Document:

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                              THE HOME DEPOT, INC.

                              DEFERRED STOCK UNITS

                               PLAN AND AGREEMENT

         THIS DEFERRED STOCK UNITS PLAN AND AGREEMENT evidences that, subject
to the following terms and conditions, on May 31, 2001 (the "Grant Date"), The
Home Depot, Inc., a Delaware Corporation, (the "Company") granted to Dennis M.
Donovan (the "Executive") an award of deferred stock units corresponding to
three hundred twenty-eight thousand eight hundred twenty-one (328,821) shares
of Common Stock, $.05 par value ("Common Stock"), of the Company (each a
"Deferred Stock Unit"):

         1.       DEFINITIONS. Unless otherwise noted, all terms have the same
meaning as set forth in the Employment Agreement between Dennis M. Donovan and
The Home Depot, Inc., dated March 16, 2001 (the "Employment Agreement").

         2.       DEFERRED STOCK UNITS

         (a)      VESTING SCHEDULE; ISSUANCE OF SHARES; DEFERRAL. The award
shall vest in equal one-third (1/3) tranches of one hundred nine thousand six
hundred seven (109,607) units on each of the first, third and fifth
anniversaries of the Employment Date, provided that each tranche shall vest
only if the Executive is employed by the Company on that tranche's vesting
date, except as otherwise provided in the Employment Agreement. On the April 3
following the fifth anniversary of the Employment Date one (1) share of Common
Stock for each deferrable restricted stock unit shall be distributed to the
Executive, unless such distribution is further deferred by the Executive by
December 31, 2005 or accelerated pursuant to the Employment Agreement. Unless
otherwise agreed to by the Executive and the Company, the Company shall, within
ten (10) days after termination of the Executive's employment for any reason,
deliver to the Executive stock certificates representing one (1) share of
Common Stock for each vested deferred restricted stock unit for which shares
have not yet been distributed to the Executive. This award shall be subject to
equitable adjustment for stock splits, stock dividends, and other similar
changes in the Company's capitalization after the Effective Date.

         (b)      TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT; CHANGE IN CONTROL. If (i) the
Company shall terminate Executive's employment other than for Cause, (ii) the
Executive shall terminate his employment for Good Reason (or for any reason
within the twelve-month period following a Change in Control), or (iii) the
Executive's employment terminates due to death or he is terminated by the
Company due to Disability, or (iv) a Change in Control occurs while Executive
is employed by the Company, all Deferred Stock Units that have not yet vested
shall immediately 100% vest.

         (c)      DIVIDEND EQUIVALENTS. The Executive shall receive a dividend
equivalent cash payment on all vested deferred restricted stock units when
dividends are paid to shareholders of the Company.

         3.       ADMINISTRATION. This Plan and Agreement shall be administered
by the Committee, in a manner consistent with the terms and conditions of the
Employment Agreement.
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         4.       TRANSFERABILITY. Executive may transfer the Deferred Stock
Units, in whole or in part, as he desires, including without limitation, to a
"Family Member," a trust for the exclusive benefit of Executive and/or Family
Members, a partnership or other entity in which all the beneficial owners are
Executive and/or Family Members, or any other entity affiliated with Executive,
provided that Executive receives the prior written consent of the Company.
Subsequent transfers of the Deferred Stock Units shall be prohibited except in
accordance with this Paragraph 4. All terms and conditions of the Deferred
Stock Units, including without limitation provisions relating to the
termination of Executive's employment with the Company, shall continue to apply
following a transfer made in accordance with this Paragraph 4.

         5.       ADJUSTMENTS. The number of shares covered by the Deferred
Stock Units and, if applicable, the kind of shares covered by the Deferred
Stock Units shall be adjusted to reflect any stock dividend, stock split, or
combination of shares of the Company's Common Stock. In addition, the Committee
may make or provide for such adjustment in the number of shares covered by the
Deferred Stock Units, and the kind of shares covered by the Deferred Stock
Units, as the Committee determines to be equitably required in order to prevent
dilution of Executive's rights that otherwise would result from a transaction
event, including without limitation (a) any exchange of shares of the Company's
Common Stock, recapitalization or other change in the capital structure of the
Company, (b) any merger, consolidation, spin-off, spin-out, split-off,
split-up, reorganization, partial or complete liquidation or other distribution
of assets (other than a normal cash dividend), issuance of rights or warrants
to purchase securities, or (c) any other corporate transaction or event having
an effect similar to any of the foregoing.

         6.       TAXES. To the extent that the Company is required to withhold
federal, state, local or foreign taxes in connection with any benefit realized
by Executive or any other person under this Plan and Agreement, in accordance
with Section 13 of the Employment Agreement, it shall be a condition to the
realization of such benefit that the Executive or such other person make
arrangements satisfactory to the Company for payment of all such taxes required
to be withheld, which arrangements may include Executive's delivery to the
Company of a check equal to the amount of such taxes. Upon the payment of any
dividend equivalents payable pursuant to Paragraph 2(c) above, Executive agrees
that the Company shall deduct therefrom such amounts as are necessary to
satisfy applicable withholding requirements.

         7.       NO IMPACT ON OTHER BENEFITS AND EMPLOYMENT. The terms of
Executive's employment shall be at all times governed by the Employment
Agreement and this Plan and Agreement shall not diminish any right conferred
therein nor interfere with the rights set forth therein. Nothing herein
contained shall affect Executive's right to participate in and receive benefits
under and in accordance with the then current provisions of any pension,
insurance or other employment plan or program of the Company or any of its
subsidiaries nor constitute an obligation for continued employment.

         8.       ARBITRATION GOVERNING LAW. Any disputes or controversies
arising out of this Plan and Agreement shall be resolved by Arbitration, in
accordance with Section 14 of the Employment Agreement. This Plan and Agreement
shall be governed by and will be determined in accordance with the laws of the
State of Georgia in accordance with Section 19.1 of the Employment Agreement.

         9.       AMENDMENT. This Plan and Agreement may be amended only in
writing signed by the Company and Executive.

         Please indicate your understanding and acceptance of the foregoing by
signing and returning a copy of this Plan and Agreement.

                                       2
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                                                THE HOME DEPOT, INC.

                                                /s/ Robert L. Nardelli
                                                ---------------------------
                                                By:      Robert L. Nardelli
                                                Chairman of the Board

         I hereby acknowledge receipt of the Deferred Stock Units granted on
May 31, 2001, which have been granted to me under the foregoing terms and
conditions.

                                                EXECUTIVE

                                                /s/ Dennis M. Donovan
                                                ---------------------------
                                                Dennis M. Donovan

                                                Date:  4/18/02
                                                       --------------------

                                       3<PAGE>
                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.26

                                PROMISSORY NOTE

$3,000,000.00     June 7, 2001

         FOR VALUE RECEIVED, Dennis M. Donovan (the "Borrower"), promises to
pay to The Home Depot, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("Lender"), or its
assignee, the principal sum of Three Million Dollars ($3,000,000.00) with
interest from the date hereof at a rate of five and eight tenths percent (5.8%)
per annum, compounded annually, on the unpaid balance of such principal sum.
Such principal and interest shall be due and payable and/or forgiven (as the
case may be) in accordance with subsection 5.4.5 of that certain Employment
Agreement effective as of March 16, 2001, by and between the Borrower and the
Lender (the "Employment Agreement").

         If the Borrower's employment with the Company is terminated prior to
payment in full of this Note, either by the Company for Cause (as defined in
the Employment Agreement) or by the Executive without Good Reason (as defined
in the Employment Agreement) this note shall be immediately due and payable in
accordance with subsection 5.4.5 of the Employment Agreement.

         All payments by the Borrower under this Note shall be in immediately
available funds. This Note may be prepaid in whole or in part at any time or
from time to time. Any such prepayment shall be without premium or penalty.

         If any amount due under this Note becomes due and payable on a
Saturday, Sunday, or public or other banking holiday under the laws of the
State of Georgia, the due date thereof shall be extended to the next succeeding
business day.

         Upon the failure to pay principal under this Note when due, which
shall remain unremedied for twenty (20) days following the date when principal
was due hereunder; then, the Lender may declare, by written notice of default
given to the Borrower, the entire principal amount of this Note to be due and
payable, whereupon if such default remains unremedied for five (5) days after
borrower's receipt of such notice, the entire principal amount of this Note
outstanding shall become due and payable without presentment, demand, protest,
notice of dishonor and all other demands and notices of any kind.

         Should suit be commenced to collect any sums due under this Note, such
sum as the Court may deem reasonable shall be added hereto as attorneys' fees.

         No delay or failure by the Lender in the exercise of any right or
remedy shall constitute a waiver thereof, and no single or partial exercise by
the Lender of any right or remedy shall preclude other or future exercise
thereof or the exercise of any other right or remedy.

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         None of the terms or provisions of this Note may be excluded, modified
or amended except by a written instrument duly executed on behalf of the holder
expressly referring to this Note and setting forth the provision so excluded,
modified, or amended.

         As used herein, the Borrower includes the successors, assigns and
distributees of the undersigned.

         As used herein, the Lender includes the successors, assigns and
distributees of the Lender, as well as a holder in due course of this Note.

         THIS NOTE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF GEORGIA (WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICT OF
LAWS PRINCIPLES).

                           /s/ Dennis M. Donovan
                           ----------------------------------------------------
                           Dennis M. Donovan

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