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                                                                   Exhibit 10.14
                                                                   -------------
                              EXECUTIVE AGREEMENT
                              -------------------




      Agreement between Primex Technologies, Inc., a Virginia corporation 
("Primex"), and A. A. Catani (the "Executive"), dated as of January 1, 1997.


      Primex and the Executive agree as follows:


       1.   Definitions


            As used in this Agreement:


            (a)   "Cause" means the willful and continued failure of the 
Executive to substantially perform his duties; the willful engaging by the 
Executive in gross misconduct significantly and demonstrably injurious to
Primex; or conduct by the Executive in the course of his employment which is a
felony or fraud. No act or failure to act on the part of the Executive will be
considered "willful" unless done or omitted not in good faith and without
reasonable belief that the action or omission was in the interests of Primex or
not opposed to the interests of Primex.


            (b)   "Change in Control" means:


                    (i)       Primex ceases to be, directly or indirectly, 
owned by at least 1,000 stockholders; 


                   (ii)       A person, partnership, joint venture, corporation 
or other entity, or two or more of any of the foregoing acting as a "person" 
within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, 
as amended (the "Act"), other than Primex, a majority-owned subsidiary of 
Primex or an employee benefit plan (or related trust) of Primex, such 
subsidiary or Olin Corporation, a Virginia corporation ("Olin"), become(s) the 
"beneficial owner" (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under such Act) of 15% or more of 
the then outstanding voting stock of Primex; 


                  (iii)       During any period of two consecutive years, 
individuals who at the beginning of such period constitute Primex's Board of 
Directors (together with any new Director whose election by Primex's Board of 
Directors or whose nomination for election by Primex's stockholders was 
approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the Directors then still in office 
who either were directors at the beginning of 
<PAGE>
 
such period or whose election or nomination for election was previously so
approved) cease for any reason to constitute a majority of the directors then in
office; or

                   (iv)       All or substantially all of the business of 
Primex is disposed of pursuant to a merger, consolidation or other transaction 
in which Primex  is not the surviving corporation or Primex combines with 
another company and is the surviving corporation (unless the shareholders of 
Primex immediately following such merger, consolidation, combination, or other 
transaction beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the 
voting stock or other ownership interests of (x) the entity or entities, if 
any, that succeed to the business of Primex or (y) the combined company).


            (c)   "Disability" means that the Executive has suffered an 
incapacity due to physical or mental illness which meets the criteria for
disability established at the time under Primex's short-term disability plan.


            (d)   "Executive Severance" means:


                    (i)       twelve months of the Executive's then current 
monthly salary (without taking into account any reductions which may have 
occurred at or after the date of a Change in Control); plus


                   (ii)       an amount equal to the greater of the Executive's 
average annual award actually paid under Primex's short-term annual incentive 
compensation plans or programs ("ICP") for the three years (or for such fewer 
years as the ICP may have been in effect) immediately preceding the date of 
Termination or the Executive's then current ICP standard annual award.


                  (iii)       The Executive will not be entitled to receive any 
other severance otherwise payable to the Executive under any other severance 
plan of Primex.


                   (iv)       If on the Termination date the Executive is 
eligible and is receiving payments under any then existing Primex disability 
plan, then the Executive agrees that all such payments may, and will be, 
suspended and offset for 12 months following the Termination date.  If after 
such period the Executive remains eligible to receive disability payments, then 
such payments shall resume in the amounts and in accordance with the provisions 
of the applicable Primex disability plan.


            (e)   "Potential Change in Control" means:


                    (i)       Primex has entered into an agreement the 
consummation of which would result in a Change in Control;
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                   (ii)       any person (including Primex) publicly announces 
an intention to take or to consider taking actions which if consummated would 
constitute a Change in Control;


                  (iii)       Primex learns that any person (other than an 
employee benefit plan (or related trust) of Primex, a subsidiary of Primex or 
Olin) has become the beneficial owner directly or indirectly of securities of
Primex representing 9.5% or more of the combined voting power of Primex's then
outstanding securities ordinarily entitled to vote in elections of directors; or


                   (iv)       the Board of Directors of Primex adopts a 
resolution to the effect that, for purposes of this Agreement, a Potential 
Change in Control of Primex has occurred.


            (f)   "Termination" means:


                    (i)       The Executive is discharged by Primex other than 
for Cause; 


                   (ii)       The Executive terminates his employment in the 
event that:


                        (1)   Primex requires the Executive to relocate the 
Executive's then office to an area which is not within reasonable commuting
distance, on a daily basis, from the Executive's then residence, except that a
requirement to relocate the Executive's office to Primex's corporate
headquarters is not a basis for Termination;


                        (2)   Primex reduces the Executive's base salary;


                        (3)   (A)   Primex fails to continue the Executive's 
participation in its benefit plans (including stock-based incentives but 
excluding cash-based incentive compensation plans) on substantially the same 
basis, both in terms of the amount of the benefits provided (other than due to 
Primex's or a relevant operation's earnings performance) and the level of the 
Executive's participation relative to other participants as exists on the date 
hereof;


                              (B)   Primex fails to continue the Executive's 
eligibility to participate in its annual cash incentive compensation plan or 
reduces his target award (not actual award paid) under such cash incentive plan 
from that in effect for 1997;


                        (4)   The Executive suffers a Disability which prevents 
the Executive from performing the Executive's duties with Primex for a period 
of at least 180 consecutive days; 
<PAGE>
 
                        (5)   Following a Change in Control, Primex fails to 
substantially maintain its benefit plans as in effect at the time of the Change 
in Control, unless reasonably equivalent arrangements (embodied in an on-going 
substitute or alternative plan) have been made with respect to such plans; or


                        (6)   The Executive's duties, position or reporting 
responsibilities are diminished.


            2.    Term/Executive's Duties.


            (a)   This Agreement expires at the close of business on December 
31, 1999, unless prior to that date there is a Change in Control, in which case 
this Agreement will expire on the later of the close of business on December 
31, 1999 or three years following the date of the Change in Control; provided 
that the expiration of this Agreement will not affect any of the Executive's 
rights resulting from a Termination prior to such expiration.  In the event of 
the Executive's death while employed by Primex, this Agreement shall terminate 
and be of no further force or effect on the date of his death; provided that 
the Executive's death will not affect any of the Executive's rights resulting 
from a Termination prior to death.


            (b)   During the period of the Executive's employment by Primex, 
the Executive shall devote his full time efforts during normal business hours 
to Primex's business and affairs, except during reasonable vacation periods and 
periods of illness or incapacity.  Nothing in this Agreement will preclude the 
Executive from devoting reasonable periods required for service as a director 
or a member of any organization involving no conflict of interest with Primex's 
interest, provided that no additional position as director or member shall be 
accepted by the Executive during the period of his employment with Primex 
without its prior consent.  The initial 1997 annual base salary of the 
Executive shall be $350,000 and his initial 1997 EVA bonus standard shall be 
$200,000.


            (c)   The Executive agrees that in the event of a Potential Change 
in Control of Primex occurring after the date hereof, the Executive will remain 
in the employ of Primex for a period of six months from the occurrence of such 
Potential Change in Control, during which period the Executive will have an 
office, title, duties and responsibilities substantially consistent with those 
applicable immediately prior to the Potential Change in Control.


            (d)   Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed as requiring 
Primex to increase the Executive's compensation, including base salary,
annual incentive target or standard and long term incentive grants, during the 
term of his employment and such compensation shall be determined in the sole 
discretion of Primex's Board of Directors or committee thereof.  The Executive 
expressly understands and agrees that during the term of his employment with 
Primex his base salary and annual short-term incentive target or standard will 
not be increased.
<PAGE>
 
       3.   Executive Severance Payment


            (a)   In the event of a Termination occurring before the expiration 
of this Agreement, Primex will pay the Executive a lump sum in an amount equal 
to the Executive Severance.  The payment will be made within 30 days of the 
Termination.


            (b)   In the event of a Termination after a Change in Control has 
occurred, in addition to the Executive Severance paid under Paragraph 3(a) 
above, Primex will pay a Change in Control severance premium to the Executive 
in an amount equal to two times the Executive Severance.  The Change in Control 
severance premium, if it becomes due, will be made within 30 days of the 
Termination.


            (c)   The amount due under paragraph 3(a) or 3(b) will be reduced 
to the extent that, if the amounts were paid in monthly installments, no 
installment would be paid after the Executive's seventieth birthday.


            (d)   The Executive will not be required to mitigate the amount of 
any payment provided for in paragraph 3(a) or 3(b) by seeking other employment 
or otherwise, nor shall any compensation received by the Executive from a third 
party reduce such payment.  Except as may otherwise be expressly provided 
herein, nothing in this Agreement will be deemed to reduce or limit the rights 
which the Executive may have under any employee benefit plan, policy or 
arrangement of Primex.


      4.    Other Benefits and Payments


            (a) (1)     If the Executive becomes entitled to payment under 
Paragraph 3(a), then the Executive shall be entitled to receive a lump sum 
payment from Primex at the same time as the payment under Paragraph 3(a) is 
made equal to the amount contributed or credited by Primex to the Executive's 
accounts in all defined contribution plans of Primex (whether or not 
"qualified" plans) during the 12 months preceding the Executive's Termination
provided that in the event there are fewer than 12 months in such period the
payment required shall be increased proportionately to make it equivalent to a
12 month period. The "amount contributed or credited by Primex" as defined in
this Paragraph 4 shall not include any employee contributions, employer matching
contributions, dividends or investment gains or losses credited to the
Executive's accounts, but only the Primex contributions made or, in the case of
supplementary plans, credited, to the accounts. Such payment shall be in lieu of
any such contributions or credits by Primex to its defined contribution plans
with respect to the period after the Executive's Termination. If Primex is
required by law to contribute to such plans with respect to the period after the
Executive's Termination, any such contribution shall reduce the payout otherwise
due Executive under this Paragraph 4(a)(1). In the event the Executive receives
a payment under Paragraph 3(b), the amount required to be paid under the
preceding sentences of this Paragraph 4(a)(1) shall be tripled. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, in the event at the date of 
<PAGE>
 
Termination the Executive is more than 69 years old (or more than 67 years old
in the case the Executive receives a payment under Paragraph 3(b)) the lump sum
payment required to be made under this Paragraph 4(a)(1) shall be reduced such
that if it were expressed as equal monthly payments made over a 12-month period
(a 36-month period in the case of the Executive receiving a payment under
Paragraph 3(b)) and paid in monthly installments on the first of every month
following Termination no such monthly payments would be received by the
Executive beyond his seventieth birthday.


            (2)  If the Executive becomes entitled to payment under Paragraph 
3(a), for the 12 months from the date of the Termination the Executive will 
continue to enjoy coverage under all Primex medical, dental, and life insurance 
plans to the extent the Executive was enjoying such coverage immediately prior 
to the Termination.  The Executive shall accrue no vacation during the 12 
months following the date of Termination but shall be entitled to payment for 
accrued and unused vacation for the then current year.  If the Executive 
receives the Executive Severance (including the amount referred to in Paragraph 
1(d)(ii)), the Executive shall not be entitled to an ICP award for the calendar 
year of Termination if Termination occurs during the first calendar quarter.  
Even if the Executive receives the Executive Severance (including the amount 
referred to in Paragraph 1(d)(ii)), if Termination occurs during or after the 
second calendar quarter, the Executive shall also be entitled to a prorated ICP 
award for the calendar year of Termination which shall be determined by 
multiplying his then current ICP standard by a fraction the numerator of which 
is the number of weeks in the calendar year prior to the Termination and the 
denominator of which is 52.  The Executive shall accrue no ICP award during the 
12 months following the date of Termination.


            (b)   If the Executive receives payment under Paragraph 3(b), the  
insurance coverage provided for in Paragraph 4(a) (2) will be for an additional 
24-month period.


            (c)   Notwithstanding the foregoing Paragraphs 4(a)(2), and (b), no 
such insurance coverage will be afforded by this Agreement with respect to any 
period after the Executive's seventieth  birthday.


            (d)   In the event of a Termination, the Executive will be entitled 
at Primex's expense to outplacement counseling and associated services in 
accordance with Primex's customary practice at the time (or, if a Change in 
Control shall have occurred, in accordance with such practice immediately prior 
thereto) with respect to its senior executives who have been terminated other 
than for cause.  It is understood that the counseling and services contemplated 
by this Paragraph 4(d) are intended to facilitate the obtaining by the 
Executive of other employment following a Termination, and payments or benefits 
by Primex in lieu thereof will not be available to the Executive.


      (e)   If the Executive (i) receives the payment under Paragraph 3(b), 
(ii) has an accrued vested benefit under Olin's qualified pension plan as of 
the date of Termination and (iii) at age 55, would not qualify for 
                                                   ---
subsidized early retirement from Olin under the provisions of Olin's pension 
plans, then, 
<PAGE>
 
concurrent with the payment made to the Executive under Paragraph 3(b), the
Executive will receive a lump sum payment from Primex to make up for the lost
subsidy calculated as follows:


      FIRST, by calculating the annual benefit which would otherwise be 
      -----
payable to the Executive at age 65 under all Olin pension plans assuming the 
Executive had terminated his employment with Primex on the date of the Change 
in Control, SECOND, by multiplying such annual benefit by the 
            ------
percentage then applicable in the calculation of benefits paid to employees 
retiring from active service with Olin at age 55 under the early retirement 
provisions of the Olin Employees Pension Plan (72% at the date hereof), 
THIRD, by determining the lump sum actuarial value (as of the date of 
------
Termination) of annual payments beginning at age 55 as calculated in the 
second step and FOURTH, by deducting from such lump sum actuarial 
                ------
value the lump sum actuarial value (as of the date of Termination) of the 
Executive's accrued annual benefits under all Olin pension plans.  Lump sum 
actuarial value shall be determined in accordance with Olin's actuarial 
assumptions for its nonqualified defined benefit plans.


            (f)   During the term of the Executive's employment with Primex, 
Primex will provide the Executive (1) with an automobile or car payment 
equivalent at the Executive's option, (2) with a club membership and (3) with 
financial counseling services, in each case on the same terms and conditions as 
Olin most recently provided to the Executive while the Executive was an 
employee of Olin.


      5.    Participation in Change in Control/Section 4999 of Internal Revenue 
Code

            (a)   In the event that the Executive participates or agrees to 
participate by loan or equity investment (other than through ownership of less 
than 1% of publicly traded securities of another company) in a transaction 
("acquisition") which would result in an event described in paragraph 1(b)(i) 
or (ii), the Executive must promptly disclose such participation or agreement 
to Primex.  If the Executive so participates or agrees to participate, no 
payments due under this Agreement or by virtue of any Change in Control 
provisions contained in any compensation or benefit plan of Primex will be paid 
to the Executive until the acquiring group in which the Executive participates 
or agrees to participate has completed the acquisition.  In the event the 
Executive so participates or agrees to participate and fails to disclose his 
participation or agreement, the Executive will not be entitled to any payments 
under this Agreement or by virtue of Change in Control provisions in any Primex 
compensation or benefit plan, notwithstanding any of the terms hereof or 
thereof.


            (b)   Any payments made pursuant to this Agreement or by virtue of 
Change in Control provisions in any Primex compensation or benefit plan which 
are subject to tax under Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code or a
successor provision ("4999") will be increased so that after paying the tax
imposed by 4999 and the income tax on the amount of the increase provided by
this paragraph (b), the Executive will have received a net payment equal to that
which he or she would have received if 4999 did not apply.
<PAGE>
 
      6.    Successors; Binding Agreement


            (a)   Primex will require any successor (whether direct or 
indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or 
substantially all of the business or assets of Primex, by agreement, in form 
and substance satisfactory to the Executive, expressly to assume and agree to 
perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that Primex 
would be required to perform if no such succession had taken place.  Failure of 
Primex to obtain such assumption and agreement prior to the effectiveness of 
any such succession will be a breach of this Agreement and entitle the 
Executive to compensation from Primex in the same amount and on the same terms 
as the Executive would be entitled to hereunder had a Termination occurred on 
the succession date.  As used in this Agreement, "Primex" means Primex as 
defined in the preamble to this Agreement and any successor to its business or 
assets which executes and delivers the agreement provided for in this
Paragraph 6 or which otherwise becomes bound by all the terms and provisions of 
this Agreement by operation of law or otherwise.


            (b)   This Agreement shall be enforceable by the Executive's 
personal or legal representatives, executors, administrators, successors, 
heirs, distributees, devisees and legatees.


      7.    Notices.  For the purpose of this Agreement, notices and all other 
communications provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be deemed to 
have been duly given when delivered or mailed by United States registered or 
certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed as 
follows:
<PAGE>
 
      If to the Executive:      Angelo A. Catani
                                5928 Seabird Drive
                                Gulfport, FL  33707


      If to the Company:      Primex Technologies, Inc.
                              10101 9th Street North
                              St. Petersburg, FL  33716-3807
                              Attention:  Corporate Secretary

or to such other address as either party may have furnished to the other in 
writing in accordance herewith, except that notices of change of address shall 
be effective only upon receipt.


      8.    Governing Law.  The validity, interpretation, construction and 
performance of this Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of 
Florida.


      9.    Miscellaneous.  No provisions of this Agreement may be modified, 
waived or discharged unless such modification, waiver or discharge is agreed to 
in writing signed by the Executive and Primex.  No waiver by either party 
hereto at any time of any breach by the other party hereto of, or compliance 
with, any condition or provision of this Agreement to be performed by such 
other party shall be deemed a waiver of similar or dissimilar provisions or 
conditions at the same or at any prior or subsequent time.  No agreements or 
representations, oral or otherwise, express or implied, with respect to the 
subject matter hereof have been made by either party which are not set forth 
expressly in this Agreement.


      10.   Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in one or more 
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original but all of which 
together will constitute one and the same Agreement.
 

      11.   Withholding of Taxes. Primex may withhold from any benefits payable 
under this Agreement all federal, state, city or other taxes as shall be 
required pursuant to any law or governmental regulation or ruling.  


      12.   Non-assignability.  This Agreement is personal in nature and 
neither of the parties hereto shall, without the consent of the other, assign 
or transfer this Agreement or any rights or obligations hereunder, except as 
provided in paragraph 6 above.  Without limiting the foregoing, the Executive's 
right to receive payments hereunder shall not be assignable or transferable, 
whether by pledge, creation of a security interest or otherwise, other than a 
transfer by his will or by the laws of descent or distribution, and, in the 
event of any attempted assignment or transfer by the Executive contrary to this 
Paragraph, Primex shall have no liability to pay any amount so attempted to be 
assigned or transferred.
<PAGE>
 
      13.   No Employment Right.  This Agreement shall not be deemed to confer 
on the Executive a right to continued employment with Primex.


      14.   Disputes/Arbitration.


            (a)   Any dispute or controversy arising under or in connection 
with this Agreement shall be settled exclusively by arbitration at Primex's 
corporate headquarters in accordance with the rules of the American Arbitration 
Association then in effect. Judgment may be entered on the arbitrator's award in
any court having jurisdiction; provided, however, that the Executive shall be
entitled to seek specific performance of the Executive's right to be paid during
the pendency of any dispute or controversy arising under or in connection with
this Agreement.


            (b)   Primex shall pay all reasonable legal fees and expenses which 
the Executive may incur to enforce this Agreement unless the Executive had no 
reasonable basis for his claim.  Should Primex dispute the entitlement of the 
Executive to such fees and expenses, the burden of proof shall be on Olin to 
establish that the Executive had no reasonable basis for his claim.


            IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be 
executed and delivered as of the day and year first above set forth.


                                    PRIMEX TECHNOLOGIES, INC.


                                    By:   /s/ James G. Hascall
                                          --------------------
                                          Title:  Chairman and CEO

/s/ Angelo A. Catani
--------------------
Executive