gains, losses and earnings as provided in Section 2.5.
The payment to a Participant or his Beneficiary of a single lump sum or
the number of installments elected by the Participant pursuant to this
Section shall discharge all obligations of the Company and the
Affiliates to such Participant or Beneficiary under the Plan with
respect to that Sub-Account. In the event that a Sub-Account is paid in
installments, the amount of each installment shall be determined in
accordance with procedures established from time to time by the
Committee.
2.8. Modification of Date and/or Form of Distribution.
Notwithstanding the payment terms designated by a Participant on the first
Election Agreement that he delivers to the Committee under the Plan (or, with
respect to amounts credited to a Participant's SERP Cash Sub-Account, the
payment terms designated by a Participant on a form provided by the Committee),
a Participant may elect to change the form of payment of a Sub-Account to a form
of payment otherwise permitted under Section 2.7 and a Participant may elect to
change the date of distribution of a Sub-Account to a date otherwise permitted
under Section 2.6; provided that such election shall be made on a form provided
by the Committee, and provided further that any election made less than eighteen
months prior to the Participant's Termination of Service Date (or less than
eighteen months prior to the scheduled date of the first, or only, payment from
the Sub-Account) shall not be valid, and in such case, the distribution of his
Sub-Account shall be made in accordance with the latest valid election of the
Participant.
2.9. Death of a Participant.
(i) General. In the event of the death of a
Participant, the remaining amount of his Account shall be paid to his
Beneficiary or Beneficiaries as described in Section 2.9(ii). Each
Participant shall designate a Beneficiary or Beneficiaries on a
beneficiary designation form provided by the Committee. A Participant's
Beneficiary designation may be changed at any time prior to his death
by the execution and delivery of a new beneficiary designation. The
Beneficiary designation on file with the Company that bears the latest
date at the time of the Participant's death shall govern. In the
absence of a Beneficiary designation, the amount of the Participant's
Account shall be paid to the Participant's estate in a lump sum amount
within 90 days after the appointment of an executor or administrator or
as otherwise determined by the Committee.
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(ii) Form and Date of Distribution.
Notwithstanding any other provision, upon the death of a Participant,
the remaining balance in his Account shall be paid as follows. If the
Participant dies after payment of his Account has commenced, the
remaining balance of his Account will continue to be paid to his
Beneficiary or Beneficiaries in accordance with the payment schedule
that has already commenced. Unless otherwise provided by the Committee,
if the Participant dies before payments from his Account have
commenced, his Account will be paid to his Beneficiary or Beneficiaries
in accordance with the form of payment elected by the Participant,
commencing (A) in the event that the Participant has not attained age
60 at the time of his death, in January of the Year commencing after
the Year in which occurs the Participant's death or (B) in the event
that the Participant has attained age 60 at the time of his death, in
January of the Year elected by the Participant.
2.10. Disability. Notwithstanding any other provision, and
unless otherwise provided by the Committee, upon the Disability of a
Participant, the remaining balance in each of his Sub-Accounts shall be paid as
follows. If the Disability occurs after payment of the Participant's Sub-Account
has commenced, the remaining balance of his Sub-Account will continue to be paid
in accordance with the payment schedule that has already commenced. If the
Disability occurs before payment of the Participant's Sub-Account has commenced,
his Sub-Account will be paid in accordance with the form of payment elected by
the Participant commencing either (a) as soon as practicable after the
Participant is no longer entitled to any benefits under the long-term disability
plan, if any, of the Company or Affiliate, as applicable or (b) with the consent
of the Committee, as soon as practicable after the occurrence of the Disability.
2.11. Small Payments. Notwithstanding any other provision of
the Plan or any election made by the Participant, in the event that a
Participant's Account has a balance of less than $25,000 on his Termination of
Service Date, the entire amount of the Participant's Account may at the
discretion of the Committee be paid in a single lump sum at such time as shall
be determined by the Committee.
2.12. Acceleration.
(i) Notwithstanding any other provision of the
Plan, in the event of an unforeseeable emergency, as defined in the
Treasury Regulations issued under Section 457 of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986, as amended, that is caused by an event beyond the control
of the Participant and that would result in severe financial hardship
to the individual if acceleration were not permitted, the Committee may
in its sole discretion accelerate the payment to the Participant of the
amount of his Account, but only up to the amount necessary to meet the
emergency.
(ii) Notwithstanding any other provision of the
Plan, each Participant shall be permitted, at any time, to make an
election to receive, payable as soon as
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practicable after such election is received by the Committee, a
distribution of part or all of his Account in a single lump sum, if
(and only if) the amount in the Participant's Account subject to such
distribution is reduced by 10%, which 10% amount shall thereupon
irrevocably be forfeited.
(iii) Notwithstanding anything contained herein to
the contrary, this Section 2.12 shall not apply to any amounts credited
to a Participant's SERP Cash Sub-Account.
2.13. Termination of Participation. Notwithstanding any other
provision of the Plan, no Participant who is an Eligible Employee shall be
permitted to continue to participate in the Plan upon a determination by the
Committee that such Participant is not a member of a select group of management
or highly compensated employees of his employer, within the meaning of ERISA.
Upon such a determination, the Committee may direct that the Participant receive
an immediate lump sum payment equal to the vested amount credited to his
Account.
2.14. Vesting of Accounts. Except as otherwise provided in
Sections 2.4, 2.12(ii) and 2.15(iii), each Participant shall at all times have a
nonforfeitable interest in his Account balance.
2.15. Change in Control. Notwithstanding any other provisions
of the Plan, the following provisions shall apply upon the occurrence of a
Change in Control.
(i) Trust. As soon as administratively
practicable following the occurrence of a Change in Control, the
Company shall transfer to a trust, the assets of which shall remain
liable for the claims of the Company's or its Affiliate's general
creditors in the event of the Insolvency of the Company or any such
Affiliate, an amount (which amount may include a letter of credit, as
specified in such trust) equal to the aggregate account balances,
determined as of the date of the Change in Control, of all persons then
participating in the Plan.
(ii) Unreduced Distribution. A Participant may
make an election, on a form provided by the Committee that he delivers
to the Committee at least one year prior to the occurrence of a Change
in Control, to receive his entire vested Account in a single lump sum
as soon as administratively practicable following the occurrence of a
Change in Control. In the event that a Change in Control occurs prior
to the distribution of a Participant's entire Account, any such
election made by a Participant shall override his other elections
regarding the form and timing of the distribution of his Account. A
Participant may revoke any election made pursuant to this Section
2.15(ii) on a form provided by the Committee that he delivers to the
Committee at least one year prior to the occurrence of a Change in
Control.
(iii) Reduced Distribution. Notwithstanding any
other provision of the Plan, each Participant shall be permitted,
during the one-year period commencing upon the occurrence of a Change
in Control, to make an election to receive, payable as soon as
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practicable after such election is received by the Committee, a
distribution of part or all of his vested Account in a single lump sum,
if (and only if) the amount in the Participant's Account subject to
such distribution is reduced by 5%, which 5% amount shall thereupon
irrevocably be forfeited.
SECTION III
ADMINISTRATION
The Company, through the Committee, shall be responsible for
the general administration of the Plan and for carrying out the provisions
hereof. The Committee shall have all such powers as may be necessary to carry
out the provisions of the Plan, including the power to (i) resolve all questions
relating to eligibility for participation in the Plan and the amount in the
Account of any Participant and all questions pertaining to claims for benefits
and procedures for claim review, (ii) resolve all other questions arising under
the Plan, including any factual questions and questions of construction, and
(iii) take such further action as the Company shall deem advisable in the
administration of the Plan. The actions taken and the decisions made by the
Committee hereunder shall be final and binding upon all interested parties. In
accordance with the provisions of Section 503 of ERISA, the Committee shall
provide a procedure for handling claims of Participants or their Beneficiaries
under the Plan. Such procedure shall be in accordance with regulations issued by
the Secretary of Labor and shall provide adequate written notice within a
reasonable period of time with respect to the denial of any such claim as well
as a reasonable opportunity for a full and fair review by the Committee of any
such denial. Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the masculine
pronoun wherever used herein shall be construed to include the feminine pronoun.
SECTION IV
AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION
4.1 Amendment. The Company reserves the right to amend the
Plan at any time by action of the Board; provided, however, that no such action
shall adversely affect any Participant or Beneficiary who has an Account, or
result in any change in the timing or manner of payment of the amount of any
Account (except as otherwise permitted under the Plan), without the consent of
the Participant or Beneficiary.
4.2 Termination. The Company reserves the right to terminate
the Plan at any time by action of the Board. In the event that the Company
terminates the Plan, each Participant shall receive a distribution of his vested
Account, at the discretion of the Committee, either (a) in a single lump sum as
soon as administratively practicable following termination of the Plan or (b) in
the form of payment elected by the Participant commencing as soon as
administratively practicable following termination of the Plan.
12
SECTION V
MISCELLANEOUS
5.1. Non-alienation of Deferred Compensation. Except as
permitted by the Plan, no right or interest under the Plan of any Participant or
Beneficiary shall, without the written consent of the Company, be (i) assignable
or transferable in any manner, (ii) subject to alienation, anticipation, sale,
pledge, encumbrance, attachment, garnishment or other legal process or (iii) in
any manner liable for or subject to the debts or liabilities of the Participant
or Beneficiary.
5.2. Participation by Employees of Affiliates. An Eligible
Employee who is employed by an Affiliate and who elects to participate in the
Plan shall participate on the same basis as an Eligible Employee of the Company.
5.3. Interest of Participant.
(i) The obligation of the Company and the
Affiliates under the Plan to make payment of amounts reflected in an
Account merely constitutes the unsecured promise of the Company and the
Affiliates to make payments from their general assets and no
Participant or Beneficiary shall have any interest in, or a lien or
prior claim upon, any property of the Company or any Affiliate. Nothing
in the Plan shall be construed as guaranteeing future employment to
Eligible Employees. It is the intention of the Company and the
Affiliates that the Plan be unfunded for tax purposes and for purposes
of Title I of ERISA. The Company may create a trust to hold funds to be
used in payment of its and the Affiliates' obligations under the Plan,
and may fund such trust; provided, however, that any funds contained
therein shall remain liable for the claims of the Company's and any
Affiliate's general creditors.
(ii) In the event that, in the discretion of the
Committee, the Company and/or its Affiliates purchases an insurance
policy or policies insuring the life of any Participant (or any other
property) to allow the Company and/or its Affiliates to recover the
cost of providing the benefits, in whole or in part, hereunder, neither
the Participants nor their Beneficiaries or other distributees shall
have nor acquire any rights whatsoever therein or in the proceeds
therefrom. The Company and/or its Affiliates shall be the sole owner
and beneficiary of any such policy or policies and, as such, shall
possess and may exercise all incidents of ownership therein. A
Participant's participation in the underwriting or other steps
necessary to acquire such policy or policies may be required by the
Company and, if required, shall not be a suggestion of any beneficial
interest in such policy or policies to such Participant or any other
person.
5.4. Claims of Other Persons. The provisions of the Plan shall
in no event be construed as giving any other person, firm or corporation any
legal or equitable right as against the Company or any Affiliate or the
officers, employees or directors of the Company or any
13
Affiliate, except any such rights as are specifically provided for in the Plan
or are hereafter created in accordance with the terms and provisions of the
Plan.
5.5. Severability. The invalidity and unenforceability of any
particular provision of the Plan shall not affect any other provision hereof,
and the Plan shall be construed in all respects as if such invalid or
unenforceable provision were omitted.
5.6. Governing Law. Except to the extent preempted by federal
law, the provisions of the Plan shall be governed and construed in accordance
with the laws of the State of Illinois.
5.7. Relationship to Other Plans. The Plan is intended to
serve the purposes of and to be consistent with any bonus or incentive
compensation plan approved by the Committee for purposes of the Plan.
5.8. Successors. The Company shall require any successor
(whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation, reorganization
or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the
Company expressly to assume this Plan. This Plan shall be binding upon and inure
to the benefit of the Company and any successor of or to the Company, including
without limitation any persons acquiring directly or indirectly all or
substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company whether by sale,
merger, consolidation, reorganization or otherwise (and such successor shall
thereafter be deemed the "Company" for the purposes of this Plan), and the
heirs, beneficiaries, executors and administrators of each Participant. In the
event that any successor to the Company shall fail to assume this Plan, the Plan
shall immediately terminate and each Participant shall immediately receive
distribution of his Account in a single lump sum.
5.9. Withholding of Taxes. The Company and its Affiliates may
withhold or cause to be withheld from any amounts deferred or payable under the
Plan all federal, state, local and other taxes as shall be legally required.
5.10. Electronic or Other Media. Notwithstanding any other
provision of the Plan to the contrary, including any provision that requires the
use of a written instrument, the Committee may establish procedures for the use
of electronic or other media in communications and transactions between the Plan
or the Committee and Participants and Beneficiaries. Electronic or other media
may include, but are not limited to, e-mail, the Internet, intranet systems and
automated telephonic response systems.
EXECUTED on this 6th day of May, 2004.
NEWELL RUBBERMAID INC.
By: /s/ Dale L. Matschullat
Title: Vice President - General Counsel and
Corporate Secretary
14
EXHIBIT 10.2
FIRST AMENDMENT TO THE
NEWELL RUBBERMAID INC.
2003 STOCK PLAN
WHEREAS, Newell Rubbermaid Inc. (the "Corporation") previously adopted
the 2003 Stock Plan (the "Plan"); and
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Corporation is authorized to
amend the Plan and has authorized an amendment to the Plan, as described below.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOVED, that Section 19 of the Plan is hereby
amended, effective as of May 12, 2004, to read as follows:
SECTION 19. EFFECTIVE DATE AND TERM OF PLAN.
19.1 Effective Date.
The Plan has been adopted and authorized by the Board for
submission to the stockholders of the Company. The Plan shall become
effective as of the date the Plan is approved by the stockholders of
the Company.
19.2 Term of Plan.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, no
Awards shall be granted on or after the 10th anniversary of the Plan's
effective date as determined in Section 19.1 above.
This First Amendment has been executed by the Corporation, by its duly
authorized officer, as of this 11th day of February, 2004.
NEWELL RUBBERMAID INC.
By: /s/ Dale L. Matschullat
Title: Vice President - General Counsel and
Corporate Secretary
EXHIBIT 10.3
NEWELL RUBBERMAID
SUPPLEMENTAL EXECUTIVE RETIREMENT PLAN
Traditional SERP Benefit
Effective January 1, 2004
NEWELL RUBBERMAID
SUPPLEMENTAL EXECUTIVE RETIREMENT PLAN
Traditional SERP Benefit
(Effective January 1, 2004)
Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION & HISTORY.......................................................................................... 1
I. NAME, PURPOSE, LEGAL STATUS............................................................................ 2
II. GENERAL DEFINITIONS.................................................................................... 3
III. ELIGIBILITY............................................................................................ 4
IV. SERP FORMULA........................................................................................... 6
V. VESTING................................................................................................ 9
VI. NORMAL RETIREMENT BENEFIT.............................................................................. 10
VII. EARLY RETIREMENT BENEFIT............................................................................... 12
VIII. PRERETIREMENT DEATH BENEFIT............................................................................ 14
IX. SPECIAL PROVISIONS..................................................................................... 16
X. ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCING........................................................................... 18
XI. AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION.............................................................................. 20
XII. MISCELLANEOUS.......................................................................................... 21
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NEWELL RUBBERMAID
SUPPLEMENTAL EXECUTIVE RETIREMENT PLAN
Traditional SERP Benefit
(Effective January 1, 2004)
INTRODUCTION & HISTORY
Effective January 1, 1982, Newell Operating Company (the "Company") originally
established the Newell Rubbermaid Supplemental Retirement Plan for Key
Executives (the "Prior Plan"). The Prior Plan was established to provide
supplemental retirement benefits to eligible Vice Presidents, Presidents and
above.
Effective January 1, 2004, the Company renamed the Prior Plan as the Newell
Rubbermaid Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (the "SERP" or the "Plan") and
its benefit as the Traditional SERP Benefit. The Plan hereunder describes the
Traditional SERP Benefit effective as of January 1, 2004. The SERP, in
conjunction with the Newell Rubbermaid Inc. 2002 Deferred Compensation Plan,
provides certain benefits to eligible employees.
Retirement Choice Program (2004)
Under the Newell Rubbermaid Retirement Choice Program effective January 1, 2004,
each existing Vice President under the Prior Plan as of December 31, 2003 made a
one-time choice to (i) remain in the current Traditional SERP Benefit or (ii)
join the new SERP Cash Account under the Newell Rubbermaid Inc. 2002 Deferred
Compensation Plan effective January 1, 2004, with the transfer to the SERP Cash
Account of his benefit under the Prior Plan as an equivalent lump sum amount. An
existing Vice President electing to remain in the Traditional SERP Benefit is
ineligible for the SERP Cash Account. A new or newly promoted Vice President
participates only in the SERP Cash Account, with prospective benefits as
provided thereunder.
Each existing President or above under the Prior Plan as of December 31, 2003
had (i) remained in the Traditional SERP Benefit and (ii) began participation in
the SERP Cash Account effective January 1, 2004, with an opening balance under
the SERP Cash Account equal to his benefit under the Prior Plan as an equivalent
lump sum amount (but without the transfer thereof to the SERP Cash Account). A
President or above who first becomes eligible for the SERP on or after January
1, 2004 (including therefore any existing or future Vice President promoted to
President or above) also will participate in both (i) the Traditional SERP
Benefit (with a modified SERP formula) and (ii) SERP Cash Account, with
prospective benefits as provided thereunder. (However, a Vice President who
elected to remain in the Traditional SERP Benefit will continue to participate
in the 67% SERP formula.)
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ARTICLE I
NAME, PURPOSE, LEGAL STATUS
1.1 Name. The Plan hereunder shall be known as the Newell Rubbermaid
Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (the "SERP" or the "Plan"),
providing the Traditional SERP Benefit thereunder effective January 1,
2004.
1.2 Purpose. The purpose of the SERP and its Traditional SERP Benefit is to
provide supplemental retirement and death benefits for eligible Vice
Presidents, Presidents and above of the Company and Participating
Affiliates.
1.3 Prior Plan. Effective January 1, 2004, the SERP (as provided in the
Plan hereunder) shall supercede the Newell Rubbermaid Supplemental
Retirement Plan for Key Executives (the "Prior Plan"), for each (i)
existing Vice President, President and above under the Prior Plan as of
December 31, 2003, (ii) other current or former participant of the
Prior Plan who is not in pay status under the Prior Plan as of December
31, 2003 and (iii) reemployed pay status participant of the Prior Plan.
The Plan hereunder therefore shall exclusively govern the vesting,
entitlement, calculation and payment of the benefit of the foregoing
individuals under the SERP and the Prior Plan. Effective January 1,
2004, the Prior Plan shall continue to apply only to a pay status
participant or beneficiary of the Prior Plan as of December 31, 2003.
1.4 Legal Status. The Company intends the SERP to be an unfunded deferred
compensation plan for a select group of management or highly
compensated employees, within the meaning of Sections 201(2), 301(a)(3)
and 401(a)(1) of ERISA.
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ARTICLE II
GENERAL DEFINITIONS
2.1 "Affiliate" means any affiliated or subsidiary corporation of the
Company or Newell Co.
2.2 "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
2.3 "Committee" means the Newell Rubbermaid Benefit Plans Committee.
2.4 "Company" means Newell Operating Company, a Delaware corporation, or
any corporate successor thereto.
2.5 "ERISA" means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as
amended.
2.6 "Early Retirement Date" means the date defined in Section 7.2.
2.7 "Executive" means a Vice President, President or above of the Company
or a Participating Affiliate.
2.8 "New High Level Executive" means a President or above defined in
Section 3.2.
2.9 "Normal Retirement Date" means the date defined in Section 6.2.
2.10 "Participant" means an Executive (or a former Executive under the Prior
Plan) who becomes a Participant in the Traditional SERP Benefit under
Article III.
2.11 "Participating Affiliate" means Newell Co. or an Affiliate which adopts
the SERP with the consent of the Company.
2.12 "Pension Plan" means the Newell Rubbermaid Pension Plan, formerly the
Newell Pension Plan for Salaried and Clerical Employees.
2.13 "Prior Plan" means the Newell Rubbermaid Supplemental Retirement Plan
for Key Executives, as in effect prior to January 1, 2004.
2.14 "Retirement Choice Program" means the Newell Rubbermaid Retirement
Choice Program, effective January 1, 2004.
2.15 "SERP" or "Plan" means the Newell Rubbermaid Supplemental Executive
Retirement Plan, as provided in the plan hereunder, and as the
successor to the Prior Plan effective January 1, 2004, and providing
the Traditional SERP Benefit.
2.16 "SERP Cash Account" means the SERP Cash Account benefit under the
Newell Rubbermaid Inc. 2002 Deferred Compensation Plan, commencing
effective January 1, 2004.
2.17 "Traditional SERP Benefit" means the benefit provided in the Plan
hereunder, effective January 1, 2004.
2.18 "Years of Credited Service" means the years defined in Section 4.3.
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ARTICLE III
ELIGIBILITY
3.1 Existing Executives. Effective as of January 1, 2004, the following
Executives shall become a Participant in the Traditional SERP Benefit:
(a) Vice President. A Vice President as of January 1, 2004 who (i)
was a participant in the Prior Plan as of December 31, 2003,
(ii) is eligible for the SERP under Section 3.3 as of January
1, 2004 and (iii) elected under the Retirement Choice Program
to continue to participate in the Traditional SERP Benefit.
Each such Vice President will not participate in the SERP Cash
Account.
(b) President or Above. A President or above who (i) was a
participant in the Prior Plan as of December 31, 2003 and (ii)
is eligible for the SERP under Section 3.3 as of January 1,
2004. Each such President or above also will participate in
the SERP Cash Account effective January 1, 2004 and will have
an opening balance under the SERP Cash Account equal to his
benefit under the Prior Plan as an equivalent lump sum amount
(but without the transfer thereof to the SERP Cash Account).
Each Vice President as of January 1, 2004 who elected to participate in
the SERP Cash Account under the Retirement Choice Program shall
participate only in the SERP Cash Account and, therefore, will be
ineligible for the Traditional SERP Benefit. Further, each Vice
President after January 1, 2004 shall participate only in the SERP Cash
Account (if otherwise eligible thereunder) and, therefore, will be
ineligible for the Traditional SERP Benefit.
3.2 New High Level Executive. Effective on and after January 1, 2004, a New
High Level Executive (as defined herein) shall become a Participant in
the Traditional SERP Benefit effective on the date established for him
by the Company. Each such New High Level Participant shall (i) have a
modified SERP formula under Section 4.1 and (ii) participate in the
SERP Cash Account, with prospective benefits as provided thereunder
(and, therefore, with no opening balance under the SERP Cash Account
for his benefit under the Prior Plan).
A "New High Level Executive" is an Executive who (i) is a President or
above and (ii) first becomes eligible (or reeligible) for the SERP
under Section 3.3 on or after January 1, 2004. A New High Level
Executive, therefore, may include any existing or future Vice President
promoted to President or above, including a Vice President under
Section 3.1(a) (who elected to continue to participate in the
Traditional SERP Benefit) or Vice President under Section 3.5 (who
elected to participate in the SERP Cash Account).
3.3 SERP Eligibility. An Executive is "eligible for the SERP" if he is (i)
a participant in Bonus Categories A or A/B of the Newell Rubbermaid
Management Bonus Plan, (ii) an active participant in the Pension Plan,
(iii) a citizen or a resident alien of the United States and (iv)
designated for participation in the SERP by the Company.
3.4 Suspension of Participation. An Executive's participation in the
Traditional SERP Benefit shall be suspended if he undergoes an
employment status change under Section 9.3.
3.5 Existing Vice Presidents Electing SERP Cash Account. A Vice President
as of January 1, 2004 who was a participant in the Prior Plan as of
December 31, 2003 and elected under the Retirement
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Choice Program to participate in the SERP Cash Account (and therefore
transfer his benefit under the Prior Plan as an equivalent lump sum
amount to the SERP Cash Account) shall not participate in the
Traditional SERP Benefit and otherwise shall discontinue participation
in the Prior Plan. The foregoing Vice President shall have no benefit
under the SERP and otherwise have no further benefit recognizable or
payable under the Prior Plan.
3.6 Prior Plan Participant. Effective January 1, 2004, a participant of the
Prior Plan (other than a Participant under Section 3.1) shall become a
Participant in the Traditional SERP Benefit if he is not in pay status
under the Prior Plan as of December 31, 2003. The SERP therefore shall
exclusively govern the vesting, entitlement, calculation and payment of
the benefit of the foregoing individuals under the SERP and the Prior
Plan, including therefore the calculation of his benefit using the SERP
formula in Section 4.1.
-5-
ARTICLE IV
SERP FORMULA
4.1 SERP Formula. The SERP shall use the following formula to calculate a
Participant's retirement benefit, payable commencing on his Normal
Retirement Date:
(a) Gross Benefit: 67% x his Final Average Pay (under Section 4.2)
/ 12, x his Years of Credited Service (under Section 4.3) up
to 25 / 25
(b) less his Pension Plan Monthly Benefit (under Section 4.4)
(c) less his Monthly Primary Social Security Benefit (under
Section 4.5)
(d) less his SERP Cash Account Benefit, Other Benefits (under
Sections 4.6, 4.7)
(e) Equals his SERP Monthly Benefit
However, in the case of a Participant who is a New High Level Executive
(other than a Vice President under Section 3.1(a)), "50%" shall be
substituted for "67%" in the foregoing formula.
4.2 Final Average Pay. A Participant's "Final Average Pay" is the sum of
his annual compensation (as defined herein) during the five consecutive
calendar years in which his annual compensation was the highest,
divided by five years.
The Participant's "annual compensation" is his base salary and bonus
from the Company and the Participating Affiliates paid during a
calendar year (including any years prior to his SERP participation).
The Participant's annual compensation, therefore, is not reduced by any
elective contributions from his base salary or bonus made under the
Newell Rubbermaid 401(k) Savings Plan, Newell Rubbermaid Inc. 2002
Deferred Compensation Plan or any Code Section 125 plan maintained by
the Company or a Participating Affiliate.
If the Participant has not been employed for five full calendar years,
his Final Average Pay is the monthly average of his annual compensation
while employed with the Company and the Participating Affiliates.
4.3 Years of Credited Service. A Participant's "Years of Credited Service"
are his whole and fractional years of continuous service which begin
and end on the following dates:
(a) Begins--The Participant's "credited service date," i.e., the
date of his initial employment as an employee with the
Company, a Participating Affiliate or Affiliate, but starting
no sooner than the date any such Affiliate is owned by Newell
Rubbermaid. The Participant's credited service date,
therefore, may precede the date of his participation in the
SERP or promotion to Vice President.
(b) Ends--The date of the Participant's termination of employment
as an employee with the Company and all Participating
Affiliates (or the earlier suspension of his SERP
participation).
For measurement purposes, the Participant shall receive (i) a whole
year for each 365 days of continuous service (or, for leap years, 366
days) and (ii) a fractional year equal to his days of continuous
service divided by 365 days. The Committee may round years under any
methodology.
-6-
4.4 Pension Plan. The SERP formula in Section 4.1 contains a reduction for
the Participant's monthly benefit under the Pension Plan. This "offset"
amount is based on the Participant's marital status on the commencement
date of his SERP and Pension Plan retirement benefits, as follows:
(a) Married--If the Participant is married (and has been married
to the same spouse for the one year period ending on the
commencement date of his retirement benefits), the "offset"
amount is the monthly amount from the Pension Plan payable in
a qualified joint and 50% survivor annuity with his spouse.
(b) Single--If the Participant is not so married under subsection
(a), the "offset" amount is the monthly amount from the
Pension Plan payable in a single life annuity.
The foregoing offset amounts are determined as of the commencement date
of the Participant's retirement benefits from the Pension Plan and
SERP.
The reduction for the Participant's Pension Plan benefit, therefore, is
not the actual monthly amount he receives from the Pension Plan under
the annuity form he elected under the Pension Plan. Rather, the
reduction is the foregoing offset amount based on the Participant's
marital status at the commencement of his retirement benefits.
4.5 Social Security Benefit. The SERP formula in Section 4.1 also contains
a reduction for the Participant's monthly primary Social Security
benefit (without conversion for his marital status). This "offset"
amount is the Social Security benefit amount payable on the
commencement date of the Participant's SERP and Pension Plan retirement
benefits. However, if the Participant is not at least age 62 when his
SERP and Pension Plan retirement benefits begin, his primary Social
Security benefit shall be calculated as of his 65th birthday, but
assuming his annual compensation under Section 4.2 continues to age 65.
Then his primary Social Security benefit, as then determined as of his
65th birthday, shall be reduced by .5% per month (or 6% per year) for
which the commencement date of his SERP and Pension Plan retirement
benefits precede his 65th birthday.
4.6 SERP Cash Account Benefit. The Participant's Traditional SERP Benefit
under the SERP formula in Section 4.1 shall be reduced by the actuarial
equivalent amount of his SERP Cash Account (if any) as of the
commencement date of his SERP and Pension Plan retirement benefits. For
this purpose, actuarial equivalence shall be determined (i) by
converting the SERP Cash Account to an equivalent single life annuity
based on the Participant's single life expectancy (and therefore
without regard to his marital status as of the commencement date of his
SERP and Pension Plan retirement benefits) and (ii) based on actuarial
assumptions and procedures prescribed by the Committee from time to
time, consistent with Section 9.7.
The foregoing reduction for the Participant's SERP Cash Account shall
apply to his entire SERP Cash Account, including therefore the portion
thereof attributable to (i) in the case of a New High Level Executive
who was a Vice President under Section 3.5 who elected to join the new
SERP Cash Account effective January 1, 2004, his benefit under the
Prior Plan transferred as an equivalent lump sum amount to the SERP
Cash Account or (ii) in the case of a President or above under Section
3.1(b), the opening balance under the SERP Cash Account equal to his
benefit under the Prior Plan as an equivalent lump sum amount.
4.7 Other Benefits. The Participant's Traditional SERP Benefit shall be
reduced, in an amount determined by the Committee, by any benefits
under any other plan, agreement or arrangement (whether tax qualified
or nonqualified) maintained by the Company or an Affiliate that
provides
-7-
him retirement benefits, including any other amounts determined by the
Company such as under an acquired company's supplemental retirement
plan or under any severance arrangement.
However, the Participant's Traditional SERP Benefit shall not be
reduced by any benefit under (i) a qualified retirement plan containing
a cash or deferred arrangement under Section 401(k) of the Code or (ii)
the Newell Rubbermaid Inc. 2002 Deferred Compensation Plan, other than
the SERP Cash Account.
-8-
ARTICLE V
VESTING
5.1 Vesting Requirements. A Participant must become vested to be entitled
to receive the Traditional SERP Benefit. The Participant shall become
"vested" in his Traditional SERP Benefit under any following
circumstance:
(a) Employment on or after age 60 (under Section 5.2).
(b) Involuntary termination with 15 Years of Credited Service
(under Section 5.3).
(c) Death during employment (under Section 5.4).
Once vested, the Participant shall receive a normal retirement benefit
from the SERP under Article VI. Or he may be eligible to elect an early
retirement benefit under Article VII. If the Participant dies during
employment, he shall be eligible for a preretirement death benefit
under Article VIII.
5.2 Employment At Age 60. A Participant shall become vested if he is
employed as an employee on or after his 60th birthday with the Company,
a Participating Affiliate or other Affiliate. He does not need 15 Years
of Credited Service to become vested in this case.
5.3 Involuntary Termination. A Participant also shall become vested if he
(i) is involuntarily terminated from employment with the Company, any
Participating Affiliate or other Affiliate before age 60 and (ii) has
at least 15 Years of Credited Service.
5.4 Non-Vested Termination. If a Participant terminates employment with the
Company and all Participating Affiliates and other Affiliates before
meeting either vesting requirement under Section 5.2 or 5.3 (or
becoming vested upon a business sale under Section 9.4), he shall not
receive any benefit from the SERP whatsoever. However, if he is
reemployed, he may receive credit for his prior Years of Credited
Service under Section 9.6.
5.5 Death During Employment. A Participant shall become vested if he dies
while an employee with the Company, a Participating Affiliate or other
Affiliate. The Participant does not need 15 Years of Credited Service
to become vested under this circumstance.
5.6 Forfeiture Events. Even if vested, a Participant shall cease to be
vested, and thereafter not entitled to any benefit from the SERP
(regardless if it commenced), under certain prescribed circumstances
involving his conduct under Section 9.5.
-9-
ARTICLE VI
NORMAL RETIREMENT BENEFIT
6.1 SERP Formula. If a Participant is vested under Article V, he shall
receive a "normal" retirement benefit following his termination of
employment with the Company and all Affiliates and commencing on his
Normal Retirement Date. The Participant's normal retirement benefit
shall equal his "SERP Monthly Benefit" amount under the SERP formula in
Section 4.1, calculated and paid as of his Normal Retirement Date.
6.2 Normal Retirement Date. A Participant's "Normal Retirement Date" means
the first day of the month coincident with or next following his 65th
birthday. However, if he continues employment after age 65, his Normal
Retirement Date is the first day of the month on or after the date of
his termination of employment with the Company and all Affiliates.
6.3 Actual Commencement. A Participant's SERP normal retirement benefit
shall commence when he elects to begin his retirement benefit under the
Pension Plan. The Participant shall receive a "normal" retirement
benefit from the SERP if his Pension Plan retirement benefit commences
on his Normal Retirement Date.
6.4 Normal Annuity Form. A Participant's SERP normal retirement benefit is
payable in the following "normal" annuity form, based on his marital
status on the commencement date of his SERP and Pension Plan retirement
benefits:
(a) Married--If he is married (and he has been married to the same
spouse for the one year period ending on the commencement date
of his retirement benefits), his SERP retirement benefit is
payable in a qualified joint and 50% survivor annuity with his
spouse.
(b) Single--If he is not so married under subsection (a), his SERP
retirement benefit is payable in a single life annuity.
The normal annuity form of his SERP retirement benefit, therefore,
shall not be the actual annuity form in which he receives his
retirement benefit from the Pension Plan. Rather, the normal annuity
form is based solely on his marital status at the commencement of his
retirement benefits.
6.5 Pension Plan Annuity Forms. A Participant's normal retirement benefit
from the SERP shall be paid in the same annuity form as he elects to
receive his retirement benefit under the Pension Plan, from among the
following annuity forms:
(a) A single life annuity
(b) A joint and 50% survivor annuity
(c) A joint and 100% survivor annuity
(d) A single life and 10 year certain annuity
If the Participant elects to receive his Pension Plan retirement
benefit in his "married" or "single" normal annuity form under Section
6.4, his SERP retirement benefit shall equal his exact normal
retirement benefit under Section 6.1. Otherwise, if he elects another
foregoing listed annuity form, his actual SERP retirement benefit shall
be an actuarial equivalent amount of his SERP normal retirement benefit
payable in his "married" or "single" normal annuity form.
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If the Participant elects an annuity form under the Pension Plan other
than one of the foregoing listed annuity forms, he still must elect to
receive his SERP retirement benefit in one of the foregoing annuity
forms. His actual SERP retirement benefit shall be an actuarial
equivalent amount of his SERP normal retirement benefit payable in his
"married" or "single" normal annuity form.
The Participant may elect an annuity form under the Pension Plan, and
otherwise designate his spouse or any other person as his survivor
beneficiary under the annuity form, provided his spouse (if married)
consents to the annuity form and beneficiary designation.
6.6 Lump Sum for Small Benefits. The Traditional SERP Benefit does not
allow a lump sum payment. However, if the lump sum present value of a
Participant's SERP benefit is under $20,000, his benefit shall be paid
in a lump sum under Section 7.6.
6.7 Preretirement Death Benefit. If a Participant is vested under Article V
and dies before the commencement date of his SERP retirement benefit,
the SERP shall not pay a retirement benefit to any person. Instead, the
Participant shall be eligible for a preretirement death benefit from
the SERP under Article VIII.
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ARTICLE VII
EARLY RETIREMENT BENEFIT
7.1 SERP Formula. If a Participant is vested under Article V, he may elect
an "early" retirement benefit following his termination of employment
with the Company and all Affiliates and commencing on or after his
Early Retirement Date and before his Normal Retirement Date.
The Participant's early retirement benefit shall equal his "SERP
Monthly Benefit" amount under the SERP formula in Section 4.1,
calculated and payable as of the date he elects to begin his SERP and
Pension Plan retirement benefits on or after his Early Retirement Date.
However, the "Gross Benefit" amount under the SERP formula shall be
reduced by .5% per month (or 6% per year) for which the commencement
date of his SERP and Pension Plan retirement benefits precedes his
Normal Retirement Date.
7.2 Early Retirement Date. A Participant's "Early Retirement Date" means
the first day of the month coincident with or next following the date
he has both (i) reached his 60th birthday and (ii) been credited with
at least 15 years of early retirement service. The Participant's "years
of early retirement service" are his years of vesting service under the
Pension Plan.
7.3 Actual Commencement. A Participant's SERP early retirement benefit
shall commence when he elects to begin his retirement benefit under the
Pension Plan. The Participant shall receive an early retirement benefit
from the SERP if his Pension Plan retirement benefit commences on or
after his Early Retirement Date and before his Normal Retirement Date.
7.4 Normal Annuity Form. A Participant's SERP early retirement benefit is
payable in his "normal" annuity form based on his marital status on the
commencement date of his SERP and Pension Plan retirement benefits, as
provided under Section 6.4 for a normal retirement benefit.
7.5 Pension Plan Annuity Forms. A Participant's SERP retirement benefit
shall be paid in the same annuity form as he elects to receive his
retirement benefit under the Pension Plan, from among the annuity forms
provided under Section 6.5 for a normal retirement benefit.
If the Participant elects to receive his Pension Plan retirement
benefit in his "married" or "single" normal annuity form under Section
7.4, his SERP retirement benefit shall equal his exact early retirement
benefit under Section 7.1. Otherwise, if the Participant elects another
foregoing listed annuity form, his actual SERP retirement benefit shall
be an actuarial equivalent amount of his SERP early retirement benefit
payable in his "married" or "single" normal annuity form.
If the Participant elects an annuity form under the Pension Plan other
than one of the foregoing listed annuity forms, he still must elect to
receive his SERP retirement benefit in one of the foregoing annuity
forms. The Participant's actual SERP retirement benefit shall be an
actuarial equivalent amount of his SERP early retirement benefit
payable in his "married" or "single" normal annuity form.
The Participant may elect an annuity form under the Pension Plan, and
otherwise designate his spouse or any other person as his survivor
beneficiary under the annuity form, provided his spouse (if married)
consents to the annuity form and beneficiary designation.
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7.6 Lump Sum for Small Benefits. The Traditional SERP Benefit does not
allow a lump sum payment. However, if the present value of a
Participant's benefit under the SERP following his termination of
employment with the Company and all Affiliates is under $20,000,
calculated at any time on or after his Early Retirement Date, then he
shall receive his SERP benefit in a lump sum payment equal to this
present value amount as soon as practicable after its calculation. A
lump sum payment, therefore, shall be paid no sooner than his Early
Retirement Date and only then if under $20,000.
7.7 Preretirement Death Benefit. If a Participant is vested under Article V
and dies before the commencement date of his SERP retirement benefit,
the SERP shall not pay a retirement benefit to any person. Instead, the
Participant shall be eligible for a preretirement death benefit from
the SERP under Article VIII.
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ARTICLE VIII
PRERETIREMENT DEATH BENEFIT
8.1 Death During Employment. If a Participant dies while employed, he
automatically becomes vested in his Traditional SERP Benefit under
Section 5.5 (regarding death during employment). In this case, a
Participant's surviving spouse (if marrried for at least the one year
period ending on his death) shall receive a monthly death benefit of
33.5% of his Final Average Pay (under Section 4.2) divided by 12
(therefore without any proration if he has less than 25 Years of
Credited Service), less his death benefits from the Pension Plan, SERP
Cash Account (if any) under Section 4.6 and other retirement benefit
arrangements under Section 4.7 in amounts determined by the Company and
even if not yet payable. A reduction shall not be made regarding the
Participant's Social Security benefit.
The death benefit shall commence effective as of the first day of the
month after the Participant's death, even if before his Early
Retirement Date. Further, the benefit shall not be reduced for
commencement before his Normal Retirement Date. The benefit shall be
paid to the Participant's surviving spouse until his or her death.
However, the benefit in any event shall cease when the Participant
would have reached his 65th birthday (or, if later, the 15th
anniversary of his death).
Also, if at the death or remarriage of the Participant's spouse the
Participant has dependent children (as defined herein), the death
benefit to his spouse shall be suspended but shall continue to be paid
to his dependent children (in pro rata amounts) for as long as they are
dependent children. However, the benefit in any event shall stop when
the Participant would have reached his 65th birthday (or, if later, the
15th anniversary of his death). When the Participant's children are no
longer dependent children, any remaining death benefit payments shall
resume to his remarried spouse.
If the Participant dies without a surviving spouse, but with dependent
children, the benefit shall be paid to his dependent children for as
long as they are dependent children. However, the benefit in any event
shall stop when the Participant would have reached his 65th birthday
(or, if later, the 15th anniversary of his death).
If the Participant dies without a surviving spouse or dependent
children, the death benefit is not paid to any person.
For purposes of this Section, the term "dependent children" means
unmarried children under (i) age 18 or (ii) age 22, if a full-time
student at an elementary or secondary school, a vocational or
professional school or an accredited college or university as an
undergraduate or graduate student.
8.2 Death Before Commencement. If a Participant is vested in his
Traditional SERP Benefit under Article V (other than under Section 5.5
regarding death during employment) and dies after termination of
employment with the Company and all Affiliates but before commencement
of his SERP retirement benefit, his surviving spouse (if marrried for
at least the one year period ending on his death) shall receive a
monthly death benefit of the 50% survivor benefit the spouse would have
received under a qualified joint and 50% survivor annuity commencing on
his Normal Retirement Date under Section 6.1.
The death benefit shall commence effective as of the first day of the
month after the Participant's death, even if before his Early
Retirement Date. Further, the benefit shall not be reduced for
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commencement before his Normal Retirement Date. The benefit shall be
paid for the life of his surviving spouse, but for no more than 15
years.
If the Participant dies without a surviving spouse, the death benefit
is not paid to any person.
8.3 Commencement Date. For purposes of the SERP, the term "commencement
date" shall refer to the first day of the month for which the
Participant's SERP and Pension Plan retirement benefits are payable to
the Participant. Accordingly, the entitlement to a preretirement death
benefit under this Article shall apply if he dies before the first day
of such month. If a Participant dies on or after the first day of such
month, no preretirement death benefit will be payable from the SERP. In
this case, the SERP will pay only whatever survivor benefit is payable
under the terms of the annuity form the Participant elected to receive
his SERP retirement benefit.
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ARTICLE IX
SPECIAL PROVISIONS
9.1 Disability During Employment. If a Participant becomes disabled or
unable to work due to injury or sickness while an employee with the
Company, a Participating Affiliate or an Affiliate, his SERP
participation shall be suspended on the date of his termination of
employment and, thereafter, he shall cease to accrue further increases
to his accrued benefit under the SERP formula under Section 4.1. The
Participant's "Gross Benefit" under the SERP formula shall be
calculated on the date of his termination of employment.
However, if approved by the Committee, while he is receiving salary
continuation benefits he shall continue to be credited with (i) Years
of Credited Service to determine his vested status for involuntary
termination purposes under the SERP under Section 5.3 and (ii) years of
early retirement service to determine his eligibility for an early
retirement benefit under Section 7.2.
9.2 Leaves of Absence, Severance Pay. A Participant's annual compensation
and Years of Credited Service shall include leaves of absence
authorized by the Company and such other periods of employment as
determined by the Committee. However, the Participant's annual
compensation and Years of Credited Service shall not include any period
following his termination of employment during which he receives
severance pay.
9.3 Suspension of Participation. If a Participant is demoted from President
or Vice President (including therefore a President demoted to Vice
President), transfers employment to a non-Participating Affiliate or
ceases to be designated by the Company as eligible for the SERP, his
participation in the SERP shall be suspended and he shall cease to
accrue further increases to his accrued benefit under the SERP formula
in Section 4.1. The Participant's "Gross Benefit" under the SERP
formula shall be calculated as if he terminated employment on the date
of his employment status change.
However, if approved by the Committee, a Participant shall continue to
be credited with (i) Years of Credited Service to determine his vested
status for involuntary termination purposes under Section 5.3 and (ii)
years of early retirement service to determine his eligibility for an
early retirement benefit under Section 7.2.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee, in its discretion, may
allow the continued participation of any President or above who becomes
a Vice President (if otherwise eligible for the SERP under Section
3.3).
9.4 Vesting on Sale of an Affiliate. If a Participant has either reached
his 60th birthday or been credited with at least 15 Years of Credited
Service, and he is employed on the date of the sale of his Affiliate or
division of the Company, he shall become vested in the Traditional SERP
Benefit.
9.5 Forfeiture Events. Even if a Participant is vested under Article V or
Section 9.4, he shall cease to be vested, and thereafter not be
entitled to any benefit from the SERP (regardless if it commenced),
under any following circumstance:
(a) The Participant's employment is terminated at any time because
of any act or failure to act on his part which constitutes
fraud, misappropriation, theft or embezzlement of the Company
or an Affiliate's funds or intentional breach of fiduciary
duty, including a
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breach of the Company or Affiliate's Code of Business Conduct
involving the Company or an Affiliate.
(b) At any time the Participant engages in competition with, or
work for another business entity in competition with, the
Company or an Affiliate in the areas that it serves.
(c) At any time the Participant makes any unauthorized disclosure
of any trade or business secrets or privileged information
acquired during his employment with the Company or an
Affiliate.
(d) At any time the Participant is found to have misappropriated,
stolen or embezzled funds from the Company or an Affiliate.
(e) At any time the Participant fraudulently, dishonestly or shall
fully cause the Company or an Affiliate to suffer any loss of,
or damage to, money or other property belonging to it or for
the care and protection of which it is responsible or to its
reputation.
(f) At any time the Participant is discharged by the Company or an
Affiliate for repeated drunkenness on the job.
(g) At any time the Participant is convicted of a felony connected
with his employment by the Company or an Affiliate.
Further, even if a Participant is vested, he shall cease to be vested,
and thereafter not entitled to any benefit from the SERP (regardless if
it commenced), if (i) his death occurs during first 24 months of
participation in the SERP as a result of suicide or (ii) he made a
material misrepresentation in any form or document provided by him to
or for the benefit of the Company or an Affiliate.
9.6 Reemployment. Upon a Participant's non-vested termination of
employment, his accrued benefit under the SERP formula and Years of
Credited Service shall be immediately forfeited under Article V. If the
Participant is ever reemployed and eligible for the SERP under Section
3.3, the Committee may in its discretion reinstate all or some of his
previous accrued benefit and prior Years of Credited Service.
If a Participant was vested at termination of employment under Article
V and he is ever reemployed and eligible for the SERP under Section
3.3, he shall reparticipate in the SERP and continue to accrue
increases to his accrued benefit under the SERP formula and his Years
of Credited Service under Section 4.1. If the Participant's retirement
benefit has commenced, the Committee in its discretion may suspend the
benefit. In any event, upon subsequent retirement, his retirement
benefit would be recalculated to take into account subsequent increases
to his accrued benefit and previous retirement benefit payments.
9.7 Actuarial Equivalence. For purposes of the SERP, all references to
"actuarial equivalence" shall be determined by the Committee using
actuarial assumptions prescribed by the Committee from time to time for
any particular purpose of the SERP. A participant shall not be entitled
to any grandfathering of benefits in the event of any change in
actuarial assumptions.
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ARTICLE X
ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCING
10.1 Plan Administration. The SERP is administered by the Committee. The
Committee is responsible for the administration of the SERP and may
also delegate certain administrative functions to other persons. The
Committee possesses the sole and absolute discretionary authority to
interpret and construe the provisions of the SERP, as well as to make
all determinations under the SERP, such as eligibility, benefits,
service credit and distributions. The Committee's interpretations and
determinations are conclusive on all interested parties.
10.2 Claims Procedures. If a Participant's claim for benefits is denied (in
whole or in part), he shall receive, within 90 days after receipt of
the claim (180 if special circumstances apply), a written explanation
from the Committee detailing the specific reasons for the denial, the
specific references to the plan provisions on which the denial is
based, a description of any additional information needed from him and
why such information is required, and a description of the SERP's
appeal procedures, including applicable time limits and a statement of
his right to bring a civil action under Section 502(a) of ERISA.
The Participant, or any person he may choose to represent him, may ask
the Committee for a review of his denied claim within 60 days after his
claim has been denied. The Participant's request, which must be in
writing, should include the following information: The date the
Participant submitted his original request for benefits, the specific
portion of the denial notice that he wishes the Committee to review,
the reason why he thinks his original request should be approved and
any written material that he wishes the Committee to consider when
reviewing his request. The Participant may also request that all
documents, records and other information relevant to his claim be made
available for his review. The Participant may submit information for
review regardless of whether it was considered in the original claim
review.
The Committee or other named fiduciaries for appeals shall conduct a
full and fair review of the claim and appeal and notify the Participant
of its decision within 60 days (120 if special circumstances apply).
That decision shall be in writing and shall include the specific
reasons and the SERP references to the pertinent plan provisions on
which the decision is based.
10.3 Committee Authority. The Committee shall have the authority to make,
amend, interpret, and enforce all appropriate rules and regulations for
the administration of the SERP and decide or resolve any and all
questions including interpretations of the SERP, as provided under
Section 10.1. A majority vote of the Committee members shall control
any decision. Members of the Committee may be Participants under the
SERP.
10.4 Agents. The Committee may, from time to time, employ other agents and
delegate to them such administrative duties as it sees fit, and may
from time to time consult with counsel who may be counsel to the
Company.
10.5 Binding Effect of Decisions. The decision or action of the Committee in
respect of any question arising out of or in connection with the
administration, interpretation and application of the Plan and the
rules and regulations promulgated hereunder shall be final and
conclusive and binding upon all persons having any interest in the
Plan.
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10.6 Indemnity of Committee. The Company shall indemnify and hold harmless
the members of the Committee against any and all claims, loss, damage,
expense or liability arising from any action or failure to act with
respect to the Plan on account of such member's service on the
Committee except in the case of gross negligence or willful misconduct.
10.7 Plan Financing. The Company and the Participating Affiliates are
responsible for providing retirement benefits. All benefits payable
under the Traditional SERP Benefit are paid from the general assets of
a Participant's employer, whether the Company or a Participating
Affiliate, and shall be a general unsecured claim of the employer. A
trust, which is considered part of his employer's general assets, may
be established to pay benefits for the Traditional SERP Benefit. In the
event of a change in control, assets in the trust shall be used to pay
his benefit. If the Participant's employer, whether the Company or a
Participating Affiliate, therefore ever experiences bankruptcy or
insolvency, he shall be an unsecured creditor thereof. His claim
against the employer's assets shall be considered together with its
other unsecured general creditors.
10.8 Unfunded Plan. The SERP is an unfunded plan maintained primarily to
provide deferred compensation benefits for a select group of
"management or highly compensated employees" within the meaning of
Sections 201, 301, and 401 of the Employee Retirement Income Security
Act of 1974, as amended ("ERISA"), and therefore is exempt from the
provisions of Parts 2, 3 and 4 of Title I of ERISA. Accordingly, the
Company or Participating Affiliate may terminate the SERP and make no
further benefit payments, or remove certain employees as Participants
if it is determined by the United States Department of Labor, a court
of competent jurisdiction, or an opinion of counsel that the SERP
constitutes an employee pension benefit plan within the meaning of
Section 3(2) of ERISA (as currently in effect or hereafter amended)
which is not so exempt.
10.9 Company Obligation. The obligation to make benefit payments to any
Participant under the SERP shall be an obligation solely of the Company
or a Participating Affiliate with respect to the benefit receivable
from the Company or a Participating Affiliate and shall not be an
obligation of another company.
10.10 Unsecured General Creditor. A Participant and his beneficiaries shall
have no legal or equitable rights, interest or claims in any property
or assets of the Company or a Participating Affiliate, nor shall they
be beneficiaries of, or have any rights, claims or interests in, any
life insurance policies, annuity contracts or the proceeds therefrom
owned or which may be acquired by the Company or a Participating
Affiliate. Such policies or other assets shall not be held for the
benefit of Participants and their beneficiaries, or held in any way as
collateral security for the fulfilling of the obligations of the
Company or a Participating Affiliate under the SERP. Any and all of the
assets of the Company and a Participating Affiliate shall be, and
remain, the general, unpledged, unrestricted assets thereof. The
Company and Participating Affiliate's obligations under the SERP shall
be that of an unfunded and unsecured promise to pay money in the
future.
10.11 Trust Fund. The Company or a Participating Affiliate shall be
responsible for the payment of all benefits provided under the SERP
regarding a Participant employed by the Company or Participating
Affiliate. At its discretion, the Company may establish one or more
trusts, with such trustees as the Company may approve, for the purpose
of providing for the payment of such benefits. Such trust or trusts may
be irrevocable, but the assets thereof shall be subject to the claims
of the Company or Participating Affiliate's creditors. To the extent
any benefits provided under the SERP are actually paid from any such
trust, the Company or Participating Affiliate shall have no further
obligation with respect thereto, but to the extent not so paid, such
benefits shall remain the obligation of, and shall be paid by, the
Company or Participating Affiliate.
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ARTICLE XI
AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION
11.1 Amendment. The plan sponsor of the SERP is the Company, which has the
right to terminate or amend the provisions of the SERP for any reason
and at any time, including the reduction of accrued benefits and
optional forms of payment under the SERP. Any amendment may provide
different benefits or amounts of benefits from those set forth
hereunder.
11.2 Termination, Suspension. The Company may, in its sole discretion,
terminate or suspend the SERP at any time, in whole or in part,
including the suspension of future benefits.
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ARTICLE XII
MISCELLANEOUS
12.1 Nonassignability. Neither a Participant nor any other person shall have
any right to commute, sell, assign, transfer, pledge, anticipate,
mortgage or otherwise encumber, transfer, hypothecate or convey in
advance of actual receipt the amounts, if any, payable under the SERP,
or any part thereof, which are, and all rights to which are, expressly
declared to be unassignable and nontransferable. No part of the amounts
payable shall, prior to actual payment, be subject to seizure or
sequestration for the payment of any debts, judgments, alimony or
separate maintenance owed by the Participant or any other person, nor
be transferable by operation of law in the event of the Participant's
or any other person's bankruptcy or insolvency.
However, if, as a result of a divorce, a Participant is responsible for
child support, alimony, or marital property rights payments, his
benefit under the SERP may be assigned to meet those payments, if a
qualifying domestic relations order has been issued for the SERP, as
approved by the Committee.
12.2 Protective Provisions. A Participant will cooperate with the Company by
furnishing any and all information requested by the Company, in order
to facilitate the payment of benefits hereunder and by taking such
physical examinations as the Company may deem necessary and taking such
other action as may be requested by the Company.
12.3 Gender and Number. Whenever any words are used herein in the masculine,
they shall be construed as though they were used in the feminine and
the neuter in all cases where they would so apply; and wherever any
words are used herein in the singular or in the plural, they shall be
construed as though they were used in the plural or the singular, as
the case may be, in all cases where they would so apply.
12.4 Captions. The captions of the articles, sections and paragraphs of the
SERP are for convenience only and shall not control or affect the
meaning or construction of any of its provisions.
12.5 Governing Law. The provisions of the SERP shall be construed and
interpreted according to the laws of the State of Illinois, except to
the extent preempted by ERISA.
12.6 Validity. In case any provision of the SERP shall be held illegal or
invalid for any reason, said illegality or invalidity shall not affect
the remaining parts hereof, but the SERP shall be construed and
enforced as if such illegal and invalid provision had never been
inserted herein.
12.7 Notice. Any notice or filing required or permitted to be given to the
Committee under the SERP shall be sufficient if in writing and hand
delivered, or sent by registered or certified mail to any member of the
Committee or the Secretary of the Company. Such notice shall be deemed
given as of the date of delivery or, if delivery is made by mail, as of
the date shown on the postmark on the receipt for registration or
certification. Mailed notice to the Committee shall be directed to the
Company's address. Mailed notice to a Participant, eligible spouse,
surviving spouse or beneficiary shall be directed to the individual's
last known address in the Company's records.
12.8 Successors. The provisions of the SERP shall bind and inure to the
benefit of the Company and its successors and assigns. The term
successors as used herein shall include any corporate or
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other business entity which shall, whether by merger, consolidation,
purchase or otherwise, acquire all or substantially all of the business
and assets of the Company or a Participating Affiliate, and successors
of any such corporation or other business entity.
12.9 Withholding. The Company shall withhold from payments made hereunder to
any Participant or beneficiary any taxes required to be withheld from
such payments under federal, state or local law.
12.10 Payment to Guardian. If a SERP benefit is payable to a minor or a
person declared incompetent or to a person incapable of handling the
disposition of property, the Committee may direct payment of such SERP
benefit to the guardian, legal representative or person having the care
and custody of such minor, incompetent or person. The Committee may
require proof of incompetency, minority, incapacity or guardianship as
it may deem appropriate prior to distribution of the SERP benefit. Such
distribution shall completely discharge the Company and Participating
Affiliate from all liability with respect to such benefit.
12.11 Release. Notwithstanding any other provision of the SERP, payment of
any benefit under the SERP to a Participant who becomes vested in such
benefit pursuant to Section 5.3 before attaining age 60, and before his
date of death, is conditioned upon the prior execution by such
Participant of a release, in a form satisfactory to the Company,
whereby the Participant fully releases the Company, all of its
Affiliates, and all of their respective officers, employees, directors
and agents, from any and all rights and claims that such Participant,
or his heirs, representatives, successors and assigns, may at any time
have with respect to the receipt of benefits under the SERP. No payment
shall be made to any such Participant under the SERP until such fully
executed release has been delivered by the Participant to the Company.
12.12 Miscellaneous Employment. The establishment of the SERP does not give a
Participant the legal right to be continued as an employee. The Company
or any Affiliate may terminate a Participant's employment whenever, in
its judgment, it becomes necessary to do so, subject to the applicable
terms of an employment agreement. Further, a Participant's eligibility
or his right to benefits under the SERP should not be interpreted as
any guarantee of employment.
In the event that any lawsuit or any settlement thereof or any claim,
or if any governmental agency, court or other governing body, requires
the Company to reclassify the employment status of any individual who
is excluded from participation under the SERP, such reclassified
individual nevertheless shall not be considered an eligible employee or
otherwise eligible for the SERP and, therefore, not be entitled to
accrue benefits under the SERP as a result thereof.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Newell Operating Company has caused this instrument
to be executed by its duly authorized officer on this 6th day of May, 2004.
NEWELL OPERATING COMPANY
By: /s/ Dale L. Matschullat
Vice President - General Counsel and
Corporate Secretary
Dated: May 6, 2004
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Exhibit 10.4
CONFIDENTIALITY, NON-COMPETITION
AND NON-SOLICITATION AGREEMENT
This Confidentiality, Non-Competition and Non-Solicitation Agreement
("Agreement") is made and entered into by and between Newell Rubbermaid, Inc.
(the "Company") and Joseph Galli ("Employee").
WHEREAS, the Company is engaged in a highly competitive and diverse
business;
WHEREAS, the Company creates, manufactures and/or markets a wide range
of consumer and commercial products (hereinafter "Company's Business");
WHEREAS, the Company's products can be found in mass retailers,
hardware and home center stores, warehouse clubs, supermarkets, drug stores,
department stores, specialty stores, and distributors throughout the United
States and the world;
WHEREAS, the Company has and will expend substantial amounts of time,
money and efforts in developing, perfecting and maintaining its position in the
market place;
WHEREAS, the Company has unique, confidential and proprietary business
information, methods and techniques and trade secrets;
WHEREAS, Employee is the Chief Executive Officer ("CEO") of the Company
and a member of the Company's Board of Directors. In his capacity as CEO,
Employee is responsible for overseeing and managing all of the Company's
domestic and international operations. In his capacity as CEO and a member of
the Board of Directors, Employee has been and will be entrusted with and have
access to the unique, confidential and proprietary business information, methods
and techniques and trade secrets of the Company, including but not limited to
the Company's business priorities and strategic plans, information about client
relationships, financial information, marketing information, secret plans for
current and new products and the integration of current and new products; and,
initiatives to address the Company's competition;
WHEREAS, the Company desires to protect its legitimate business
interests such that the information entrusted to Employee or which Employee has
access to is used solely for the benefit of the Company and not in competition
with or to the detriment of the Company; and
WHEREAS, the Company has offered Employee fifty thousand (50,000)
shares of restricted stock in consideration for executing this Agreement; and
WHEREAS, Employee resides in Maryland.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and of the mutual
promises contained herein, the receipt and sufficiency of which the parties
hereby acknowledge as valuable consideration, the parties hereby agree as
follows.
1. Consideration by the Company. Employee will receive
fifty thousand (50,000) shares of restricted stock pursuant to the terms of the
Company's 2003 Stock Plan, which terms are incorporated fully herein. Employee
agrees that said restricted stock, his continued employment, salary and
benefits, and other good and valuable consideration not discussed herein, are
adequate and sufficient consideration for his promises set forth in this
Agreement.
2. Trade Secrets and Confidential Information. Employee
agrees that the Company is engaged in a highly competitive business. The
Company's involvement in this business has required and continues to require the
expenditure of substantial amounts of money and the use of skills developed over
a long period of time. As a result of these investments of money, skill and
time, the Company has developed and will continue to develop certain valuable
trade secrets and confidential information that are peculiar to the Company's
business and the disclosure of which would cause the Company great and
irreparable harm.
(a) The term "Trade Secrets" means any
scientific or technical information, design, process, procedure, formula or
improvement that is valuable and not generally known to the Company's
competitors. To the fullest extent consistent with the foregoing, and otherwise
lawful, Trade Secrets shall include, without limitation, information and
documentation pertaining to the design, specifications, capacity, testing,
installation, implementation and customizing techniques and procedures
concerning the Company's present and future products and services.
(b) The term "Confidential Information" means
any data or information and documentation which is valuable to the Company and
not generally known to the public, including but not limited to: (i) Financial
information, including but not limited to earnings, assets, debts, prices, fee
structures, volumes of purchases or sales, or other financial data, whether
relating to the Company generally, or to particular products, services,
geographic areas, or time periods; (ii) Supply and service information,
including but not limited to information concerning the goods and services
utilized or purchased by the Company, the names and addresses of suppliers,
terms of supplier service contracts, or of particular transactions, or related
information about potential suppliers, to the extent that such information is
not generally known to the public, and to the extent that the combination of
suppliers or use of particular suppliers, though generally known or available,
yields advantages to the Company the details of which are not generally known;
(iii) Marketing information, including but not limited to details about ongoing
or proposed marketing programs or agreements by or on behalf of the Company,
marketing forecasts, results of marketing efforts or information about impending
transactions; (iv) Personnel information, including but not limited to
employees' personal or medical histories, compensation or other terms of
employment, actual or proposed promotions, hiring, resignations, disciplinary
actions, terminations or reasons therefore, training methods, performance or
other employee information; and (v) Customer information, including but not
limited to any compilations of past, existing or prospective customers, customer
proposals or agreements between customers and the Company, status of customer
accounts or credit, or related information about actual or prospective
customers.
3. Non-Disclosure of Trade Secrets and Confidential
Information. The Employee agrees, except as specifically required in the
performance of his duties for the
2
Company, that he will not, during the course of his employment by the Company
and for so long thereafter as the pertinent information or documentation remain
Trade Secrets, directly or indirectly use, disclose or disseminate to any other
person, organization or entity or otherwise employ any Trade Secrets. The
Employee further agrees except as specifically required in the performance of
his duties for the Company, that he will not, during the course of his
employment by the Company and for three (3) years after the cessation of that
employment, disclose or disseminate to any other person, organization or entity
or otherwise employ any Confidential Information. The obligations set forth
herein shall not apply to any Trade Secrets or Confidential Information which
shall have become generally known to competitors of the Company through no act
or omission of the Employee.
4. Non-Competition and Non-Solicitation by Employee.
(a) Non-Competition. During Employee's
employment with the Company and for a period of one (1) year after the cessation
of that employment, Employee agrees that he will not, directly or indirectly,
render Competitive Services to any person, firm or corporation that provides
Competitive Products. This restriction is limited to the United States.
(b) Non-Solicitation of Customers and Suppliers.
During Employee's employment with the Company and for a period of one (1) year
after the cessation of that employment, Employee agrees that he will not
directly or indirectly, individually or on behalf of any person or entity,
solicit or induce, or assist in any manner in the solicitation or inducement of
(i) customers of the Company to purchase Competitive Products from another
person or entity or not to do business with the Company; or (ii) suppliers of
the Company to supply another person or entity providing Competitive Products to
the exclusion or detriment of the Company. The restrictions contained in Section
(b) shall apply only to customers with whom Employee had contact for the purpose
of providing products or services, and to suppliers with whom Employee had
contact for the purpose of obtaining products or services.
(c) Non-Solicitation Employees. During
Employee's employment with the Company and for a period of one (1) year after
the cessation of that employment, Employee agrees that he will not directly or
indirectly, individually or on behalf of any person or entity, solicit or
induce, or assist in any manner in the solicitation or inducement of the
employees of the Company, other than those in clerical or secretarial positions,
to leave their employment with the Company, or any of its subsidiaries,
affiliates, divisions or parent companies, and accept employment with another
person or entity.
(d) Definitions. As used in this Agreement,
"Competitive Services" means any and all services of the type that Employee
provided to or on behalf of the Company during the last twelve (12) months of
his employment with the Company, or services that would reasonably be expected
to relate to his employment with the Company, or services that would reasonably
be expected to relate to or make use of any of the Company's confidential,
proprietary and/or trade secret information. "Competitive Products" means any
product that is substantially similar to, is the functional equivalent of, or is
intended to compete with, replace, or displace any product developed, produced,
manufactured, marketed, branded or sold by the Company during Employee's
employment with the Company.
3
(e) Reasonableness, Modification and Duration.
Employee hereby acknowledges and agrees that: (i) the restrictions provided in
Section 2, 3 and 4 are reasonable in time and scope in light of the necessity
for the protection of the business and good will of the Company and the
consideration provided to Employee under this Agreement; (ii) his ability to
work and earn a living will not be unreasonably restrained by the application of
these restrictions; and (iii) if a court or arbitrator concludes that any
covenants in Section 2, 3 and 4 are overbroad or unenforceable for any reason,
the court or arbitrator shall modify the relevant provision to the least extent
necessary and then enforce it as modified.
(f) Injunctive Relief. Employee recognizes and
agrees that should he fail to comply with the restrictions set forth above
regarding Non-Competition and/or Non-Solicitation, which restrictions are vital
to the success of the Company's business, the Company would suffer irreparable
harm for which there is no adequate remedy at law due to the impossibility of
exact ascertainment of the damages. Therefore, Employee agrees that in the event
of the breach or threatened breach by him of any of the terms and conditions of
this Agreement, the Company shall be entitled to institute proceedings in
federal or state court in Maryland to secure immediate injunctive relief. Within
sixty (60) days of the grant or denial of injunctive relief from such court, the
arbitrator designated in accordance with Section 6 shall independently determine
whether injunctive relief should be issued pending final resolution of the
matter. Employee additionally agrees that if he is found to have breached any
covenant in this Agreement and is not enjoined from further violations, and if
the arbitrator concludes the applicable covenants in Sections 2, 3 and 4 are
enforceable, the applicable time periods in the covenants shall be tolled upon
the filing of the arbitration until the dispute is finally resolved.
5. Governing Law; Exclusive Jurisdiction and Venue. This
Agreement shall be construed under and governed by the laws of the State of
Maryland without giving effect to choice or conflicts of law principles or
rules. For purposes of obtaining court ordered injunctive relief as discussed in
Section 4, the parties irrevocably consent to the exclusive jurisdiction and
venue of the state courts of Maryland and the federal courts of Maryland for any
such action. All other claims must be arbitrated as discussed in Section 6.
6. Arbitration. Any dispute, controversy or claim
arising out of or relating to this Agreement shall be resolved in accordance
with the then-current model employment arbitration procedures of the American
Arbitration Association ("AAA") before an arbitrator who is licensed to practice
law in the state in which the arbitration is convened. The arbitration shall
take place in or near Baltimore, Maryland. Each party shall have the right to
conduct depositions, serve written discovery, and subpoena witnesses and
documents. At least thirty (30) days before the arbitration hearing, the parties
must exchange a list of witnesses, including any expert reports, and copies of
all exhibits intended to be used at the arbitration. The arbitration shall be
final and binding upon the parties. Either party may bring an action under seal
in court to compel arbitration and to enforce an arbitration award. The parties
understand and acknowledge the importance of having the fact of such
proceedings, and the proceedings themselves, remain confidential.
4
7. Other Agreements.
(a) Binding Effect and Assignment. This
Agreement shall be binding on any successor to the Company, whether by merger,
consolidation, acquisition of all or substantially all of the Company's assets
or business or otherwise, as fully as if such successor were a signatory hereto.
In the event of any such assignment, the assignee company shall succeed to all
of the rights and obligations held by the Company under this Agreement.
(b) Severability. If any one or more of the
provisions contained in this Agreement shall, for any reason, be held to be
illegal, invalid or unenforceable in any respect, the remaining provisions of
this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and shall not be affected
by such provision or by its severance from this Agreement.
(c) Amendments and Waivers. This Agreement
cannot be changed, modified or amended, and no provision or requirement hereof
may be waived, without an agreement in writing signed by both parties. Any
forfeiture of the restricted stock according to its terms will not affect the
enforceability of the covenants contained in this Agreement.
(d) Entire Agreement. This Agreement sets forth
the entire agreement and understanding of the parties relating to the subject
matter hereof, and supersedes all prior agreements, arrangements and
understandings relating to the subject matter hereof. Furthermore, there were
and are no oral promises, conditions, representations, understandings,
interpretations or terms of any kind as conditions or inducements to the
execution hereof or in effect among the parties.
[The remainder of this page was purposely left blank]
5
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have duly executed this
Agreement.
EMPLOYEE ACKNOWLEDGES BY SIGNING THIS AGREEMENT THAT HE HAS
READ, UNDERSTANDS AND AGREES TO ALL OF THE PROVISIONS OF THIS AGREEMENT,
PARTICULARLY INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE COVENANTS AS TO NON-COMPETITION
AND NON-SOLICITATION BY EMPLOYEE. EMPLOYEE FURTHER ACKNOWLEDGES HE WAS AFFORDED
SUFFICIENT OPPORTUNITY TO OBTAIN INDEPENDENT LEGAL ADVICE PRIOR TO EXECUTING
THIS AGREEMENT.
EMPLOYEE THE COMPANY
/s/ Joseph Galli By: /s/ Tim Jahnke
------------------------------- ---------------------------------------
Joseph Galli Tim Jahnke
February 20, 2004 Title: Vice President, Human Resources
Date
February 18, 2004
Date
6
EXHIBIT 12
NEWELL RUBBERMAID INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
STATEMENT OF COMPUTATION OF
RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
Quarter Ended March 31,
------------------------
2004 2003
------- -------
(In millions, except ratio data)
Earnings available to fixed charges:
Income before income taxes $ 48.3 $ 59.0
Fixed charges:
Interest expense 32.5 38.6
Portion of rent determined to be interest (1) 10.4 10.8
------- -------
$ 91.2 $ 108.4
======= =======
Fixed charges:
Interest expense $ 32.5 $ 38.6
Portion of rent determined to be interest (1) 10.4 10.8
------- -------
$ 42.9 $ 49.4
======= =======
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges 2.13 2.19
======= =======
(1) A standard ratio of 33% was applied to gross rent expense to approximate the
interest portion of short-term and long-term leases.
EXHIBIT 31.1
CERTIFICATION
I, Joseph Galli, Jr., certify that:
1. I have reviewed this report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended
March 31, 2004 of Newell Rubbermaid Inc.;
2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement
of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the
statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements
were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this
report;
3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial
information included in this report, fairly present in all material
respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of
the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4. The registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for
establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as
defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) for the registrant
and have:
(a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such
disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our
supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the
registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known
to us by others within those entities, particularly during the
period in which this report is being prepared;
(b) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls
and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about
the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of
the end of the period covered by this report based on such
evaluation; and
(c) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal
control over financial reporting that occurred during the
registrant's most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant's fourth
fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially
affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the
registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and
5. The registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based
on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial
reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the
registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent
functions):
(a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design
or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are
reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to
record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
(b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or
other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's
internal control over financial reporting.
Date: May 10, 2004
/s/ Joseph Galli, Jr.
------------------------------
Joseph Galli, Jr.
Chief Executive Officer
EXHIBIT 31.2
CERTIFICATION
I, J. Patrick Robinson, certify that:
1. I have reviewed this report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended
March 31, 2004 of Newell Rubbermaid Inc.;
2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement
of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the
statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements
were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this
report;
3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial
information included in this report, fairly present in all material
respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of
the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4. The registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for
establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as
defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) for the registrant
and have:
(a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such
disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our
supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the
registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known
to us by others within those entities, particularly during the
period in which this report is being prepared;
(b) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls
and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about
the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of
the end of the period covered by this report based on such
evaluation; and
(c) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal
control over financial reporting that occurred during the
registrant's most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant's fourth
fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially
affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the
registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and
5. The registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based
on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial
reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the
registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent
functions):
(a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design
or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are
reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to
record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
(b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or
other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's
internal control over financial reporting.
Date: May 10, 2004
/s/ J. Patrick Robinson
------------------------------
J. Patrick Robinson
Chief Financial Officer
EXHIBIT 32.1
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
In connection with the Quarterly Report of Newell Rubbermaid Inc. (the
"Company") on Form 10-Q for the period ending March 31, 2004 as filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the "Report"), I, Joseph
Galli, Jr., Chief Executive Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18
U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley
Act of 2002, that:
(1) The Report fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or
15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and
(2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all
material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the
Company.
/s/ Joseph Galli, Jr.
Joseph Galli, Jr.
Chief Executive Officer
May 10, 2004
EXHIBIT 32.2
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
In connection with the Quarterly Report of Newell Rubbermaid Inc. (the
"Company") on Form 10-Q for the period ending March 31, 2004 as filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the "Report"), I, J.
Patrick Robinson, Chief Financial Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to
18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley
Act of 2002, that:
(1) The Report fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or
15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and
(2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all
material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the
Company.
/s/ J. Patrick Robinson
J. Patrick Robinson
Chief Financial Officer
May 10, 2004
EXHIBIT 99.1
NEWELL RUBBERMAID INC. SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT
The Company has made statements in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
year ended December 31, 2003, as well as in its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q
for the quarter ended March 31, 2004, and the documents incorporated by
reference therein that constitute forward-looking statements, as defined by the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are subject
to risks and uncertainties. The statements relate to, and other forward-looking
statements that may be made by the Company may relate to, information or
assumptions about sales, income, earnings per share, return on equity, return on
invested capital, capital expenditures, working capital, dividends, capital
structure, debt to capitalization ratios, interest rates, internal growth rates,
impact of changes in accounting standards, pending legal proceedings and claims
(including environmental matters), future economic performance, operating income
improvements, synergies, management's plans, goals and objectives for future
operations and growth. These statements generally are accompanied by words such
as "intend," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "project," "target," "expect,"
"should" or similar statements. You should understand that forward-looking
statements are not guarantees because there are inherent difficulties in
predicting future results. Actual results could differ materially from those
expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. The factors that are
discussed below, as well as the matters that are set forth generally in the 2003
Form 10-K, the 1st Quarter 2004 Form 10-Q and the documents incorporated by
reference therein could cause actual results to differ. Some of these factors
are described as criteria for success. Our failure to achieve, or limited
success in achieving, these objectives could result in actual results differing
materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. In
addition, there can be no assurance that we have correctly identified and
assessed all of the factors affecting the Company or that the publicly available
and other information we receive with respect to these factors is complete or
correct.
Retail Economy
Our business depends on the strength of the retail economies in various
parts of the world, primarily in North America and to a lesser extent Europe,
Central and South America and Asia.
These retail economies are affected primarily by such factors as consumer
demand and the condition of the consumer products retail industry, which, in
turn, are affected by general economic conditions and events such as the
terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. In recent years, the consumer products
retail industry in the U.S. and, increasingly, elsewhere has been characterized
by intense competition and consolidation among both product suppliers and
retailers. Because such competition, particularly in weak retail economies, can
cause retailers to struggle or fail, the Company must continuously monitor, and
adapt to changes in, the creditworthiness of its customers.
Nature of the Marketplace
We compete with numerous other manufacturers and distributors of consumer
products, many of which are large and well established. Our principal customers
are large mass merchandisers, such as discount stores, home centers, warehouse
clubs and office superstores. The rapid growth of these large mass
merchandisers, together with changes in consumer shopping patterns, have
contributed to the formation of dominant multi-category retailers, many of which
have strong bargaining power with suppliers. This environment significantly
limits our ability to recover cost increases through selling prices. Other
trends among retailers are to foster high levels of competition among suppliers,
to demand that manufacturers supply innovative new products and to require
suppliers to maintain or reduce product prices and deliver products with shorter
lead times. Another trend is for retailers to import products directly from
foreign sources.
The combination of these market influences has created an intensely
competitive environment in which our principal customers continuously evaluate
which product suppliers to use, resulting in pricing pressures and the need for
strong end-user brands, the continuing introduction of innovative new products
and constant improvements in customer service.
New Product Development
Our long-term success in this competitive retail environment depends on
our consistent ability to develop innovative new products that create consumer
demand for our products. Although many of our businesses have had notable
success in developing new products, we need to improve our new product
development capability. There are numerous uncertainties inherent in
successfully developing and introducing innovative new products on a consistent
basis.
Marketing
Our competitive success also depends increasingly on our ability to
develop, maintain and strengthen our end-user brands so that our retailer
customers will need our products to meet consumer demand. Our success also
requires increased focus on serving our largest customers through strategic
account management efforts. We will need to continue to devote substantial
marketing resources to achieving these objectives.
Productivity and Streamlining
Our success also depends on our ability to improve productivity and
streamline operations to control and reduce costs. We need to do this while
maintaining consistently high customer service levels and making substantial
investments in new product development and in marketing our end-user brands. Our
objective is to become our retailer customers' low-cost provider and global
supplier of choice. To do this, we will need continuously to improve our
manufacturing efficiencies and develop sources of supply on a worldwide basis.
Acquisition Integration
The acquisition of companies that sell name brand, staple consumer product
lines to volume purchasers has historically been one of the foundations of our
growth strategy. Over time, our ability to continue to make sufficient strategic
acquisitions at reasonable prices and to integrate the acquired businesses
successfully, obtaining anticipated cost savings and operating income
improvements within a reasonable period of time, will be important factors in
our future growth.
Foreign Operations
Foreign operations, especially in Europe (which is a focus of our
international growth) but also in Asia, Central and South America and Canada,
are increasingly important to our business. Foreign operations can be affected
by factors such as currency devaluation, other currency fluctuations and the
Euro currency conversion, tariffs, nationalization, exchange controls, interest
rates, limitations on foreign investment in local business and other political,
economic and regulatory risks and difficulties.