Exhibit 10.4

— AGREEMENT AND GENERAL RELEASE —

          MICHAEL A. BLESS and ROCKWELL AUTOMATION, INC. have reached the
following Agreement. In this Agreement, “EMPLOYEE” refers to Michael A. Bless,
and “COMPANY” refers to Rockwell Automation, Inc.

     FIRST: Benefits.

     EMPLOYEE and COMPANY agree that EMPLOYEE will cease actively working for
COMPANY as of the close of business on January 31, 2004. Thereafter, EMPLOYEE
will remain on COMPANY’S active payroll for 24 months from January 31, 2004,
through the close of business on January 31, 2006 (hereafter referred to as his
“salary continuation” period), at which time EMPLOYEE will be placed on layoff.
EMPLOYEE will receive no additional pay or notice at the time of his layoff.
During his salary continuation period, EMPLOYEE will be paid at his current
monthly base salary rate as of January 31, 2004. EMPLOYEE will not be expected
to perform any work for COMPANY during his salary continuation period and will
not accrue vacation. In lieu of Stock Option Grant in October 2003, Employee
will receive a payment of $175,000, less all applicable federal, state and local
taxes and other applicable deductions on January 31, 2004; EMPLOYEE further
understands and agrees that he will not receive any further stock option grants.
EMPLOYEE acknowledges and agrees that the Change of Control Agreement between
him and COMPANY dated June 29, 2001 , is no longer valid or operative, and
EMPLOYEE further acknowledges and agrees that he is no longer entitled to any of
the benefits or

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

provisions of that Change of Control Agreement. EMPLOYEE will receive a pro-rata
(4/12ths) Fiscal Year 2004 Incentive Compensation (“ICP”) less all applicable
federal, state, and local taxes and other applicable deductions. EMPLOYEE
further understands and agrees that he will not receive any Fiscal Year 2005 or
2006 ICP.

     Further, EMPLOYEE will also be provided the following:

•   Relocation provisions as detailed in the attachment.   •   Eligibility to
participate in the COMPANY savings plan through January 31, 2006.   •   Medical
benefits coverage and officer dental, vision and liability insurance benefits
through January 31, 2006.   •   Payment of all unused vacation accrued during
EMPLOYEE’S employment with COMPANY through January 31, 2004.

     SECOND: No Obligation to Provide These Benefits Under Normal Policies.

     EMPLOYEE acknowledges that, under COMPANY’S normal policies and procedures
and absent this Agreement, he would not be entitled to receive any salary
continuation and/or benefits between the date he stops performing work for
COMPANY and the date of his layoff; he would not be eligible to participate in
the COMPANY’S savings plan for 24 months between the date he stops performing
work for COMPANY and the date of his layoff; and he would not be entitled to
relocation benefits, which benefits are set forth in Paragraph First.

-2-

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

     THIRD: Complete Mutual Release

     EMPLOYEE and COMPANY agree to release each other and each of their
predecessors, successors and assigns, any subsidiaries, any related companies,
and the employees, directors, officials, agents, officers, representatives and
attorneys of any of them, from all claims or demands EMPLOYEE or COMPANY may
have based on EMPLOYEE’S employment with COMPANY or the termination of that
employment. This includes, but is not limited to, a release of any rights or
claims EMPLOYEE may have under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 or
under any other federal, state or local laws or regulations prohibiting
employment discrimination. This also includes, but is not limited to, a release
by EMPLOYEE of any claims for breach of contract or wrongful discharge.
Furthermore, this includes a release by EMPLOYEE of any claims under the
Wisconsin Workers’ Compensation statutes, or any other applicable state workers
compensation statutes, only as to injuries, if any, incurred prior to the date
of this Agreement. This release covers both claims that EMPLOYEE and COMPANY
know about and those they may not know about. and for the purpose of
implementing a full and complete release, EMPLOYEE and COMPANY expressly
acknowledge that this Agreement is intended to include all claims which they do
not know or suspect to exist in their favor at the time of their signatures on
the Agreement, and that this Agreement will extinguish any such claims.

     This release does not include, however, a release of EMPLOYEE’S rights, if
any, to pension, retiree, health or similar benefits under the COMPANY’S
standard retirement program, to EMPLOYEE’S rights under COMPANY’S stock option
plans, or to any claims arising after he signs this Agreement.

-3-

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

     FOURTH: No Future Lawsuits.

     EMPLOYEE promises never to file a lawsuit or request arbitration asserting
any claims that are released in the Third Paragraph.

     FIFTH: Consequences of Party’s Violation of Promises.

     If a party breaks its or his promise in the Fourth Paragraph of this
Agreement and files a lawsuit, request for arbitration or other claim or action
based on legal claims that the party has released, that party will pay for all
costs incurred by the other party, any related companies or the directors or
employees of any of them, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, in defending
against the claim.

     SIXTH: Confidentiality and Cooperation.

     EMPLOYEE and COMPANY agree not to make the existence or terms of this
Agreement and General Release public except as may be necessary to protect the
rights contained herein.

     Further, EMPLOYEE agrees to reasonable cooperation with COMPANY in the
defense or prosecution of any litigation, arbitration, or claim against or by
any person or party. COMPANY agrees to pay EMPLOYEE’S reasonable, documented,
out-of-pocket expenses in providing any such cooperation pursuant to the terms
of this Paragraph. EMPLOYEE shall not, however, be paid for his time or
inconvenience in providing cooperation pursuant to the terms of this Paragraph.
Employee shall be entitled to indemnification by COMPANY for any activities for
which indemnification is required under COMPANY Bylaws or otherwise.

-4-

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

     SEVENTH: Period for Review and Consideration of Agreement.

     EMPLOYEE understands that EMPLOYEE has been given a period of 21 days to
review and consider this Agreement before signing it. EMPLOYEE further
understands that EMPLOYEE may use as much of this 21-day period as EMPLOYEE
wishes prior to signing.

     EIGHTH: Non-Admission of Liability.

     By making this Agreement, neither the EMPLOYEE nor COMPANY admits that he
or it has done anything wrong.

     NINTH: Representation By Counsel.

     EMPLOYEE was advised by COMPANY to consult with an attorney before signing
this Agreement.

     TENTH: Arbitration.

     Any and all disputes regarding this Agreement will be resolved by binding
Arbitration pursuant to the “Mutual Agreement to Arbitrate Claims” between
EMPLOYEE and COMPANY, such arbitration to take place at the American Arbitration
Association’s offices nearest to COMPANY’S Milwaukee, Wisconsin Headquarters.

-5-

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

     ELEVENTH: Entire Agreement.

     This is the entire Agreement between EMPLOYEE and COMPANY. COMPANY has made
no promises to EMPLOYEE other than those in this Agreement.

EMPLOYEE ACKNOWLEDGES THAT HE HAS READ THIS AGREEMENT, UNDERSTANDS IT AND IS
ENTERING INTO IT VOLUNTARILY. PLEASE READ THIS AGREEMENT CAREFULLY. IT CONTAINS
A RELEASE OF ALL KNOWN AND UNKNOWN CLAIMS. THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT TAKE EFFECT
FOR SEVEN (7) DAYS AFTER EMPLOYEE SIGNS IT.

                  ROCKWELL AUTOMATION, INC.   EMPLOYEE
 
                By:   /s/ Nanette R. Clements   /s/ Michael A. Bless    

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

   

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

      NANETTE R. CLEMENTS   MICHAEL A. BLESS
 
               

  Date:   27 January, 2004   Date:   27 January, 2004

     

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

       

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

-6-