EX-10.28



 





POLO RALPH LAUREN CORPORATION




EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT




          THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) is made effective as of the 26th day of March,
2007 (the “Effective Date”), by and between Polo Ralph Lauren Corporation, a Delaware corporation
(the “Corporation”), and Tracey Travis (the “Executive”).




          WHEREAS, the Executive has been employed with the Corporation pursuant to an Employment
Agreement dated January 3, 2005 (the “2005 Employment Agreement”); and




          WHEREAS, the Corporation and Executive wish to amend and restate such 2005 Employment
Agreement effective as of the date hereof; and




          In consideration of the mutual covenants and premises contained herein, the parties hereby
agree as follows:




ARTICLE I

EMPLOYMENT




          1.1 Employment Term. The Corporation hereby agrees to employ the Executive, and the
Executive hereby agrees to serve the Corporation, on the terms and conditions set forth herein.
The employment of the Executive by the Corporation shall be effective as of the date hereof and
continue until the close of business on the third anniversary of the Effective Date of this
Agreement (the “Term”), unless terminated earlier in accordance with Article II hereof.




          1.2 Position and Duties. During the Term the Executive shall faithfully, and in
conformity with the directions of the Board of Directors of the Corporation and any Committee
thereof (the “Board”) or the management of the Corporation (“Management”), perform the duties of
her employment, and shall devote to the performance of such duties her full time and attention.
During the Term the Executive shall serve in such position as the Board or Management may from time
to time direct. During the Term, the Executive may engage in outside activities provided those
activities do not conflict with the duties and responsibilities enumerated hereunder, and provided
further that the Executive receives written approval in advance from Management for any outside
business activity that may require significant expenditure of the Executive’s time in which the
Executive plans to become involved, whether or not such activity is pursued for profit. The
Executive shall be excused from performing any services hereunder during periods of temporary
incapacity and during vacations in accordance with the Corporation’s disability and vacation
policies.




          1.3 Place of Performance. The Executive shall be employed at the principal offices of
the Corporation located in New York, New York, except for required travel on the Corporation’s
business.




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           1.4 Compensation and Related Matters.



               (a) Base Compensation. In consideration of her services during the Term, the
Corporation shall pay the Executive cash compensation at an annual rate of not less than six
hundred seventy-five thousand dollars ($675,000) (“Base Compensation”), less applicable
withholdings. Executive’s Base Compensation shall be subject to such increases as may be approved
by the Board or Management. The Base Compensation shall be payable as current salary, in
installments not less frequently than monthly, and at the same rate for any fraction of a month
unexpired at the end of the Term.



               (b) Bonus. During the Term, the Executive shall have the opportunity to earn an
annual bonus in accordance with any annual bonus program the Corporation maintains that would be
applicable to the Executive.



               (c) Stock Awards. During the Term, the Executive shall be eligible to participate in
the Polo Ralph Lauren Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan (the “Incentive Plan”). All grants of stock
options and restricted performance share units (“RPSUs”), if any, are governed by the terms of the
Incentive Plan and subject to approval by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors.



               (d) Car Allowance. During the Term, the Corporation shall pay Executive a car
allowance in the amount of one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500) per month, less applicable
withholdings.



               (e) Expenses. During the Term, the Executive shall be entitled to receive prompt
reimbursement for all reasonable expenses incurred by the Executive in performing services
hereunder, including all reasonable expenses of travel and living while away from home,
provided that such expenses are incurred and accounted for in accordance with the policies
and procedures established by the Corporation.



               (f) Vacations. During the Term, the Executive shall be entitled to the number of
vacation days in each fiscal year, and to compensation in respect of earned but unused vacation
days, determined in accordance with the Corporation’s vacation program. The Executive shall also
be entitled to all paid holidays given by the Corporation to its employees.



               (g) Other Benefits. The Executive shall be entitled to participate in all of the
Corporation’s employee benefit plans and programs in effect during the Term as would by their terms
be applicable to the Executive, including, without limitation, any deferred compensation plan,
incentive plan, stock option plan, life insurance plan, medical insurance plan, dental care plan,
accidental death and disability plan, financial counseling program and sick/personal leave program.
The Corporation shall not make any changes in such plans or programs that would adversely affect
the Executive’s benefits thereunder, unless such change occurs pursuant to a plan or program
applicable to other similarly situated employees of the Corporation and does not result in a
proportionately greater reduction in the rights or benefits of the Executive as compared with other
similarly situated employees of the Corporation. Except as otherwise specifically provided herein,
nothing paid to the Executive under any plan or program



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presently in effect or made available in the future shall be in lieu of the Base Compensation
or any bonus payable under Sections 1.4(a) and 1.4(b) hereof.



ARTICLE II

TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT




          2.1 Termination of Employment. The Executive’s employment may terminate prior to the
expiration of the Term under the following circumstances:




               (a) Without Cause. The Executive’s employment shall terminate upon the Corporation’s
notifying the Executive that her services will no longer be required.



               (b) Death. The Executive’s employment shall terminate upon the Executive’s death.



               (c) Disability. If, as a result of the Executive’s incapacity due to physical or
mental illness, the Executive shall have been absent and unable to perform the duties hereunder on
a full-time basis for an entire period of six consecutive months, the Executive’s employment may be
terminated by the Corporation following such six-month period.



               (d) Cause. The Corporation may terminate the Executive’s employment for Cause. For
purposes hereof, “Cause” shall mean:



                    (i) deliberate or intentional failure by the Executive to substantially perform the material
duties of the Executive hereunder (other than due to disability as defined in 2.1(c)); or



                    (ii) an act of fraud, embezzlement, theft, breach of fiduciary duty, dishonesty, or any other
misconduct or any violation of law (other than a traffic violation) committed by the Executive; or



                    (iii) intentional wrongful damage to material assets of the Corporation; or



                    (iv) the Executive’s intentional wrongful disclosure of confidential information of the
Corporation or any of its affiliates; or



                    (v) the Executive’s intentional wrongful engagement in any competitive activity which would
constitute a breach of this Agreement and/or of the Executive’s duty of loyalty; or



                    (vi) the Executive’s intentional breach of any material employment policy of the Corporation;
or



                    (vii) performance by the Executive of her employment duties in a manner deemed by the
Corporation, in its sole discretion, to be grossly negligent; or



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                    (viii) the commission of any act by the Executive, whether or not performed in the workplace,
which subjects or, if publicly known, would be likely to subject the Corporation to public ridicule
or embarrassment, or would likely be detrimental or damaging to the Corporation’s reputation,
goodwill, or relationships with its customers, suppliers, vendors, or employees.


No act, or failure to act, on the part of the Executive shall be deemed “intentional” if it was due
primarily to an error in judgment or negligence, but shall be deemed “intentional” only if done, or
omitted to be done, by the Executive not in good faith and without reasonable belief that her
action or omission was in, or not opposed to, the best interest of the Corporation. Failure to
meet performance standards or objectives of the Corporation shall not constitute Cause for purposes
hereof.




               (e) Voluntary Termination. The Executive may voluntarily terminate the Executive’s
employment with the Corporation at any time, with or without Good Reason. For purposes of this
Agreement, “Good Reason” shall mean (A) a material diminution in or adverse alteration to
Executive’s title, base salary, position or duties, including no longer reporting to Ralph Lauren,
Chief Executive Officer, or Roger Farah, Chief Operating Officer, (B) the relocation of the
Executive’s principal office outside the area which comprises a fifty (50) mile radius from New
York City, or (C) a failure of the Corporation to comply with any material provision of this
Agreement provided that the events described in clauses (A), (B), and (C) above shall not
constitute Good Reason unless and until such diminution, change, reduction or failure (as
applicable) has not been cured within thirty (30) days after written notice of such noncompliance
has been given by the Executive to the Corporation.



          2.2 Date of Termination. The date of termination shall be:




               (a) if the Executive’s employment is terminated by the Executive’s death, the date of the
Executive’s death;



               (b) if the Executive’s employment is terminated by reason of Executive’s Disability or by the
Corporation pursuant to Sections 2.1(a) or 2.1(d), the date specified by the Corporation; and



               (c) if the Executive’s employment is terminated by the Executive, the date on which the
Executive notifies the Corporation of her termination.



          2.3 Effect of Termination of Employment.




               (a) If the Executive’s employment is terminated by the Corporation pursuant to Section 2.1(a),
or if the Executive resigns for Good Reason pursuant to Section 2.1(e), the Executive shall only be
entitled to the following:



                    (i) Severance. Subject to Section 4.1(a) hereof, the Corporation shall: (a) continue
to pay the Executive, in accordance with the Corporation’s
normal payroll practice, her Base Compensation, as in effect immediately prior to such
termination of employment, for the longer of the balance of the Term or the one-year period
commencing on the date of such termination (whichever period is applicable shall be referred to



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herein as the “Severance Period”); and (b) pay to the Executive, on the last business day of the
Severance Period, an amount equal to the bonus paid to the Executive for the fiscal year prior to
the fiscal year in which her employment is terminated. If the Corporation has not paid any such
bonus to the Executive, then the Corporation shall not be obligated to make any bonus payment to
the Executive. Under no circumstances shall the Executive be entitled to any pro-rated bonus
payment for the fiscal year in which her employment is terminated. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
in order to receive any severance benefits under this Section 2.3(a)(i), the Executive must sign
and not timely revoke a release and waiver of claims against the Corporation, its successors,
affiliates, and assigns, in a form acceptable to the Corporation.



                    (ii) Stock Awards. The Executive’s rights with respect to any stock options and RPSUs
provided to the Executive by the Corporation shall be governed by the provisions of the
Corporation’s Incentive Plan and the respective award agreements, if any, under which such awards
were granted, except as provided in Section 4.1(a).



                    (iii) Welfare Plan Coverages. The Executive shall continue to participate during the
Severance Period in any group medical or dental insurance plan she participated in prior to the
date of his termination, under substantially similar terms and conditions as an active employee;
provided that participation in such group medical or dental insurance plan shall only
continue for as long as permitted under COBRA and further, shall correspondingly cease at such time
as the Executive (a) becomes eligible for a future employer’s medical and/or dental insurance
coverage (or would become eligible if the Executive did not waive coverage) or (b) violates any of
the provisions of Article III as determined by the Corporation in its sole discretion.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Executive may not continue to participate in such plans on a
pre-tax or tax-favored basis.



                    (iv) Retirement Plans. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, it is
specifically provided that the Executive shall not accrue additional benefits under any pension
plan of the Corporation (whether or not qualified under Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986, as amended) during the Severance Period.



                    (v) Section 409A. This Agreement is not intended to constitute a “nonqualified
deferred compensation plan” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986, as amended, and the rules and regulations issued thereunder (the “Code”). The above payment
structure is based on the Corporation’s current understanding of its applicable requirements under
Section 409A of the Code. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any payments of money or other
benefits due to Executive hereunder could reasonably be expected to cause the application of an
accelerated or additional tax under Section 409A of the Code, such payments or other benefits shall
be restructured in the sole discretion of the Corporation in a manner which does not cause such an
accelerated or additional tax.



               (b) If the Executive’s employment is terminated by reason of the Executive’s death or
Disability, pursuant to Sections 2.1(b) and 2.1(c), the Executive (or the Executive’s designee or
estate) shall only be entitled to whatever welfare plans benefits are
available to the Executive pursuant to the welfare plans the Executive participated in prior
to such termination, and whatever stock awards may have been provided to the Executive by the
Corporation the terms of which shall be governed by the provisions of the Corporation’s



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Incentive Plan and the respective award agreements, if any, under which such stock awards were provided.



               (c) If the Executive’s employment is terminated by the Corporation for Cause or by the
Executive without Good Reason (as defined in Section 2.1(e)), the Executive shall receive only that
portion of the Executive’s then current Base Compensation payable through the Executive’s
termination date. The Executive’s rights with respect to any stock awards provided to the
Executive by the Corporation shall be governed by the provisions of the Corporation’s Incentive
Plan and the respective award agreements, if any, under which such stock awards were provided.



ARTICLE III

COVENANTS OF THE EXECUTIVE 




          3.1 Non-Compete.




               (a) The Corporation and the Executive acknowledge that: (i) the Corporation has a special
interest in and derives significant benefit from the unique skills and experience of the Executive;
(ii) the Executive will use and have access to proprietary and valuable Confidential Information
(as defined in Section 3.2 hereof) during the course of the Executive’s employment; and (iii) the
agreements and covenants contained herein are essential to protect the business and goodwill of the
Corporation or any of its subsidiaries, affiliates or licensees. Accordingly, except as
hereinafter noted, the Executive covenants and agrees that during the Term, and for the remainder
of such Term following the termination of Executive’s employment, the Executive shall not provide
any labor, work, services or assistance (whether as an officer, director, employee, partner, agent,
owner, independent contractor, consultant, stockholder or otherwise) to a “Competing Business.”
For purposes hereof, “Competing Business” shall mean any business engaged in the designing,
marketing or distribution of premium lifestyle products, including but not limited to apparel,
home, accessories and fragrance products, which competes in any material respects with the
Corporation or any of its subsidiaries, affiliates or licensees, and shall include, without
limitation, those brands and companies that the Corporation and the Executive have jointly
designated in writing on the date hereof, which is incorporated herein by reference and which is
attached as Schedule A, as being in competition with the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries or
affiliates as of the date hereof. Thus, Executive specifically acknowledges that Executive
understands that, except as provided in Section 3.1(b) she may not become employed by any Competing
Business in any capacity during the Term.



               (b) The non-compete provisions of this Section shall no longer be applicable to Executive if
she has been notified pursuant to Section 2.1(a) hereof that her services will no longer be
required during the Term or if the Executive has terminated her employment for Good Reason pursuant
to Section 2.1(e) or if the Corporation elects in its sole discretion not to extend the Term for
any reason other than for Cause.



               (c) It is acknowledged by the Executive that the Corporation has determined to relieve the
Executive from any obligation of non-competition for periods after the Term, and/or if the
Corporation terminates the Executive’s employment under Section 2.1(a) or if the Executive has
terminated her employment for Good Reason pursuant to Section 2.1(e) or if



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the Corporation elects
in its sole discretion not to extend the Term for any reason other than for Cause. In
consideration of that, and in consideration of all of the compensation provisions in this Agreement
(including the potential for the award of stock options and/or RPSUs that may be made to the
Executive), Executive agrees to the provisions of Section 3.1 and also agrees that the
non-competition obligations imposed herein are fair and reasonable under all the circumstances.



          3.2 Confidential Information.




               (a) The Corporation owns and has developed and compiled, and will own, develop and compile,
certain proprietary techniques and confidential information as described below which have great
value to its business (referred to in this Agreement, collectively, as “Confidential Information”).
Confidential Information includes not only information disclosed by the Corporation and/or its
affiliates, subsidiaries and licensees to Executive, but also information developed or learned by
Executive during the course of, or as a result of, employment hereunder, which information
Executive acknowledges is and shall be the sole and exclusive property of the Corporation.
Confidential Information includes all proprietary information that has or could have commercial
value or other utility in the business in which the Corporation is engaged or contemplates
engaging, and all proprietary information the unauthorized disclosure of which could be detrimental
to the interests of the Corporation. Whether or not such information is specifically labeled as
Confidential Information by the Corporation is not determinative. By way of example and without
limitation, Confidential Information includes any and all information developed, obtained or owned
by the Corporation and/or its subsidiaries, affiliates or licensees concerning trade secrets,
techniques, know-how (including designs, plans, procedures, processes and research records),
software, computer programs, innovations, discoveries, improvements, research, development, test
results, reports, specifications, data, formats, marketing data and plans, business plans,
strategies, forecasts, unpublished financial information, orders, agreements and other forms of
documents, price and cost information, merchandising opportunities, expansion plans, designs, store
plans, budgets, projections, customer, supplier and subcontractor identities, characteristics and
agreements, and salary, staffing and employment information. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
Confidential Information shall not in any event include (A) Executive’s personal knowledge and
know-how relating to merchandising and business techniques which Executive has developed over her
career in the apparel business and of which Executive was aware prior to her employment, or (B)
information which (i) was generally known or generally available to the public prior to its
disclosure to Executive; (ii) becomes generally known or generally available to the public
subsequent to disclosure to Executive through no wrongful act of any person or (iii) which
Executive is required to disclose by applicable law or regulation (provided that Executive provides
the Corporation with prior notice of the contemplated disclosure and reasonably cooperates with the
Corporation at the Corporation’s expense in seeking a protective order or other appropriate
protection of such information).



               (b) Executive acknowledges and agrees that in the performance of her duties hereunder the
Corporation will from time to time disclose to Executive and entrust
Executive with Confidential Information. Executive also acknowledges and agrees that the
unauthorized disclosure of Confidential Information, among other things, may be prejudicial to the
Corporation’s interests, and an improper disclosure of trade secrets. Executive agrees that she
shall not, directly or indirectly, use, make available, sell, disclose or otherwise communicate



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to any corporation, partnership, individual or other third party, other than in the course of her
assigned duties and for the benefit of the Corporation, any Confidential Information, either during
her Term of employment or thereafter.



               (c) The Executive agrees that upon leaving the Corporation’s employ, the Executive shall not
take with the Executive any software, computer programs, disks, tapes, research, development,
strategies, designs, reports, study, memoranda, books, papers, plans, information, letters,
e-mails, or other documents or data reflecting any Confidential Information of the Corporation, its
subsidiaries, affiliates or licensees.



               (d) During Executive’s Term of employment, Executive shall disclose to the Corporation all
designs, inventions and business strategies or plans developed for the Corporation, including
without limitation any process, operation, product or improvement. Executive agrees that all of
the foregoing are and shall be the sole and exclusive property of the Corporation and that
Executive shall at the Corporation’s request and cost do whatever is necessary to secure the rights
thereto, by patent, copyright or otherwise, to the Corporation



          3.3 Non-Solicitation of Employees. The Executive covenants and agrees that during the
Term, and for the remainder of such Term following the termination of Executive’s employment for
any reason whatsoever hereunder, the Executive shall not directly or indirectly solicit or
influence any other employee of the Corporation, or any of its subsidiaries, affiliates or
licensees, to terminate such employee’s employment with the Corporation, or any of its
subsidiaries, affiliates or licensees, as the case may be, or to become employed by a Competing
Business. As used herein, “solicit” shall include, without limitation, requesting, encouraging,
enticing, assisting, or causing, directly or indirectly.




          3.4 Nondisparagement. The Executive agrees that during the Term and thereafter whether
or not she is receiving any amounts pursuant to Sections 2.3 and 4.1, the Executive shall not make
any statements or comments that reasonably could be considered to shed an adverse light on the
business or reputation of the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries, affiliates or licensees, the
Board or any officer of the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries, affiliates or licensees;
provided, however, the foregoing limitation shall not apply to (i) compliance with legal process or
subpoena, or (ii) statements in response to inquiry from a court or regulatory body. The
Corporation agrees that during the Term and thereafter, the Corporation shall not make any
statements or comments that reasonably could be considered to shed an adverse light on the
reputation of the Executive; provided, however, the foregoing limitation shall not apply to (i)
compliance with legal process or subpoena, or (ii) statements in response to inquiry from a court
or regulatory body.




          3.5 Remedies.




               (a) The Executive acknowledges and agrees that in the event the Corporation reasonably
determines that the Executive has breached any provision of this Article
III, that such conduct will constitute a failure of the consideration for which stock awards
had been granted, and notwithstanding the terms of any stock award agreement, plan document, or
other provision of this Agreement to the contrary, the Corporation may notify the Executive that
she may not exercise any unexercised stock options and/or the Corporation may rescind any



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RPSUs she
has received. Further, the Executive shall immediately forfeit the right to vest in any unvested
RPSUs and to exercise any stock options of the Corporation that remain unexercised at the time of
such notice and Executive waives any right to assert that any such conduct by the Corporation
violates any federal or state statute, case law or policy.



               (b) If the Corporation reasonably determines that the Executive has breached any provision
contained in this Article III, the Corporation shall have no further obligation to make any payment
or provide any benefit whatsoever to the Executive pursuant to this Agreement, and may also recover
from the Executive all such damages as it may be entitled to at law or in equity. In addition, the
Executive acknowledges that any such breach is likely to result in immediate and irreparable harm
to the Corporation for which money damages are likely to be inadequate. Accordingly, the Executive
consents to injunctive and other appropriate equitable relief upon the institution of proceedings
therefor by the Corporation in order to protect the Corporation’s rights hereunder. Such relief
may include, without limitation, an injunction to prevent: (i) the breach or continuation of
Executive’s breach; (ii) the Executive from disclosing any trade secrets or Confidential
Information (as defined in Section 3.2); (iii) any Competing Business from receiving from the
Executive or using any such trade secrets or Confidential Information; and/or (iv) any such
Competing Business from retaining or seeking to retain any employees of the Corporation.



          3.6 The provisions of this Article III shall survive the termination of this Agreement and
Executive’s Term of employment.




ARTICLE IV

CHANGE IN CONTROL




          4.1 Change in Control.




               (a) Effect of a Change in Control. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the
contrary, if the Executive’s employment is terminated within 12 months following a Change in
Control (as defined in Section 4.1(b) hereof) during the Term by the Corporation for any reason
other than Cause, then:



                    (i) Severance. The Corporation shall pay to the Executive, in lieu of any amounts
otherwise due her under Section 2.3(a) hereof, within 15 days of the Executive’s termination of
employment, a lump sum amount equal to two times the sum of: (A) the Executive’s Base Compensation,
as in effect immediately prior to such termination of employment; and (B) the bonus paid to the
Executive for the fiscal year prior to the fiscal year in which her employment is terminated.



                    (ii) Stock Awards. The Executive shall immediately become vested in any unvested
stock options granted to the Executive by the Corporation prior to the Change in Control and
Executive will have six (6) months from the date of termination under
this circumstance to exercise all vested options. Any RPSU awards which are unvested shall be
deemed vested immediately prior to such Change in Control.



               (b) Definition. For purposes hereof, a “Change in Control” shall mean the occurrence
of any of the following: (i) the sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition,



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in one or
a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the assets of the Corporation to
any “person” or “group” (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d)(3) and 14(d)(2) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (“Act”)) other than Permitted Holders; (ii) any person or group, other than
Permitted Holders, is or becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under
the Act, except that a person shall be deemed to have “beneficial ownership” of all shares that any
such person has the right to acquire, whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after
the passage of time), directly or indirectly, of more than 50 percent of the total voting power of
the voting stock of the Corporation, including by way of merger, consolidation or otherwise; (iii)
during any period of two consecutive years, Present and/or New Directors cease for any reason to
constitute a majority of the Board; or (iv) the Permitted Holders’ beneficial ownership of the
total voting power of the voting stock of the Corporation falls below 30 percent and either Ralph
Lauren is not nominated for a position on the Board of Directors, or he stands for election to the
Board of Directors and is not elected. For purposes of this Section 4.1(b), the following terms
have the meanings indicated: “Permitted Holders” shall mean, as of the date of determination: (A)
any and all of Ralph Lauren, his spouse, his siblings and their spouses, and descendants of them
(whether natural or adopted) (collectively, the “Lauren Group”); and (B) any trust established and
maintained primarily for the benefit of any member of the Lauren Group and any entity controlled by
any member of the Lauren Group. “Present Directors” shall mean individuals who at the beginning of
any such two consecutive year period were members of the Board. “New Directors” shall mean any
directors whose election by the Board or whose nomination for election by the shareholders of the
Corporation was approved by a vote of a majority of the directors of the Corporation who, at the
time of such vote, were either Present Directors or New Directors.



               (c) Excise Tax Gross-Up. If the Executive becomes entitled to one or more payments
(with a “payment” including the vesting of restricted stock, a stock option, or other non-cash
benefit or property), whether pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or any other plan or
agreement with the Corporation or any affiliated company (collectively, “Change of Control
Payments”), which are or become subject to the tax (“Excise Tax”) imposed by Section 4999 of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), the Corporation shall pay to the Executive
at the time specified below such amount (the “Gross-up Payment”) as may be necessary to place the
Executive in the same after-tax position as if no portion of the Change of Control Payments and any
amounts paid to the Executive pursuant to this paragraph 4.1(c) had been subject to the Excise Tax.
The Gross-up Payment shall include, without limitation, reimbursement for any penalties and
interest that may accrue in respect of such Excise Tax. For purposes of determining the amount of
the Gross-up Payment, the Executive shall be deemed: (A) to pay federal income taxes at the highest
marginal rate of federal income taxation for the year in which the Gross-up Payment is to be made;
and (B) to pay any applicable state and local income taxes at the highest marginal rate of taxation
for the calendar year in which the Gross-up Payment is to be made, net of the maximum reduction in
federal income taxes which could be obtained from deduction of such state and local taxes if paid
in such year. If the Excise Tax is subsequently determined to be less than the amount taken into
account hereunder at the time the
Gross-up Payment is made, the Executive shall repay to the Corporation at the time that the
amount of such reduction in Excise Tax is finally determined (but, if previously paid to the taxing
authorities, not prior to the time the amount of such reduction is refunded to the Executive or
otherwise realized as a benefit by the Executive) the portion of the Gross-up Payment that would
not have been paid if such Excise Tax had been used in initially calculating the Gross-up



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Payment,
plus interest on the amount of such repayment at the rate provided in Section 1274(b)(2)(B) of the
Code. In the event that the Excise Tax is determined to exceed the amount taken into account
hereunder at the time the Gross-up Payment is made, the Corporation shall make an additional
Gross-up Payment in respect of such excess (plus any interest and penalties payable with respect to
such excess) at the time that the amount of such excess is finally determined.



                    The Gross-up Payment provided for above shall be paid on the 30th day (or such
earlier date as the Excise Tax becomes due and payable to the taxing authorities) after it has been
determined that the Change of Control Payments (or any portion thereof) are subject to the Excise
Tax; provided, however, that if the amount of such Gross-up Payment or portion
thereof cannot be finally determined on or before such day, the Corporation shall pay to the
Executive on such day an estimate, as determined by counsel or auditors selected by the Corporation
and reasonably acceptable to the Executive, of the minimum amount of such payments. The
Corporation shall pay to the Executive the remainder of such payments (together with interest at
the rate provided in Section 1274(b)(2)(B) of the Code) as soon as the amount thereof can be
determined. In the event that the amount of the estimated payments exceeds the amount subsequently
determined to have been due, such excess shall constitute a loan by the Corporation to the
Executive, payable on the fifth day after demand by the Corporation (together with interest at the
rate provided in Section 1274(b)(2)(B) of the Code). The Corporation shall have the right to
control all proceedings with the Internal Revenue Service that may arise in connection with the
determination and assessment of any Excise Tax and, at its sole option, the Corporation may pursue
or forego any and all administrative appeals, proceedings, hearings, and conferences with any
taxing authority in respect of such Excise Tax (including any interest or penalties thereon);
provided, however, that the Corporation’s control over any such proceedings shall
be limited to issues with respect to which a Gross-up Payment would be payable hereunder, and the
Executive shall be entitled to settle or contest any other issue raised by the Internal Revenue
Service or any other taxing authority. The Executive shall cooperate with the Corporation in any
proceedings relating to the determination and assessment of any Excise Tax and shall not take any
position or action that would materially increase the amount of any Gross-up Payment hereunder.



ARTICLE V

MISCELLANEOUS




          5.1 Notice. For the purposes of this Agreement, notices, demands and all other
communications provided for in the Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been
duly given when delivered by hand or by facsimile or mailed by United States registered mail,
return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed as follows:




	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	If to the Executive:
	 	Tracey Travis
	 

	 	 	 	ADDRESS REDACTED
	 
	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	If to the Corporation:
	 	Polo Ralph Lauren Corporation
	 

	 	 	 	650 Madison Avenue
	 

	 	 	 	New York, New York 10022
	 

	 	 	 	Attn: Mitchell A. Kosh






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	 	 	 	Senior Vice President — Human Resources & Legal
	 

	 	 	 	Fax: (212) 318-7277





or to such other address as any party may have furnished to the other in writing in accordance
herewith, except that notices of change of address shall be effective only upon receipt.




          5.2 Modification or Waiver; Entire Agreement. No provision of this Agreement may be
modified or waived except in a document signed by the Executive and the Corporation. This
Agreement, along with any documents incorporated herein by reference, constitute the entire
agreement between the parties regarding their employment relationship and supersede all prior
agreements, promises, covenants, representations or warranties, including the 2005 Employment
Agreement. To the extent that this Agreement is in any way inconsistent with any prior or
contemporaneous stock award agreements between the parties, this Agreement shall control. No
agreements or representations, oral or otherwise, with respect to the subject matter hereof have
been made by either party that are not set forth expressly in this Agreement. Any extensions or
renewals of this Agreement must be in writing and must be agreed to by both the Corporation and the
Executive.




          5.3 Governing Law. The validity, interpretation, construction, performance, and
enforcement of this Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of New York without
reference to New York’s choice of law rules. In the event of any dispute, the Executive agrees to
submit to the jurisdiction of any court sitting in New York State.




          5.4 No Mitigation or Offset. In the event the Executive’s employment with the
Corporation terminates for any reason, the Executive shall not be obligated to seek other
employment following such termination and there shall be no offset of the payments or benefits set
forth herein.




          5.5 Withholding. All payments required to be made by the Corporation hereunder to the
Executive or the Executive’s estate or beneficiaries shall be subject to the withholding of such
amounts as the Corporation may reasonably determine it should withhold pursuant to any applicable
law.




          5.6 Attorney’s Fees. Each party shall bear its own attorney’s fees and costs incurred
in any action or dispute arising out of this Agreement and/or the employment relationship.




          5.7 No Conflict. Executive represents and warrants that she is not party to any
agreement, contract, understanding, covenant, judgment or decree or under any obligation,
contractual or otherwise, in any way restricting or adversely affecting her ability to act for the
Corporation in all of the respects contemplated hereby.




          5.8 Enforceability. Each of the covenants and agreements set forth in this Agreement
are separate and independent covenants, each of which has been separately bargained for and the
parties hereto intend that the provisions of each such covenant shall be enforced to the fullest
extent permissible. Should the whole or any part or provision of any such separate covenant be
held or declared invalid, such invalidity shall not in any way affect the validity of any other
such covenant or of any part or provision of the same covenant not also held or




12









 







declared invalid.
If any covenant shall be found to be invalid but would be valid if some part thereof were deleted
or the period or area of application reduced, then such covenant shall apply with such minimum
modification as may be necessary to make it valid and effective. The failure of either party at
any time to require performance by the other party of any provision hereunder will in no way affect
the right of that party thereafter to enforce the same, nor will it affect any other party’s right
to enforce the same, or to enforce any of the other provisions in this Agreement; nor will the
waiver by either party of the breach of any provision hereof be taken or held to be a waiver of any
prior or subsequent breach of such provision or as a waiver of the provision itself.




          5.9 Miscellaneous. No right or interest to, or in, any payments shall be assignable by
the Executive; provided, however, that this provision shall not preclude the
Executive from designating in writing one or more beneficiaries to receive any amount that may be
payable after the Executive’s death and shall not preclude the legal representative of the
Executive’s estate from assigning any right hereunder to the person or persons entitled thereto.
If the Executive should die while any amounts would still be payable to the Executive hereunder,
all such amounts shall be paid in accordance with the terms of this Agreement to the Executive’s
written designee or, if there be no such designee, to the Executive’s estate. This Agreement shall
be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of, and shall be enforceable by, the Executive, the
Executive’s heirs and legal representatives and the Corporation and its successors. The section
headings shall not be taken into account for purposes of the construction of any provision of this
Agreement.




          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement effective as of the date and year
first above written.




POLO RALPH LAUREN CORPORATION




	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 
	By: Mitchell Kosh

	 	TRACEY TRAVIS	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	Title: Senior Vice President – Human

          Resources & Legal
	 	 	 	 







13









 








SCHEDULE A




Abercrombie & Fitch Co.

Ann Taylor Stores Corp.

Brooks Brothers

Burberry Limited

Calvin Klein, Inc.

Campagnie Financiere Richemont SA

Chanel S.A.

Coach, Inc.

Crate & Barrel (aka Euromarket Designs, Inc.)

Dillard’s Inc.

Dolce & Gabbana

Federated Department Stores, Inc.

Gap Inc.

Giorgio Armani Corp.

Gucci Group N.V.

Hermes International

Hugo Boss AG

J. Crew Group, Inc.

J.C. Penney Company, Inc.

Jones Apparel Group, Inc.

Limited Brands, Inc.

Liz Claiborne, Inc.

LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton S.A.

May Department Stores Co.

Michael Kors, Inc.

Nautica Enterprises, Inc.

Neiman Marcus Group, Inc.

Nordstrom, Inc.

Phillips-Van Heusen Corp.

Prada (aka I Pellettieri d’Italia S.P.A.)

Saks Inc.

Salvatore Ferragamo Italia S.P.A.

TJX Companies, Inc.

Tommy Hilfiger Corp.

Williams-Sonoma, Inc.





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