QuickLinks
 -- Click here to rapidly navigate through this document

 
 

Exhibit 10.49    
    


AMENDMENT NO. 1

TO

EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT  


        THIS AMENDMENT NO. 1, dated as of March 14, 2005 (hereinafter referred to as this "Amendment"), to the Executive Employment Agreement, dated as of
August 18, 2003 (hereinafter referred to as the "Agreement"), by and among UNITED STATIONERS INC., a Delaware corporation (hereinafter, together with its successors, referred to as
"Holding"), UNITED STATIONERS SUPPLY CO., an Illinois corporation (hereinafter, together with its successors, referred to as the "Company" and, together with Holding, the "Companies"), and
P. Cody Phipps (hereinafter referred to as the "Executive"). Terms used in this Amendment but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Agreement. 



        WHEREAS,
the Companies and the Executive desire to amend the Agreement as hereinafter set forth in order to correct an inadvertent omission from Attachment I thereto; 


        NOW,
THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties agree as follows: 


        1.     In
order to correct an inadvertent omission from the Agreement, Attachment I to the Agreement is amended by adding the following at the end thereof: 



	        3.     For purposes of determining his pension benefit and related vesting, Executive will receive five (5) additional years of age and
service credits, credited as of the Effective Date, to be provided under a nonqualified supplemental pension plan arrangement.






        2.     All
provisions of the Agreement, as expressly amended and modified by this Amendment, shall remain in full force and effect. After this Amendment becomes effective, all
references in the Agreement to "this Agreement", "hereof", "herein" or words of similar effect referring to the Agreement shall be deemed to be references to the Agreement as amended by this
Amendment. This Amendment shall not be deemed, either expressly or impliedly, to waive, amend or supplement any provision of the Agreement other than as set forth herein. 


        3.     This
Amendment shall become effective as of the date hereof. 


        4.     This
Amendment may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same
instrument. 


        5.     This
Amendment and the rights and obligations hereunder shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Illinois, without regard to
principles of conflicts of law of Illinois or any other jurisdiction. 







 



        IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Amendment in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed one and the same instrument, as of the day and year first written
above. 



	 	UNITED STATIONERS INC.
	

 	

By:	
 	

/s/  RICHARD W. GOCHNAUER      

	 	Name:	 	Richard W. Gochnauer
	 	Title:	 	President and Chief Executive Officer
	

 	

UNITED STATIONERS SUPPLY CO.
	

 	

By:	
 	

/s/  RICHARD W. GOCHNAUER      

	 	Name:	 	Richard W. Gochnauer
	 	Title:	 	President and Chief Executive Officer
	

 	

EXECUTIVE:
	

 	

/s/  P. CODY PHIPPS      
 P. Cody Phipps




2











QuickLinks



Exhibit 10.49