Exhibit 10.3

FORM OF INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT
PURSUANT TO
THOMAS & BETTS CORPORATION EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN

     AN INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION is hereby granted, as of the date of grant set
forth in the attached Notice of Grant of Stock Option (the “Date of Grant”), to
the executive identified in the attached Notice of Grant of Stock Option (the
“Optionee”) to purchase the number of shares of Common Stock, par value $.10 per
share, of Thomas & Betts Corporation, a Tennessee corporation (the
“Corporation”), set forth in the Notice of Grant of Stock Option. Such Option is
in all respects subject to the terms, definitions and provisions of the Thomas &
Betts Corporation Equity Compensation Plan, as amended from time to time (the
“Plan”), which is incorporated herein by reference.

1. Option Price

     The Option price for each share is set forth in the attached Notice of
Grant of Stock Option (being one hundred percent (100%) of the fair market
value, as determined by the Committee, of the Common Stock on the date of grant
of this Option).

2. Exercise of Option

     This Option shall be exercisable in accordance with provisions of Section 9
of the Plan as follows:

(i) Schedule of Rights to Exercise

     The Option shall become exercisable in three installments in accordance
with the following schedule and after the expiration of the following periods of
time:

              Portion of   Period from which Installment   Option Grant   Option
Granted
First
  One-third   12 months
Second
  One-third   24 months
Third
  One-third   36 months

If the Optionee’s employment with the Corporation terminates prior to the date
on which an installment is scheduled to become exercisable, this Option shall
not become exercisable with respect to such installment(s), except as otherwise
provided in the Plan.

(ii) Method of Exercise

     This Option, to the extent that it is exercisable, may be exercised by
giving written notice to the Corporate Human Resources Department or other
designated person of the Corporation at its principal office, or a designated
broker, no later than the expiration date of the Option; provided, however, that
this Option may not be exercised for fewer than the lesser of 50 shares of
Common Stock or the full number of shares for which this Option is then
exercisable. Such notice shall include a statement of the number of shares with
respect to which this Option is being exercised and the exercise date, and, in
the case of exercise through the Corporation, shall be accompanied by full
tender of the purchase price payable in cash.

(iii) Restrictions on Exercise

     This Option may not be exercised if the issuance of the shares upon such
exercise would constitute a violation of any applicable federal or state
securities or other law or regulation. As a condition to the exercise of this
Option, the Corporation may require the person exercising this Option to make
any representation and warranty to the Corporation as may be required by any
applicable law or regulation.

3. Transferability of Option

     This Option may not be transferred by the Optionee otherwise than by will
or by the laws of descent and distribution. During the lifetime of the Optionee,
this Option shall be exercisable only by the Optionee, or by a duly appointed
legal representative.

 

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4. Term of Option

     This Option may not be exercised more than ten (10) years from the Date of
Grant of this Option and may be exercised during such term only in accordance
with the Plan and the terms of this Option. As set forth in the Plan, this
Option may terminate prior to the scheduled expiration date in the event the
Optionee’s employment with the Corporation terminates prior to the scheduled
expiration date (for example, as early as 60 days after certain terminations of
employment).

5. Disqualifying Disposition; Other ISO Provisions

     This Option is intended to qualify, to the maximum extent permissible, as
an incentive stock option (“ISO”) as that term is defined in section 422(b) of
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. In the event this Option remains
exercisable and the Optionee exercises this Option more than one year after the
date the Optionee’s employment is terminated by reason of disability, or more
than three months after the date the Optionee’s employment is terminated for any
reason other than death or disability, this Option shall be treated as a
nonqualified stock option. The Optionee agrees to give written notice to the
Corporation, at its principal office, if a “disposition” of the shares of Common
Stock acquired through exercise of this Option occurs at any time within two
years after the Date of Grant of this Option or within one year after the
transfer to the Optionee of the shares.

6. Successors

     The terms of this Option shall be binding upon the heirs, personal
representatives and successors of the Optionee and upon the Corporation and its
successors and assigns.

7. Governing Law

     This Option shall be construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of
the State of Tennessee (without regard to principles of conflicts of laws),
except to the extent such laws are preempted by federal law.

8. Termination Protection Agreement

     Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan or any other provision of this
Agreement (including the Optionee Acknowledgment set forth in the Notice of
Grant of Stock Option) to the contrary, this Option shall be subject to the
provisions of the Termination Protection Agreement, if any, in effect between
the Optionee and the Corporation.

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