<PAGE>   1
EXHIBIT 4.5
FIRST AMENDMENT TO NOTE PURCHASE AGREEMENT,
DATED AS OF SEPTEMBER 1, 1999


                                                                  EXECUTION COPY

                                   BELDEN INC.

                               FIRST AMENDMENT TO
                             NOTE PURCHASE AGREEMENT

                                  $200,000,000
                         Senior Notes Issuable in Series

                          $75,000,000 Principal Amount
                        6.92% Senior Notes, Series 1997-A
                               Due August 11, 2009


                                                   Dated as of September 1, 1999

To the Holders of the Senior Notes,
    Series 1997-A, of Belden Inc. Named in the
    Attached Schedule I

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         Reference is made to the Note Purchase Agreement dated as of August 1,
1997 among Belden Inc. (the "Company") and each of the Purchasers named in
Schedule A thereto (the "1997 Note Agreement"), pursuant to which the Company
issued $75,000,000 principal amount of its 6.92% Senior Notes, Series 1997-A,
due August 11, 2009 (the "1997 Notes"). Reference is also made to the Series
1997-A Guaranty dated August 11, 1997 (as it may be amended, modified or
restated, the "Series 1997-A Guaranty") made by Belden Wire & Cable Company, a
Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the Company ("Belden Wire"), in favor of the holders
of the 1997 Notes. You are referred to herein individually as a "Holder" and
collectively as the "Holders." Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined
herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the 1997 Note Agreement.

         The Company has authorized the issuance and sale of $64,000,000
aggregate principal amount of 7.60% Senior Notes, Series A, due September 1,
2004, $44,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 7.74% Senior Notes, Series B,
due September 1, 2006, and $17,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 7.95%
Senior Notes, Series C, due September 1, 2009 (collectively, the "1999 Notes"),
pursuant to a Note Purchase Agreement dated as of September 1, 1999 (the "1999
Note Agreement"). The 1999 Notes will be guaranteed by certain Wholly Owned
Subsidiaries of the Company, including Belden Wire, Cable Systems Holding
Company ("CSH") and Cable Systems International Inc. ("CSI"). In order to
maintain parity between the 1999 Notes and the 1997 Notes, CSH and CSI will
guaranty the 1997 Notes.


<PAGE>   2


         The Holders are willing to grant an amendment on the terms and
conditions hereinafter set forth. In consideration of the premises and for good
and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are
acknowledged, the Company and the Holders agree as follows:

     AMENDMENTS

              Amendment of Section 1.1. Section 1.1 of the 1997 Note Agreement
is amended to read in its entirety as follows:

                      "The Company is contemplating the issue and sale of up to
         $200,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its Senior Notes issuable in
         series (the "Notes", such term to include any such Notes issued in
         substitution therefor pursuant to Section 13 of this Agreement). The
         Notes shall be substantially in the form set out in Exhibit 1.1-A, with
         such changes therefrom, if any, as may be approved by the purchasers of
         such Notes, or series thereof, and the Company. Certain capitalized
         terms used in this Agreement are defined in Schedule B; references to a
         "Schedule" or an "Exhibit" are, unless otherwise specified, to a
         Schedule or an Exhibit attached to this Agreement. The Notes may be
         issued in one or more series. Each series of Notes will be guaranteed
         by Belden Wire & Cable Company, a Delaware corporation ("Belden Wire"),
         Cable Systems Holding Company, a Delaware corporation ("CSH"), and
         Cable Systems International Inc., a Delaware corporation ("CSI" and,
         together with Belden Wire, CSH and any future party to the Belden Wire
         Guaranty, the "Subsidiary Guarantors"), each a Wholly Owned Subsidiary
         of the Company, pursuant to a guaranty in substantially the form of
         Exhibit 1.1-B (such guaranty with respect to the Series 1997-A Notes is
         herein referred to as the "Belden Wire Guaranty"). Each series of
         Notes, other than the initial series, shall be issued pursuant to a
         supplement to this Agreement (a "Supplement") in substantially the form
         of Exhibit 1.1-C, and shall be subject to the following terms and
         conditions:

                  (a) the designation of each series of Notes shall distinguish
         the Notes of one series from the Notes of all other series;

                  (b) the Notes of each series shall be senior in the sense that
         they rank pari passu with the Notes of all other series and the
         Company's other outstanding unsecured Indebtedness that has not been
         expressly subordinated to any other Indebtedness of the Company;

                  (c) each series of Notes shall be dated the date of issue,
         bear interest at such rate or rates, mature on such date or dates, be
         subject to such mandatory prepayments on the dates and with the
         Make-Whole Amounts, if any, as are provided in the Supplement under
         which such Notes are issued, and shall have such additional or
         different conditions precedent to closing and such additional or
         different representations and warranties or other terms and provisions
         as shall be specified in such Supplement; and


<PAGE>   3


                  (d)  except to the extent provided in foregoing clauses (a)
         through (c), all of the provisions of this Agreement shall apply to the
         Notes of each series.

         The Purchasers of the Series 1997-A Notes need not purchase subsequent
         series of Notes."

                  Amendment of Section 10.4. Clause (b) of Section 10.4 of the
1997 Note Agreement is amended to read in its entirety as follows:

                  "(b) Any Restricted Subsidiary may (x) merge into the Company
         (provided that the Company is the surviving corporation) or another
         Restricted Subsidiary or (y) sell, transfer or lease all or any part of
         its assets to the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary, or (z)
         merge or consolidate with, or sell, transfer or lease all or
         substantially all of its assets to, any Person in a transaction that is
         permitted by Section 10.3 or, as a result of which, such Person becomes
         a Restricted Subsidiary; provided in each instance set forth in clauses
         (x) through (z) that, immediately before and after giving effect
         thereto, there shall exist no Default or Event of Default and provided
         further, that, in the case of a transaction contemplated by clause (z),
         if the Restricted Subsidiary is a Subsidiary Guarantor and it is not
         the surviving corporation, the survivor of such merger shall be a
         solvent corporation organized and existing under the laws of the United
         States, any State thereof (including the District of Columbia), Canada
         or any province thereof, or a country within Western Europe, and such
         corporation (A) shall have executed and delivered to each holder of any
         Notes its assumption of the due and punctual performance and observance
         of each covenant and condition of the Belden Wire Guaranty applicable
         to the Subsidiary Guarantor that does not survive, and (B) shall have
         caused to be delivered to each holder of any Notes an opinion of
         independent counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Required Holders, to
         the effect that all agreements or instruments effecting such assumption
         are enforceable in accordance with their terms and comply with the
         terms hereof;"

                  Amendment of Section 10.6. Section 10.6 of the 1997 Note
         Agreement is amended to read in its entirety as follows:

         "10.6    DESIGNATION OF UNRESTRICTED SUBSIDIARIES.

                       The Company will not designate a Subsidiary Guarantor
         as an Unrestricted Subsidiary. The Company may designate any other
         Restricted Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary unless such
         Subsidiary has been designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary more than
         once previously and unless immediately before or after such designation
         there exists a Default or Event of Default."

                  Addition of Section 10.9. A new Section 10.9 is added to the
         1997 Note Agreement to read as follows:



<PAGE>   4


         "10.9    GUARANTIES BY SUBSIDIARIES.

                           The Company will not permit any Subsidiary to
         directly or indirectly guarantee any of the Company's Indebtedness or
         other obligations under the Credit Agreement unless such Subsidiary is,
         or concurrently therewith becomes, a party to the Belden Wire
         Guaranty."

                  Amendment of Section 11.

                           Clause (c) of Section 11 of the 1997 Note Agreement
         is amended to read in its entirety as follows:

                           "(c) the Company defaults in the performance of or
                  compliance with any term contained in Section 7.1(e) or
                  Sections 10.1 through 10.9; or"

                           Clause (e) of Section 11 of the 1997 Note Agreement
         is amended to read in its entirety as follows:

                           "(e) any representation or warranty made in writing
                  by or on behalf of the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor or
                  by any officer of the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor in
                  this Agreement or the Belden Wire Guaranty or in any writing
                  furnished in connection with the transactions contemplated
                  hereby proves to have been false or incorrect in any material
                  respect on the date as of which made; or"

                           Clause (k) of Section 11 of the 1997 Note Agreement
         is amended to read in its entirety as follows:

                           "(k) the Belden Wire Guaranty ceases to be in full
                  force and effect as a result of acts taken by the Company or
                  any Subsidiary Guarantor or is declared to be null and void in
                  whole or in material part by a court or other governmental or
                  regulatory authority having jurisdiction or the validity or
                  enforceability thereof shall be contested by any of the
                  Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor or any of them renounces
                  any of the same or denies that it has any or further liability
                  thereunder."

                  Amendment of Section 12.1. Clause (a) of Section 12.1 of the
1997 Note Agreement is amended to read in its entirety as follows:

                  "(a) If an Event of Default with respect to the Company or a
         Subsidiary Guarantor described in paragraph (g) or (h) of Section 11
         (other than an Event of Default described in clause (i) or paragraph
         (g) or described in clause (vi) of paragraph (g) by virtue of the fact
         that such clause encompasses clause (i) of paragraph (g)) has occurred,
         all the Notes then outstanding shall automatically become immediately
         due and payable."

                  Addition of Section 23. A new Section 23 is added to the 1997
Note Agreement to read in its entirety as follows:



<PAGE>   5


                           "You and each other holder of the Notes agree to
         fully release any Subsidiary Guarantor other than Belden Wire, CSH and
         CSI from the Belden Wire Guaranty at such time as such Subsidiary
         Guarantor no longer guarantees, directly or indirectly, the Company's
         Indebtedness or other obligations under the Credit Agreement; provided,
         however, that you and each other holder will not be required to release
         such Subsidiary Guarantor from the Belden Wire Guaranty if (i) such
         Subsidiary Guarantor is contemplated to become a borrower under the
         Credit Agreement or (ii) there is a plan of financing that contemplates
         such Subsidiary Guarantor guaranteeing any other Indebtedness of the
         Company, and such requirement to release such Subsidiary Guarantor is
         conditioned upon the prior receipt by each holder of the Notes of a
         certificate from a Senior Financial Officer of the Company stating that
         neither of the circumstances described in clauses (i) and (ii) above
         are true."

                  Amendment of Schedule B.

                           The following terms included in Schedule B of the
         1997 Note Agreement are amended to read in their entirety as follows:

                           "MATERIAL ADVERSE EFFECT" means a material adverse
         effect on (a) the business, operations, affairs, financial condition,
         assets or properties of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries
         taken as a whole, or (b) the ability of the Company to perform its
         obligations under this Agreement and the Notes, or (c) the ability of
         any Subsidiary Guarantor to perform its obligations under the Belden
         Wire Guaranty, or (d) the validity or enforceability of this Agreement,
         the Notes or the Belden Wire Guaranty.

                           "MATERIAL RESTRICTED SUBSIDIARY" means, as of the
         date of determination, each Subsidiary Guarantor and any other
         Restricted Subsidiary the assets or revenues of which account for more
         than 5% of the Consolidated Total Assets of the Company and its
         Restricted Subsidiaries at the end of the most recently ended fiscal
         period or more than 5% of the consolidated revenues of the Company and
         its Restricted Subsidiaries for the most recently completed four fiscal
         quarters.

                           "RESTRICTED SUBSIDIARY" means each Subsidiary
         Guarantor and any other Subsidiary (a) of which at least a majority of
         the voting securities are owned by the Company and/or one or more
         Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiaries and of which the Company has
         management control and (b) which the Company has designated a
         Restricted Subsidiary by notice in writing (including designation in
         Section 5.4) given to the holders of the Notes and (c) which has not
         been designated as a Restricted Subsidiary more than once previously."

                           Schedule B of the 1997 Note Agreement is amended to
add the following terms:



<PAGE>   6

                  "CREDIT AGREEMENT" means the Credit Agreement dated as of
         November 18, 1996 among the Company and the banks from time to time
         party thereto, as such agreement may be hereafter amended, restated,
         supplemented, refinanced, increased or reduced from time to time, and
         any successor credit agreement or similar facility."

                  "CSH" is defined in Section 1.1.

                  "CSI" is defined in Section 1.1.

                  "SUBSIDIARY GUARANTOR" is defined in Section 1.1.

                  Replacement of Exhibit 1.1-B. Exhibit 1.1-B to the 1997 Note
Agreement is replaced with the form attached to this Amendment as Annex I.

     REAFFIRMATION; ETC.

                  Reaffirmation of 1997 Note Agreement. The Company reaffirms
its agreement to comply with each of the covenants, agreements and other
provisions of the 1997 Note Agreement and the 1997 Notes, as amended by this
Amendment.

                  No Default or Event of Default. The Company represents and
warrants that, to the actual knowledge of its Responsible Officers after due
inquiry, no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or will
occur as a result of the execution of this Amendment.

                  Authorization. The execution, delivery and performance by the
Company of this Amendment have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate
action and, except as provided herein, do not require any registration with,
consent or approval of, notice to or action by, any Person (including any
Governmental Authority) in order to be effective and enforceable. Each of the
1997 Note Agreement and this Amendment constitutes the legal, valid and binding
obligations of the Company, enforceable against it in accordance with its
respective terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by (i) applicable
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws
affecting the enforcement of creditors' rights generally and (ii) general
principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in
a proceeding in equity or at law).

     EFFECTIVE DATE

         This Amendment shall become effective as of the date set forth above
upon satisfaction of each of the following conditions:

                  Consent of Requisite Holders. The Holders of at least a
majority of the aggregate principal amount of the 1997 Notes outstanding shall
have executed counterparts of this Amendment.

                  Amendment and Restatement of Series 1997-A Guaranty. The
Holders of the 1997 Notes shall have received a counterpart signature page to an
amended and restated Guaranty in the form attached hereto as Annex II signed by
each Subsidiary Guarantor.



<PAGE>   7

                  Acknowledgement of Belden Wire. Belden Wire shall have
acknowledged this Amendment by executing the signature page hereto.

                  Expenses. The Company shall have paid all fees and expenses of
special counsel to the Holders in connection with this Amendment.

     MISCELLANEOUS

                  Ratification. Except as expressly amended, modified, deleted
or added to hereby, all of the terms and conditions of the 1997 Note Agreement,
the 1997 Notes and all other documents relating to the 1997 Note Agreement
remain in full force and effect, and the parties hereto expressly reaffirm and
ratify their respective obligations thereunder.

                  Reference to and Effect on the 1997 Note Agreement. Upon the
effectiveness of this Amendment, (i) each reference in the 1997 Note Agreement
and in other documents describing or referencing the 1997 Note Agreement to the
"Agreement," "Note Agreement," "hereunder," "hereof," "herein," or words of like
import referring to the 1997 Note Agreement, shall mean and be a reference to
the 1997 Note Agreement, as amended hereby, and (ii) each reference in the
Series 1997-A Guaranty and in other documents describing or referencing the
Series 1997-A Guaranty to the "Guaranty," "Series 1997-A Guaranty," "hereunder,"
"hereof," "herein," or words of like import referring to the Series 1997-A
Guaranty, shall mean and be a reference to the Series 1997-A Guaranty as amended
and restated pursuant to this Amendment.

                  Restricted Subsidiaries. The Company hereby notifies the
Holders that each Subsidiary listed in Annex III hereto (which are all of the
Subsidiaries of the Company) is a Restricted Subsidiary under the 1997 Note
Agreement, as amended, whether or not such Subsidiaries were Restricted
Subsidiaries prior to the effective date hereof.

                  Binding Effect. This Amendment shall be binding upon and inure
to the benefit of the respective successors and assigns of the parties hereto.

                  Governing Law. This Amendment shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with Illinois law.

                  Counterparts. This Amendment be executed in any number of
counterparts, each executed counterpart constituting an original, but altogether
only one instrument.



<PAGE>   8


         If you are in agreement with the foregoing, please sign the
accompanying counterpart of this Amendment and return it to the Company,
whereupon the foregoing shall become a binding agreement between you and the
Company upon satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 3 of this
Amendment.

                                            BELDEN INC.

                                            By:
                                               ---------------------------------
                                            Name:
                                                 -------------------------------
                                            Title:
                                                  ------------------------------


The foregoing is hereby agreed
to as of the date thereof.

AID ASSOCIATION FOR LUTHERANS

By:
   ------------------------------------------------
Name:
     ----------------------------------------------
Title:
      ---------------------------------------------

MUTUAL OF OMAHA INSURANCE
  COMPANY

By:
   ------------------------------------------------
Name:
     ----------------------------------------------
Title:
      ---------------------------------------------

UNITED OF OMAHA LIFE INSURANCE
  COMPANY

By:
   ------------------------------------------------
Name:
     ----------------------------------------------
Title:
      ---------------------------------------------

NATIONWIDE MUTUAL INSURANCE
  COMPANY

By:
   ------------------------------------------------
Name:
     ----------------------------------------------
Title:
      ---------------------------------------------



<PAGE>   9


STATE FARM LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY

By:
   ------------------------------------------------
Name:
     ----------------------------------------------
Title:
      ---------------------------------------------

By:
   ------------------------------------------------
Name:
     ----------------------------------------------
Title:
      ---------------------------------------------


PRINCIPAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY

By:  Principal Capital Management, LLC
     a Delaware limited liability company,
     its authorized signatory

        By:
           ----------------------------------------
        Its:
            ---------------------------------------
        By:
           ----------------------------------------
        Its:
            ---------------------------------------


NIPPON LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF
   AMERICA, an Iowa corporation

By:  Principal Life Company, an Iowa corporation,
     its attorney in fact

        By:
           ----------------------------------------
        Its:
            ---------------------------------------

        By:
           ----------------------------------------
        Its:
            ---------------------------------------


BERKSHIRE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY

By:
   ------------------------------------------------
Name:
     ----------------------------------------------
Title:
      ---------------------------------------------





<PAGE>   10


         The undersigned Subsidiary Guarantor acknowledges the foregoing
Amendment.

BELDEN WIRE & CABLE COMPANY

By:
   ------------------------------------------------
Name:
     ----------------------------------------------
Title:
      ---------------------------------------------




<PAGE>   11




                                   SCHEDULE I

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                        Original Principal
Name of Holder                                         Amount of 1997 Notes
--------------                                         --------------------
<S>                                                     <C>
Aid Association for Lutherans                             $24,000,000
Mutual of Omaha Insurance Company                          11,000,000
United of Omaha Life Insurance Company                      4,000,000
Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company                        15,000,000
State Farm Life Insurance Company                          10,000,000
Principal Life Insurance Company                            7,000,000
Nippon Life Insurance Company of America                    1,000,000
Berkshire Life Insurance Company                            3,000,000
</TABLE>




<PAGE>   12



                                     ANNEX I
                                                                   EXHIBIT 1.1-B

                          [FORM OF SUBSIDIARY GUARANTY]

                              SERIES [    ] GUARANTY

         THIS GUARANTY (this "GUARANTY") dated [    ] is made by the undersigned
(each, a "GUARANTOR"), in favor of the holders from time to time of the Series
[    ] Notes hereinafter referred to, including each purchaser named in the Note
Purchase Agreement [or supplement thereto] hereinafter referred to, and their
respective successors and assigns (collectively, the "HOLDERS" and each
individually, a "HOLDER").

                              W I T N E S S E T H:

         WHEREAS, Belden Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "COMPANY"), and the
initial Holders have entered into a [Supplement dated       , to] [Note Purchase
Agreement dated as of August 1, 1997] (the Note Purchase Agreement [as so
supplemented and] as [further] amended, supplemented, restated or otherwise
modified from time to time in accordance with its terms and in effect, the "NOTE
PURCHASE AGREEMENT");

         WHEREAS, the Note Purchase Agreement contemplates the issuance by the
Company of $200,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Notes (as defined in the
Note Purchase Agreement) in series [of which $      have heretofore been issued]
and the Company has authorized the issuance and sale of $[     ] aggregate
principal amount of Series [     ] Notes to the Purchasers;

         WHEREAS, the Company directly or indirectly owns all of the issued and
outstanding capital stock of each Guarantor and, by virtue of such ownership and
otherwise, each Guarantor will derive substantial benefits from the purchase by
the initial Holders of the Company's Series [      ] Notes;

         WHEREAS, it is a condition precedent to the obligation of the initial
Holders to purchase the Series [     ] Notes that each Guarantor shall have
executed and delivered this Guaranty to the Holders and it will be a condition
to the sale of subsequent series of Notes that a substantially identical
Guaranty run in favor of the holders of such subsequent series of Notes; and

         WHEREAS, each Guarantor desires to execute and deliver this Guaranty to
satisfy the conditions described in the preceding paragraph;

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and other benefits to
each Guarantor, and of the purchase of the Company's Series [     ] Notes by the
initial Holders, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and
sufficiency of which are acknowledged, each Guarantor makes this Guaranty as
follows:



<PAGE>   13

         SECTION 1. Definitions. Any capitalized terms not otherwise herein
defined shall have the meanings attributed to them in the Note Purchase
Agreement.

         SECTION 2. Guaranty. The Guarantors, jointly and severally,
unconditionally and irrevocably guarantee to the Holders the due, prompt and
complete payment by the Company of the principal of, Make-Whole Amount, if any,
and interest on, and each other amount due under, the Series [   ] Notes or the
Note Purchase Agreement, when and as the same shall become due and payable
(whether at stated maturity or by prepayment or by declaration or otherwise) in
accordance with the terms of the Series [   ] Notes and the Note Purchase
Agreement (the Series [  ] Notes and the Note Purchase Agreement being sometimes
hereinafter collectively referred to as the "NOTE DOCUMENTS" and the amounts
payable by the Company under the Note Documents, and all other monetary
obligations of the Company thereunder, being sometimes collectively hereinafter
referred to as the "OBLIGATIONS"). This Guaranty is a guaranty of payment and
not just of collectibility and is in no way conditioned or contingent upon any
attempt to collect from the Company or upon any other event, contingency or
circumstance whatsoever. If for any reason whatsoever the Company shall fail or
be unable duly, punctually and fully to pay such amounts as and when the same
shall become due and payable and any Holder shall notify each Guarantor that all
Series [   ] Notes held by such Holder or all outstanding Series [   ] Notes are
subject to acceleration under Section 12.1 of the Note Purchase Agreement, the
Guarantors (jointly and severally), without demand, presentment, protest or
notice of any kind, will forthwith pay or cause to be paid such amounts to the
Holders under the terms of such Note Documents, in lawful money of the United
States, at the place specified in the Note Purchase Agreement, or perform or
comply with the same or cause the same to be performed or complied with,
together with interest (to the extent provided for under such Note Documents) on
any amount due and owing from the Company. The Guarantors (jointly and
severally), promptly after demand, will pay to the Holders the reasonable costs
and expenses of collecting such amounts or otherwise enforcing this Guaranty,
including, without limitation, the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel. The
right of recovery against each Guarantor under this Guaranty is, however,
limited to the Fair Net Worth of such Guarantor, as of the date of any
determination thereof, less $20,000. For purposes of this Guaranty, the "Fair
Net Worth" of a Guarantor shall mean an amount equal to the fair saleable value
of such Guarantor's assets and all rights of contribution, indemnification and
exoneration, net of all obligations of such Guarantor owed to third parties
(other than such Guarantor's liabilities under this Guaranty), including all
liabilities, whether fixed or contingent, direct or indirect, disputed or
undisputed, secured or unsecured, and whether or not required to be reflected on
a balance sheet prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles.

         SECTION 3. Guarantor's Obligations Unconditional. The obligations of
each Guarantor under this Guaranty shall be primary, absolute and unconditional
obligations of such Guarantor, shall not be subject to any counterclaim,
set-off, deduction, diminution, abatement, recoupment, suspension, deferment,
reduction or defense based upon any claim such Guarantor or any other person may
have against the Company or any other person, and to the full extent permitted
by applicable law shall remain in full force and effect without regard to, and
shall not be released, discharged or in any way affected by, any circumstance or
condition whatsoever (whether or not such Guarantor or the Company shall have
any knowledge or notice thereof), including:


<PAGE>   14

                  (a) any termination, amendment or modification of or deletion
         from or addition or supplement to or other change in any of the Note
         Documents or any other instrument or agreement applicable to any of the
         parties to any of the Note Documents;

                  (b) any furnishing or acceptance of any security, or any
         release of any security, for the Obligations, or the failure of any
         security or the failure of any person to perfect any interest in any
         collateral;

                  (c) any failure, omission or delay on the part of the Company
         to conform or comply with any term of any of the Note Documents or any
         other instrument or agreement referred to in paragraph (a) above,
         including, without limitation, failure to give notice to such Guarantor
         of the occurrence of a "Default" or an "Event of Default" under any
         Note Document;

                  (d) any waiver of the payment, performance or observance of
         any of the obligations, conditions, covenants or agreements contained
         in any Note Document, or any other waiver, consent, extension,
         indulgence, compromise, settlement, release or other action or inaction
         under or in respect of any of the Note Documents or any other
         instrument or agreement referred to in paragraph (a) above or any
         obligation or liability of the Company, or any exercise or non-exercise
         of any right, remedy, power or privilege under or in respect of any
         such instrument or agreement or any such obligation or liability;

                  (e) any failure, omission or delay on the part of any of the
         Holders to enforce, assert or exercise any right, power or remedy
         conferred on such Holder in this Guaranty, or any such failure,
         omission or delay on the part of such Holder in connection with any
         Note Document, or any other action on the part of such Holder;

                  (f) any voluntary or involuntary bankruptcy, insolvency,
         reorganization, arrangement, readjustment, assignment for the benefit
         of creditors, composition, receivership, conservatorship,
         custodianship, liquidation, marshaling of assets and liabilities or
         similar proceedings with respect to the Company, a Guarantor or to any
         other person or any of their respective properties or creditors, or any
         action taken by any trustee or receiver or by any court in any such
         proceeding;

                  (g) any discharge, termination, cancellation, frustration,
         irregularity, invalidity or unenforceability, in whole or in part, of
         any of the Note Documents or any other agreement or instrument referred
         to in paragraph (a) above or any term hereof;

                  (h) any merger or consolidation of the Company or a Guarantor
         into or with any other corporation, or any sale, lease or transfer of
         any of the assets of the Company or a Guarantor to any other person;

                  (i) any change in the ownership of any shares of capital stock
         of the Company or any change in the corporate relationship between the
         Company and a Guarantor, or any termination of such relationship;



<PAGE>   15

                  (j) any release or discharge, by operation of law, of a
         Guarantor from the performance or observance of any obligation,
         covenant or agreement contained in this Guaranty; or

                  (k) any other occurrence, circumstance, happening or event
         whatsoever, whether similar or dissimilar to the foregoing, whether
         foreseen or unforeseen, and any other circumstance that might otherwise
         constitute a legal or equitable defense or discharge of the liabilities
         of a guarantor or surety or that might otherwise limit recourse against
         a Guarantor.

Notwithstanding any other provision contained in this Guaranty, the Guarantors'
joint and several liability with respect to the principal amount of the Series
[   ] Notes shall be no greater than the liability of the Company with respect
thereto.

         SECTION 4.   Full Recourse Obligations. The obligations of each
Guarantor set forth herein constitute the full recourse obligations of such
Guarantor enforceable against it to the full extent of all its assets and
properties.

         SECTION 5.   Waiver. Each Guarantor unconditionally waives, to the
extent permitted by applicable law, (a) notice of any of the matters referred to
in Section 3, (b) notice to such Guarantor of the incurrence of any of the
Obligations, notice to such Guarantor or the Company of any breach or default by
the Company with respect to any of the Obligations or any other notice that may
be required, by statute, rule of law or otherwise, to preserve any rights of the
Holders against such Guarantor, (c) presentment to or demand of payment from the
Company or such Guarantor with respect to any amount due under any Note Document
or protest for nonpayment or dishonor, (d) any right to the enforcement,
assertion or exercise by any of the Holders of any right, power, privilege or
remedy conferred in the Note Purchase Agreement or any other Note Document or
otherwise, (e) any requirement of diligence on the part of any of the Holders,
(f) any requirement to exhaust any remedies or to mitigate the damages resulting
from any default under any Note Document, (g) any notice of any sale, transfer
or other disposition by any of the Holders of any right, title to or interest in
the Note Purchase Agreement or in any other Note Document and (h) any other
circumstance whatsoever that might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable
discharge, release or defense of a guarantor or surety or that might otherwise
limit recourse against such Guarantor.

         SECTION 6.   Subrogation, Contribution, Reimbursement or Indemnity.
Until one year and one day after all Obligations have been indefeasibly paid in
full, each Guarantor agrees not to take any action pursuant to any rights that
may have arisen in connection with this Guaranty to be subrogated to any of the
rights (whether contractual, under the United States Bankruptcy Code, as
amended, including Section 509 thereof, under common law or otherwise) of any of
the Holders against the Company or against any collateral security or guaranty
or right of offset held by the Holders for the payment of the Obligations. Until
one year and one day after all Obligations have been indefeasibly paid in full,
each Guarantor agrees not to take any action pursuant to any contractual, common
law, statutory or other rights of reimbursement, contribution, exoneration or
indemnity (or any similar right) from or against the Company that



<PAGE>   16

may have arisen in connection with this Guaranty. So long as the Obligations
remain, if any amount shall be paid by or on behalf of the Company to a
Guarantor on account of any of the rights waived in this paragraph, such amount
shall be held by such Guarantor in trust, segregated from other funds of such
Guarantor, and shall, forthwith upon receipt by such Guarantor, be turned over
to the Holders (duly endorsed by such Guarantor to the Holders, if required), to
be applied against the Obligations, whether matured or unmatured, in such order
as the Holders may determine. The provisions of this paragraph shall survive the
term of this Guaranty and the payment in full of the Obligations.

         SECTION 7.   Effect of Bankruptcy Proceedings, etc. This Guaranty shall
continue to be effective or be automatically reinstated, as the case may be, if
at any time payment, in whole or in part, of any of the sums due to any of the
Holders pursuant to the terms of the Note Purchase Agreement or any other Note
Document is rescinded or must otherwise be restored or returned by such Holder
upon the insolvency, bankruptcy, dissolution, liquidation or reorganization of
the Company or any other person, or upon or as a result of the appointment of a
custodian, receiver, trustee or other officer with similar powers with respect
to the Company or other person or any substantial part of its property, or
otherwise, all as though such payment had not been made. If an event permitting
the acceleration of the maturity of the principal amount of the Series [    ]
Notes shall at any time have occurred and be continuing, and such acceleration
shall at such time be prevented by reason of the pendency against the Company or
any other person of a case or proceeding under a bankruptcy or insolvency law,
each Guarantor agrees that, for purposes of this Guaranty and its obligations
hereunder, the maturity of the principal amount of the Series [  ] Notes and all
other Obligations shall be deemed to have been accelerated with the same effect
as if any Holder had accelerated the same in accordance with the terms of the
Note Purchase Agreement or other applicable Note Document, and the Guarantors
(jointly and severally) shall forthwith pay such principal amount, Make-Whole
Amount, if any, and interest thereon and any other amounts guaranteed hereunder
without further notice or demand.

         SECTION 8.   Term of Agreement. This Guaranty and all guaranties,
covenants and agreements of each Guarantor contained herein shall continue in
full force and effect and shall not be discharged until such time as all of the
Obligations shall be paid and performed in full and all of the agreements of
each Guarantor hereunder shall be duly paid and performed in full.

         SECTION 9.   Representations and Warranties. Each Guarantor represents
and warrants to each Holder that:

                  (a) such Guarantor is a corporation duly organized, validly
         existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware
         and has the corporate power and authority to own and operate its
         property, to lease the property it operates as lessee and to conduct
         the business in which it is currently engaged;

                  (b) such Guarantor has the corporate power and authority and
         the legal right to execute and deliver, and to perform its obligations
         under, this Guaranty, and has taken all necessary corporate action to
         authorize its execution, delivery and performance of this Guaranty;



<PAGE>   17

                  (c) this Guaranty constitutes a legal, valid and binding
         obligation of such Guarantor enforceable in accordance with its terms,
         except as enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency,
         reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting the enforcement of
         creditors' rights generally and by general equitable principles
         (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a
         proceeding in equity or at law);

                  (d) the execution, delivery and performance of this Guaranty
         will not violate any provision of any requirement of law or material
         contractual obligation of such Guarantor and will not result in or
         require the creation or imposition of any Lien on any of the
         properties, revenues or assets of such Guarantor pursuant to the
         provisions of any material contractual obligation of such Guarantor or
         any requirement of law;

                  (e) no consent or authorization of, filing with, or other act
         by or in respect of, any arbitrator or governmental authority is
         required in connection with the execution, delivery, performance,
         validity or enforceability of this Guaranty;

                  (f) no litigation, investigation or proceeding of or before
         any arbitrator or governmental authority is pending or, to the
         knowledge of such Guarantor, threatened by or against such Guarantor or
         any of its properties or revenues (i) with respect to this Guaranty or
         any of the transactions contemplated hereby or (ii) that could
         reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect upon the
         business, operations or financial condition of such Guarantor and its
         subsidiaries taken as a whole;

                  (g) the execution, delivery and performance of this Guaranty
         will not violate any provision of any order, judgment, writ, award or
         decree of any court, arbitrator or Governmental Authority, domestic or
         foreign, or of the charter or by-laws of such Guarantor or of any
         securities issued by such Guarantor; and

                  (h) after giving effect to the transactions contemplated
         herein, (i) the present fair salable value of the assets of such
         Guarantor is in excess of the amount that will be required to pay its
         probable liability on its existing debts as said debts become absolute
         and matured, (ii) such Guarantor has received reasonably equivalent
         value for executing and delivering this Guaranty, (iii) the property
         remaining in the hands of such Guarantor is not an unreasonably small
         capital, and (iv) such Guarantor is able to pay its debts as they
         mature.

         SECTION 10. Notices. All notices under the terms and provisions hereof
shall be in writing, and shall be delivered or sent by telex or telecopy or
mailed by first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed (a) if to the Company or
any Holder at the address set forth in the Note Purchase Agreement or (b) if to
a Guarantor, at:



<PAGE>   18

                              [Name of Guarantor]
                              c/o Belden Inc.
                              7701 Forsyth Boulevard
                              Suite 800
                              St. Louis, MO  63105

or at such other address as a Guarantor shall from time to time designate in
writing to the Holders or on a counterpart signature page hereto. Any notice so
addressed shall be deemed to be given when actually received.

         SECTION 11. Survival. All warranties, representations and covenants
made by each Guarantor herein or in any certificate or other instrument
delivered by it or on its behalf hereunder shall be considered to have been
relied upon by the Holders and shall survive the execution and delivery of this
Guaranty, regardless of any investigation made by any of the Holders. All
statements in any such certificate or other instrument shall constitute
warranties and representations by such Guarantor hereunder.

         SECTION 12. Submission to Jurisdiction. Each Guarantor irrevocably
submits to the jurisdiction of the courts of the State of Illinois and of the
courts of the United States of America having jurisdiction in the State of
Illinois for the purpose of any suit, action or proceeding in any such court
with respect to, or arising out of, this Guaranty, the Note Purchase Agreement
or the Notes. Each Guarantor consents to process being served in any such suit,
action or proceeding by mailing a copy thereof by registered or certified mail,
postage prepaid, return receipt requested, to the address of such Guarantor
specified herein or designated pursuant hereto or on a counterpart signature
page hereto. Each Guarantor agrees that such service upon receipt (i) shall be
deemed in every respect effective service of process upon it in any such suit,
action or proceeding and (ii) shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be
taken and held to be valid personal service upon and personal delivery to such
Guarantor.

         SECTION 13. Miscellaneous. Any provision of this Guaranty that is
prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction,
be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without
invalidating the remaining provisions hereof, and any such prohibition or
unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render
unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction. To the extent permitted
by applicable law, each Guarantor hereby waives any provision of law that
renders any provisions hereof prohibited or unenforceable in any respect. The
terms of this Guaranty shall be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of, each
Guarantor and the Holders and their respective successors and assigns. No term
or provision of this Guaranty may be changed, waived, discharged or terminated
orally, but only by an instrument in writing signed by each Guarantor and the
Holders. The section and paragraph headings in this Guaranty and the table of
contents are for convenience of reference only and shall not modify, define,
expand or limit any of the terms or provisions hereof, and all references herein
to numbered sections, unless otherwise indicated, are to sections in this
Guaranty. This Guaranty shall in all respects be governed by, and construed in
accordance with, the laws of the State of Illinois, including all matters of
construction, validity and performance.




<PAGE>   19


         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each Guarantor has caused this Guaranty to be duly
executed as of the day and year first above written.



                                              BELDEN WIRE & CABLE COMPANY


                                              By:
                                                 -------------------------------
                                              Name:
                                                   -----------------------------
                                              Title:
                                                     ---------------------------

                                              CABLE SYSTEMS HOLDING COMPANY


                                              By:
                                                 -------------------------------
                                              Name:
                                                   -----------------------------
                                              Title:
                                                     ---------------------------


                                              CABLE SYSTEMS INTERNATIONAL INC.


                                              By:
                                                 -------------------------------
                                              Name:
                                                   -----------------------------
                                              Title:
                                                     ---------------------------




<PAGE>   20


                                    ANNEX II

                          [FORM OF AMENDED AND RESTATED
                             SERIES 1997-A GUARANTY]

         THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED SERIES 1997-A GUARANTY (this "GUARANTY")
dated as of September 1, 1999 is made by the undersigned (each, a "GUARANTOR"),
in favor of the holders from time to time of the Series 1997-A Notes hereinafter
referred to, including each purchaser named in the Note Purchase Agreement
hereinafter referred to, and their respective successors and assigns
(collectively, the "HOLDERS" and each individually, a "HOLDER").

W I T N E S S E T H:

         WHEREAS, Belden Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "COMPANY"), and the
initial Holders have entered into a Note Purchase Agreement dated as of August
1, 1997 (the Note Purchase Agreement as amended, supplemented, restated or
otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with its terms and in effect,
the "NOTE PURCHASE AGREEMENT");

         WHEREAS, the Note Purchase Agreement contemplates the issuance by the
Company of $200,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Notes (as defined in the
Note Purchase Agreement) in series and the Company has authorized the issuance
and sale of $75,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Series 1997-A Notes to the
Purchasers;

         WHEREAS, the Company has authorized the issuance and sale of senior
notes pursuant to a Note Purchase Agreement dated as of September 1, 1999, which
senior notes will be guaranteed by certain subsidiaries of the Company that do
not currently guaranty the Series 1997-A Notes, and, in order to maintain parity
between the Series 1997-A Notes and such senior notes by providing a guaranty of
the Series 1997-A Notes by such subsidiaries, this Guaranty amends and restates
in its entirety the Series 1997-A Guaranty originally entered into on August 11,
1997 by Belden Wire (the "Original Guaranty");

         WHEREAS, the Company directly or indirectly owns all of the issued and
outstanding capital stock of each Guarantor and, by virtue of such ownership and
otherwise, each Guarantor has derived or will derive substantial benefits from
the purchase by the initial Holders of the Company's Series 1997-A Notes; and

         WHEREAS, each Guarantor desires to execute and deliver this Guaranty to
satisfy the provisions of the preceding paragraphs;

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and other benefits to
each Guarantor, and of the purchase of the Company's Series 1997-A Notes by the
initial Holders, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and
sufficiency of which are acknowledged, each Guarantor makes this Guaranty, which
amends and restates in its entirety the Original Guaranty, as follows:


<PAGE>   21

         SECTION 1. Definitions. Any capitalized terms not otherwise herein
defined shall have the meanings attributed to them in the Note Purchase
Agreement.

         SECTION 2. Guaranty. The Guarantors, jointly and severally,
unconditionally and irrevocably guarantee to the Holders the due, prompt and
complete payment by the Company of the principal of, Make-Whole Amount, if any,
and interest on, and each other amount due under, the Series 1997-A Notes or the
Note Purchase Agreement, when and as the same shall become due and payable
(whether at stated maturity or by prepayment or by declaration or otherwise) in
accordance with the terms of the Series 1997-A Notes and the Note Purchase
Agreement (the Series 1997-A Notes and the Note Purchase Agreement being
sometimes hereinafter collectively referred to as the "NOTE DOCUMENTS" and the
amounts payable by the Company under the Note Documents, and all other monetary
obligations of the Company thereunder, being sometimes collectively hereinafter
referred to as the "OBLIGATIONS"). This Guaranty is a guaranty of payment and
not just of collectibility and is in no way conditioned or contingent upon any
attempt to collect from the Company or upon any other event, contingency or
circumstance whatsoever. If for any reason whatsoever the Company shall fail or
be unable duly, punctually and fully to pay such amounts as and when the same
shall become due and payable and any Holder shall notify each Guarantor that all
Series 1997-A Notes held by such Holder or all outstanding Series 1997-A Notes
are subject to acceleration under Section 12.1 of the Note Purchase Agreement,
the Guarantors (jointly and severally), without demand, presentment, protest or
notice of any kind, will forthwith pay or cause to be paid such amounts to the
Holders under the terms of such Note Documents, in lawful money of the United
States, at the place specified in the Note Purchase Agreement, or perform or
comply with the same or cause the same to be performed or complied with,
together with interest (to the extent provided for under such Note Documents) on
any amount due and owing from the Company. The Guarantors (jointly and
severally), promptly after demand, will pay to the Holders the reasonable costs
and expenses of collecting such amounts or otherwise enforcing this Guaranty,
including, without limitation, the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel. The
right of recovery against each Guarantor under this Guaranty is, however,
limited to the Fair Net Worth of such Guarantor, as of the date of any
determination thereof, less $20,000. For purposes of this Guaranty, the "Fair
Net Worth" of a Guarantor shall mean an amount equal to the fair saleable value
of such Guarantor's assets and all rights of contribution, indemnification and
exoneration, net of all obligations of such Guarantor owed to third parties
(other than such Guarantor's liabilities under this Guaranty), including all
liabilities, whether fixed or contingent, direct or indirect, disputed or
undisputed, secured or unsecured, and whether or not required to be reflected on
a balance sheet prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles.

         SECTION 3. Guarantor's Obligations Unconditional. The obligations of
each Guarantor under this Guaranty shall be primary, absolute and unconditional
obligations of such Guarantor, shall not be subject to any counterclaim,
set-off, deduction, diminution, abatement, recoupment, suspension, deferment,
reduction or defense based upon any claim such Guarantor or any other person may
have against the Company or any other person, and to the full extent permitted
by applicable law shall remain in full force and effect without regard to, and
shall not be released, discharged or in any way affected by, any circumstance or
condition whatsoever (whether or not such Guarantor or the Company shall have
any knowledge or notice thereof), including:



<PAGE>   22

                  (a) any termination, amendment or modification of or deletion
         from or addition or supplement to or other change in any of the Note
         Documents or any other instrument or agreement applicable to any of the
         parties to any of the Note Documents;

                  (b) any furnishing or acceptance of any security, or any
         release of any security, for the Obligations, or the failure of any
         security or the failure of any person to perfect any interest in any
         collateral;

                  (c) any failure, omission or delay on the part of the Company
         to conform or comply with any term of any of the Note Documents or any
         other instrument or agreement referred to in paragraph (a) above,
         including, without limitation, failure to give notice to such Guarantor
         of the occurrence of a "Default" or an "Event of Default" under any
         Note Document;

                  (d) any waiver of the payment, performance or observance of
         any of the obligations, conditions, covenants or agreements contained
         in any Note Document, or any other waiver, consent, extension,
         indulgence, compromise, settlement, release or other action or inaction
         under or in respect of any of the Note Documents or any other
         instrument or agreement referred to in paragraph (a) above or any
         obligation or liability of the Company, or any exercise or non-exercise
         of any right, remedy, power or privilege under or in respect of any
         such instrument or agreement or any such obligation or liability;

                  (e) any failure, omission or delay on the part of any of the
         Holders to enforce, assert or exercise any right, power or remedy
         conferred on such Holder in this Guaranty, or any such failure,
         omission or delay on the part of such Holder in connection with any
         Note Document, or any other action on the part of such Holder;

                  (f) any voluntary or involuntary bankruptcy, insolvency,
         reorganization, arrangement, readjustment, assignment for the benefit
         of creditors, composition, receivership, conservatorship,
         custodianship, liquidation, marshaling of assets and liabilities or
         similar proceedings with respect to the Company, a Guarantor or to any
         other person or any of their respective properties or creditors, or any
         action taken by any trustee or receiver or by any court in any such
         proceeding;

                  (g) any discharge, termination, cancellation, frustration,
         irregularity, invalidity or unenforceability, in whole or in part, of
         any of the Note Documents or any other agreement or instrument referred
         to in paragraph (a) above or any term hereof;

                  (h) any merger or consolidation of the Company or a Guarantor
         into or with any other corporation, or any sale, lease or transfer of
         any of the assets of the Company or a Guarantor to any other person;

                  (i) any change in the ownership of any shares of capital stock
         of the Company or any change in the corporate relationship between the
         Company and a Guarantor, or any termination of such relationship;



<PAGE>   23
                  (j) any release or discharge, by operation of law, of a
         Guarantor from the performance or observance of any obligation,
         covenant or agreement contained in this Guaranty; or


                  (k) any other occurrence, circumstance, happening or event
         whatsoever, whether similar or dissimilar to the foregoing, whether
         foreseen or unforeseen, and any other circumstance that might otherwise
         constitute a legal or equitable defense or discharge of the liabilities
         of a guarantor or surety or that might otherwise limit recourse against
         a Guarantor.

Notwithstanding any other provision contained in this Guaranty, the Guarantors'
joint and several liability with respect to the principal amount of the Series
1997-A Notes shall be no greater than the liability of the Company with respect
thereto.

         SECTION 4.   Full Recourse Obligations. The obligations of each
Guarantor set forth herein constitute the full recourse obligations of such
Guarantor enforceable against it to the full extent of all its assets and
properties.

         SECTION 5.   Waiver. Each Guarantor unconditionally waives, to the
extent permitted by applicable law, (a) notice of any of the matters referred to
in Section 3, (b) notice to such Guarantor of the incurrence of any of the
Obligations, notice to such Guarantor or the Company of any breach or default by
the Company with respect to any of the Obligations or any other notice that may
be required, by statute, rule of law or otherwise, to preserve any rights of the
Holders against such Guarantor, (c) presentment to or demand of payment from the
Company or such Guarantor with respect to any amount due under any Note Document
or protest for nonpayment or dishonor, (d) any right to the enforcement,
assertion or exercise by any of the Holders of any right, power, privilege or
remedy conferred in the Note Purchase Agreement or any other Note Document or
otherwise, (e) any requirement of diligence on the part of any of the Holders,
(f) any requirement to exhaust any remedies or to mitigate the damages resulting
from any default under any Note Document, (g) any notice of any sale, transfer
or other disposition by any of the Holders of any right, title to or interest in
the Note Purchase Agreement or in any other Note Document and (h) any other
circumstance whatsoever that might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable
discharge, release or defense of a guarantor or surety or that might otherwise
limit recourse against such Guarantor.

         SECTION 6.   Subrogation, Contribution, Reimbursement or Indemnity.
Until one year and one day after all Obligations have been indefeasibly paid in
full, each Guarantor agrees not to take any action pursuant to any rights that
may have arisen in connection with this Guaranty to be subrogated to any of the
rights (whether contractual, under the United States Bankruptcy Code, as
amended, including Section 509 thereof, under common law or otherwise) of any of
the Holders against the Company or against any collateral security or guaranty
or right of offset held by the Holders for the payment of the Obligations. Until
one year and one day after all Obligations have been indefeasibly paid in full,
each Guarantor agrees not to take any action pursuant to any contractual, common
law, statutory or other rights of reimbursement, contribution, exoneration or
indemnity (or any similar right) from or against the Company that



<PAGE>   24

may have arisen in connection with this Guaranty. So long as the Obligations
remain, if any amount shall be paid by or on behalf of the Company to a
Guarantor on account of any of the rights waived in this paragraph, such amount
shall be held by such Guarantor in trust, segregated from other funds of such
Guarantor, and shall, forthwith upon receipt by such Guarantor, be turned over
to the Holders (duly endorsed by such Guarantor to the Holders, if required), to
be applied against the Obligations, whether matured or unmatured, in such order
as the Holders may determine. The provisions of this paragraph shall survive the
term of this Guaranty and the payment in full of the Obligations.

         SECTION 7. Effect of Bankruptcy Proceedings, etc. This Guaranty shall
continue to be effective or be automatically reinstated, as the case may be, if
at any time payment, in whole or in part, of any of the sums due to any of the
Holders pursuant to the terms of the Note Purchase Agreement or any other Note
Document is rescinded or must otherwise be restored or returned by such Holder
upon the insolvency, bankruptcy, dissolution, liquidation or reorganization of
the Company or any other person, or upon or as a result of the appointment of a
custodian, receiver, trustee or other officer with similar powers with respect
to the Company or other person or any substantial part of its property, or
otherwise, all as though such payment had not been made. If an event permitting
the acceleration of the maturity of the principal amount of the Series 1997-A
Notes shall at any time have occurred and be continuing, and such acceleration
shall at such time be prevented by reason of the pendency against the Company or
any other person of a case or proceeding under a bankruptcy or insolvency law,
each Guarantor agrees that, for purposes of this Guaranty and its obligations
hereunder, the maturity of the principal amount of the Series 1997-A Notes and
all other Obligations shall be deemed to have been accelerated with the same
effect as if any Holder had accelerated the same in accordance with the terms of
the Note Purchase Agreement or other applicable Note Document, and the
Guarantors (jointly and severally) shall forthwith pay such principal amount,
Make-Whole Amount, if any, and interest thereon and any other amounts guaranteed
hereunder without further notice or demand.

         SECTION 8.   Term of Agreement. This Guaranty and all guaranties,
covenants and agreements of each Guarantor contained herein shall continue in
full force and effect and shall not be discharged until such time as all of the
Obligations shall be paid and performed in full and all of the agreements of
each Guarantor hereunder shall be duly paid and performed in full.

         SECTION 9.   Representations and Warranties. Each Guarantor represents
and warrants to each Holder that:

                  (a) such Guarantor is a corporation duly organized, validly
         existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware
         and has the corporate power and authority to own and operate its
         property, to lease the property it operates as lessee and to conduct
         the business in which it is currently engaged;

                  (b) such Guarantor has the corporate power and authority and
         the legal right to execute and deliver, and to perform its obligations
         under, this Guaranty, and has taken all necessary corporate action to
         authorize its execution, delivery and performance of this Guaranty;


<PAGE>   25

                  (c) this Guaranty constitutes a legal, valid and binding
         obligation of such Guarantor enforceable in accordance with its terms,
         except as enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency,
         reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting the enforcement of
         creditors' rights generally and by general equitable principles
         (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a
         proceeding in equity or at law);

                  (d) the execution, delivery and performance of this Guaranty
         will not violate any provision of any requirement of law or material
         contractual obligation of such Guarantor and will not result in or
         require the creation or imposition of any Lien on any of the
         properties, revenues or assets of such Guarantor pursuant to the
         provisions of any material contractual obligation of such Guarantor or
         any requirement of law;

                  (e) no consent or authorization of, filing with, or other act
         by or in respect of, any arbitrator or governmental authority is
         required in connection with the execution, delivery, performance,
         validity or enforceability of this Guaranty;

                  (f) no litigation, investigation or proceeding of or before
         any arbitrator or governmental authority is pending or, to the
         knowledge of such Guarantor, threatened by or against such Guarantor or
         any of its properties or revenues (i) with respect to this Guaranty or
         any of the transactions contemplated hereby or (ii) that could
         reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect upon the
         business, operations or financial condition of such Guarantor and its
         subsidiaries taken as a whole;

                  (g) the execution, delivery and performance of this Guaranty
         will not violate any provision of any order, judgment, writ, award or
         decree of any court, arbitrator or Governmental Authority, domestic or
         foreign, or of the charter or by-laws of such Guarantor or of any
         securities issued by such Guarantor; and

                  (h) after giving effect to the transactions contemplated
         herein, (i) the present fair salable value of the assets of such
         Guarantor is in excess of the amount that will be required to pay its
         probable liability on its existing debts as said debts become absolute
         and matured, (ii) such Guarantor has received reasonably equivalent
         value for executing and delivering this Guaranty, (iii) the property
         remaining in the hands of such Guarantor is not an unreasonably small
         capital, and (iv) such Guarantor is able to pay its debts as they
         mature.

         SECTION 10. Notices. All notices under the terms and provisions hereof
shall be in writing, and shall be delivered or sent by telex or telecopy or
mailed by first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed (a) if to the Company or
any Holder at the address set forth in the Note Purchase Agreement or (b) if to
a Guarantor, at:



<PAGE>   26

                            [Name of Guarantor]
                            c/o Belden Inc.
                            7701 Forsyth Boulevard
                            Suite 800
                            St. Louis, MO  63105

or at such other address as a Guarantor shall from time to time designate in
writing to the Holders or on a counterpart signature page hereto. Any notice so
addressed shall be deemed to be given when actually received.

         SECTION 11. Survival. All warranties, representations and covenants
made by each Guarantor herein or in any certificate or other instrument
delivered by it or on its behalf hereunder shall be considered to have been
relied upon by the Holders and shall survive the execution and delivery of this
Guaranty, regardless of any investigation made by any of the Holders. All
statements in any such certificate or other instrument shall constitute
warranties and representations by such Guarantor hereunder.

         SECTION 12. Submission to Jurisdiction. Each Guarantor irrevocably
submits to the jurisdiction of the courts of the State of Illinois and of the
courts of the United States of America having jurisdiction in the State of
Illinois for the purpose of any suit, action or proceeding in any such court
with respect to, or arising out of, this Guaranty, the Note Purchase Agreement
or the Series 1997-A Notes. Each Guarantor consents to process being served in
any such suit, action or proceeding by mailing a copy thereof by registered or
certified mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, to the address of
such Guarantor specified herein or designated pursuant hereto or on a
counterpart signature page hereto. Each Guarantor agrees that such service upon
receipt (i) shall be deemed in every respect effective service of process upon
it in any such suit, action or proceeding and (ii) shall, to the fullest extent
permitted by law, be taken and held to be valid personal service upon and
personal delivery to such Guarantor.

         SECTION 13. Miscellaneous. Any provision of this Guaranty that is
prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction,
be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without
invalidating the remaining provisions hereof, and any such prohibition or
unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render
unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction. To the extent permitted
by applicable law, each Guarantor hereby waives any provision of law that
renders any provisions hereof prohibited or unenforceable in any respect. The
terms of this Guaranty shall be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of, each
Guarantor and the Holders and their respective successors and assigns. No term
or provision of this Guaranty may be changed, waived, discharged or terminated
orally, but only by an instrument in writing signed by each Guarantor and the
Holders. The section and paragraph headings in this Guaranty and the table of
contents are for convenience of reference only and shall not modify, define,
expand or limit any of the terms or provisions hereof, and all references herein
to numbered sections, unless otherwise indicated, are to sections in this
Guaranty. This Guaranty shall in all respects be governed by, and construed in
accordance with, the laws of the State of Illinois, including all matters of
construction, validity and performance.


<PAGE>   27

                  IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each Guarantor has caused this Guaranty to
be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.



                                        BELDEN WIRE & CABLE COMPANY


                                        By:
                                           -------------------------------------
                                        Name:
                                             -----------------------------------
                                        Title:
                                              ----------------------------------


                                        CABLE SYSTEMS HOLDING COMPANY


                                        By:
                                           -------------------------------------
                                        Name:
                                             -----------------------------------
                                        Title:
                                              ----------------------------------


                                        CABLE SYSTEMS INTERNATIONAL INC.


                                        By:
                                           -------------------------------------
                                        Name:
                                             -----------------------------------
                                        Title:
                                              ----------------------------------