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                                                                    Exhibit 10-h

                               NORDSON CORPORATION
                                 ASSURANCE TRUST

             THIS TRUST AGREEMENT, made as of the 11th day of December, 1998 is
between Nordson Corporation, an Ohio corporation ("Nordson"), and [         ]
(the "Trustee").

             WHEREAS, Nordson is obligated to provide certain supplemental
pension benefits to certain of its employees and to provide benefits pursuant to
certain other deferred compensation and executive compensation arrangements,
including agreements with certain of its executives under which those executives
may become entitled to payments and benefits after a change in control of
Nordson;

             WHEREAS, Nordson desires to establish a trust (the "Trust") and to
contribute to the Trust assets that shall be held therein and that shall be
subject to the claims of the creditors of Nordson in the event that Nordson
becomes Insolvent (as defined in Section 5.1 below), until distributed as
provided herein or returned to Nordson; and

             WHEREAS, it is the intention of the parties that the Trust shall
constitute an unfunded arrangement for purposes of Title I of the Employee
Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended;

             NOW, THEREFORE, Nordson and the Trustee do hereby establish the
Trust and agree that the Trust shall be comprised, held, and disposed of as
follows:

             Article 1.  Establishment of Trust

             1.1 Nordson hereby deposits with the Trustee in trust $100, which
shall become the principal of the Trust to be held, administered, and disposed
of by the Trustee as provided in this Trust Agreement.

             1.2 The Trust hereby established may be revoked by Nordson at any
time before the occurrence of the first to occur of (a) a Funding Event (as
defined in Section 15.6) and (b) a Change of Control (as defined in Section
15.3). If any Funding Event occurs, the Trust hereby established may not be
revoked by Nordson until both that particular Funding Event and any other
Funding Event that may have also occurred have been "terminated" (as defined in
Section 15.7) and the Trust then may be revoked by Nordson if and only if no
Change of Control has then occurred. Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control,
the Trust hereby established shall become irrevocable. Nordson's General Counsel
shall notify the Trustee promptly upon the occurrence of any Funding Event and
of any Change of Control.

             1.3 The Trust is intended to be a grantor trust, of which Nordson
is the grantor, within the meaning of subpart E, part I, subchapter J, chapter
1, subtitle A of the Internal Revenue Code, and shall be construed accordingly.

             1.4 The principal of the Trust and any earnings thereon shall be
held separate and apart from other funds of Nordson and shall be used
exclusively for the uses and purposes herein set forth. No employee of Nordson
shall have any preferred claim on, or any beneficial ownership interest in, any
assets of the Trust. Any rights created under any Covered Plan or

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under this Trust Agreement shall be mere unsecured contractual rights against
Nordson. Any assets held by the Trust will be subject to the claims of general
creditors of Nordson under federal and state law in the event Nordson becomes
Insolvent.

             Article 2.  Additional Funding

             2.1 Nordson, in its sole discretion, may at any time, or from time
to time, make or cause to be made, directly or indirectly, additional deposits
of cash or other property in trust with the Trustee to augment the principal to
be held, administered, and disposed of by the Trustee as provided in this Trust
Agreement.

             2.2 If a Funding Event occurs, Nordson shall, as soon as
practicable and in no event later than the day before the occurrence of any
Change of Control related to that Funding Event, contribute to the Trust an
amount equal to the excess, if any, of the Full Funding Amount (as defined in
Section 15.5) over the sum of the value of the assets in the Trust (the "Current
Trust Asset Value") immediately prior to the contribution.

             2.3 Immediately upon the occurrence of the first Change of Control
to occur after the execution of this Trust Agreement and thereafter on each and
every anniversary of that Change of Control, Nordson shall contribute to the
Trust an amount equal to the excess, if any, of the Full Funding Amount over the
Current Trust Asset Value immediately prior to the contribution.

             2.4 Any contribution made under this Article 2 shall be subject to
withdrawal by Nordson only as provided in Article 3, dealing with discretionary
withdrawals.

       Article 3.  Discretionary Withdrawals

             3.1 Nordson, in its sole discretion, at any time before the
occurrence of the first to occur of a Funding Event or a Change of Control, may
withdraw assets from the Trust provided that no such withdrawal shall reduce the
Current Trust Asset Value, immediately after the withdrawal, to an amount below
$100.

             3.2 Nordson shall not be entitled to make any discretionary
withdrawal of assets from the Trust, after any Funding Event has occurred, until
both that particular Funding Event and any other Funding Event that may have
also occurred have been terminated and Nordson may then make such a
discretionary withdrawal only if no Change of Control has then occurred. No
discretionary withdrawal under this Section 3.2 shall reduce the Current Trust
Asset Value, immediately after the withdrawal, to an amount below $100.

             3.3 After a Change of Control has occurred, Nordson may not make
any discretionary withdrawal from the Trust. Nothing in this Article 3 shall
restrict the right of Nordson to receive a reversion of excess assets under
Article 6.

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             Article 4.  Payments to Participants

             4.1 Not later than 120 days after the occurrence of a Funding Event
and again not later than 10 days following the occurrence of a Change of
Control, Nordson shall deliver to the Trustee a schedule (the "Payment
Schedule") that lists the names and addresses of all Participants and indicates
the amounts payable and to become payable to each Participant and/or provides a
formula or other instructions acceptable to the Trustee for determining the
amounts so payable and that indicates the form in which such amounts are to be
paid, as provided for or available under each Covered Plan, and the time of
commencement for payment of such amounts. At the same time as Nordson delivers
the Payment Schedule to the Trustee, Nordson shall deliver to each Participant
that portion of the Payment Schedule that pertains to amounts that may become
payable to that particular Participant. After the occurrence of a Change of
Control, Nordson shall update the Payment Schedule, provide revised versions
thereof to the Trustee, and provide the relevant portions thereof to each
Participant from time to time and at such times so that each termination of the
employment of any Participant (or the occurrence of any other fact or
circumstance that alters the payments due or to become due to any Participant
under any of the Covered Plans) is taken into account in a current revised
Payment Schedule that has been appropriately delivered to the Trustee and to
each Participant (to the extent relevant to each such Participant) not later
than ten days after its occurrence. Except as otherwise provided herein, the
Trustee shall make payments to the Participants in accordance with the Payment
Schedule as it may be revised from time to time. The Trustee shall make
provision for the reporting and withholding of any federal, state, or local
taxes that may be required to be withheld with respect to the payment of
benefits pursuant to the terms of each Covered Plan and shall pay amounts
withheld to the appropriate taxing authorities or determine that such amounts
have been reported, withheld, and paid by Nordson.

             4.2 Except as otherwise specifically provided herein, the
entitlement of a Participant to payments from Nordson under a particular Covered
Plan shall be determined under the terms of the particular Covered Plan at
issue. It is Nordson's intention that any and all amounts that may become
payable to Participants under the Covered Plans will be paid to the Participants
at the times and in the amounts specified in the relevant Covered Plan.

             4.3 In order to provide added assurances to the Participants that
the amounts to which they may be entitled under the Covered Plans will be
calculated in good faith and paid promptly at the times and in the amounts
specified in the respective Covered Plans, the following procedure shall be
followed:

             (a) If, concurrently with or after the occurrence of a Change of
Control, Nordson delivers to the Trustee a Payment Schedule indicating that a
Participant is entitled to payments under a Covered Plan, the Trustee shall
promptly thereafter deliver a copy of the relevant portion of the Payment
Schedule to the Participant and shall make the payments so indicated in the
Payment Schedule.

             (b) If, after the occurrence of a Change of Control, a Participant
(either because no Payment Schedule has been delivered to the Trustee or because
the Participant believes that the amounts specified in the Payment Schedule are
incorrect) delivers written notice (a "Participant Payment Notice") to the
Trustee that the Participant is entitled to payments under a Covered Plan

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and requesting that the Trustee make payments to the Participant pursuant to
that Covered Plan, the Trustee shall promptly deliver a copy of the Participant
Payment Notice to Nordson and thereafter:

             (i) if Nordson has not, within ten business days of the delivery of
             the Participant Payment Notice to the Trustee, delivered to the
             Trustee a notice (a "Nordson Stop Payment Notice") in which Nordson
             asserts that the Participant is not entitled to the payments set
             forth in the Participant Payment Notice, the Trustee shall make the
             payments set forth in the Participant Payment Notice, or,
             alternatively,

             (ii) if Nordson has, within ten business days of the delivery of
             the Participant Payment Notice to the Trustee, delivered to the
             Trustee a Nordson Stop Payment Notice, the disparity between the
             Participant Payment Notice and the Nordson Stop Payment Notice
             shall be resolved as provided in Section 4.4 below and any payments
             or portions thereof that are not in dispute shall be paid by the
             Trustee as and when due to the Participant.

             4.4 If the Trustee has received both a Participant Payment Notice
and a Nordson Stop Payment Notice with regard to the same Covered Plan:

             (a) the Trustee shall engage the Accounting Firm (as defined in
Section 15.1), at Nordson's expense, to determine what payments the Participant
is entitled to under the particular Covered Plan, which determination shall be
made by the Accounting Firm as promptly as practicable but in all events within
30 days of the engagement of the Accounting Firm by the Trustee,

             (b) Nordson shall cooperate with the Accounting Firm and provide to
it all information that is available to Nordson and is required by the
Accounting Firm to make the determination referred to in (a) above within the
time frame set forth therein, and

             (c) unless and until ordered to do otherwise by an award of
arbitrators following arbitration proceedings instituted pursuant to Section 4.5
below, the Trustee shall make payments to the Participant in the amount or
amounts and at the time or times determined by the Accounting Firm.

             4.5 In the event of any dispute between a Participant and Nordson
with respect to whether the Participant is entitled to payments (or the amounts
thereof) under a Covered Plan and/or to payment thereof from the assets of the
Trust, either party (Nordson or the Participant) may deliver to the other a
demand for binding arbitration. If either party delivers any such demand to the
other, the dispute shall be determined by binding arbitration conducted in
Cleveland, Ohio according to the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American
Arbitration Association. In any such arbitration the arbitrators may consider,
with such weight as they may deem appropriate, any determination by the
Accounting Firm that may have been made as provided in Section 4.4 above. The
award of the arbitrators will be final and binding and judgment on the award may
be entered in any court having jurisdiction over the subject matter and the
parties.

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             4.6 In order to discourage Nordson from disputing, otherwise than
in good faith, any amounts properly due to a Participant, the costs and expenses
related to any arbitration proceeding referred to in Section 4.5 shall be borne
as provided in this Section 4.6. Nordson shall bear the cost of its own
attorneys and other representatives and all of the fees and expenses of the
arbitrators and the arbitration proceedings. The reasonable fees and expenses of
the Participant's attorneys relating to the subject matter of the arbitration
shall be paid by Nordson unless and to the extent the arbitrators determine
(which determination shall be final and binding upon the parties) that the
positions advanced by the Participant in any such arbitration have no reasonable
basis (which determination need not be made simply because the arbitrators
decide against the Participant on any or all substantive points). If Nordson
fails to pay any of the costs and expenses related to any arbitration as
specified in this Section 4.6, the Trustee shall pay such amounts from the
assets of the Trust.

             4.7 Nordson may make payments under any Covered Plan directly to or
on behalf of a Participant as they become due under the terms of the Covered
Plan. If Nordson makes any such payment it shall notify the Trustee of its
decision to make such payments directly prior to the time amounts are payable to
or on behalf of the Participant. In addition, if the principal of the Trust and
any earnings thereon are not sufficient to make any payments that are due and
payable under any Covered Plan in accordance with its terms, Nordson shall make
the balance of each such payment as it falls due. The Trustee shall notify
Nordson whenever principal and earnings are not sufficient.

             4.8 When making any payment to a Participant under a Covered Plan
that is overdue, the Trustee shall increase the amount of the payment to include
interest on the overdue payment from the date due to the date of the
distribution calculated on a daily basis, compounded as of the end of each
calendar month, and using as the interest rate for each calendar month or part
thereof during the period with respect to which interest is due the prime
lending rate published by KeyBank National Association or its successor and in
effect on the first day of that calendar month.

             4.9 Whenever a payment under a Covered Plan with respect to a
participant is payable to a beneficiary of the Participant rather than to the
Participant, the beneficiary shall be entitled to all of the rights of the
Participant under all of the provisions of this Trust Agreement with respect to
that payment.

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             Article 5.  Trustee Responsibility when Nordson Is Insolvent

             5.1 The Trustee shall cease payments to Participants from the Trust
if Nordson is Insolvent. Nordson shall be considered "Insolvent" for purposes of
this Trust Agreement if (a) it is unable to pay its debts as they become due, or
(b) it is subject to a pending proceeding as a debtor under the United States
Bankruptcy Code. In determining whether Nordson is Insolvent for purposes of
this Trust Agreement, the Trustee may engage the service of legal, accounting,
financial and other advisors, which may be advisors to Nordson, to assist it in
the determination. Nordson agrees to cooperate fully with any reasonable inquiry
of the Trustee or such advisors in making the determination of Nordson's
Insolvency. During the determination of Nordson's Insolvency, the Trustee may,
in its discretion, suspend any transfer or distribution of assets. To the extent
that the Trustee engages the services of an advisor, the Trustee may rely,
without further inquiry, on the written determination of that advisor as to the
solvency or Insolvency of Nordson. All costs reasonably incurred by the Trustee
in making the determination of Nordson's Insolvency shall be reimbursed to the
Trustee by Nordson, and if not so reimbursed, shall be chargeable against the
Trust.

             5.2 At all times during the continuance of the Trust, the principal
and income of the Trust shall be subject to claims of general creditors of
Nordson under federal and state law as set forth below.

             (a) The Board of Directors and the Chief Executive Officer of
       Nordson shall have the duty to inform the Trustee in writing of Nordson's
       Insolvency. If a person claiming to be a creditor of Nordson alleges in
       writing to the Trustee that Nordson has become Insolvent, the Trustee
       shall determine whether Nordson is Insolvent and, pending such
       determination, the Trustee shall not transfer any Trust assets to any
       other party.

             (b) Unless the Trustee has actual knowledge of Nordson's
       Insolvency, or has received notice from Nordson or a person claiming to
       be a creditor alleging that Nordson is Insolvent, the Trustee shall have
       no duty to inquire whether Nordson is Insolvent. The Trustee may in all
       events rely on such evidence concerning Nordson's solvency as may be
       furnished to the Trustee and that provides the Trustee with a reasonable
       basis for making a determination concerning Nordson's solvency.

             (c) If at any time the Trustee has determined that Nordson is
       Insolvent, the Trustee shall hold the assets of the Trust for the benefit
       of the general creditors of Nordson. Nothing in this Trust Agreement
       shall in any way diminish any rights of Participants to pursue their
       rights as general creditors of Nordson.

             (d) The Trustee shall resume the making of payments to Participants
       in accordance with Section 4 of this Trust Agreement only after the
       Trustee has determined that Nordson is not Insolvent (or is not any
       longer Insolvent).

             5.3 Provided that there are sufficient assets, if the Trustee
discontinues payments under the Covered Plans from the Trust pursuant to Section
5.2 hereof and subsequently resumes such payments, the first payment following
such discontinuance shall include the aggregate

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amount of all payments due to Participants under the terms of the Covered Plans
for the period of such discontinuance, less the aggregate amount of any payments
made to the Participants by Nordson in lieu of the payments provided for
hereunder during any such period of discontinuance.

             Article 6.  Reversion of Excess Assets

             From time to time after the third anniversary of the first Change
of Control occurring after the execution of this Trust Agreement, if and when
requested by Nordson to do so, the Trustee shall engage the services of the
Accounting Firm, at the expense of Nordson, to determine the Aggregate Plan
Liability (as defined in Section 15.2). If the Current Trust Asset Value at the
time of the calculation exceeds 150% of the dollar amount of the Aggregate Plan
Liability and the Trustee is requested to do so by Nordson, the Trustee shall
pay the amount of any such excess over 150% to Nordson. The Trustee shall
determine, in its sole discretion, how the funds necessary to make any such
payment are to be raised from Trust assets.

             Article 7.  Payments to Nordson

             Except as provided in Article 3 or in Article 6, Nordson shall not
have any right or power to direct the Trustee to return to Nordson or to divert
to others any of the Trust assets before all payments that may become payable to
any and all Participants under the Covered Plans (as defined in Section 15.4)
have been made to Participants. At such point in time as no further payments are
payable or may become payable in the future to or with respect to any
Participant under any Covered Plan, the remaining assets of the Trust shall be
paid to Nordson.

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             Article 8.  Investment Authority

             8.1 The Trustee shall invest and reinvest the trust property,
including any income accumulated and added to principal, only in (a) annuity or
life insurance contracts that either have been contributed to the trust property
by Nordson or are issued by one or more insurance companies that are rated at
least A++ by Best Life Insurance Reports; (b) interest-bearing deposit accounts
or certificates issued or offered by any one or more Federal Deposit Insurance
Corporation insured financial institutions having in each case a high credit
rating and a capital and surplus of at least $1,000,000,000 in the aggregate;
(c) direct obligations of the United States of America, or obligations the
payment of which is guaranteed, as to both principal and interest, by the
government or an agency of the government of the United States of America; (d)
readily marketable debt securities listed on a United States national securities
exchange (other than securities of Nordson) that are rated at least "investment
grade" by one or more nationally recognized rating agencies; or (e) shares or
other units of participation in any mutual fund, investment trust, or common
trust fund maintained by the Trustee, which are invested exclusively or
predominantly in assets described in the foregoing clauses (a) through (d) of
this Section 8.1. In no event may the Trustee invest in securities (including
stock or the right to acquire stock) or obligations issued by Nordson, other
than a de minimis amount held in common investment vehicles in which the Trustee
invests. All rights associated with assets of the Trust shall be exercised by
the Trustee or the person designated by the Trustee. The Trustee shall not be
liable to any Participant for any insufficiency of the Trust property to
discharge all benefits due the same under the Covered Plans; rather, the
liability for all such benefits shall be and remain the primary and ultimate
responsibility of Nordson.

             8.2 The Trustee is empowered to register securities, and to take
and hold title to other property, in the name of the Trustee or in the name of a
nominee without disclosing the Trust. Securities also may be held in bearer form
and may be held in bulk with certificates of the same class and issuer which are
assets of other fiduciary accounts. The Trustee shall be responsible for any
wrongful acts of any nominee of the Trustee.

             8.3 The Trustee is empowered to take all actions necessary or
advisable in order to collect any life insurance, annuity, or other benefits or
payments of which the Trustee is the designated beneficiary.

             8.4 Nordson may maintain in force all life insurance policies held
in the Trust by paying premiums and other charges due thereon. If any such
premiums or other charges are not paid directly by Nordson, the Trustee shall,
to the extent it has cash or its equivalent readily available for the payment of
premiums due or policy loans and/or dividends are available for such purpose,
pay premiums due with such cash or its equivalent or policy loans and/or
dividends, as the Trustee may deem best; but if the Trustee does not have
sufficient cash or its equivalent readily available and policy loans and
dividends are not available, then the Trustee shall dispose of or otherwise use
other assets held by it in the Trust to generate the necessary cash or, if no
such other assets are available, the Trustee may surrender one or more of the
life insurance policies in order to generate cash with which to pay premiums
on one or more of the other life insurance policies. The Trustee shall have no
liability to Nordson or any other person if, as a result of an insufficiency of
cash or its equivalent, policy loans and dividends, and assets that can be
disposed of or otherwise used to generate cash, the Trustee is unable to pay
premiums

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as they become due.

             8.5 The Trustee shall be named sole owner and beneficiary of each
life insurance policy held in the Trust and shall have full authority and power
to exercise all rights of ownership relating to the policy, except that the
Trustee shall have no power to name a beneficiary of the policy other than the
Trust, to assign the policy (as distinct from conversion of the policy to a
different form) other than to a successor Trustee, or to loan to any person the
proceeds of any borrowing against such policy.

             8.6 The Trustee shall have the power to acquire additional life
insurance coverage on Participants through application for new life insurance.
Prior to a Change in Control, the Trustee shall acquire any additional life
insurance from the agent or agents designated by Nordson. After a Change in
Control, the Trustee may acquire any additional life insurance from any agent or
agents that it, in its sole discretion, deems appropriate.

             Article 9.  Accounting by Trustee

             The Trustee shall keep accurate and detailed records of all
investments, receipts, disbursements, and other transactions required to be
made, including such specific records as shall be agreed upon in writing between
Nordson and the Trustee. All such accounts, books, and records shall be open to
inspection and audit at all reasonable times by Nordson. Within 60 days
following the close of each calendar year and within 60 days after the removal
or resignation of the Trustee, the Trustee shall deliver to Nordson a written
account of its administration of the Trust during such year or during the period
from the close of the last preceding year to the date of such removal or
resignation, setting forth all investments, receipts, disbursements, and other
transactions effected by it, including a description of all securities and
investments purchased and sold with the cost or net proceeds of such purchases
or sales, and showing all cash, securities, and other property held in the Trust
at the end of such year or as of the date of such removal or resignation, as the
case may be.

             Article 10. Calculations of Current Trust Asset Value and Aggregate
Plan Liability

             10.1 Any determination of the Current Trust Asset Value that is to
be made before the occurrence of any Change of Control shall be made by Nordson.
After the occurrence of a Change of Control, all determinations of the Current
Trust Asset Value shall be made by the Trustee and may be based on the
determination of one or more qualified independent appraisers, consultants, or
other experts retained by the Trustee for that purpose.

             10.2 Any determination of the Aggregate Plan Liability that is to
be made before the occurrence of any Change of Control shall be made by Nordson.
After the occurrence of a Change of Control, all determinations of the Aggregate
Plan Liability (as defined in Section 15.2) shall be made by the Trustee and may
be based on the determination of one or more qualified independent actuaries,
consultants, or other experts retained by the Trustee for that purpose. All such
determinations shall be based on the terms of the Covered Plans and the
actuarial assumptions and methodology set forth in Exhibit B.

             10.3 Nordson shall pay all costs incurred in determining from time
to time the Current

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Trust Asset Value and/or the Aggregate Plan Liability. If not so paid, these
costs shall be paid from the Trust. Nordson shall reimburse the Trust within 30
days after receipt of a bill from the Trustee for any such costs paid out of the
Trust.

             Article 11.  Responsibility of Trustee

             11.1 The Trustee shall act with the care, skill, prudence, and
diligence under the circumstances then prevailing that a prudent person acting
in a like capacity and familiar with such matters would use in the conduct of an
enterprise of a like character and with like aims; provided, however, that the
Trustee shall incur no liability to any person for any action taken pursuant to
a direction, request, or approval that is contemplated by, and in conformity
with, the terms of the Trust and is given in writing by Nordson prior to the
occurrence of any Change of Control. In the event of a dispute between Nordson
and any other party, the Trustee may apply to a court of competent jurisdiction
to resolve the dispute.

             11.2 If the Trustee undertakes or defends any litigation arising in
connection with the Trust, Nordson agrees to indemnify the Trustee against the
Trustee's costs, expenses, and liabilities (including, without limitation,
attorneys' fees and expenses) relating thereto and to be primarily liable for
such payments. If such costs, expenses, and liabilities are not paid by Nordson
in a reasonably timely manner, the Trustee may obtain payment from the Trust.
Nordson shall reimburse the Trust within 30 days after receipt of a bill from
the Trustee for any such costs, expenses, and liabilities paid out of the Trust.

             11.3 The Trustee may consult with legal counsel (who may also be
counsel for the Trustee generally) with respect to any of its duties or
obligations hereunder.

             11.4 The Trustee may hire agents, accountants, actuaries,
investment advisors, financial consultants, or other professionals to assist it
in performing any of its duties or obligations hereunder, including, without
limitation, to assist it in enforcing against Nordson any of the obligations of
Nordson under this Trust Agreement.

             11.5 The Trustee shall have, without exclusion, all powers
conferred on trustees by applicable law, unless expressly provided otherwise
herein.

             11.6 Notwithstanding any powers granted to the Trustee pursuant to
this Trust Agreement or to applicable law, the Trustee shall not have any power
that could give the Trust the objective of carrying on a business and dividing
the gains therefrom, within the meaning of section 301.7701-2 of the Procedure
and Administrative Regulations promulgated pursuant to the Internal Revenue
Code.

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             Article 12.  Compensation and Expenses of Trustee

             The Trustee shall be entitled to receive reasonable compensation
for its services in accordance with its published fee schedule as in effect from
time to time. The Trustee shall be entitled to receive its reasonable expenses
incurred with respect to the administration of the Trust, including fees
incurred by the Trustee pursuant to Sections 11.3 and 11.4 of this Trust
Agreement. Such compensation and expenses shall be payable by Nordson. If not so
paid, the fees and expenses shall be paid from the Trust. Nordson shall
reimburse the Trust within 30 days after receipt of a bill from the Trustee for
any such fees or expenses paid out of the Trust.

             Article 13.  Tenure and Succession of Trustee

             13.1 Nordson may remove any trustee from time to time serving under
this Trust Agreement at any time upon giving 60 days written notice to such
trustee, and each trustee from time to time serving under this instrument shall
have the right to resign by delivering a written notice of resignation to
Nordson, except that: (a) Nordson shall not have any power to remove the Trustee
at any time after a Change of Control, and (b) no such removal or resignation
shall become effective until the acceptance of the trust by a successor trustee
designated in accordance with Section 13.2.

             13.2 If [             ], or any successor to it designated in
accordance with this Section 13.2, for any reason shall decline, cease, or
otherwise fail to serve as trustee, the vacancy in the trusteeship shall be
filled by such bank or trust company, wherever located, having a capital and
surplus of at least $25,000,000 in the aggregate, as shall be designated by
Nordson (if the designation is made prior to the occurrence of any Change of
Control) or by the resigning Trustee (if the designation is made after the
occurrence of any Change of Control).

             13.3 Upon acceptance of the Trust, each successor trustee shall be
vested with the title to the Trust property possessed by the trustee that it
succeeds and shall have all the powers, discretion, and duties of such
predecessor trustee. No successor trustee shall be required to furnish bond.

             13.4 Each successor trustee may accept as complete and correct and
may rely upon any accounting by any predecessor trustee and upon any statement
or representation by any predecessor trustee as to the assets comprising or any
other matter pertaining to the administration of the Trust. No successor trustee
shall be liable for any act or omission of any predecessor trustee or have any
duty to enforce or seek to enforce any claim of any kind against any predecessor
trustee on account of any such act or omission.

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             Article 14.  Amendment or Termination

             14.1 Except as provided in the second sentence of this Section
14.1, at any time before the occurrence of the first Change of Control to occur
after the execution of this Agreement, Nordson, in its sole discretion, may
amend this Trust Agreement (including the exhibits hereto) in any manner and may
terminate this Trust Agreement. If at any particular point in time (a) one or
more Funding Events have occurred, (b) one or more of those Funding Events has
not yet been terminated, and (c) no Change of Control has occurred, then Nordson
may not, at that particular time, terminate this Trust Agreement and may amend
this Trust Agreement only if and to the extent permitted by Section 14.2 below.

             14.2 Whenever (a) one or more Funding Events have occurred, (b) one
or more of those Funding Events has not yet been terminated, and (c) no Change
of Control has occurred, Nordson may not terminate this Trust Agreement but may
add one or more additional plans or agreements to the class of Covered Plans and
may amend this Trust Agreement (including the exhibits hereto), provided that
(x) Nordson determines, in the exercise of its reasonable discretion, that the
amendment is in the best interests of the Participants, taken as a group, (y) no
such amendment shall remove any plan or agreement from the class of Covered
Plans unless the plan has been terminated and there are no further obligations
due or to become due thereunder to any Participant, and (z) no such amendment
shall have the effect of adding circumstances under which a Funding Event shall
be deemed to have terminated, affect the determination of the Aggregate Plan
Liability or the Full Funding amount so as to reduce these amounts, or in any
manner permit the withdrawal or diversion of assets from the Trust.

             14.3 After a Change of Control has occurred, this Trust Agreement
(including the exhibits hereto) may not be amended or terminated except as
provided in Section 14.5.

             14.4 Unless earlier revoked pursuant to Section 1.2, the Trust
shall not terminate until the date on which Participants are no longer entitled
to any further payments pursuant to the terms of any Covered Plans. Upon
termination of the Trust on or after that date, any assets remaining in the
Trust shall be returned to Nordson.

             14.5 Upon written approval of all Participants who are or may in
the future be entitled to receive any payment pursuant to the terms of any of
the Covered Plans, Nordson may terminate the Trust prior to the time all
payments that are or may become due in the future under the Covered Plans have
been made. All assets in the Trust at any such termination shall be returned to
Nordson.

                                       12
<PAGE>

             Article 15.  Certain Definitions

Certain capitalized terms not defined elsewhere in this Trust Agreement are
defined in Article 15 below.

             15.1 From and after the occurrence of the first Change of Control
to occur after the execution of this Trust Agreement, the term "Accounting Firm"
shall mean the independent auditors of Nordson for the fiscal year preceding the
first year in which there occurred either (a) that Change of Control or (b) any
Funding Event that had not terminated before the occurrence of that Change of
Control and such firm's successor or successors; provided, however, if such firm
is unable or unwilling to serve and perform in the capacity contemplated by this
Trust Agreement, those members of the Board of Directors of Nordson (as
constituted immediately before the Change of Control) who are not and have never
been employees of Nordson shall select another national accounting firm of
recognized standing to serve and perform in that capacity under this Trust
Agreement, except that such other accounting firm shall not be the then
independent auditors for Nordson or any of its affiliates (as defined in Rule
12b-2 promulgated under the 1934 Act).

             15.2 The term "Aggregate Plan Liability" as at any time shall mean
the maximum amount of payments that have not yet been paid but could become
payable in the future under the Covered Plans, determined as provided in Section
10.2.

             15.3 A "Change of Control" shall be deemed to occur if and when
there occurs any of the circumstances set forth in any of clauses (a) through
(d) of this Section 15.3.

             A.    Any Person or group commences a tender offer for more than
                   50% of the outstanding shares that is not recommended by the
                   Board of Directors of Nordson and one of the following
                   occurs:

                   (i) More than 50% of the outstanding shares are acquired.

                   (ii)  While the tender offer remains open, Nordson is sold or
                         agrees to be sold, whether by sale of assets, sale of
                         stock, merger, or otherwise.

             B.    Any Person or group solicits proxies for the election of
                   individuals who are not nominated or approved by the Board of
                   Directors of Nordson and either:

                   (i)   the solicitation results in the election of directors
                         that constitute a majority of any class of directors or
                         a majority of the full Board, or

                   (ii)  the solicitation results in the election of two or more
                         directors, but less than a majority of any class of
                         directors or a majority of the full Board, and while at
                         least two of those directors remain in office Nordson
                         is sold or agrees to be sold.

             C.    Any Person or group becomes the beneficial owner of 50% or
                   more of the outstanding shares without prior Board approval.

                                       13
<PAGE>

             D.    Any Person or group becomes the beneficial owner of 15% or
                   more of the outstanding shares without prior Board approval
                   and, while the Person or group continues to own 15% or more
                   of the outstanding shares, Nordson is sold or agrees to be
                   sold.

             15.4 The term "Covered Plan" means any one of the plans and
agreements identified on Exhibit A, as the same may be amended from time to time
in accordance with Sections 14.1 and 14.2 above.

             15.5 The term "Full Funding Amount" as of any point in time shall
mean an amount equal to 125% of the Aggregate Plan Liability as of that point in
time.

             15.6 A "Funding Event" shall be deemed to occur if and when there
occurs any of the circumstances set forth in any of the following clauses (a)
through (c):

             A.    Any Person or group commences a tender offer for more than
                   50% of the outstanding shares that is not recommended by the
                   Board of Directors of Nordson.

             B.    Any Person or group solicits proxies for the election of two
                   or more directors not nominated or approved by the Board of
                   Directors of Nordson.

             C.    Any Person or group becomes the beneficial owner of 15% or
                   more of the outstanding shares without prior Board approval.

             15.7  A Funding Event shall be deemed to have "terminated:"

             A.    If funding of the Trust was required by reason of an
                   unsolicited tender offer or exchange offer, either:

                   (i)   the tender offer or exchange offer is withdrawn or
                         terminated without the acquisition of 15% or more of
                         the outstanding shares, or

                   (ii)  if the Person or group acquires 15% or more, but less
                         than a majority, of the outstanding shares, the Person
                         or group subsequently disposes of enough shares so that
                         beneficial ownership falls below 15%.

             B.    If funding of the Trust was required by reason of a
                   solicitation of proxies for the election of directors,
                   either:

                   (i)   the solicitation results in the election of less than
                         two directors, or

                   (ii)  the solicitation results in the election of more than
                         two directors, but less than a majority of any class of
                         directors or a majority of the full Board, and enough
                         of those directors leave office so that fewer than two
                         remain as directors.

                                       14
<PAGE>

             C.    If funding of the Trust was required by reason of the
                   acquisition of beneficial ownership of 15% or more, but less
                   than a majority, of the outstanding shares without prior
                   Board approval, if the percentage of shares beneficially
                   owned by the Person or group subsequently falls below 15%.

             15.8 The term "Internal Revenue Code" shall mean the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

             15.9 The term "Person" shall mean a "person" as used in Section
13(d) and Section 14(d)(2) of the 1934 Act.

             15.10 The term "Participant" shall mean a person who is a
participant in or party to any of the Covered Plans.

             15.11 The term "1934 Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended.

             16.  Miscellaneous

             16.1 Any action to be taken by Nordson hereunder shall be by action
of the Chief Executive Officer or any Vice President of Nordson, except that the
actions described in Sections 1.2, 13.1, 14.1, and 14.2 may be taken only by the
Board of Directors of Nordson.

             16.2 Any provision of this Trust Agreement prohibited by law shall
be ineffective to the extent of any such prohibition, without invalidating the
remaining provisions hereof.

             16.3 This Trust Agreement shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of Ohio.

             IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Nordson and the Trustee have executed this
Trust Agreement as of the date first above written.

[                          ]                    Nordson Corporation

By_________________________________             By___________________________

        The "Trustee"

                                       15
<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBIT A

                                  Covered Plans

Nordson Corporation Excess Defined Benefit Pension Plan

Nordson Corporation Excess Defined Contribution Retirement Plan

Nordson Corporation Officers' Deferred Compensation Plan

Supplemental pension payments pursuant to employment agreements with Messrs. [
].

Retirement payments to retired officer, [                              ].

[Amounts payable under employment agreements with [             ].]

<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBIT B

                         Assumptions and Methodology for
                      Determining Aggregate Plan Liability

             1. The liability for benefits under each Covered Plan will be
calculated using two different assumptions as to when Participants terminate
service:

                   (a) As of the date of the first Change of Control occurring
             after the execution of this Trust Agreement.

                   (b) Thirty months after the first Change of Control occurring
             after the execution of this Trust Agreement, assuming future
             compensation continues at current levels, and future deferrals
             under deferred compensation plans continue pursuant to prior
             elections.

The liability for accrued benefits under each Covered Plan will be the greater
of the liabilities calculated in accordance with (a) and (b) above.

             2. Calculations will be based upon the most valuable optional form
of payment available to the Participant.

             3. The liability for benefits under deferred compensation or other
defined contribution Covered Plans shall be equal to the deferral or other
account balances (vested and unvested) of Participants as of the applicable
date, plus projected deferrals expected to be made within 30 months after the
applicable date pursuant to prior elections. Account balances of Participants
under a Plan shall be calculated based on crediting the highest rate of interest
which may become payable to Participants under the Plan.

             4. The liability for benefits under other Covered Plans shall be
equal to the present value of accrued benefits (vested and unvested) of
Participants as of the relevant dates under 1(a) or (b) above.

             5. No mortality is assumed prior to the commencement of benefits.
Future mortality is assumed to occur in accordance with the 1983 Group Annuity
Table Unisex Rates after the commencement of benefits.

             6. The present value of amounts shall be determined using a
discount rate equal to the then current Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation
immediate annuity rate for a nonmultiemployer plan.

             7. In determining the dollar cost of providing any benefit that is
to be provided in stock or the value of which is dependent upon the value of
common shares of Nordson, the dollar cost shall of providing those benefits
shall be determined using a value for common shares of Nordson equal to 140% of
the highest closing price for common shares of Nordson at any time within the
six month period ending on the determination date.

<PAGE>

             8. Where left undefined above, calculations will be performed in
accordance with generally accepted actuarial principles.<PAGE>
                                                                 Exhibit 10-h-1

                              EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
                              --------------------

                  THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT is entered into on this 13th day of
November, 1998, by and between NORDSON CORPORATION, an Ohio corporation
(the "Company"), and EDWARD P. CAMPBELL ("Employee").

                              W I T N E S S E T H:

                  WHEREAS, Employee is an executive and key employee of the
Company, has fully and ably discharged his responsibilities and duties in his
service to the Company to date, and is now serving the Company as President and
Chief Executive Officer;

                  WHEREAS, the Company desires to assure itself of continuity of
management in the event of any threatened or actual Change in Control (as
hereafter defined);

                  WHEREAS, the Company desires to provide inducements for
Employee not to engage in activity competitive with the Company;

                  WHEREAS, the Company desires to assure itself, in the event of
any threatened or actual Change in Control, of the continued performance of
services by Employee on an objective and impartial basis and without distraction
by concern for his employment status and security;

                  WHEREAS, Employee is willing to continue in the employ of the
Company but desires assurance that his responsibilities and status as an
executive of the Company will not be adversely affected by any threatened or
actual Change in Control;

                  NOW, THEREFORE, the Company and Employee agree as follows:

                  1. OPERATION OF AGREEMENT. This Agreement shall be effective
and binding immediately upon its execution, but, anything in this Agreement to
the contrary notwithstanding, this Agreement shall not be operative unless and
until there has been a Change in Control while Employee is in the employ of the
Company. For purposes of this Agreement, a Change in Control shall have occurred
if at any time any of the following events occurs:

                           (a) a report is filed with the Securities and
         Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on Schedule 13D or Schedule 14D-1 (or
         any successor schedule, form, or report), each as promulgated pursuant
         to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act"), disclosing
         that any "person" (as the term "person" is used in Section 13(d) or
         Section 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act) is or has become a beneficial
         owner, directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company
         representing
<PAGE>

         25% or more of the combined voting power of the Company's then
         outstanding securities;

                           (b) the Company files a report or proxy statement
         with the SEC pursuant to the Exchange Act disclosing in response to
         Item 1 of Form 8-K thereunder or Item 5(f) of Schedule 14A thereunder
         that a Change in Control of the Company has or may have occurred or
         will or may occur in the future pursuant to any then-existing contract
         or transaction;

                           (c) the Company is merged or consolidated with
         another corporation and, as a result thereof, securities representing
         less than 50% of the combined voting power of the surviving or
         resulting corporation's securities (or of the securities of a parent
         corporation in case of a merger in which the surviving or resulting
         corporation becomes a wholly-owned subsidiary of the parent
         corporation) are owned in the aggregate by holders of the Company's
         securities immediately prior to such merger or consolidation;

                           (d) all or substantially all of the assets of the
         Company are sold in a single transaction or a series of related
         transactions to a single purchaser or a group of affiliated purchasers;
         or

                           (e) during any period of 24 consecutive months,
         individuals who were Directors of the Company at the beginning of such
         period cease to constitute at least a majority of the Company's Board
         of Directors (the "Board") unless the election, or nomination for
         election by the Company's shareholders, of more than one half of any
         new Directors of the Company was approved by a vote of at least
         two-thirds of the Directors of the Company then still in office who
         were Directors of the Company at the beginning of such 24 month period.

The first date on which a Change in Control occurs is referred to herein as the
"Change in Control Date." Upon the occurrence of a Change in Control while
Employee is in the employ of the Company, this Agreement shall become
immediately operative subject, however, to the provisions of Section 2, below.

                  2. POSSIBLE "UNDOING" OF A CHANGE IN CONTROL. If a report is
filed with the SEC disclosing that a person (the "Acquiror") is or has become a
beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company
representing 25% or more of the combined voting power of the company's
outstanding securities and, as a result of that filing, a Change in Control,

                                       2
<PAGE>

as defined in Paragraph 1(a), above, occurs, while Employee is in the employ of
the Company, then, as provided in Paragraph 1, above, this Agreement will become
immediately operative. However, if:

                           (a) a Change in Control as described in Paragraph
         1(a) occurs while Employee is in the employ of the Company;

                           (b) the Acquiror subsequently transfers or otherwise
         disposes of sufficient securities of the Company in one or more
         transactions, to a person or persons other than affiliates of the
         Acquiror or any persons with whom the Acquiror has agreed to act
         together for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting or disposing of
         securities of the Company, so that, after such transfer or other
         disposition, the Acquiror is no longer the beneficial owner, directly
         or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 10% or more of
         the combined voting power of the Company's then outstanding securities;

                           (c) at the time of the subsequent transfer or
         disposition that reduced the Acquiror's holdings to less than 10% as
         provided in (b), immediately above, no other event constituting a
         Change in Control had occurred; and

                           (d) at the time of the subsequent transfer or other
         disposition that reduced the Acquiror's holdings to less than 10%,
         Employee's employment with the Company had not been terminated by the
         Company without cause or by Employee for good reason,

then, for all purposes of this Agreement, the filing of the report constituting
a Change in Control under Paragraph 1(a) shall be treated as if it had not
occurred and this Agreement shall return to the status it had immediately before
the filing of the report constituting a Change in Control under Paragraph 1(a).
Accordingly, if and when a new Change in Control occurs, this Agreement will
again become operative on the date of that new Change in Control.

                  3.       EMPLOYMENT, CONTRACT PERIOD.

                           (a) Subject to the terms and conditions of this
         Agreement, upon the occurrence of a Change in Control, the Company
         shall continue to employ Employee and Employee shall continue in the
         employ of the Company for the period specified in Paragraph 3(b) (the
         "Contract Period"), in the position and with the duties and
         responsibilities set forth in Paragraph 4.

                           (b) The Contract Period shall commence on the

                                       3
<PAGE>

         Change in Control Date and, subject only to the provisions of Paragraph
         9 below, shall continue for a period of twenty-four months to the close
         of business on the day (the "Contract Expiration Date") falling
         twenty-four months after the Change in Control Date.

                  4. POSITION, DUTIES, RESPONSIBILITIES. At all times during the
Contract Period, Employee shall:

                           (a) hold the same position with substantially the
         same duties and responsibilities as an executive of the Company as
         Employee held immediately before the Change in Control Date and those
         duties and responsibilities may be extended, from time to time during
         the Contract Period, by the Board with Employee's consent;

                           (b) adhere to and implement the policies and
         directives promulgated, from time to time, by the Board;

                           (c) observe all Company policies applicable to
executive personnel of the Company; and

                           (d) devote his business time, energy, and talent to
         the business of and to the furtherance of the purposes and objectives
         of the Company to generally the same extent as he has so devoted his
         business time, energy, and talent before the Change in Control Date,
         and neither directly nor indirectly render any business, commercial, or
         professional services to any other person, firm, or organization for
         compensation without the prior approval of the Board.

Nothing in this Agreement shall preclude Employee from devoting reasonable
period of time to charitable and community activities or the management of his
investment assets provided such activities do not materially interfere with the
performance by Employee of his duties hereunder.

                  5. COMPENSATION. For services actually rendered by Employee on
behalf of the Company during the Contract Period as contemplated by this
Agreement the Company shall pay to Employee a base salary, annual bonus and
stock options (together referred to as "Total Compensation") as follows:

                           (a) base salary at a rate equal to the highest of (i)
         the rate in effect immediately before the Change in Control date, (ii)
         the rate in effect exactly two years before the Change in Control Date,
         or (iii) such greater rate as the Company may determine. The base
         salary shall be paid to Employee in the same increments and on the same
         schedule each month as in effect immediately before the Effective Date;

                                       4
<PAGE>

                           (b) an annual bonus under the 1995 Management
         Incentive Compensation Plan as amended, or any substitute therefore,
         ("Bonus Plan") equal to the highest of (i) the amount calculated using
         the Bonus Plan in effect immediately before the Change in Control Date,
         (ii) the amount calculated using the Bonus Plan in effect exactly two
         years before the Change of Control Date, or (iii) such greater amount
         as the Company may determine. The annual bonus shall be paid to the
         Employee not later than the first payroll date in January following the
         plan year for which the bonus was earned;

                           (c) stock options shall be granted annually at such
         times, under such terms and conditions, and in such amounts, as to be
         no less valuable than the greater value of (i) stock options granted
         immediately before the Change in Control Date, (ii) stock options
         granted two years before the Change in Control Date, and (iii) such
         greater value as the Company may determine.

                  6. VACATION, HOLIDAYS AND SICK LEAVE. Employee will be
entitled to such periods of vacation, holidays and sick leave allowance each
year as are determined by the Company's policies relevant to vacation, holidays
and sick pay for executive personnel as in effect immediately before the Change
in Control Date or as may be increased from time to time thereafter. Neither
vacation time nor sick leave allowance will be accumulated from year to year.

                  7. OTHER COMPANY PLANS, BENEFITS, AND PERQUISITES. During the
Contract Period Employee shall continue to be entitled to participate in every
employee benefit plan, incentive plan or arrangement ("Plan") that is generally
available to executive personnel of the Company immediately before the Change in
Control Date or that is specifically extended to Employee by the Company before
the Change in Control Date, whether or not Employee is eligible to participate
in such Plan on the date of this Agreement. Employee's participation in and
benefits under any such Plan shall be on the terms and subject to the conditions
specified in the governing document of the particular plan or arrangement as in
effect immediately before the Change in Control Date, which terms and conditions
shall not be amended during the Contract Period unless the benefits to Employee
are at least as great under the Plan as amended (or under a substitute Plan) as
were the benefits under the Plan as in effect immediately before the Change in
Control Date. Specific Plans of the Company to which Employee is entitled to
benefits include, but are not limited to, the Plans (or any substitute Plan)
listed on Exhibit A hereto.

                                       5
<PAGE>

The Company will also provide Employee with such perquisites during the Contract
Period as the Company customarily provided to similarly situated executive
personnel in the period immediately before the Change in Control Date.

                  8. ADDITIONAL BENEFIT. If a Change in Control occurs and this
Agreement becomes operative and thereafter Employee's employment is terminated
by the Company without cause or by Employee for good reason, whether such
termination occurs before, on, or after the Contract Expiration Date, the
Company shall pay and provide benefits to or with respect to Employee in such
amounts and at such times so that the aggregate benefits payable to or with
respect to Employee under the Salaried Plan and the Excess Benefit Plans will be
equal to the aggregate benefits that would have been paid to or with respect to
Employee under the Salaried Plan and the Excess Benefit Plans if Employee were
exactly five years older than his actual age and his credit under the Salaried
Plan and the Excess Benefit Plans were equal to the greater of his actual
service or the amount of service he is deemed to have under paragraph 12(a)(iv),
below. If Employee's employment is terminated after a Change in Control by the
Company without cause or by Employee for good reason and Employee is entitled to
additional benefits by virtue of the additional five years of deemed age
provided for in this Paragraph 8, then the Company shall directly provide such
benefits to Employee in the same manner as additional benefits are to be
provided to Employee under paragraph 12(a), below.

                  9. PRIORITY OF PARAGRAPHS 2 OVER 8. Paragraph 2 of this
Agreement shall take precedence over Paragraph 8 of this Agreement so that if a
Change in Control occurs and is subsequently undone under Paragraph 2 of this
Agreement, Employee will thereafter have no rights under Paragraph 8 of this
Agreement unless and until a further Change in Control occurs.

                  10. EFFECT OF DISABILITY. If during the Contract Period and
before his employment hereunder is otherwise terminated, Employee becomes
disabled to such an extent that he is prevented from performing his duties
hereunder by reason of physical or mental incapacity: (a) he shall be entitled
to disability and other benefits at least equal to those that would have been
available to him had the Company continued, throughout the period of Employee's
disability, all of its programs, benefits, and policies with respect to disabled
employees that were in effect immediately before the Change in Control; and (b)
if he recovers from his disability before the end of the Contract Period he
shall be reinstated as an active employee for the remainder of the Contract
Period under and subject to all of the terms of this Agreement including,
without limitation, the Company's right to terminate Employee with or without
cause under Paragraph 11(b).

                                       6
<PAGE>

                  11. TERMINATION FOLLOWING A CHANGE IN CONTROL. Following a
Change in Control:

                           (a) Employee's employment hereunder will terminate
         without further notice upon the death of Employee;

                           (b) The Company may terminate Employee's employment
         hereunder effective immediately upon giving notice of such termination:

                                    (i) for "cause," (A) if Employee commits an
                  act of fraud, embezzlement, theft, or other similar criminal
                  act constituting a felony and involving the Company's business
                  or (B) if Employee breaches his agreement with respect to the
                  time to be devoted to the business of the Company set forth in
                  Paragraph 3(d) hereof and fails to cure such breach within 30
                  days of receipt of written notice of such breach from the
                  Board; or

                                    (ii) without cause at any time; and

                           (c) Employee may terminate his employment hereunder
         effective immediately upon giving of notice of such termination or
         retirement:

                                    (i) without cause at any time; or

                                    (ii) for "good reason," which, for purposes
                  of this Agreement shall mean notice by the Employee to the
                  Company of the occurrence of any of the following:

                           (A) any reduction in base salary or position or any
         material reduction in responsibilities or duties contemplated for
         Employee under this Agreement or any material reduction in the
         aggregate of employee benefits, perquisites, or fringe benefits
         contemplated for Employee under this Agreement, provided that any
         particular reduction described in this clause (A) shall constitute
         "good reason" only if Employee terminates his employment within six
         months of the date of the reduction; or

                           (B) any good faith determination by Employee that, as
         a result of fundamental differences of opinion between Employee and the
         Board as to the goals of the Company, Employee is unable to carry out
         the responsibilities and duties contemplated for Employee under this
         Agreement, provided that any determination by Employee described in
         this clause (B) shall constitute "good reason" only if Employee
         terminates his employment within six months of the

                                       7
<PAGE>

         Change in Control Date.

                  12. SEVERANCE COMPENSATION.

                           (a) If, before the Contract Expiration Date,
         Employee's employment is terminated by the Company without cause or by
         Employee for good reason, then, except as provided in Paragraph 12(b),
         12(c), or 12(d), the Company shall pay and provide to Employee the
         following compensation and benefits through the last to occur of
         (x) the expiration of twenty-four months after the effective date of
         the termination, and (y) the Contract Expiration Date (such
         last-to-occur date is hereinafter referred to as the "Severance
         Benefits Termination Date"):

                                    (i) Base Salary and Annual Bonus at the
                  highest rate payable to Employee during the Contract Period,
                  to be paid at the times provided in Paragraph 5 hereof;

                                    (ii) in lieu of the opportunity to receive
                  stock option grants during the period from the effective date
                  of termination through the Severance Benefits Termination
                  Date, the Company will pay to Employee an amount in cash equal
                  to the product of (A) the aggregate value of the stock options
                  granted to Employee with Respect to the fiscal year ended
                  immediately prior to the Change in Control and (B) a fraction,
                  the numerator of which is the number of days from the
                  effective date of termination through the Severance Benefits
                  Termination Date and the denominator of which is 365; for this
                  purpose, the value of the stock options will be determined
                  using the Black-Scholes option price model;

                                    (iii) coverage under the Company's medical,
                  dental, insurance, short-term disability, long-term disability
                  plans, and other Plans, as listed on Exhibit A, Items 7
                  through 14 (provided that he became eligible to participate
                  therein prior to the date his employment is terminated), each
                  as in effect on the Change in Control Date (or, if
                  subsequently amended to increase benefits to Employee or his
                  dependents, as so amended) and each as if Employee's
                  employment had continued through the Severance Benefits
                  Termination Date; and

                                    (iv) coverage and service credit under the
                  Salaried Plan and the Excess Benefit Plans maintained in
                  connection with the Salaried Plan under which he is eligible
                  to participate so that the aggregate benefits payable to or
                  with respect to the Employee under the

                                       8
<PAGE>

                  Salaried Plan and the Excess Benefit Plan will be equal to the
                  aggregate benefits that would have been paid to or with
                  respect to Employee under the Salaried Plan and the Excess
                  Benefit Plans if Employee's employment had continued through
                  the Severance Benefits Termination Date.

         If any of the benefits to be provided under the Company's Plans cannot
         be provided through that Plan to Employee following termination of his
         employment, the Company shall directly provide the full equivalent of
         such benefits to Employee. For example, since it is not possible to
         provide additional service credit directly through the Salaried Plan,
         if Employee becomes entitled to an additional 18 months of service
         credit under the Salaried plan pursuant to (iv) above, the Company will
         be required to pay to Employee, from its general assets, on each date
         on which Employee receives a payment from the Salaried Plan, a
         supplemental payment equal to the amount by which that particular
         payment under the Salaried Plan would have been increased if Employee's
         total service credit under the Salaried Plan were 18 months greater
         than is actually the case by reason of this Agreement. In addition, if
         in these circumstances any payments become due under the Salaried Plan
         with respect to Employee following his death, the Company will be
         obligated to make similar supplemental payments with respect to
         Employee on the dates on which payments are made with respect to
         Employee under the Salaried Plan.

         Furthermore, the provisions of this Agreement shall not affect the
         validity or enforceability of any other agreement between the Company
         and Employee, and the benefits provided under this Agreement shall be
         additive to any other benefits promised to Employee under such other
         agreement. Moreover, this Agreement shall not operate to negate any
         other assurances provided to Employee.

                           (b) If Employee becomes entitled to compensation and
         benefits pursuant to Paragraph 12(a) he shall use reasonable efforts to
         seek other employment, provided, however, that he shall not be required
         to accept a position of less importance and dignity or of substantially
         different character than of his position with the Company or a position
         that would require Employee to engage in activity in violation of
         Employee's agreement with respect to noncompetition set forth in
         Paragraph 14 hereof nor shall he be required to accept a position
         outside the greater Cleveland area. The Company's obligations under
         item (i) and (ii) of Paragraph 12(a) will be offset by payments and

                                       9
<PAGE>

         benefits received by Employee from another employer to the following
         extent:

                                    (i) The Company's obligation to pay any
                  particular installment of base salary following Employee's
                  termination will be offset, on a dollar for dollar basis, by
                  any cash compensation received by Employee from another
                  employer before the date on which the installment of base
                  salary is payable by the Company.

                                    (ii) To the extent that Employee is provided
                  medical, dental, or short-term or long-term disability income
                  protection benefits by another employer during any period, the
                  Company will be relieved of its obligation to provide such
                  benefits to Employee. For example, if a new employer provides
                  Employee with a medical benefits plan that pays $500.00 for a
                  specific claim made by Employee and the Company's medical
                  insurance plan would have paid $750.00 for that claim, then
                  the Company will be obligated to pay Employee $250.00 with
                  respect to that claim.

         Other than as provided in this Paragraph 12(b) Employee shall have no
         duty to mitigate the amount of any payment or benefit provided for in
         this Agreement.

                           (c) If during any period in which Employee is
         entitled to payments or benefits from the Company under Paragraph
         12(a):

                                    (i) Employee materially and willfully
                  breaches his agreement with respect to confidential
                  information set forth in Paragraph 13 hereof and such breach
                  directly causes the Company substantial and demonstrable
                  damage; or

                                    (ii) Employee materially and wilfully
                  breaches his agreement with respect to noncompetition set
                  forth in Paragraph 14 hereof and such breach directly causes
                  the Company substantial and demonstrable damage;

         then the Company will be relieved of its obligations under paragraph
         12(a) hereof as of the first day of the month immediately following the
         date of such material breach.

                           (d) If Employee dies on or before the Severance
         Benefits Termination Date and immediately before his death he is
         entitled to payments or benefits from the Company under Paragraph
         12(a), the Company will be relieved of its

                                       10
<PAGE>

         obligations under item (i) of Paragraph 12(a) as of the first day of
         the month immediately following the month in which Employee dies and
         thereafter the Company will provide to Employee's beneficiaries and
         dependents salary continuation payments, benefits under the Excess
         Benefits Plan (as supplemented by item (iii) of Paragraph 12(a), and
         continuing medical and dental benefits to the same extent (subject to
         reduction for payments or benefits from a new employer under paragraph
         12(b) as if Employee's death had occurred while Employee was in the
         active employ of the Company.

                  13. CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION. Employee agrees that he will
not, during the term of the Agreement or at any time thereafter, either directly
or indirectly, disclose or make known to any person, firm, or corporation any
confidential information, trade secret, or proprietary information of the
Company that Employee may acquire in the performance of Employee's duties
hereunder. Upon the termination of Employee's employment with the Company,
Employee agrees to deliver forthwith to the Company any and all literature,
documents, correspondence, and other materials and records furnished to or
acquired by Employee during the course of such employment.

                  14. NONCOMPETITION. During any period in which Employee is
receiving Total Compensation under this Agreement (whether during the Contract
Period pursuant to Paragraph 5 or following termination pursuant to Paragraph
12(a), Employee shall not act as a proprietor, investor, director, officer,
employee, substantial stockholder, consultant, or partner in any business
engaged to a material extent in direct competition with the Company in any
market in any line of business engaged in by the Company during the Contract
period. If Employee delivers to the Company a written waiver of his right to
receive any further compensation or benefits pursuant to Paragraph 12(a), if
agreed to by the Company in writing, he shall be released, effective as of the
date of agreement by the Company, from the post-termination noncompetition
covenant contained in this Paragraph 14.

                  15. COSTS OF ENFORCEMENT. The Company shall pay and be solely
responsible for any and all costs and expenses (including attorneys' fees)
incurred by Employee in seeking to enforce the Company's obligations under this
Agreement unless and to the extent a court of competent jurisdiction determines
that the Company was relieved of those obligations because (a) the Company
terminated Employee for cause (as determined under Paragraph 11(b)(i) hereof),
(b) Employee voluntarily terminated his employment other than for good reason
(as determined under Paragraph 11(c)(ii) hereof), or (c) Employee materially and
willfully breached his agreement not to compete with the Company

                                       11
<PAGE>

or his agreement with respect to confidential information and such breach
directly caused substantial and demonstrable damage to the Company. The Company
shall forthwith pay directly or reimburse Employee for any and all such costs
and expenses upon presentation by Employee or by counsel selected from time to
time by Employee of a statement or statements prepared by Employee or by such
counsel of the amount of such costs and expenses. If and to the extent a court
of competent jurisdiction renders a final binding judgment determining that the
Company was relieved of its obligations for any of the reasons set forth in (a),
(b) or (c) above, Employee shall repay the amount of such payments or
reimbursements to the Company. In addition to the payment and reimbursement of
expenses of enforcement provided for in this Paragraph 15, the Company shall pay
to Employee in cash, as and when the Company makes any payment on behalf of, or
reimbursement to, Employee, an additional amount sufficient to pay all federal,
state, and local taxes (whether income taxes or other taxes) incurred by
Employee as a result of (x) payment of the expense or receipt of the
reimbursement, and (y) receipt of the additional cash payment. The Company shall
also pay to Employee interest (calculated at the Base Rate from time to time in
effect at National City Bank, Cleveland, Ohio, compounded monthly) on any
payments or benefits that are paid or provided to Employee later than the date
on which due under the terms of this Agreement.

                  16. EMPLOYEE RIGHTS. Nothing expressed or implied in this
Agreement shall create any right or duty on the part of the Company or Employee
to have Employee remain in the employ of the Company before any Change in
Control and Employee shall have no rights under this Agreement if his employment
with the Company is terminated for any reason or for no reason before any Change
in Control. Nothing expressed or implied in this Agreement shall create any duty
on the part of the Company to continue in effect, or continue to provide to
Employee, any plan or benefit unless and until a Change in Control occurs. If,
before a Change in Control, the Company ceases to provide any plan or benefit to
Employee, nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to require the Company to
reinstitute that plan or benefit to Employee upon the later occurrence of a
Change in Control.

                  17. NOTICES. For purposes of this Agreement, all
communications provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be deemed to
have been duly given when delivered or when mailed by United States registered
or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed to the
Company (Attention: President) at its principal executive office and to Employee
at his principal residence, or to such other address as either party may have
furnished to the other in writing and in accordance herewith, except that
notices of change of address shall be effective only upon receipt.

                                       12
<PAGE>

                  18. ASSIGNMENT, BINDING EFFECT.

                           (a) This Agreement shall be binding upon and shall
         inure to the benefit of the Company and the Company's successors and
         assigns. The Company shall require any successor (whether direct or
         indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation, or otherwise) to all or
         substantially all of the business and or assets of the Company, by
         agreement in form and substance satisfactory to Employee, to expressly
         assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to
         the same extent that the Company would be required to perform it if no
         such succession had taken place.

                           (b) This Agreement shall be binding upon Employee and
         this Agreement and all rights of Employee hereunder shall inure to the
         benefit of, and be enforceable by, Employee and his personal or legal
         representatives, executors, or administrators. No right, benefit, or
         interest of Employee hereunder shall be subject to assignment,
         anticipation, alienation, sale, encumbrance, charge, pledge,
         hypothecation, or to execution, attachment, levy, or similar process;
         except that Employee may assign any right, benefit, or interest
         hereunder if such assignment is permitted under the terms of any plan
         or policy of insurance or annuity contract governing such right,
         benefit, or interest.

                  19. INVALID PROVISIONS.

                           (a) Any provision of this Agreement that is
         prohibited or unenforceable shall be ineffective to the extent, but
         only to the extent, of such prohibition or unenforceability without
         invalidating the remaining portions hereof and such remaining portions
         of this Agreement shall continue to be in full force and effect.

                           (b) In the event that any provision or portion of
         this Agreement shall be determined to be invalid or unenforceable, the
         parties will negotiate in good faith to replace such provision with
         another provision that will be valid or enforceable and that is as
         close as practicable to the provision held invalid or unenforceable.

                  20. MODIFICATION. No modification, amendment, or waiver of any
of the provisions of the Agreement shall be effective unless in writing,
specifically referring hereto, and signed by both parties.

                  21. WAIVER OF BREACH. The failure at any time to enforce any
of the provisions of this Agreement or to require

                                       13
<PAGE>

performance by the other party of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall
in no way be construed to be a waiver of such provisions or to affect either the
validity of this Agreement or any part of this Agreement or the right of either
party thereafter to enforce each and every provision of this Agreement in
accordance with the terms hereof.

                  22. GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement has been made in and shall
be governed and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Ohio.

                  23. GROSS-UP OF PAYMENTS DEEMED TO BE EXCESS PARACHUTE
PAYMENTS.

                           (a) The Company and Employee acknowledge that,
         following a Change of Control, one or more payments or distributions to
         be made by the Company to or for the benefit of Employee (whether paid
         or payable or distributed or distributable pursuant to the terms of
         this Agreement, under some other plan, agreement, or arrangement, or
         otherwise) (a "Payment") may be determined to be an "excess parachute
         payment" that is not deductible by the Company for Federal income tax
         purposes and with respect to which Employee will be subject to an
         excise tax because of Sections 280G and 4999, respectively, of the
         Internal Revenue Code (hereinafter referred to respectively as "Section
         280G" and "Section 4999"). If Employee's employment is terminated after
         a Change of Control occurs, the Accounting Firm, which, subject to any
         inconsistent position asserted by the Internal Revenue Service, shall
         make all determinations required to be made under this Paragraph 23,
         shall determine whether any Payment would be an excess parachute
         payment and shall communicate its determination, together with detailed
         supporting calculations, to the Company and to Employee within 30 days
         after the date on which Employee's employment with the Company
         terminates or such earlier time as is requested by the Company. The
         Company and Employee shall cooperate with each other and the Accounting
         Firm and shall provide necessary information so that the Accounting
         Firm may make all such determinations. The Company shall pay all of the
         fees of the Accounting Firm for services performed by the Accounting
         Firm as contemplated in this Paragraph 23.

                           (b) If the Accounting Firm determines that any
         Payment gives rise, directly or indirectly, to liability on the part of
         Employee for excise tax under Section 4999 (and/or any penalties and/or
         interest with respect to any

                                       14
<PAGE>

         such excise tax), the Company shall make additional cash payments to
         Employee, from time to time and at the same time as any Payment
         constituting an excess parachute payment is paid or provided to
         Employee, in such amounts as are necessary to put Employee in the same
         position, after payment of all federal, state, and local taxes (whether
         income taxes, excise taxes under Section 4999 or otherwise, or other
         taxes) and any and all penalties and interest with respect to any such
         excise tax, as Employee would have been in after payment of all
         federal, state, and local income taxes if the Payments had not given
         rise to an excise tax under Section 4999 and no such penalties or
         interest had been imposed.

                           (c) If the Internal Revenue Service determines that
         any Payment gives rise, directly or indirectly, to liability on the
         part of Employee for excise tax under Section 4999 (and/or any
         penalties and/or interest with respect to any such excise tax) in
         excess of the amount, if any, previously determined by the Accounting
         Firm, the Company shall make further additional cash payments to
         Employee not later than the due date of any payment indicated by the
         Internal Revenue Service with respect to these matters, in such amounts
         as are necessary to put Employee in the same position, after payment of
         all federal, state, and local taxes (whether income taxes, excise taxes
         under Section 4999 or otherwise, or other taxes) and any and all
         penalties and interest with respect to any such excise tax, as Employee
         would have been in after payment of all federal, state, and local
         income taxes if the Payments had not given rise to an excise tax under
         Section 4999 and no such penalties or interest had been imposed.

                           (d) If the Company desires to contest any
         determination by the Internal Revenue Service with respect to the
         amount of excise tax under Section 4999, Employee shall, upon receipt
         from the Company of an unconditional written undertaking to indemnify
         and hold Employee harmless (on an after tax basis) from any and all
         adverse consequences that might arise from the contesting of that
         determination, cooperate with the Company in that contest at the
         Company's sole expense. Nothing in this Paragraph 23(d) shall require
         Employee to incur any expense other than expenses with respect to which
         the Company has paid to Employee sufficient sums so that after the
         payment of the expense by Employee and taking into account the payment
         by the Company with respect to that expense and any and all taxes that
         may be imposed upon Employee as a result of his receipt of that
         payment, the net effect is no cost to Employee. Nothing in this
         Paragraph 23(d) shall require Employee to extend the statute of
         limitations with respect

                                       15
<PAGE>

         to any item or issue in his tax returns other than, exclusively, the
         excise tax under Section 4999. If, as the result of the contest of any
         assertion by the Internal Revenue Service with respect to excise tax
         under Section 4999, Employee receives a refund of a Section 4999 excise
         tax previously paid and/or any interest with respect thereto, Employee
         shall promptly pay to the Company such amount as will leave Employee,
         net of the repayment and all tax effects, in the same position, after
         all taxes and interest, that he would have been in if the refunded
         excise tax had never been paid.

                           (e) For purposes of this Paragraph 23, the term
         "Accounting Firm" means the independent auditors of the Company for the
         fiscal year preceding the year in which the earlier of (i) the date of
         termination of Employee's employment with the Company, or (ii) the
         year, if any, in which occurred the first Change of Control occurring
         after the date of this Agreement, and such firm's successor or
         successors; provided, however, if such firm is unable or unwilling to
         serve and perform in the capacity contemplated by this Agreement, the
         Company shall select another national accounting firm of recognized
         standing to serve and perform in that capacity under this Agreement,
         except that such other accounting firm shall not be the then
         independent auditors for the Company or any of its affiliates (as
         defined in Rule 12b-2 promulgated under the Exchange Act).

                  IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company and Employee have executed
this Agreement on the day and year first above written.

                                       NORDSON CORPORATION

                                       By:_________________________________
                                            Thomas L. Moorhead

                                       Title: Vice President, Law and
                                              Assistant Secretary

                                       Employee:___________________________
                                                Edward P. Campbell

                                       16
<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBIT A
                                  COMPANY PLANS

                  1. The Nordson Corporation 1995 Management Incentive
Compensation Plan;

                  2. The Nordson Corporation 1993 Long-Term Performance Plan;

                  3. The Nordson Corporation Salaried Employees Pension Plan
(the "Salaried Plan");

                  4. Nordson Corporation Officers' Deferred Compensation Plan;

                  5. The Nordson Corporation Excess Defined Benefit Pension Plan
and the Excess Defined Contribution Retirement Plan (the "Excess Benefit
Plans");

                  6. The Nordson Corporation Employees' Savings Trust Plan
(NEST);

                  7. The Nordson Corporation Non-Union Employees Stock Ownership
Plan;

                  8. The Nordson Corporation Salaried Employees' Health Plan;

                  9. The Nordson Corporation Prescription Drug Plan;

                  10. The Nordson Corporation Short Term and Long Term
Disability Plans;

                  11. The Nordson Corporation Employees' Dental Expense Plan;

                  12. The Nordson Corporation Group Life Insurance
Plan-Salaried;

                  13. The Nordson Corporation Group Travel Accident Plan;

                  14. The Company's car allowance Plan;

                  15. Nordson's policy of reimbursement for club dues, airline
travel clubs, and the like.

                                       17

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