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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)  

ý

QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended October 31, 2004

-OR-

o

TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from                             to                              

Commission file number 1-8207

THE HOME DEPOT, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware   95-3261426
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
  (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)

2455 Paces Ferry Road N.W. Atlanta, Georgia

 

30339
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

(770) 433-8211
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)

        Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes   ý     No   o

        Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes   ý     No   o

APPLICABLE ONLY TO CORPORATE ISSUERS:

        Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer's classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.

$.05 par value 2,195,954,729 Shares, as of November 26, 2004





THE HOME DEPOT, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

INDEX TO FORM 10-Q

 
   
  Page
Part I. Financial Information    

Item 1.

 

Financial Statements

 

 

 

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS—
    Three and Nine Months Ended October 31, 2004 and November 2, 2003

 

3

 

 

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS—
    As of October 31, 2004 and February 1, 2004

 

4

 

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS—
    Nine Months Ended October 31, 2004 and November 2, 2003

 

5

 

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME—
    Three and Nine Months Ended October 31, 2004 and November 2, 2003

 

6

 

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

7 - 8

 

 

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

9

Item 2.

 

Management's Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations and Financial Condition

 

10 - 16

Item 3.

 

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

 

16

Item 4.

 

Controls and Procedures

 

17

Part II. Other Information

 

 

Item 2.

 

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

 

18

Item 6.

 

Exhibits

 

19

Signatures

 

20

Index to Exhibits

 

21

Page 2



PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements

THE HOME DEPOT, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS
(Unaudited)

(In Millions, Except Per Share Data)

 
  Three Months Ended
  Nine Months Ended
 
 
  October 31,
2004

  November 2,
2003

  October 31,
2004

  November 2,
2003

 
NET SALES   $ 18,772   $ 16,598   $ 56,282   $ 49,691  
Cost of Merchandise Sold     12,520     11,405     37,601     34,064  
   
 
 
 
 
  GROSS PROFIT     6,252     5,193     18,681     15,627  

Operating Expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
  Selling and Store Operating     3,826     3,092     11,406     9,449  
  General and Administrative     370     278     1,016     841  
   
 
 
 
 
    Total Operating Expenses     4,196     3,370     12,422     10,290  
   
 
 
 
 
 
OPERATING INCOME

 

 

2,056

 

 

1,823

 

 

6,259

 

 

5,337

 

Interest Income (Expense):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
  Interest and Investment Income     22     14     46     41  
  Interest Expense     (18 )   (14 )   (49 )   (48 )
   
 
 
 
 
    Interest, net     4         (3 )   (7 )
   
 
 
 
 
 
EARNINGS BEFORE PROVISION FOR
    INCOME TAXES

 

 

2,060

 

 

1,823

 

 

6,256

 

 

5,330

 
Provision for Income Taxes     743     676     2,296     1,977  
   
 
 
 
 
  NET EARNINGS   $ 1,317   $ 1,147   $ 3,960   $ 3,353  
   
 
 
 
 
Weighted Average Common Shares     2,191     2,280     2,213     2,289  
BASIC EARNINGS PER SHARE   $ 0.60   $ 0.50   $ 1.79   $ 1.46  
   
 
 
 
 
Diluted Weighted Average Common Shares     2,199     2,287     2,221     2,295  
DILUTED EARNINGS PER SHARE   $ 0.60   $ 0.50   $ 1.78   $ 1.46  
   
 
 
 
 
Dividends Declared Per Share   $ 0.085   $ 0.07   $ 0.255   $ 0.20  
   
 
 
 
 

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

Page 3


THE HOME DEPOT, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Unaudited)

(In Millions, Except Per Share Data)

 
  October 31,
2004

  February 1,
2004

 
ASSETS              
Current Assets:              
  Cash and Cash Equivalents   $ 3,375   $ 2,826  
  Short-Term Investments         26  
  Receivables, net     1,822     1,097  
  Merchandise Inventories     10,203     9,076  
  Other Current Assets     327     303  
   
 
 
    Total Current Assets     15,727     13,328  
   
 
 

Property and Equipment, at cost

 

 

27,472

 

 

24,594

 
Less Accumulated Depreciation and Amortization     5,496     4,531  
   
 
 
  Net Property and Equipment     21,976     20,063  
   
 
 
Notes Receivable     356     84  
Cost in Excess of the Fair Value of Net Assets Acquired     1,388     833  
Other Assets     184     129  
   
 
 
    Total Assets   $ 39,631   $ 34,437  
   
 
 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY              
Current Liabilities:              
  Accounts Payable   $ 7,159   $ 5,159  
  Accrued Salaries and Related Expenses     1,106     801  
  Sales Taxes Payable     486     419  
  Deferred Revenue     1,565     1,281  
  Income Taxes Payable     47     175  
  Current Installments of Long-Term Debt     12     509  
  Other Accrued Expenses     1,436     1,210  
   
 
 
    Total Current Liabilities     11,811     9,554  
   
 
 

Long-Term Debt, excluding current installments

 

 

2,151

 

 

856

 
Deferred Income Taxes     1,213     967  
Other Long-Term Liabilities     709     653  

STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
  Common Stock, par value $0.05, authorized: 10,000 shares, issued and
    outstanding 2,381 shares at October 31, 2004 and 2,373 shares at
    February 1, 2004
    119     119  
  Paid-In Capital     6,474     6,184  
  Retained Earnings     23,108     19,680  
  Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income     236     90  
  Unearned Compensation     (114 )   (76 )
  Treasury Stock at cost, 186 shares at October 31, 2004 and 116 shares at
    February 1, 2004
    (6,076 )   (3,590 )
   
 
 
    Total Stockholders' Equity     23,747     22,407  
   
 
 
    Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity   $ 39,631   $ 34,437  
   
 
 

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

Page 4


THE HOME DEPOT, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited)

(In Millions)

 
  Nine Months Ended
 
 
  October 31,
2004

  November 2,
2003

 
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES              
Net Earnings   $ 3,960   $ 3,353  
  Reconciliation of Net Earnings to Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities:              
    Depreciation and Amortization     971     786  
    Increase in Receivables, net     (580 )   (363 )
    Increase in Merchandise Inventories     (964 )   (615 )
    Increase in Accounts Payable and Accrued Expenses     2,396     2,148  
    Increase in Deferred Revenue     282     411  
    (Decrease) Increase in Income Taxes Payable     (115 )   313  
    Increase in Deferred Income Taxes     223     5  
    Other     202     103  
   
 
 
      Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities     6,375     6,141  
   
 
 

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Capital Expenditures     (2,778 )   (2,508 )
Payments for Businesses Acquired, net     (727 )   (15 )
Proceeds from Sales of Property and Equipment     71     220  
Purchases of Investments     (27 )   (84 )
Proceeds from Maturities of Investments     38     197  
   
 
 
      Net Cash Used in Investing Activities     (3,423 )   (2,190 )
   
 
 

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Proceeds from Long-Term Borrowings, net of discount     995      
Repayments of Long-Term Debt     (507 )   (7 )
Proceeds from Sale of Common Stock, net     135     113  
Repurchase of Common Stock     (2,522 )   (891 )
Cash Dividends Paid to Stockholders     (532 )   (436 )
   
 
 
      Net Cash Used in Financing Activities     (2,431 )   (1,221 )
   
 
 

Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents from Operations

 

 

521

 

 

2,730

 
Effect of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash and Cash Equivalents     28     26  
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Period     2,826     2,188  
   
 
 
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period   $ 3,375   $ 4,944  
   
 
 

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

Page 5


THE HOME DEPOT, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(Unaudited)

(In Millions)

 
  Three Months Ended
  Nine Months Ended
 
  October 31,
2004

  November 2,
2003

  October 31,
2004

  November 2,
2003

Net Earnings   $ 1,317   $ 1,147   $ 3,960   $ 3,353
Other Comprehensive Income: (1)                        
  Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments     157     81     147     187
  Unrealized Gain on Investments     (2 )       (1 )  
   
 
 
 
  Total Other Comprehensive Income     155     81     146     187
   
 
 
 
Comprehensive Income   $ 1,472   $ 1,228   $ 4,106   $ 3,540
   
 
 
 

(1)
Components of comprehensive income are reported net of related taxes.

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

Page 6


THE HOME DEPOT, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)

1.     SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

         Basis of Presentation —The accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with the instructions to Form 10-Q and do not include all of the information and footnotes required by generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. These statements should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and notes thereto included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended February 1, 2004, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (File No. 1-8207).

         Stock-Based Compensation —Effective February 3, 2003, the Company adopted the fair value method of recording stock-based compensation expense in accordance with SFAS No. 123, "Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation" ("SFAS 123"). The Company selected the prospective method of adoption as described in SFAS No. 148, "Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation—Transition and Disclosure" and accordingly stock-based compensation expense was recognized for stock options granted, modified or settled and expense related to the Employee Stock Purchase Plan ("ESPP") after the beginning of fiscal 2003. The fair value of stock options and ESPP as determined on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model is being expensed over the vesting period of the related stock options and ESPP.

        The following table illustrates the effect on net earnings and earnings per share as if the Company had applied the fair value recognition provisions of SFAS 123 to all stock-based compensation in each period (amounts in millions, except per share data):

 
  Three Months Ended
  Nine Months Ended
 
 
  October 31,
2004

  November 2,
2003

  October 31,
2004

  November 2,
2003

 
Net earnings, as reported   $ 1,317   $ 1,147   $ 3,960   $ 3,353  

Add: Stock-based employee compensation expense
    included in reported net earnings, net of
    related tax effects

 

 

21

 

 

11

 

 

59

 

 

24

 

Deduct: Total stock-based compensation expense
    determined under the fair value based method
    for all awards, net of related tax effects

 

 

(60

)

 

(78

)

 

(179

)

 

(205

)
   
 
 
 
 
Pro forma net earnings   $ 1,278   $ 1,080   $ 3,840   $ 3,172  
   
 
 
 
 
Earnings per share:                          
  Basic—as reported   $ 0.60   $ 0.50   $ 1.79   $ 1.46  
  Basic—pro forma   $ 0.58   $ 0.47   $ 1.74   $ 1.39  
  Diluted—as reported   $ 0.60   $ 0.50   $ 1.78   $ 1.46  
  Diluted—pro forma   $ 0.58   $ 0.47   $ 1.73   $ 1.38  

Service Revenues

        Net sales include service revenues generated through a variety of installation and home maintenance programs. In these programs, the customer selects and purchases material for a project and the Company provides or arranges professional installation. These programs are offered through

Page 7



Home Depot and Expo Design Center stores and focus primarily on providing products and services to our do-it-for-me customers. We also arrange for the provision of flooring, countertop and window coverings installation services to homebuilders through HD Builder Solutions Group, Inc. Under certain programs, when the Company provides or arranges the installation of a project and the subcontractor provides material as part of the installation, both the material and labor are included in service revenues. The Company recognizes this revenue when the service for the customer is completed. All payments received prior to the completion of services are recorded as deferred revenue in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets. Net service revenues, including the impact of deferred revenue, were $957 million and $2.6 billion for the three and nine months ended October 31, 2004, respectively, compared to $762 million and $2.0 billion for the three and nine months ended November 2, 2003, respectively.

Valuation Reserves

        As of the end of the third quarter of fiscal 2004 and the end of fiscal year 2003, the valuation allowances for merchandise inventories and uncollectible accounts receivable were not material.

2.     BASIC AND DILUTED WEIGHTED AVERAGE COMMON SHARES

        The reconciliation of basic to diluted weighted average common shares for the three and nine months ended October 31, 2004 and November 2, 2003 was as follows (amounts in millions):

 
  Three Months Ended
  Nine Months Ended
 
  October 31,
2004

  November 2,
2003

  October 31,
2004

  November 2,
2003

Weighted average common shares   2,191   2,280   2,213   2,289
Effect of potentially dilutive securities:                
  Stock Plans   8   7   8   6
   
 
 
 
Diluted weighted average common shares   2,199   2,287   2,221   2,295
   
 
 
 

        Stock plans include shares granted under the Company's ESPP and stock incentive plans, as well as shares issued for deferred compensation stock plans. Options to purchase 44.8 million and 64.8 million shares of common stock for the three months ended October 31, 2004 and November 2, 2003, respectively, were excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share because their effect would have been anti-dilutive. Options to purchase 57.7 million and 73.4 million shares of common stock for the nine months ended October 31, 2004 and November 2, 2003, respectively, were excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share because their effect would have been anti-dilutive.

3.     LONG-TERM DEBT

        In September 2004, the Company issued $1 billion of 3.75% Senior Notes due September 15, 2009 ("Senior Notes") at a discount of $5.0 million with interest payable semi-annually on March 15 and September 15 of each year. The net proceeds of $995 million were used in part for the repayment of the Company's outstanding 6 1 / 2 % Senior Notes due September 2004 in the aggregate principal amount of $500 million. The remainder of the net proceeds from the issuance of the Senior Notes will be used for general corporate purposes. The $5.0 million discount associated with the issuance is being amortized over the term of the Senior Notes using the effective interest rate method. Issuance costs were $6.6 million and are being amortized over the term of the Senior Notes using the straight line method. The Senior Notes may be redeemed by the Company at any time, in whole or in part, at a redemption price plus accrued interest up to the redemption date. The redemption price is equal to the greater of (1) 100% of the principal amount of the Senior Notes to be redeemed, or (2) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest to maturity. The Company is generally not limited under this indenture in its ability to incur additional indebtedness nor required to maintain financial ratios or specified levels of net worth or liquidity. However, the indenture governing the Senior Notes contains various restrictive covenants, none of which is expected to impact our liquidity or capital resources.

Page 8


THE HOME DEPOT, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

The Board of Directors and Stockholders
The Home Depot, Inc.:

        We have reviewed the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheet of The Home Depot, Inc. and subsidiaries as of October 31, 2004, and the related Consolidated Statements of Earnings, and Comprehensive Income for the three- and nine-month periods ended October 31, 2004 and November 2, 2003, and the related Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows for the nine-month periods ended October 31, 2004 and November 2, 2003. These Consolidated Financial Statements are the responsibility of the Company's management.

        We conducted our review in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). A review of interim financial information consists principally of applying analytical procedures to financial data, and making inquiries of persons responsible for financial and accounting matters. It is substantially less in scope than an audit conducted in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the objective of which is the expression of an opinion regarding the financial statements taken as a whole. Accordingly, we do not express such an opinion.

        Based on our reviews, we are not aware of any material modifications that should be made to the Consolidated Financial Statements referred to above for them to be in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

        We have previously audited, in accordance with standards established by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the Consolidated Balance Sheet of The Home Depot, Inc. and subsidiaries as of February 1, 2004, and the related Consolidated Statements of Earnings, Stockholders' Equity and Comprehensive Income, and Cash Flows for the years then ended (not presented herein); and in our report dated February 23, 2004, we expressed an unqualified opinion on those Consolidated Financial Statements. In our opinion, the information set forth in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheet as of February 1, 2004, is fairly presented, in all material respects, in relation to the Consolidated Balance Sheet from which it has been derived.


/s/  
KPMG LLP       
KPMG LLP
Atlanta, Georgia

 

 

November 15, 2004

Page 9


THE HOME DEPOT, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES


Item 2. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION

SELECTED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS DATA AND EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

        We reported net earnings of $1.3 billion and diluted earnings per share of $0.60 for the third quarter of fiscal 2004 compared to net earnings of $1.1 billion and diluted earnings per share of $0.50 for the third quarter of fiscal 2003. For the first nine months of fiscal 2004, we reported net earnings of $4.0 billion and diluted earnings per share of $1.78 compared to net earnings of $3.4 billion and diluted earnings per share of $1.46 for the first nine months of fiscal 2003. Excluding the impact of the adoption of Emerging Issues Task Force 02-16, "Accounting by a Customer (Including a Reseller) for Certain Consideration Received from a Vendor" ("EITF 02-16") as discussed in detail in the following section, "Impact of the Adoption of EITF 02-16," diluted earnings per share would have been $1.83 for the first nine months of fiscal 2004.

        Net sales for the third quarter of fiscal 2004 increased 13.1% over the third quarter of fiscal 2003 to $18.8 billion. For the first nine months of fiscal 2004, net sales increased 13.3% over the first nine months of fiscal 2003 to $56.3 billion. Our growth in net sales for the third quarter and first nine months of fiscal 2004 was driven by an increase in comparable store sales of 4.5% and 5.6%, respectively, as well as sales from stores that have been open for less than one year and sales from our newly acquired companies. Our average ticket was $55.53 for the third quarter of fiscal 2004, a company record, and increased 6.6% over the third quarter of fiscal 2003. For the first nine months of fiscal 2004, our average ticket was $55.11, an increase of 7.4% over the comparable period for fiscal 2003.

        Our financial condition remains strong as evidenced by our $3.4 billion in cash at October 31, 2004. At the end of the third quarter of fiscal 2004, our return on invested capital (computed on beginning long-term debt and equity for the trailing four quarters) was 21.4% compared to 18.8% for the third quarter of fiscal 2003, a 260 basis point improvement. During the third quarter of fiscal 2004, we opened 38 new stores, and at October 31, 2004, we operated 1,826 stores compared to 1,643 at the end of the third quarter of fiscal 2003.

        We believe the selected sales data, the percentage relationship between net sales and major categories in the Consolidated Statements of Earnings and the percentage change in the dollar amounts of each of the items presented as follows is important in evaluating the performance of our business operations. We operate in one business segment and believe the information presented in our Management's Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations and Financial Condition provides an understanding of our business segment, our operations and our financial condition.

Page 10


THE HOME DEPOT, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
OF RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION

 
  % of Net Sales
   
   
 
 
  % Increase
(Decrease) in Dollar
Amounts

 
 
  Three Months Ended
  Nine Months Ended
 
 
  October 31,
2004

  November 2,
2003

  October 31,
2004

  November 2,
2003

  Three
Months

  Nine
Months

 
NET SALES     100.0 %   100.0 %   100.0 %   100.0 % 13.1 % 13.3 %

GROSS PROFIT

 

 

33.3

 

 

31.3

 

 

33.2

 

 

31.4

 

20.4

 

19.5

 

Operating Expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
  Selling and Store Operating     20.3     18.6     20.3     19.0   23.7   20.7  
  General and Administrative     2.0     1.7     1.8     1.7   33.1   20.8  
   
 
 
 
         
    Total Operating Expenses     22.3     20.3     22.1     20.7   24.5   20.7  
   
 
 
 
         
   
OPERATING INCOME

 

 

11.0

 

 

11.0

 

 

11.1

 

 

10.7

 

12.8

 

17.3

 

Interest Income (Expense):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
  Interest and Investment Income     0.1     0.1     0.1     0.1   57.1   12.2  
  Interest Expense     (0.1 )   (0.1 )   (0.1 )   (0.1 ) 28.6   2.1  
   
 
 
 
         
    Interest, net     (0.0 )   (0.0 )   (0.0 )   (0.0 ) N/A   (57.1 )
   
 
 
 
         
   
EARNINGS BEFORE PROVISION FOR
    INCOME TAXES

 

 

11.0

 

 

11.0

 

 

11.1

 

 

10.7

 

13.0

 

17.4

 
Provision for Income Taxes     4.0     4.1     4.1     4.0   9.9   16.1  
   
 
 
 
         
   
NET EARNINGS

 

 

7.0

%

 

6.9

%

 

7.0

%

 

6.7

%

14.8

%

18.1

%
   
 
 
 
         

SELECTED SALES DATA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Number of Customer Transactions (in millions) (1)

 

 

324

 

 

313

 

 

999

 

 

959

 

3.5

%

4.2

%
Average Ticket (1)   $ 55.53   $ 52.10   $ 55.11   $ 51.30   6.6   7.4  
Weighted Average Weekly Sales Per
    Operating Store (000's) (1)
  $ 767   $ 775   $ 801   $ 796   (1.0 ) 0.6  
Weighted Average Sales per Square Foot (1)   $ 374.97   $ 375.45   $ 391.59   $ 385.62   (0.1 ) 1.5  
Comparable Store Sales Increase (%) (2)     4.5 %   7.8 %   5.6 %   2.8 % N/A   N/A  

(1)
Excludes all subsidiaries operating under The Home Depot Supply brand (Apex Supply Company, Inc., The Home Depot Supply, Inc., Your Other Warehouse, LLC, White Cap Industries, Inc. and HD Builder Solutions Group, Inc.) since their inclusion may cause distortion of the data presented due to operational differences from our retail stores. The total number of the excluded locations and their total square footage are immaterial to our total number of locations and total square footage.

(2)
Includes net sales at locations open greater than 12 months and net sales of all of the subsidiaries of The Home Depot, Inc. Stores and subsidiaries become comparable on the Monday following the 365 th day of operation.

Page 11


IMPACT OF THE ADOPTION OF EITF 02-16

        In January 2004, the Company adopted EITF 02-16, "Accounting by a Customer (Including a Reseller) for Certain Consideration Received from a Vendor," which states that certain cash consideration received from a vendor is presumed to be a reduction of the prices of the vendor's products or services and should, therefore, be recorded as a reduction of cost of merchandise sold when recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Earnings. The Company receives consideration in the form of advertising co-op allowances that pursuant to EITF 02-16 must be characterized as a reduction of cost of merchandise sold. Prior to the adoption of EITF 02-16 these advertising co-op allowances were offset against advertising expense and resulted in a reduction of selling and store operating expenses. The adoption of EITF 02-16 had no economic impact on the Company.

        The impact of the adoption of EITF 02-16 in the first nine months of fiscal 2004 resulted in a reduction of cost of merchandise sold of $650 million, an increase in selling and store operating expenses of $820 million and a reduction of net earnings of $108 million. The impact on our diluted earnings per share for the first nine months of fiscal 2004 was a decrease of $0.05 per share. There was no material impact on our diluted earnings per share for the third quarter of fiscal 2004. We do not expect any further impact on our diluted earnings per share from the adoption of EITF 02-16.

        The following table reconciles our actual results recorded pursuant to generally accepted accounting principles with the results adjusted to exclude the impact of the adoption of EITF 02-16. The table includes only those line items in the Consolidated Statements of Earnings impacted by the adoption of EITF 02-16. We believe that excluding the impact of EITF 02-16 allows for comparability of our results between periods in order to measure our operating performance. This measure is intended only as supplemental information, and it is not a substitute for net earnings or diluted earnings per share calculated in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (dollars in millions, except per share data).

 
  For Nine Months Ended
 
 
  As Reported
October 31, 2004

  Impact of
EITF 02-16

  As Adjusted
October 31, 2004

  As Reported
November 2, 2003

  % Increase
 
Cost of Merchandise Sold   $ 37,601   $ (650 ) $ 38,251   $ 34,064   12.3 %
Gross Profit     18,681     650     18,031     15,627   15.4  
Selling and Store Operating Expenses     11,406     820     10,586     9,449   12.0  
Operating Income     6,259     (170 )   6,429     5,337   20.5  
Provision for Income Taxes     2,296     (62 )   2,358     1,977   19.3  
Net Earnings     3,960     (108 )   4,068     3,353   21.3  
Diluted Earnings per Share   $ 1.78   $ (0.05 ) $ 1.83   $ 1.46   25.3 %

       

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

        Certain statements herein of The Home Depot's expectations, including but not limited to, statements regarding our estimates and expectations for sales and earnings growth, new store openings, impact of cannibalization, implementation of store initiatives, net earnings performance and the effect of adopting certain accounting standards, constitute "forward-looking statements" as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements are based on currently available operating, financial and competitive information and are subject to various risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from our historical experience and our present expectations. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, fluctuations in and the overall condition of the U.S. economy, stability of costs and availability of sourcing channels, conditions affecting new store development, our ability to integrate the businesses we acquire, the risk that the

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cost savings and any revenue synergies from acquisitions may not be fully realized or may take longer to realize than expected, our ability to implement new technologies and processes, our ability to attract, train and retain highly-qualified associates, unanticipated weather conditions and the impact of competition and regulatory and litigation matters. Undue reliance should not be placed on such forward-looking statements, as such statements speak only as of the date on which they are made. Additional information regarding these and other risks and uncertainties is contained in our periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

        Net sales for the third quarter of fiscal 2004 increased 13.1% to $18.8 billion from $16.6 billion for the third quarter of fiscal 2003. For the first nine months of fiscal 2004, sales increased 13.3% to $56.3 billion from $49.7 billion for the comparable period in fiscal 2003. Net sales growth for the third quarter and the first nine months of fiscal 2004 was driven by an increase in comparable store sales of 4.5% and 5.6%, respectively, as well as sales from stores open for less than one year and sales from our newly acquired companies. Hurricanes Ivan and Jeanne, the two most powerful hurricanes in the string of storms to hit the United States, increased our third quarter comparable store sales by approximately 100 basis points. Our average ticket for the third quarter of fiscal 2004 increased 6.6% to $55.53, the highest average ticket in our company history, and increased 7.4% to $55.11 for the first nine months of fiscal 2004. While commodity price inflation did impact average ticket, we experienced average ticket growth across the store for both periods. For the third quarter of fiscal 2004, average ticket increased in 10 of 11 selling departments. For the first nine months of fiscal 2004, average ticket increased in all selling departments. We plan to open a total of 185 new stores during fiscal 2004 and expect fiscal 2004 sales growth of 10% to 12% driven by comparable store sales, new store openings, sales from certain stores opened during fiscal 2003 and sales from our newly acquired companies.

        The increase in comparable store sales for the third quarter and first nine months of fiscal 2004 reflects a number of factors. Comparable store sales for the third quarter of fiscal 2004 were positive in 9 of 11 selling departments and for the first nine months of fiscal 2004, comparable store sales were positive in 10 of 11 selling departments. For the third quarter and first nine months of fiscal 2004, we experienced comparable store sales increases in building materials due in part to the impact of several hurricanes in the Southeastern United States. For the third quarter of fiscal 2004, building materials had the strongest comparable store sales increase, benefiting from strong sales in gypsum, concrete, roofing and other products. Commodity price increases in lumber contributed 88 and 157 basis points to comparable store sales for the third quarter and first nine months of fiscal 2004, respectively. For the third quarter and first nine months of fiscal 2004, strong sales of generators, fasteners and portable power equipment contributed to strong comparable store sales in hardware. For the third quarter and first nine months of fiscal 2004, we also experienced strength in Kitchen and Bath, driven by appliances, bath fixtures, vanities and sinks.

        Our comparable store sales growth reflects the impact of cannibalization. In order to meet our customer service objectives, we strategically open stores near market areas served by existing stores ("cannibalize") to enhance service levels, gain incremental sales and increase market penetration. Our new stores cannibalized approximately 16% of our existing stores as of the third quarter of fiscal 2004 and we estimate that store cannibalization reduced the third quarter of fiscal 2004 comparable store sales by approximately 2%. Additionally, we believe that our sales performance has been, and could continue to be, negatively impacted by the level of competition that we encounter in various markets. However, due to the highly fragmented U.S. home improvement industry, in which we estimate our market share is approximately 11%, measuring the impact on our sales by our competitors is extremely difficult.

        The growth in net sales for the third quarter and first nine months of fiscal 2004 reflects growth in net service revenues, which increased 25.7% to $957 million from $762 million for the third quarter of

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fiscal 2004 and increased 30.7% to $2.6 billion from $2.0 billion for the first nine months of fiscal 2003. The growth in service revenues in both periods was driven by strength in a number of areas including carpet, countertops, kitchens and windows. In addition, strong sales in HVAC contributed to the growth in service revenues for the first nine months of fiscal 2004.

        In the third quarter of fiscal 2004, we continued the implementation or expansion of a number of in-store initiatives. We believe these initiatives enhance our customers' shopping experience. The professional business customer ("Pro") initiative adds programs to our stores like job lot order quantities of merchandise and a dedicated sales desk for our Pro customer base. The Appliance initiative offers customers an assortment of in-stock name brand appliances, including General Electric® and Maytag®, and offers the ability to special order over 2,300 additional related products through computer kiosks located in our stores. Our Designplace SM initiative offers our design and décor customers personalized service from specially-trained associates and provides distinctive merchandise in an attractive setting. Our Tool Rental Centers, which are located inside our stores, provide a cost efficient way for our do-it-yourself and Pro customers to rent tools to complete home improvement projects.

        The following table provides the number of stores with these initiatives:

 
   
  Nine Months Ended
 
  Fiscal Year
2004
Estimate

  October 31,
2004

  November 2,
2003

Store Count   1,892   1,826   1,643
Initiatives:            
Pro   1,565   1,447   1,335
Appliance   1,776   1,695   1,250
Designplace SM   1,776   1,695   1,432
Tool Rental Centers   1,065   977   749

        Gross profit increased 20.4% to $6.3 billion for the third quarter of fiscal 2004 from $5.2 billion for the third quarter of fiscal 2003. Gross profit increased 19.5% to $18.7 billion for the first nine months of fiscal 2004 from $15.6 billion for the first nine months of fiscal 2003. Gross profit as a percentage of net sales was 33.3% for the third quarter of fiscal 2004 compared to 31.3% for the third quarter of fiscal 2003. For the first nine months of fiscal 2004, gross profit as a percentage of net sales was 33.2% compared with 31.4% for the comparable period of fiscal 2003. The adoption of EITF 02-16 reduced our cost of merchandise sold by co-op advertising allowances of $251 million and $650 million for the third quarter and first nine months of fiscal 2004, respectively. Excluding the impact of the adoption of EITF 02-16, our gross margin would have been 32.0% for both the third quarter and first nine months of fiscal 2004. The gross profit rate increase for both periods, excluding the impact of EITF 02-16, was primarily attributable to lower shrink than we experienced in the comparable periods of fiscal 2003 and a change in the mix of merchandise sold, partially offset by our deferred interest programs, as the cost of these programs is reflected in our gross margin. Our deferred interest programs offer no interest/no payment programs through our private label credit card. These programs deliver long-term benefits including higher average tickets and customer loyalty. For both the third quarter and first nine months of fiscal 2004, penetration of our private label credit sales was 24.1%, an increase compared to penetration of 23.1% and 22.0% for the same periods of fiscal 2003, respectively.

        Selling and store operating expenses increased 23.7% to $3.8 billion for the third quarter of fiscal 2004 from $3.1 billion for the third quarter of fiscal 2003. For the first nine months of fiscal 2004, selling and store operating expenses increased 20.7% to $11.4 billion from $9.4 billion for the first nine months of fiscal 2003. As a percentage of net sales, selling and store operating expenses were 20.3% for the third quarter of fiscal 2004 compared to 18.6% for the same period in fiscal 2003. As

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a percentage of net sales, selling and store operating expenses were 20.3% for the first nine months of fiscal 2004 compared to 19.0% for the same period in fiscal 2003. The increase in selling and store operating expenses for the third quarter and first nine months of fiscal 2004 was primarily attributable to $255 million and $820 million, respectively, of advertising expense related to the adoption of EITF 02-16. Excluding the impact of EITF 02-16, selling and store operating expenses increased 15.5% to $3.6 billion, or 19.0% of net sales for the third quarter of fiscal 2004 and increased 12.0% to $10.6 billion or 18.8% of net sales for the first nine months of 2004. The increase in selling and store operating expenses as a percentage of net sales for the third quarter of fiscal 2004, excluding the impact of EITF 02-16, was due to higher expenses associated with sales incentive programs and higher remodel expenses and depreciation resulting from our planned investment in store modernization and technology. In addition, we are experiencing rising energy and health care costs. In the third quarter of fiscal 2004, the increase in selling and store operating expenses was partially offset by the increased penetration of our private label credit card, which carries a lower discount rate than other forms of credit, like bank cards. The decrease in selling and store operating expenses as a percentage of net sales for the first nine months of fiscal 2004, excluding the impact of EITF 02-16, was a result of increased labor productivity and benefits received from our private label credit card program partially offset by higher expenses associated with sales incentive programs and rising health care costs.

        General and administrative expenses increased 33.1% to $370 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2004 from $278 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2003. For the first nine months of fiscal 2004, general and administrative expenses increased 20.8% to $1.0 billion from $841 million for the same period in fiscal 2003. General and administrative expenses as a percentage of net sales were 2.0% for the third quarter of fiscal 2004 and 1.7% for the third quarter of fiscal 2003. As a percentage of net sales, general and administrative expenses were 1.8% and 1.7% for the first nine months of fiscal 2004 and fiscal 2003, respectively. The increase as a percentage of net sales for the third quarter of fiscal 2004 was primarily due to incentive compensation plan expense and the expensing of stock-based compensation.

        Our combined federal, foreign and state effective income tax rate decreased to 36.1% for the third quarter of fiscal 2004 from 37.1% in the third quarter last year and decreased to 36.7% for the first nine months of fiscal 2004 from 37.1% for the comparable period of fiscal 2003. The majority of this reduction was due to the reversal of a $31 million valuation allowance as we were able to recognize the tax benefit associated with previous capital losses for which no tax benefit had been recorded at the time the capital loss was incurred.

        Diluted earnings per share was $0.60 and $1.78 for the third quarter and first nine months of fiscal 2004, respectively, compared to $0.50 and $1.46 for the third quarter and first nine months of fiscal 2003, respectively. The impact of the adoption of EITF 02-16 on our diluted earnings per share during the first nine months of the year was a decrease of $0.05 per share. There was no material impact on our diluted earnings per share for the third quarter of fiscal 2004. We do not expect any further impact on our diluted earnings per share from the adoption of EITF 02-16. Diluted earnings per share were favorably impacted for the third quarter and first nine months of fiscal 2004 as a result of the repurchase of shares of our common stock in fiscal 2003 and 2004. Since August 2002, we have repurchased 185.8 million shares of our common stock for a total of $6.1 billion. As of October 31, 2004, we had $924 million remaining under our authorized Share Repurchase Program. For fiscal year 2004, we estimate our diluted earnings per share growth will be 19% to 20%.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

        Cash flow generated from operations provides a significant source of liquidity. During the first nine months of fiscal 2004, net cash provided by operating activities increased to $6.4 billion compared to $6.1 billion for the same period of fiscal 2003. The increase in net cash provided by operating activities was a result of stronger net earnings, partially offset by an increase in net working capital.

Page 15



        Net cash used in investing activities for the first nine months of fiscal 2004 was $3.4 billion compared to $2.2 billion for the same period of fiscal 2003. The increase in net cash used in investing activities was primarily the result of $727 million used to purchase White Cap Industries, Inc. ("White Cap") and Home Mart Mexico, S.A. de C.V. ("Home Mart"). In May 2004, we acquired all of the common stock of White Cap, a leading distributor of specialty hardware, tools and materials to construction contractors. This acquisition was part of our strategy to extend our business and our professional customer base with value-added products and services. In June 2004, we acquired all of the common stock of Home Mart, the third largest home improvement retailer in Mexico. This acquisition was part of our strategy to expand into new markets. Capital expenditures increased to $2.8 billion in the first nine months of fiscal 2004 from $2.5 billion in the first nine months of 2003. This increase in capital expenditures was due in part to the purchase of 18 stores from a third party as well as an increase in store remodels and expansions compared to the same period last year. The increase in net cash used in investing activities also reflects lower proceeds from the sale of property and equipment as well as lower proceeds from maturities of investments in the first nine months of fiscal 2004 compared to the same period of fiscal 2003.

        During the first nine months of fiscal 2004, net cash used in financing activities was $2.4 billion compared with $1.2 billion for the same period of fiscal 2003. The increase in net cash used in financing activities was primarily due to the repurchase of $2.5 billion of our common stock during the first nine months of fiscal 2004 compared with $891 million for the same period of fiscal 2003. In September 2004, we repaid our $500 million 6 1 / 2 % Senior Notes (see Note 3 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements). In addition, during the first nine months of fiscal 2004, cash dividends paid to stockholders increased $96 million to $532 million from $436 million for the first nine months of fiscal 2003. The increase in net cash used in financing was partially offset by $995 million of net proceeds from the issuance of 3.75% Senior Notes (see Note 3 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements).

        We have a commercial paper program that allows for borrowings up to a maximum of $1.25 billion. As of October 31, 2004, there was nothing outstanding under the program. In connection with the program, we have a back-up credit facility with a consortium of banks for borrowings up to $1 billion. The credit facility contains various restrictive covenants, none of which is expected to impact our liquidity or capital resources.

        As of the end of the third quarter of fiscal 2004, our total debt-to-equity ratio was 9.1% compared to 6.1% at the end of the third quarter of fiscal 2003. This increase was due in part to the net increase in Long-Term Debt of $495 million. The increase in our total debt-to-equity ratio also reflects the consolidation of a variable interest entity in accordance with the revised version of FASB Interpretation No. 46, "Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities" which increased long-term debt by $282 million during the first quarter of fiscal 2004 but had no economic impact on our financial condition.

        As of October 31, 2004, we had $3.4 billion in cash. We believe that our current cash position and cash flow generated from operations should be sufficient to enable us to complete our capital expenditure programs and any required long-term debt payments through the next several fiscal years. In addition, we have funds available from the $1.25 billion commercial paper program and the ability to obtain alternative sources of financing if required.


Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

        Our exposure to market risks results primarily from fluctuations in interest rates. There have been no material changes to our exposure to market risks from those disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended February 1, 2004.

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Item 4. Controls and Procedures

        The Company maintains disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the Company's Securities Exchange Act reports is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission's rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to the Company's management, including its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

        The Company's Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company's disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act) as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based upon that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer have concluded that, as of the end of the period covered by this report, the Company's disclosure controls and procedures were effective.

        There have not been any changes in the Company's internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Securities Exchange Act) during the fiscal quarter ended October 31, 2004 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company's internal control over financial reporting.

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THE HOME DEPOT, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

        The Company's common stock repurchase program was initially announced on July 15, 2002. As of the beginning of the third fiscal quarter of 2004, the Board had approved purchases up to $6 billion. On August 6, 2004, the Company announced that the Board of Directors had authorized an additional $1 billion in common stock repurchases, for a total authorization of $7 billion. The program does not have a prescribed expiration date. The table below sets forth the Company's monthly purchases during the third fiscal quarter of 2004:

Period

  Total
Number of
Shares
Purchased

  Average
Price Paid
Per Share

  Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Program
  Approximate Dollar Value of Shares that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Program
August 2, 2004 - August 29, 2004 ("August 2004")   191,800   $ 35.97   183,994,802   $ 993,150,126
August 30, 2004 - September 26, 2004 ("September 2004")   1,083,500   $ 37.97   185,078,302   $ 951,991,178
September 27, 2004 - October 31, 2004 ("October 2004")   704,800   $ 39.58   185,783,102   $ 924,078,474

        In addition to these repurchases, pursuant to the Company's 1997 Omnibus Stock Incentive Plan (the "Plan"), participants may exercise stock options by surrendering shares of The Home Depot common stock that the participants already own as payment of the exercise price. Plan participants may also surrender shares of The Home Depot common stock as payment of applicable tax withholding on the vesting of restricted stock awards. Shares so surrendered by participants in the Plan are repurchased pursuant to the terms of the Plan and applicable award agreement and not pursuant to publicly announced share repurchase programs. For the quarter ended October 31, 2004, the following shares of The Home Depot common stock were surrendered by participants in the Plan: August 2004—20,400 shares at an average price per share of $34.81; September 2004—20,816 shares at an average price per share of $38.14; October 2004—20,879 shares at an average price per share of $40.43.

Page 18




Item 6. Exhibits

    (a)
    Exhibits


10.1

 

Form of Executive Officer Restricted Share Award Pursuant to The Home Depot, Inc. 1997 Omnibus Stock Incentive Plan

10.2

 

Form of Executive Officer Nonqualified Stock Option Award Pursuant to The Home Depot, Inc. 1997 Omnibus Stock Incentive Plan

10.3

 

Form of Outside Director Nonqualified Stock Option Award Pursuant to The Home Depot, Inc. 1997 Omnibus Stock Incentive Plan

10.4

 

Form of Executive Officer Long-Term Incentive Program Performance Unit Award Pursuant to The Home Depot, Inc. 1997 Omnibus Stock Incentive Plan

10.5

 

The Home Depot FutureBuilder, a 401(k) and Stock Ownership Plan, as amended and restated effective July 1, 2004.

15.1

 

Letter of KPMG LLP, Acknowledgement of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, dated November 15, 2004.

31.1

 

Certification of the Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

31.2

 

Certification of the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

32.1

 

Certification of Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

32.2

 

Certification of Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

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SIGNATURES

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

      THE HOME DEPOT, INC.
(Registrant)

 

 

By:

/s/  
ROBERT L. NARDELLI       
Robert L. Nardelli
Chairman, President and
Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

/s/  
CAROL B. TOMÉ       
Carol B. Tomé
Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
December 1, 2004
(Date)
     

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THE HOME DEPOT, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

INDEX TO EXHIBITS

Exhibit
  Description


10.1

 

Form of Executive Officer Restricted Share Award Pursuant to The Home Depot, Inc. 1997 Omnibus Stock Incentive Plan

10.2

 

Form of Executive Officer Nonqualified Stock Option Award Pursuant to The Home Depot, Inc. 1997 Omnibus Stock Incentive Plan

10.3

 

Form of Outside Director Nonqualified Stock Option Award Pursuant to The Home Depot, Inc. 1997 Omnibus Stock Incentive Plan

10.4

 

Form of Executive Officer Long-Term Incentive Program Performance Unit Award Pursuant to The Home Depot, Inc. 1997 Omnibus Stock Incentive Plan

10.5

 

The Home Depot FutureBuilder, a 401(k) and Stock Ownership Plan, as amended and restated effective July 1, 2004.

15.1

 

Letter of KPMG LLP, Acknowledgement of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, dated November 15, 2004.

31.1

 

Certification of the Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

31.2

 

Certification of the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

32.1

 

Certification of Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

32.2

 

Certification of Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

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THE HOME DEPOT, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES INDEX TO FORM 10-Q
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
SIGNATURES
INDEX TO EXHIBITS

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Exhibit 10.1


THE HOME DEPOT, INC.
RESTRICTED STOCK AWARD

        This Restricted Stock Award (the "Award") is made as of the ‹XX› day of <Month>, <Year> , by THE HOME DEPOT, INC., a Delaware corporation (the "Company") to <Associate Name> ("Executive").


W I T N E S S E T H:

         WHEREAS , the Company has adopted The Home Depot, Inc. 1997 Omnibus Stock Incentive Plan (the "Plan") which is administered by the Leadership Development and Compensation Committee of the Company's Board of Directors (the "Committee"); and

         WHEREAS , Executive is an Employee of the Company or its Subsidiary eligible to receive grants of Awards under the Plan; and

         WHEREAS , the Committee has granted to Executive an award of restricted stock under the terms of the Plan (the "Award") to promote Executive's long-term interests in the success of the Company; and

         WHEREAS , to comply with the terms of the Plan and to further the interests of the Company and Executive, the Company hereby makes an award of restricted stock under the terms of the Plan to Executive pursuant to the following terms and conditions:

        1.      Stock Award .    The Company hereby grants to Executive an award of <XXX,XXX> shares of the $.05 par value common stock of the Company, subject to the restrictions and other conditions set forth herein. Such shares are hereinafter referred to as the "Restricted Shares."

        2.      Restrictions     The Restricted Shares shall vest and become transferable as follows: [ OPTION ONE: twenty-five percent (25%) of the shares granted shall vest and become transferable upon the third (3 rd ) anniversary of the date of grant; twenty-five percent (25%) of the shares granted shall vest and become transferable upon the sixth (6 th ) anniversary of the date of grant; and fifty percent (50%) of the shares granted shall vest and become transferable upon the date on which Executive reaches age 62. ] [ OPTION TWO: one hundred percent (100%) of the shares granted shall vest and become transferable upon the fifth (5 th ) anniversary of the date of grant. ] Restricted Shares that have not vested may not be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned or otherwise alienated or hypothecated. Restricted Shares that have not vested shall be subject to forfeiture as provided in Section 3. Upon a Change in Control of the Company (as defined in Section 9) all unvested Restricted Shares shall immediately vest and become transferable. In the event of termination due to death or permanent and total disability, any unvested Restricted Shares shall immediately vest and become transferable by Executive or Executive's estate.

        3.      Change in Employment Status .    If Executive's employment with the Company and its subsidiaries terminates for reasons other than [FOR USE WITH OPTION TWO VESTING ONLY: Retirement, ] death or permanent and total disability, or if Executive's employment status changes to a non-salaried position or other position which the Company deems to be ineligible for this restricted stock grant, any Restricted Shares which had been granted to Executive which have not yet become vested and transferable, as of the date of Executive's termination or upon Executive's commencing employment in a non-eligible position, shall be immediately forfeited by Executive. [FOR USE WITH OPTION TWO VESTING ONLY: Upon employment termination due to Retirement, all Restricted Shares that have not lapsed as of the date of Executive's Retirement shall continue to vest according to vesting schedule set forth in Section 2 of this Award; provided, however, that if after reaching Retirement, Executive becomes, either directly or indirectly, employed with a Competitor, all unvested Restricted Shares shall be immediately forfeited. "Retirement" means termination of employment with the Company and its Subsidiaries on or after Executive's attainment of age sixty (60) and having at



least five (5) years of continuous service with the Company and its Subsidiaries. "Competitor" means any company or entity in the home improvement industry engaged in any way in a business that competes directly or indirectly with the Company, its parents, subsidiaries, affiliates or related entities, in the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, Mexico, China or any other location in which the Company currently conducts business or may conduct business without the prior written consent of the Company. Businesses that compete with the Company in the home improvement industry specifically include, but are not limited to, the following entities and each of their subsidiaries, affiliates, assigns, franchisees, or successors in interest: Lowe's Companies, Inc. (including, but not limited to, Eagle Hardware and Garden); Sears (including, but not limited to, Orchard Supply and Hardware Company); Wal-Mart; Rona; Kent and Menard, Inc. ]

        4.      Book Entry Account .    Within a reasonable time after the date of this Award, the Company shall instruct its transfer agent to establish a book entry account representing the Restricted Shares Executive's name effective as of the grant date, provided that the Company shall retain control of such account until the Restricted Shares have become vested in accordance with the Award.

        5.      Stockholder Rights .    Upon the effective date of the book entry pursuant to Section 4, Executive shall have all of the rights of a stockholder with respect to the Restricted Shares, including the right to vote the shares and to receive all dividends or other distributions paid or made available with respect to such shares. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any stock dividends or other in-kind dividends or distributions shall be held by the Company until the related Restricted Shares have become vested in accordance with this Award and shall remain subject to the forfeiture provisions applicable to the Restricted Shares to which such dividends or distributions relate.

        6.      Withholding .    Executive shall pay all applicable federal, state and local income and employment taxes (including taxes of any foreign jurisdiction) which the Company is required to withhold at any time with respect to the Restricted Shares. Such payment shall be made in full, at Executive's election, in cash or check, by withholding from the Executive's next normal payroll check, or by the tender of shares of the Company's common stock (including shares then vesting under this Award). Shares tendered as payment of required withholding shall be valued at the closing price per share of the Company's common stock on the date such withholding obligation arises.

        7.      Transferability .    Except as otherwise provided in this Section 7, the Restricted Shares shall not be sold, pledged, assigned, hypothecated, transferred or disposed of in any manner, whether by the operation of law or otherwise. Executive may transfer the Restricted Shares, in whole or in part, to a spouse or lineal descendant (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 that may be approved by the Committee (a "Permitted Transferee"). Subsequent transfers of the Restricted Shares shall be prohibited except in accordance with this Section 7. All terms and conditions of the Restricted Shares, including provisions relating to the termination of Executive's employment with the Company, shall continue to apply following a transfer made in accordance with this Section 7. Any attempted transfer of the Restricted Shares prohibited by this Section 7 shall be null and void.

        8.      Plan Provisions .    In addition to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Award is subject to and governed by the terms and conditions set forth in the Plan, which is incorporated herein by reference. Unless the context otherwise requires, capitalized terms used in this Award shall have the meanings set forth in the Plan. In the event of any conflict between the provisions of the Award and the Plan, the Plan shall control.

        9.      Change in Control .    For purposes of this agreement, "Change in Control" shall mean a change in control of a nature that would be required to be reported in response to Item 6(e) of Schedule 14A of Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ("1934 Act") as in effect at the time of such change in control, provided that such a change in control shall be deemed to have occurred at such time as (i) any "person" (as that term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) (2) of the 1934 Act), is or becomes the "beneficial owner", directly or indirectly, of securities representing 20% or more of the combined voting power for election of directors of the then outstanding securities of the Company or



any successor of the Company; (ii) during any period of two (2) consecutive years or less, individuals who at the beginning of such period constituted the Board of Directors of the Company cease, for any reason, to constitute at least a majority of the Board of Directors, unless the election or nomination for election of each new director was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the directors then still in office who were directors at the beginning of the period; (iii) the stockholders of the Company approve any merger or consolidation as a result of which the common stock of the Company shall be changed, converted or exchanged (other than a merger with a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company) or any liquidation of the Company or any sale or other disposition of 50% or more of the assets or earning power of the Company; or (iv) the stockholders of the Company approve any merger or consolidation to which the Company is a party as a result of which the persons who were stockholders of the Company immediately prior to the effective date of the merger or consolidation shall have beneficial ownership of less than 55% of the combined voting power for election of directors of the surviving corporation following the effective date of such merger or consolidation.

        10.      Notice.     Any written notice required or permitted by this Award shall be mailed, certified mail (return receipt requested) or hand-delivered, addressed to Company's Executive Vice President—Human Resources at Company's corporate headquarters at 2455 Paces Ferry Road, N.W., Atlanta, Georgia 30339-4024, or to Executive at his most recent home address on record with the Company. Notices are effective upon receipt.

        11.      Miscellaneous .    


         IN WITNESS WHEREOF , the undersigned officer of the Company executes this Award on behalf of the Company as of day and year first set forth above.

 
   
   
        THE HOME DEPOT, INC.

 

 

By:

 


Robert L. Nardelli
Chairman, President and CEO



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THE HOME DEPOT, INC. RESTRICTED STOCK AWARD
W I T N E S S E T H

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Exhibit 10.2

[OFFICER]


THE HOME DEPOT, INC.
NONQUALIFIED STOCK OPTION

GRANTED TO: <NAME>   GRANT DATE: <GRANT DATE>   NUMBER OF SHARES OF THE HOME DEPOT, INC. COMMON STOCK: <OPTIONS GRANTED>   OPTION PRICE PER
SHARE: <OPTION PRICE>
Social Security #: <SSN>   EXP. DATE: <EXPIRATION DATE>        

THIS NONQUALIFIED STOCK OPTION IS GRANTED by The Home Depot, Inc. a Delaware corporation ("Company"), to you, an employee of the Company or one of its subsidiaries, pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Company's 1997 Omnibus Stock Incentive Plan, as amended ("Plan"), a summary of which has been delivered to you. The terms of the Plan are incorporated herein by this reference. The Company recognizes the value of your continued service as a key employee and has awarded you this nonqualified stock option under the Plan, subject to the following terms and conditions:

        1.     The Company hereby grants you on and as of the date specified above ("Grant Date") a nonqualified stock option ("Option"), subject to the terms and conditions hereof and of the Plan, to purchase from the Company the above-stated number of shares of the Company's Common Stock, $.05 par value, at the price per share stated above ("Option Price"), which Option shall expire on the expiration date stated above ("Exp. Date"), unless it expires earlier in accordance with the terms hereof.

        2.     The Option shall be exercisable, pursuant to the terms of the Plan. The Option shall become exercisable in installments, as follows: Twenty-five percent (25%) of the total number of shares subject to this Option shall become exercisable on each of the second, third, fourth and fifth anniversaries of the Grant Date.

        3.      Upon the termination of your employment (for any reason other than Retirement, death or permanent and total disability or Discharge for Cause), or if your employment status changes to a non-salaried position or other position which the Company deems to be ineligible for this nonqualified stock option award , Option shares that have not become exercisable as of the date of such event shall immediately lapse. Option shares that are exercisable as of the date of termination of employment will lapse unless exercised within a period of three (3) months of the date of termination of employment. Upon the termination of your employment upon Retirement, all stock options that are not exercisable as of the date of your Retirement shall continue to vest according to the schedule set forth in Paragraph 2 and all stock options shall remain exercisable until the Exp. Date; provided, however, that if after reaching Retirement you become directly or indirectly employed by a Competitor, all unvested options shall immediately lapse. "Retirement" means employment termination upon attainment of age 60 with at least five (5) years of continuous service with the Company and its subsidiaries. "Competitor" means any company or entity engaged in any way in a business that competes directly or indirectly with the Company, its parents, subsidiaries, affiliates or related entities. Upon the termination of your employment by reason of death or permanent and total disability, all Option shares shall immediately become fully exercisable as of the date of termination and shall lapse unless exercised within a period of one (1) year from the date of termination. In no event shall the above time periods extend beyond the Exp. Date. In the event of Discharge for Cause, all Option shares, whether presently exercisable or not, shall immediately lapse and become null and void on and as of the date of termination. "Discharge for Cause" means the termination from employment because of an event involving moral turpitude or dishonesty, a gross failure or negligence on your part in performing your expected duties, a violation of the Company's substance abuse policies, or a willful misconduct or action by you that is damaging or detrimental to the Company. A determination by the Company that a termination is a Discharge for Cause will be conclusive and binding.

        4.     All unvested options shall vest immediately upon a Change of Control and shall remain exercisable until the Exp. Date. For purposes of this paragraph 4, "Change in Control" means a change in control of a nature that would be required to be reported in response to Item 6(e) of Schedule 14A of Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ("1934 Act") as in effect at the time of such change in control, provided that such a change in control shall be deemed to have occurred at such time as (i) any "person" (as that term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) (2) of the 1934 Act), is or becomes the "beneficial owner", directly or indirectly, of securities representing 20% or more of the combined voting power for election of directors of the then outstanding



securities of the Company or any successor of the Company; (ii) during any period of two (2) consecutive years or less, individuals who at the beginning of such period constituted the Board of Directors of the Company cease, for any reason, to constitute at least a majority of the Board of Directors, unless the election or nomination for election of each new director was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the directors then still in office who were directors at the beginning of the period; (iii) the stockholders of the Company approve any merger or consolidation as a result of which the common stock of the Company shall be changed, converted or exchanged (other than a merger with a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company) or any liquidation of the Company or any sale or other disposition of 50% or more of the assets or earning power of the Company; or (iv) the stockholders of the Company approve any merger or consolidation to which the Company is a party as a result of which the persons who were stockholders of the Company immediately prior to the effective date of the merger or consolidation shall have beneficial ownership of less than 55% of the combined voting power for election of directors of the surviving corporation following the effective date of such merger or consolidation.

        5.     The exercisable portion of the Option may be exercised in whole or in part but in no event with respect to a fractional share from time to time until the Exp. Date. Exercise shall be by notice of exercise to the Company, specifying the number of shares to be purchased, the Option Price of each share and the aggregate Option Price for all shares being purchased under said notice. The notice shall be accompanied by payment of the aggregate Option Price for the number of shares purchased and any applicable withholding taxes. Such exercise (subject to Paragraph 6 hereof) shall be effective upon the actual receipt of such payment and notice to the Company. The aggregate Option Price for all shares purchased pursuant to an exercise of the Option shall be paid by check payable to the order of the Company, shares of Common Stock of the Company held by you for at least six (6) months, the fair market value of which at the time of such exercise is equal to the aggregate Option Price (or portion thereof to be paid with previously owned Common Stock). Payment of the Option Price in shares of Common Stock shall be made by delivering properly endorsed stock certificates to the Company or otherwise causing such Common Stock to be transferred to the account of the Company, either physically or through attestation. In addition, the aggregate Option Price for all shares purchased pursuant to an exercise of the Option may be paid from the proceeds of sale through a bank or broker on the date of exercise of some or all of the shares to which the exercise relates. There shall be furnished with each notice of the exercise of any portion of the Option such documents as the Company in its discretion may deem necessary to assure compliance with applicable rules and regulations of any stock exchange or governmental authority. No rights or privileges of a stockholder of the Company in respect to such shares issuable upon the exercise of any part of the Option shall accrue to you unless and until certificates representing such shares have been registered in your name.

        6.     The Option shall not be exercised in whole or in part and no related share certificates shall be delivered in the sole discretion of the Company: (a) if such exercise or delivery would constitute a violation of any provision of, or any regulation or order entered pursuant to, any law purporting to regulate wages, salaries or compensation; or (b) if any requisite approval, consent, registration or other qualification of any stock exchange upon which the securities of the Company may then be listed, the Securities and Exchange Commission or other governmental authority having jurisdiction over the exercise of the Option or the issuance of shares pursuant thereto, shall not have been secured.

        7.     Except as otherwise provided in the Plan, the Option shall not be sold, pledged, assigned, hypothecated, transferred or disposed of in any manner, other than by will or under the laws of descent and distribution, whether by the operation of law or otherwise. An option may be exercised, during your lifetime, only by you or your legal representative. Upon any attempt to do anything prohibited by this paragraph, the Option shall immediately become null and void.

        8.     Nothing herein contained shall constitute an obligation for continued employment.

 
   
    THE HOME DEPOT, INC.

 

 


By: Robert L. Nardelli
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer



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THE HOME DEPOT, INC. NONQUALIFIED STOCK OPTION

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Exhibit 10.3

(NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTOR)


THE HOME DEPOT, INC.
NONQUALIFIED STOCK OPTION

GRANTED TO: <NAME>   GRANT DATE: <GRANT DATE>   NUMBER OF SHARES OF THE HOME DEPOT, INC. COMMON STOCK: <OPTIONS GRANTED>   OPTION PRICE
PER SHARE: <OPTION PRICE>
Identification #: <SSN>   EXP. DATE: <EXPIRATION DATE>        

THIS NONQUALIFIED STOCK OPTION IS GRANTED by The Home Depot, Inc. a Delaware corporation ("Company"), to you, a non-employee director of the Company pursuant to the Company's 1997 Omnibus Stock Incentive Plan, as amended ("Plan"), a summary of which has been delivered to you. The terms of the Plan are incorporated herein by this reference. The Company recognizes the value of your continued service as a non-employee director and has awarded you a nonqualified stock option under the Plan subject to the following terms and conditions:

        1.     The Company hereby grants you on and as of the date specified above ("Grant Date") a nonqualified stock option ("Option"), subject to the terms and conditions hereof and of the Plan, to purchase from the Company the above stated number of shares of the Company's Common Stock, $.05 par value, at the price stated above ("Option Price"), which Option shall expire on the expiration date stated above ("Exp. Date").

        2.     The Option shall be exercisable, pursuant to the terms of the Plan. The Option shall become exercisable in installments, as follows: Twenty-five percent (25%) of the total number of shares subject to this Option shall become exercisable on each of the second, third, fourth and fifth anniversaries of the Grant Date.

        3.     Upon the event of the termination of your service on the Board of Directors of the Company (for any reason other than Retirement, death or permanent and total disability or Discharge for Cause), Option shares which have not become exercisable as of the date of such event shall immediately lapse. Option shares which are exercisable as of the date of termination of service on the Board will lapse unless exercised within a period of six (6) months of the date of termination of service. Upon the termination of your service on the Board upon Retirement, all stock options that are not exercisable as of the date of your Retirement shall continue to vest according to the schedule set forth in Paragraph 2 and all stock options shall remain exercisable until the Exp. Date. "Retirement" means termination of Board service upon attainment of age 60 or later with at least five (5) years of continuous Board service. In the event that termination of your service is by reason of death or permanent and total disability, all Option shares shall immediately become fully exercisable as of the date of termination and shall lapse unless exercised within a period of one (1) year from the date of termination. In no event, shall the above time periods extend beyond the Exp. Date. In the event of a Discharge for Cause, all Option shares, whether presently exercisable or not, shall immediately lapse and become null and void on and as of the date of termination. "Discharge for Cause" shall mean the termination from service on the Board because of an event involving moral turpitude or dishonesty, a gross failure or negligence on the part of the director to perform his or her expected duties, a violation of the Company's substance abuse policies, or a willful misconduct or action by the director that is damaging or detrimental to the Company. A determination by the Company that a termination is a Discharge for Cause will be conclusive and binding.

        4.     All unvested options shall vest immediately upon a Change of Control and shall remain exercisable until the Exp. Date. For purposes of this paragraph 4, "Change in Control" shall mean a change in control of a nature that would be required to be reported in response to Item 6(e) of Schedule 14A of Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ("1934 Act") as in effect at the time of such change in control, provided that such a change in control shall be deemed to have occurred at such time as (i) any "person" (as that term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) (2) of the 1934 Act), is or becomes the "beneficial owner", directly or indirectly, of securities representing 20% or more of the combined voting power for election of directors of the then outstanding securities of the Company or any successor of the Company; (ii) during any period of two (2) consecutive years or less, individuals who at the beginning of such period constituted the Board of Directors of the Company cease, for any reason, to constitute at least a majority of the Board of Directors, unless the election or nomination for election of each new director was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the directors then still in office who were directors at the beginning of the period; (iii) the stockholders of the Company approve any merger or



consolidation as a result of which the common stock of the Company shall be changed, converted or exchanged (other than a merger with a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company) or any liquidation of the Company or any sale or other disposition of 50% or more of the assets or earning power of the Company; or (iv) the stockholders of the Company approve any merger or consolidation to which the Company is a party as a result of which the persons who were stockholders of the Company immediately prior to the effective date of the merger or consolidation shall have beneficial ownership of less than 55% of the combined voting power for election of directors of the surviving corporation following the effective date of such merger or consolidation.

        5.     The exercisable portion of the Option may be exercised in whole or in part but in no event with respect to a fractional share from time to time until the Exp. Date. Exercise shall be by written notice of exercise to the Company, specifying the number of shares to be purchased, the Option Price of each share and the aggregate Option Price for all shares being purchased under said notice. The notice shall be accompanied by payment of the aggregate option price for the number of shares purchased and any applicable withholding taxes. Such exercise (subject to Paragraph 5 hereof) shall be effective upon the actual receipt of such payment and written notice to the Company. The aggregate Option Price for all shares purchased pursuant to an exercise of the Option shall be paid by check payable to the order of the Company or properly endorsed stock certificates representing the Common Stock of the Company or a combination of both valued at the time of such purchase and prior to delivery of such shares. There shall be furnished with each notice of the exercise of any portion of the Option such documents as the Company in its discretion may deem necessary to assure compliance with applicable rules and regulations of any stock exchange or governmental authority. No rights or privileges of a stockholder of the Company in respect to such shares issuable upon the exercise of any part of the Option shall accrue to you unless and until certificates representing such shares have been issued and delivered.

        6.     The Option shall not be exercised in whole or in part and no related share certificates shall be delivered in the sole discretion of the Company: (a) if such exercise or delivery would constitute a violation of any provision of, or any regulation or order entered pursuant to, any law purporting to regulate wages, salaries or compensation; or (b) if any requisite approval, consent, registration or other qualification of any stock exchange upon which the securities of the Company may then be listed, the Securities and Exchange Commission or other governmental authority having jurisdiction over the exercise of the Option or the issuance of shares pursuant thereto, shall not have been secured.

        7.     Except as provided in this Section below, this Option shall not be sold, pledged, assigned, hypothecated, transferred or disposed of in any manner, other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution, and this Option shall be exercisable during your lifetime only by you or, in the event of your legal incapacity, by your guardian or legal representative acting in a fiduciary capacity on your behalf under state law. Notwithstanding the foregoing, you may transfer this Option, in whole or in part, to a spouse or lineal descendant (a "Family Member"), a trust for the exclusive benefit of Family Members, a partnership or other entity in which all the beneficial owners are Family Members, or any other entity affiliated with you that may be approved by the Committee. Subsequent transfers of this Option shall be prohibited except in accordance with this Section. All terms and conditions of this Agreement, including provisions relating to the termination of your employment, shall continue to apply following a transfer made in accordance with this Section. Any attempt to transfer this Option in violation of this Section shall render this Option null and void.

 
   
    THE HOME DEPOT, INC.

 

 


By: Robert L. Nardelli
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer



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THE HOME DEPOT, INC. NONQUALIFIED STOCK OPTION

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Exhibit 10.4


LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PROGRAM
PERFORMANCE UNIT AWARD
(200    -200    Performance Period)

        This Performance Unit Award is made to NAME on this the            day of            , 200    , by THE HOME DEPOT, INC., a Delaware corporation.


W I T N E S S E T H:

         WHEREAS , the Company has adopted The Home Depot, Inc. 1997 Omnibus Stock Incentive Plan which is administered by the Committee; and

         WHEREAS , Executive is an officer and employee of the Company and is eligible to receive Performance Unit Awards under the Plan; and

         WHEREAS , the Committee approved Executive as an LTIP participant for the 200    -200    Performance Period; and

         WHEREAS , the LTIP is the vehicle for establishing Performance Objectives for Performance Unit Awards under the Plan; and

         WHEREAS , to comply with the terms of the Plan and to further the interests of the Company and Executive, the Company herein sets forth the terms of such award as follows:

        1.      Definitions .    As used herein, the following terms shall be defined as set forth below. Unless the context otherwise requires, capitalized terms used in this Award and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Plan.


        2.      Performance Unit Award .    Subject to the conditions set forth herein, Company grants to Executive a Target Award of                        (            ) Performance Units under the Plan, and a Maximum Award of             (                        ) Performance Units, earned in accordance with Section 3.

        3.      Determination of Units Earned.     Subject to Section 5, and provided that Ending EPS is greater than Beginning EPS, the Company shall deliver to Executive One Dollar ($1.00) for each whole Performance Unit that is earned in accordance with the following schedule. No Performance Units shall be earned, and this Award shall be forfeited and cancelled effective as of the last day of the Performance Period, if Ending EPS is less than the Beginning EPS.

Average EPS Growth
  Percentage of Target Award
Performance Units Earned

Below Threshold : Below            %               %
Threshold :            %               %
Target :            %               %
Maximum :            % or above               %

The percentage of Target Award Performance Units earned between threshold and target and target and maximum Average EPS Growth is based on interpolation, as set forth on Schedule A .

        4.      Payment.     The amount determined under Section 3 will be paid to Executive in cash as soon as administratively practicable after the end of the Performance Period.

        5.      Termination of Employment.     Except as provided in Section 6, if Executive's employment with the Company and its Subsidiaries terminates before the end of the Performance Period, this Performance Unit Award shall be forfeited on the date of such termination.



        6.      Retirement, Death or Disability.     If Executive's employment with the Company and its Subsidiaries terminates during the final fiscal year in the Performance Period because of Executive's Retirement, death or Disability, Executive shall be entitled to a prorated portion of the Performance Units earned in accordance with Section 3, determined at the end of the Performance Period and based on the ratio of the number of complete months Executive is employed during the Performance Period to the total number of months in the Performance Period. Any payments due on Executive's death shall be paid to his estate as soon as administratively practicable after the end of the Performance Period.

        7.      Transferability.     The Performance Units shall not be sold, pledged, assigned, hypothecated, transferred or disposed of in any manner, whether by the operation of law or otherwise. Any attempted transfer of the Performance Units prohibited by this Section 7 shall be null and void.

        8.      Adjustments.     The Committee may make or provide for such adjustment in the Performance Units as the Committee in its sole discretion may in good faith determine to be equitably required in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of Executive's rights that otherwise would result from (a) any exchange of shares of the 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. Moreover, in the event of any such transaction or event, the Committee may provide in substitution for the Performance Units such alternative consideration as it may in good faith determine to be equitable under the circumstances and may require in connection therewith the surrender of the Performance Units so replaced.

        9.      Withholding.     The Company shall have the right to withhold from payments made to Executive pursuant to this Award, or to withhold from other compensation payable to Executive, all applicable federal, state and local income and employment taxes (including taxes of any foreign jurisdiction) which the Company is required to withhold at any time with respect to the Performance Units.

        10.      No Impact On Other Benefits And Employment.     This Award shall not confer upon Executive any right with respect to continuance of employment or other service with the Company and shall not interfere in any way with any right that the Company would otherwise have to terminate Executive's employment at any time. 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.

        11.      Plan Provisions .    In addition to the terms and conditions set forth herein, this Award is subject to and governed by the terms and conditions set forth in the Plan, which is hereby incorporated by reference. Unless the context otherwise requires, capitalized terms used in this Award and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Plan. In the event of any conflict between the provisions of this Award and the Plan, the Plan shall control.

        12.      Miscellaneous .    


        The undersigned, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of The Home Depot, Inc., has executed this Award at the direction of the Leadership Development and Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors on            , 200    effective for the 200    -200    Performance Period.

 
   
   
    THE HOME DEPOT, INC.

 

 

By:

 

 
       
Chairman, President & CEO

WHEN AWARD IS MADE TO CEO:

        The undersigned, Chair of the Leadership Development and Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of The Home Depot, Inc., has executed this Award at the direction of the independent members of the Board of Directors on            , 200    effective for the 200    -200    Performance Period.

 
   
   
    LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT AND
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE OF THE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE HOME
DEPOT DEPOT, INC.

 

 

By:

 

 
       
Committee Chair



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W I T N E S S E T H

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Exhibit 10.5


THE HOME DEPOT FUTUREBUILDER
A 401(k) AND STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN


Amendment and Restatement
Effective July 1, 2004



THE HOME DEPOT FUTUREBUILDER
A 401(k) AND STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN

        On this 1 st day of July, 2004, The Home Depot, Inc. (the "Controlling Company") hereby amends and restates The Home Depot FutureBuilder (the "Plan").


STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

        A.    The Plan initially was adopted effective as of January 1, 1988 and was last restated generally effective as of January 1, 2001 , and has been amended since that date. Generally effective July 1, 2004, the Plan, as set forth in this document, is intended and should be construed as a restatement and continuation of the Plan as previously in effect. In addition to making certain other changes, this restatement of the Plan is intended to reflect the merger of The Maintenance Warehouse FutureBuilder with and into the Plan effective July 1, 2004.

        B.    The primary purpose of the Plan is to recognize the contributions made to the Controlling Company and its participating affiliates by employees and to reward those contributions by providing eligible employees with an opportunity to accumulate savings for their future security.

        C.    The Controlling Company intends that the Plan be qualified under Sections 401(a) and 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), and that the Plan constitute an employee stock ownership plan as defined in Code Section 4975(e)(7).



STATEMENT OF AGREEMENT

        To amend and restate the Plan with the purposes and goals as hereinabove described, the Controlling Company hereby sets forth the terms and provisions as follows:



Table of Contents

 
   
  Page
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE   1
ARTICLE I    DEFINITIONS   1
1.1   Account   1
1.2   ACP or Actual Contribution Percentage   1
1.3   ACP Tests   1
1.4   Active Participant   1
1.5   Administrative Committee   1
1.6   ADP or Actual Deferral Percentage   1
1.7   ADP Tests   2
1.8   Affiliate   2
1.9   Annual Addition   2
1.10   Before-Tax Account   2
1.11   Before-Tax Contributions   2
1.12   Beneficiary   2
1.13   Board   2
1.14   Break in Service   2
(a)   Leave of Absence   2
(b)   Maternity or Paternity Leave   2
(c)   Effect of Family and Medical Leave Act   3
1.15   Business Day   3
1.16   Code   3
1.17   Company Stock   3
1.18   Company Stock Fund   3
1.19   Compensation   3
(a)   Benefit Compensation   3
(b)   Section 404 Compensation   4
(c)   Top-Heavy Compensation   4
(d)   Section 415 Compensation   4
(e)   Key Employee and Highly Compensated Employee Compensation   4
(f)   Testing Compensation   4
1.20   Contributions   4
1.21   Controlling Company   4
1.22   Covered Employee   5
1.23   Deferral Election   5
1.24   Defined Benefit Minimum   5
1.25   Defined Benefit Plan   5
1.26   Defined Contribution Minimum   5
1.27   Defined Contribution Plan   5
1.28   Determination Date   5
1.29   Disability or Disabled   5
1.30   Effective Date   5
1.31   Elective Deferrals   6
1.32   Eligible Nonhighly Compensated Participant   6
1.33   Eligible Participant   6
1.34   Eligible Retirement Plan   6
1.35   Eligible Rollover Distribution   6
         

i


1.36   Employee   6
1.37   Employment Date   6
1.38   Entry Date   7
1.39   ERISA   7
1.40   ESOP Account   7
1.41   ESOP Contributions   7
1.42   Forfeiture   7
1.43   Highly Compensated Employee   7
(a)   General Rule   7
(b)   Excluded Employees   7
(c)   Former Employees   7
(d)   Nonresident Aliens   8
(e)   Compliance with Code Section 414(q)   8
1.44   Hour of Service   8
(a)   General Rule   8
(b)   Equivalencies   9
(c)   Changes by Administrative Committee   9
(d)   Computation Period   9
1.45   Investment Committee   9
1.46   Investment Fund or Funds   9
1.47   Key Employee   9
1.48   Leave of Absence   9
1.49   Limitation Year   9
1.50   Loan   9
1.51   Loan Suspense Account   9
1.52   Matching Account   9
1.53   Matching Contributions   9
1.54   Maternity or Paternity Leave   9
1.55   Maximum Deferral Amount   10
1.56   Named Fiduciary   10
1.57   Non-Key Employee   10
1.58   Normal Retirement Age   10
1.59   Participant   10
1.60   Participating Company   10
1.61   Permissive Aggregation Group   10
1.62   Plan   10
1.63   Plan Year   10
1.64   Prior Plan   10
1.65   Qualified Separation   10
1.66   Qualified Spousal Waiver   10
1.67   Required Aggregation Group   10
1.68   Restoration Contributions   10
1.69   Rollover Account   10
1.70   Rollover Contribution   10
1.71   Spouse or Surviving Spouse   11
1.72   Supplemental Account   11
1.73   Supplemental Contributions   11
1.74   Top-Heavy Group   11
1.75   Top-Heavy Plan   11
1.76   Transfer Account   11
         

ii


1.77   Transfer Contributions   11
1.78   Trust or Trust Agreement   11
1.79   Trustee   11
1.80   Trust Fund   11
1.81   Valuation Date   12
1.82   Year of Eligibility Service   12
(a)   Computation Period   12
(b)   Predecessor Employer   12
(c)   Related Employer   12
(d)   Reemployed Veterans   12
1.83   Years of Vesting Service   12
(a)   Pre-1988 Service   12
(b)   Pre-Break Service   12
(c)   Post-Break Service   12
(d)   Predecessor Plan   13
(e)   Predecessor Employer   13
(f)   Related Employer   13
(g)   Reemployed Veterans   13
ARTICLE II    ELIGIBILITY   13
2.1   Initial Eligibility Requirements   13
(a)   Employee Contributions   13
(b)   Employer Contributions   13
(c)   New Participating Companies   14
(d)   Special Rules   14
2.2   Treatment of Interruptions of Service   14
(a)   Leave of Absence or Layoff   14
(b)   Termination Before Participation   14
(c)   Termination After Participation   14
2.3   Change in Status   14
(a)   Exclusion Before Participation   14
(b)   Exclusion After Participation   14
(c)   Change to Covered Employee Status   14
ARTICLE III    CONTRIBUTIONS   15
3.1   Before-Tax Contributions   15
(a)   Generally   15
(b)   Deferral Elections   15
    (1)    Effective Date   15
    (2)    Term   15
    (3)    Revocation   15
    (4)    Modification by Participant   16
    (5)    Modification by Administrative Committee   16
    (6)    Highly Compensated Employees   16
    (7)    Acquisitions   16
3.2   Matching Contributions   16
(a)   General Rule   16
(b)   Special Matching Provisions   17
3.3   ESOP Contributions   17
3.4   Supplemental Contributions   17
3.5   Additional Contributions   17
3.6   Form of Contributions   17
         

iii


3.7   Timing of Contributions   17
(a)   Before-Tax Contributions   17
(b)   Matching, ESOP and Supplemental Contributions   17
3.8   Contingent Nature of Company Contributions   18
3.9   Restoration Contributions   18
(a)   Restoration of Forfeitures   18
(b)   Restoration Contribution   18
3.10   Reemployed Veterans   18
3.11   Catch-Up Contributions   18
ARTICLE IV    ROLLOVERS AND TRANSFERS BETWEEN PLANS   19
4.1   Rollover Contributions   19
(a)   Request by Active Participant   19
(b)   Acceptance of Rollover   19
4.2   Transfer Contributions   19
(a)   Direct Transfers Permitted   19
(b)   Mergers and Spin-offs Permitted   19
(c)   Establishment of Transfer Accounts   19
(d)   Transfer Accounts   19
4.3   Spin-offs to Other Plans   20
ARTICLE V    PARTICIPANTS' ACCOUNTS; CREDITING AND ALLOCATIONS   20
5.1   Establishment of Participants' Accounts   20
5.2   Allocation and Crediting of Before-Tax, Matching, Rollover and Transfer Contributions   20
5.3   Allocation of ESOP Contributions and Company Stock Released from Loan Suspense Account   20
(a)   Allocation of ESOP Contributions   20
(b)   Allocation of Company Stock Released from Loan Suspense Account   20
(c)   Allocation of Company Stock Released from Matching Contributions   21
5.4   Allocation and Crediting of Supplemental Contributions   21
(a)   General Provision   21
(b)   Per Capita Supplemental Contributions   21
(c)   Proportional Supplemental Contributions   21
(d)   Section 415 Supplemental Contributions   21
(e)   Supplemental Matching Contributions   21
5.5   Crediting of Restoration Contributions   22
5.6   Adjustments to Accounts   22
5.7   Allocation of Cash Dividends on Company Stock   22
(a)   Loan Repayment   22
(b)   Allocation to Accounts   22
(c)   Payment to Participants   23
5.8   Allocation of Adjustments Upon Change in Capitalization   23
5.9   Allocation of Forfeitures   23
5.10   Notice to Participants of Account Balances   23
5.11   Good Faith Valuation Binding   23
5.12   Errors and Omissions in Accounts   23
ARTICLE VI    CONTRIBUTION AND SECTION 415 LIMITATIONS AND
                            NONDISCRIMINATION REQUIREMENTS
  24
6.1   Deductibility Limitations   24
6.2   Maximum Limitation on Elective Deferrals   24
(a)   Maximum Elective Deferrals Under Participating Company Plans   24
(b)   Return of Excess Before-Tax Contributions   24
         

iv


(c)   Return of Excess Elective Deferrals Provided by Other Participating Company Arrangements   24
(d)   Discretionary Return of Elective Deferrals   24
(e)   Return of Excess Annual Additions   25
6.3   Nondiscrimination Requirements for Before-Tax Contributions   25
(a)   ADP Test   25
(b)   Multiple Plans   25
(c)   Adjustments to Actual Deferral Percentages   25
6.4   Nondiscrimination Requirements for Matching Contributions   26
(a)   ACP Test   26
(b)   Multiple Plans   27
(c)   Adjustments to Actual Contribution Percentages   27
6.5   Order of Application   27
6.6   Code Section 415 Limitations on Maximum Contributions   28
(a)   General Limit on Annual Additions   28
(b)   Special Rule   28
(c)   Correction of Excess Annual Additions   29
(d)   Annual Addition   29
(e)   Compliance with Code Section 415   30
(f)   Combined Plan Limit   30
6.7   Construction of Limitations and Requirements   30
ARTICLE VII    INVESTMENTS   31
7.1   Establishment of Trust Account   31
7.2   Investment Funds   31
(a)   Establishment of Investment Funds   31
(b)   Reinvestment of Cash Earnings   31
(c)   ESOP Requirement   31
7.3   Participant Direction of Investments   31
(a)   Investment of Contributions   31
(b)   Investment of Existing Account Balances   32
(c)   Conditions Applicable to Elections   32
(d)   Restrictions on Investments   32
7.4   Valuation   32
7.5   Voting and Tender Offer Rights with Respect to Investment Funds   33
7.6   Purchase of Life Insurance   33
7.7   Fiduciary Responsibilities for Investment Directions   33
7.8   Appointment of Investment Manager; Authorization to Invest in Collective Trust   33
(a)   Investment Manager   33
(b)   Collective Trust   33
7.9   Borrowing to Acquire Company Stock   33
(a)   Interest Rate   34
(b)   Assets Not Dissipated   34
(c)   Reasonable Terms   34
(d)   Use of Loan Proceeds   34
(e)   Collateral   34
(f)   Payments   34
(g)   Remedy Upon Default   34
(h)   Release of Shares   34
(i)   Loan Term   34
(j)   Restrictions on Stock   34
         

v


7.10   Release of Shares   35
(a)   Loan Suspense Account   35
(b)   Terms of Loan   35
7.11   Diversification of ESOP Account by Participants   35
(a)   General Rule   35
(b)   Method of Diversification   35
7.12   Value of Company Stock   35
7.13   Voting and Tender Offer Rights With Respect to Company Stock   36
(a)   Voting Rights   36
(b)   Tender Offer Rights   36
(c)   Confidentiality   36
(d)   Dissemination of Pertinent Information   36
ARTICLE VIII    VESTING IN ACCOUNTS   36
8.1   Vesting   36
(a)   General Vesting Rule   36
    (1)    Fully Vested Accounts   36
    (2)    Matching Account   37
(b)   ESOP Account   37
8.2   Vesting Upon Attainment of Normal Retirement Age, Death or Disability   37
8.3   Timing of Forfeitures and Vesting after Restoration Contributions   37
8.4   Vesting Following Partial Distributions   38
8.5   Amendment to Vesting Schedule   38
ARTICLE IX    PAYMENT OF BENEFITS FROM ACCOUNTS   38
9.1   Benefits Payable for Reasons Other Than Death   38
(a)   General Rule   38
(b)   Timing of Distribution   39
(c)   Restrictions on Distributions from Before-Tax and Supplemental Accounts   40
(d)   Delay Upon Reemployment or Termination of Disability   40
9.2   Death Benefits   40
9.3   Forms of Distribution   41
(a)   Method   41
(b)   Direct Rollover Distributions   41
(c)   Assets Distributed   41
9.4   Qualified Domestic Relations Orders   41
9.5   Beneficiary Designation   41
(a)   General   41
(b)   No Designation or Designee Dead or Missing   42
9.6   Claims   42
(a)   Rights   42
(b)   Procedure   42
(c)   Review Procedure   43
(d)   Satisfaction of Claims   44
9.7   Explanation of Rollover Distributions   44
9.8   Unclaimed Benefits   44
9.9   Recordkeeper Transition Rule   45
ARTICLE X    WITHDRAWALS AND LOANS   45
10.1   Hardship Withdrawals   45
(a)   Parameters of Hardship Withdrawals   45
(b)   Immediate and Heavy Financial Need   45
(c)   Necessary to Satisfy a Financial Need   45
         

vi


(d)   Form of Distribution   46
(e)   Source of Funds   46
10.2   Age 65 Withdrawals   46
(a)   Conditions   46
(b)   Source of Funds   46
(c)   Method   46
10.3   Election to Withdraw   46
10.4   Payment of Withdrawal   46
10.5   Distributions and Withdrawals from Transfer Accounts   46
10.6   Loans to Participants   47
(a)   Grant of Authority   47
(b)   Nondiscriminatory Policy   47
(c)   Minimum Loan Amount   47
(d)   Maximum Loan Amount   47
(e)   Maximum Loan Term   47
(f)   Terms of Repayment   48
(g)   Adequacy of Security   48
(h)   Rate of Interest   48
(i)   Source of Loan Amounts   48
(j)   Crediting Loan Payments to Accounts   49
(k)   Remedies in the Event of Default   49
(l)   Qualified Military Service   49
10.7   Transition Rule   49
ARTICLE XI    ADMINISTRATION   49
11.1   Administrative Committee; Appointment and Term of Office   49
(a)   Appointment   49
(b)   Removal; Resignation   49
11.2   Organization of Administrative Committee   49
11.3   Powers and Responsibility   50
(a)   Fiduciary Responsibilities   50
(b)   Other Powers   50
11.4   Records of Administrative Committee   51
(a)   Notices and Directions   51
(b)   Records   51
11.5   Delegation   51
11.6   Reporting and Disclosure   51
11.7   Construction of the Plan   51
11.8   Assistants and Advisors   52
(a)   Engaging Advisors   52
(b)   Reliance on Advisors   52
11.9   Investment Committee   52
(a)   Appointment   52
(b)   Duties   52
11.10   Direction of Trustee   52
11.11   Bonding   52
11.12   Indemnification   52
ARTICLE XII    ALLOCATION OF AUTHORITY AND RESPONSIBILITIES   53
12.1   Controlling Company   53
(a)   General Responsibilities   53
(b)   Authority of Participating Companies   53
         

vii


12.2   Administrative Committee   53
12.3   Investment Committee   53
12.4   Trustee   53
12.5   Limitations on Obligations of Fiduciaries   53
12.6   Delegation   53
12.7   Multiple Fiduciary Roles   54
ARTICLE XIII    AMENDMENT, TERMINATION AND ADOPTION   54
13.1   Amendment   54
13.2   Termination   54
(a)   Right to Terminate   54
(b)   Vesting Upon Complete Termination   54
(c)   Dissolution of Trust   54
(d)   Vesting Upon Partial Termination   55
13.3   Adoption of the Plan by a Participating Company   55
(a)   Procedures for Participation   55
(b)   Single Plan   55
(c)   Authority under Plan   55
(d)   Contributions to Plan   55
(e)   Withdrawal from Plan   55
13.4   Merger, Consolidation and Transfer of Assets or Liabilities   56
ARTICLE XIV    TOP-HEAVY PROVISIONS   56
14.1   Top-Heavy Plan Years   56
14.2   Determination of Top-Heavy Status   56
(a)   Application   56
(b)   Special Definitions   56
    (1)    Determination Date   56
    (2)    Key Employee   57
    (3)    Non-Key Employee   57
    (4)    Permissive Aggregation Group   57
    (5)    Required Aggregation Group   57
    (6)    Top-Heavy Group   57
(c)   Special Rules   57
14.3   Top-Heavy Minimum Contribution   58
(a)   Multiple Defined Contribution Plans   58
(b)   Defined Contribution and Benefit Plans   59
(c)   Defined Contribution Minimum   59
(d)   Defined Benefit Minimum   59
14.4   Top-Heavy Minimum Vesting   60
(a)   Schedule   60
(b)   Post-Top Heavy Periods   60
14.5   Construction of Limitations and Requirements   60
ARTICLE XV    MISCELLANEOUS   60
15.1   Nonalienation of Benefits and Spendthrift Clause   60
(a)   General Nonalienation Requirements   60
(b)   Exception for Qualified Domestic Relations Orders   60
(c)   Exception for Loans from the Plan   61
(d)   Exception for Crimes against the Plan   61
15.2   Headings   61
15.3   Construction, Controlling Law   61
15.4   No Contract of Employment   61
         

viii


15.5   Legally Incompetent   62
15.6   Heirs, Assigns and Personal Representatives   62
15.7   Title to Assets, Benefits Supported Only By Trust Fund   62
15.8   Legal Action   62
15.9   No Discrimination   62
15.10   Severability   62
15.11   Exclusive Benefit; Refund of Contributions   63
(a)   Permitted Refunds   63
(b)   Payment of Refund   63
(c)   Limitation on Refund   63
15.12   Plan Expenses   63
15.13   Special Effective Dates   63
(a)   Intent of Plan   63
(b)   Compliance   63
SCHEDULE A    PARTICIPATING COMPANIES AND EFFECTIVE DATES   A-1
SCHEDULE B    SERVICE WITH PREDECESSOR EMPLOYERS AND SPECIAL ELIGIBILITY AND VESTING RULES   B-1
SCHEDULE C    SPECIAL MATCHING CONTRIBUTIONS   C-1
SCHEDULE D    TRANSFER ACCOUNTS   D-1

ix



ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS

        For purposes of the Plan, the following terms, when used with an initial capital letter, shall have the meanings set forth below unless a different meaning plainly is required by the context.

        1.1    Account shall mean, with respect to a Participant or Beneficiary, the amount of money or other property in the Trust Fund, as is evidenced by the last balance posted in accordance with the terms of the Plan to the account record established for such Participant or Beneficiary. The Administrative Committee, as required by the terms of the Plan and otherwise as it deems necessary or desirable in its sole discretion, may establish and maintain separate subaccounts for each Participant and Beneficiary. "Account" shall refer to the aggregate of all separate subaccounts or to individual, separate subaccounts, as may be appropriate in context.

        1.2    ACP or Actual Contribution Percentage shall mean, with respect to a specified group of Participants for a Plan Year, the average of the ratios (calculated separately for each Participant in such group and rounded to the nearest 1/100th of a percent) of (i) the total of the amount of Matching Contributions and, to the extent designated by the Administrative Committee, the Before-Tax and/or Supplemental Contributions, as well as other before-tax and/or qualified nonelective contributions (excluding Before-Tax Contributions and Supplemental Contributions counted for purposes of Section 6.3 and any Contributions returned to a Participant or otherwise removed from his Account to correct excess Annual Additions) actually paid to the Trustee on behalf of each such Participant for a specified Plan Year, to (ii) such Participant's Compensation for such specified Plan Year. If a Highly Compensated Employee participates in the Plan and one or more other plans of any Affiliates to which matching or after-tax contributions are made (other than a plan for which aggregation with the Plan is not permitted), the matching and after-tax contributions made with respect to such Highly Compensated Employee shall be aggregated for purposes of determining his ACP. The ACP shall be rounded to the nearest 1/100th of a percent and shall be calculated in a manner consistent with the terms of Code Section 401(m) and the regulations promulgated thereunder. If a Participant is eligible to participate in the Plan for all or a portion of a Plan Year by reason of satisfying the eligibility requirements of Article II but makes no Before-Tax Contributions which are taken into account (as described above) for purposes of calculating his ACP, and if he receives no allocations of Matching Contributions or qualified nonelective contributions which are taken into account (as described above) for purposes of calculating his ACP, such Participant's ACP for such Plan Year shall be zero.

        1.3    ACP Tests shall mean the nondiscrimination tests described in Section 6.4.

        1.4    Active Participant shall mean, for any Plan Year (or any portion thereof), any Covered Employee who, pursuant to the terms of Article II, has been admitted to, and not removed from, active participation in the Plan since the last date his employment commenced or recommenced.

        1.5    Administrative Committee shall mean the committee which shall administer the Plan as provided in Article XI. The Administrative Committee shall be the plan administrator, as that term is defined in Code Section 414(g).

        1.6    ADP or Actual Deferral Percentage shall mean, with respect to a specified group of Participants for a Plan Year, the average of the ratios (calculated separately for each Participant in such group and rounded to the nearest 1/100th of a percent) of (i) the total of the amount of Before-Tax Contributions (excluding Before-Tax Contributions, if any, designated by the Administrative Committee to be taken into account under Section 6.4 to help satisfy the ACP Tests, or removed from a Participant's Account to correct excess Annual Additions) and, to the extent designated under Section 6.3(c) by the Administrative Committee, the Supplemental Contributions [excluding Supplemental Contributions counted for purposes of Section 6.4(c)] as well as other before-tax and/or qualified nonelective contributions actually paid to the Trustee on behalf of each such Participant for a specified Plan Year,

1



to (ii) such Participant's Compensation for such specified Plan Year. If a Highly Compensated Employee participates in the Plan and one or more other plans of any Affiliates to which before-tax contributions are made (other than a plan for which aggregation with the Plan is not permitted), the before-tax contributions made with respect to such Highly Compensated Employee shall be aggregated for purposes of determining his ADP. The ADP shall be rounded to the nearest 1/100th of a percent and shall be calculated in a manner consistent with the terms of Code Section 401(k) and the regulations promulgated thereunder. If a Participant is eligible to participate in the Plan for all or a portion of a Plan Year by reason of satisfying the eligibility requirements of Article II but makes no Before-Tax Contributions and receives no allocation of Supplemental Contributions that are taken into account for purposes of the ADP Tests, such Participant's ADP for such Plan Year shall be zero.

        1.7    ADP Tests shall mean the nondiscrimination tests described in Section 6.3.

        1.8    Affiliate shall mean, as of any date, (i) a Participating Company, and (ii) any company, person or organization which, on such date, (A) is a member of the same controlled group of corporations [within the meaning of Code Section 414(b)] as is a Participating Company; (B) is a trade or business (whether or not incorporated) which controls, is controlled by or is under common control [within the meaning of Code Section 414(c)] with a Participating Company; (C) is a member of an affiliated service group [as defined in Code Section 414(m)] which includes a Participating Company; or (D) is required to be aggregated with a Participating Company pursuant to regulations promulgated under Code Section 414(o). Solely for purposes of Sections 6.6 and 1.19(d), the term "Affiliate" as defined in this Section shall be deemed to include any entity that would be an Affiliate if the phrase "more than 50 percent" were substituted for the phrase "at least 80 percent" in each place the latter phrase appears in Code Section 1563(a)(1).

        1.9    Annual Addition shall mean the sum of the amounts described in Section 6.6(d).

        1.10    Before-Tax Account shall mean the separate subaccount established and maintained on behalf of a Participant or Beneficiary to reflect his interest in the Trust Fund attributable to his Before-Tax Contributions.

        1.11    Before-Tax Contributions shall mean the amount paid by each Participating Company to the Trust Fund at the election of Participants pursuant to the terms of Section 3.1(a).

        1.12    Beneficiary shall mean the person(s) designated in accordance with Section 9.5 to receive any death benefits that may be payable under the Plan upon the death of a Participant.

        1.13    Board shall mean the board of directors of the Controlling Company. To the extent any committee of the Board has the authority to act on behalf of the Board, an action taken by such committee shall be treated as an action by the Board. A reference to the board of directors of any other Participating Company shall specify it as such.

        1.14    Break in Service means any Plan Year during which an Employee fails to complete at least 1 Hour of Service; provided, in determining whether a Break in Service has occurred, the terms of subsections (a), (b) and (c) hereof shall apply.

2


        1.15    Business Day shall mean any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or a day designated as a holiday by the federal government.

        1.16    Code shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and any succeeding federal tax provisions.

        1.17    Company Stock shall mean the $.05 par value per share common stock of the Controlling Company, which common stock is (i) "publicly traded" as defined in Treas. Reg. Section 54.4975-7(b)(1)(iv), (ii) a registration-type class of securities under Code Section 409(e) and (iii) a "qualifying employee security" as defined in Code Section 4975(e)(8). Shares of Company Stock issued to the Trust under the terms of the Plan shall not be subject to any trading limitations as described in Treas. Reg. Section 54.4975-7(b)(10) when distributed from the Trust. In the event Company Stock ceases to be publicly traded, Participants shall have the right to require that the Controlling Company repurchase any shares of Company Stock distributed from the Plan in accordance with Code Sections 409(h) and 4975(e)(7), and the Plan shall be amended at such time to incorporate such requirements.

        1.18    Company Stock Fund shall mean the Investment Fund invested primarily in shares of Company Stock.

        1.19    Compensation shall have the meaning set forth in subsection (a), (b), (c), (d), (e) or (f) hereof, whichever is applicable:

3


        1.20    Contributions shall mean, individually or collectively, the Before-Tax, ESOP, Matching, Supplemental, Rollover, Restoration and Transfer Contributions permitted under the Plan.

        1.21    Controlling Company shall mean The Home Depot, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and its successors which adopt the Plan.

4


        1.22    Covered Employee shall mean an Employee of a Participating Company other than:

        1.23    Deferral Election shall mean an election by an Active Participant directing the Participating Company of which he is an Employee to withhold a percentage of his current Compensation from his paychecks and to contribute such withheld amount to the Plan as Before-Tax Contributions, pursuant to the terms of Section 3.1.

        1.24    Defined Benefit Minimum shall mean the minimum benefit level as described in Section 14.3(d).

        1.25    Defined Benefit Plan shall mean any qualified retirement plan maintained by an Affiliate which is not a Defined Contribution Plan.

        1.26    Defined Contribution Minimum shall mean the minimum contribution level as described in Section 14.3(c).

        1.27    Defined Contribution Plan shall mean any qualified retirement plan maintained by an Affiliate which provides for an individual account for each participant and for benefits based solely on the amount contributed to the participant's account and any income, expenses, gains, losses and forfeitures of accounts of other participants, which may be allocated to such participant's account.

        1.28    Determination Date shall mean the date described in Section 14.2(b)(1).

        1.29    Disability or Disabled shall mean that a Participant is wholly prevented from engaging in his regular duties for a Participating Company by reason of a medically determinable physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result in death or to be of long-continued and indefinite duration. The determination of Disability shall be made by the Administrative Committee or an entity or person appointed by the Administrative Committee; provided, until the Administrative Committee determines otherwise, such determination shall be made by an insurance carrier that offers long-term disability insurance to the public and that is selected by the Administrative Committee. In determining whether a Participant has suffered a Disability, the Administrative Committee or its designee may require such medical proof as it deems necessary, including the certificate of one or more licensed physicians selected by the Administrative Committee. The decision of the Administrative Committee as to Disability shall be final and binding. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, a Participant shall be deemed to be Disabled upon a determination by the Social Security Administration, effective as of a date while the Participant is an Employee, that the Participant is eligible for Social Security disability benefits. A Participant shall be considered Disabled for purposes of the Plan only if the Participant is an Employee on the date on which the Participant's Disability commences.

        1.30    Effective Date shall mean July 1, 2004, the date that this restatement of the Plan generally shall be effective; provided, any effective date specified herein for any provision, if different from the "Effective Date," shall control (see also Section 15.14). The effective date of participation in the Plan

5



for each Participating Company shall be the date set forth with respect to the Participating Company in Schedule A hereto.

        1.31    Elective Deferrals shall mean, with respect to a Participant for any calendar year, the total amount of his Before-Tax Contributions plus such other amounts as shall be determined pursuant to the terms of Code Section 402(g)(3).

        1.32    Eligible Nonhighly Compensated Participant shall mean, for a Plan Year, a Participant who (i) is taken into account in performing the ADP or ACP Tests for the Plan Year, and (ii) is not a Highly Compensated Employee.

        1.33    Eligible Participant shall mean, for a Plan Year, an Active Participant who (i) has become eligible to receive allocations of ESOP Contributions pursuant to Section 2.1(b) and (ii) either (A) is in the employ of a Participating Company on the last day of such Plan Year, or (B) terminated employment during the Plan year as a result of a Qualified Separation.

        1.34    Eligible Retirement Plan shall mean either (i) an individual retirement account described in Code Section 408(a), (ii) an individual retirement annuity described in Code Section 408(b) (other than an endowment contract), (iii) a qualified trust described in Code Section 401(a) which is a defined contribution plan the terms of which permit the acceptance of rollover distributions, (iv) an annuity plan described in Code Section 403(a), (v) an annuity contract described in Code Section 403(b), or (vi) an eligible plan under Code Section 457(b) which is maintained by a state, political subdivision of a state or any agency or instrumentality of a state or political subdivision of a state. This definition shall also apply in the case of a distribution to a Surviving Spouse, or to a Spouse or former Spouse who is the alternate payee under a qualified domestic relations order, as defined in Code Section 414(p).

        1.35    Eligible Rollover Distribution shall mean any distribution to (i) a Participant, (ii) his Surviving Spouse (after his death), or (iii) his Spouse or former Spouse who is his alternate payee under a qualified domestic relations order (see Sections 9.4 and 15.1), of all or any portion of the balance to his credit in a qualified trust (including any distribution to a Participant of all or any portion of his Account); provided, an "Eligible Rollover Distribution" shall not include (A) any distribution which is one of a series of substantially equal periodic payments made, not less frequently than annually, (x) for the life (or life expectancy) of the Participant or the joint lives (or joint life expectancies) of the Participant and his Beneficiary, or (y) for a specified period of 10 years or more, (B) any distribution to the extent such distribution is required under Code Section 401(a)(9), (C) the portion of any distribution that is not includible in gross income of the distributee, and (D) withdrawals on account of hardship, and (E) distributions which total less than $200 in a Plan Year.

        1.36    Employee shall mean any individual who is employed by an Affiliate (including officers, but excluding independent contractors and directors who are not officers or otherwise employees) and shall include leased employees of an Affiliate within the meaning of Code Section 414(n). The term "leased employee" shall include any person who is not a common-law employee of an Affiliate and who pursuant to an agreement between an Affiliate and any other person has performed services for an Affiliate on a substantially full-time basis for a period of at least 1 year and such services are performed under the primary direction or control of the Affiliate. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if leased employees constitute 20 percent or less of an Affiliate's non-highly compensated work force within the meaning of Code Section 414(n)(5)(C)(ii), the term "Employee" shall not include those leased employees covered by a plan described in Code Section 414(n)(5)(B).

        1.37    Employment Date shall mean, with respect to any Employee, the date on which he first completes an Hour of Service. Unless otherwise determined by the Administrative Committee, if an Employee was employed by one or more companies or enterprises acquired by or merged into, or all or a portion of the assets or business of which are acquired by, an Affiliate, such Employee's Employment

6



Date shall be the date on which he first completed an Hour of Service with such company, enterprise or business.

        1.38    Entry Date shall mean (i) with respect to a Covered Employee's eligibility to make Before-Tax and Rollover Contributions, each calendar day, and (ii) with respect to a Covered Employee's eligibility to receive allocations of Matching and ESOP Contributions, the first day of each calendar quarter. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the first day of each calendar quarter shall be the Entry Date for all purposes under the Plan with respect to a Covered Employee who is described as a temporary employee under a Participating Company's customary worker classification practices. In addition, the Administrative Committee may prescribe and set forth on a schedule hereto or in its records special Entry Dates for individuals who are employed by a predecessor employer or a new Participating Company and who otherwise have satisfied the requirements for eligibility.

        1.39    ERISA shall mean the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.

        1.40    ESOP Account shall mean the separate subaccount established and maintained on behalf of a Participant or Beneficiary to reflect his interest in the Trust Fund attributable to ESOP Contributions.

        1.41    ESOP Contributions shall mean the amounts contributed by each Participating Company for allocation to Participants' ESOP Accounts as provided in Section 3.3.

        1.42    Forfeiture shall mean, for any Plan Year, the dollar amount that is removed from the Account of a former Employee during such Plan Year.

        1.43    Highly Compensated Employee shall mean an Employee who is described either in subsection (a)(1) or (2), as modified by subsections (b), (c), (d) or (e) hereof.

7


        1.44    Hour of Service shall mean the increments of time described in subsection (a) hereof, as modified by subsections (b), (c) and (d) hereof:

8


        1.45    Investment Committee shall mean the committee which shall make and effect investment decisions, as provided in Article XI.

        1.46    Investment Fund or Funds shall mean one or all of the investment funds established from time to time pursuant to the terms of Section 7.2.

        1.47    Key Employee shall mean the persons described in Section 14.2(b)(2).

        1.48    Leave of Absence shall mean an excused leave of absence granted to an Employee by an Affiliate in accordance with applicable federal or state law or the Affiliate's personnel policy. Among other things, Leave of Absence shall be granted to an Employee under such circumstances as the Administrative Committee shall determine are fair, reasonable and equitable, as applied uniformly among Employees under similar circumstances.

        1.49    Limitation Year shall mean the 12-month period ending on each December 31, which shall be the "limitation year" for purposes of Code Section 415 and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

        1.50    Loan shall mean a loan or other extension of credit made to the Plan, including a direct loan of cash, a purchase-money transaction and an assumption of an obligation of the Plan, used by the Trustee to finance the purchase of Company Stock or to repay or refinance any such prior obligation.

        1.51    Loan Suspense Account shall mean such an account established by the Administrative Committee to reflect Company Stock acquired by the Plan with the proceeds of a Loan which has not yet been allocated to the Accounts of Participants pursuant to Section 5.3 of the Plan.

        1.52    Matching Account shall mean the separate subaccount established and maintained on behalf of a Participant or Beneficiary to reflect his interest in the Trust Fund attributable to a match on Participant's Before-Tax Contributions.

        1.53    Matching Contributions shall mean the amounts paid under the stock ownership portion of the Plan by each Participating Company to the Trust Fund as a match on Participant's Before-Tax Contributions.

        1.54    Maternity or Paternity Leave shall mean any period during which an Employee is absent from work as an Employee of an Affiliate (i) because of the pregnancy of such Employee, (ii) because of the birth of a child of such Employee, (iii) because of the placement of a child with such Employee in connection with the adoption of such child by such Employee, or (iv) for purposes of such Employee caring for a child immediately after the birth or placement of such child.

9



        1.55    Maximum Deferral Amount shall mean $13,000 [or such other limit as is applicable for a Plan Year under Code Section 402(g)], as adjusted by the Secretary of the Treasury under Code Section 402(g)(5) for cost of living expenses.

        1.56    Named Fiduciary shall mean the Administrative Committee and the Investment Committee, in each case, solely with respect to the fiduciary responsibilities allocated to such Named Fiduciaries pursuant to the terms of the Plan.

        1.57    Non-Key Employee shall mean the persons described in Section 14.2(b)(3).

        1.58    Normal Retirement Age shall mean age 65.

        1.59    Participant shall mean any person who has been admitted to, and has not been removed from, participation in the Plan pursuant to the provisions of Article II. "Participant" shall include an Active Participant and a former Employee who has an Account under the Plan.

        1.60    Participating Company shall mean a company that has adopted or hereafter may adopt the Plan for the benefit of its Employees and that continues to participate in the Plan, all as provided in Section 13.3.

        1.61    Permissive Aggregation Group shall mean the group of plans described in Section 14.2(b)(4).

        1.62    Plan shall mean The Home Depot FutureBuilder as contained herein and all amendments hereto. The Plan is intended to be qualified under Code Sections 401(a) and 401(k) and is intended to be an employee stock ownership plan within the meaning of Code Section 4975(e)(7).

        1.63    Plan Year shall mean the 12-month period ending on each December 31.

        1.64    Prior Plan shall mean a qualified retirement plan from which the Plan accepts Transfer Contributions.

        1.65    Qualified Separation shall mean a termination of employment (i) on or after attaining Normal Retirement Age, (ii) on account of Disability, or (iii) on account of death.

        1.66    Qualified Spousal Waiver shall mean a written election executed by a Spouse, delivered to the Administrative Committee and witnessed by a notary public or a Plan representative, which consents to the payment of all or a specified portion of a Participant's death benefit to a Beneficiary other than such Spouse and which acknowledges that such Spouse has waived his right to be the Participant's Beneficiary under the Plan. A Qualified Spousal Waiver shall be valid only with respect to the Spouse who signs it and shall apply only to the alternative Beneficiary designated therein, unless the written election expressly permits other designations without further consent of the Spouse. A Qualified Spousal Waiver shall be irrevocable unless revoked by the Participant by way of (i) a written statement delivered to the Administrative Committee or (ii) a written revocation of the non-Spouse Beneficiary designation to which such Spouse has consented; provided, any such revocation must be received by the Administrative Committee prior to the Participant's date of death.

        1.67    Required Aggregation Group shall mean the group of plans described in Section 14.2(b)(5).

        1.68    Restoration Contributions means the amounts paid to the Trust Fund on behalf of a rehired individual pursuant to Section 3.9.

        1.69    Rollover Account shall mean the separate subaccount established and maintained on behalf of a Covered Employee, Participant or Beneficiary to reflect his interest in the Trust Fund attributable to Rollover Contributions.

        1.70    Rollover Contribution shall mean an amount contributed to the Trust Fund (and received and accepted by the Trustee) which constitutes an "eligible rollover contribution" as defined in Code Section 402(f)(2)(A), other than an eligible rollover contribution of after-tax employee contributions.

10



An amount shall be treated as a Rollover Contribution only to the extent that its acceptance by the Trustee is permitted under the Code (including the regulations and rulings promulgated thereunder).

        1.71    Spouse or Surviving Spouse shall mean, with respect to a Participant, the person who is treated as married to such Participant under the laws of the state in which the Participant resides, subject to the limitations of the Defense of Marriage Act. The determination of a Participant's Spouse or Surviving Spouse shall be made as of the earlier of the date as of which benefit payments from the Plan to such Participant are made or commence (as applicable) or the date of such Participant's death. In addition, a Participant's former Spouse shall be treated as his Spouse or Surviving Spouse to the extent provided under a qualified domestic relations order, as defined in Code Section 414(p).

        1.72    Supplemental Account shall mean the separate subaccount established and maintained on behalf of a Participant or Beneficiary to reflect his interest in the Trust Fund attributable to Supplemental Contributions.

        1.73    Supplemental Contributions shall mean the qualified nonelective contributions paid to the Trust Fund by each Participating Company pursuant to the terms of Section 3.4.

        1.74    Top-Heavy Group shall mean the group of plans described in Section 14.2(b)(6).

        1.75    Top-Heavy Plan shall mean a plan to which the conditions set forth in Article XIV apply.

        1.76    Transfer Account shall mean one or more separate subaccounts established and maintained on behalf of a Participant or Beneficiary to reflect his interest in the Trust Fund attributable to Transfer Contributions; provided, to the extent that the Administrative Committee (in conjunction with the Plan's recordkeeper) deems appropriate, other subaccounts may be used to reflect Participant's interests attributable to Transfer Contributions. "Transfer Account" shall refer to the aggregate of all separate subaccounts established for Transfer Contributions or to individual, separate subaccounts appropriately described, as may be appropriate in context. Transfer Accounts shall be reflected and described on a schedule hereto.

        1.77    Transfer Contributions shall mean amounts which are received either (i) by a direct trustee-to-trustee transfer or (ii) as part of a spin-off, merger or other similar event by the Trustee from the trustee or custodian of the Prior Plan and held in the Trust Fund on behalf of a Participant or Beneficiary. Transfer Contributions shall retain the character that those contributions had under the Prior Plan; for example, after-tax contributions under the Prior Plan shall continue to be treated as after-tax contributions when held in the Transfer Account.

        1.78    Trust or Trust Agreement shall mean each agreement entered into between the Controlling Company and a Trustee governing the creation of a Trust Fund, and all amendments thereto. If more than one Trust Fund is used to hold Plan assets, there shall be a separate and distinct Trust and Trust Agreement for each such Trust Fund. To the extent indicated by the context, "Trust" or "Trust Agreement" may refer collectively to all Trusts and Trust Agreements creating Trust Funds.

        1.79    Trustee shall mean the party or parties so designated from time to time pursuant to a Trust Agreement. If more than one Trust Fund is used to hold Plan assets, there may be a separate and distinct Trustee for each such Trust Fund. To the extent indicated by the context, "Trustee" may refer to all of the Trustees or Trustee groups for the Trust Funds.

        1.80    Trust Fund shall mean the total amount of cash and other property held by a Trustee (or any nominee thereof) at any time under a Trust Agreement. To the extent indicated by context, "Trust Fund" may refer to all of the Trust Funds under the Plan.

11


        1.81    Valuation Date shall mean each day the New York Stock Exchange is open for trading. The value of an Account or the Trust Fund on any other date shall be the value determined as of the immediately preceding date on which the New York Stock Exchange was open for trading.

        1.82    Year of Eligibility Service shall mean a 12-consecutive-month period during which an Employee completes no less than 1,000 Hours of Service, subject to subsections (a), (b), (c) and (d) below:

        1.83    Years of Vesting Service shall mean, with respect to an Employee, and subject to the terms of subsections (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f) and (g) hereof, the number of Plan Years during which the Employee completes at least 1,000 Hours of Service:

12



ARTICLE II
ELIGIBILITY

        2.1    Initial Eligibility Requirements .

13


        2.2    Treatment of Interruptions of Service .

        2.3    Change in Status .

14



ARTICLE III
CONTRIBUTIONS

        3.1    Before-Tax Contributions .

15


        3.2    Matching Contributions .

16


        3.3    ESOP Contributions .

        The Participating Companies may, but shall not be required to, make an ESOP Contribution to the Plan with respect to each Plan Year. Subject to the limitations set forth in Section 6.1 and Section 6.6, the amount of any such ESOP Contribution shall be determined by the Controlling Company in its sole discretion. Each Participating Company shall contribute to the Plan for such Plan Year the same percentage of Compensation of its Eligible Participants for such Plan Year.

        3.4    Supplemental Contributions .

        To the extent and in such amounts as the Administrative Committee, in its sole discretion, deems desirable to help satisfy the ADP and/or ACP Tests for any Plan Year and subject to the requirements and limitations set forth in Article VI of the Plan, each Participating Company shall make a Supplemental Contribution for a Plan Year.

        3.5    Additional Contributions .

        The Controlling Company or a Participating Company may make additional contributions to the Plan on behalf of any group of Active Participants. Such contributions may be made, for example, to Active Participants who become employed by an Affiliate as a result of an acquisition of the stock or assets of a predecessor employer. The provisions relating to such contributions (including allocations and vesting provisions) shall be set forth on a schedule to the Plan.

        3.6    Form of Contributions .

        All Contributions shall be paid to the Trustee in the form of cash or shares of Company Stock, as determined by the Controlling Company.

        3.7    Timing of Contributions .

17


        3.8    Contingent Nature of Company Contributions .

        Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article III and subject to the terms of Section 15.11, Contributions made to the Plan by a Participating Company are made expressly contingent upon the deductibility thereof for federal income tax purposes for the taxable year of the Participating Company with respect to which such Contributions are made.

        3.9    Restoration Contributions .

        3.10    Reemployed Veterans .

        Notwithstanding any provision in this Plan to the contrary, contributions and benefits with respect to qualified military service shall be provided in accordance with Code Section 414(u).

        3.11    Catch-Up Contributions .

        Effective September 17, 2004, all Active Participants who have attained age 50 before the last day of a Plan Year shall be eligible to make catch-up contributions in accordance with, and subject to the limitations of Section 414(v). Such catch-up contributions shall not be taken into account for purposes of the provisions of the Plan implementing the limitations of Code Sections 402(g) and 415. The Plan shall not be treated as failing to satisfy the provisions of the Plan implementing the limitations of Code Sections 401(k)(3), 401(k)(11), 401(k)(12), 410(b) or 416, as applicable, by reason of the making of such catch-up contributions. Subject to the foregoing limitations, such catch-up contribution shall be treated as Before-Tax Contributions for all purposes under the Plan; provided that any contribution that is designated as a catch-up contribution at the time it is made to the Plan shall not be taken into account in determining Matching Contributions under Section 3.2, regardless of whether all or part of such contribution is later recharacterized as not constituting a catch-up contribution as determined under Section 414(v). Catch-up contributions shall be made in accordance with procedures established by the Administrative Committee.

18



ARTICLE IV
ROLLOVERS AND TRANSFERS BETWEEN PLANS

        4.1    Rollover Contributions .

        4.2    Transfer Contributions .

19


        4.3    Spin-offs to Other Plans .

        The Administrative Committee, in its sole discretion, may cause the Plan to transfer to another qualified retirement plan (as part of a spin-off, change in control or similar transaction) all or part of the assets and liabilities maintained under the Plan. Any such transfer shall be made in accordance with the terms of the Code and subject to such rules and requirements as the Administrative Committee may deem appropriate. Upon the effectiveness of any such transfer, the Plan and Trust shall have no further responsibility or liability with respect to the transferred assets and liabilities.


ARTICLE V
PARTICIPANTS' ACCOUNTS; CREDITING AND ALLOCATIONS

        5.1    Establishment of Participants' Accounts .

        To the extent appropriate, the Administrative Committee shall establish and maintain, on behalf of each Participant and Beneficiary, an Account which shall be divided into segregated subaccounts. The subaccounts shall include (to the extent applicable) Before-Tax, Matching, ESOP, Supplemental, Rollover and Transfer Accounts and such other subaccounts as the Administrative Committee shall deem appropriate or helpful. Each Account shall be credited with Contributions allocated to such Account and generally shall be credited with income on investments derived from the assets of such Accounts. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, while Contributions may be allocated to a Participant's Account as of a particular date (as specified in the Plan), such Contributions shall actually be added to a Participant's Account and shall be credited with investment experience only from the date such Contributions are received and credited to the Participant's Account by the Trustee. Each Account of a Participant or Beneficiary shall be maintained until the value thereof has been distributed to or on behalf of such Participant or Beneficiary.

        5.2    Allocation and Crediting of Before-Tax, Matching, Rollover and Transfer Contributions .

        As of each Valuation Date coinciding with or occurring as soon as practicable after the date on which Before-Tax, Matching, Rollover and Transfer Contributions are received on behalf of an Active Participant, such Contributions shall be allocated and credited directly to the appropriate Before-Tax Account, Matching Account, Rollover Account and Transfer Accounts, respectively, of such Active Participant.

        5.3    Allocation of ESOP Contributions and Company Stock Released from Loan Suspense Account .

20


        5.4    Allocation and Crediting of Supplemental Contributions .

21


        5.5    Crediting of Restoration Contributions .

        As of the Valuation Date coinciding with or immediately following the date on which the Plan restores the forfeitable portion of a Participant's Account pursuant to Section 3.9, such amount shall be credited to the appropriate Matching and Transfer Accounts of the Participant, in the amounts forfeited from such Accounts upon of the earlier distribution to such Participant.

        5.6    Adjustments to Accounts .

        As of each Valuation Date, the Trustee shall determine the fair market value of the Trust Fund which shall be the sum of the fair market values of the Investment Funds, as determined by the institutions maintaining the Investment Funds. Each Participant's or Beneficiary's Account shall be allocated and credited with a portion of such earnings or debited with a portion of such losses in each Investment Fund, in the proportion that the amount credited to such Account is invested in each Investment Fund. Each Account shall also be appropriately adjusted to reflect any contributions, distributions, withdrawals or transfers between Investment Funds and other disbursements from such Account. The provisions of this Section 5.6 shall apply to all investment earnings or losses other than dividends paid on Company Stock that are allocated pursuant to Section 5.7.

        5.7    Allocation of Cash Dividends on Company Stock .

        Dividends paid on Company Stock held in the Trust shall be applied as designated by the Controlling Company in accordance with one or more of the following provisions:

22


        5.8    Allocation of Adjustments Upon Change in Capitalization .

        If the outstanding shares of Company Stock held in the Plan increase or decrease by reason of a recapitalization, reclassification, stock split, combination of shares or dividend payable in shares of Company Stock, such increase or decrease shall be allocated to each Account as of the date on which the event requiring such adjustments occurs, in the same manner as the share to which it is attributable is then allocated.

        5.9    Allocation of Forfeitures .

        To the extent Forfeitures for a Plan Year are not used to pay plan expenses as provided in Section 15.12, Restoration Contributions pursuant to Section 3.9 or to replace abandoned Accounts as provided in Section 9.8, the Administrative Committee, in its sole discretion, may use such Forfeitures to pay the reasonable administrative expenses of the Plan or may deem such Forfeitures to Matching, Supplemental or ESOP Contributions (that shall first be used to reduce the Participating Companies' obligation, if any, to make such Contributions pursuant to the terms of the Plan and then shall be added to, and combined with, any such other Contributions made for such Plan Year by the Participating Companies).

        5.10    Notice to Participants of Account Balances .

        At least once for each Plan Year, the Administrative Committee shall cause a written statement of a Participant's or Beneficiary's Account balance to be distributed to the Participant or Beneficiary.

        5.11    Good Faith Valuation Binding .

        In determining the value of the Trust Fund and the Accounts, the Trustee and the Administrative Committee shall exercise their best judgment, and all such determinations of value (in the absence of bad faith) shall be binding upon all Participants and Beneficiaries.

        5.12    Errors and Omissions in Accounts .

        If an error or omission is discovered in the Account of a Participant or Beneficiary, the Administrative Committee shall cause appropriate, equitable adjustments to be made to such Account as of the Valuation Date coinciding with or immediately following the discovery of such error or omission.

23




ARTICLE VI
CONTRIBUTION AND SECTION 415 LIMITATIONS
AND NONDISCRIMINATION REQUIREMENTS

        6.1    Deductibility Limitations .

        In no event shall the total Contribution amount for any taxable year of a Participating Company exceed that amount which is properly deductible for federal income tax purposes under the then appropriate provisions of the Code. For purposes of this Section, a Contribution may be deemed made by a Participating Company for a taxable year if it is paid to the Trustee on or before the date of filing the Participating Company's federal income tax return (including extensions thereof) for that year or on or before such other date as shall be within the time allowed to permit proper deduction by the Participating Company of the amount so contributed for federal income tax purposes for the year in which the obligation to make such Contribution was incurred.

        6.2    Maximum Limitation on Elective Deferrals .

24


        6.3    Nondiscrimination Requirements for Before-Tax Contributions .

25


        6.4    Nondiscrimination Requirements for Matching Contributions .

26


27


        6.5    Order of Application .

        For any Plan Year in which adjustments shall be necessary or otherwise made pursuant to the terms of Sections 6.3, 6.4 and/or 6.5, such adjustments shall be applied in the order prescribed by the Secretary of Treasury in Treasury Regulations or other published authority.

        6.6    Code Section 415 Limitations on Maximum Contributions .

28


29


        6.7    Construction of Limitations and Requirements .

        The descriptions of the limitations and requirements set forth in this Article are intended to serve as statements of the legal requirements necessary for the Plan to remain qualified under the applicable terms of the Code. The Participating Companies do not desire or intend, and the terms of this Article shall not be construed, to impose any more restrictions on the operation of the Plan than required by law. Therefore, the terms of this Article and any related terms and definitions in the Plan shall be interpreted and operated in a manner which imposes the least restrictions on the Plan. For example, if use of a more liberal definition of "Compensation" or a more liberal multiple use test is permissible at any time under the law, then the more liberal provisions may be applied as if such provisions were included in the Plan.

30




ARTICLE VII
INVESTMENTS

        7.1    Establishment of Trust Account .

        All Contributions are to be paid over to the Trustee, to be held in the Trust Fund and invested in accordance with the terms of the Plan and the Trust.

        7.2    Investment Funds .

        7.3    Participant Direction of Investments .

        Each Participant or Beneficiary generally may direct the manner in which his Accounts and Contributions shall be invested in and among the Investment Funds described in Section 7.2. Participant investment directions shall be made in accordance with the following terms:

31


        7.4    Valuation .

        As of each Valuation Date, the Trustee shall determine the fair market value of each of the Investment Funds after first deducting any expenses which have not been paid by the Participating Companies. All costs and expenses incurred in connection with Plan investments and, unless paid by the Participating Companies, all costs and expenses incurred in connection with the general administration of the Plan and the Trust shall be allocated between the Investment Funds in the proportion in which the amount invested in each Investment Fund bears to the amount invested in all Investment Funds as of the appropriate Valuation Date; provided, all costs and expenses directly identifiable to one Investment Fund shall be allocated to that Investment Fund.

32



        7.5    Voting and Tender Offer Rights with Respect to Investment Funds .

        Except as provided in Section 7.13, only if, to the extent and in the manner, permitted by the Trust and/or any documents establishing or controlling any of the Investment Funds, shall Participants and Beneficiaries be given the opportunity to vote and tender their interests in each such Investment Funds. Otherwise, such interests shall be voted and/or tendered by the Investment Manager or other fiduciary that controls such Investment Fund, as may be provided in the controlling documents.

        7.6    Purchase of Life Insurance .

        Life insurance contracts shall not be purchased.

        7.7    Fiduciary Responsibilities for Investment Directions .

        It is intended that the Plan qualify as an ERISA 404c plan. All fiduciary responsibility with respect to the selection of Investment Funds for the investment of a Participant's or Beneficiary's Accounts shall be allocated to the Participant or Beneficiary who directs the investment. Neither the Administrative Committee, the Investment Committee, the Trustee, nor any Participating Company shall be accountable for any loss sustained by reason of any action taken, or investment made, pursuant to an investment direction.

        7.8    Appointment of Investment Manager; Authorization to Invest in Collective Trust .

        7.9    Borrowing to Acquire Company Stock .

        The Administrative Committee may direct the Trustee to obtain Loans under the Plan. Any such Loan must be used primarily for the benefit of Participants and their Beneficiaries and shall satisfy all

33



requirements necessary to constitute an "exempt loan" within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 54.4975-7(b)(1)(iii), including the following:

34


        7.10    Release of Shares .

        7.11    Diversification of ESOP Account by Participants .

        7.12    Value of Company Stock .

        For all purposes under the Plan for which the value of Company Stock must be determined, the value of Company Stock shall be its fair market value. If the Company Stock is listed on an established stock exchange, the fair market value per share of Company Stock on any particular date shall be the

35


closing price of the stock on such exchange on the last business day of such exchange which immediately precedes the date of valuation. If, for any reason, the fair market value per share of Company Stock cannot be ascertained or is unavailable for a particular date, the fair market value of such stock shall be determined as of the nearest preceding date on which such fair market value can be ascertained pursuant to the terms hereof. In the case of a transaction between the Plan and a person described in Code Section 4975(e)(2), the value shall be determined as of the date of the transaction; for all other purposes, the value shall be determined as of the most recent Valuation Date.

        7.13  Voting and Tender Offer Rights With Respect to Company Stock .


ARTICLE VIII
VESTING IN ACCOUNTS

        8.1 Vesting .

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Years of Vesting Service
Completed by Participant

  Vested Percentage of Participant's
Matching Account

 
Less than 3 Years   0 %
3 Years or more   100 %
Years of Vesting Service
Completed by Participant

  Vested Percentage of Participant's
ESOP Account

 
Less than 3 Years   0 %
3 Years, but less than 4   20 %
4 Years, but less than 5   40 %
5 Years, but less than 6   60 %
6 Years, but less than 7   80 %
7 Years or more   100 %

        8.2    Vesting Upon Attainment of Normal Retirement Age, Death or Disability .

        Notwithstanding Section 8.1, a Participant's Matching and ESOP Accounts shall become 100 percent vested and nonforfeitable upon the occurrence of any of the following events:

        8.3    Timing of Forfeitures and Vesting after Restoration Contributions .

        If a Participant who is not yet 100 percent vested in his Matching Account, ESOP Account or Transfer Account severs from employment with all Affiliates, the unvested portion of his Matching Account, ESOP Account or Transfer Account shall not be forfeited prior to the date on which the Participant has incurred 5 consecutive Breaks in Service unless he receives a cash-out distribution of the entire vested portion of his Matching, ESOP and Transfer Accounts. Pending the end of such 5 consecutive Breaks in Service, such nonvested amount shall become available for allocation (in the manner set forth in Section 5.9) but shall be re-credited to Participant's account if, prior to the end of such period, the Participant resumes employment with an Affiliate or the Plan is terminated as described in Section 13.2. If the Participant does not resume employment with an Affiliate and the Plan is not terminated before the end of such 5 consecutive Breaks in Service, the nonvested portion of his Account shall be forfeited. If a Participant has no vested interest in his Matching Account, ESOP Account and Transfer Account at the time he severs from employment, he shall be deemed to have received a cash-out distribution at the time he severs from employment, and the forfeiture provisions of this Section shall apply upon such distribution.

37



        8.4    Vesting Following Partial Distributions .

        In the event that a Participant receives a distribution from an Account in which he is less than fully vested, the vested interest of the Participant in such Account prior to the date such Participant (i) severs from employment with all Affiliates, (ii) incurs 5 consecutive Breaks in Service (such that the nonvested portions of such Account are forfeited), or (iii) becomes 100 percent vested pursuant to the terms of Sections 8.1 or 8.2 hereof (whichever is earliest), shall be determined pursuant to the following formula:

X=P (AB + [R × D]) - (R × D),

Where X is the vested interest at the relevant time (that is, the time at which the vested percentage in such Account cannot increase), P is the vested percentage at the relevant time; AB is the balance of his Matching Account or Transfer Account at the relevant time; D is the amount of the distribution; and R is the ratio of such Account's Balance at the relevant time to such Account's balance immediately after the distribution.

        8.5    Amendment to Vesting Schedule .

        Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, in no event shall the terms of any amendment to the Plan reduce the vested percentage that any Participant has earned under the Plan. In the event that the Plan provides for Participants to vest in their Accounts at a rate which is faster than that provided under any amendment hereto (or in the event any other change is made that directly has an adverse effect on Participants' vested percentage), any Participant who has 3 or more Years of Vesting Service [calculated in a manner consistent with Treasury Regulation Section 1.411(a)-8T (or any successor Section)] may elect to have his vested percentage calculated under the schedule in the Plan before any such change, and the Administrative Committee shall give each such Participant notice of his rights to make such an election. The period during which the election may be made shall commence with the date the amendment is adopted or deemed to be made and shall end on the latest of: (i) 60 days after the amendment is adopted; (ii) 60 days after the amendment becomes effective; or (iii) 60 days after the Participant is issued written notice of the amendment by a Participating Company or Administrative Committee.


ARTICLE IX
PAYMENT OF BENEFITS FROM ACCOUNTS

        9.1    Benefits Payable for Reasons Other Than Death .

38


39


        9.2    Death Benefits .

        If a Participant dies before payment of his benefits from the Plan is made or commences to be made, the Beneficiary or Beneficiaries designated by such Participant in his latest beneficiary designation form filed with the Administrative Committee in accordance with the terms of Section 9.6 shall be entitled to receive a distribution of the total of (i) the entire vested amount credited to such Participant's Account, determined as of the Valuation Date on which the distribution is processed, plus (ii) any Contributions made on such Participant's behalf since such Valuation Date. Benefits shall be distributed to such Beneficiary or Beneficiaries as soon as administratively feasible following the second month after the date of the Participant's death (or, if later, after timing restrictions and requirements

40



under the Code are satisfied). As required by Code Section 401(a)(9), in no event shall any such distribution be made later than 5 years after the date of the Participant's death, except for distributions made to such Participant's Spouse. Any amounts allocated to a Participant's ESOP Account after the date of his death shall be distributed as soon as administratively practicable following the date of such allocation. Any amounts allocated to a Participant's ESOP Account after the date a distribution is made under this Section 9.2 shall be distributed as soon as administratively practicable following the date of such allocation. The Administrative Committee may direct the Trustee to distribute a Participant's Account to a Beneficiary without the written consent of such Beneficiary.

        9.3    Forms of Distribution .

        9.4    Qualified Domestic Relations Orders .

        In the event the Administrative Committee receives a domestic relations order which it determines to be a qualified domestic relations order, the Plan shall pay such benefit to the prescribed alternate payee(s) at such time and in such form as shall be described in the qualified domestic relations order and permitted under Section 15.1(b). If the qualified domestic relations order requires immediate payment, the specified benefit shall be paid to the alternate payee as soon as practicable following the end of the month within which the Administrative Committee determines that the order is qualified or, if later, after timing restrictions and requirements under the Code are satisfied. To the extent consistent with the qualified domestic relations order, the amount of the payment to an alternate payee shall include earnings, interest and other investment proceeds through (but not after) the Valuation Date as of which the Trustee processes the distribution. If a Participant's Account is partially paid or payable to an alternate payee, the Participant's remaining portion of his Account shall be reduced accordingly and shall be subject to the distribution provisions in this Article IX. To the extent required under a qualified domestic relations order, the Administrative Committee shall establish a separate account (and any appropriate subaccount) for the benefit of the alternate payee.

        9.5    Beneficiary Designation .

41


        9.6    Claims .

42


43


        9.7    Explanation of Rollover Distributions .

        Within a reasonable period of time [as defined for purposes of Code Section 402(f)] before making an Eligible Rollover Distribution (which may include certain withdrawals permitted under Article X hereof) from the Plan to a Participant or Beneficiary, the Administrative Committee shall provide such Participant or Beneficiary with a written explanation of (i) the provisions under which the distributee may have the distribution directly transferred to another Eligible Retirement Plan, (ii) the provisions which require the withholding of tax on the distribution if it is not directly transferred to another Eligible Retirement Plan, (iii) the provisions under which the distribution will not be subject to tax if transferred to an Eligible Retirement Plan within 60 days after the date on which the distributee receives the distribution, and (iv) such other terms and provisions as may be required under Code Section 402(f) and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

        9.8    Unclaimed Benefits .

        In the event a Participant or Beneficiary becomes entitled to a distribution from the Plan and the Administrative Committee is unable to locate such Participant or Beneficiary after such diligent efforts as the Administrative Committee in its sole discretion deems appropriate, then the full Account of the Participant or Beneficiary shall be deemed abandoned and treated as a Forfeiture; provided, in the event such Participant or Beneficiary is located or makes a claim subsequent to the allocation of the abandoned Account, the amount of such abandoned Account (unadjusted for any investment gains or losses from the time of abandonment) shall be restored (from abandoned Accounts, Forfeitures, Trust earnings or Contributions made by the Participating Companies) to such Participant or Beneficiary, as appropriate.

44



        9.9    Recordkeeper Transition Rule .

        For purposes of effectuating a change in the Plan's recordkeeper, and notwithstanding anything contained in this Article IX to the contrary, the Administrative Committee may designate a period during which no distributions shall be permitted.


ARTICLE X
WITHDRAWALS AND LOANS

        10.1    Hardship Withdrawals .

45


        10.2    Age 65 Withdrawals .

        10.3    Election to Withdraw .

        All applications for withdrawals shall be in writing on a form provided by the Administrative Committee and shall contain such information and be made at such time as the Administrative Committee may reasonably request. Any application for a withdrawal must be submitted to the Administrative Committee (or its delegatee) in accordance with procedures established under the Plan prior to the payment date of such withdrawal.

        10.4    Payment of Withdrawal .

        The amount of any withdrawal under Sections 10.1, 10.2 or 10.3 shall be paid to a Participant in a single-sum payment as soon as practicable after the Administrative Committee receives and approves a properly completed withdrawal application. At the time of making any withdrawals for a Participant, his Account may be charged with any administrative expenses (such as check processing fees) specifically allocable against his Account pursuant to the policies of the Administrative Committee. Any withdrawal shall be treated as a payment of benefits under Articles IX and X and all of the requirements of those Articles.

        10.5    Distributions and Withdrawals from Transfer Accounts .

        If a Prior Plan which (i) allows Code Section 411(d)(6) protected in-service withdrawals (other than those permitted in Sections 10.1, 10.2 and 10.3) and/or (ii) allows one or more Code Section 411(d)(6) protected forms of distribution not generally permitted hereunder, the Participants who have Transfer Accounts reflecting the accrued benefits subject to such protected withdrawals and forms of distribution under that Prior Plan shall be permitted to withdraw, and/or receive distributions of, all or a portion of the amounts from the subject Transfer Accounts in a manner and subject to rules and restrictions, similar to those provided under the Prior Plan such that the Plan will comply with the

46



requirements of Code Section 411(d)(6). The terms and conditions of any such withdrawals and distributions, as well as other pertinent rules and provisions relating to the transfer of such assets to the Plan, shall be set forth on a schedule hereto.

        10.6    Loans to Participants .

47


48


        10.7    Transition Rule .

        For purposes of effectuating a change in the Plan's recordkeeper, and notwithstanding anything contained in this Article X to the contrary, the Administrative Committee may designate a period during which no withdrawals or loans shall be permitted.


ARTICLE XI
ADMINISTRATION

        11.1    Administrative Committee; Appointment and Term of Office .

        11.2    Organization of Administrative Committee .

        The Administrative Committee may elect a Chairman and a Secretary from among its members. In addition to those powers set forth elsewhere in the Plan, the Administrative Committee may appoint such agents, who need not be members of such Administrative Committee, as it may deem necessary for the effective performance of its duties and may delegate to such agents such powers and duties, whether ministerial or discretionary, as the Administrative Committee may deem expedient or appropriate. The compensation of such agents who are not full-time Employees of a Participating Company shall be fixed by the Administrative Committee and shall be paid by the Controlling

49



Company (to be divided equitably among the Participating Companies) or from the Trust Fund as determined by the Administrative Committee. The Administrative Committee shall act by majority vote or by resolutions signed by a majority of the Administrative Committee members. Its members shall serve as such without compensation.

        11.3    Powers and Responsibility .

50


        11.4    Records of Administrative Committee .

        11.5    Delegation .

        The Administrative Committee shall have the power to delegate specific fiduciary, administrative and ministerial responsibilities (other than Trustee responsibilities). Such delegations may be to officers or Employees of a Participating Company or to other persons, all of whom shall serve at the pleasure of the Administrative Committee. References in the Plan to the Administrative Committee are deemed to include any person authorized to act on its behalf pursuant to this Section and Section 12.6.

        11.6    Reporting and Disclosure .

        The Administrative Committee shall keep all individual and group records relating to Participants and Beneficiaries and all other records necessary for the proper operation of the Plan. Such records shall be made available to the Participating Companies and to each Participant and Beneficiary for examination during normal business hours except that a Participant or Beneficiary shall examine only such records as pertain exclusively to the examining Participant or Beneficiary and the Plan and Trust Agreement. The Administrative Committee shall prepare and shall file as required by law or regulation all reports, forms, documents and other items required by ERISA, the Code and every other relevant statute, each as amended, and all regulations promulgated thereunder. This provision shall not be construed as imposing upon the Administrative Committee the responsibility or authority for the preparation, preservation, publication or filing of any document required to be prepared, preserved or filed by the Trustee or by any other Named Fiduciary to whom such responsibilities are delegated by law or by the Plan.

        11.7    Construction of the Plan .

        The Administrative Committee shall take such steps as are considered necessary and appropriate to remedy any inequity that results from incorrect information received or communicated in good faith or as the consequence of an administrative error. Such remedial steps may include, but are not limited to, taking any voluntary corrective action under any correction program available through the Internal Revenue Service, Department of Labor or other administrative agency. The Administrative Committee, in its sole and full discretion, shall interpret the Plan and shall determine the questions arising in the administration, interpretation and application of the Plan. The Administrative Committee shall endeavor to act, whether by general rules or by particular decisions, so as not to discriminate in favor of or against any person and so as to treat all persons in similar circumstances uniformly. The Administrative Committee shall correct any defect, reconcile any inconsistency or supply any omission with respect to the Plan.

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        11.8    Assistants and Advisors .

        11.9    Investment Committee .

        11.10    Direction of Trustee .

        The Investment Committee shall have the power to provide the Trustee with general investment policy guidelines and directions to assist the Trustee respecting investments made in compliance with, and pursuant to, the terms of the Plan.

        11.11    Bonding .

        The Administrative Committee shall arrange for fiduciary bonding as is required by law, but no bonding in excess of the amount required by law shall be required by the Plan.

        11.12    Indemnification .

        Each of the Administrative Committee and the Investment Committee and each member of those Committees shall be indemnified by the Participating Companies against judgment amounts, settlement

52



amounts (other than amounts paid in settlement to which the Participating Companies do not consent) and expenses, reasonably incurred by the Committee or him in connection with any action to which the Committee or he may be a party (by reason of his service as a member of a Committee) except in relation to matters as to which the Committee or he shall be adjudged in such action to be personally guilty of gross negligence or willful misconduct in the performance of its or his duties. The foregoing right to indemnification shall be in addition to such other rights as such Committee or each Committee member may enjoy as a matter of law or by reason of insurance coverage of any kind. Rights granted hereunder shall be in addition to and not in lieu of any rights to indemnification to which such Committee or each Committee member may be entitled pursuant to the by-laws of the Controlling Company. Service on the Administrative or Investment Committee shall be deemed in partial fulfillment of a Committee member's function as an Employee, officer and/or director of the Controlling Company or any Participating Company, if he serves in such other capacity as well.


ARTICLE XII
ALLOCATION OF AUTHORITY AND RESPONSIBILITIES

        12.1    Controlling Company .

        12.2    Administrative Committee .

        The Administrative Committee shall have the authority and responsibilities imposed by Article XI. The Administrative Committee shall have no authority or responsibilities other than as granted in the Plan or as imposed as a matter of law.

        12.3    Investment Committee .

        The Investment Committee, if any is appointed, shall be a Named Fiduciary with respect to its authority and responsibilities, as imposed by Article XI. The Investment Committee shall have no authority or responsibilities other than those granted in the Plan and the Trust.

        12.4    Trustee .

        The Trustee shall be a fiduciary with respect to investment of Trust Fund assets and shall have the powers and duties set forth in the Trust Agreement.

        12.5    Limitations on Obligations of Fiduciaries .

        No fiduciary shall have authority or responsibility to deal with matters other than as delegated to it under the Plan, under the Trust Agreement or by operation of law. A fiduciary shall not in any event be liable for breach of fiduciary responsibility or obligation by another fiduciary (including Named Fiduciaries) if the responsibility or authority for the act or omission deemed to be a breach was not within the scope of such fiduciary's authority or delegated responsibility.

        12.6    Delegation .

        Named Fiduciaries shall have the power to delegate specific fiduciary responsibilities (other than Trustee responsibilities). Such delegations may be to officers or Employees of a Participating Company or to other persons, all of whom shall serve at the pleasure of the Named Fiduciary making such delegation and, if full-time Employees of an Affiliate, without compensation. Any such person may resign by delivering a written resignation to the delegating Named Fiduciary. Vacancies created by any reason may be filled by the appropriate Named Fiduciary or the assigned responsibilities may be reabsorbed or redelegated by the Named Fiduciary.

53


        12.7    Multiple Fiduciary Roles .

        Any person may hold more than one position of fiduciary responsibility and shall be liable for each such responsibility separately.


ARTICLE XIII
AMENDMENT, TERMINATION AND ADOPTION

        13.1    Amendment .

        The provisions of the Plan may be amended at any time and from time to time by the Administrative Committee; provided:

        13.2    Termination .

54


        13.3    Adoption of the Plan by a Participating Company .

55


        13.4    Merger, Consolidation and Transfer of Assets or Liabilities .

        In the event of any merger or consolidation of the Plan with, or transfer of assets or liabilities of the Plan to, any other plan, each Participant and Beneficiary shall have a plan benefit in the surviving or transferee plan (determined as if such plan were then terminated immediately after such merger, consolidation or transfer of assets or liabilities) that is equal to or greater than the benefit he would have been entitled to receive under the Plan immediately before such merger, consolidation or transfer of assets or liabilities, if the Plan had terminated at that time.


ARTICLE XIV
TOP-HEAVY PROVISIONS

        14.1    Top-Heavy Plan Years .

        The provisions set forth in this Article XIV shall become effective for any Plan Years with respect to which the Plan is determined to be a Top-Heavy Plan and shall supersede any other provisions of the Plan which are inconsistent with these provisions; provided, if the Plan is determined not to be a Top-Heavy Plan in any Plan Year subsequent to a Plan Year in which the Plan was a Top-Heavy Plan, the provisions of this Article XIV shall not apply with respect to such subsequent Plan Year; provided further, the provisions of this Article XIV shall not apply with respect to any Plan Year beginning after December 31, 2001, in which the Plan consists solely of a cash or deferred arrangement which meets the requirements of Code Section 401(k)(12) and matching contributions with respect to which the requirements of Code Section 401(m)(11) are met; and, provided further, to the extent that any of the requirements of this Article XIV shall no longer be required under Code Section 416 or any other Section of the Code, such requirements shall be of no force or effect.

        14.2    Determination of Top-Heavy Status .

56


57


        14.3    Top-Heavy Minimum Contribution .

58


59


        14.4    Top-Heavy Minimum Vesting .

Years of Vesting Service

  Vested Percentage
 
Less than 2   None  
2 Years, but less than 3   20 %
3 Years, but less than 4   40 %
4 Years, but less than 5   60 %
5 Years, but less than 6   80 %
6 Years or More   100 %

        14.5    Construction of Limitations and Requirements .

        The descriptions of the limitations and requirements set forth in this Article are intended to serve as statements of the minimum legal requirements necessary for the Plan to remain qualified under the applicable terms of the Code. The Participating Companies do not desire or intend, and the terms of this Article shall not be construed, to impose any more restrictions on the operation of the Plan than required by law. Therefore, the terms of this Article and any related terms and definitions in the Plan shall be interpreted and operated in a manner which imposes the least restrictions on the Plan. For example, if use of a more liberal definition of "Compensation" is permissible at any time under the law, then the more liberal provisions may be applied as if such provisions were included in the Plan.


ARTICLE XV
MISCELLANEOUS

        15.1    Nonalienation of Benefits and Spendthrift Clause .

60


        15.2    Headings .

        The headings and subheadings in the Plan have been inserted for convenience of reference only and are to be ignored in any construction of the provisions hereof.

        15.3    Construction, Controlling Law .

        In the construction of the Plan, the masculine shall include the feminine and the feminine the masculine, and the singular shall include the plural and the plural the singular, in all cases where such meanings would be appropriate. Unless otherwise specified, any reference to a Section shall be interpreted as a reference to a Section of the Plan. The Plan shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Georgia and applicable federal laws.

        15.4    No Contract of Employment .

        Neither the establishment of the Plan, nor any modification thereof, nor the creation of any fund, trust or account, nor the payment of any benefits shall be construed as giving any Participant, Employee or any person whomsoever the right to be retained in the service of any Affiliate, and all Participants and other Employees shall remain subject to discharge to the same extent as if the Plan had never been adopted.

61



        15.5    Legally Incompetent .

        The Administrative Committee may in its discretion direct that payment be made and the Trustee shall make payment on such direction, directly to an incompetent or disabled person, whether incompetent or disabled because of minority or mental or physical disability, or to the guardian of such person or to the person having legal custody of such person, without further liability with respect to or in the amount of such payment either on the part of any Participating Company, the Administrative Committee or the Trustee.

        15.6    Heirs, Assigns and Personal Representatives .

        The Plan shall be binding upon the heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns of the parties, including each Participant and Beneficiary, present and future.

        15.7    Title to Assets, Benefits Supported Only By Trust Fund .

        No Participant or Beneficiary shall have any right to, or interest in, any assets of the Trust Fund upon termination of his employment or otherwise, except as provided from time to time under the Plan, and then only to the extent of the benefits payable under the Plan to such Participant out of the assets of the Trust Fund. Any person having any claim under the Plan shall look solely to the assets of the Trust Fund for satisfaction. The foregoing sentence notwithstanding, each Participating Company shall indemnify and save any of its officers, members of its board of directors or agents, and each of them, harmless from any and all claims, loss, damages, expense and liability arising from their responsibilities in connection with the Plan and from acts, omissions and conduct in their official capacity, except to the extent that such effects and consequences shall result from their own willful misconduct or gross negligence.

        15.8    Legal Action .

        In any action or proceeding involving the assets held with respect to the Plan or Trust Fund or the administration thereof, the Participating Companies, the Administrative Committee and the Trustee shall be the only necessary parties and no Participants, Employees, or former Employees, their Beneficiaries or any other person having or claiming to have an interest in the Plan shall be entitled to any notice of process; provided, that such notice as is required by the Internal Revenue Service and the Department of Labor to be given in connection with Plan amendments, termination, curtailment or other activity shall be given in the manner and form and at the time so required. Any final judgment which is not appealed or appealable that may be entered in any such action or proceeding shall be binding and conclusive on the parties hereto, the Administrative Committee and all persons having or claiming to have an interest in the Plan.

        15.9    No Discrimination .

        The Controlling Company, through the Administrative Committee, shall administer the Plan in a uniform and consistent manner with respect to all Participants and Beneficiaries and shall not permit impermissible discrimination in favor of Highly Compensated Employees.

        15.10    Severability .

        If any provisions of the Plan shall be held invalid or unenforceable, such invalidity or unenforceability shall not affect any other provisions hereof, and the Plan shall be construed and enforced as if such provisions had not been included.

        15.11      Exclusive Benefit; Refund of Contributions .

        No part of the Trust Fund shall be used for or diverted to purposes other than the exclusive benefit of the Participants and Beneficiaries, subject, however, to the payment of all costs of maintaining and administering the Plan and Trust. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Contributions to the

62



Trust by a Participating Company may be refunded to the Participating Company under the following circumstances and subject to the following limitations:

        15.12      Plan Expenses .

        As permitted under the Code and ERISA, expenses incurred with respect to administering the Plan and Trust shall be paid by the Trustee from the Trust Fund to the extent such costs are not paid by the Participating Companies or to the extent the Controlling Company requests that the Trustee reimburse it or any other Participating Company for its payment of such expenses. Upon request, the Trustee shall reimburse the Controlling Company for its salary and other labor costs related to the Plan to the extent that such costs constitute proper Plan expenses. The Administrative Committee may provide for such expenses to be charged against earnings as provided in Section 7.4, Forfeitures as provided in Section 5.9 or Participants' Accounts (on a per capita basis, in proportion to the value of such Accounts or on any other basis permitted under the Code and ERISA). The Administrative Committee may provide for any expenses specifically attributable to transactions involving an Account to be charged against such Account.

        15.13      Special Effective Dates .

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        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Plan has been executed by a duly authorized member of the Administrative Committee on the date first written above.

 
   
   
    ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEE OF
THE HOME DEPOT FUTUREBUILDER

 

 

By:

 

 
       
Ileana L. Connally

64



THE HOME DEPOT FUTUREBUILDER
A 401(k) AND STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN


SCHEDULE A

PARTICIPATING COMPANIES AND EFFECTIVE DATES

Participating Company

  Effective Date
of Participation

  Participation
Termination Date

The Home Depot, Inc.   April 1, 1996*    
Home Depot U.S.A.., Inc.   April 1, 1996    
Homer TLC, Inc.   April 1, 1996    
Home Depot International, Inc.   April 1, 1996    
Apex Supply Company, Inc.   January 6, 2000    
Georgia Lighting, Inc.   April 1, 2000   May 5, 2003**
National Blinds & Wallpaper, Inc.   April 1, 2000    
Home Depot Incentives, Inc.   October 15, 2001    
Arvada Hardwood Floor Company   as soon as administratively practical after October 31, 2002    
Floors, Inc.   as soon as administratively practical after October 31, 2002    
HD Builder Solutions Group, Inc.   as soon as administratively practical after October 31, 2002    
Home Depot Services, LLC   January 1, 2003    
FloorWorks, Inc.   as soon as administratively practical after January 1, 2003    
Home Depot Your Other Warehouse, LLC   May 5, 2003    
H.D.V.I. Holding Company, Inc.   August 1, 2003    
THD At-Home Services, Inc.   December 15, 2003    
Creative Touch Interiors, Inc.   January 5, 2004    
White Cap Construction Supply, Inc.   May 28, 2004    
The Home Depot Supply, Inc.
(formerly Maintenance Warehouse/America Corp.)
  July 1, 2004***    
Economy Maintenance Supply Company (excluding Employees residing and performing services in Puerto Rico)   July 1, 2004****    

*
Prior to April 1, 1996, The Home Depot, Inc. and certain of its affiliates participated in The Home Depot Employee Stock Ownership Plan, which was originally effective January 1, 1988. Effective April 1, 1996, The Home Depot Employee Stock Ownership Plan was amended to provide for Section 401(k) and matching contributions and was restated as The Home Depot FutureBuilder.

**
Georgia Lighting, Inc. merged into Home Depot U.S.A., Inc. effective May 5, 2003, and ceased to be a separate Participating Company on such date.

***
The Home Depot Supply, Inc. (formerly Maintenance Warehouse/America Corp.) became a participating company under The Maintenance Warehouse FutureBuilder effective March 17, 1997. The Maintenance Warehouse FutureBuilder was merged into the Plan effective July 1, 2004.

****
Economy Maintenance Supply Company became a participating company under The Maintenance Warehouse FutureBuilder effective December 15, 2003. Matching and ESOP Contributions and shall be 100% vested in his Matching and ESOP Contributions.

A-1



THE HOME DEPOT FUTUREBUILDER
A 401(k) AND STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN


SCHEDULE B

SERVICE WITH PREDECESSOR EMPLOYERS
AND SPECIAL ELIGIBILITY AND VESTING RULES


Aikenhead's Home Improvement Warehouse

        (a)    Service with Aikenhead's Home Improvement Warehouses.     For purposes of determining Years of Eligibility Service and Years of Vesting Service, all service with Aikenhead's Home Improvement Warehouse shall be taken into account to the extent that such service would have been taken into account if performed for an Affiliate.

        (b)    Special Entry Date.     An individual who, as of February 1, 1994, (i) was a former employee of Aikenhead's Home Improvement Warehouse, (ii) became an expatriate employee who was a Covered Employee, (iii) had satisfied the Year of Service requirement set forth in Section 2.1(a), and (iv) otherwise was eligible to participate in the Plan, became an Active Participant as of said date.


Maintenance Warehouse/America Corp.

        For purposes of determining Years of Eligibility Service and Years of Vesting Service, any Employee who (i) was employed by Maintenance Warehouse/America Corp. on March 14, 1997, and (ii) becomes employed by a Participating Company after such date will receive, subject to the Break in Service rules under the Plan, credit for all periods of eligibility and vesting service credited to such participant under the Maintenance Warehouse Salary Plus Savings Plan.


Apex, Inc.

        (a)    Vesting.     For purposes of determining Years of Vesting Service, any Employee who (i) was employed by Apex, Inc. (a Georgia corporation) on January 6, 2000, and (ii) becomes employed by Apex, Inc. (a Delaware corporation) on such date will receive credit for the number of years of vesting service credited under the Apex Supply Company, Inc. 401(k) Plan (the "Apex Plan") as of June 6, 2000.

        (b)    Eligibility.     An individual who is described in subparagraph (a) above and who was an active participant in the Apex Plan as of January 6, 2000 shall become an Active Participant as of said date. Each individual who is described in subparagraph (a) above and who had not yet become a participant in the Apex Plan as of January 6, 2000 shall, for purposes of determining such individual's Years of Eligibility Service, be credited with 45 hours of service for each week of employment with Apex, Inc. (a Georgia corporation) through December 6, 2000.


LCR-M Corporation

        (a)    Service Credit.     For purposes of determining Years of Eligibility Service and Years of Vesting Service, any Covered Employee who became an Employee on November 1, 2001, pursuant to the terms of the Asset Purchase Agreement between Home Depot U.S.A., Inc. and LCR-M Corporation, dated October 2, 2001, shall receive credit for service performed with LCR-M Corporation.

        (b)    Special Eligibility Rules.     Any Covered Employee described in paragraph (a) above who was a participant in LCR-M Corporation's 401(k) plan (the "LCR-M Plan") immediately prior to November 1, 2001, shall be immediately eligible to participate in the Plan. Any such Covered Employee who would have satisfied the eligibility requirements under the LCR-M Plan between November 1,

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2001 and December 31, 2002 (had they continued employment with LCR-M Corporation) shall become eligible to participate in the Plan on January 1, 2002. Any such Covered Employee who does not satisfy the foregoing eligibility requirements shall become eligible to participate in the Plan in accordance with Section 2.1 (a) of the Plan, taking into account service with LCR-M credited under paragraph (a) above.


Floors, Inc.

        (a)    Service Credit.     For purposes of determining Years of Eligibility Service and Years of Vesting Service, any Covered Employee who became an Employee on or about October 31, 2002, in connection with the Controlling Company's acquisition of Floors, Inc. and certain affiliated companies shall receive credit for service performed with Floors, Inc. and such affiliates; provided, Years of Vesting Service credited solely under this provision shall not be taken into account in determining whether a Participant has incurred 5 consecutive Breaks in Service for purposes of Sections 1.83 and 8.3 of the Plan.

        (b)    Special Eligibility Rules.     Any Covered Employee described in paragraph (a) above who was a participant in the Floors, Inc. 401(k) plan immediately prior to such acquisition shall be eligible to participate in the Plan as soon as administratively practical after October 31, 2002. Any such Covered Employee who does not satisfy the foregoing eligibility requirements shall become eligible to participate in the Plan in accordance with Article II of the Plan, taking into account service with Floors Inc. and its affiliates credited under paragraph (a) above.


Arvada Hardwood Floor Company

        (a)    Service Credit.     For purposes of determining Years of Eligibility Service and Years of Vesting Service, any Covered Employee who became an Employee on or about October 31, 2002, in connection with the Controlling Company's acquisition of the assets ofArvada Hardwood Floor Company and certain affiliated companies, shall receive credit for service performed with Arvada Hardwood Floor Co. and such affiliates; provided, Years of Vesting Service credited solely under this provision shall not be taken into account in determining whether a Participant has incurred 5 consecutive Breaks in Service for purposes of Sections 1.83 and 8.3 of the Plan.

        (b)    Special Eligibility Rules.     Any Covered Employee described in paragraph (a) above who was a participant in Arvada Hardwood Floor Company's 401(k) plan immediately prior to such acquisition shall be eligible to participate in the Plan as soon as administratively practical after October 31, 2002. Any such Covered Employee who does not satisfy the foregoing eligibility requirements shall become eligible to participate in the Plan in accordance with Article II of the Plan, taking into account service with Arvada Hardwood Floor Company and its affiliates credited under paragraph (a) above.


FloorWorks, Inc.

        For purposes of determining Years of Eligibility Service and Years of Vesting Service, any Covered Employee who became an Employee on or about October 31, 2002, in connection with the Controlling Company's acquisition of the assets of FloorWorks, Inc. and certain affiliated companies shall receive credit for service performed with FloorWorks, Inc. and such affiliates; provided, Years of Vesting Service credited solely under this provision shall not be taken into account in determining whether a Participant has incurred 5 consecutive Breaks in Service for purposes of Sections 1.83 and 8.3 of the Plan.


Pulte Homes, Inc.

        For purposes of determining Years of Eligibility Service and Years of Vesting Service, any Covered Employee who transferred employment to a Participating Company from Pulte Homes, Inc. or one of

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its affiliates in connection with certain Design Center Management Agreements dated December 30, 2002, and December 31, 2002, between FloorWorks, Inc. and Del Webb Communities, Inc. and Anthem Arizona, LLC, respectively, shall receive credit for service performed with Pulte Homes, Inc. and its affiliates; provided, Years of Vesting Service credited solely under this provision shall not be taken into account in determining whether a Participant has incurred 5 consecutive Breaks in Service for purposes of Sections 1.83 and 8.3 of the Plan.


Installed Products USA, Inc.

        For purposes of determining Years of Eligibility Service, Years of Vesting Service and Breaks in Service, any Covered Employee who becomes an Employee on or about September 30, 2003, in connection with Home Depot U.S.A., Inc.'s acquisition of the assets of Installed Products USA, Inc. ("Installed Products") shall receive credit for service performed with Installed Products. Any such Covered Employees who have satisfied the eligibility requirements of Section 2.1 shall become participants in the Plan on or as soon as practicable after the closing date of the acquisition. For purposes of this provision, part-time hourly employees of Installed Products shall be credited with actual hours worked through the closing date. All other employees shall be credited with a Year of Eligibility Service and a Year of Vesting Service for each complete and partial 12-month period of employment with Installed Products through the closing date.


RMA Home Services, Inc.

        For purposes of determining Years of Eligibility Service and Years of Vesting Service, any Covered Employee who becomes an Employee on or about December 15, 2003, in connection with the merger of RMA Home Services, Inc. ("RMA") with a subsidiary of Home Depot U.S.A., Inc. ("RMA Employee") shall receive credit for service performed with RMA prior to the merger date. For purposes of determining eligibility for Employer Contributions, as provided in Section 2.1(b), Years of Eligibility Service will be determined without regard to the requirement to complete 1,000 Hours of Service. For purposes of determining Years of Vesting Service, each RMA Employee will be credited with one (1) Year of Vesting Service for each calendar year beginning before December 15, 2003, during which he completed at least one day of service with RMA.


Economy Maintenance Supply Company

        For purposes of determining Years of Eligibility Service and Years of Vesting Service, any Covered Employee who becomes an Employee on or about December 15, 2003, in connection with the acquisition of the assets of Economy Maintenance Supply Company ("EMS") by a subsidiary of The Home Depot Supply, Inc. shall receive credit for service performed with EMS prior to the acquisition date; provided, Years of Vesting Service credited solely under this provision shall not be taken into account in determining whether a Participant has incurred 5 consecutive Breaks in Service for purposes of Sections 1.83 and 8.3 of the Plan.


Creative Touch Interiors

        For purposes of determining Years of Eligibility Service and Years of Vesting Service, any Covered Employee who becomes an Employee on or about January 5, 2004, in connection with the acquisition of Creative Touch Interiors, Inc. ("CTI") by The Home Depot Supply, Inc. shall receive credit for service performed with CTI prior to the acquisition date; provided, Years of Vesting Service credited solely under this provision shall not be taken into account in determining whether a Participant has incurred 5 consecutive Breaks in Service for purposes of Sections 1.83 and 8.3 of the Plan.

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White Cap Construction Supply, Inc.

        For purposes of determining Years of Eligibility Service and Years of Vesting Service, any Covered Employee who becomes an Employee on or about May 28, 2004, in connection with the acquisition of White Cap Construction Supply, Inc. ("White Cap") by The Home Depot Supply, Inc., shall receive credit for service performed with White Cap prior to the acquisition date; provided, Years of Vesting Service credited solely under this provision shall not be taken into account in determining whether a Participant has incurred 5 consecutive Breaks in Service for purposes of Sections 1.83 and 8.3 of the Plan.


Concrete Foundations Supply, Inc.

        Any Covered Employee who becomes an Employee on or about September 27, 2004, in connection with the acquisition of the assets of Concrete Foundations Supply, Inc. by White Cap Construction Supply, Inc., shall be immediately eligible to make Before-Tax Contributions and receive allocations of


Georgia Lighting Payroll

        A Covered Employee receiving compensation through the Georgia Lighting, Inc. payroll system shall be eligible to make Before-Tax Contributions and receive allocations of Matching and ESOP Contributions as of the first day of the calendar quarter coinciding with the date on which he completes 1 Year of Eligibility Service, provided that he is a Covered Employee on such entry date.

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THE HOME DEPOT FUTUREBUILDER
A 401(k) AND STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN


SCHEDULE C

SPECIAL MATCHING CONTRIBUTION RULES

1.
White Cap Construction Supply, Inc.

        For each Active Participant who is employed by White Cap Construction Supply, Inc. and who is eligible to receive Matching Contributions pursuant to Section 2.1(b), such Participating Company shall make, with respect to each payroll period or other payment of compensation, a Matching Contribution to the Plan equal to 25 percent of the Before-Tax Contributions made on behalf of such Active Participant to the extent that such Before-Tax Contributions do not exceed 4 percent of a Participant's Compensation for a payroll period (that is, such Matching Contributions shall not exceed 1 percent of the Active Participant's Compensation for such payroll period). Such Matching Contributions shall be in lieu of the Matching Contributions set forth in Section 3.2(a) of the Plan.

2.
The Home Depot Supply, Inc.

        (a)    Supplemental Annual Matching Contributions .

        (b)    2004 Supplemental Annual Matching Contributions .

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        (c)    Compensation Included .    For purposes of determining the amount of matching contributions under subsections (a) and (b), only Compensation paid to a Participant by The Home Depot Supply, Inc. and Economy Maintenance Supply Company shall be taken into account. If a Participant receives Compensation from any other Affiliate during a Plan Year, such Compensation shall be disregarded for purposes of subsections (a) and (b). For the Plan Year beginning January 1, 2004, Compensation taken into account under the MW Plan prior to its merger with and into the Plan effective July 1, 2004, shall be taken into account for purposes of determining an Active Participant's Supplemental Annual Matching Contribution under subsection (a), but such Compensation not be taken into account in determining an Active Participant's 2004 Supplemental Annual Matching Contribution under subsection (b).

3.
THD At-Home Services, Inc.

        Notwithstanding anything in the Plan to the contrary, any Covered Employee who (i) is employed by THD At-Home Services, Inc., (ii) is compensated entirely by commissions, and (iii) has an Employment Date on or after June 1, 2004 or transfers into or is re-hired by THD At-Home Services, Inc. on or after June 1, 2004, shall not be eligible to receive allocations of Matching or ESOP Contributions and shall be eligible to make Before-Tax Contributions on the first day of the calendar quarter coinciding with or next following completion of a Year of Eligibility Service.

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THE HOME DEPOT FUTUREBUILDER
A 401(k) AND STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN


SCHEDULE D

TRANSFER ACCOUNTS

        1.      Maintenance Warehouse FutureBuilder.

        (a)     Vesting.     Notwithstanding Section 8.1, the Matching Account of each Participant whose account under the Maintenance Warehouse FutureBuilder was transferred to the Plan on July 1, 2004, and either (i) was employed by Maintenance Warehouse/America Corp. on July 1, 1999, or (ii) is a former Employee of Maintenance Warehouse/America Corp. who is rehired after July 1, 1999, at a time when he has a Matching Account balance remaining in the Plan which is at least 25 percent vested, shall vest in accordance with the following schedule, based on the total of the Participant's Years of Vesting Service:

Years of Vesting Service
Completed by Participant

  Vested Percentage of Participant's
Matching Account

Less than 2 Years   0%
2 Years, but less than 3   25%
3 Years or more   100%

        (b)     Rollover Account Withdrawals.     A Participant whose account under the Maintenance Warehouse FutureBuilder was transferred to the Plan on July 1, 2004, may request a withdrawal of all or part of his Rollover Account. A withdrawal under this subsection shall be paid in the form of a single-sum distribution which shall, except as otherwise provided herein, be paid in cash. To the extent that a portion of a Participant's Account that is to be withdrawn is invested in Company Stock, such withdrawal shall be made in the form of Company Stock or cash, at the election of the Participant.

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THE HOME DEPOT FUTUREBUILDER A 401(k) AND STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN
THE HOME DEPOT FUTUREBUILDER A 401(k) AND STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
STATEMENT OF AGREEMENT
Table of Contents
ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS
ARTICLE II ELIGIBILITY
ARTICLE III CONTRIBUTIONS
ARTICLE IV ROLLOVERS AND TRANSFERS BETWEEN PLANS
ARTICLE V PARTICIPANTS' ACCOUNTS; CREDITING AND ALLOCATIONS
ARTICLE VI CONTRIBUTION AND SECTION 415 LIMITATIONS AND NONDISCRIMINATION REQUIREMENTS
ARTICLE VII INVESTMENTS
ARTICLE VIII VESTING IN ACCOUNTS
ARTICLE IX PAYMENT OF BENEFITS FROM ACCOUNTS
ARTICLE X WITHDRAWALS AND LOANS
ARTICLE XI ADMINISTRATION
ARTICLE XII ALLOCATION OF AUTHORITY AND RESPONSIBILITIES
ARTICLE XIII AMENDMENT, TERMINATION AND ADOPTION
ARTICLE XIV TOP-HEAVY PROVISIONS
ARTICLE XV MISCELLANEOUS
THE HOME DEPOT FUTUREBUILDER A 401(k) AND STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN
SCHEDULE A PARTICIPATING COMPANIES AND EFFECTIVE DATES
THE HOME DEPOT FUTUREBUILDER A 401(k) AND STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN
SCHEDULE B SERVICE WITH PREDECESSOR EMPLOYERS AND SPECIAL ELIGIBILITY AND VESTING RULES
Aikenhead's Home Improvement Warehouse
Maintenance Warehouse/America Corp.
Apex, Inc.
LCR-M Corporation
Floors, Inc.
Arvada Hardwood Floor Company
FloorWorks, Inc.
Pulte Homes, Inc.
Installed Products USA, Inc.
RMA Home Services, Inc.
Economy Maintenance Supply Company
Creative Touch Interiors
White Cap Construction Supply, Inc.
Concrete Foundations Supply, Inc.
Georgia Lighting Payroll
THE HOME DEPOT FUTUREBUILDER A 401(k) AND STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN
SCHEDULE C SPECIAL MATCHING CONTRIBUTION RULES
THE HOME DEPOT FUTUREBUILDER A 401(k) AND STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN
SCHEDULE D TRANSFER ACCOUNTS

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Exhibit 15.1


ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

        To the Shareholders and Board of Directors of The Home Depot, Inc.:

        We acknowledge our awareness of the incorporation by reference of our report dated November 15, 2004, included within the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of The Home Depot, Inc. for the quarter ended October 31, 2004, in the following Registration Statements:

DESCRIPTION

  REGISTRATION
STATEMENT NUMBER

Form S-3    
  DepotDirect stock purchase program   333-03497
  DepotDirect stock purchase program   333-81485

Form S-8

 

 
  The Home Depot, Inc. Amended and Restated 1981 Incentive Stock Option Plan   33-22299
  The Home Depot, Inc. Employee Stock Purchase Plan   33-22531
  The Home Depot, Inc. 1991 Omnibus Stock Option Plan   33-46476
  The Home Depot, Inc. Non-U.S. Employee Stock Purchase Plan   033-58807
  The Home Depot Futurebuilder   333-01385
  The Home Depot, Inc. Employee Stock Purchase Plan   333-16695
  The Maintenance Warehouse Futurebuilder   333-91943
  The Home Depot Futurebuilder   333-85759
  The Home Depot, Inc. 1997 Omnibus Stock Incentive Plan   333-61733
  The Home Depot Futurebuilder for Puerto Rico   333-56207
  The Home Depot Canada Registered Retirement Savings Plan   333-38946
  The Home Depot, Inc. Restated and Amended Employee Stock Purchase Plan   333-56724
  The Home Depot, Inc. Restated and Amended Employee Stock Purchase Plan   333-110423
  The Home Depot, Inc. Non-Qualified Stock Option and Deferred Stock Units Plan and
    Agreement
  333-56722
  The Home Depot, Inc. Deferred Stock Units Plan and Agreement   333-62316
  The Home Depot, Inc. Deferred Stock Units Plan and Agreement   333-62318
  The Home Depot, Inc. Deferred Stock Units Plan and Agreement   333-72016

        Pursuant to Rule 436(c) under the Securities Act of 1933, such report is not considered part of a registration statement prepared or certified by an accountant, or a report prepared or certified by an accountant within the meaning of Sections 7 and 11 of that Act.

 
   
/s/ KPMG LLP
KPMG LLP
Atlanta, Georgia
December 1, 2004
   



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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

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Exhibit 31.1


CERTIFICATION

I, Robert L. Nardelli, certify that:

1.
I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of The Home Depot, Inc.;

2.
Based on my knowledge, this quarterly report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3.
Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4.
The registrant's other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-14(a) for the registrant and have:

a)
designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

b)
evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

c)
disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting;

5.
The registrant's other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent function):

a)
all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

b)
any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.

 
   
Date: December 1, 2004    

 

 

/S/  ROBERT L. NARDELLI       
Robert L. Nardelli
Chairman, President and
Chief Executive Officer



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CERTIFICATION

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Exhibit 31.2


CERTIFICATION

I, Carol B. Tomé, certify that:

1.
I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of The Home Depot, Inc.;

2.
Based on my knowledge, this quarterly report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3.
Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4.
The registrant's other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-14(a) for the registrant and have:

a)
designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

b)
evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

c)
disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting;

5.
The registrant's other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent function):

a)
all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

b)
any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.

 
   
Date: December 1, 2004    

 

 

/s/  
CAROL B. TOMÉ       
Carol B. Tomé
Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer



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CERTIFICATION

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Exhibit 32.1


CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002 *

        In connection with the Quarterly Report of The Home Depot, Inc. (the "Company") on Form 10-Q ("Form 10-Q") for the period ended October 31, 2004 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof, I, Robert L. Nardelli, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that, to my knowledge:

(1)
The Form 10-Q fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

(2)
The information contained in the Form 10-Q fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

 
   
/s/   ROBERT L. NARDELLI       
Robert L. Nardelli
Chairman, President and
Chief Executive Officer
December 1, 2004
   

*
A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 has been provided to The Home Depot, Inc. and will be retained by The Home Depot, Inc. and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.



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CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350, AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

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Exhibit 32.2


CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002 *

        In connection with the Quarterly Report of The Home Depot, Inc. (the "Company") on Form 10-Q ("Form 10-Q") for the period ended October 31, 2004 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof, I, Carol B. Tomé, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that, to my knowledge:

(1)
The Form 10-Q fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

(2)
The information contained in the Form 10-Q fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

 
   
/s/   CAROL B. TOMÉ       
Carol B. Tomé
Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
December 1, 2004
   

*
A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 has been provided to The Home Depot, Inc. and will be retained by The Home Depot, Inc. and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.



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CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350, AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002