Exhibit 10.1

Michael T. Cowhig

Chairman of the Board

June 9, 2011

Mr. Michael B. Polk

Dear Mike,

On behalf of the Board of Directors of Newell Rubbermaid Inc. (the “Company”), I
am pleased to offer you the position of President and Chief Executive Officer of
our Company, reporting to the Board of Directors. You will continue as a member
of the Board. Your employment will commence on July 18, 2011 or such other date
as the Company and you may agree (“ECD”). Below are the key terms of your
employment with us:

 

  1.

Base Salary: Your annual base salary will be $1,200,000 per year, payable in
equal, semi-monthly installments. You will be eligible for a merit increase
review at the same time as the Company’s other executive leadership team members
(typically April), though you will not be eligible for a merit increase until
April 2014.

 

  2.

Short Term Incentive Plan: You will participate in the Company’s Management Cash
Bonus Plan. Your target payout for your cash bonus is 135% of your base salary,
with a maximum of 270% depending on Company performance. In view of your
anticipated forfeitures with your current employer, your bonus for 2011 will be
based upon a full year of base salary (not prorated) in an amount not less than
at 90% of target.

 

  3.

Monthly Stipend: You will receive a monthly stipend of $3,000 in lieu of all
other perquisites (such as tax planning; automobile; and so forth).

 

  4.

Executive Physical: You will be entitled to, and expected to participate in, an
annual executive comprehensive physical, the costs of which will be paid by the
Company.

 

  5.

Long Term Incentive Plan: Starting in 2012, you will be eligible to participate
in the Company’s Long Term Incentive Program (“LTIP”). Under the LTIP, you will
be eligible to receive a combination of performance-based restricted stock units
(“RSUs”), time-based RSUs, and options which are valued at the time of issuance
between 385% and 575% of your base salary, with a target of 480%. The mix of
awards, range and target amounts may be adjusted from time to time upon the
recommendation of the Board’s Organizational Development & Compensation
Committee; provided, however, your 2012 LTIP award will be valued at not less
than target. Based on past practices, we expect the award value to be split as
follows: thirty percent time-based RSUs, forty percent performance-based RSUs,
and thirty percent stock options. These awards vest after three years, and
obviously provide tremendous opportunity to you as the Company’s stock price
increases.

 

  6.

Company Contributions to Deferred Compensation Plan (a/k/a Cash SERP): You will
be immediately eligible to participate in the Company’s 2008 Deferred
Compensation Plan (“Plan”). Under the Cash SERP component of the Plan, for each
full or partial year during your employment, the Company will contribute five
percent of your current year’s annual compensation in excess of $245,000 (or the
then current IRS

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limitation) and ten percent of your current year’s annual compensation into a
Plan account, or such other amount (or no amount) as the Board may from time to
time determine for senior executives, in accordance with the terms of the Plan.
For this purpose, your “annual compensation” will be the sum of your salary paid
and your annual bonus (if any) under the Management Cash Bonus Plan (or
successor annual incentive plan) paid during the reference calendar year. Thus,
your 2011 Cash SERP contributions (which are made in 2012) will be based on your
salary paid during 2011. These contributions will begin to partially vest
starting with your sixth year of employment with the Company. However, if you
are employed by the Company when you turn 60 years of age, you will be
considered fully vested in all of the Company’s contributions to the Plan
(including interest or other net earnings thereon).

 

  7.

Company Retirement Savings Program: You are eligible to participate in the
Company’s 401(k) plan consistent with other Company employees, under which the
Company will match your contributions dollar-for dollar for the first three
percent of your base Salary, and match 50% of your contributions on the next two
percent of your base salary. Your contributions are limited by IRS regulations.
In addition, the Company will contribute annually four percent of the first
$245,000 (or the then current IRS limitation) of your base salary into the
401(k) Plan. All Company contributions to the 401(k) Plan are subject to a
three-year cliff vesting schedule.

 

  8.

Signing Bonus: As a one-time signing bonus, you will be paid $1,100,000 within
fifteen days after your ECD, though you are obligated to reimburse the Company
within ten days in the event you are involuntarily terminated for Good Cause or
a violation of the Company’s Code of Conduct and Ethics, or you resign for other
than Good Reason prior to the first anniversary of your ECD (and for all
purposes under this letter agreement, “Good Cause” and “Good Reason” shall have
the meaning defined in your Employment Security Agreement provided in
Section 14, below (“ESA”)). On your ECD, you will also be awarded $1,100,000
worth of stock options under the Company’s 2010 Stock Plan based upon the
Company’s Black-Scholes valuation method, which award will be subject to a
three-year cliff vest. These options will have a strike price equal to the
closing price of the Company’s stock on your ECD and have a 10 year term and
such other terms as have been agreed and reflected in a form of stock option
agreement provided to you.

 

  9.

Employment Transition Award: In light of the long-term compensation you will
forfeit at your current employer, the Company will award you performance-based
RSUs on your ECD under the Company’s 2010 Stock Plan in the tentative number of
692,042 RSUs. These awards, respectively, shall vest on the later of the second
anniversary of your ECD and the date of satisfaction of the following
performance criteria:

 

  •  

Fifty percent of these performance-based RSUs will vest when the Company’s
average closing stock price for any twenty continuous trading day period after
the ECD exceeds by ten percent the average closing stock price for the ten
continuous trading day period immediately before the date on which the Company
publicly discloses that you have accepted the offer herein to become its
President and CEO (the “Announcement Date”);

 

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  •  

Twenty-five percent of these performance-based RSUs will vest when the Company’s
average closing stock price for any twenty continuous trading day period after
the ECD exceeds by twenty percent the average closing stock price for the ten
continuous trading day period immediately before the Announcement Date;

 

  •  

Twenty-five percent of these performance-based RSUs will vest when the Company’s
average closing stock price for any twenty continuous trading day period after
the ECD exceeds by twenty-five percent the average closing stock price for the
ten continuous trading day period immediately before the Announcement Date.

These awards will vest in the event of your death or disability and will expire
to the extent that they fail to vest on or prior to the seventh anniversary of
their grant.

On your ECD, you will also be awarded time-based RSUs under the Company’s 2010
Stock Plan in the tentative number of 346,021 RSUs, fifty percent of which will
vest on December 31, 2011, twenty-five percent of which will vest on the first
anniversary of your ECD, and the remaining twenty-five percent of which will
vest on the second anniversary of your ECD.

The face values of the tentative awards of the referenced RSUs above in this
Section 9 are based upon a closing price of Company stock of $14.45 per share.
The number of RSUs actually to be granted to you on your ECD under this
Section 9 will be increased or decreased to ensure the monetary face values of
the awards (using the average closing stock price for the ten continuous trading
day period immediately before the Announcement Date) are equivalent to the
monetary face values set forth above.

These awards will incorporate the above terms and have such other terms as have
been agreed and reflected in a form of RSU agreement provided to you.

 

  10.

Executive Relocation: You will be eligible to participate in the Company’s
executive relocation program once you are ready to relocate your family to
Atlanta. This will include payment of your closing costs on your home in
Atlanta, physical transportation of your possessions to Atlanta, and the costs
(realtor and closing costs) associated with the sale of your home in New Jersey.

 

  11.

Personal Use of Corporate Aircraft: You will be entitled to personal use of the
Company’s aircraft, though such amount may not exceed $165,000 in any year
(based on the Company’s average hourly cost of operating the aircraft). Any use
in excess of $165,000 in a year must be reimbursed to the Company.

 

  12.

Medical/Dental: You (and your covered dependents) will participate in the
Company’s medical and dental coverage consistent with other Company employees.
In the event of your retirement as Chief Executive Officer on or after age 55,
and to the extent permitted by law, you and your covered dependents will be
eligible to continue such medical and dental coverage until the later of the
dates that your spouse and you become eligible for Medicare benefits, provided
that you will be required to pay the same premium rates for such coverage as
applies to former employees entitled to COBRA benefits during such period.

 

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  13.

Deferred Compensation: The Company maintains a deferred compensation plan, in
which you are eligible to participate if you so choose.

 

  14.

Employment Security Agreement: On your ECD, the Company and you will enter into
an ESA in the form attached hereto as Appendix A.

 

  15.

Salary and Medical/Dental Benefits Continuation; Other Benefits: In lieu of all
other benefits, prior to any Change in Control, in the event you are
involuntarily terminated (except for Good Cause or a violation of the Company’s
Code of Conduct and Ethics) or you resign for Good Reason, upon execution of a
mutually agreeable release (which shall contain both non-compete and
non-solicitation provisions) within sixty days of your last day of employment
with the Company and which shall not be revoked, you shall be entitled to:
(i) salary continuation through the second anniversary of your last date of
employment with the Company at such intervals as salaries are paid by the
Company to its executive employees; (ii) medical and dental benefits
continuation for you and your covered dependents for a period of twenty-four
months at the same premium amount charged to former employees entitled to COBRA
benefits during such period (provided, such medical and dental benefits shall
cease on the date you become eligible for coverage under any medical plan
provided by any subsequent employer (or consulting arrangement)); (iii) a
Management Cash Bonus Plan payment pro-rated based upon the number of days
employed in the year you leave and otherwise payable on the same terms and at
the same time as payments to other participants in the Management Cash Bonus
Plan; (iv) a lump sum cash payment payable within thirty days after the
employment termination date in an amount equal to the difference (if any)
between the aggregate premium for twenty-four months of medical and dental
benefits then charged to active employees for comparable coverage to Executive’s
coverage on the date of termination and such premium charged to former employees
on such date for comparable benefits under COBRA; (v) vesting of the balance of
your Cash SERP account (including interest accrued thereon); (vi) vesting of the
time-based RSUs referenced in Section 9; (vii) retain the performance-based RSUs
referenced in Section 9 that have not attained the performance criteria, and for
which you will be deemed vested under the two-year time-vesting period, and such
will remain outstanding subject to the satisfaction of the performance criteria
until the seven-year expiration date above; and (viii) vesting of the stock
option award referenced in Section 8 above and which stock option will be
exercisable for one year after the last day of your employment (but not beyond
the ten year term). Notwithstanding the foregoing, salary continuation shall
cease on March 15 of the calendar year immediately after the calendar year of
your last day of employment, and on that date you shall be paid a lump sum
amount equal to the remaining salary continuation payments referenced in
subsection (i) above.

 

  16.

Section 409A: Anything to the contrary in this letter agreement notwithstanding,
all benefits or payments payable to you that is “nonqualified deferred
compensation” under Section 409A are intended to comply with Section 409A, and
the Company and you agree to mutually modify this letter agreement to the
minimum extent as may become necessary for such compliance. A termination of
your employment under this letter

 

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agreement will not be deemed to have occurred, to the extent Section 409A
applies, unless such termination is a “separation from service” within the
meaning of Section 409A, and to the extent required by Section 409A, if you are
a “specified employee,” payments that are nonqualified deferred compensation due
upon your separation from service will be deferred for six months (or, if
earlier, until the date of your death). Subject to the immediately preceding
sentence, to the extent any amount or benefit payable to you under Section 15 or
otherwise is nonqualified deferred compensation subject to Section 409A and such
amount or benefit is conditioned upon your providing a release of claims, and if
pursuant to that provision payment could be made to you in either of two taxable
years depending on the date of such release of claims and expiration of the
applicable revocation period, you shall be paid on the later of January 15 of
such later taxable year or five days after the date such release of claims
becomes irrevocable.

Please note that, except as provided above, all of your equity awards are
subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Company’s award agreements
applicable to CEO grants. In addition, you shall be entitled to retain your May
2011 non-employee Director’s RSU grant, which shall vest one year from the grant
date.

All of us at the Company are extremely pleased to present this opportunity to
you. We are confident that you will provide the leadership necessary to continue
our Company’s success and to further increase shareholder value.

This offer will remain irrevocable and open for your acceptance until 5:00 p.m.
EDST, June 23, 2011. Please sign and date where indicated below to indicate your
acknowledgment and acceptance of the terms of this letter agreement and return a
copy to me at your earliest convenience.

Sincerely,

Michael T. Cowhig

Chairman of the Board

cc: Jim Sweet

 

Agreed and Acknowledged:        

/s/    Michael B. Polk

   

Michael B. Polk

   

Date: June 23, 2011

   

 

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Appendix A

Employment Security Agreement

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EMPLOYMENT SECURITY AGREEMENT

This Employment Security Agreement (“Agreement”) is entered into as of this     
day of             , 2011 by and between Newell Rubbermaid Inc., a Delaware
corporation (“Employer”), and                      (“Executive”).

WITNESSETH:

WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Employer has determined that it is in the
best interests of the Employer and its stockholders to employ the Executive as
the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer;

WHEREAS, in connection herewith Employer and Executive entered into an
employment letter agreement dated June __, 2011 (“Employment Agreement”);

WHEREAS, Employer desires to provide certain security to Executive in connection
with Executive’s employment with Employer; and

WHEREAS, Executive and Employer desire to enter into this Agreement pertaining
to the terms of the security Employer is providing to Executive with respect to
his employment.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and promises contained
herein, and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is
hereby acknowledged, the parties agree as follows:

Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement.

“Affiliate” shall have the meaning set forth in Rule 12b-2 under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934.

“Base Salary” shall mean Executive’s annual base salary at the rate in effect on
the date of a Change in Control, or if greater, the rate in effect immediately
prior to Executive’s termination of employment with Employer.

“Bonus” shall mean an amount determined by multiplying Executive’s Base Salary
by the payout percentage that would apply to Executive based on (i) the job
position held by Executive on the date of a Change in Control or the date of
Executive’s termination of employment with Employer (whichever position is
higher at the time) and (ii) attainment of the targeted performance goals at a
100% level, as determined under the Management Cash Bonus Plan of Employer, or
any prior or successor plan or arrangement covering Executive (such amount to be
determined regardless of whether Executive would otherwise be eligible for a
Bonus under the terms of any such plan or arrangement or the extent to which the
performance goals are actually met).

 

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“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

“Change in Control” shall mean the occurrence of any of the following events:

any individual, partnership, firm, corporation, association, trust,
unincorporated organization or other entity (other than Employer or a trustee or
other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of Employer),
or any syndicate or group deemed to be a person under Section 14(d)(2) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), is or becomes
the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 of the General Rules and
Regulations under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of
Employer representing 25% or more of the combined voting power of Employer’s
then outstanding securities entitled to vote generally in the election of
directors;

Employer is party to a merger, consolidation, reorganization or other similar
transaction with another corporation or other legal person unless, following
such transaction, more than 50% of the combined voting power of the outstanding
securities of the surviving, resulting or acquiring corporation or person or its
parent entity entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (or
persons performing similar functions) is then beneficially owned, directly or
indirectly, by all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who were
the beneficial owners of Employer’s outstanding securities entitled to vote
generally in the election of directors immediately prior to such transaction, in
substantially the same proportions as their ownership, immediately prior to such
transaction, of Employer’s outstanding securities entitled to vote generally in
the election of directors;

Employer sells all or substantially all of its business and/or assets to another
corporation or other legal person unless, following such sale, more than 50% of
the combined voting power of the outstanding securities of the acquiring
corporation or person or its parent entity entitled to vote generally in the
election of directors (or persons performing similar functions) is then
beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by all or substantially all of the
individuals and entities who were the beneficial owners of Employer’s
outstanding securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors
immediately prior to such sale, in substantially the same proportions as their
ownership, immediately prior to such sale, of Employer’s outstanding securities
entitled to vote generally in the election of directors; or

during any period of two consecutive years or less, individuals who at the
beginning of such period constituted the Board of Directors of Employer (and any
new Directors, whose appointment or election by the Board of Directors or
nomination for election by Employer’s stockholders was approved by a vote of at
least

 

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two-thirds of the Directors then still in office who either were Directors at
the beginning of the period or whose appointment, election or nomination for
election was so approved) cease for any reason to constitute a majority of the
Board of Directors.

“Good Cause” shall exist if, and only if:

Executive willfully engages in misconduct in the performance of his duties that
causes material harm to Employer; or

Executive is convicted of a criminal violation involving fraud or dishonesty.

Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the following shall not
constitute Good Cause: the failure by Executive and/or Employer to attain
financial or other business objectives; any personal or policy disagreement
between Executive and Employer or any member of the Board of Directors of
Employer; or any action taken by Executive in connection with his duties if
Executive acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in,
and not opposed to, the best interest of Employer and had no reasonable cause to
believe his conduct was improper. Notwithstanding anything herein to the
contrary, in the event Employer terminates the employment of Executive for Good
Cause hereunder, Employer shall give Executive at least 30 days prior written
notice specifying in detail the reason or reasons for Executive’s termination.

“Good Reason” shall exist if, without the Executive’s written consent:

there is a material change in the nature or the scope of Executive’s authority
or duties;

Executive is required to report (A) to an officer with a materially lesser
position or title than the officer to whom Executive reported on the date of the
Change in Control, if Executive is not the Chief Executive Officer of Employer,
or (B) to other than the entire Board, if Executive is the Chief Executive
Officer of Employer;

there is a material reduction in Executive’s rate of base salary;

Employer changes by 50 miles or more the principal location in which Executive
is required to perform services;

Employer terminates or materially amends, or terminates or materially restricts
Executive’s participation in, any Incentive Plan or Retirement Plan so that,
when considered in the aggregate with any substitute Plan or Plans, the
Incentive Plans and Retirement Plans in which he is participating materially
fail to provide him with a level of benefits provided in the aggregate by such
Incentive Plans or Retirement Plans prior to such termination or amendment, but
expressly excluding any reduction in benefits that is both applicable equally to
all senior executives of Employer who

 

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participate in the affected Incentive Plan(s) or Retirement Plan(s) and either
(x) is made in connection with an extraordinary decline in Employer’s earnings,
share price or public image, or (y) is undertaken in order to make such
Incentive Plan(s) or Retirement Plan(s) consistent with the executive
compensation programs of those companies with whom Employer competes for
attracting/retaining executive talent; or

Employer materially breaches the provisions of this Agreement.

A termination of Executive’s employment by Executive shall not be deemed to be
for Good Reason unless (1) Executive gives notice to Employer of the existence
of the event or condition constituting Good Reason within thirty (30) days after
such event or condition initially occurs or exists, (2) the Employer fails to
cure such event or condition within thirty (30) days after receiving such
notice, and (3) Executive’s “separation from service” within the meaning of
Section 409A of the Code occurs not later than ninety (90) days after such event
or condition initially occurs or exists (or, if earlier, the last day of the
Term).

“Incentive Plan” shall mean any incentive, bonus, equity-based or similar plan
or arrangement currently or hereafter made available by Employer or an Affiliate
in which Executive is eligible to participate.

“Retirement Plan” shall mean any qualified or supplemental defined contribution
retirement plan, currently or hereinafter made available by Employer or an
Affiliate in which Executive is eligible to participate.

“Severance Period” shall mean the period beginning on the date the Executive’s
employment with Employer terminates under circumstances described in Section 3
and ending on the date 24 months thereafter.

“Welfare Plan” shall mean any plan or arrangement providing health, prescription
drug, vision, dental, disability, survivor income or life insurance benefits
that is currently or hereafter made available by Employer or an Affiliate in
which Executive is eligible to participate.

Term. The term of this Agreement shall be the period beginning on the date
hereof and terminating on the date 24 months after the date of Executive’s
termination of employment (the “Term”).

Termination of Employment. If a Change in Control occurs, Executive shall be
entitled to the benefits described in Section 4 if at any time during the
24-month period following the Change in Control (i) the employment of Executive
with Employer is terminated by Employer for any reason other than Good Cause, or
(ii) Executive terminates his employment with Employer for Good Reason.

 

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Benefits Upon Termination of Employment. Upon termination of Executive’s
employment with Employer under circumstances described in Section 3 above:

Employer shall pay Executive, in a lump sum as soon as practicable following
Executive’s termination of employment, but in no event later than 30 days
following such termination, the sum of:

three (3) times the sum of the Executive’s Base Salary and the Executive’s
Bonus; plus

the Executive’s Bonus multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the
number of days in the fiscal year in which the date of termination occurs
through the date of termination and the denominator of which is 365.

Executive shall be entitled to receive any and all benefits accrued under any
other Incentive Plans to the date of termination of employment, the amount,
entitlement to, form and time of payment of such benefits to be determined by
the terms of such Incentive Plans. For purposes of calculating Executive’s
benefits under the Incentive Plans, Executive’s employment shall be deemed to
have terminated by reason of retirement under circumstances that have the most
favorable result for Executive thereunder.

Executive’s benefits accrued or credited through the date of termination of
employment under the Newell Rubbermaid Inc. 2008 Deferred Compensation Plan, or
its successor (the “2008 Deferred Compensation Plan”) that are not vested as of
the date of termination of employment shall be fully vested and paid in
accordance with the terms of the applicable plan (subject to any forfeiture
provision under Section 4.3(d) of the 2008 Deferred Compensation Plan). Employer
shall also pay to the Executive, in a lump sum as soon as practicable following
Executive’s termination of employment, but in no event later than 30 days
following such termination, an amount equal to the Executive’s benefits accrued
or credited through the date of termination of employment under the Employer’s
qualified defined contribution plans that are not vested as of the date of
termination of employment.

If upon the date of termination of Executive’s employment, Executive holds any
awards with respect to securities of Employer, (i) all such awards that are
stock options shall immediately become fully vested and exercisable upon such
date and shall be exercisable thereafter until the earlier of the third
anniversary of Executive’s termination of employment or the expiration of the
term of the options; (ii) all time-based restrictions on any awards of
restricted shares shall terminate or lapse and all time-based awards of
restricted stock units shall become fully vested, nonforfeitable and immediately
payable to Executive; and (iii) all performance goals applicable to any
performance-based awards shall be deemed satisfied at the “target” level and
paid in accordance with the terms of the applicable award agreement; provided,
all performance criteria under Executive’s Employment Transition Award of
restricted stock units granted pursuant to

 

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the Employment Agreement shall be deemed fully satisfied upon the occurrence of
a Change in Control (without regard for a condition of a contemporaneous or
subsequent termination of Executive’s employment).

During the Severance Period, Executive and his spouse and eligible dependents
shall be eligible for coverage under the Welfare Plans as follows:

(i) Coverage during the Severance Period under any Welfare Plan that is a group
health plan as defined in Title I, Part 6 of the Employee Retirement Income
Security Act of 1974 (“COBRA”), shall be provided under COBRA, except that the
maximum coverage period shall be extended from 18 to 24 months. If Executive,
his spouse, and/or his dependents elect COBRA coverage under any Welfare Plan,
Employer shall pay a portion of the COBRA premiums. The portion to be paid by
Employer shall equal the amount necessary so that the total of the COBRA
premiums paid by Executive, his spouse, and/or his dependents is equal to the
premium that would have been paid by Executive for such coverage as an active
employee immediately prior to the Change in Control.

(ii) Executive and his spouse and eligible dependents shall continue to be
covered by all other Welfare Plans in which he or his spouse or eligible
dependents were participating immediately prior to the date of his termination
of employment, upon the terms and subject to the conditions of those plans as in
effect immediately prior to the Change in Control or, if more favorable to
Executive, as in effect generally at any time thereafter with respect to other
senior executives of Employer, as if he continued to be an active employee of
Employer, and Employer shall continue to pay the costs of such coverage under
such Welfare Plans on the same basis as is applicable to active employees
covered thereunder as in effect immediately prior to the Change in Control;
provided that, if participation in any one or more of such Welfare Plans is not
possible under the terms thereof, Employer shall provide substantially identical
benefits.

The coverage provided under this Section 4(e) shall cease if and when Executive
obtains employment with another employer during the Severance Period and becomes
eligible for coverage under any substantially similar plans provided by his new
employer.

Executive shall be entitled to payment for any accrued but unused vacation in
accordance with Employer’s policy in effect at Executive’s termination of
employment in a lump sum as soon as practicable following Executive’s
termination of employment, but in no event later than 30 days following such
termination. Executive shall not be entitled to receive any payments or other
compensation attributable to vacation he would have earned had his employment
continued during the Severance Period, and Executive waives any right to receive
such compensation.

 

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Employer shall, at Employer’s expense, provide Executive with six months of
executive outplacement services with a professional outplacement firm selected
by Employer; provided that the outplacement services must be used by the
Executive by no later than the second calendar year following the calendar year
in which the termination of employment occurred.

Executive shall not be entitled to reimbursement for fringe benefits during the
Severance Period, such as dues and expenses related to club memberships,
automobile, cell phone, expenses for professional services and other similar
perquisites.

Setoff. Employer’s obligation to make the payments provided for in this
Agreement and otherwise to perform its obligations hereunder shall not be
affected by any set-off, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other claim, right
or action which Employer or any of its affiliated companies may have against the
Executive or others. In no event shall the Executive be obligated to seek other
employment or take any other action by way of mitigation of the amounts payable
to the Executive under any of the provisions of this Agreement and such amounts
shall not be reduced whether or not the Executive obtains other employment,
except as expressly provided in Section 4(e).

Death. If Executive dies during the Severance Period, all amounts payable
hereunder to Executive shall, to the extent not paid, be paid to his surviving
spouse or his designated beneficiary, or if none, then to his estate.
Executive’s surviving spouse and eligible dependents shall continue to be
covered under all applicable Welfare Plans during the remainder of the Severance
Period. On the death of the surviving spouse and eligible dependants, no further
Welfare Plan coverage shall be provided (other than any coverage required
pursuant to Title I, Part 6 of COBRA), and no further benefits shall be paid,
except for benefits accrued under any Incentive Plans and Retirement Plans to
the date of Executive’s termination of employment, to the extent such benefits
continue following Executive’s death pursuant to the term of such Plans.

Certain Reductions in Payments.

(a) Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, in the event
that an independent, nationally recognized accounting firm designated by
Employer prior to a Change in Control (the “Accounting Firm”) shall determine
that receipt of all payments, benefits or distributions by Employer or its
affiliates in the nature of compensation to or for Executive’s benefit, whether
paid or payable pursuant to this Agreement or otherwise (a “Payment”) would
(after taking into account any value attributable to the non-competition
covenant in Section 8), subject Executive to the excise tax under Section 4999
of the Code, the Accounting Firm shall determine whether to reduce any of the
Payments paid or payable pursuant to this Agreement (the “Agreement Payments”)
to the Reduced Amount (as defined below in Section 7(d)). The Agreement Payments
shall be reduced to the Reduced Amount only if the Accounting Firm determines
that Executive would have a greater Net After-Tax Receipt (as defined below in
Section 7(d)) of aggregate Payments if Executive’s

 

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Agreement Payments were reduced to the Reduced Amount. If instead the Accounting
Firm determines that Executive would not have a greater Net After-Tax Receipt of
aggregate Payments if Executive’s Agreement Payments were reduced to the Reduced
Amount, Executive shall receive all Agreement Payments to which Executive is
entitled under this Agreement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, in no
event shall the value (if any) attributable to the non-competition covenant in
Section 8 be taken into account for purposes of the Accounting Firm’s
determination if it would reduce the Agreement Payments to be paid to Executive,
it being understood that any such valuation is intended solely to reduce the
amounts that are considered “parachute payments” and therefore reduce any excise
tax under Section 4999 of the Code. Any valuation of the non-competition
covenant in Section 8 shall be determined by the Accounting Firm (or, if the
Accounting Firm is not able to make such determination, an independent
third-party valuation specialist, selected by Employer), and Employer shall
cooperate in good faith in connection with any such valuation process. In no
event shall this Section 7 or any other provision of this Agreement be construed
to require the Employer to provide any tax gross-up for the Executive’s excise
tax liability, if any, under Section 4999 of the Code.

(b) If the Accounting Firm determines that aggregate Agreement Payments should
be reduced to the Reduced Amount, Employer shall promptly give Executive notice
to that effect and a copy of the detailed calculation thereof. All
determinations made by the Accounting Firm (or, with respect to the valuation of
the non-competition covenant in Section 8, to the extent applicable, the
independent third-party valuation specialist) under this Section 7 shall be
binding upon Employer and Executive and shall be made within thirty (30) days
after a termination of Executive’s employment. The reduction of the Agreement
Payments to the Reduced Amount, if applicable, shall be made by reducing the
Agreement Payments under the following sections (and no other Payments) in the
following order: (i) Section 4(a), (ii) Section 4(c), and (iii) Section 4(g).
All fees and expenses of the Accounting Firm and the independent third-party
valuation specialist (if any) shall be borne solely by Employer.

(c) As a result of the uncertainty in the application of Sections 280G and 4999
of the Code at the time of the initial determination by the Accounting Firm
hereunder, it is possible that amounts will have been paid or distributed by
Employer to or for the benefit of Executive pursuant to this Agreement which
should not have been so paid or distributed (“Overpayment”) or that additional
amounts which will have not been paid or distributed by Employer to or for the
benefit of Executive pursuant to this Agreement could have been so paid or
distributed (“Underpayment”), in each case, consistent with the calculation of
the Reduced Amount hereunder. In the event that the Accounting Firm, based upon
the assertion of a deficiency by the Internal Revenue Service against either
Employer or Executive which the Accounting Firm believes has a high probability
of success determines that an Overpayment has been made, Executive shall pay any
such Overpayment to Employer together with at the applicable federal rate
provided for in Section 7872(f)(2) of the Code; provided, however, that no
amount shall be payable by Executive to Employer if and to the extent such
payment would not either reduce the amount on which Executive is subject to tax
under Sections 1 and 4999 of the Code or generate a refund of such taxes. In the
event that the Accounting Firm, based

 

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upon controlling precedent or substantial authority, determines that an
Underpayment has occurred, any such Underpayment shall be promptly paid by
Employer to or for the benefit of Executive (subject to Section 14) together
with interest at the applicable federal rate provided for in Section 7872(f)(2)
of the Code.

(d) For purposes hereof, the following terms have the meanings set forth below:

(i) “Net After-Tax Receipt” shall mean the present value (as determined in
accordance with Sections 280G(b)(2)(A)(ii) and 280G(d)(4) of the Code) of a
Payment net of all taxes imposed on Executive with respect thereto under
Sections 1, 3101 and 4999 of the Code and under applicable state and local laws,
determined by applying the highest marginal rate under Section 1 of the Code and
under state and local laws which applied to Executive’s taxable income for the
immediately preceding taxable year, or such other rate(s) as Executive
certifies, in Executive’s sole discretion, as likely to apply to him or her in
the relevant tax year(s).

(ii) “Reduced Amount” shall mean the greatest amount of Agreement Payments that
can be paid that would not result in the imposition of the excise tax under
Section 4999 of the Code if the Accounting Firm determines to reduce Agreement
Payments pursuant to Section 7(a).

Restrictive Covenants. During the Term of this Agreement, Executive shall not be
associated, directly or indirectly, as an employee, proprietor, stockholder,
partner, agent, representative, officer, or otherwise, with the operation of any
business that is competitive with any line of business of Employer or any
Affiliate for which Executive has provided substantial services without the
prior written consent of Employer, which shall not unreasonably be withheld,
except that Executive’s ownership (or that of his wife and children) of
publicly-traded securities of any such business having a cost of not more than
$250,000 shall not be considered a violation of this Section 8. For purposes of
the preceding sentence, Executive shall be considered as the “stockholder” of
any equity securities owned by his spouse and all relatives and children
residing in Executive’s principal residence.

No Solicitation of Representatives and Employees. Executive agrees that he shall
not, during the Term of this Agreement, directly or indirectly, in his
individual capacity or otherwise, induce, cause, persuade, or attempt to do any
of the foregoing in order to cause, any representative, agent or employee of
Employer or any Affiliate to terminate such person’s employment relationship
with Employer or any Affiliate, or to violate the terms of any agreement between
said representative, agent or employee and Employer or any Affiliate.

Confidentiality. Executive acknowledges that preservation of a continuing
business relationship between Employer or its Affiliates and their respective
customers, representatives, and employees is of critical importance to the
continued business success

 

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of Employer and that it is the active policy of Employer and its Affiliates to
guard as confidential the identity of its customers, trade secrets, pricing
policies, business affairs, representatives and employees. In view of the
foregoing, Executive agrees that he shall not, during the Term of this Agreement
and thereafter, without the prior written consent of Employer (which consent
shall not be withheld unreasonably), disclose to any person or entity any
information concerning the business of, or any customer, representative, agent
or employee of, Employer or its Affiliates which was obtained by Executive in
the course of his employment by Employer. This Section 10 shall not be
applicable if and to the extent Executive is required to testify in a
legislative, judicial or regulatory proceeding pursuant to an order of Congress,
any state or local legislature, a judge, or an administrative law judge.

Executive Assignment. No interest of Executive or his spouse or any other
beneficiary under this Agreement, or any right to receive any payment or
distribution hereunder, shall be subject in any manner to sale, transfer,
assignment, pledge, attachment, garnishment, or other alienation or encumbrance
of any kind, nor may such interest or right to receive a payment or distribution
be taken, voluntarily or involuntarily, for the satisfaction of the obligations
or debts of, or other claims against, Executive or his spouse or other
beneficiary, by operation of law or otherwise, other than pursuant to the terms
of a qualified domestic relations order to which Executive is a party.

Funding.

Prior to a Change in Control, all rights of Executive and his spouse or other
beneficiary under this Agreement shall at all times be entirely unfunded and no
provision shall at any time be made with respect to segregating any assets of
Employer for payment of any amounts due hereunder. Neither Executive nor his
spouse or other beneficiary shall have any interest in or rights against any
specific assets of Employer, and Executive and his spouse or other beneficiary
shall have only the rights of a general unsecured creditor of Employer.

No later than five days following a Change in Control, Employer shall establish
an irrevocable grantor trust, substantially in the form of the model trust
agreement set forth in Internal Revenue Service Revenue Procedure 96-24, or any
subsequent Revenue Procedure, and shall make a contribution to the trust in an
amount equal to the cash payments that would be made to Executive pursuant to
Sections 4 and 7 upon a termination of his employment under circumstances
described in Section 3, such amount to be determined as if Executive’s
termination of employment occurred on the date of the Change in Control. At
six-month intervals commencing from the date of the Change in Control, Employer
shall recalculate the amount necessary to fully fund the above-described
benefits and, if the amount exceeds the fair market value of the assets then
held in the trust, Employer shall promptly deposit an amount equal to such
excess. Employer shall not terminate the trust until the Term of the Agreement
has ended and all cash payments described in Sections 4 and 7 to which Executive
is entitled have been made to Executive. Employer shall provide Executive with
written confirmation of the

 

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establishment of the trust and the deposit of the required amount on his behalf,
including a written accounting of the calculation of such amounts. Employer’s
failure to establish a trust and provide such written notice shall constitute a
material breach of this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this
Section 12(b) shall be construed and applied in a manner so as to avoid the
application of Section 409A(b)(3) of the Code.

Legal Expenses. Employer shall pay as incurred (within 10 calendar days
following Employer’s receipt of an invoice from the Executive) Executive’s
reasonable out-of-pocket expenses, including attorney’s fees, incurred by
Executive at any time from the date of this Agreement through the Executive’s
remaining lifetime or, if longer, through the 20th anniversary of the date of
the Change of Control, in connection with any action taken to enforce this
Agreement or construe or determine the validity of this Agreement or otherwise
in connection herewith, including any claim or legal action or proceeding,
whether brought by Executive or Employer or another party, and whether or not
Executive is successful with respect to such action taken; provided, that the
Executive shall have submitted an invoice for such fees and expenses at least 15
calendar days before the end of the calendar year next following the calendar
year in which such fees and expenses were incurred. The amount of such legal
fees and expenses that Employer is obligated to pay in any given calendar year
shall not affect the legal fees and expenses that Employer is obligated to pay
in any other calendar year, and the Executive’s right to have Employer pay such
legal fees and expenses may not be liquidated or exchanged for any other
benefit. Employer’s obligation to pay Executive’s eligible legal fees and
expenses under this Section 13 shall not be conditioned upon Executive’s
termination of employment.

Section 409A.

The amounts payable pursuant to Section 4 above are intended to be separate
payments that are exempt from Section 409A of the Code by reason of the
“short-term deferral” exception or the separation pay exceptions set forth in
Section 1.409A-1(b)(9)(iii) or Section 1.409A-1(b)(9)(v) of the Treasury
Regulations. To the extent that an amount payable under Section 4 does not
comply with any of these exceptions, then they shall be subject to the following
rules:

Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, if the
Executive is a “specified employee,” as determined under Employer’s policy for
determining specified employees on the date of his termination of employment,
then to the extent required in order to comply with Section 409A of the Code,
all payments, benefits or reimbursements paid or provided under this Agreement
that constitute a “deferral of compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A
of the Code, that are provided as a result of a “separation from service” within
the meaning of Section 409A and that would otherwise be paid or provided during
the first six months following the date of such termination of employment shall
be accumulated through and paid or provided (together with interest at the
applicable federal rate under Section 7872(f)(2)(A) of the Code in effect on the
date of termination of employment) within 30 days after the

 

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first business day following the six month anniversary of such termination of
employment (or, if the Executive dies during such six-month period, within 30
days after the Executive’s death).

The benefits described in paragraphs (e) and (g) of Section 4 that are taxable
benefits (and that are not disability pay or death benefit plans within the
meaning of Section 409A of the Code) are intended to comply, to the maximum
extent possible, with the exception to Section 409A of the Code set forth in
Section 1.409A-1(b)(9)(v) of the Treasury Regulations. To the extent that any of
those benefits either do not qualify for that exception, or are provided beyond
the applicable time periods set forth in Section 1.409A-1(b)(9)(v) of the
Treasury Regulations, then they shall be subject to the following additional
rules: (1) any reimbursement of eligible expenses shall be paid within 60
calendar days following Executive’s written request for reimbursement, or such
later date set forth in Section 14(a)(i); provided that the Executive provides
written notice no later than 75 calendar days prior to the last day of the
calendar year following the calendar year in which the expense was incurred so
that Employer can make the reimbursement within the time periods required by
Section 409A of the Code; (2) the amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement,
or in-kind benefits provided, during any calendar year shall not affect the
amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement, or in-kind benefits to be
provided, during any other calendar year; and (3) the right to reimbursement or
in-kind benefits shall not be subject to liquidation or exchange for another
benefit.

For purposes of this Agreement, the phrase “termination of employment” or words
or phrases of similar import shall mean a “separation from service” with the
Employer within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code. In this regard,
Employer and the Executive shall take all steps necessary (including with regard
to any post-termination services by the Executive) to ensure that (i) any
termination of employment under this Agreement constitutes a “separation from
service” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code, and (ii) the date on
which such separation from service takes place shall be the date of the
termination of employment for purposes of this Agreement.

It is intended that the payments and benefits provided under this Agreement
shall either be exempt from the application of, or comply with, the requirements
of Section 409A of the Code. This Agreement shall be construed, administered,
and governed in a manner that effects such intent, and the Employer shall not
take any action that would be inconsistent with such intent. Without limiting
the foregoing, the payments and benefits provided under this Agreement may not
be deferred, accelerated, extended, paid out or modified in a manner that would
result in the imposition of an additional tax under Section 409A of the Code
upon Executive. Although the Employer shall use its best efforts to avoid the
imposition of taxation, interest and penalties under Section 409A of the Code,
the tax treatment of the benefits provided under this Agreement is not warranted
or guaranteed. Neither the Employer, its Affiliates nor their respective
directors, officers, employees or advisers shall be held liable for any taxes,
interest, penalties or other monetary amounts owed by the Executive or other
taxpayer as a result of the Agreement.

 

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Waiver. No waiver by any party at any time of any breach by any other party of,
or compliance with, any condition or provision of this Agreement to be performed
by any other party shall be deemed a waiver of any other provisions or
conditions at the same time or at any prior or subsequent time.

Applicable Law. This Agreement shall be construed and interpreted pursuant to
the laws of Delaware.

Entire Agreement. This Agreement contains the entire Agreement between Employer
and Executive and supersedes any and all previous agreements, written or oral,
between the parties relating to severance benefits in the event of a Change in
Control. No amendment or modification of the terms of this Agreement shall be
binding upon the parties hereto unless reduced to writing and signed by Employer
and Executive.

No Employment Contract. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be construed
to be an employment contract between Executive and Employer. Executive is
employed at will and Employer may terminate his employment at any time, with or
without cause.

Severability. In the event any provision of this Agreement is held illegal or
invalid, the remaining provisions of this Agreement shall not be affected
thereby.

Employment with an Affiliate. If Executive is employed by Employer and an
Affiliate, or solely by an Affiliate, on the date of termination of employment
of Executive under circumstances described in Section 3, then (a) employment or
termination of employment as used in this Agreement shall mean employment or
termination of employment of Executive with Employer and such Affiliate, or with
such Affiliate, as applicable, and related references to Employer shall also
include Affiliate, as applicable, and (b) the obligations of Employer hereunder
shall be satisfied by Employer and/or such Affiliate as Employer, in its
discretion, shall determine; provided that Employer shall remain liable for such
obligations to the extent not satisfied by such Affiliate.

Successors. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the
parties hereto and their respective heirs, representatives and successors. Any
reference in this Agreement to Employer shall be deemed a reference to any
successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase of stock or assets, merger or
consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business and/or
assets of Employer; provided that Executive’s employment by a successor Employer
shall not be deemed a termination of Executive’s employment with Employer
(unless otherwise required in order to comply with the definition of “separation
from service” under Section 409A of the Code).

 

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Non-exclusivity. Except with respect to agreements regarding severance payments
described in Section 17, the provisions of this Agreement shall not reduce any
amounts otherwise payable, or in any way diminish Executive’s existing rights,
or rights which would accrue solely as a result of the passage of time, under
any other employment agreement or other contract, plan or arrangement with
Employer or an Affiliate.

Notice. Notices required under this Agreement shall be in writing and sent by
registered mail, return receipt requested, to the following addresses or to such
other address as the party being notified may have previously furnished to the
others by written notice.

 

   If to Employer:      Newell Rubbermaid Inc.            3 Glenlake Parkway   
        Atlanta, Georgia 30328            Attention: General Counsel      

If to Executive:

    

 

          

 

          

 

  

Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which
shall be deemed an original.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Employment Security Agreement
as of the day and year written above.

 

NEWELL RUBBERMAID INC.

By:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

EXECUTIVE

 

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