Document:

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                                                                    Exhibit 10-j

                               NORDSON CORPORATION
                         1993 LONG-TERM PERFORMANCE PLAN

                         (as amended on March 12, 1998)

                  1. Purpose.

                  The Nordson Corporation 1993 Long-Term Performance Plan (the
"Plan") is designed to foster and promote the long-term growth and performance
of the Company by: (a) enhancing the Company's ability to attract and retain
qualified Directors and employees and (b) motivating Directors and employees
through stock ownership and performance-based incentives. To achieve this
purpose, this Plan provides authority for the grant of Stock Options, Restricted
Stock, Stock Equivalent Units, Stock Appreciation Rights, and other stock and
performance-based incentives and the maintenance of an employee stock purchase
program.

                  2. Definitions.

                  (a) "Affiliate" - This term has the meaning given to it in
Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act.

                  (b) "Award" - The grant of Stock Options, Restricted Stock,
Stock Equivalent Units, Stock Appreciation Rights, Stock Purchase Rights, Cash
Awards, and other stock and performance-based incentives under this Plan. When
Plan terms may be deemed applicable to Awards granted prior to March 12, 1998,
the definition of Awards shall be deemed to include Director Options for such
purposes.

                  (c) "Award Agreement"-- Any agreement between the Company and
a Participant that sets forth terms, conditions, and restrictions applicable to
an Award.

                  (d) "Board of Directors" - The Board of Directors of the
Company.

                  (e) "Cash Award" - This term has the meaning given to it in
Section 6 (b) (v).

                  (f) "Change in Control" - A "Change of Control" will be deemed
to occur if at any time after the date of the adoption of this Plan:

                  (i) any person (other than Nordson Corporation, any of its
subsidiaries, any employee benefit plan or employee stock ownership plan of
Nordson Corporation, or any Person organized, appointed, or established by
Nordson Corporation for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan), alone or
together with any of its Affiliates or Associates, becomes the Beneficial Owner
of 20% or more of the Common Shares then outstanding, or any such Person
commences or publicly announces an intent to commence a tender offer or exchange
offer the consummation of which would result in the Person becoming the
Beneficial Owner of 20% or more of the Common Shares then outstanding (PROVIDED,
HOWEVER, that, for purposes of determining whether Eric T. Nord or Evan W. Nord,
together with each of

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their Affiliates or Associates, is the Beneficial Owner of 20% or more of the
Common Shares then outstanding, the Common Shares then held by the Walter G.
Nord Trust, by the Nord Family Foundation (or any successor to the Nord Family
Foundation), and by the Eric and Jane Nord Foundation shall be excluded; for
purposes of determining whether the Walter G. Nord Trust, the Nord Family
Foundation (or any successor) , or the Eric and Jane Nord Foundation, together
with each of their Affiliates and Associates, is the Beneficial Owner of 20% or
more of the Common Shares then outstanding, the Common Shares then held by Eric
T. Nord and by Evan W. Nord shall be excluded; for purposes of determining
whether the Nord Family Foundation (or any successor) together with its
Affiliates and Associates, is the Beneficial Owner of 20% or more of the Common
Shares then outstanding, the Common Shares then held by the Eric and Jane Nord
Foundation will be excluded; and, for purposes of determining whether the Eric
and Jane Nord Foundation, together with its Affiliates and Associates, is the
Beneficial Owner of 20% or more of the Common Shares then outstanding, the
Common Shares then held by the Nord Family Foundation (or any successor) will be
excluded) . For purposes of this Section 2(f) (i) , the terms "Affiliates,
"Associates," "Beneficial Owner," and "Person" will have the meanings given to
them in the Restated Rights Agreement, dated as of November 7, 1997, between
Nordson Corporation and National City Bank, as Rights Agent, as amended from
time to time.

                  (ii) At any time during a period of 24 consecutive months,
individuals who were Directors at the beginning of the period no longer
constitute a majority of the members of the Board of Directors, unless the
election, or the nomination for election by Nordson Corporation's shareholders,
of each Director who was not a Director at the beginning of the period is
approved by at least a majority of the Directors who are in office at the time
of the election or nomination and were Directors at the beginning of the period.

                  (iii) A record date is established for determining
shareholders entitled to vote upon (A) a merger or consolidation of Nordson
Corporation with another corporation in which Nordson Corporation is not the
surviving or continuing corporation or in which all or part of the outstanding
Common Shares are to be converted into or exchanged for cash, securities, or
other property, (B) a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of
the assets of Nordson Corporation, or (C) the dissolution of Nordson
Corporation.

                  (iv) Any person who proposes to make a "control share
acquisition" of Nordson Corporation, within the meaning of Section 1701.01(Z) of
the Ohio General Corporation Law, submits or is required to submit an acquiring
person statement to Nordson Corporation.

                  (g) "Code" - The Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or any law
that supersedes or replaces it, as amended from time to time.

                  (h) "Committee" - The Compensation Committee of the Board of
Directors, or any other committee of the Board of Directors that the Board of
Directors authorizes to administer this Plan. The Committee will be constituted
in a manner that satisfies all applicable legal requirements, including
satisfying the "non-employee director" standard set forth in Rule 15b-3, if
applicable. In addition, as applicable, the Committee or a subcommittee thereof
will be constituted in a manner consistent with the "outside director" standard
set forth in the

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regulations under Section 162(m) of the Code.

                  (i) "Common Shares" or "shares" - Common Shares without par
value of Nordson Corporation, including authorized and unissued shares and
treasury shares.

                  (j) "Company" - Nordson Corporation, an Ohio corporation, and
its direct and indirect subsidiaries.

                  (k) "Continuing Director" - A Director who was a Director
prior to a Change in Control or was recommended or elected to succeed a
Continuing Director by a majority of the Continuing Directors then in office.

                  (1) "Director" - A director of Nordson Corporation.

                  (m) "Director Option" - A right to purchase Common Shares
granted to certain Directors under provisions of the Plan in effect prior to
March 12, 1998, or under the Nordson Corporation 1989 Stock Option Plan.

                  (n) "Exchange Act" - Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and any
law that supersedes or replaces it, as amended from time to time.

                  (o) "Fair Market Value" of Common Shares - The value of the
Common Shares determined by the Committee, or pursuant to rules established by
the Committee on a basis consistent with regulations under the Code, except
that, "Fair Market Value" for purposes of Section 6(a) hereof shall be as
defined thereunder.

                  (p) "Holder" - The Participant or eligible transferee (as such
eligibility may be determined from time to time by the Committee) who holds an
Award.

                  (q) "Incentive Stock Option" - A Stock Option that meets the
requirements of Section 422 of the Code.

                  (r) "Notice of Award" - Any notice by the Committee to a
Participant that advises the Participant of the grant of an Award or sets forth
terms, conditions, and restrictions applicable to an Award.

                  (s) "Participant" - Any person to whom an Award has been
granted under this Plan.

                  (t) "Restricted Stock" - An Award of Common Shares that are
subject to restrictions or risk of forfeiture.

                  (u) "Rule 16b-3" - Rule l6b-3 under the Exchange Act, or any
rule that supersedes or replaces it, as amended from time to time.

                  (v) "Stock Appreciation Right" - This term has the meaning
given to it in Section 6 (b) (i).

                  (w) "Stock Award" - This term has the meaning given to it in
Section 6 (b) (ii).

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                  (x) "Stock Equivalent Unit" - An Award that is valued by
reference to the value of Common Shares.

                  (y) "Stock Option" - This term has the meaning given to it in
Section 6 (b) (iii).

                  (z) "Stock Purchase Right" - This term has the meaning given
to it in Section 6(b) (iv).

                  3. Eligibility.

                  All employees of the Company and its Affiliates and all
Directors are eligible for the grant of Awards. The selection of the employees
and Directors to receive Awards will be within the discretion of the Committee.
More than one Award may be granted to the same employee or Director.

                  4. Common Shares Available for Awards; Adjustment.

                  (a) Number of Common Shares. The aggregate number of Common
Shares that may be subject to Awards granted under this Plan in any fiscal year
of the Company during the term of this Plan will be equal to the sum of (i)
three percent (3.0%) of the number of Common Shares outstanding as of the first
day of that fiscal year plus (ii) the number of Common Shares that were
available for the grant of Awards, but not granted, under this Plan in previous
fiscal years; provided that, in no event will the number of Common Shares
available for the grant of Awards in any fiscal year exceed three and one-half
percent (3.5%) of the Common Shares outstanding as of the first day of that
fiscal year. The aggregate number of Common Shares that may be issued upon
exercise of Incentive Stock Options is 1,000,000.

                  The assumption of awards granted by an organization acquired
by the Company, or the grant of Awards under this Plan in substitution for any
such awards, will not reduce the number of Common Shares available in any fiscal
year for the grant of Awards under this Plan.

                  Common Shares subject to an Award that is forfeited,
terminated, or canceled without having been exercised (other than Common Shares
subject to a Stock Option that is canceled upon the exercise of a related Stock
Appreciation Right) will again be available for grant under this Plan, without
reducing the number of Common Shares available in any fiscal year for grant of
Awards under this Plan.

                  (b) No Fractional Shares. No fractional shares will be issued,
and the Committee will determine the manner in which the value of fractional
shares will be treated.

                  (c) Adjustment. In the event of any change in the Common
Shares by reason of a merger, consolidation, reorganization, recapitalization,
or similar transaction, or in the event of a stock dividend, stock split, or
distribution to shareholders (other than normal cash dividends), the Committee
will adjust the number and class of shares that may be issued under this Plan
(including the number of Common Shares that may be subject to Awards granted to
any Participant in any fiscal

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year under Section 6(a)), the number and class of shares subject to outstanding
Awards, the exercise price applicable to outstanding Awards, and the Fair Market
Value of the Common Shares and other value determinations applicable to
outstanding Awards.

                  5. Administration.

                  (a) Committee. This Plan will be administered by the
Committee. The Committee will, subject to the terms of this Plan, have the
authority to: (i) select the eligible employees and Directors who will receive
Awards, (ii) grant Awards, (iii) determine the number and types of Awards to be
granted to employees and Directors, (iv) determine the terms, conditions,
vesting periods, and restrictions applicable to Awards, (v) adopt, alter, and
repeal administrative rules and practices governing this Plan, (vi) interpret
the terms and provisions of this Plan and any Awards granted under this Plan,
(vii) prescribe the forms of any Notices of Award, Award Agreements, or other
instruments relating to Awards, and (viii) otherwise supervise the
administration of this Plan. All decisions by the Committee will be made with
the approval of not less than a majority of its members.

                  (b) Delegation. The Committee may delegate any of its
authority to any other person or persons that it deems appropriate, provided the
delegation does not cause this Plan or any Awards granted under this Plan to
fail to qualify for the exemption provided by Rule 16b-3, or, if applicable, to
meet the requirements of the regulations under Section 162(m) of the Code.

                  (c) Decisions Final. All decisions by the Committee, and by
any other person or persons to whom the Committee has delegated authority, will
be final and binding on all persons.

                  6. Awards.

                  (a) Grant of Awards. The Committee will determine the type or
types of Awards to be granted to each Participant and will set forth in the
related Notice of Award or Award Agreement the terms, conditions, vesting
periods, and restrictions applicable to each Award. Awards may be granted singly
or in combination or tandem with other Awards. In addition, the number of Common
Shares that may be subject to Stock Options or Stock Appreciation Rights granted
to any Participant in any fiscal year of the Company during the term of the Plan
which Stock Options or Stock Appreciation Rights have an exercise price greater
than or equal to the Fair Market Value of the underlying Common Shares on the
date of grant may not exceed 100,000 Common Shares. Awards may also be granted
in replacement of, or in substitution for, other awards granted by the Company,
whether or not granted under this Plan; without limiting the foregoing, if a
Participant pays all or part of the exercise price or taxes associated with an
Award by the transfer of Common Shares or the surrender of all or part of an
Award (including the Award being exercised), the Committee may, in its
discretion, grant a new Award to replace the Common Shares that were transferred
or the Award that was surrendered. The Company may assume awards granted by an
organization acquired by the Company or may grant Awards in replacement of, or
in substitution for, any such awards.

                  For purposes of this Section 6 (a), "Fair Market Value"

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of Common Shares shall mean, on any particular date, (a) if the Common Shares
are listed on a national securities exchange, the closing price as reported for
composite transactions on the exchange for the last day on which trades are
reported prior to that particular date, (b) if the Common Shares are not listed
on an exchange but transactions in the Common Shares are reported in the NASDAQ
National Market System, the closing price as reported in the NASDAQ National
Market System for the last day on which trades are reported prior to that
particular date, and (c) if either of the methods referred to in (a) or (b)
become impracticable for any reason, the value determined using a method
established by the Committee on a basis consistent with regulations under the
Code.

                  (b) Types of Awards. Awards may include, but are not limited
to, the following:

         (i) Stock Appreciation Right - a right to receive a payment, in cash or
Common Shares, equal to the excess of (A) the Fair Market Value, or other
specified valuation, of a specified number of Common Shares on the date the
right is exercised over (B) the Fair Market Value, or other specified valuation,
on the date the right is granted, all as determined by the Committee. The right
may be conditioned upon the occurrence of certain events, such as a Change in
Control of the Company, or may be unconditional, as determined by the Committee.

         (ii) Stock Award - An Award that is made in Common Shares, Restricted
Stock, or Stock Equivalent Units or that is otherwise based on, or valued in
whole or in part by reference to, the Common Shares. All or part of any Stock
Award may be subject to conditions, restrictions, and risks of forfeiture, as
and to the extent established by the Committee. Stock Awards may be based on the
Fair Market Value of the Common Shares, or on other specified values or methods
of valuation, as determined by the Committee.

         (iii) Stock Option - A right to purchase a specified number of Common
Shares, during a specified period, and at a specified exercise price, all as
determined by the Committee. A Stock Option may be an Incentive Stock Option or
a Stock Option that does not qualify as an Incentive Stock Option. In addition
to the terms, conditions, vesting periods, and restrictions established by the
Committee, Incentive Stock Options must comply with the requirements of Section
422 of the Code. The exercise price of a Stock Option that does not qualify as
an Incentive Stock Option may be more or less than the Fair Market Value of the
Common Shares on the date the Stock Option is granted.

         (iv) Stock Purchase Right - A right to participate in a stock purchase
program, including but not limited to a stock purchase program that meets the
requirements of Section 423 of the Code.

         Among other requirements, Section 423 currently provides that (A) only
employees of Nordson Corporation, or of any direct or indirect subsidiary of
Nordson Corporation designated by the Committee, may receive Stock Purchase
Rights that qualify under Section 423 ("Section 423 Rights"), (B) Section 423
Rights may not. be granted to any Participant who, immediately after the Section
423 Rights are granted, owns stock possessing five percent (5%) or more of the
total combined voting power or value of all classes of stock of Nordson
Corporation, (C) Section 423 Rights must be granted to all employees of Nordson
Corporation, and of any

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direct or indirect subsidiary of Nordson Corporation designated by the
Committee, except that there may be excluded (1) employees who have been
employed less than two years, (2) employees whose customary employment is 20
hours or less per week, (3) employees whose customary employment is f or not
more than five months in any calendar year, and (4) highly compensated employees
(within the meaning of Section 414(q) of the Code) , (D) all employees granted
Section 423 Rights must have the same rights and privileges, except that the
number of Common Shares that may be purchased by any employee upon exercise of
Section 423 Rights may bear a uniform relationship to the total compensation, or
the basic or regular rate of compensation, of the employee, (E) the exercise
price of Section 423 Rights may not be less than the lesser of (1) eighty-five
percent (85%) of the Fair Market Value of the Common Shares at the time Section
423 Rights are granted, or (2) eighty-five percent (85%) of the Fair Market
Value of the Common Shares at the time the Section 423 Rights are exercised; (F)
Section 423 Rights cannot be exercised after the expiration of 27 months from
the date the Section 423 Rights are granted, and {G) no employee may be granted
Section 423 Rights, under this Plan and any other plans of Nordson Corporation
and its subsidiaries, that permit the purchase of Common Shares with a Fair
Market Value of more than $25,000 (determined at the time the Section 423 Rights
are granted) in any calendar year.

         (v) Cash Award - An Award denominated in cash. All or part of any cash
award may be subject to conditions established by the Committee, including but
not limited to future service with the Company or the achievement of specific
performance objectives.

                  7. Director Options.

                           (a) Suspension of Director Options. Prior to March
12, 1998, Director Options were automatically granted to Directors of the
Corporation pursuant to and in accordance with a formula grant program set forth
in the Plan. From and after March 12, 1998, no further Director Options shall be
granted hereunder and the formula grant program referenced above shall be
suspended; provided, however, that Directors shall remain eligible to receive
grants of Awards hereunder in accordance with the eligibility standards set
forth in Section 3 hereof.

                           (b) Treatment of Outstanding Director Options. Any
Director Option granted to a Director under provisions of the Plan in effect
prior to March 12, 1998, or under the Nordson Corporation 1989 Stock Option
Plan, will continue to be subject to the terms and conditions set forth on
Schedule 1 hereto.

                           (c) Further Amendment of the Plan. Upon the exercise,
expiration or termination of all outstanding Director Options, this Plan shall
be deemed automatically amended to delete in its entirety Schedule 1 hereto and
to remove from the provisions hereof all references to "Director Option" or
"Director Options." The Plan shall be deemed further amended to the extent
necessary to make all modifications to the Plan to effect such amendment,
including, without limitation, the removal of all references to "Director
Option" or "Director Options" and any revisions to section designations and
cross references as may be appropriate and necessary.

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                  8. Deferral of Payment.

                           With the approval of the Committee, the delivery of
the Common Shares, cash, or any combination thereof subject to an Award (other
than Director Options) may be deferred, either in the form of installments or a
single future delivery. The Committee may also permit selected Participants to
defer the payment of some or all of their Awards, as well as other compensation,
in accordance with procedures established by the Committee to assure that the
recognition of taxable income is deferred under the Code. Deferred amounts may,
to the extent permitted by the Committee, be credited as cash or Stock
Equivalent Units. The Committee may also establish rules and procedures for the
crediting of interest on deferred cash payments and dividend equivalents on
Stock Equivalent Units.

                  9. Payment of Exercise Price.

                           The exercise price of a Stock Option (other than an
Incentive Stock Option), Director Option, Stock Purchase Right, and any Stock
Award for which the Committee has established an exercise price may be paid in
cash, by the transfer of Common Shares, by the surrender of all or part of an
Award (including the Award being exercised), or by a combination of these
methods, as and to the extent permitted by the Committee. The exercise price of
an Incentive Stock Option may be paid in cash, by the transfer of Common Shares,
or by a combination of these methods, as and to the extent permitted by the
Committee at the time of grant, but may not be paid by the surrender of all or
part of an Award. The Committee may prescribe any other method of paying the
exercise price that it determines to be consistent with applicable law and the
purpose of this Plan.

                  In the event shares of Restricted Stock are used to pay the
exercise price of a Stock Award, a number of the Common Shares issued upon the
exercise of the Award equal to the number of shares of Restricted Stock used to
pay the exercise price will be subject to the same restrictions as the
Restricted Stock.

                  10. Taxes Associated with Award.

                           Prior to the payment of an Award, the Company may
withhold, or require a Participant to remit to the Company, an amount sufficient
to pay any Federal, state, and local taxes associated with the Award; provided,
however, that if a Stock Option has been transferred and the Participant does
not pay such taxes on the date of exercise, such taxes will be paid by reducing
the number of Common Shares to be received upon exercise. The Committee may, in
its discretion and subject to such rules as the Committee may adopt, permit a
Participant to pay any or all taxes associated with the Award (other than an
Incentive Stock Option) in cash, by the transfer of Common Shares, by the
surrender of all or part of an Award (including the Award being exercised), or
by a combination of these methods. The Committee may permit a Participant to pay
any or all taxes associated with an Incentive Stock Option in cash, by the
transfer of Common Shares, or by a combination of these methods.

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                  11. Termination of Employment.

                           If the employment of a Participant terminates for any
reason, all unexercised, deferred, and unpaid Awards may be exercisable or paid
only in accordance with rules established by the Committee. These rules may
provide, as the Committee deems appropriate, for the expiration, continuation,
or acceleration of the vesting of all or part of the Awards.

                  12. Termination of Awards under Certain Conditions.

                           The Committee may cancel any unexpired, unpaid, or
deferred Awards held by a Holder at any time if the Holder is not in compliance
with all applicable provisions of this Plan or with any Notice of Award, Award
Agreement, Committee action or documentation relating to the Award, or if the
Participant, without the prior written consent of the Company, engages in any of
the following activities:

                  (i) Renders services for an organization, or engages in a
business, that is, in the judgment of the Committee, in competition with the
Company.

                  (ii) Discloses to anyone outside of the Company, or uses for
any purpose other than the Company's business, any confidential information or
material relating to the Company, whether acquired by the Participant during or
after employment with the Company.

                  The Committee may, in its discretion and as a condition to the
exercise of an Award by a Holder, require a Holder to acknowledge in writing
that he or she is in compliance with all applicable provisions of this Plan and
of any Notice of Award, Award Agreement, Committee action or documentation
relating to the Award, and, in the case of a Participant, has not engaged in any
activities referred to in clauses (i) and (ii) above.

                  13. Change in Control.

                           In the event of a Change in Control of the Company,
unless and to the extent otherwise determined by the Board of Directors, (i) all
Stock Appreciation Rights, Stock Options, and other Stock Purchase Rights then
outstanding will become fully exercisable as of the date of the Change in
Control, (ii) all restrictions and conditions applicable to Restricted Stock and
other Stock Awards will be deemed to have been satisfied as of the date of the
Change in Control, and (iii) all Cash Awards will be deemed to have been fully
earned as of the date of the Change in Control. Any such determination by the
Board of Directors that is made after the occurrence of a Change in Control will
not be effective unless a majority of the Directors then in office are
Continuing Directors and the determination is approved by a majority of the
Continuing Directors.

                  14. Amendment, Suspension, or Termination of this Plan;
Amendment of Outstanding Awards.

                  (a) Amendment, Suspension, or Termination of this Plan. The
Board of Directors may amend, suspend, or terminate this Plan at any time.
Shareholder approval for any such amendment will be required only to the extent
necessary to comply with the rules of the NASDAQ National Market System or any
other exchange or quotation system on which the

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Common Shares are traded or quoted, the rules and regulations related to
Incentive Stock Options, Section l62(m) of the Code, or any other applicable
legal requirements.

                  (b) Amendment of Outstanding Awards. The Committee may, in its
discretion, amend the terms of any Award, prospectively or retroactively, but no
such amendment may impair the rights of any Holder without his or her consent.
The Committee may, in whole or in part, waive any restrictions or conditions
applicable to, or accelerate the vesting of, any Award.

                  15. Awards to Foreign Nationals and Employees Outside the
United States.

                  To the extent that the Committee deems appropriate to comply
with foreign law or practice and to further the purpose of this Plan, the
Committee may, without amending this Plan, (i) establish special rules
applicable to Awards granted to Participants who are foreign nationals, are
employed outside the United States, or both, including rules that differ from
those set forth in this Plan, and (ii) grant Awards to such Participants in
accordance with those rules.

                  16. Nonassignability.

                  Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, (i) no Award
granted under this Plan may be transferred or assigned by the Holder other than
by Designation of Beneficiary, or, if none, by will, pursuant to the laws of
descent and distribution, or pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order
and (ii) an Award granted under this Plan may be exercised, during the Holder's
lifetime, only by the Holder or by the Holder s guardian or legal
representative; except that, no Incentive Stock Option or Section 423 Right may
be transferred or assigned pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order or
exercised, during the Participant's lifetime, by the Participant's guardian or
legal representative. "Designation of Beneficiary" shall mean the person(s) or
entity whom the Holder has designated by a transfer on death or other
designation of beneficiary to receive the Holder's option on the Holder's death
in accordance with such procedures established from time to time by the
Committee.

                  17. Governing Law.

                  The interpretation, validity, and enforcement of this Plan
will, to the extent not otherwise governed by the Code or the securities laws of
the United States, be governed by the law of the State of Ohio.

                  18. Rights of Employees.

                  Nothing in this Plan will confer upon any Participant the
right to continued employment by the Company or limit in any way the Company's
right to terminate any Participant's employment at will.

                  19. Effective and Termination Dates.

                  (a) Effective Date. The effective date of this Plan is March
10, 1993.

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                  (b) Termination Date. This Plan will continue in effect until
terminated by the Board of Directors.

Schedule 1

Director Options

                  (Unless otherwise defined herein, defined terms shall have the
meanings ascribed to them in the Plan.)

                  1. EXPIRATION DATE. Unless terminated earlier pursuant to the
next sentence, each Director Option will terminate, and the right of the holder
to purchase Common Shares upon exercise of the Director Option will expire, at
the close of business on the tenth anniversary date of the date of grant. Each
Director Option will terminate, and the right of the holder to purchase Common
Shares upon exercise of the Director Option will expire, upon the completion of
a transaction of the type identified in Section 2(f) (iii) of the Plan, but only
if provision satisfactory to the Committee is made for the payment to the holder
of the Director Option of the excess of (i) the Fair Market Value of the Common
Shares subject to the Director Option immediately prior to the completion of the
transaction over (ii) the exercise price.

                  2. CONTINUOUS SERVICE AS A DIRECTOR. No Director Option may be
exercised unless the Non-Employee Director to whom the Director Option was
granted has continued to be a Non-Employee Director from the time of grant
through the time of exercise, except as provided in this Section 2. For purposes
of this Section 2, Non-Employee Director means a Director who is not an employee
of the Company.

                  (a) If the service in office of a Non-Employee Director is
terminated due to the death of the Non-Employee Director, the Non-Employee
Director's estate, executor, administrator, personal representative, or
beneficiary will have the right to exercise any Director Options held by the
Non-Employee Director at the time of his or her death in whole or in part prior
to the earlier of (i) 12 months after the date of the holder's death and (ii)
the expiration of the Director Option.

                  (b) If a Non-Employee Director ceases to be a Non-Employee
Director by reason of his employment by the Company, any Director Options
granted to that Non-Employee Director and held by the Non-Employee Director at
the time of his or her employment by the Company will be treated the same as
Stock Options held by employees and will continue to be exercisable prior to the
expiration of the Director Option, subject to the limitations on exercise
following termination of employment established by the Committee pursuant to
Section 11 of the Plan.

                  (c) If the service in office of a Non-Employee Director is
terminated for any reason other than those set forth in Sections 2(a) and 2 (b),
any Director Options held by the terminated Non-Employee Director at the time of
his or her termination may be exercised in whole or in part only with the
consent of the Committee. In any such event, the consent of the Committee must
be obtained and the Director Option exercised prior to the earlier of (i) three
months after the date of the termination of service in office of a Non-Employee
Director and (ii) the expiration of the Director Option.

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                  3. FAIR MARKET VALUE FOR PURPOSES OF DIRECTOR OPTIONS. For
purposes of Director Options, the Fair Market Value of Common Shares on any
particular date means, (a) if the Common Shares are listed on a national
securities exchange, the closing price as reported for composite transactions on
the exchange for the last day on which trades are reported prior to that
particular date, (b) if the Common Shares are not listed on an exchange but
transactions in the Common Shares are reported in the NASDAQ National Market
System, the closing price as reported in the NASDAQ National Market System for
the last day on which trades are reported prior to that particular date, and (c)
if either of the methods referred to in (a) or (b) become impracticable for any
reason, the value determined using a method established by the Committee on a
basis consistent with regulations under the Code.<PAGE>   1

                                                                    Exhibit 10-k

                               NORDSON CORPORATION

                            1988 AMENDED AND RESTATED
                         STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS PLAN

                  1. PURPOSE. The purpose of this 1988 Stock Appreciation Rights
Plan (the "Plan") is to provide to optionees under stock options heretofore or
hereafter granted pursuant to the Nordson Corporation 1979 Employees Stock
Option Plan (the "Nonqualified Stock Option Plan"), the Nordson Corporation 1982
Incentive Stock Option Plan, and any other stock option plan of Nordson
Corporation ("Nordson") now or hereafter in effect an alternative method of
realizing the benefits provided by such stock options and, in the case of the
Nonqualified Stock Option Plan, a supplemental benefit in connection with the
exercise of stock options granted thereunder.

                  2. DEFINITIONS. As used in the Plan:

                           (a) "Stock Appreciation Rights" means any of the
rights, including Limited Rights, granted pursuant to Section 3 of the Plan;

                           (b) "Change of Control" means, and shall be deemed to
have taken place upon the occurrence of, one or more of the following events:

                                    (i) Any Person (other than Nordson, any of
                  its subsidiaries, any employee benefit plan or employee stock
                  ownership plan of Nordson or of any of its subsidiaries, or
                  any Person organized, appointed, or established by Nordson or
                  any of its subsidiaries for or pursuant to the terms of any
                  such plan), alone or together with any of its Affiliates or
                  Associates, becomes the Beneficial Owner of 20% or more of the
                  Common Shares then outstanding, any such Person is declared to
                  be an Adverse Person by the Board of Directors, or any such
                  Person commences or publicly announces an intent to commence a
                  tender offer or exchange offer the consummation of which would
                  result in the Person becoming the Beneficial Owner of 20% or
                  more of the Common Shares then outstanding (Provided, however,
                  that, for

<PAGE>   2

                  purposes of determining whether Eric T. Nord or Evan W. Nord,
                  together with each of their Affiliates or Associates, is the
                  Beneficial Owner of 20% or more of the Common Shares then
                  outstanding, the Common Shares then held by the Walter G. Nord
                  Trust and by the Nordson Foundation shall be excluded and, for
                  purposes of determining whether the Walter G. Nord Trust or
                  the Nordson Foundation, together with each of their Affiliates
                  and Associates, is the Beneficial-Owner of 20% or more of the
                  Common Shares then outstanding, the Common Shares then held by
                  Eric T. Nord and by Evan W. Nord shall be excluded). For
                  purposes of this clause (i), the terms "Adverse Person,"
                  "Affiliates," "Associates," "Beneficial Ownership," and
                  "Person" shall have the meanings given to them in the Rights
                  Agreement, dated as of August 26, 1988, between Nordson and
                  AmeriTrust Company National Association, as Rights Agent, as
                  amended from time to time.

                                    (ii) At any time during a period of 24
                  consecutive months, individuals who were Directors of Nordson
                  at the beginning of the period no longer constitute a majority
                  of Nordson's Directors, unless the election, or the nomination
                  for election by Nordson's shareholders, of each of the new
                  Directors was approved by at least a majority of the Directors
                  who were in office at the time of the election or nomination
                  and were Directors at the beginning of the period.

                                    (iii) A record date is established for
                  determining shareholders entitled to vote upon a merger or
                  consolidation of Nordson with another corporation in which
                  Nordson is not the surviving or continuing corporation or in
                  which all or part of the outstanding Common Shares are to be
                  converted into or exchanged for cash, securities, or other
                  property; a sale or other disposition of all or substantially
                  all of the assets of Nordson; or the liquidation and
                  dissolution of Nordson.

                                    (iv) Any person who proposes to make a
                  "control share acquisition" of Nordson, within the meaning of
                  Section 1701.01(Z)(1) of the Ohio General Corporation Law,
                  submits or is required to submit an acquiring Person statement
                  to Nordson.

                           (c) "Committee" means the committee provided for in
Section 8 of the Plan;

                           (d) "Common Shares" means Common Shares with a par
value of $1 each of Nordson or, in accordance with the adjustment provisions in
any employee stock option plan under which any stock option is outstanding, the
class of shares subject to the stock option;

                           (e) "Fair market value" of Common Shares on any date
that the Common Shares are listed on a national securities exchange shall

<PAGE>   3

mean the closing price as reported for composite transactions on the exchange
for the last date on which trades are reported prior to such date; "fair market
value" of Common Shares on any date that transactions in the Common Shares are
reported in the NASDAQ National Market System shall mean the closing price as
reported in the NASDAQ National Market System for the last date on which trades
are reported prior to such date.

                           (f) "Limited Right" shall mean a Stock Appreciation
Right that becomes exercisable, as provided in Section 4(e), only upon the
occurrence of a Change in Control.

                           (g) "Outstanding stock option" means a stock option
to purchase Common Shares granted by Nordson pursuant to any employees stock
option plan of Nordson now or hereafter in effect to the extent that the stock
option has not been exercised and has not terminated; and

                           (h) "Spread" means the excess of the fair market
value of a Common Share on the date when a Stock Appreciation Right is exercised
over the option price provided for in the related stock option.

                  3. GRANT OF STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS.

                           (a) The Committee may from time to time define the
terms of and grant Stock Appreciation Rights, including Limited Rights, subject
to the terms of this Plan, with respect to all or part of any outstanding stock
option (including any outstanding stock option simultaneously granted), whether
or not the stock option is exercisable at the time of grant.

<PAGE>   4

                           (b) Stock Appreciation Rights shall entitle the
optionee to receive either:

                                    (i) upon exercise of the Stock Appreciation
                  Rights and surrender of all or part of the related stock
                  option, an amount equal to 100% of the spread on the date of
                  exercise multiplied by the number of Common Shares in respect
                  of which the Stock Appreciation Rights are exercised; or

                                    (ii) upon exercise of Stock Appreciation
                  Rights specifically designated by the Committee as eligible
                  for such payment, and exercise of all or part of a related
                  stock option granted under the Nonqualified Stock Option Plan
                  (or any other stock option plan of Nordson not providing for
                  the grant of "incentive stock options" as that term is defined
                  in Section 422A of the Internal Revenue Code), a cash payment
                  in an amount equal to the percentage designated by the
                  Committee of the spread on the date of exercise multiplied by
                  the number of Common Shares in respect of which the related
                  stock option is exercised.

Amounts payable under clause (i) may be paid by Nordson in whole Common Shares
(taken at their fair market value on the date of exercise), in cash, or partly
in whole Common Shares and partly in cash, as the Committee shall determine. The
determination as to such manner of payment may be made by the Committee at the
time of the grant of the Stock Appreciation Rights or at any time thereafter and
shall be subject to change from time to time.

                           (c) The grant of Stock Appreciation Rights shall be
evidenced by a notice to the optionee signed by or on behalf of the Committee,
which notice shall describe the Stock Appreciation Rights, specify the related
stock option, and state that the Stock Appreciation Rights are subject to the
terms and provisions of the Plan.

                           (d) Stock Appreciation Rights may not be granted with
respect to stock options to purchase more than 450,000 Common Shares. If any
Stock Appreciation Rights expire or cease to be exercisable for any reason other
than exercise of the Stock Appreciation Rights or of the related stock option,
further Stock Appreciation Rights may be granted in

<PAGE>   5

respect of the Common Shares subject to the expired Stock Appreciation Rights.

                  4. EXERCISE OF STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS.

                           (a) Stock Appreciation Rights which are held by an
optionee who is a Director or officer of Nordson and which are payable wholly or
partly in cash may not be exercised until the expiration of six months after the
date of grant, except in the event of the death or disability of the optionee.
In any case, Stock Appreciation Rights may be exercised only at a time when the
related stock option may be exercised. No Stock Appreciation Right may be
exercised at any time when the fair market value of the Common Shares subject to
the related option does not exceed the option price.

                           (b) An optionee who is a Director or officer of
Nordson may exercise Stock Appreciation Rights, other than Limited Rights, only
during the period beginning on the third business day following the date of
release for publication by Nordson of quarterly or annual summary statements of
sales and earnings and ending on the twelfth business day following such
release. Limited Rights do not need to be exercised within this period.

                           (c) Stock Appreciation Rights may be exercised only
in writing and, in the case of Stock Appreciation Rights under clause (b)(i) of
Section 3, only to the extent accompanied by surrender to Nordson, unexercised,
of all or part of the related stock option.

                           (d) Common Shares subject to stock options
surrendered upon exercise of the related Stock Appreciation Rights under clause
(b)(i) of Section 3 shall not be available for the granting of further stock
options under any employees stock option plan of Nordson, anything in such

<PAGE>   6

stock option plan to the contrary notwithstanding.

                           (e) Limited Rights may be exercised only during the
30-day period beginning upon the occurrence of a Change in Control; provided,
however, that if the Change in Control occurs within the six-month period
following the date of the grant of any Limited Right, those Limited Rights will
be exercisable during the 30-day period beginning six months after the date of
grant.

                           (f) In the event of any change in the Common Shares
subject to stock options in respect of which Stock Appreciation Rights have been
granted by reason of a merger, consolidation, reorganization, or other corporate
transaction or of a stock dividend, stock split, or other capital adjustment,
the total number and class of shares subject to stock options in respect of
which Stock Appreciation Rights may thereafter be granted under the Plan and the
number and class of shares subject to each outstanding stock option in respect
of which Stock Appreciation Rights have theretofore been granted under the Plan
shall be appropriately adjusted by the Committee, whose determination shall be
final.

                  5. ASSIGNABILITY. Stock Appreciation Rights may not be
transferred or assigned by the optionee otherwise than by will or the laws of
descent and distribution or apart from the related stock option and may be
exercised during the optionee's lifetime only by him or by his guardian or legal
representative.

                  6. AMENDMENT, SUSPENSION, OR TERMINATION OF STOCK APPRECIATION
RIGHTS. The Committee may at any time amend, suspend, or terminate any Stock
Appreciation Rights theretofore granted under the Plan. In case of an amendment,
the amended Stock Appreciation Rights shall be in accordance with the Plan. In
addition, Stock Appreciation

<PAGE>   7

Rights shall terminate and may no longer be exercised upon the earlier of (a)
exercise or termination of the related stock option or (b) any termination date
specified by the Committee at the time the Stock Appreciation Rights are
granted.

                  7. AMENDMENT OR TERMINATION OF THE PLAN. The Board of
Directors may at any time amend or terminate the Plan, although no such
amendment, without shareholder approval, may (a) materially increase the
benefits accruing to the optionees to whom Stock Appreciation Rights have been
granted under the Plan, (b) materially increase the Stock Appreciation Rights
which may be granted under the Plan (except in accordance with the provisions of
Section 4(e)), or (c) materially modify the requirements as to eligibility for
participation under the Plan.

                  8. ADMINISTRATION. The Plan shall be administered by the
Compensation Committee of Nordson's Board of Directors appointed by and serving
during the pleasure of Nordson's Board of Directors. No Director who has at any
time within one year been eligible to participate in the Plan, or in any
employee stock purchase plan or in any other stock option or Stock Appreciation
Rights plan of Nordson or any of its affiliates, may serve as a member of the
Committee. The Committee shall have full power and authority to grant Stock
Appreciation Rights and to interpret the provisions and to supervise the
administration of the Plan. All decisions of the Committee shall be made by not
less than a majority of its members and shall be final.

                  9. COMMON SHARES. The Common Shares to be issued or delivered
upon the exercise of Stock Appreciation Rights may be authorized and unissued or
treasury shares as the Committee may from time to time determine.

<PAGE>   8

                  10. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Plan shall become effective when
adopted by Nordson's Board of Directors, subject to approval by Nordson's
shareholders within 12 months before or after such adoption.

Adopted by the Board of Directors
October 27, 1988

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