Document:

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                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.53

                     FIRST AMENDMENT TO THE TRUST AGREEMENT
                             ESTABLISHING THE TRUST
                   BY AND BETWEEN BELDEN WIRE & CABLE COMPANY
               (FOR THE SUPPLEMENTAL EXCESS DEFINED BENEFIT PLAN)
           and CG TRUST COMPANY (NOW PRUDENTIAL BANK & TRUST, F.S.B.)

WHEREAS, Belden Wire & Cable Company (hereinafter referred to as the "Company")
and CG Trust Company, now Prudential Bank & Trust, F.S.B. (hereinafter referred
to as the "Trustee"), established a trust pursuant to a Trust Agreement
(hereinafter referred to as the "Trust Agreement") effective January 1, 2001
establishing the Trust by and between Belden Wire & Cable Company (for the
Supplemental Excess Defined Benefit Plan) and CG Trust Company, now Prudential
Bank & Trust, F.S.B.;

WHEREAS, the trust was established by the Trust Agreement in connection with the
Belden Wire & Cable Company Supplemental Excess Defined Benefit Plan (as amended
from time to time, the "Plan");

WHEREAS, Section 12 of the Trust Agreement provides for the amending of the
Trust Agreement by written instrument executed by the Trustee and the Company;
and

WHEREAS, the Company and the Trustee deem it desirable to make certain
amendments to the Trust Agreement effective immediately before the Effective
Time, as defined in the Agreement and Plan of Merger by and among Cable Design
Technologies Corporation, BC Merger Corp. and Belden Inc. dated as of February
4, 2004, as amended;

NOW, THEREFORE, the Trust Agreement is amended effective immediately before the
Effective Time as follows:

1. The definition of "Plan" is amended by inserting the words "as amended from
time to time," immediately before the words "the 'Plan'" in the parenthetical in
the first "WHEREAS" clause.

2. Paragraph (d) of Section 14, which defines "Change of Control", is deleted
and replaced with the following:

"For purposes of this Trust, the term 'Change of Control' shall have the meaning
assigned by the Plan. For the avoidance of doubt, the consummation of the
transactions contemplated by the Agreement and Plan of Merger by and among Cable
Design Technologies Corporation, BC Merger Corp. and Belden Inc. dated as of
February 4, 2004, as amended, shall not constitute a 'Change of Control' under
the Plan. The Board of Directors and the Chief Executive Officer of the Company
shall have a duty to inform the Trustee in writing of any Change of Control.
Unless Trustee has actual knowledge of a Change of Control, or has received
notice from the Company that a Change of Control

                                       1

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has occurred, Trustee shall have no duty to inquire whether a Change of Control
has occurred."

3. Capitalized terms used herein, unless otherwise defined herein, have the
meaning ascribed to such terms in the Trust Agreement. Except as expressly
provided herein all provisions of the Trust Agreement shall remain in full force
and effect.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Belden Wire & Cable Company and Prudential Bank &
Trust, F.S.B., by their respective duly authorized officers, execute this
amendment as of the 14th day of July, 2004.

                                         BELDEN WIRE & CABLE COMPANY

                                         By: /s/ Cathy O. Staples
                                             -------------------------

                                         Its: Vice President, Human Resources
                                              --------------------------------

Attest: /s/ Eivind J. Kolemainen
        ------------------------
        Eivind J. Kolemainen

                                             PRUDENTIAL BANK & TRUST, F.S.B.

                                             By: /s/
                                                 ------------------------------

                                             Its:
                                                 -------------------------------

                                        2<PAGE>
                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.54

                                 TRUST AGREEMENT

                                  Establishing

                                       THE

                                      TRUST

                                 BY AND BETWEEN

                           BELDEN WIRE & CABLE COMPANY

             (FOR THE SUPPLEMENTAL EXCESS DEFINED CONTRIBUTION PLAN)

                                       and

                                CG TRUST COMPANY

<PAGE>

                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

<Table>
<Caption>

                                                                      PAGE
                                                                      ----

<S>              <C>                                                  <C>
Section 1        Establishment of Trust                                1

Section 2        Payments to Plan Participants                         2
                 and Their Beneficiaries

Section 3        Trustee Responsibility Regarding                      3
                 Payments to Trust Beneficiary
                 When Company is Insolvent

Section 4        Payments to Company                                   4

Section 5        Investment Authority                                  4

Section 6        Disposition of Income                                 4

Section 7        Accounting by Trustee                                 5

Section 8        Responsibility of Trustee                             5

Section 9        Compensation and Expenses of Trustee                  6

Section 10       Resignation and Removal of Trustee                    6

Section 11       Appointment of Successor                              7

Section 12       Amendment or Termination                              7

Section 13       Payment of Incurred Expenses                          8

Section 14       Miscellaneous                                         8

Section 15       Effective Date                                        9
</Table>

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    (a)    This Agreement made this first day of January, 2001, by and between
           Belden Wire & Cable Company (the "Company") and CG Trust Company, a
           trust company organized under the laws of the State of Illinois with
           its principal office and place of business in Chicago, Illinois (the
           "Trustee");

    (b)    WHEREAS, Company has adopted the Belden Wire & Cable Company
           Supplemental Excess Defined Contribution Plan (the "Plan");

    (c)    WHEREAS, Company has incurred or expects to incur liability under the
           terms of such Plan with respect to the individuals participating in
           such Plan;

    (d)    WHEREAS, Company wishes to establish a trust (hereinafter called
           "Trust" or "Trust Fund") and to contribute to the Trust assets that
           shall be held herein, subject to the claims of Company's creditors in
           the event of Company's insolvency, as herein defined, until paid to
           Plan participants and their beneficiaries in such manner and at such
           times as specified in the Plan;

    (e)    WHEREAS, it is the intention of the parties that this Trust shall
           constitute an unfunded arrangement and shall not affect the status of
           the Plan as an unfunded plan maintained for the purpose of providing
           deferred compensation for a select group of management or highly
           compensated employees for purposes of Title I of the Employee
           Retirement Income Security Act of 1974;

    (f)    WHEREAS, it is the intention of Company to make contributions to the
           Trust to provide itself with a source of funds to assist in the
           meeting of its liabilities under the Plan.

NOW, THEREFORE, the parties do hereby establish the Trust and agree that the
Trust shall be comprised, held and disposed of as follows:

Section 1.  Establishment of Trust.

    (a)    Company hereby deposits with Trustee in trust certain good and
           valuable consideration, which shall become the principal of the Trust
           to be held, administered and disposed of by Trustee as provided in
           this Trust Agreement.

    (b)    The Trust hereby established shall be revocable by the Company; it
           shall become irrevocable upon a Change of Control, as defined herein.

    (c)    The Trust is intended to be a grantor trust, of which Company is the
           grantor, within the meaning of subpart E, part I, subchapter J,
           chapter 1, subtitle A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
           amended, and shall be construed accordingly.

                                                                               1

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    (d)    The principal of the Trust, and any earnings thereon shall be held
           separate and apart from other funds of Company and shall be used
           exclusively for the uses and purposes of Plan participants and
           general creditors as herein set forth. Before a Change in Control,
           (i) plan participants and their beneficiaries shall have no preferred
           claim on, or any beneficial ownership interest in, any assets of the
           Trust, (ii) any rights created under the Plan and this Trust
           Agreement shall be mere unsecured contractual rights of Plan
           participants and their beneficiaries against Company, (iii) any
           assets held by the Trust will be subject to the claims of Company's
           general creditors under federal and state law in the event of
           insolvency, as defined in Section 3(a) herein.

    (e)    Upon a Change of Control, Company shall, as soon as possible, but in
           no event longer than thirty (30) days following the Change of
           Control, as defined herein, make an irrevocable contribution to the
           Trust in an amount that is sufficient to pay all Plan participants
           and their beneficiaries the aggregate accrued benefits to which they
           would be entitled pursuant to the Plan as of the date of the Change
           of Control (whether or not they are then entitled to receive such
           accrued benefits), and shall thereafter make further irrevocable
           contributions to the Trust on a current basis as and in the amount
           that such benefits accrue. The Trustee shall have no responsibility
           for enforcing the Company's obligation to make payment of any
           contribution to the Trust, for the timing or amount thereof, or for
           the adequacy of the Trust to meet or discharge any liabilities of the
           Plan.

Section 2.  Payments to Plan Participants and Their Beneficiaries.

    (a)    Company shall deliver to Trustee a schedule (the "Payment Schedule")
           that indicates the amounts payable in respect of each Plan
           participant (and his or her beneficiaries), that provides a formula
           or other instructions acceptable to Trustee for determining the
           amounts so payable, the form in which such amount is to be paid (as
           provided for or available under the Plan), and the time of
           commencement for payment of such amounts. Except as otherwise
           provided herein, Trustee shall make payments to the Plan participants
           and their beneficiaries in accordance with such Payment Schedule. The
           Trustee shall make provisions for reporting and withholding of any
           federal, state or local taxes that may be required to be withheld
           with respect to the payment of benefits pursuant to the terms of the
           Plan and shall pay amounts withheld to the appropriate taxing
           authorities or determine that such amounts have been reported,
           withheld and paid by Company.

    (b)    The entitlement of a Plan participant or his or her beneficiaries to
           benefits under the Plan shall be determined by Company or such party
           as it shall designate under the Plan, and any claim for such benefits
           shall be considered and reviewed under the procedures set out in the
           Plan.

                                                                               2

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    (c)    Company may make payment of benefits directly to Plan participants or
           their beneficiaries as they become due under the terms of the Plan.
           Company shall notify Trustee of its decision to make payment of
           benefits directly prior to the time amounts are payable to
           participants or their beneficiaries. Trustee shall require Company to
           provide reasonable written documentation that such payments have been
           made directly to such participant or beneficiary. In addition, if the
           principal of the Trust, and any earnings thereon, are not sufficient
           to make payments of benefits in accordance with the terms of the
           Plan, Company shall make the balance of each such payment as it falls
           due. Trustee shall notify Company where principal and earnings are
           not sufficient.

Section 3. Trustee Responsibility Regarding Payments to Trust Beneficiary When
Company is Insolvent.

    (a)    Trustee shall cease payment of benefits to Plan participants and
           their beneficiaries if the Company is insolvent. Company shall be
           considered "insolvent" for purposes of this Trust Agreement if (i)
           Company is unable to pay its debts as they become due or (ii) Company
           is subject to a pending proceeding as a debtor under the United
           States Bankruptcy Code.

    (b)    At all times during the continuance of this Trust, as provided in
           Section 1(d) hereof, the principal and income of the Trust shall be
           subject to claims of general creditors of Company under federal and
           state law as set forth below.

           (1)    The Board of Directors and the Chief Executive Officer of
                  Company shall have the duty to inform Trustee in writing of
                  Company's insolvency. If a person claiming to be a creditor of
                  Company alleges in writing to Trustee that Company has become
                  insolvent, Trustee shall determine whether Company is
                  insolvent and, pending such determination, Trustee shall
                  discontinue payment of benefits to Plan participants or their
                  beneficiaries.

           (2)    Unless Trustee has actual knowledge of Company's insolvency,
                  or has received notice from Company or a person claiming to be
                  a creditor alleging that Company is insolvent, Trustee shall
                  have no duty to inquire whether Company is insolvent. Trustee
                  may in all events rely on such evidence concerning Company's
                  solvency as may be furnished to Trustee and that provides
                  Trustee with a reasonable basis for making a determination
                  concerning Company's solvency.

                                                                               3
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           (3)    If at any time Trustee has determined that Company is
                  insolvent, Trustee shall discontinue payments to Plan
                  participants or their beneficiaries and shall hold the assets
                  of the Trust for the benefit of Company's general creditors.
                  Nothing in this Trust Agreement shall in any way diminish any
                  rights of Plan participants or their beneficiaries to pursue
                  their rights as general creditors of Company with respect to
                  benefits due under the Plan or otherwise.

           (4)    Trustee shall resume the payment of benefits to Plan
                  participants or their beneficiaries in accordance with Section
                  2 of this Trust Agreement only after Trustee has determined
                  that Company is not insolvent (or is no longer insolvent).

    (c)    Provided that there are sufficient assets, if Trustee discontinues
           the payment of benefits from the Trust pursuant to Section 3(b)
           hereof and subsequently resumes such payments, the first payment
           following such discontinuance shall include the aggregate amount of
           all payments due to Plan participants or their beneficiaries under
           the terms of the Plan for the period of such discontinuance, less
           the aggregate amount of any payments made to Plan participants and
           their beneficiaries by Company in lieu of the payments provided for
           hereunder during any such period of discontinuance.

Section 4. Payments to Company.

Except as provided in Section 3 hereof, after the Trust has become irrevocable,
Company shall have no right or power to direct Trustee to return to Company or
to divert to others any of the Trust assets before all payment[s] of accrued
benefits (present and future) have been made to Plan participants and their
beneficiaries pursuant to the terms of the Plan.

Section 5.  Investment Authority.

Trustee shall have the power to invest the assets of the Trust Fund in such
investment vehicles as directed by the Company, including insurance policies or
securities (including stock or rights to acquire stock) or obligations issued by
Company. All rights associated with assets of the Trust shall be exercised by
Trustee or the person designated by Trustee pursuant to the Company's direction,
and shall in no event be exercisable by or rest with Plan participants.

Section 6.  Disposition of Income.

During the term of this Trust, all income received by the Trust, net of expenses
and taxes, shall be accumulated and reinvested.

                                                                               4
<PAGE>

Section 7. Accounting by Trustee.

The Trustee has accepted this Trust on the condition that the Company has
entered or is entering into a service agreement with Connecticut General Life
Insurance Company ("Connecticut General") whereby Connecticut General will
provide recordkeeping services for all assets held pursuant to this Trust
Agreement. The Trustee shall be required to forward to the Company, or require
Connecticut General to forward to the Company, the recordkeeping reports and
related financial information provided by Connecticut General, but the Trustee
shall not otherwise be required to provide Trust accounts.

Section 8.  Responsibility of Trustee.

         (a)      Trustee shall act with the care, skill, prudence and diligence
                  under the circumstances then prevailing that a prudent person
                  acting in like capacity and familiar with such matters would
                  use in the conduct of an enterprise of a like character and
                  with like aims, provided, however, that Trustee shall incur no
                  liability to any person for any action taken pursuant to a
                  direction, request or approval given by Company or any
                  delegate appointed by the Company which is contemplated by,
                  and in conformity with, the terms of the Plan or this Trust
                  and is given in writing by Company or its delegate. In the
                  event of a dispute between Company and a party, Trustee may
                  apply to a court of competent jurisdiction to resolve the
                  dispute.

         (b)      If Trustee undertakes or defends any litigation arising in
                  connection with this Trust, Company agrees to indemnify
                  Trustee against Trustee's costs, expenses and liabilities
                  (including, without limitation, attorneys' fees and expenses)
                  relating thereto and to be primarily liable for such payments.
                  If Company does not pay such costs, expenses and liabilities
                  in a reasonably timely manner, Trustee may obtain payment from
                  the Trust.

         (c)      Trustee may hire agents, accountants, actuaries, investment
                  advisors, financial consultants or other professionals to
                  assist it in performing any of its duties or obligations
                  hereunder, including recordkeeping, reporting, custody of
                  assets or proxy voting. Such agents may include affiliates of
                  the Trustee.

         (d)      Trustee shall have, without exclusion, all powers conferred in
                  Trustees in accordance with applicable law, unless expressly
                  provided otherwise herein, provided, however, that if an
                  insurance policy is held as an asset of the Trust, Trustee
                  shall have no power to name a beneficiary other than the
                  Trust, to assign the policy (as distinct from conversion of
                  the policy to a different form) other than to a successor
                  trustee, or to loan to any person the proceeds of any
                  borrowing against such policy.

                                                                               5
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         (e)      The Company shall indemnify and hold harmless the Trustee from
                  and against any and all claims, losses, damages, expenses
                  (including reasonable counsel fees) and liability to which the
                  Trustee may be subject by reason of any act done or omitted to
                  be done, except where the same is finally adjudicated to be
                  due to the negligence or willful misconduct of the Trustee.

         (f)      In addition to and in no way in limitation of the
                  indemnification of paragraph (e) of this section, the Company
                  hereby agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Trustee from
                  and against any claims, losses, damages, expenses (including
                  reasonable counsel fees) and liability to which the Trustee
                  may be subject by reason of any act or omission of any prior,
                  subsequent or existing trustee of the Plan.

         (g)      The Trustee shall be responsible only for such assets as are
                  actually received by it as Trustee hereunder. The Trustee
                  shall have no duty or authority to ascertain whether any
                  contributions should be made to it pursuant to the Plan or to
                  bring any action to enforce any obligation to make any such
                  contribution, nor shall it have any responsibility concerning
                  the amount of any contribution or the application of the
                  Plan's contribution formula. The Trustee shall have no
                  responsibility for any assets not held under this Trust, even
                  if those assets are held as assets of the Plan under a
                  separate trust agreement. Responsibility for any such assets
                  shall be solely that of the trustees named in such separate
                  trust agreement, or, in the event no such separate trust
                  exists, the Company.

Section 9.  Compensation and Expenses of Trustee.

Company shall pay all administrative and Trustees' fees and expenses in
accordance with a fee schedule provided to the Company. In addition, Trustee
shall be paid its reasonable expenses, including reasonable expenses of counsel
and other agents employed by the Trustee, incurred in connection with
administration of the Trust Fund. If the Trustee proposes an amended fee
schedule and the Company fails to object thereto within ninety (90) days of its
receipt, the amended fee schedule shall be deemed accepted by the Company. If
not paid, the fees and expenses shall be paid from the Trust.

Section 10.  Resignation and Removal of Trustee.

         (a)      Trustee may resign at any time by written notice to Company,
                  which shall be effective 30 (thirty) days after receipt of
                  such notice unless Company and Trustee agree otherwise.

         (b)      Trustee may be removed by Company on 30 (thirty) days notice
                  or upon shorter notice accepted by Trustee.

                                                                               6
<PAGE>

         (c)      The Trustee's service pursuant to this Agreement is
                  conditioned upon the existence of one or more contracts
                  between the Company and Connecticut General providing for full
                  Plan recordkeeping services. In the event the contract
                  providing for such recordkeeping services is discontinued or
                  terminated, this Trust Agreement shall be terminated as well
                  with no further notice from either party to the other as of
                  the date of discontinuance or termination of the contract
                  providing for Plan recordkeeping services.

         (d)      Upon resignation or removal of Trustee and appointment of a
                  successor Trustee, all assets shall subsequently be
                  transferred to the successor Trustee. The transfer shall be
                  completed within 30 days after receipt of notice of
                  resignation, removal or transfer, unless Company extends the
                  time limit.

         (e)      If Trustee resigns or is removed, a successor shall be
                  appointed, in accordance with Section 11 hereof, by the
                  effective date of resignation or removal under paragraph(s)
                  (a), (b) or (c) of this section. If no such appointment has
                  been made, Trustee may apply to a court of competent
                  jurisdiction for appointment of a successor or for
                  instructions. All expenses of Trustee in connection with the
                  proceeding shall be allowed as administrative expenses of the
                  Trust.

Section 11.  Appointment of Successor.

If Trustee resigns or is removed in accordance with Section 10(a), (b) or (c)
hereof, Company may appoint any third party, such as a bank trust department or
other party that may be granted corporate trustee powers under state law, as a
successor to replace Trustee upon resignation or removal. The appointment shall
be effective when accepted in writing by the new Trustee, who shall have all of
the rights and powers of the former Trustee, including ownership rights in the
Trust assets. The former Trustee shall execute any instrument necessary or
reasonably requested by Company or the successor Trustee to evidence the
transfer.

Section 12. Amendment or Termination.

         (a)      This Trust Agreement may be amended by a written instrument
                  executed by Trustee and Company. Notwithstanding the
                  foregoing, no such amendment shall conflict with the terms of
                  the Plan or shall make the Trust revocable after it has become
                  irrevocable in accordance with Section 1(b) hereof.

         (b)      The Trust shall not terminate until the date on which Plan
                  participants and their beneficiaries are no longer entitled to
                  benefits pursuant to the terms of the Plan. Upon termination
                  of the Trust any assets remaining in the Trust shall be
                  returned to Company.

                                                                               7

<PAGE>

         (c)      If and when the Trust becomes irrevocable as provided herein,
                  any amendment of this Agreement will require the approval of
                  at least 80 percent of the Plan Participants (or their
                  beneficiaries).

Section 13.  Payment of Incurred Expenses

So long as the Participant is not acting in bad faith, the Company shall
promptly pay as they are incurred by each Plan Participant any Expenses arising
from or related to any action, suit, or proceeding filed by a Participant to
enforce his or her rights under this Agreement or Plan ("Claim"). "Expenses"
shall mean all costs, expenses (including attorney's fees, witness fees and
investigative costs) and obligations paid or incurred in connection with or
relating to a Claim (including all interest, assessments and other charges paid
or payable in connection with or in respect of any of the foregoing).

Section 14.  Miscellaneous.

         (a)      Any provision of this Trust Agreement prohibited by law shall
                  be ineffective to the extent of any such prohibition, without
                  invalidating the remaining provisions hereof.

         (b)      Benefits payable to Plan participants and their beneficiaries
                  under this Trust Agreement may not be anticipated, assigned
                  (either at law or in equity), alienated, pledged, encumbered
                  or subjected to attachment, garnishment, levy, execution or
                  other legal or equitable process.

         (c)      This Trust Agreement and the Trust hereby created shall be
                  governed, construed, administered and regulated in all
                  respects in accordance with the laws of Illinois.

         (d)      For purposes of this Trust, the term "Change of Control" shall
                  mean (i) the occurrence of a Triggering Event under the Rights
                  Agreement of July 6, 1995 between Belden, Inc. and the Chase
                  Mellon Shareholder Services, LLC, (successor to First Chicago
                  Trust Company of New York), as such Rights Agreement may be
                  assigned or amended, or (ii) the purchase or other acquisition
                  by any person, entity or group thereof, within the meaning of
                  Section 13(d) or 14(d) of the Securities Exchange act of 1934
                  ("Act"), or any comparable successor provisions, of beneficial
                  ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under
                  the Act) of 25 percent or more of either outstanding shares of
                  common stock or the combined voting power of Company's then
                  outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally,
                  (iii) the approval by the stockholders of the Company of a
                  reorganization, merger, or consolidation, in each case, with
                  respect to which persons who were stockholders of the Company
                  immediately prior to such reorganization, merger or
                  consolidation do not, immediately thereafter, own more than 60
                  percent of the combined voting power entitled to vote
                  generally in the election of directors of the reorganized,
                  merged or

                                                                               8
<PAGE>

                  consolidated Company's then outstanding securities, or (iv) a
                  liquidation or dissolution of Company or of the sale of all or
                  substantially all of the Company's assets. The Board of
                  Directors and the Chief Executive Officer of the Company shall
                  have a duty to inform Trustee in writing of any Change of
                  Control. Unless Trustee has actual knowledge of Company's
                  Change of Control, or has received notice from the Company
                  that a Change of Control has occurred, Trustee shall have no
                  duty to inquire whether a Change of Control has occurred.

         (e)      In the event of any conflict between provisions of the Plan
                  and those of this Trust Agreement, this Trust Agreement shall
                  prevail.

Section 15.  Effective Date.

The effective date of this Trust Agreement shall be January 1, 2001.

Attest:                                       BELDEN WIRE & CABLE COMPANY

/s/ Eivind J. Kolemainen                  By /s/ Cathy O. Staples
---------------------------                  --------------------------------

                                          Its Vice President
                                              -------------------------------

                                          Date March 26, 2001
                                               ------------------------------

Attest:                                       CG TRUST COMPANY

/s/                                       By /s/
---------------------------                  ----------------------------------

                                          Its
                                             ----------------------------------

                                          Date
                                              ---------------------------------

                                                                               9

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