Document:

ROSS STORES, INC.

NOTICE OF GRANT OF PERFORMANCE
SHARES 

The Participant has been granted
an award of Performance Shares (the “Award”) pursuant to the Ross Stores, Inc. 2008 Equity Incentive
Plan (the “Plan”) and the Performance Share
Agreement attached hereto (the “Agreement”), as follows: 

	Participant:	          	 	 	Employee ID: 	  	 	 
	 
	Grant Date:		 	 	     Grant No.: 	  	 	 
	 
	Target Number of		 	 		 
	Performance Shares:		
      [______________], subject to adjustment as provided by the
      Agreement.
	 
	 
	Maximum Number of
Performance Shares:		
      [______________], subject to adjustment as
      provided by the Agreement. [Not to exceed 500,000 shares for each full
      fiscal year in the Performance Period]
	 
	 
	Adjusted Pre-Tax Profit		 	 		 
	Target:	 	$_____________________	 		 
	 
	Performance Period:		
      Company fiscal year
      beginning ____________, and ending ____________.
	 
	 
	Performance Share			
	Vesting Date:		
      March 31,
      _____, except as provided by the Agreement.  
	 
	 
	Vested Performance
Shares:		
      Provided that
      the Participant’s Service has not terminated prior to the Performance
      Share Vesting Date, except as provided by the Agreement, on the
      Performance Share Vesting Date the number of Vested Performance Shares
      (not to exceed the Maximum Number of Performance Shares) shall be
      determined by multiplying the Target Number of Performance Shares by the
      Adjusted Pre-Tax Profit Multiplier (as defined by the
      Agreement).

	 
	Settlement Date: 		
      The Performance Share
      Vesting Date, except as otherwise provided by the
  Agreement.

	 
	Vested Common Shares: 		
      Except as provided by the
      Agreement and provided that the Participant’s Service has not terminated
      prior to the relevant date, the number of Vested Common Shares shall
      cumulatively increase on each respective date set forth below by the
      Vested Percentage set forth opposite such date, as
  follows:

	 
	 		Common Share Vesting
      Date 	           	Vested
      Percentage  	 
	 		Settlement Date 	 	30%  	
	 		1st Anniversary of Settlement Date 	 	30%  	
	 		2nd Anniversary of Settlement Date 	 	40%  	
	 
	Employment Agreement: 		Executive Employment Agreement between the Company and the
      Participant, as in effect at any applicable time. 	 

By their signatures below or by
electronic acceptance or authentication in a form authorized by the Company, the
Company and the Participant agree that the Award is governed by this Notice and
by the provisions of the Plan and the Performance Share Agreement, both of which
are made a part of this document. The Participant acknowledges that copies of
the Plan, Performance Share Agreement and the prospectus for the Plan are
available on the Company’s internal web site and may be viewed and printed by
the Participant for attachment to the Participant’s copy of this Grant Notice.
The Participant represents that the Participant has read and is familiar with
the provisions of the Plan and Performance Share Agreement, and hereby accepts
the Award subject to all of their terms and conditions.

	ROSS STORES, INC.  	  	PARTICIPANT  
	  
	By:
    	 	 	  	  	   
	  	  	  	Signature  
	Its:   	 	 	   	 	  
	  	  	  	Date  
	Address:     	4440 Rosewood Drive  	 	  
	  	Pleasanton, CA 94588  	 	Address  
	  	 
	  
	ATTACHMENTS:	  	
      2008 Equity Incentive Plan,
      as amended to the Grant Date, Performance Share Agreement and Plan
      Prospectus

ROSS STORES,
INC.
PERFORMANCE SHARE
AGREEMENT

     Ross
Stores, Inc. has granted to the Participant named in the Notice of Grant of
Performance Shares (the “Grant Notice”) to which
this Performance Share Agreement (the “Agreement”)
is attached an Award consisting of Performance Shares subject to the terms and
conditions set forth in the Grant Notice and this Agreement. The Award has been
granted pursuant to and shall in all respects be subject to the terms and
conditions of the Ross Stores, Inc. 2008 Equity Incentive Plan (the
“Plan”), as amended to the Grant Date, the
provisions of which are incorporated herein by reference. By signing the Grant
Notice, the Participant: (a) acknowledges
receipt of and represents that the Participant has read and is familiar with the
Grant Notice, this Agreement, the Plan and a prospectus for the Plan (the
“Plan Prospectus”) in the form most recently
prepared in connection with the registration with the Securities and Exchange
Commission of shares issuable pursuant to the Plan, (b) accepts the Award
subject to all of the terms and conditions of the Grant Notice, this Agreement
and the Plan and (c) agrees to accept as binding, conclusive and final all
decisions or interpretations of the Committee upon any questions arising under
the Grant Notice, this Agreement or the Plan.

     1. DEFINITIONS AND
CONSTRUCTION.

          1.1 Definitions. Unless otherwise defined
herein, capitalized terms shall have the meanings assigned in the Grant Notice
or the Plan. Whenever used herein, the following terms shall have their
respective meanings set forth below: 

               (a) “Adjusted Pre-Tax Profit”
means the earnings before taxes as reported in the Consolidated Statements of
Earnings of the Company for the fiscal year of the Company coinciding with the
Performance Period, adjusted to exclude from the determination of such amount
the reduction in earnings resulting from the accrual of compensation expense for
Performance Awards under the Plan and incentive awards under the Second Amended
and Restated Ross Stores, Inc. Incentive Compensation Plan, granted in each
case, with respect to the Performance Period. 

               (b) “Adjusted
Pre-Tax Profit Multiplier” means a number determined as
follows: 

	         	Percentage of Adjusted Pre- 	 	Adjusted Pre-Tax Profit 
		Tax Profit Target
      Achieved 	  	Multiplier 
		Less than 90% 	  	0.00% 
		90%
      		66.70%
      
		95% 		83.33% 
		100%
      		100.00%
      
		105% 		140.00% 
		110%
      		165.00%
      
		115% 		185.00% 
		Equal to
      or greater than 120% 	  	200.00%
      

The Adjusted Pre-Tax Profit
Multiplier for percentages of Adjusted Pre-Tax Profit Target achieved falling
between the percentages set forth in the table above shall be determined by
linear interpolation. 

               (c) “Change in
Control” means a “Change in Control” as defined by the Employment
Agreement.

               (d) “Common
Shares” mean shares of Stock issued in settlement of the
Award.

               (e) “Expiration
of Participant’s Employment Agreement Due to Non-Renewal” means the
expiration of the Employment Agreement due to its “Non-Renewal,” as provided by
the Employment Agreement.

               (f) “Performance Share” means a right to receive on the
Settlement Date one (1) Common Share, subject to further restrictions as
provided by this Agreement, if such Performance Share is then a Vested
Performance Share.

               (g) “Termination Due to Disability” means the termination of the
Participant’s employment due to “Disability” as defined by and upon terms set
forth in the Employment Agreement.

               (h) “Termination for Cause” means the termination of the
Participant’s employment for “Cause” as defined by the Employment
Agreement.

               (i) “Termination for Good Reason” means the Participant’s
termination of employment for “Good Reason” as defined by the Employment
Agreement.

               (j) “Termination Without Cause” means the termination of the
Participant’s employment “Without Cause” as defined by the Employment
Agreement.

               (k) “Voluntary
Termination” means the “Voluntary Termination” of the Participant’s
employment as defined by the Employment Agreement.

          1.2 Construction. Captions and titles
contained herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the meaning or
interpretation of any provision of this Agreement. Except when otherwise
indicated by the context, the singular shall include the plural and the plural
shall include the singular. Use of the term “or” is not intended to be
exclusive, unless the context clearly requires otherwise. 

     2. ADMINISTRATION. 

          All questions of interpretation concerning the Grant
Notice, this Agreement and the Plan shall be determined by the Committee. All
determinations by the Committee shall be final and binding upon all persons
having an interest in the Award as provided by the Plan. Any Officer shall have
the authority to act on behalf of the Company with respect to any matter, right,
obligation, or election which is the responsibility of or which is allocated to
the Company herein,

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provided the Officer has apparent
authority with respect to such matter, right, obligation, or election. If the
Participant is a Covered Employee, compensation realized by the Participant
pursuant to the Award is intended to constitute qualified performance-based
compensation within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code and the
regulations thereunder, and the provisions of this Agreement shall be construed
and administered in a manner consistent with this intent. The Company intends
that the Award comply with Section 409A of the Code (including any amendments or
replacements of such section) and the regulations thereunder, and the provisions
of this Agreement shall be construed and administered in a manner consistent
with this intent.

     3.
THE AWARD. 

          3.1 Grant of Performance Shares. On the Grant Date, the Participant shall acquire, subject
to the provisions of this Agreement, a right to receive a number of Performance
Shares which shall not exceed the Maximum Number of Performance Shares set forth
in the Grant Notice, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 12. The number
of Performance Shares, if any, ultimately earned by the Participant, shall be
that number of Performance Shares which become Vested Performance
Shares.

          3.2 No Monetary Payment Required. The Participant is not required to make any monetary
payment (other than applicable tax withholding, if any) as a condition to
receiving the Performance Shares or the Common Shares issued upon settlement of
the Performance Shares, the consideration for which shall be past services
actually rendered and/or future services to be rendered to a Participating
Company or for its benefit. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if required by
applicable state corporate law, the Participant shall furnish consideration in
the form of cash or past services rendered to a Participating Company or for its
benefit having a value not less than the par value of the Common Shares issued
upon settlement of the Performance Shares.

     4.
CERTIFICATION OF THE COMMITTEE. 

          4.1 Level of Adjusted Pre-Tax Profit Attained.
As soon as practicable following
completion of the Performance Period, and in any event prior to the Performance
Share Vesting Date, the Committee shall certify in writing the level of
attainment of Adjusted Pre-Tax Profit during the Performance Period and the
resulting number of Performance Shares which shall become Vested Performance
Shares on the Performance Share Vesting Date, subject to the Participant’s
continued Service until the Performance Share Vesting Date, except as otherwise
provided by Section 5. The Company shall promptly notify the Participant of the
determination by the Plan Administrator.

          4.2 Adjustment to Adjusted Pre-Tax Profit for Extraordinary
Items. The Committee shall adjust
Adjusted Pre-Tax Profit, as it deems appropriate, to exclude the effect (whether
positive or negative) of any of the following occurring after the grant of the
Award: (a) a change in accounting standards required by generally accepted
accounting principles or (b) any extraordinary, unusual or nonrecurring item.
Each such adjustment, if any, shall be made solely for the purpose of providing
a consistent basis from period to period for the calculation of

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Adjusted Pre-Tax Profit in order
to prevent the dilution or enlargement of the Participant’s rights with respect
to the Award.

     5.
VESTING OF
PERFORMANCE
SHARES.

          5.1 In General. Except as provided by this Section 5 and Section 11, the Performance
Shares shall vest and become Vested Performance Shares as provided in the Grant
Notice and certified by the Committee.

          5.2 Effect of Termination for Cause or Voluntary Termination.
In the event of the Termination for
Cause or Voluntary Termination of the Participant prior to the Performance Share
Vesting Date, the Participant shall forfeit and the Company shall automatically
reacquire all of the Performance Shares subject to the Award. The Participant
shall not be entitled to any payment for such forfeited Performance
Shares.

          5.3 Effect of Death, Termination Due to Disability,
Termination Without Cause or Termination for Good Reason. In the event of the death, Termination Due to Disability,
Termination Without Cause or Termination for Good Reason of the Participant
prior to the Performance Share Vesting Date, then on the Performance Share
Vesting Date a number of Performance Shares shall become Vested Performance
Shares equal to that number of Performance Shares that would have become Vested
Performance Shares had no such death or termination occurred.

          5.4 Effect of Expiration of Participant’s Employment
Agreement Due to Non-Renewal. In the
event of the Expiration of Participant’s Employment Agreement Due to Non-Renewal
prior to the Performance Share Vesting Date, then on the Performance Share
Vesting Date the number of Performance Shares that shall become Vested
Performance Shares shall determined by multiplying (a) that number of
Performance Shares that would have become Vested Performance Shares had no such
expiration of the Employment Agreement occurred by (b) a percentage equal to
either (i) if such expiration of the Employment Agreement occurs prior to the
last day of the Performance Period, thirty percent (30%) multiplied by the ratio
of the number of full months of the Participant’s employment with the Company
during the Performance Period to the number of full months contained in the
Performance Period or (ii) if such expiration of the Employment Agreement occurs
on or after the last day of the Performance Period but prior to the Performance
Share Vesting Date, thirty (30%).

          5.5 Forfeiture of Unvested Performance Shares.
Except as otherwise provided by this
Section 5 or Section 11, on the Performance Share Vesting Date, the Participant
shall forfeit and the Company shall automatically reacquire all Performance
Shares subject to the Award which have not become Vested Performance Shares
(“Unvested Performance Shares”). The Participant shall not be
entitled to any payment for such forfeited Performance Shares.

          5.6 Ownership Change Event,
Dividends, Distributions and Adjustments. Upon the occurrence of an
Ownership Change Event, a dividend or distribution to the stockholders of the
Company paid in shares of Stock or other property, or any other adjustment upon
a change in the capital structure of the Company as described in Section 4.4 of
the Plan, any and all new, substituted or additional securities or other
property (other than regular, periodic

4 

dividends paid on Stock pursuant
to the Company’s dividend policy) to which the Participant is entitled by reason
of the Participant’s ownership of Unvested Performance Shares shall be
immediately subject to the Company Reacquisition Right and included in the terms
“Performance Shares” and “Unvested Performance Shares” for all purposes of this
Section 5 with the same force and effect as the Unvested Performance Shares
immediately prior to the Ownership Change Event, dividend, distribution or
adjustment, as the case may be. For purposes of determining the number of Vested
Performance Shares following an Ownership Change Event, dividend, distribution
or adjustment, credited Service shall include all Service with any corporation
which is a Participating Company at the time the Service is rendered, whether or
not such corporation is a Participating Company both before and after any such
event.

     6.
SETTLEMENT OF THE
AWARD.

          6.1 Issuance of Common Shares. Subject to
the provisions of Section 6.3 below, the Company shall issue to the Participant
on the Settlement Date with respect to each Vested Performance Share one (1)
Common Share. Common Shares issued in settlement of Performance Shares shall be
subject to the vesting conditions, Company Reacquisition Right and restrictions
on transfer set forth in Sections 7, 8.1 and 15, respectively, and any such
other restrictions as may be required pursuant to Section 6.3, Section 10 or the
Insider Trading Policy.

          6.2 Beneficial Ownership of
Common Shares; Certificate Registration. The Participant hereby
authorizes the Company, in its sole discretion, to deposit for the benefit of
the Participant with any broker with which the Participant has an account
relationship of which the Company has notice any or all vested Common Shares
acquired by the Participant pursuant to the settlement of the Award. Further,
the Participant hereby authorizes the Company, in its sole discretion, to
deposit unvested Common Shares with the Company’s transfer agent, including any
successor transfer agent, to be held in book entry form during the term of the
Escrow pursuant to Section 9. Except as otherwise provided by this Section, a
certificate for the Common Shares as to which the Award is settled shall be
registered in the name of the Participant, or, if applicable, in the names of
the heirs of the Participant.

          6.3 Restrictions on Grant of
the Award and Issuance of Common Shares. The grant of the Award and
issuance of Common Shares upon settlement of the Award shall be subject to
compliance with all applicable requirements of federal, state law or foreign law
with respect to such securities. No Common Shares may be issued hereunder if the
issuance of such shares would constitute a violation of any applicable federal,
state or foreign securities laws or other law or regulations or the requirements
of any stock exchange or market system upon which the Stock may then be listed.
The inability of the Company to obtain from any regulatory body having
jurisdiction the authority, if any, deemed by the Company’s legal counsel to be
necessary to the lawful issuance of any Common Shares subject to the Award shall
relieve the Company of any liability in respect of the failure to issue such
shares as to which such requisite authority shall not have been obtained. As a
condition to the settlement of the Award, the Company may require the
Participant to satisfy any qualifications that may be necessary or appropriate,
to evidence compliance with any applicable law or regulation and to make any
representation or warranty with respect thereto as may be requested by the
Company.

5 

          6.4 Fractional Shares. The Company shall not be
required to issue fractional Common Shares upon the settlement of the Award. Any
fractional share resulting from the determination of the number of Vested
Performance Shares shall be rounded up to the nearest whole number. 

     7.
VESTING OF
COMMON
SHARES. 

          7.1 In General. Except as provided by this Section 7 and Section 11, the Common Shares
issued in settlement of the Award shall vest and become Vested Common Shares as
provided in the Grant Notice; provided however, that Common Shares that would
otherwise become Vested Common Shares on a date (the “Original
Vesting Date”) on which a sale of such shares by the Participant would
violate the Insider Trading Policy shall, not withstanding the vesting schedule
set forth in the Grant Notice, become Vested Common Shares on the first to occur
of (a) the next business day on which such sale would not violate the Insider
Trading Policy or (b) the later of (i) the last day of the calendar year in
which the Original Vesting Date occurred or (ii) the last day of the Company’s
taxable year in which the Original Vesting Date occurred.

          7.2 Effect of Termination for Cause or Voluntary Termination.
In the event of the Termination for
Cause or Voluntary Termination of the Participant on or after the Settlement
Date, no additional Common Shares shall become Vested Common Shares.

          7.3 Effect of Death, Termination Due to Disability,
Termination Without Cause or Termination for Good Reason. In the event of the death, Termination Due to Disability,
Termination Without Cause or Termination for Good Reason of the Participant
prior to the Performance Share Vesting Date, then on the Settlement Date the
Company shall issue to the Participant one (1) Vested Common Share for each
Vested Performance Share determined in accordance with Section 5.3. In the event
of the death, Termination Due to Disability, Termination Without Cause or Termination for Good Reason of the
Participant on or after the Settlement Date, then the vesting of all Unvested
Common Shares issued in settlement of the Award shall be accelerated in full
effective as of the date of such death or termination.

          7.4 Effect of Expiration of Participant’s Employment
Agreement Due to Non-Renewal. In the
event of the Expiration of Participant’s Employment Agreement Due to Non-Renewal
prior to the Performance Share Vesting Date, then on the Settlement Date the
Company shall issue to the Participant one (1) Vested Common Share for each
Vested Performance Share determined in accordance with Section 5.4. In the event
of the Expiration of Participant’s Employment Agreement Due to Non-Renewal on or
after the Settlement Date, then the vesting of the then Unvested Common Shares
issued in settlement of the Award shall be accelerated effective as of the date
of such termination on a pro rata basis. The number of such additional Common
Shares that shall become vested as of the date of such expiration of the
Employment Agreement shall be that number of additional Common Shares that would
have become vested through the date of such expiration in accordance with the
vesting schedule set forth in the Grant Notice had such vesting schedule
provided for the accrual of vesting on a daily basis (based on a 365 day year).
Pro rata vesting for the Common Shares that would vest on the first anniversary
of the Settlement Date shall be accrued at a daily rate of 0.1370%, and pro
rata

6 

vesting for the Common Shares that
would vest on the second anniversary of the Settlement Date shall be accrued at
a daily rate of 0.0913%.

     8.
COMPANY REACQUISITION
RIGHT.

          8.1 Grant of Company Reacquisition
Right. Except to the extent otherwise provided by this
Agreement, in the event that (a) the Participant’s Service terminates or (b) the
Participant, the Participant’s legal representative, or other holder of the
shares, attempts to sell, exchange, transfer, pledge, or otherwise dispose of
(other than pursuant to an Ownership Change Event), including, without
limitation, any transfer to a nominee or agent of the Participant, any Common
Shares which are not Vested Common Shares (“Unvested Common
Shares”), the Company shall automatically reacquire the Unvested
Common Shares, and the Participant shall not be entitled to any payment therefor
(the “Company Reacquisition Right”).

          8.2 Ownership Change Event, Non-Cash Dividends, Distributions
and Adjustments.
Upon the occurrence of an Ownership
Change Event, a dividend or distribution to the stockholders of the Company paid
in shares of Stock or other property, or any other adjustment upon a change in
the capital structure of the Company as described in Section 4.4 of the Plan,
any and all new, substituted or additional securities or other property (other
than regular, periodic cash dividends paid on Stock pursuant to the Company’s
dividend policy) to which the Participant is entitled by reason of the
Participant’s ownership of Unvested Common Shares shall be immediately subject
to the Company Reacquisition Right and included in the terms “Common Shares,”
“Stock” and “Unvested Common Shares” for all purposes of the Company
Reacquisition Right with the same force and effect as the Unvested Common Shares
immediately prior to the Ownership Change Event, dividend, distribution or
adjustment, as the case may be. For purposes of determining the number of Vested
Common Shares following an Ownership Change Event, dividend, distribution or
adjustment, credited Service shall include all Service with any corporation
which is a Participating Company at the time the Service is rendered, whether or
not such corporation is a Participating Company both before and after any such
event.

          8.3 Obligation to Repay Certain Cash Dividends and
Distributions. The Participant shall, at
the discretion of the Company, be obligated to promptly repay to the Company
upon termination of the Participant’s Service any dividends and other
distributions paid to the Participant in cash with respect to Unvested Common
Shares reacquired by the Company pursuant to the Company Reacquisition
Right.

     9.
ESCROW. 

          9.1 Appointment of Agent. To ensure that Common Shares subject to the Company Reacquisition Right
will be available for reacquisition, the Participant and the Company hereby
appoint the Secretary of the Company, or any other person designated by the
Company, as their agent and as attorney-in-fact for the Participant (the
“Agent”) to hold any and all Unvested Common Shares and to sell,
assign and transfer to the Company any such Unvested Common Shares reacquired by
the Company pursuant to the Company Reacquisition Right. The Participant
understands that appointment of the Agent is a material inducement to make
this

7 

Agreement and that such
appointment is coupled with an interest and is irrevocable. The Agent shall not
be personally liable for any act the Agent may do or omit to do hereunder as
escrow agent, agent for the Company, or attorney in fact for the Participant
while acting in good faith and in the exercise of the Agent’s own good judgment,
and any act done or omitted by the Agent pursuant to the advice of the Agent’s
own attorneys shall be conclusive evidence of such good faith. The Agent may
rely upon any letter, notice or other document executed by any signature
purporting to be genuine and may resign at any time.

          9.2 Establishment of Escrow. The
Participant authorizes the Company to deposit the Unvested Common Shares with
the Company’s transfer agent to be held in book entry form, as provided in
Section 6.2, and the Participant agrees to deliver to and deposit with the Agent
each certificate, if any, evidencing the Unvested Common Shares and, if required
by the Company, an Assignment Separate from Certificate with respect to such
book entry shares and each such certificate duly endorsed (with date and number
of Common Shares blank) in the form attached to the Notice, to be held by the
Agent under the terms and conditions of this Section 9 (the “Escrow”). Upon the occurrence of a Change in Control or a
change, as described in Section 12, in the character or amount of any
outstanding stock of the corporation the stock of which is subject to the
provisions of this Agreement, any and all new, substituted or additional
securities or other property to which the Participant is entitled by reason of
his or her ownership of the Unvested Common Shares that remain, following such
Change in Control or change described in Section 12, subject to the Company
Reacquisition Right shall be immediately subject to the Escrow to the same
extent as the Unvested Common Shares immediately before such event. The Company
shall bear the expenses of the Escrow.

          9.3 Delivery of Common Shares to
Participant. The Escrow shall continue with respect to any Common
Shares for so long as such Common Shares remain subject to the Company
Reacquisition Right. Upon termination of the Company Reacquisition Right with
respect to Common Shares, the Company shall so notify the Agent and direct the
Agent to deliver such number of Common Shares to the Participant. As soon as
practicable after receipt of such notice, the Agent shall cause to be delivered
to the Participant the Common Shares specified by such notice, and the Escrow
shall terminate with respect to such Common Shares.

     10.
TAX
MATTERS.

          10.1 Tax
Withholding.

               (a) In General. At
the time the Grant Notice is executed, or at any time thereafter as requested by
the Company, the Participant hereby authorizes withholding from payroll and any
other amounts payable to the Participant, and otherwise agrees to make adequate
provision for, any sums required to satisfy the federal, state, local and
foreign tax withholding obligations of the Company, if any, which arise in
connection with the Award or the issuance of Common Shares in settlement
thereof. The Company shall have no obligation to process the settlement of the
Award or to deliver Common Shares until the tax withholding obligations as
described in this Section have been satisfied by the Participant.

               (b) Assignment of Sale Proceeds; Payment of Tax Withholding
by Check. Subject to compliance with
applicable law and the Company’s Insider Trading Policy,

8 

the Company may permit the
Participant to satisfy the Participating Company’s tax withholding obligations
in accordance with procedures established by the Company providing for either
(i) delivery by the Participant to the Company or a broker approved by the
Company of properly executed instructions, in a form approved by the Company,
providing for the assignment to the Company of the proceeds of a sale with
respect to some or all of the Vested Shares, or (ii) payment by check. The
Participant shall deliver written notice of any such permitted election to the
Company on a form specified by the Company for this purpose at least thirty (30)
days (or such other period established by the Company) prior to the date on
which the Company’s tax withholding obligation arises (the “Withholding Date”). If the Participant elects
payment by check, the Participant agrees to deliver a check for the full amount
of the required tax withholding to the applicable Participating Company on or
before the third business day following the Withholding Date. If the Participant
elects payment by check but fails to make such payment as required by the
preceding sentence, the Company is hereby authorized, at its discretion, to
satisfy the tax withholding obligations through any means authorized by this
Section 10.1, including by directing a sale for the account of the Participant
of some or all of the Vested Shares from which the required taxes shall be
withheld, by withholding from payroll and any other amounts payable to the
Participant or by withholding shares in accordance with Section
10.1(c).

               (c) Withholding in Common Shares. The Company may require the Participant to satisfy its
tax withholding obligations by deducting from the Common Shares otherwise
deliverable to the Participant in settlement of the Award or from the Common
Shares otherwise to be released from the Company Reacquisition Right a number of
whole, Vested Common Shares having a fair market value, as determined by the
Company as of the date on which the tax withholding obligations arise, not in
excess of the amount of such tax withholding obligations determined by the
applicable minimum statutory withholding rates.

          10.2 Election Under Section
83(b) of the Code.

               (a) The Participant understands that Section 83 of the Code
taxes as ordinary income the difference between the amount paid for the Common
Shares, if anything, and the fair market value of the Common Shares as of the
date on which the Common Shares are “substantially vested,” within the meaning
of Section 83. In this context, “substantially vested” means that the right of
the Company to reacquire the Common Shares pursuant to the Company Reacquisition
Right has lapsed. The Participant understands that he or she may elect to have
his or her taxable income determined at the time he or she acquires the Common
Shares rather than when and as the Company Reacquisition Right lapses by filing
an election under Section 83(b) of the Code with the Internal Revenue Service no
later than thirty (30) days after the date of acquisition of the Common Shares.
The Participant understands that failure to make a timely filing under Section
83(b) will result in his or her recognition of ordinary income, as the Company
Reacquisition Right lapses, on the difference between the purchase price, if
anything, and the fair market value of the Common Shares at the time such
restrictions lapse. The Participant further understands, however, that if Common
Shares with respect to which an election under Section 83(b) has been made are
forfeited to the Company pursuant to its Company Reacquisition Right, such
forfeiture will be treated as a sale on which there is realized a loss equal to
the excess (if any) of the amount paid (if any) by the Participant for the
forfeited Common Shares over the amount realized (if any) upon their forfeiture.
If the Participant has

9 

paid nothing for the forfeited
Common Shares and has received no payment upon their forfeiture, the Participant
understands that he or she will be unable to recognize any loss on the
forfeiture of the Common Shares even though the Participant incurred a tax
liability by making an election under Section 83(b). 

               (b) The Participant understands that he or she should consult
with his or her tax advisor regarding the advisability of filing with the
Internal Revenue Service an election under Section 83(b) of the Code, which must
be filed no later than thirty (30) days after the date of the acquisition of the
Common Shares pursuant to this Agreement. Failure to file an election under
Section 83(b), if appropriate, may result in adverse tax consequences to the
Participant. The Participant acknowledges that he or she has been advised to
consult with a tax advisor regarding the tax consequences to the Participant of
the acquisition of Common Shares hereunder. ANY ELECTION UNDER SECTION 83(b) THE
PARTICIPANT WISHES TO MAKE MUST BE FILED NO LATER THAN 30 DAYS AFTER THE DATE ON
WHICH THE PARTICIPANT ACQUIRES THE COMMON SHARES. THIS TIME PERIOD CANNOT BE EXTENDED. THE PARTICIPANT ACKNOWLEDGES THAT
TIMELY FILING OF A SECTION 83(b) ELECTION IS THE PARTICIPANT’S SOLE RESPONSIBILITY, EVEN IF THE PARTICIPANT REQUESTS THE
COMPANY OR ITS REPRESENTATIVE TO FILE SUCH ELECTION ON HIS OR HER
BEHALF.

               (c) The Participant will notify
the Company in writing if the Participant
files an election pursuant to Section 83(b) of the Code. The Company intends, in
the event it does not receive from the Participant evidence of such filing, to
claim a tax deduction for any amount which would otherwise be taxable to the
Participant in the absence of such an election.

     11.
CHANGE IN
CONTROL.

          11.1 Effect of Change in Control on Performance Shares.
In the event of the consummation of a
Change in Control prior to the Performance Share Vesting Date, the vesting of
100% of the Target Number of Performance Shares shall be accelerated and such
Performance Shares shall be deemed Vested Performance Shares effective as of the
date of the Change in Control. The Award shall be settled in full in accordance
with Section 6 immediately prior to the Change in Control, provided that the
Participant’s Service has not terminated prior to the Change in Control. In
settlement of the Award, the Company shall issue to the Participant one (1)
Vested Common Share for each Vested Performance Share determined in accordance
with this Section. The vesting of Performance Shares and settlement of the Award
that was permissible solely by reason of this Section shall be conditioned upon
the consummation of the Change in Control.

          11.2 Effect of Change in Control on Common Shares.
In the event of the consummation of a
Change in Control on or after the Settlement Date, the vesting of all Unvested
Common Shares issued in settlement of the Award shall be accelerated in full
effective as of the date of the Change in Control.

10 

          11.3 Federal Excise Tax Under
Section 4999 of the Code. 

               (a) Excess Parachute Payment. In the event that any acceleration of vesting the
Performance Shares or the Common Shares and any other payment or benefit
received or to be received by the Participant would subject the Participant to
any excise tax pursuant to Section 4999 of the Code due to the characterization
of such acceleration of vesting, payment or benefit as an “excess parachute
payment” under Section 280G of the Code, the amount of any acceleration of
vesting called for by this Agreement shall not exceed the amount which produces
the greatest after-tax benefit to the Participant.

               (b) Determination by Independent Accountants.
Upon the occurrence of any event that
might reasonably be anticipated to result in an “excess parachute payment” to
the Participant as described in Section 11.3(a) (an “Event”), the Company shall request a determination in writing
by independent public accountants selected by the Company (the “Accountants”). Unless the Company and the
Participant otherwise agree in writing, the Accountants shall determine and
report to the Company and the Participant within twenty (20) days of the date of
the Event the amount of such acceleration of vesting, payments and benefits
which would produce the greatest after-tax benefit to the Participant. For the
purposes of such determination, the Accountants may rely on reasonable, good
faith interpretations concerning the application of Sections 280G and 4999 of
the Code. The Company and the Participant shall furnish to the Accountants such
information and documents as the Accountants may reasonably request in order to
make their required determination. The Company shall bear all fees and expenses
the Accountants may reasonably charge in connection with their services
contemplated by this Section.

     12.
ADJUSTMENTS FOR
CHANGES IN
CAPITAL
STRUCTURE.

          Subject to any required action by the stockholders of the
Company and the requirements of Section 409A of the Code to the extent
applicable, in the event of any change in the Stock effected without receipt of
consideration by the Company, whether through merger, consolidation,
reorganization, reincorporation, recapitalization, reclassification, stock
dividend, stock split, reverse stock split, split-up, split-off, spin-off,
combination of shares, exchange of shares, or similar change in the capital
structure of the Company, or in the event of payment of a dividend or
distribution to the stockholders of the Company in a form other than Stock
(excepting normal cash dividends) that has a material effect on the Fair Market
Value of shares of Stock, appropriate adjustments shall be made in the number of
Performance Shares and/or the number and kind of shares to be issued in
settlement of the Award, in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the
Participant’s rights under the Award. For purposes of the foregoing, conversion
of any convertible securities of the Company shall not be treated as “effected
without receipt of consideration by the Company.” Any fractional share resulting
from an adjustment pursuant to this Section shall be rounded down to the nearest
whole number. Such adjustments shall be determined by the Committee, and its
determination shall be final, binding and conclusive.

11 

     13.
RIGHTS AS A
STOCKHOLDER
OR EMPLOYEE.

          The Participant shall have no rights as a stockholder
with respect to any Common Shares which may be issued in settlement of this
Award until the date of the issuance of a certificate for such shares (as
evidenced by the appropriate entry on the books of the Company or of a duly
authorized transfer agent of the Company). No adjustment shall be made for
dividends, distributions or other rights for which the record date is prior to
the date such certificate is issued, except as provided in Section 12. If the
Participant is an Employee, the Participant understands and acknowledges that,
except as otherwise provided in a separate, written employment agreement between
the Company or a Parent or Subsidiary and the Participant, the Participant’s
employment is “at will” and is for no specified term. Nothing in this Agreement
shall confer upon the Participant any right to continue in Service interfere in
any way with any right of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary to terminate
the Participant’s Service at any time.

     14.
LEGENDS.

          The Company may at any time place legends referencing any
applicable federal, state or foreign securities law restrictions on all
certificates representing Common Shares issued pursuant to this Agreement. The
Participant shall, at the request of the Company, promptly present to the
Company any and all certificates representing shares acquired pursuant to this
Award in the possession of the Participant in order to carry out the provisions
of this Section. Unless otherwise specified by the Company, legends placed on
such certificates may include, but shall not be limited to, the following:

“THE
SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE SUBJECT TO RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH
IN AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THIS CORPORATION AND
THE REGISTERED HOLDER, OR HIS PREDECESSOR IN INTEREST, A COPY OF WHICH IS ON
FILE AT THE PRINCIPAL OFFICE OF THIS CORPORATION.”

     15. RESTRICTIONS ON
TRANSFER OF COMMON SHARES.

          No Common Shares may be sold, exchanged, transferred
(including, without limitation, any transfer to a nominee or agent of the
Participant), assigned, pledged, hypothecated or otherwise disposed of,
including by operation of law, in any manner which violates any of the
provisions of this Agreement and, except pursuant to an Ownership Change Event,
until the date on which such shares become Vested Common Shares, and any such
attempted disposition shall be void. The Company shall not be required (a) to
transfer on its books any Common Shares which will have been transferred in
violation of any of the provisions set forth in this Agreement or (b) to treat
as owner of such Common Shares or to accord the right to vote as such owner or
to pay dividends to any transferee to whom such Common Shares will have been so
transferred. In order to enforce its rights under this Section, the Company
shall be authorized to give a stop transfer instruction with respect to the
Common Shares to the Company’s transfer agent. 

     16.
COMPLIANCE WITH
SECTION
409A.

          It is intended
that any election, payment or benefit which is made or provided pursuant to or
in connection with this Award that may result in Section 409A Deferred

12 

Compensation shall comply in all
respects with the applicable requirements of Section 409A (including applicable
regulations or other administrative guidance thereunder, as determined by the
Committee in good faith) to avoid the unfavorable tax consequences provided
therein for non-compliance. In connection with effecting such compliance with
Section 409A, the following shall apply:

          16.1 Required Delay in Payment to Specified Employee.
If the Participant is a “specified
employee” of a publicly traded corporation as defined under Section
409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code, unless subject to an applicable exception under
Section 409A, any payment of Section 409A Deferred Compensation in connection
with a “separation from service” (as determined for purposes of Section 409A)
shall not be made until six (6) months after the Participant’s separation from
service (the “Section 409A Deferral
Period”). In the event such payments are
otherwise due to be made in installments or periodically during the Section 409A
Deferral Period, to the extent permitted under Section 409A, the payments of
Section 409A Deferred Compensation which would otherwise have been made in the
Section 409A Deferral Period shall be accumulated and paid in a lump sum as soon
as the Section 409A Deferral Period ends, and the balance of the payments shall
be made as otherwise scheduled.

          16.2 Other Delays in Payment. Neither the Participant nor the Company shall take any action to
accelerate or delay the payment of any benefits under this Agreement in any
manner which would not be in compliance with Code Section 409A (including any
transition or grandfather rules thereunder).

          16.3 Amendments to Comply
with Section 409A; Indemnification. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement to the contrary,
the Company is authorized to amend this Agreement, to void or amend any election
made by the Participant under this Agreement and/or to delay the payment of any
monies and/or provision of any benefits in such manner as may be determined by
the Company, in its discretion, to be necessary or appropriate to comply with
Section 409A (including any transition or grandfather rules thereunder) without
prior notice to or consent of the Participant. The Participant hereby releases
and holds harmless the Company, its directors, officers and stockholders from
any and all claims that may arise from or relate to any tax liability,
penalties, interest, costs, fees or other liability incurred by the Participant
in connection with the Award, including as a result of the application of
Section 409A.

          16.4 Advice of Independent Tax Advisor. The Company has not obtained a tax ruling or other
confirmation from the Internal Revenue Service with regard to the application of
Section 409A to the Award, and the Company does not represent or warrant that
this Agreement will avoid adverse tax consequences to the Participant, including
as a result of the application of Section 409A to the Award. The Participant
hereby acknowledges that he or she has been advised to seek the advice of his or
her own independent tax advisor prior to entering into this Agreement and is not
relying upon any representations of the Company or any of its agents as to the
effect of or the advisability of entering into this Agreement.

13 

     17.
MISCELLANEOUS
PROVISIONS.

          17.1 Termination or Amendment. The Committee may terminate or amend the Plan or this
Agreement at any time; provided, however, that except as provided in Section 11
in connection with a Change in Control, no such termination or amendment may
adversely affect the Participant’s rights under this Agreement without the
consent of the Participant unless such termination or amendment is necessary to
comply with applicable law or government regulation, including, but not limited
to, Section 409A. No amendment or addition to this Agreement shall be effective
unless in writing.

          17.2 Nontransferability of the Award. Prior the issuance of Common Shares on the Settlement
Date, neither this Award nor any Performance Shares subject to this Award shall
be subject in any manner to anticipation, alienation, sale, exchange, transfer,
assignment, pledge, encumbrance, or garnishment by creditors of the Participant
or the Participant’s beneficiary, except transfer by will or by the laws of
descent and distribution. All rights with respect to the Award shall be
exercisable during the Participant’s lifetime only by the Participant or the
Participant’s guardian or legal representative.

          17.3 Unfunded Obligation. The Participant shall have the status of a general unsecured creditor of
the Company. Any amounts payable to the Participant pursuant to the Award shall
be an unfunded and unsecured obligation for all purposes, including, without
limitation, Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. The
Company shall not be required to segregate any monies from its general funds, or
to create any trusts, or establish any special accounts with respect to such
obligations. The Company shall retain at all times beneficial ownership of any
investments, including trust investments, which the Company may make to fulfill
its payment obligations hereunder. Any investments or the creation or
maintenance of any trust or any Participant account shall not create or
constitute a trust or fiduciary relationship between the Committee or the
Company and the Participant, or otherwise create any vested or beneficial
interest in the Participant or the Participant’s creditors in any assets of the
Company. The Participant shall have no claim against the Company for any changes
in the value of any assets which may be invested or reinvested by the Company
with respect to the Award.

          17.4 Further Instruments. The parties hereto agree to execute such further instruments and to take
such further action as may reasonably be necessary to carry out the intent of
this Agreement.

          17.5 Binding Effect. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of the successors and assigns
of the Company and, subject to the restrictions on transfer set forth herein, be
binding upon the Participant and the Participant’s heirs, executors,
administrators, successors and assigns.

          17.6 Delivery of Documents and Notices. Any document relating to participation in the Plan or any
notice required or permitted hereunder shall be given in writing and shall be
deemed effectively given (except to the extent that this Agreement provides for
effectiveness only upon actual receipt of such notice) upon personal delivery,
electronic delivery at the e-mail address, if any, provided for the Participant
by the Company or a Parent or

14 

Subsidiary, or upon deposit in the
U.S. Post Office or foreign postal service, by registered or certified mail, or
with a nationally recognized overnight courier service, with postage and fees
prepaid, addressed to the other party at the address shown below that party’s
signature to the Grant Notice or at such other address as such party may
designate in writing from time to time to the other party. 

               (a) Description of Electronic Delivery. The Plan
documents, which may include but do not necessarily include: the Plan, the Grant
Notice, this Agreement, the Plan Prospectus, and any reports of the Company
provided generally to the Company’s stockholders, may be delivered to the
Participant electronically. In addition, the Participant may deliver
electronically the Grant Notice to the Company or to such third party involved
in administering the Plan as the Company may designate from time to time. Such
means of electronic delivery may include but do not necessarily include the
delivery of a link to a Company intranet or the Internet site of a third party
involved in administering the Plan, the delivery of the document via e-mail or
such other means of electronic delivery specified by the Company. 

               (b) Consent to Electronic Delivery. The Participant acknowledges that the Participant has
read Section 17.6(a) of this Agreement and consents to the electronic delivery
of the Plan documents and Grant Notice, as described in Section 17.6(a). The
Participant acknowledges that he or she may receive from the Company a paper
copy of any documents delivered electronically at no cost to the Participant by
contacting the Company by telephone or in writing. The Participant further
acknowledges that the Participant will be provided with a paper copy of any
documents if the attempted electronic delivery of such documents fails.
Similarly, the Participant understands that the Participant must provide the
Company or any designated third party administrator with a paper copy of any
documents if the attempted electronic delivery of such documents fails. The
Participant may revoke his or her consent to the electronic delivery of
documents described in Section 17.6(a) or may change the electronic mail address
to which such documents are to be delivered (if Participant has provided an
electronic mail address) at any time by notifying the Company of such revoked
consent or revised e-mail address by telephone, postal service or electronic
mail. Finally, the Participant understands that he or she is not required to
consent to electronic delivery of documents described in Section 17.6(a).

          17.7 Integrated Agreement. The Grant Notice, this Agreement and the Plan, together with the
Employment Agreement, shall constitute the entire understanding and agreement of
the Participant and the Company with respect to the subject matter contained
herein or therein and supersede any prior agreements, understandings,
restrictions, representations, or warranties between the Participant and the
Company with respect to such subject matter other than those as set forth or
provided for herein or therein. To the extent contemplated herein or therein,
the provisions of the Grant Notice, this Agreement and the Plan shall survive
any settlement of the Award and shall remain in full force and
effect.

          17.8 Applicable Law. This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of California
as such laws are applied to agreements between California residents entered into
and to be performed entirely within the State of California.

15 

          17.9 Counterparts. The
Grant Notice may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an
original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same
instrument. 

16EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

     THIS EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made effective __________, (the “Effective Date”)
by and between Ross Stores, Inc. (the “Company”), a Delaware
corporation, and __________ (the “Executive”).

RECITALS 

     A. The
Company wishes to employ the Executive, and the Executive is willing to accept
such employment, as _______________. 

     B. It is
now the mutual desire of the Company and the Executive to enter into a written
employment agreement to govern the terms of the Executive’s employment by the
Company as of and following the Effective Date on the terms and conditions set
forth below. 

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

     In
consideration for the promises of the parties set forth below, the Company and
the Executive hereby agree as follows: 

     1. Term. Subject to the provisions
of Section 6 of this Agreement, the term of employment of the Executive by the
Company under this Agreement (the “Term
of Employment”) shall be as follows:

          (a) Initial
Term. The initial Term of Employment of
the Executive by the Company under this Agreement shall begin on the Effective
Date and end on __________ (the “Initial
Term”), unless extended or terminated
earlier in accordance with this Agreement.

          (b) Renewal Term.
Upon the timely written request of the Executive to extend the Term of
Employment, the Compensation Committee (the “Committee”) of the Board of
Directors (the “Board”) of the Company shall consider extending the
Executive’s employment with the Company under this Agreement. To be timely, such
request must be delivered to the Company’s Chief Executive Officer not earlier
than twelve (12) months prior to the end of the then effective Initial Term or
Renewal Term and, in any case, while the Executive remains an employee of the
Company. Such request must contain no proposed modification to the provisions of
this Agreement other than an extension of the Term of Employment as then in
effect for an additional two (2) years. Within thirty (30) days following the
receipt of such notice, the Chief Executive Officer will discuss such request
with the Committee and advise the Executive, in writing, within thirty (30) days
following its consideration of the Executive’s written request, of the approval
or disapproval of such extension request. The failure to provide such written
advice shall constitute a denial of the Executive’s request for extension. If
the Executive’s request for an extension is approved, the Term of Employment
shall be extended for two (2) additional years commencing on the date
immediately following the date of expiration of the Term of Employment in effect
at the time of the Executive’s written request. Such additional two-year period
is referred to herein as a “Renewal
Term.”

     2. Position and Duties. During the
Term of Employment, the Executive shall serve as ___________________. As used in
this Agreement, the term “Company” includes Ross Stores, Inc. and each and any
of its divisions, affiliates or subsidiaries (except that, where the term
relates to stock, stockholders, stock options or other stock-based awards or the
Board, it means Ross Stores, Inc.). The Executive’s employment may be
transferred, assigned, or reassigned to Ross Stores, Inc. or a division,
affiliate or subsidiary of Ross Stores, Inc., and such transfer, assignment, or
re-assignment will not constitute a termination of employment or “Good Reason”
for the Executive’s termination of employment under this Agreement. During the
Term of Employment, the Executive may engage in outside activities provided
those activities (including but not limited to membership on boards of directors
of not-for-profit and for-profit organizations) do not conflict with the
Executive’s duties and responsibilities hereunder, and provided further that the
Executive gives written notice to the Board of any significant outside business
activity in which the Executive plans to become involved, whether or not such
activity is pursued for profit. 

     3.
Principal Place of
Employment. The Executive shall be
employed at the Company’s offices in [Pleasanton,
California] [New York, New York], except for required travel on the Company’s
business to an extent substantially consistent with present business travel
obligations of the Executive’s position.

     4.
Compensation and Related Matters.

          (a) Salary. During
the Term of Employment, the Company shall pay to the Executive a salary at a
rate of not less than ___________ Dollars ($_______) per annum. The Executive’s
salary shall be payable in substantially equal installments in accordance with
the Company’s normal payroll practices applicable to senior executives. Subject
to the first sentence of this Section 4(a), the Executive’s salary may be
adjusted from time to time by the Committee in accordance with normal business
practices of the Company. 

          (b) Bonus. During the
Term of Employment, the Executive shall be eligible to receive an annual bonus
paid under the Company’s existing incentive bonus plan under which the Executive
is eligible (which is currently the Incentive Compensation Plan) or any
replacement plan that may subsequently be established and in effect during the
Term of Employment. The current target annual bonus the Executive is eligible to
earn upon achievement of 100% of all applicable performance targets under such
incentive bonus plan is ____% of the Executive’s then effective annual salary
rate. The Executive’s death, termination for Cause or Voluntary Termination (as
described in Sections 6(a), 6(c) and 6(f), respectively) prior to the Company’s
payment of the bonus for a fiscal year of the Company will cause the Executive
to be ineligible for any annual bonus for that fiscal year or any pro-rata
portion of such bonus.

          (c) Expenses. During
the Term of Employment, 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
Company. 

2 

          (d) Benefits. During
the Term of Employment, the Executive shall be entitled to participate in all of
the Company’s employee benefit plans and arrangements in which senior executives
of the Company are eligible to participate. The Company shall not make any
changes in such plans or arrangements which would adversely affect the
Executive’s rights or benefits thereunder, unless such change occurs pursuant to
a program applicable to all senior executives of the Company and does not result
in a proportionately greater reduction in the rights or benefits of the
Executive as compared with any other similarly situated senior executive of the
Company. The Executive shall be entitled to participate in, or receive benefits
under, any employee benefit plan or arrangement made available by the Company in
the future to its senior executives, subject to, and on a basis consistent with,
the terms, conditions and overall administration of such plans and arrangements.
Except as otherwise specifically provided herein, nothing paid to the Executive
under any plan or arrangement presently in effect or made available in the
future shall be in lieu of the salary or bonus otherwise payable under this
Agreement. 

          (e) Vacations. During
the Term of Employment, the Executive shall be entitled to twenty (20) vacation
days in each calendar year, and to compensation in respect of earned but unused
vacation days, determined in accordance with the Company’s vacation plan. The
Executive shall also be entitled to all paid holidays given by the Company to
its senior executives. Unused vacation days shall not be forfeited once they
have been earned and, if still unused at the time of the Executive’s termination
of employment with the Company, shall be promptly paid to the Executive at their
then-current value, based on the Executive’s daily salary rate at the time of
the Executive’s termination of employment. 

          (f) Services Furnished. The Company shall furnish the Executive with office space and such
services as are suitable to the Executive’s position and adequate for the
performance of the Executive’s duties during the Term of Employment. 

     5.
Confidential Information and Intellectual
Property. 

          (a) Other than in the performance of the Executive’s duties
hereunder, the Executive agrees not to use in any manner or disclose,
distribute, publish, communicate or in any way cause to be used, disclosed,
distributed, published, or communicated in any way or at any time, either while
in the Company's employ or at any time thereafter, to any person not employed by
the Company, or not engaged to render services to the Company, any Confidential
Information (as defined below) obtained while in the employ of the Company.

          (b) Confidential Information includes any written or
unwritten information which relates to and/or is used by the Company or its
subsidiaries, affiliates or divisions, including, without limitation (i) the
names, addresses, buying habits and other special information regarding past,
present and potential customers, employees and suppliers of the Company, (ii)
customer and supplier contracts and transactions or price lists of the Company
and suppliers, (iii) methods of distribution, (iv) all agreements, files, books,
logs, charts, records, studies, reports, processes, schedules and statistical
information, (v) data, figures, projections, estimates, pricing data, customer
lists, buying manuals or procedures, distribution manuals or procedures, other
policy and procedure manuals or handbooks, (vi) supplier information, tax
records, personnel histories and records, sales information, and property
information, (vii) information regarding the present or future phases of
business, (viii) ideas, inventions,

3 

trademarks, business information,
know-how, processes, techniques, improvements, designs, redesigns, creations,
discoveries, trade secrets, and developments, (ix) all computer software
licensed or developed by the Company or its subsidiaries, affiliates or
divisions, computer programs, computer-based and web-based training programs,
and systems, and (x) finances and financial information, but Confidential
Information will not include information of the Company or its subsidiaries,
affiliates or divisions that (1) became or becomes a matter of public knowledge
through sources independent of the Executive, (2) has been or is disclosed by
the Company or its subsidiaries, affiliates or divisions without restriction on
its use, or (3) has been or is required or specifically permitted to be
disclosed by law or governmental order or regulation. The Executive also agrees
that, if there is any reasonable doubt whether an item is public knowledge, to
not regard the item as public knowledge until and unless the Company’s Chief
Executive Officer confirms to the Executive that the information is public
knowledge.

          (c) The provisions of this Section 5 shall not preclude the
Executive from disclosing such information to the Executive's professional tax
advisor or legal counsel solely to the extent necessary to the rendering of
their professional services to the Executive if such individuals agree to keep
such information confidential.

          (d) The Executive agrees that upon leaving the Company’s
employ the Executive will remain reasonably available to answer questions from
Company officers regarding the Executive’s former duties and responsibilities
and the knowledge the Executive obtained in connection therewith. 

          (e) The Executive agrees that upon leaving the Company's
employ the Executive will not communicate with, or give statements to, any
member of the media (including print, television, or radio media) relating to
any matter (including pending or threatening lawsuits or administrative
investigations) about which the Executive has knowledge or information (other
than knowledge or information that is not Confidential Information) as a result
of employment with the Company. The Executive further agrees to notify the Chief
Executive Officer or his or her designee immediately after being contacted by
any member of the media with respect to any matter affected by this section.

          (f) The Executive agrees that all information, inventions,
and discoveries, whether or not patented or patentable, made or conceived by the
Executive, either alone or with others, at any time while employed by the
Company, which arises out of such employment or is pertinent to any field of
business or research in which, during such employment, the Company, its
subsidiaries, affiliates or divisions is engaged or (if such is known to or
ascertainable by the Executive) is considering engaging (“Intellectual Property”) shall (i) be and remain the sole property of the Company and the
Executive shall not seek a patent with respect to such Intellectual Property
without the prior consent of an authorized representative of the Company and
(ii) be disclosed promptly to an authorized representative of the Company along
with all information the Executive possesses with regard to possible
applications and uses. Further, at the request of the Company, and without
expense or additional compensation to the Executive, the Executive agrees to
execute such documents and perform such other acts as the Company deems
necessary to obtain patents on such Intellectual Property in a jurisdiction or
jurisdictions 

4 

designated by the Company, and to
assign to the Company or its designee such Intellectual Property and all patent
applications and patents relating thereto.

          (g) The Executive and the Company agree that the Executive
intends all original works of authorship within the purview of the copyright
laws of the United States authored or created by the Executive in the course of
the Executive’s employment with the Company will be works for hire within the
meaning of such copyright law. 

          (h) Upon termination of the Executive’s employment, or at any
time upon request of the Company, the Executive will return to the Company all
Confidential Information and Intellectual Property, in any form, including but
not limited to letters, memoranda, reports, notes, notebooks, books of account,
drawings, prints, specifications, formulae, data printouts, microfilms, magnetic
tapes, disks, recordings, documents, and all copies thereof.

     6. Termination. The Executive’s
employment may be terminated during the Term of Employment only as follows:

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

          (b) Disability. If,
as a result of the Executive’s Disability (as defined below), the Executive
shall have been absent from the Executive’s duties hereunder on a full-time
basis for the entire period of six consecutive months, and, within thirty days
after written notice of termination is given by the Company (which may occur
before or after the end of such six-month period), the Executive shall not have
returned to the performance of the Executive’s duties hereunder on full-time
basis, the Executive’s employment shall terminate. For purposes of this
Agreement, the term “Disability” shall mean a physical
or mental illness, impairment or condition reasonably determined by the Board
that prevents the Executive from performing the duties of the Executive’s
position under this Agreement. 

          (c) For Cause. The
Company may terminate the Executive’s employment for Cause. For this purpose,
“Cause” means the occurrence of any of the following (i) the Executive’s
continuous failure to substantially perform the Executive’s duties hereunder
(unless such failure is a result of a Disability as defined in Section 6(b)),
(ii) the Executive’s theft, dishonesty, breach of fiduciary duty for personal
profit or falsification of any documents of the Company, (iii) the Executive’s
material failure to abide by the applicable code(s) of conduct or other policies
(including, without limitation, policies relating to confidentiality and
reasonable workplace conduct) of the Company, (iv) knowing or intentional
misconduct by the Executive as a result of which the Company is required to
prepare an accounting restatement, (v) the Executive’s unauthorized use,
misappropriation, destruction or diversion of any tangible or intangible asset
or corporate opportunity of the Company (including, without limitation, the
Executive’s improper use or disclosure of confidential or proprietary
information of the Company), (vi) any intentional misconduct or illegal or
grossly negligent conduct by the Executive which is materially injurious to the
Company monetarily or otherwise, (vii) any material breach by the Executive of
the provisions of Section 9 [Certain Employment Obligations] of this Agreement,
or (viii) the Executive’s conviction (including any plea of guilty

5 

or nolo contendere) of any criminal act
involving fraud, dishonesty, misappropriation or moral turpitude, or which
materially impairs the Executive’s ability to perform his or her duties with the
Company. A termination for Cause shall not take effect unless: (1) the Executive
is given written notice by the Company of its intention to terminate the
Executive for Cause; (2) the notice specifically identifies the particular act
or acts or failure or failures to act which are the basis for such termination;
(3) where practicable, the notice is given within sixty (60) days of the
Company’s learning of such act or acts or failure or failures to act; and (4)
only in the case of clause (i), (iii), (v), (vi) or (vii) of the second sentence
of this Section 6(c), the Executive fails to substantially cure such breach, to
the extent such cure is possible, within sixty (60) days after the date that
such written notice is given to the Executive. 

          (d) Without Cause.
The Company may terminate the Executive’s employment at any time Without Cause.
A termination “Without
Cause” is a termination by the Company
of the Executive’s employment with the Company for any reasons other than the
death or Disability of the Executive or the termination by the Company of the
Executive for Cause as described in Section 6(c).

          (e) Termination by the Executive for Good
Reason. The Executive may terminate the
Executive’s employment with the Company for “Good Reason,” which shall be
deemed to occur if the Executive terminates the Executive’s employment with the
Company within sixty (60) days after written notice to the Company by the
Executive of the occurrence of one or more of the following conditions, which
condition(s) have not been cured within thirty (30) business days
after the Company’s receipt of such written notice: (1) a failure by the Company
to comply with any material provision of this Agreement (including but not
limited to the reduction of the Executive’s salary or the target annual bonus
opportunity set forth in Section 4(b), (2) a significant diminishment in the
nature or scope of the authority, power, function or duty attached to the
position which the Executive currently maintains without the express written
consent of the Executive, or (3) the relocation of the Executive’s Principal
Place of Employment as described in Section 3 to a location that increases the
regular one-way commute distance between the Executive’s residence and Principal
Place of Employment by more than 25 miles without the Executive’s prior written
consent. In order to constitute a termination of employment for Good Reason, such
termination must occur within
two (2) years following the initial
existence of any of the conditions set forth in this Section 6(e), the Executive
must provide written notice to the Company of the existence of the condition
giving rise to the Good Reason termination within sixty (60) days of the initial
existence of the condition, and the Company shall have thirty (30) days during
which it may remedy the condition and in the event such condition is timely
remedied, the termination shall not constitute a termination for Good
Reason.

          (f) Voluntary Termination. The Executive may voluntarily resign from the Executive’s employment
with the Company at any time (a “Voluntary Termination”). A
voluntary resignation from employment by the Executive for Good Reason pursuant
to Section 6(e) shall not be deemed a Voluntary Termination.

          (g) Non-Renewal Termination. If the Executive fails to request an extension of the Term of
Employment in accordance with Section 1(b) or if the Committee fails to
approve

6 

such request, this Agreement shall
automatically expire at the end of the then current Term of Employment (a
“Non-Renewal Termination”). 

     7.
Notice and Effective Date of Termination

          (a) Notice. Any
termination of the Executive’s employment by the Company or by the Executive
during the Term of Employment (other than as a result of the death of the
Executive or a Non-Renewal Termination described in Section 6(g)) shall be
communicated by written notice of termination to the other party hereto. Such
notice shall indicate the specific termination provision in this Agreement
relied upon and shall set forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances
claimed to provide a basis for termination of the Executive’s employment under
that provision. 

          (b) Date of Termination. The date of termination of the Executive’s employment shall be:

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

               (ii) if the Executive’s employment is terminated due to
Disability pursuant to Section 6(b), the date of termination shall be the last
to occur of the 31st day following delivery of the notice of termination to the
Executive by the Company or the end of the consecutive six-month period referred
to in Section 6(b). 

               (iii) if the Executive’s employment is terminated for any other
reason by either party, the date on which a notice of termination is delivered
to the other party; and 

               (iv) if the Agreement expires pursuant to a Non-Renewal
Termination described in Section 6(g), the parties’ employment relationship
shall terminate on the last day of the then current Term of Employment without
any notice. 

     8.
Compensation and Benefits Upon
Termination. 

          (a) Termination Due To Disability, Without Cause or For Good
Reason. If the Executive’s employment
terminates pursuant to Section 6(b) [Disability], Section 6(d) [Without Cause],
or Section 6(e) [Termination by Executive for Good Reason], then, subject to
Section 22 [Compliance with Section 409A], in addition to all salary, annual
bonuses, expense reimbursements, benefits and accrued vacation days earned by
the Executive pursuant to Section 4 through the date of the Executive’s
termination of employment, the Executive shall be entitled to the following,
provided that within sixty (60) days following the Executive’s termination of
employment the Executive executes a general release of claims against the
Company and its subsidiaries, affiliates, stockholders, directors, officers,
employees, agents, successors and assigns in the current form approved by the
Company and attached as Exhibit A (subject to any amendments required by law or
regulation)(the “Release”) and the period for revocation, if any, of such Release
has expired without the Release having been revoked: 

7 

               (i) Salary. The
Company shall continue to pay to the Executive the Executive’s salary, at the
rate in effect immediately prior to such termination of employment, through the
remainder of the Term of Employment then in effect. 

               (ii) Bonus. The
Company shall continue to pay to the Executive an annual bonus through the
remainder of the Term of Employment then in effect; provided, however, that the
amount of the annual bonus determined in accordance with this Section 8(a)(ii)
for the fiscal year of the Company in which such Term of Employment ends shall
be prorated on the basis of the number of days of such Term of Employment
occurring within such fiscal year. The amount of each annual bonus payable
pursuant to this Section 8(a)(ii), prior to any proration, shall be equal to the
annual bonus that the Executive would have earned had no such termination under
Section 8(a)(i) occurred, contingent on the relevant annual bonus plan
performance goals for the respective year having been obtained. However, in no
case shall any such post-termination annual bonus exceed 100% of the Executive's
target bonus for the fiscal year of the Company in which the Executive's
termination of employment occurs. Such bonuses shall not be paid until due under
the applicable Company bonus plan. 

               (iii) Stock Options.
Stock options granted to the Executive by the Company and which remain
outstanding immediately prior to the date of termination of the Executive’s
employment, as provided in Section 7(b), shall immediately become vested in full
upon such termination of employment. 

               (iv) Restricted Stock.
Shares of restricted stock granted to the Executive by the Company which have
not become vested as of the date of termination of the Executive’s employment,
as provided in Section 7(b), shall immediately become vested on a pro rata
basis. The number of such additional shares of restricted stock that shall
become vested as of the date of the Executive’s termination of employment shall
be that number of additional shares that would have become vested through the
date of such termination of employment at the rate(s) determined under the
vesting schedule applicable to such shares had such vesting schedule provided
for the accrual of vesting on a daily basis (based on a 365 day year). The pro
rata amount of shares vesting through the date of termination/non-renewal shall
be calculated by multiplying the number of unvested shares scheduled to vest in
each respective vesting year by the ratio of the number of days from the date of
grant through the date of termination/non-renewal, and the number of days from
the date of grant through the original vesting date of the respective vesting
tranche. Any shares of restricted stock remaining unvested after such pro rata
acceleration of vesting shall automatically be reacquired by the Company in
accordance with the provisions of the applicable restricted stock agreement, and
the Executive shall have no further rights in such unvested portion of the
restricted stock. In addition, the Company shall waive any reacquisition or
repayment rights for dividends paid on restricted stock prior to Executive’s
termination of employment.

               (v) Other Equity Awards. Except as set forth in Sections 8(a)(iii) and 8(a)(iv), performance
share awards and all other equity awards granted to the Executive by the Company
which remain outstanding immediately prior to the date of termination of the
Executive’s employment, as provided in Section 7(b), shall vest and be settled
in accordance with their terms. 

8 

     The
Company shall have no further obligations to the Executive as a result of
termination of employment described in this Section 8(a) except as set forth in
Section 12. 

          (b) Death, Termination for Cause or Voluntary
Termination. If the Executive’s
employment terminates pursuant to Section 6(a) [Death], Section 6(c) [For Cause]
or Section 6(f) [Voluntary Termination], the Executive (or the Executive’s
designee or the Executive’s estate) shall be entitled to receive only the
salary, annual bonuses, expense reimbursements, benefits and accrued vacation
days earned by the Executive pursuant to Section 4 through the date of the
Executive’s termination of employment. The Executive shall not be entitled to
any bonus not paid prior to the date of the Executive’s termination of
employment, and the Executive shall not be entitled to any prorated bonus
payment for the year in which the Executive’s employment terminates. Any stock
options granted to the Executive by the Company shall continue to vest only
through the date on which the Executive’s employment terminates, and unless
otherwise provided by their terms, any restricted stock, performance share
awards or other equity awards that were granted to the Executive by the Company
that remain unvested as of the date on which the Executive’s employment
terminates shall automatically be forfeited and the Executive shall have no
further rights with respect to such awards. The Company shall have no further
obligations to the Executive as a result of termination of employment described
in this Section 8(b) except as set forth in Section 12. In addition, provided
the Executive terminates pursuant to Death, the Company shall waive any
reacquisition or repayment rights for dividends paid on restricted stock prior
to Executive’s termination of employment. 

          (c) Non-Renewal Termination. If the Agreement expires as set forth in Section 6(g) [Non-Renewal
Termination], then, subject to Section 22 [Compliance with Section 409A], in
addition to all salary, annual bonuses, expense reimbursements, benefits and
accrued vacation days earned by the Executive pursuant to Section 4 through the
date of the Executive’s termination of employment, the Executive shall be
entitled to the following, provided that within sixty (60) days following the
Executive’s termination of employment the Executive executes the Release and the
period for revocation, if any, of such Release has expired without the Release
having been revoked: 

               (i) Bonus. The
Company shall pay the Executive an annual bonus for the fiscal year of the
Company in which the date of the Executive’s termination of employment occurs,
which shall be prorated for the portion of such fiscal year that the Executive
is employed by the Company. The amount of such annual bonus, prior to proration,
shall be equal to the annual bonus that the Executive would have earned under
the Company’s bonus plan for the fiscal year of the Company in which the
Executive’s termination of employment occurs had the Executive remained in its
employment, contingent on the relevant annual bonus plan performance goals for
the year in which Executive terminates having been obtained. However, in no case
shall any such post-termination annual bonus exceed 100% of the Executive's
target bonus for the fiscal year of the Company in which the Executive's
termination of employment occurs. Such bonus shall not be paid until due under
the applicable Company bonus plan.

               (ii) Stock Options.
Stock options granted to the Executive by the Company and which remain
outstanding immediately prior to the date of termination of the

9 

Executive’s employment, as provided in
Section 7(b), shall be vested and exercisable in accordance with their
terms.

               (iii) Restricted Stock.
Shares of restricted stock granted to the Executive by the Company which have
not become vested as of the date of termination of the Executive’s employment,
as provided in Section 7(b), shall immediately become vested on a pro rata
basis. The number of such additional shares of restricted stock that shall
become vested as of the date of the Executive’s termination of employment shall
be that number of additional shares that would have become vested through the
date of such termination of employment at the rate(s) determined under the
vesting schedule applicable to such shares had such vesting schedule provided
for the accrual of vesting on a daily basis (based on a 365 day year). The pro
rata amount of shares vesting through the date of termination/non-renewal shall
be calculated by multiplying the number of unvested shares scheduled to vest in
each respective vesting year by the ratio of the number of days from the date of
grant through the date of termination/non-renewal, and the number of days from
the date of grant through the original vesting date of the respective vesting
tranche. Any shares of restricted stock remaining unvested after such pro rata
acceleration of vesting shall automatically be reacquired by the Company in
accordance with the provisions of the applicable restricted stock agreement, and
the Executive shall have no further rights in such unvested portion of the
restricted stock. In addition, the Company shall waive any reacquisition or
repayment rights for dividends paid on restricted stock prior to Executive’s
termination of employment. 

               (iv) Other Equity Awards. Except as set forth in Sections 8(c)(ii) and 8(c)(iii), performance share
awards and all other equity awards granted to the Executive by the Company which
remain outstanding immediately prior to the date of termination of the
Executive’s employment, as provided in Section 7(b), shall vest and be settled
in accordance with their terms. 

     The
Company shall have no further obligations to the Executive as a result of
termination of employment described in this Section 8(c) except as set forth in
Section 12. 

          (d) Special Change in
Control Provisions.

               (i) Change in Control Benefits.

                    (1) Without Regard to Termination of Employment.
In the event of a Change in Control (as
defined below), all shares of restricted stock granted to the Executive by the
Company shall become vested in full immediately prior to the consummation of
such Change in Control, and, subject to Section 22 [Compliance with Section
409A], the Executive shall be entitled to receive an additional salary equal to
_______________________ Dollars ($_______) per month for a period of two (2)
years following the Change in Control unless and until the Voluntary Termination
(as defined in Section 6(f)) of the Executive’s employment or the termination
for Cause (as defined in Section 6(c)) of the Executive’s employment. Except as
set forth in this Section 8(d)(i)(1) or Section 8(d)(i)(2) below, the treatment
of stock options, performance share awards and all other equity awards granted
to the Executive by the Company which remain outstanding immediately prior to
the date of such Change in Control shall be determined in accordance with their
terms. 

10 

                    (2) Upon Certain Termination of Employment. In addition to the payments and benefits provided by
Section 8(d)(i)(1) above, if the Executive’s employment is terminated either by
the Company Without Cause (as defined in Section 6(d)) or by the Executive for
Good Reason (as defined in Section 6(e)), in either case within a period
commencing one (1) month prior to and ending twelve (12) months following a
Change in Control, then, subject to Section 22 [Compliance with Section 409A],
the Executive shall be entitled to the following (in addition to any other
payments or benefits provided under this Agreement), provided that within sixty
(60) days following the Executive’s termination of employment the Executive
executes the Release and the period for revocation, if any, of such Release has
expired without the Release having been revoked:

                         a. Salary. The
salary that shall be payable to the Executive under Section 8(a)(i) shall be
paid for the greater of (i) the remainder of the Term of Employment then in
effect or (ii) a period of two (2) years commencing on the date of the
Executive’s termination of employment. 

                         b. Bonus. The annual
bonus that shall be payable to the Executive under this Section 8(d)(i)(2)(b)
shall be paid for the greater of (i) the remainder of the Term of Employment
then in effect or (ii) a period of two (2) years commencing on the date of the
Executive’s termination of employment; provided, however, that the amount of the
annual bonus determined in accordance with this Section 8(d)(i)(2)(b) for the
fiscal year of the Company in which such Term of Employment or two-year period,
as the case may be, ends shall be prorated on the basis of the number of days of
such Term of Employment or two-year period occurring within such fiscal year.
The amount of each annual bonus payable pursuant to this Section 8(d)(i)(2(b)
prior to any proration, shall be equal to the greater of (A) the annual bonus
earned by the Executive for the most recent fiscal year of the Company ending
prior to the date of the Executive’s termination of employment or (B) 100% of
the Executive’s target bonus for the fiscal year of the Company in which the
Executive’s termination of employment occurs.

                         c. Health Care
Coverage. The Executive shall be
entitled to the continuation of the Executive’s health care coverage under the
Company’s employee benefit plans (including medical, dental, vision and mental
coverage) which the Executive had at the time of the termination of employment
(including coverage for the Executive’s dependents to the extent such dependents
were covered immediately prior to such termination of employment) at the
Company’s expense for the greater of (i) the remainder of the Term of Employment
then in effect or (ii) a period of two (2) years commencing on the date of the
Executive’s termination of employment. Such health care continuation rights will
be in addition to any rights the Executive may have under ERISA Sections 600 and
thereafter and Section 4980B of the Internal Revenue Code (“COBRA
coverage”).

                         d. Estate
Planning. The Executive shall be
entitled to reimbursement of the Executive’s estate planning expenses (including
attorneys’ fees) on the same basis, if any, as to which the Executive was
entitled to such reimbursements immediately prior to such termination of
employment for the greater of (i) the remainder of the Term of Employment then
in effect or (ii) a period of two (2) years commencing on the date of
termination of employment.

11 

               (ii) Change in Control Defined. A “Change in
Control” shall be deemed to have
occurred if: (1) any person or group (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 of the
rules and regulations promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended) shall acquire during the twelve-month period ending on the date of the
most recent acquisition by such person or group, in one or a series of
transactions, whether through sale of stock or merger, ownership of stock of the
Company that constitutes 35% or more of the total voting power of the stock of
the Company or any successor to the Company; (2) a merger in which the Company
is a party pursuant to which any person or such group acquires ownership of
stock of the Company that, together with stock held by such person or group,
constitutes more than 50% of the total fair market value or total voting power
of the stock of the Company, or (3) the sale, exchange, or transfer of all or
substantially all of the Company’s assets (other than a sale, exchange, or
transfer to one or more corporations where the stockholders of the Company
before and after such sale, exchange, or transfer, directly or indirectly, are
the beneficial owners of at least a majority of the voting stock of the
corporation(s) to which the assets were transferred). 

               (iii) Excise Tax Gross-Up. If the Executive becomes entitled to one or more payments (with a
“payment” for this purpose including the accelerated vesting of restricted
stock, stock options or other equity awards, or other non-cash benefits or
property), whether pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or any other plan or
agreement with the Company or any affiliated company (collectively,
“Change in Control
Payments”), which are or become subject
to the tax (the “Excise
Tax”) imposed by Section 4999 of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), the Company 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 in Control Payments and any amounts paid
to the Executive pursuant to Section 8 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 Company at the time that the amount 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 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 Company 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. 

12 

               (iv) The Gross-up Payment provided for above shall be paid,
subject to Section 22 [Compliance with Section 409A], 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 in 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 Company shall pay to the Executive on such
day an estimate, as determined by counsel or auditors selected by the Company
and reasonably acceptable to the Executive, of the minimum amount of such
payments. The Company 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, the Executive shall repay such amount on the fifth day after
demand by the Company (together with interest at the rate provided in Section
1274(b)(2)(B) of the Code). The Company 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
Company 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
Company’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 Company 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.

          (e) Timing of Payments. Any cash payments to which the
Executive is entitled under Sections 8(a),(c) and (d) shall be payable in
accordance with the Company’s payroll schedule and shall commence as soon as
practicable upon the period for revocation of the Release having expired (and in
any event on or prior to December 31 of the year in which Executive has a
Separation from Service); provided, however, that in the event that Executive
becomes entitled to such payments in connection with a Separation from Service
that occurs on or after November 1 of any calendar year, such payments shall
commence on the later of (i) the period for revocation of the Release having
expired or (ii) January 1 of the calendar year that immediately follows the year
in which the Executive has a Separation from Service. 

     9.
Certain Employment
Obligations. 

          (a) Employee Acknowledgement. The Company and the Executive acknowledge that (i) the Company has a
special interest in and derives significant benefit from the unique skills and
experience of the Executive; (ii) as a result of the Executive’s service with
the Company, the Executive will use and have access to some of the Company’s
proprietary and valuable Confidential Information during the course of
the Executive’s employment; (iii) the Confidential Information has been
developed and created by the Company at substantial expense and constitutes
valuable proprietary assets of the Company, and the Company will suffer
substantial damage and irreparable harm which will be difficult to compute if,
during the term of the Executive’s employment or thereafter, the Executive
should disclose or improperly use such

13 

Confidential Information in violation
of the provisions of this Agreement; (iv) the Company will suffer substantial
damage and irreparable harm which will be difficult to compute if the Executive
competes with the company in violation of this Agreement; (v) the Company will
suffer substantial damage which will be difficult to compute if, the Executive
solicits or interferes with the Company’s employees, clients, or customers; (vi)
the provisions of this Agreement are reasonable and necessary for the protection
of the business of the Company; and (vii) the provisions of this Agreement will
not preclude the Executive from obtaining other gainful employment or
service. 

          (b) Non-Compete.

               (i) During the Term of Employment and for a period of
twenty-four (24) months following the Executive's termination of employment with
the Company, the Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, own, manage,
control, be employed by, consult with, participate in, or be connected in any
manner with the ownership, management, operation, control of, or otherwise
become involved with, any Competing Business, nor shall the Executive undertake
any planning to engage in any such activity. 

     For purposes of this Agreement, a
Competing Business shall mean any of the following: (1) any business that is
listed as a peer retailer in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis section of
the Company’s most current Proxy Statement filed with the U.S. Securities and
Exchange Commission as of the date of Executive’s termination of employment with
the Company, (2) any off-price retailer or retailer of discount merchandise,
including without limitation, Burlington Coat Factory Warehouse Corporation,
Macy’s, Inc., TJX Companies Inc., Retail Ventures Inc., Kohl’s Corporation,
Stein Mart, Inc. INSERT BY
INDIVIDUAL: Foot Locker, Inc., Collective Brands, Inc. (Brautigan);
Bed, Bath & Beyond Inc., Tuesday Morning Corporation, (Lisa P and Bob
Bernard), and (3) any affiliates,
subsidiaries or successors of businesses identified above. 

               (ii) The foregoing restrictions in Section 9(b)(i) shall have
no force or effect in the event that: (i) the Executive’s employment with the
Company is terminated either by the Company pursuant to Section 6(d)[Without
Cause] or by the Executive pursuant to Section 6(e) [Termination by the
Executive for Good Reason]; or (ii) the Company fails to approve or grant an
extension of this Agreement in accordance with Section 1 hereof. 

               (iii) Section 9(b)(i) shall not prohibit the Executive from
making any investment of 1% or less of the equity securities of any
publicly-traded corporation which is considered to be a Competing Business.

          (c) Non-Solicitation of Employees. During the Term of Employment and for a period of 24
months following the Executive’s termination of that employment with the
Company, the Executive shall not, without the written permission of the Company
or an affected affiliate, directly or indirectly (i) solicit, employ or retain,
or have or cause any other person or entity to solicit, employ or retain, any
person who is employed by the Company or was employed by the Company during the
6-month period prior to such solicitation, employment, or retainer, (ii)
encourage any such person not to devote his or her full business time to the
Company, or (iii) agree to hire or employ any such person. 

14 

          (d) Non-Solicitation of Third Parties. During the Term of Employment and for a period of 24
months following the Executive’s termination of employment with the Company, the
Executive shall not directly or indirectly solicit or otherwise influence any
entity with a business arrangement with the Company, including, without
limitation, suppliers, sales representatives, lenders, lessors, and lessees, to
discontinue, reduce, or otherwise materially or adversely affect such
relationship. 

          (e) Non-Disparagement. The Executive acknowledges and agrees that the Executive will not defame
or criticize the services, business, integrity, veracity, or personal or
professional reputation of the Company or any of its directors, officers,
employees, affiliates, or agents of any of the foregoing in either a
professional or personal manner either during the term of the Executive’s
employment or thereafter. 

     10.
Company Remedies for Executive’s Breach
of Certain Obligations. 

          (a) The Executive acknowledges and agrees that in the event
that the Executive breaches or threatens to breach Sections 5 or 9 of this
Agreement, all compensation and benefits otherwise payable pursuant to this
Agreement and the vesting and/or exercisability of all stock options, restricted
stock, performance shares and other forms of equity compensation previously
awarded to the Executive, notwithstanding the provisions of any agreement
evidencing any such award to the contrary, shall immediately cease. 

          (b) The Company shall give prompt notice to the Executive of
its discovery of a breach by the Executive of Section 9 of this Agreement. If it
is determined by a vote of not less than two-thirds of the members of the Board
that the Executive has breached Section 9 of this Agreement and has not cured
such breach within ten (10) business days of such notice, then: 

               (i) the Executive shall forfeit to the Company (A) all stock
options, stock appreciation rights, performance shares and other equity
compensation awards (other than shares of restricted stock, restricted stock
units or similar awards) granted to the Executive by the Company which remain
outstanding and unexercised or unpaid as of the date of such determination by
the Board (the “Breach Determination
Date”) and (B) all shares of restricted
stock, restricted stock units and similar awards granted to the Executive by the
Company which continue to be held by the Executive as of the Breach
Determination Date to the extent that such awards vested during the Forfeiture
Period (as defined below); and 

               (ii) the Executive shall pay to the Company all gains realized
by the Executive upon (A) the exercise by or payment in settlement to the
Executive on and after the commencement of the Forfeiture Period of stock
options, stock appreciation rights, performance shares and other equity
compensation awards (other than shares of restricted stock, restricted stock
units or similar awards) granted to the Executive by the Company and (B) the
sale on and after the commencement of the Forfeiture Period of shares or other
property received by the Executive pursuant to awards of restricted stock,
restricted stock units or similar awards granted to the Executive by the Company
and which vested during the Forfeiture Period. 

15 

          (c) For purposes of this Section, the gain realized by the
Executive upon the exercise or payment in settlement of stock options, stock
appreciation rights, performance shares and other equity compensation awards
shall be equal to (A) the closing sale price on the date of exercise or
settlement (as reported on the stock exchange or market system constituting the
principal market for the shares subject to the applicable award) of the number
of vested shares issued to the Executive upon such exercise or settlement,
reduced by the purchase price, if any, paid by the Executive to acquire such
shares, or (B) if any such award was settled by payment in cash to the
Executive, the gain realized by the Executive shall be equal to the amount of
cash paid to the Executive. Further, for purposes of this Section, the gain
realized by the Executive upon the sale of shares or other property received by
the Executive pursuant to awards of restricted stock, restricted stock units or
similar awards shall be equal to the gross proceeds of such sale realized by the
Executive. Gains determined for purposes of this Section shall be determined
without regard to any subsequent increase or decrease in the market price of the
Company’s stock or taxes paid by or withheld from the Executive with respect to
such transactions. 

          (d) For the purposes of this Section, the “Forfeiture Period” shall be the period ending on the Breach Determination Date and
beginning on the earlier of (A) the date six months prior to the Breach
Determination Date or (B) the business day immediately preceding the date of the
Executive’s termination of employment with the Company. 

          (e) The Company shall have the right (but not the obligation)
to deduct from any amounts payable from time to time to the Executive by the
Company pursuant to this Agreement or otherwise (including wages or other
compensation, vacation pay or other benefits, and any other amounts owed to the
Executive by the Company) any and all amounts the Executive is required to pay
to the Company pursuant to this Section. The Executive agrees to pay to the
Company immediately upon the Breach Determination Date the amount payable by the
Executive to the Company pursuant to this Section which the Company has not
recovered by means of such deductions. 

          (f) The Executive acknowledges that money will not adequately
compensate the Company for the substantial damages that will arise upon the
breach or threatened breach of Sections 5 or 9 of this Agreement and that the
Company will not have any adequate remedy at law. For this reason, such breach
or threatened breach will not be subject to the arbitration clause in Section
19; rather, the Company will be entitled, in addition to other rights and
remedies, to specific performance, injunctive relief, and other equitable relief
to prevent or restrain such breach or threatened breach. The Company may obtain
such relief from (1) any court of competent jurisdiction, (2) an arbitrator
pursuant to Section 19 hereof, or (3) a combination of the two (e.g., by
simultaneously seeking arbitration under Section 19 and a temporary injunction
from a court pending the outcome of the arbitration). It shall be the Company’s
sole and exclusive right to elect which approach to use to vindicate its rights.
The Executive further agrees that in the event of a breach or threatened breach,
the Company shall be entitled to obtain an immediate injunction and restraining
order to prevent such breach and/or threatened breach and/or continued breach,
without posting a bond or having to prove irreparable harm or damages, and to
obtain all costs and expenses, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs.
In addition, the existence of any claim or cause of action by the Executive
against the

16 

Company, whether predicated on this
Agreement or otherwise, shall not constitute a defense to the enforcement by the
Company of the restrictive covenants in this Agreement. 

     11. Exercise of Stock Options Following Termination. If the Executive's employment terminates, Executive (or
the Executive's estate) may exercise the Executive's right to purchase any
vested stock under the stock options granted to Executive by the Company as
provided in the applicable stock option agreement or Company plan. All such
purchases must be made by the Executive in accordance with the applicable stock
option plans and agreements between the parties. 

     12. Successors; Binding Agreement.
This Agreement and all rights of the Executive hereunder shall inure to the
benefit of and be enforceable by the Executive’s personal or legal
representatives, executors, administrators, successors, heirs, distributees,
devisees and legatees. 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 and applicable law to the
Executive’s beneficiary pursuant to a written designation of
beneficiary, or, if there is no effective written designation of
beneficiary by the Executive, to the Executive’s estate. 

     13. Insurance and Indemnity. The
Company shall, to the extent permitted by law, include the Executive during the
Term of Employment under any directors and officers liability insurance policy
maintained for its directors and officers, with coverage at least as favorable
to the Executive in amount and each other material respect as the coverage of
other officers covered thereby. The Company’s obligation to provide insurance
and indemnify the Executive shall survive expiration or termination of this
Agreement with respect to proceedings or threatened proceedings based on acts or
omissions of the Executive occurring during the Executive’s employment with the
Company. Such obligations shall be binding upon the Company’s successors and
assigns and shall inure to the benefit of the Executive’s heirs and personal
representatives. 

     14. 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 or (unless otherwise specified) mailed by United States registered
mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed as follows:

	If to the Executive: 
        	 
		 
		Ross Stores, Inc. 
		4440 Rosewood Drive 
		Pleasanton, CA 94588 
	 
		[1372 Broadway, 8th
      Floor  
		New York, NY
      10018] 

17 

	If to the Company: 
     	Ross Stores, Inc. 
		4440 Rosewood Drive 
		Pleasanton, CA 94588 
		Attention: General
      Counsel  

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.

     15. Complete Agreement; Modification, Waiver; Entire
Agreement. This Agreement represents the
complete agreement of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and
supersedes all prior and contemporaneous agreements, promises or representations
of the parties, except those relating to repayment of signing and related
bonuses, or relocation expense reimbursements. To the extent that the bonus
payment provisions (i.e., post-termination bonus payments) provided in this
Agreement differ from the provisions of the Company’s incentive bonus plans
(currently the Incentive Compensation Plan) or any replacement plans, such bonus
payments shall be paid pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement except to
the extent expressly prohibited by law. Except as provided by Section 22
[Compliance with Section 409A], no provision of this Agreement may be amended or
modified except in a document signed by the Executive and the chairman of the
Committee or such other person as may be designated by the Board. No waiver by
the Executive or the Company of any breach of, or lack of compliance with, any
condition or provision of this Agreement by the other party shall be considered
a waiver of any other condition or provision or the same condition or provision
at another time. This Agreement, along with any stock option, restricted stock,
performance share or other equity compensation award agreements between the
parties, constitute the entire agreement between the parties regarding their
employment relationship. To the extent that this Agreement is in any way
inconsistent with any prior or contemporaneous stock option, restricted stock,
performance share or other equity compensation 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 which are not set forth expressly in this Agreement. 

     16. Governing Law - Severability. The
validity, interpretation, construction, performance, and enforcement of this
Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the state in which the Executive’s
principle place of employment described in Section 3 is located without
reference to that state’s choice of law rules. If any provision of this
Agreement shall be held or deemed to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable in
any jurisdiction, for any reason, the invalidity of that provision shall not
have the effect of rendering the provision in question unenforceable in any
other jurisdiction or in any other case or of rendering any other provisions
herein unenforceable, but the invalid provision shall be substituted with a
valid provision which most closely approximates the intent and the economic
effect of the invalid provision and which would be enforceable to the maximum
extent permitted in such jurisdiction or in such case. 

     17. Mitigation Not Required. In the
event the Executive’s employment with the Company terminates for any reason, the
Executive shall not be obligated to seek other employment following such
termination. However, any amounts due the Executive under Sections 8(a)(i);
8(a)(ii); 8(d)(i)(2)(a),(b),(c) or (d); and/or any additional salary provided
under

18 

Section 8(d)(i)(1) of this Agreement
shall be offset by any cash remuneration, health care coverage and/or estate
planning reimbursements attributable to any subsequent employment that the
Executive may obtain during the period of payment of compensation under this
Agreement following the termination of the Executive’s employment with the
Company. 

     18. Withholding. All payments
required to be made by the Company hereunder to the Executive or the Executive’s
estate or beneficiaries shall be subject to the withholding of such amounts as
the Company may reasonably determine it should withhold pursuant to any
applicable law. To the extent permitted, the Executive may provide all or any
part of any necessary withholding by contributing Company stock with value,
determined on the date such withholding is due, equal to the number of shares
contributed multiplied by the closing price per share as reported on the
securities exchange constituting the primary market for the Company’s stock on
the date preceding the date the withholding is determined. 

     19. Arbitration. In the event of any
dispute or claim relating to or arising out of the parties’ employment
relationship or this Agreement (including, but not limited to, any claims of
breach of contract, wrongful termination, or age, race, sex, disability or other
discrimination), all such disputes shall be fully, finally and exclusively
resolved by binding arbitration conducted by the American Arbitration
Association in the city in which the Executive’s principal place of employment
is located by an arbitrator mutually agreed upon by the parties hereto or, in
the absence of such agreement, by an arbitrator selected in accordance with the
Employment Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association, provided,
however, that this arbitration provision shall not apply, unless the Company
elects otherwise, to any disputes or claims relating to or arising out of the
Executive’s breach of Sections 5 or 9 of this Agreement. If either the Company
or the Executive shall request, arbitration shall be conducted by a panel of
three arbitrators, one selected by the Company, one selected by the Executive,
and the third selected by agreement of the first two, or, in the absence of such
agreement, in accordance with such Rules. The Company shall pay all costs of any
arbitration; provided, however, that each party shall pay its own attorney and
advisor fees.

     If
there is termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company followed by
a dispute as to whether the Executive is entitled to the benefits provided under
this Agreement, then, during the period of that dispute the Company shall pay
the Executive fifty percent (50%) of the amount specified in Section 8 hereof
(except that the Company shall pay one hundred percent (100%) of any insurance
premiums provided for in Section 8), if, and only if, the Executive agrees in
writing that if the dispute is resolved against the Executive, the Executive
shall promptly refund to the Company all such payments received by, or made by
the Company on behalf of, the Executive. If the dispute is resolved in the
Executive’s favor, promptly after resolution of the dispute the Company shall
pay the Executive the sum that was withheld during the period of the dispute
plus interest at the rate provided in Section 1274(d) of the Code, compounded
quarterly.

     20. 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. 

19 

     21. Miscellaneous. No right or
interest to, or in, any payments shall be assignable by the Executive; provided,
however, that the Executive shall not be precluded from designating in writing
one or more beneficiaries to receive any amount that may be payable after the
Executive’s death and the legal representative of the Executive’s estate shall
not be precluded from assigning any right hereunder to the person or persons
entitled thereto. This Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the
benefit of the Executive, the Executive’s heirs and legal representatives and,
the Company and its successors. 

     22. Compliance with Section 409A.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement to the contrary, the
provision, time and manner of payment or distribution of all compensation and
benefits provided by this Agreement that constitute nonqualified deferred
compensation subject to and not exempted from the requirements of Code Section
409A (“Section 409A Deferred Compensation”) shall be subject to, limited by and construed in accordance with the
requirements of Code Section 409A and all regulations and other guidance
promulgated by the Secretary of the Treasury pursuant to such Section (such
Section, regulations and other guidance being referred to herein as
“Section 409A”), including the following: 

          (a) Separation from Service. Payments and benefits constituting Section 409A Deferred Compensation
otherwise payable or provided pursuant to Section 8 upon the Executive’s
termination of employment shall be paid or provided only at the time of a
termination of the Executive’s employment which constitutes a Separation from
Service. For the purposes of this Agreement, a “Separation from Service” is a
separation from service within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(h).

          (b) Six-Month Delay Applicable to Specified Employees.
If, at the time of a Separation from
Service of the Executive, the Executive is a “specified employee” within the
meaning of Section 409A(a)(2)(B(i) (a “Specified Employee”), then any
payments and benefits constituting Section 409A Deferred Compensation to be paid
or provided pursuant to Section 8 upon the Separation from Service of the
Executive shall be paid or provided commencing on the later of (i) the date that
is six (6) months after the date of such Separation from Service or, if earlier,
the date of death of the Executive (in either case, the “Delayed Payment Date”),
or (ii) the date or dates on which such Section 409A Deferred Compensation would
otherwise be paid or provided in accordance with Section 8. All such amounts
that would, but for this Section 22(b), become payable prior to the Delayed
Payment Date shall be accumulated and paid on the Delayed Payment Date.

          (c) Health Care and Estate Planning Benefits.
In the event that all or any of the
health care or estate planning benefits to be provided pursuant to Sections
8(d)(i)(2)(c) or 8(d)(i)(2)(d) as a result of a Participant’s Separation from
Service constitute Section 409A Deferred Compensation, the Company shall provide
for such benefits constituting Section 409A Deferred Compensation in a manner
that complies with Section 409A. To the extent necessary to comply with Section
409A, the Company shall determine the health care premium cost necessary to
provide such benefits constituting Section 409A Deferred Compensation for the
applicable coverage period and shall pay such premium cost which becomes due and
payable during the applicable coverage period on the applicable due date for
such premiums; provided, however, that if the Executive is a Specified Employee,
the Company shall not pay any such

20 

premium cost until the Delayed Payment
Date. If the Company’s payment pursuant to the previous sentence is subject to a
Delayed Payment Date, the Executive shall pay the premium cost otherwise payable
by the Company prior to the Delayed Payment Date, and on the Delayed Payment
Date the Company shall reimburse the Executive for such Company premium cost
paid by the Executive and shall pay the balance of the Company’s premium cost
necessary to provide such benefit coverage for the remainder of the applicable
coverage period as and when it becomes due and payable over the applicable
period.

          (d) Stock-Based Awards. The vesting of any stock-based compensation awards which constitute
Section 409A Deferred Compensation and are held by the Executive, if the
Executive is a Specified Employee, shall be accelerated in accordance with this
Agreement to the extent applicable; provided, however, that the payment in
settlement of any such awards shall occur on the Delayed Payment Date. Any
stock-based compensation which vests and becomes payable upon a Change in
Control in accordance with Section 8(d)(i)(1) shall not be subject to this
Section 22(d). 

          (e) Installments.
Executive’s right to receive any installment payments payable hereunder shall be
treated as a right to receive a series of separate payments and, accordingly,
each such installment payment shall at all times be considered a separate and
distinct payment for purposes of Section 409A. 

          (f) Reimbursements.
To the extent that any reimbursements payable to Executive pursuant to this
Agreement are subject to the provisions of Section 409A of the Code, such
reimbursements shall be paid to Executive no later than December 31 of the year
following the year in which the cost was incurred, the amount of expenses
reimbursed in one year shall not affect the amount eligible for reimbursement in
any subsequent year, and Executive’s right to reimbursement under this Agreement
will not be subject to liquidation or exchange for another
benefit. 

          (g) Rights of the
Company; Release of Liability. It is the
mutual intention of the Executive and the Company that the provision of all
payments and benefits pursuant to this Agreement be made in compliance with the
requirements of Section 409A. To the extent that the provision of any such
payment or benefit pursuant to the terms and conditions of this Agreement would
fail to comply with the applicable requirements of Section 409A, the Company
may, in its sole and absolute discretion and without the consent of the
Executive, make such modifications to the timing or manner of providing such
payment and/or benefit to the extent it determines necessary or advisable to
comply with the requirements of Section 409A; provided, however, that the
Company shall not be obligated to make any such modifications. Any such
modifications made by the Company shall, to the maximum extent permitted in
compliance with the requirements of Section 409A, preserve the aggregate
monetary face value of such payments and/or benefits provided by this Agreement
in the absence of such modification; provided, however, that the Company shall
in no event be obligated to pay any interest or other compensation in respect of
any delay in the provision of such payments or benefits in order to comply with
the requirements of Section 409A. The Executive acknowledges that (i) the
provisions of this Section 22 may result in a delay in the time at which
payments would otherwise be made pursuant to this Agreement and (ii) the Company
is

21 

authorized to amend the this Agreement,
to void or amend any election made by the Executive under this Agreement and/or
to delay the payment of any monies and/or provision of any benefits in such
manner as may be determined by the Company, in its discretion, to be necessary
or appropriate to comply with Section 409A (including any transition or
grandfather rules thereunder) without prior notice to or consent of the
Executive. The Executive hereby releases and holds harmless the Company, its
directors, officers and stockholders from any and all claims that may arise from
or relate to any tax liability, penalties, interest, costs, fees or other
liability incurred by the Executive as a result of the application of Code
Section 409A.

     23. Future Equity Compensation. The
Executive understands and acknowledges that all awards, if any, of stock
options, restricted stock, performance shares and other forms of equity
compensation by the Company are made at the sole discretion of the Board of
Directors of the Company or a committee thereof. The Executive further
understands and acknowledges, however, that unless the Executive has executed
this Agreement and each successive amendment extending the Initial Term or any
subsequent Renewal Term of the Agreement as may be agreed to by the Company and
the Executive, it is the intention of the Board of Directors and the Executive
that, notwithstanding any continued employment with the Company, (a) the Company
shall have no obligation to grant any award of stock options, restricted stock,
performance shares or any other form of equity compensation which might
otherwise have been granted to the Executive on or after the intended
commencement of the Initial Term or such successive Renewal Term for which the
Executive has failed to sign the Agreement or the applicable Term of Employment
extension amendment and (b) any such award which is nevertheless granted to the
Executive after the intended commencement of the Initial Term or Renewal Term
for which the Executive has failed to sign such Agreement or applicable
extension amendment shall not vest unless and until the Executive has executed
the Agreement or applicable extension amendment, notwithstanding the provisions
of any agreement evidencing such award to the contrary. 

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

	ROSS STORES,
      INC. 	          	EXECUTIVE
    
	 
	 
	  		   
	By: Michael Balmuth 		
	Vice Chairman, President and
      Chief 		
	Executive Officer 		 

22 

Exhibit A 

CONFIDENTIAL SEPARATION
AGREEMENT AND GENERAL RELEASE

This is an Agreement between
______________ (“Employee”) and Ross Stores, Inc. (“Ross”). The parties agree to
the following terms and conditions: 

	      	1.	      	
      Employee ______________
      employment with Ross effective ______________ (the “Separation
      Date”).

		 
		2.		
      Any inquiries by prospective
      employers or others should be referred to Ross’ third party provider The
      Work Number, phone number 1-800-367-5690 or
      http://www.theworknumber.com.

		 
		3.		
      Employee understands that
      the Executive Employment Agreement, effective _______ (“Executive
      Agreement”), requires Employee to execute this General Release as a
      condition to receiving cash payments, benefits and equity as may be
      provided under the terms of the Executive Agreement.

		 
		4.		
      In consideration for Ross’
      promises herein, Employee knowingly and voluntarily releases and forever
      discharges Ross, and all parent corporations, affiliates, subsidiaries,
      divisions, successors and assignees, as well as the current and former
      employees, attorneys, officers, directors and agents thereof (collectively
      referred to throughout the remainder of this Agreement as “Releasees”), of
      and from any and all claims, judgments, promises, agreements, obligations,
      damages, losses, costs, expenses (including attorneys’ fees) or
      liabilities of whatever kind and character, known and unknown, which
      Employee may now have, has ever had, or may in the future have, arising
      from or in any way connected with any and all matters from the beginning
      of time to the date hereof, including but not limited to any alleged
      causes of action for:

				 
				
      	Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of
        1964, as amended
        
	The Civil Rights Act of 1991
        
	Sections 1981 through 1988 of Title 42
        of the United States Code, as amended
        
	The Employee Retirement Income Security
        Act of 1974, as amended
        
	The Immigration Reform and Control Act,
        as amended
        
	The Americans with Disabilities Act of
        1990, as amended
        
	The Age Discrimination in Employment
        Act of 1967, as amended
        
	The Workers Adjustment and Retraining
        Notification Act, as amended
        
	The Occupational Safety and Health Act,
        as amended
        
	The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
        
	California Family Rights Act – Cal.
        Govt. Code § 12945.2 et seq.
        
	California Fair Employment and Housing
        Act – Cal. Gov’t Code § 12900 et seq.
        
	Statutory Provision Regarding
        Retaliation/Discrimination for Filing a Workers Compensation Claim –
        Cal. Lab. Code §132a (1) to (4)
        
	Statutory Provision Regarding
        Representations and Relocation of Employment (Cal. Lab. Code §970 et
        seq.)
        
	California Unruh Civil Rights Act –
        Civ. Code § 51 et seq. 

 

	Employee’s Initials 		Ross’ Initials
  

-1- 

Exhibit A 

	      		      	
      	California Sexual Orientation Bias Law
        – Cal. Lab. Code §1101 et seq.
        
	California AIDS Testing and
        Confidentiality Law – Cal. Health & Safety Code §199.20 et
        seq.
        
	California Confidentiality of Medical
        Information – Cal. Civ. Code §56 et seq.
        
	California Smokers’ Rights Law – Cal.
        Lab. Code §96
        
	California Parental Leave Law – Cal.
        Lab. Code §230.7 et seq.
        
	California Apprenticeship Program Bias
        Law – Cal. Lab. Code §3070 et seq.
        
	California Wage Payment Act, as
        amended
        
	California Equal Pay Law – Cal. Lab.
        Code §1197.5 et seq.
        
	California Whistleblower Protection Law
        – Cal. Lab. Code § 1102-5(a) to (c)
        
	California Military Personnel Bias Law
        – Cal. Mil. & Vet. Code §394 et seq.
        
	California Family and Medical Leave –
        Cal. Lab. Code §233
        
	California Parental Leave for School
        Visits Law – Cal. Lab. Code §230.7 et seq.
        
	California Electronic Monitoring of
        Employees – Cal. Lab. Code §435 et seq.
        
	Cal/OSHA law, as amended
        
	California Consumer Reports:
        Discrimination Law – Cal. Civ. Code §1786.10 et seq.
        
	California Political Activities of
        Employees Act – Cal. Lab. Code §1101 et seq.
        
	California Domestic Violence Victim
        Employment Leave Act – Cal. Lab. Code §230.1
        
	California Voting Leave Law – Cal.
        Elec. Code §14350 et seq.
        
	California Court Leave Law – Cal. Lab.
        Code §230
        
	California Labor Code sections 2698 and
        2699
        
	Any other federal, state or local civil
        or human rights law or any other local, state or federal law, regulation
        or ordinance
        
	Any public policy, contract, tort, or
        common law, or
        
	Any claim for costs, fees, or other
        expenses including attorneys’ fees incurred in these matters
      

				 
		5.		
      Claims Excluded from
      this Release: However,
      notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Agreement shall be
      construed to waive any right that is not subject to waiver by private
      agreement, including, without limitation, any claims arising under state
      unemployment insurance or workers compensation laws or California Labor
      Code section 2802. Employee understands that rights or claims under the
      Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (29 U.S.C. § 621,
      et seq.) that may arise after the date of this Agreement
      are not waived. Likewise, nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to
      prohibit Employee from filing a charge or complaint challenging the
      validity of this Agreement with the Equal Employment Opportunity
      Commission or participating in any investigation or proceeding conducted
      by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

		 
		6.		
      Subject to the continuing
      viability of the Claims Excluded from this Agreement, as described in the
      paragraph above, Employee expressly waives and relinquishes all rights and
      benefits of section 1542 of the Civil Code of the State of California, and
      Employee does so understanding and acknowledging the significance and
      consequence of specifically waiving section 1542. Section 1542 of the
      Civil Code of the State of California states as
  follows:

	Employee’s Initials 		Ross’ Initials
  

-2- 

Exhibit A 

A
general release does not extend to claims which the creditor does not know or
suspect to exist in his favor at the time of executing the release, which if
known by him must have materially affected his settlement with the
debtor. 

	      	 	      	
      Employee warrants she has
      read this Agreement, including this waiver of California Civil Code
      section 1542, and that Employee has consulted counsel or has had the
      opportunity to consult counsel about this Agreement and specifically about
      the waiver of section 1542. Employee understands this Agreement and the
      section 1542 waiver, and so Employee freely and knowingly enters into this
      Agreement. Employee acknowledges she may later discover facts different
      from or in addition to those she now knows or believes to be true
      regarding the matters released or described in this Agreement, and even so
      Employee agrees the releases and agreements contained in this Agreement
      shall remain effective in all respects notwithstanding any later discovery
      of any different or additional facts. Employee assumes any and all risk of
      mistake in connection with the true facts involved in the matters,
      disputes, or controversies described in this Agreement or with regard to
      any facts now unknown to Employee relating to those
  matters.

		 
		7.		
      Employee affirms that she
      has been paid and/or has received all leave (paid or unpaid),
      compensation, wages, bonuses, commissions, and/or benefits to which she
      may be entitled and that no other leave (paid or unpaid), compensation,
      wages, bonuses, commissions and/or benefits are due to her, except as
      provided in this Agreement. Employee furthermore affirms that she has no
      known workplace injuries or occupational diseases and has been provided
      and/or has not been denied any leave requested, including any under the
      Family and Medical Leave Act or any other leaves authorized by federal or
      state law, and that Employee has not reported any purported improper,
      unethical or illegal conduct or activities to any supervisor, manager,
      executive human resources representative or agent of Ross Stores and has
      no knowledge of any such improper, unethical or illegal conduct or
      activities. Employee additionally represents and affirms that during the
      course of employment at Ross, Employee has taken no actions contrary to or
      inconsistent with Employee’s job responsibilities or the best interests of
      Ross’ business.

		 
		8.		
      During the course of
      employment at Ross, Employee has become aware of a variety of confidential
      information related to Ross business and competitive position. Employee
      acknowledges that this confidential information includes information
      regarding Ross associate compensation, performance, and other terms of
      employment as to Ross associates. Employee agrees not to use or disclose
      in any manner such confidential, or trade secret information (which
      includes but is not limited to, marketing and profit information,
      potential site location, or other concepts or materials of
      Ross).

		 
		 		
      In furtherance of
      maintaining the confidentiality of such information, and in consideration
      for the payments and benefits provided by Ross under this Agreement,
      Employee also agrees to not directly or indirectly solicit any other
      employee of Ross for a competing business or induce or attempt to induce
      any other employee of Ross to terminate his or her employment with Ross
      for a period of twelve (12) months following Separation
  Date.

	Employee’s Initials 		Ross’ Initials
  

-3- 

Exhibit A 

	      	 	      	
      The parties agree that any
      violation of the provisions in this paragraph and the below provisions
      regarding confidentiality and non-disparagement would cause Ross
      significant, immediate and irreparable harm, entitling Ross to injunctive
      relief in an appropriate court of law. Further, the parties agree that in
      event of Employee’s violation of such provisions, Ross will be entitled to
      recover its reasonable attorney’s fees and costs incurred in successfully
      enforcing such provisions.

		 
		9.		
      Employee agrees that this is
      a private agreement and that she will not discuss the fact that it exists
      or its terms with anyone else except with her spouse, attorney,
      accountant, or as required by law. Further, Employee agrees not to defame,
      disparage or demean Ross in any way (excluding actions or communications
      expressly required or permitted by law

		  
		10.		
      Any party to this Agreement
      may bring an action in law or equity for its breach. Unless otherwise
      ordered by the Court, only the provisions of this Agreement alleged to
      have been breached shall be disclosed.

		 
		11.		
      This Agreement has been made
      in the State of California and the law of said State shall apply to it. If
      any part of this Agreement is found to be invalid, the remaining parts of
      the Agreement will remain in effect as if no invalid part
      existed.

		 
		12.		
      This Agreement sets forth
      the entire agreement between the parties hereto, and fully supersedes any
      prior agreements or understandings between the parties, except for any
      confidentiality, trade secrets and inventions agreements previously
      entered into with the company (which will remain in full force and
      effect), and may not be modified except in a writing agreed to and signed
      by both parties, providing however that Employer may modify this form of
      agreement from time to time solely as needed to comply with federal, state
      or local laws in effect that the time this Agreement is to be executed.
      Employee acknowledges that she has not relied on any representations,
      promises, or agreements of any kind made to her in connection with her
      decision to accept this Agreement except for those set forth in this
      Agreement.

				 
	
      FOR 40+

		13.		
      Waiver: By signing this
      Agreement, Employee acknowledges that she: 

				 
				
      (a) Has carefully
      read and understands this Agreement; 

      (b) Has been given
      a full twenty-one (21) days within which to consider the terms of this
      Agreement and consult with an attorney of her choice, and to the extent
      she executes this Agreement prior to expiration of the full twenty-one
      (21) days, knowingly and voluntarily waives that period following
      consultation with an attorney of her choice; 

      (c) Is, through
      this Agreement, releasing Ross from any and all claims she may have
      against it that have arisen as of the date of this Agreement, including
      but not limited to, rights or claims arising under the Age Discrimination
      in Employment Act of 1967 (29 U.S.C. §62l, et seq.);
  

	Employee’s Initials 		Ross’ Initials
  

-4- 

Exhibit A 

	      	 	      	
      (d) Knowingly and
      voluntarily agrees to all of the terms set forth in this
      Agreement;

		 
		 		
      (e) Knowingly and
      voluntarily intends to be legally bound by the same;

		 
		 		
      (f) Is hereby advised in
      writing to consider the terms of this Agreement and to consult with an
      attorney of her choice prior to executing this Agreement;

		 
		 		
      (g) Has consulted with an
      attorney of her choosing prior to signing this Agreement;

		 
		 		
      (h) Understands that rights
      or claims under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (29
      U.S.C. § 621, et
      seq.) that may arise after the
      date of this Agreement are not waived;

		 
		 		
      (i) Has a full seven (7)
      days following the execution of this Agreement to revoke this Agreement
      ("the Revocation Period") in writing and hereby is advised that this
      Agreement shall not become effective or enforceable until the Revocation
      Period has expired.

		 
		14.		
      Employee fully understands
      the final and binding effect of the Agreement. Employee acknowledges that
      she signs this Agreement voluntarily of her own free
  will.

The parties hereto knowingly and
voluntarily executed this Agreement as of the date set forth below: 

	Dated:  	 	 		  	 
	 	  			 	(“Employee”) 	 
				 	 
			 		 
		 			 
	Dated:  	 		By:  	  	 
		  		  	     ROSS STORES, INC. (“Ross”) 
  

	Employee’s Initials 		Ross’ Initials
  

-5- 

Exhibit A 

CONFIDENTIAL SEPARATION
AGREEMENT AND GENERAL RELEASE

This is an Agreement between
______________ (“Employee”) and Ross Stores, Inc. (“Ross”). The parties agree to
the following terms and conditions: 

	     	1.	     	
      Employee ______________
      employment with Ross effective ______________ (the “Separation
      Date”).

		 
		2.		
      Any inquiries by prospective
      employers or others should be referred to Ross’ third party provider The
      Work Number, phone number 1-800-367-5690 or http://www.theworknumber.com.

		 
		3.		
      Employee understands that
      the Executive Employment Agreement, effective _______ (“Executive
      Agreement”), requires Employee to execute this General Release as a
      condition to receiving cash payments, benefits and equity as may be
      provided under the terms of the Executive Agreement.

		 
		4.		
      In consideration for Ross’
      promises herein, Employee knowingly and voluntarily releases and forever
      discharges Ross, and all parent corporations, affiliates, subsidiaries,
      divisions, successors and assignees, as well as the current and former
      employees, attorneys, officers, directors and agents thereof (collectively
      referred to throughout the remainder of this Agreement as “Releasees”), of
      and from any and all claims, judgments, promises, agreements, obligations,
      damages, losses, costs, expenses (including attorneys’ fees) or
      liabilities of whatever kind and character, known and unknown, which
      Employee may now have, has ever had, or may in the future have, arising
      from or in any way connected with any and all matters from the beginning
      of time to the date hereof, including but not limited to any alleged
      causes of action for:

	Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as
  amended
  
	The National Labor Relations Act, as
  amended
  
	The Civil Rights Act of 1991 
  
	Sections 1981 through 1988 of Title 42 of the
  United States Code, as amended
  
	The Employee Retirement Income Security Act
  of 1974, as amended
  
	The Immigration Reform and Control Act, as
  amended
  
	The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990,
  as amended
  
	The Age Discrimination in Employment Act of
  1967, as amended
  
	The Occupational Safety and Health Act, as
  amended
  
	The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 
  
	The United States Equal pay Act of
  1963
  
	The New York State Civil Rights Act, as
  amended;
  
	The New York Equal Pay Law, as
  amended;
  
	The New York State Human Rights Law, as
  amended;
  
	The New York City Administrative Code and
  Charter, as amended;
  
	The New York State Labor Law, as
  amended;
  
	The Retaliation Provisions of the New York
  State Workers Compensation Law and the New York
  State Disability Benefits Law, as amended;

	 	 		 
	Employee’s
      Initials 	 		Ross’
      Initials 

-1- 

Exhibit A 

	Any other federal, state or local civil or
  human rights law or any other local, state or federal law, regulation or
  ordinance
  
	Any public policy, contract, tort, or common
  law, or
  
	Any claim for costs, fees, or other expenses
  including attorneys’ fees incurred in these matters 

	     	5.	     	
      This Agreement does not
      prevent Employee from filing a charge of discrimination with the Equal
      Employment Opportunity Commission, although by signing this Agreement
      Employee waives her right to recover any damages or other relief in any
      claim or suit brought by or through the Equal Employment Opportunity
      Commission or any other state or local agency on her behalf under any
      federal or state discrimination law, except where prohibited by law.
      Employee agrees to release and discharge Ross not only from any and all
      claims which she could make on her own behalf but also specifically waive
      any right to become, and promise not to become, a member of any class in
      any proceeding or case in which a claim or claims against Ross may arise,
      in whole or in part, from any event which occurred as of the date of this
      Agreement. Employee agrees to pay for any legal fees or costs incurred by
      Ross as a result of any breach of the promises in this paragraph. The
      parties agree that if Employee, by no action of her own, becomes a
      mandatory member of any class from which she cannot, by operation of law
      or order of court, opt out, Employee shall not be required to pay for any
      legal fees or costs incurred by Ross as a result.

		 
		6.		
      Employee affirms that she
      has been paid and/or has received all leave (paid or unpaid),
      compensation, wages, bonuses, commissions, and/or benefits to which she
      may be entitled and that no other leave (paid or unpaid), compensation,
      wages, bonuses, commissions and/or benefits are due to her, except as
      provided in this Agreement. Employee furthermore affirms that she has no
      known workplace injuries or occupational diseases and has been provided
      and/or has not been denied any leave requested, including any under the
      Family and Medical Leave Act or any other leaves authorized by federal or
      state law, and that Employee has not reported any purported improper,
      unethical or illegal conduct or activities to any supervisor, manager,
      executive human resources representative or agent of Ross Stores and has
      no knowledge of any such improper, unethical or illegal conduct or
      activities. Employee additionally represents and affirms that during the
      course of employment at Ross, Employee has taken no actions contrary to or
      inconsistent with Employee’s job responsibilities or the best interests of
      Ross’ business.

		 
		7.		
      The parties expressly
      acknowledge that those certain employment obligations set forth in the
      Executive Agreement, including but not limited to all obligations set
      forth in Paragraph 9 of the Executive Agreement, shall remain in full
      force and effect for the time period(s) specified in the Executive
      Agreement.

		 
		8.		
      Employee agrees that this is
      a private agreement and that she will not discuss the fact that it exists
      or its terms with anyone else except with her spouse, attorney,
      accountant, or as required by law. Further, Employee agrees not to defame,
      disparage or demean Ross in any way (excluding actions or communications
      expressly required or permitted by law

	 	 		 
	Employee’s
      Initials 	 		Ross’
      Initials 

-2- 

Exhibit A 

	     	9.	     	
      Any party to this Agreement
      may bring an action in law or equity for its breach. Unless otherwise
      ordered by the Court, only the provisions of this Agreement alleged to
      have been breached shall be disclosed.

		 
		10.		
      This Agreement has been made
      in the State of New York and the law of said State shall apply to it. If
      any part of this Agreement is found to be invalid, the remaining parts of
      the Agreement will remain in effect as if no invalid part
      existed.

		 
		11.		
      This Agreement sets forth
      the entire agreement between the parties hereto, and fully supersedes any
      prior agreements or understandings between the parties, except for any
      confidentiality, trade secrets and inventions agreements previously
      entered into with the company (which will remain in full force and
      effect), and may not be modified except in a writing agreed to and signed
      by both parties, providing however that Employer may modify this form of
      agreement from time to time solely as needed to comply with federal, state
      or local laws in effect that the time this Agreement is to be executed.
      Employee acknowledges that she has not relied on any representations,
      promises, or agreements of any kind made to her in connection with her
      decision to accept this Agreement except for those set forth in this
      Agreement.

	
      FOR 40+ 

	     	12.	     	
      Waiver: By signing this
      Agreement, Employee acknowledges that she:

		  
			  	
      (a) Has carefully read and understands this
      Agreement;  

				 
			  	
      (b) Has been given a full twenty-one (21) days within
      which to consider the terms of this Agreement and consult with an attorney
      of her choice, and to the extent she executes this Agreement prior to
      expiration of the full twenty-one (21) days, knowingly and voluntarily
      waives that period following consultation with an attorney of her
      choice;

			  	
			  	
      (c) Is, through this Agreement, releasing Ross from any
      and all claims she may have against it that have arisen as of the date of
      this Agreement, including but not limited to, rights or claims arising
      under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (29 U.S.C. §62l,
      et seq.);

			  	
			  	
      (d) Knowingly and voluntarily agrees to all of the
      terms set forth in this Agreement;  

				 
			  	
      (e) Knowingly and voluntarily intends to be legally
      bound by the same;  

				 
			  	
      (f) Is hereby advised in writing to consider the terms
      of this Agreement and to consult with an attorney of her choice prior to
      executing this Agreement;

			  	
			  	
      (g) Has consulted with an attorney of her choosing
      prior to signing this Agreement;

				 
			  	
      (h) Understands that rights
      or claims under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (29
      U.S.C. § 621, et seq.) that may arise after the date of this
      Agreement are not waived;

	 	 		 
	Employee’s
      Initials 	 		Ross’
      Initials 

-3- 

Exhibit A 

				
      (i) Has a full seven (7)
      days following the execution of this Agreement to revoke this Agreement
      ("the Revocation Period") in writing and hereby is advised that this
      Agreement shall not become effective or enforceable until the Revocation
      Period has expired.

				 
	     	13.	     	
      Employee fully understands
      the final and binding effect of the Agreement. Employee acknowledges that
      she signs this Agreement voluntarily of her own free
  will.

The parties hereto knowingly and
voluntarily executed this Agreement as of the date set forth below: 

	Dated:  	 		  		 
	  		  		(“Employee”) 
	  
	  
	  
	  
	Dated:  	 		By:
    	     	 
	  		 	 	ROSS
      STORES, INC. (“Ross”) 

	 	 		 
	Employee’s
      Initials 	 		Ross’
      Initials 

-4-

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