EXHIBIT 10.39
FORM OF INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT
          AGREEMENT, effective as of ___, between Belden CDT Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the “Company”), and ___ (the “Indemnitee”).
          WHEREAS, it is essential to the Company to retain and attract as
directors and officers the most capable persons available;
          WHEREAS, Indemnitee is a director or officer of the Company;
          WHEREAS, both the Company and Indemnitee recognize the increased risk
of litigation and other claims being asserted against directors and officers of
public companies in today’s environment;
          WHEREAS, the Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company require the
Company to indemnify and advance expenses to its directors and officers to the
full extent permitted by law and the Indemnitee has been serving and continues
to serve as a director or officer of the Company in part in reliance on such
Bylaws;
          WHEREAS, the Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company and the
Delaware General Corporation Law each provide that the indemnification provided
herein shall not be exclusive;
          WHEREAS, in recognition of Indemnitee’s need for substantial
protection against personal liability in order to enhance Indemnitee’s continued
service to the Company in an effective manner, the Company wishes to provide in
this Agreement for the indemnification of and the advancing of expenses to
Indemnitee to the fullest extent (whether partial or complete) permitted by law
and as set forth in this Agreement, and, to the extent insurance is maintained,
for the continued coverage of Indemnitee under the Company’s directors’ and
officers’ liability insurance policies;
          NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and of Indemnitee
continuing to serve the Company directly or, at its request, another enterprise,
and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties hereto agree as follows:

1.   Certain Definitions:

  (a)   Change in Control: shall be deemed to have occurred if (i) any “person”
(as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended), other than a trustee or other fiduciary holding securities
under an employee benefit plan of the Company or a corporation owned directly or
indirectly by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same
proportions as their ownership of stock of the Company, is or becomes the
“beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule

 

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      13d-3 under said Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the
Company representing 20% or more of the total voting power represented by the
Company’s then outstanding Voting Securities, or (ii) during any period of two
consecutive years, individuals who at the beginning of such period constitute
the Board of Directors of the Company and any new director whose election by the
Board of Directors or nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders was
approved by a vote of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the directors then still in
office who either were directors at the beginning of the period or whose
election or nomination for election was previously so approved, cease for any
reason to constitute a majority thereof, or (iii) the stockholders of the
Company approve a merger or consolidation of the Company with any other
corporation, other than a merger or consolidation which would result in the
Voting Securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior thereto
continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted
into Voting Securities of the surviving entity) at least 80% of the total voting
power represented by the Voting Securities of the Company or such surviving
entity outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation, or the
stockholders of the Company approve a plan of complete liquidation of the
Company or an agreement for the sale or disposition by the Company of (in one
transaction or a series of transactions) all or substantially all the Company’s
assets.     (b)   Claim: any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or
proceeding, or any inquiry or investigation, whether instituted by the Company
or any other party, that Indemnitee in good faith believes might lead to the
institution of any such action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal,
administrative, investigative or other.     (c)   Expenses: include attorneys’
fees and all other costs, expenses and obligations paid or incurred in
connection with investigating, defending, being a witness in or participating in
(including on appeal), or preparing to defend, be a witness in or participate
in, any Claim relating to any Indemnifiable Event.     (d)   Indemnifiable
Event: any event or occurrence related to the fact that Indemnitee is or was a
director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of the Company, or Belden Inc.,
or is or was serving at the request of the Company or Belden Inc. as a director,
officer, employee, trustee, agent or fiduciary of another corporation,
partnership, joint venture, employee benefit plan, trust or other enterprise, or
by reason of anything done or not done by Indemnitee in any such capacity.    
(e)   Independent Legal Counsel: an attorney or firm of attorneys, selected in
accordance with the provisions of Section 3, who shall not have otherwise
performed services for the Company or Indemnitee within the last five years
(other than with respect to matters concerning the rights of

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      Indemnitee under this Agreement, or of other indemnitees under similar
indemnity agreements).     (f)   Potential Change in Control: shall be deemed to
have occurred if (i) the Company enters into an agreement, the consummation of
which would result in the occurrence of a Change in Control; (ii) any person
(including the Company) publicly announces an intention to take or to consider
taking actions which if consummated would constitute a Change in Control;
(iii) any person, other than a trustee or other fiduciary holding securities
under an employee benefit plan of the Company or a corporation owned, directly
or indirectly, by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same
proportions as their ownership of stock of the Company, who is or becomes the
beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company
representing 9.5% or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then
outstanding Voting Securities, increases his beneficial ownership of such
securities by five percentage points (5%) or more over the percentage so owned
by such person; or (iv) the Board adopts a resolution to the effect that, for
purposes of this Agreement, a Potential Change in Control has occurred.     (g)
  Reviewing Party: any appropriate person or body consisting of a member or
members of the Company’s Board of Directors or any other person or body
appointed by the Board who is not a party to the particular Claim for which
Indemnitee is seeking indemnification, or Independent Legal Counsel.     (h)  
Voting Securities: any securities of the Company which vote generally in the
election of directors.

2.   Basic Indemnification Arrangement.

  (a)   In the event Indemnitee was, is or becomes a party to or witness or
other participant in, or is threatened to be made a party to or witness or other
participant in, a Claim by reason of (or arising in part out of) an
Indemnifiable Event, the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee to the fullest
extent permitted by law as soon as practicable but in any event no later than
thirty days after written demand is presented to the Company, against any and
all Expenses, judgments, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement
(including all interest, assessments and other charges paid or payable in
connection with or in respect of such Expenses, judgments, fines, penalties or
amounts paid in settlement) arising from or relating to such Claim. If so
requested by Indemnitee, the Company shall advance (within two business days of
such request) any and all Expenses to Indemnitee (an “Expense Advance”).     (b)
  Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) the obligations of the Company under
Section 2(a) shall be subject to the condition that the Reviewing Party

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      shall not have determined (in a written opinion, in any case in which the
Independent Legal Counsel referred to in Section 3 hereof is involved) that
Indemnitee would not be permitted to be indemnified under applicable law, and
(ii) the obligation of the Company to make an Expense Advance pursuant to
Section 2(a) shall be subject to the condition that, if, when and to the extent
that the Reviewing Party determines that Indemnitee would not be permitted to be
so indemnified under applicable law, the Company shall be entitled to be
reimbursed by Indemnitee (who hereby agrees to reimburse the Company) for all
such amounts theretofore paid; provided, however, that if Indemnitee has
commenced or thereafter commences legal proceedings in a court of competent
jurisdiction to secure a determination that Indemnitee should be indemnified
under applicable law, any determination made by the Reviewing Party that
Indemnitee would not be permitted to be indemnified under applicable law shall
not be binding and Indemnitee shall not be required to reimburse the Company for
any Expense Advance until a final judicial determination is made with respect
thereto (as to which all rights of appeal therefrom have been exhausted or
lapsed). If there has not been a Change in Control, the Reviewing Party shall be
selected by the Board of Directors, and if there has been such a Change in
Control (other than a Change in Control which has been approved by a majority of
the Company’s Board of Directors who were directors immediately prior to such
Change in Control), the Reviewing Party shall be the Independent Legal Counsel
referred to in Section 3 hereof. If there has been no determination by the
Reviewing Party or if the Reviewing Party determines that Indemnitee
substantively would not be permitted to be indemnified in whole or in part under
applicable law, Indemnitee shall have the right to commence litigation in any
court in the State of Delaware having subject matter jurisdiction thereof and in
which venue is proper seeking an initial determination by the court or
challenging any such determination by the Reviewing Party or any aspect thereof,
including the legal or factual bases therefor, and the Company hereby consents
to service of process and to appear in any such proceeding. Any determination by
the Reviewing Party otherwise shall be conclusive and binding on the Company and
Indemnitee.

3.   Change in Control. The Company agrees that if there is a Change in Control
of the Company (other than a Change in Control which has been approved by a
majority of the Company’s Board of Directors who were directors immediately
prior to such Change in Control) then with respect to all matters thereafter
arising concerning the rights of Indemnitee to indemnity payments and Expense
Advances under this Agreement or any other agreement or Company Bylaw now or
hereafter in effect relating to Claims for Indemnifiable Events, the Company
shall seek legal advice only from Independent Legal Counsel selected by
Indemnitee and approved by the Company (which approval shall not be unreasonably
withheld). Such counsel, among other things, shall render its written opinion to
the Company and Indemnitee as to whether and to what extent the Indemnitee would
be permitted to be indemnified under applicable law. The

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    Company agrees to pay the reasonable fees of the Independent Legal Counsel
referred to above and to indemnify fully such counsel against any and all
expenses (including attorneys’ fees), claims, liabilities and damages arising
out of or relating to this Agreement or its engagement pursuant hereto.   4.  
Establishment of Trust. In the event of a Potential Change in Control, the
Company shall, upon written request by Indemnitee, create a trust for the
benefit of Indemnitee and from time to time upon written request of Indemnitee
shall fund such trust in an amount sufficient to satisfy any and all Expenses
reasonably anticipated at the time of each such request to be incurred in
connection with investigating, preparing for and defending any Claim relating to
an Indemnifiable Event, and any and all judgments, fines, penalties and
settlement amounts of any and all Claims relating to an Indemnifiable Event from
time to time actually paid or claimed, reasonably anticipated or proposed to be
paid. The amount or amounts to be deposited in the trust pursuant to the
foregoing funding obligation shall be determined by the Reviewing Party, in any
case in which the Independent Legal Counsel referred to above is involved. The
terms of the trust shall provide that (i) the trust shall not be revoked or the
principal thereof invaded, without the written consent of the Indemnitee,
(ii) the trustee shall advance, within two business days of a request by the
Indemnitee, any and all Expenses to the Indemnitee (and the Indemnitee hereby
agrees to reimburse the trust under the circumstances under which the Indemnitee
would be required to reimburse the Company under Section 2(b) of this
Agreement), (iii) the trust shall continue to be funded by the Company in
accordance with the funding obligation set forth above, (iv) the trustee shall
promptly pay to Indemnitee all amounts for which Indemnitee shall be entitled to
indemnification pursuant to this Agreement or otherwise, and (v) all unexpended
funds in such trust shall revert to the Company upon a final determination by
the Reviewing Party or a court of competent jurisdiction, as the case may be,
that Indemnitee has been fully indemnified under the terms of this Agreement.
The trustee shall be chosen by Indemnitee. Nothing in this Section 4 shall
relieve the Company of any of its obligations under this Agreement.   5.  
Indemnification for Additional Expenses. The Company shall indemnify Indemnitee
against any and all expenses (including attorneys’ fees) and, if requested by
Indemnitee, shall (within two business days of such request) advance such
expenses to Indemnitee, which are incurred by Indemnitee in connection with any
action brought by Indemnitee for (i) indemnification or advance payment of
Expenses by the Company under this Agreement or any other agreement or Company
Bylaw now or hereafter in effect relating to Claims for Indemnifiable Events
and/or (ii) recovery under any directors’ and officers’ liability insurance
policies maintained by the Company, regardless of whether Indemnitee ultimately
is determined to be entitled to such indemnification, advance expense payment or
insurance recovery, as the case may be.   6.   Partial Indemnity, Etc. If
Indemnitee is entitled under any provision of this Agreement to indemnification
by the Company for some or a portion of the

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    Expenses, judgments, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement arising
from or relating to a Claim but not, however, for all of the total amount
thereof, the Company shall nevertheless indemnify Indemnitee for the portion
thereof to which Indemnitee is entitled. Moreover, notwithstanding any other
provision of this Agreement, to the extent that Indemnitee has been successful
on the merits or otherwise in defense of any or all Claims relating in whole or
in part to an Indemnifiable Event or in defense of any issue or matter therein,
including dismissal without prejudice, Indemnitee shall be indemnified against
all Expenses incurred in connection therewith.   7.   Burden of Proof. In
connection with any determination by the Reviewing Party or otherwise as to
whether Indemnitee is entitled to be indemnified hereunder the burden of proof
shall be on the Company to establish that Indemnitee is not so entitled.   8.  
No Presumptions. For purposes of this Agreement, the termination of any claim,
action, suit or proceeding, by judgment, order, settlement (whether with or
without court approval) or conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere, or its
equivalent, shall not create a presumption that Indemnitee did not meet any
particular standard of conduct or have any particular belief or that a court has
determined that indemnification is not permitted by applicable law. In addition,
neither the failure of the Reviewing Party to have made a determination as to
whether Indemnitee has met any particular standard of conduct or had any
particular belief, nor an actual determination by the Reviewing Party that
Indemnitee has not met such standard of conduct or did not have such belief,
prior to the commencement of legal proceedings by Indemnitee to secure a
judicial determination that Indemnitee should be indemnified under applicable
law shall be a defense to Indemnitee’s claim or create a presumption that
Indemnitee has not met any particular standard of conduct or did not have any
particular belief.   9.   Nonexclusivity, Etc. The rights of the Indemnitee
hereunder shall be in addition to any other rights Indemnitee may have under the
Company’s Amended and Restated Bylaws or the Delaware General Corporation Law or
otherwise. To the extent that a change in the Delaware General Corporation Law
(whether by statute or judicial decision) permits greater indemnification by
agreement than would be afforded currently under the Company’s Amended and
Restated Bylaws and this Agreement, it is the intent of the parties hereto that
Indemnitee shall enjoy by this Agreement the greater benefits so afforded by
such change.   10.   Liability Insurance. To the extent the Company maintains an
insurance policy or policies providing directors’ and officers’ liability
insurance, Indemnitee shall be covered by such policy or policies, in accordance
with its or their terms, to the maximum extent of the coverage available for any
Company director or officer.   11.   Period of Limitations. No legal action
shall be brought and no cause of action shall be asserted by or in the right of
the Company against Indemnitee, Indemnitee’s spouse, heirs, executors or
personal or legal representatives after the

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    expiration of two years from the date of accrual of such cause of action,
and any claim or cause of action of the Company shall be extinguished and deemed
released unless asserted by the timely filing of a legal action within such
two-year period; provided, however, that if any shorter period of limitations is
otherwise applicable to any such cause of action such shorter period shall
govern.   12.   Amendments, Etc. No supplement, modification or amendment of
this Agreement shall be binding unless executed in writing by both of the
parties hereto. No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be
deemed or shall constitute a waiver of any other provisions hereof (whether or
not similar) nor shall such waiver constitute a continuing waiver.   13.  
Subrogation. In the event of payment under this Agreement, the Company shall be
subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of recovery of
Indemnitee, who shall execute all papers required and shall do everything that
may be necessary to secure such rights, including the execution of such
documents necessary to enable the Company effectively to bring suit to enforce
such rights.   14.   No Duplication of Payments. The Company shall not be liable
under this Agreement to make any payment in connection with any Claim made
against Indemnitee to the extent Indemnitee has otherwise actually received
payment (under any insurance policy, Bylaw or otherwise) of the amounts
otherwise indemnifiable hereunder.   15.   Binding Effect, Etc. This Agreement
shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the
parties hereto and their respective successors, assigns, including any direct or
indirect successor by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise to all or
substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company, spouses, heirs,
executors and personal and legal representatives. This Agreement shall continue
in effect regardless of whether Indemnitee continues to serve as an officer or
director of the Company or of any other enterprise at the Company’s request.  
16.   Severability. The provisions of this Agreement shall be severable in the
event that any of the provisions hereof (including any provision within a single
section, paragraph or sentence) are held by a court of competent jurisdiction to
be invalid, void or otherwise unenforceable in any respect, and the validity and
enforceability of any such provision in every other respect and of the remaining
provisions hereof shall not be in any way impaired and shall remain enforceable
to the fullest extent permitted by law.   17.   Governing Law. This Agreement
shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of
the State of Delaware applicable to contracts made and to be performed in such
state without giving effect to the principles of conflicts of laws.

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    [For Messrs. Bloomfield, Rose, Johnson, Byrnes, Monter, Bain, Rethore and
Ms. Staples, the following paragraph is incorporated:]   18.   Amendment and
Restatement. This Agreement shall amend and restate in its entirety that certain
Indemnification Agreement dated as of [August 3, 1993], as amended, between the
Indemnitee and Belden Inc. (which has been assumed by the Company).

          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement
this ___ day ___ 20___.

         
 
  By    
 
       
 
      Name:
 
      Title:  
 
       
 
      (Indemnitee)

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