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                                  EXHIBIT 10.6

                          EXECUTIVE SEVERANCE AGREEMENT

      AGREEMENT by and between Pentacon, Inc. (the "Company") and Bruce M. Taten
(the "Employee"), dated as of the 10th day of March, 2001.

        The Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board") has determined that
it is in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders to assure that
the Company will have the continued dedication of the Employee, notwithstanding
the possibility, threat, or occurrence of a Change of Control (as defined below)
of the Company. The Board believes it is imperative to diminish the inevitable
distraction of the Employee by virtue of the personal uncertainties and risks
created by a pending or threatened Change of Control, to encourage the
Employee's full attention and dedication to the Company currently and in the
event of any threatened or pending Change of Control, and to provide the
Employee with compensation arrangements upon a Change of Control which provide
the Employee with individual financial security and which are competitive with
those of other corporations and, in order to accomplish these objectives, the
Board has caused the Company to enter into this Agreement.

      NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY AGREED AS FOLLOWS:

      1. Certain Definitions.

            (a) The "Effective Date" shall be the first date during the "Change
      of Control Period" (as defined in Section 1(b)) on which a Change of
      Control occurs. Anything in this Agreement to the contrary
      notwithstanding, if the Employee's employment with the Company is
      terminated involuntarily prior to the date on which a Change of Control
      occurs, and it is reasonably demonstrated that such termination (1) was at
      the request of a

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      third party who has taken steps reasonably calculated to effect a Change
      of Control or (2) otherwise arose in connection with or in anticipation of
      a Change of Control, then for all purposes of this Agreement the
      "Effective Date" shall mean the date immediately prior to the date of such
      termination.

            (b) The "Change of Control Period" is the period commencing on the
      date hereof and ending on the fifth anniversary of such date.

      2. Change of Control. For the purpose of this Agreement, a "Change of
Control" shall mean:

      (i) The acquisition (other than from the Company) by any person, entity or
"group", within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act"), of beneficial ownership (within the
meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act), of 30% or more of
either the then outstanding shares of common stock or the combined voting power
of the Company's then outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally
in the election of directors; or

      (ii) Individuals who, as of the date hereof, constitute the Board (as of
the date hereof the "Incumbent Board") cease for any reason to constitute at
least a majority of the Board, provided, however, that any person becoming a
director subsequent to the date hereof whose election, or nomination for
election by the Company's shareholders, was approved by a vote of at least a
majority of the directors then comprising the Incumbent Board (other than an
election or nomination of an individual whose initial assumption of office is in
connection with an actual or threatened election contest relating to the
election of the Directors of the Company, as such terms are used in Rule 14a-11
of Regulation 14A promulgated under the Exchange Act) shall be,

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for purposes of this Agreement, considered as though such person were a member
of the Incumbent Board; or

      (iii) Approval by the shareholders of the Company of a reorganization,
merger or consolidation, in each case, with respect to which persons who were
the stockholders of the Company immediately prior to such reorganization, merger
or consolidation do not, immediately thereafter, own more than 50% of the
combined voting power entitled to vote generally in the election of directors of
the reorganized, merged or consolidated company's then outstanding voting
securities, or a liquidation or dissolution of the Company or the sale of all or
substantially all of the assets of the Company; provided, however, that a
judicially supervised reorganization under 11 U.S.C. ss.101 et seq. shall not be
considered a Change of Control.

      3. Employment Period. The Company hereby agrees to continue the Employee
in its employ, and the Employee hereby agrees to remain in the employ of the
Company, in accordance with the terms and provisions of this Agreement for the
period commencing on the Effective Date and ending on the third anniversary of
such date (the "Employment Period").

      4. Terms of Employment.

            (a) Position and Duties.

                  (i) During the Employment Period, (A) the Employee's position
            (including status, offices, titles and business unit reporting
            requirements), authority, duties and responsibilities shall be at
            least commensurate in all material respects with the most
            significant of those held, exercised and assigned at any time during
            the 90-day period immediately preceding the Effective Date and (B)
            the Employee's services shall be performed at the location where the
            Employee was employed immediately preceding the Effective Date or
            any office

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            or location which is the corporate or division headquarters of the
            Company and is less than thirty-five (35) miles from such
            pre-Effective Date location.

                  (ii) During the Employment Period, and excluding any periods
            of vacation and sick leave to which the Employee is entitled, the
            Employee agrees to devote reasonable attention and time during
            normal business hours to the business and affairs of the Company
            and, to the extent necessary to discharge the responsibilities
            assigned to the Employee hereunder, to use the Employee's reasonable
            best efforts to perform faithfully and efficiently such
            responsibilities (all commensurate with activities prior to the
            Change of Control). During the Employment Period it shall not be a
            violation of this Agreement for the Employee during non-regular
            business hours to (A) serve on corporate, civic or charitable boards
            or committees, (B) deliver lectures, fulfill speaking engagements or
            teach at educational institutions and (C) manage personal
            investments, so long as such activities do not interfere with the
            performance of the Employee's responsibilities as an employee of the
            Company in accordance with this Agreement. It is expressly
            understood and agreed that to the extent that any such activities
            have been conducted by the Employee during regular hours prior to
            the Effective Date, the continued conduct of such activities during
            regular hours (or the conduct of activities similar in nature and
            scope thereto) subsequent to the Effective Date shall not thereafter
            be deemed to interfere with the performance of the Employee's
            responsibilities to the Company.

            (b) Compensation.

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                  (i) Base Salary. During the Employment Period, the Employee
            shall receive an annual base salary (the "Annual Base Salary") which
            shall be paid in equal installments on a monthly basis, at least
            equal to twelve times the highest monthly base salary paid or
            payable to the Employee by the Company and its subsidiaries in
            respect of the twelve month period immediately preceding the month
            in which the Effective Date occurs. During the Employment Period,
            the Annual Base Salary shall be reviewed at least annually and shall
            be increased at any time and from time to time as shall be
            substantially consistent with increases in base salary awarded in
            the ordinary course of business to other key employees of the
            Company and its subsidiaries. Any increase in Annual Base Salary
            shall not serve to limit or reduce any other obligation to the
            Employee under this Agreement. Annual Base Salary shall not be
            reduced after any such increase and the term Annual Base Salary as
            utilized in this Agreement shall refer to Annual Base Salary as so
            increased.

                  (ii) Annual Bonus. In addition to Annual Base Salary, the
            Employee shall be eligible to be awarded (in a manner consistent
            with executives holding similar responsibilities), for each fiscal
            year during the Employment Period, an annual bonus (an "Annual
            Bonus") in cash (or cash and stock if the Employee is then required
            to take a percentage of his bonus in stock pursuant to the Company's
            executive stock ownership policy) at least equal to the highest
            annual bonus payable to the Employee from the Company and its
            subsidiaries in respect of the three fiscal years immediately
            preceding the fiscal year in which the Effective Date occurs (or the
            annualized bonus for any fiscal year consisting of

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            less than twelve full months or with respect to which the Employee
            has been employed by the Company for less than twelve full months).

                  (iii) Incentive Savings and Retirement Plans. In addition to
            Annual Base Salary and Annual Bonus payable as herein provided, the
            Employee shall be entitled to participate during the Employment
            Period in all incentive, savings and retirement plans, practices,
            policies and programs applicable generally to other key employees of
            the Company and its subsidiaries. Such plans, practices, policies
            and programs, in the aggregate, shall provide the Employee with
            compensation, benefits and reward opportunities at least as
            favorable as the most favorable of such combination of compensation,
            benefits and reward opportunities provided by the Company and its
            subsidiaries for the Employee under such plans, practices, policies
            and programs as in effect at any time during the 90-day period
            immediately preceding the Effective Date or, if more favorable to
            the Employee, as provided at any time thereafter with respect to
            other key employees of the Company and its subsidiaries.

                  (iv) Welfare Benefit Plans. During the Employment Period, the
            Employee and/or the Employee's family, as the case may be, shall be
            eligible for participation in and shall receive all benefits under
            welfare benefit plans, practices, policies and programs provided by
            the Company and its subsidiaries (including, without limitation,
            medical, prescription, dental, disability, salary continuance,
            employee life, group life, accidental death and travel accident
            insurance plans and programs), at least as favorable as the most
            favorable of such plans, practices, policies and programs in effect
            at any time during the 90-day

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            period immediately preceding the Effective Date or, if more
            favorable to the Employee and/or the Employee's family, as in effect
            at any time thereafter with respect to other key employees of the
            Company and its subsidiaries.

                  (v) Expenses. During the Employment Period, the Employee shall
            be entitled to receive prompt reimbursement for all reasonable
            employment expenses incurred by the Employee in accordance with the
            most favorable policies, practices and procedures of the Company and
            its subsidiaries in effect at any time during the 90-day period
            immediately preceding the Effective Date or, if more favorable to
            the Employee, as in effect at any time thereafter with respect to
            other key employees of the Company and its subsidiaries.

                  (vi) Fringe Benefits. During the Employment Period, the
            Employee shall be entitled to fringe benefits in accordance with the
            most favorable plans, practices, programs and policies of the
            Company and its subsidiaries in effect at any time during the 90-day
            period immediately preceding the Effective Date or, if more
            favorable to the Employee, as in effect at any time thereafter with
            respect to other key employees of the Company and its subsidiaries.

                  (vii) Office and Support Staff. During the Employment Period,
            the Employee shall be entitled to an office or offices of a size and
            with furnishings and other appointments commensurate with his/her
            status in the acquiring company, and to secretarial and other
            assistance, at least equal to the most favorable of the foregoing
            provided to the Employee by the Company and its subsidiaries at any
            time during the 90-day period immediately preceding the Effective
            Date or, if more favorable to the Employee, as provided at any time

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            thereafter with respect to other key employees of the Company and
            its subsidiaries.

                  (viii) Vacation. During the Employment Period, the Employee
            shall be entitled to paid vacation in accordance with the most
            favorable plans, policies, programs and practices of the Company and
            its subsidiaries as in effect for the Employee at any time during
            the 90-day period immediately preceding the Effective Date or, if
            more favorable to the Employee, as in effect at any time thereafter
            with respect to other key employees of the Company and its
            subsidiaries.

      5. Termination of Employment.

            (a) Death or Disability. The Employee's employment shall terminate
      automatically upon the Employee's death during the Employment Period. If
      the Company determines in good faith that Disability of the Employee has
      occurred during the Employment Period (pursuant to the definition of
      "Disability" set forth below), it may give to the Employee written notice
      of its intention to terminate the Employee's employment. In such event,
      the Employee's employment with the Company shall terminate effective on
      the 30th day after receipt of such notice by the Employee (the "Disability
      Effective Date"), provided that, within the 30 days after such receipt,
      the Employee shall not have returned to full-time performance of the
      Employee's duties. For purposes of this Agreement, "Disability" shall mean
      the absence of the Employee from the Employee's duties with the Company on
      a full-time basis for 180 calendar days as a result of incapacity due to
      mental or physical illness which is determined to be total and permanent
      by a physician selected by the Company or its insurers and acceptable to
      the

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      Employee or the Employee's legal representatives (such agreement as to
      acceptability not to be withheld unreasonably).

            (b) Cause. The Company may terminate the Employee's employment
      during the Employment Period for "Cause." For purposes of this Agreement,
      "Cause" means (i) an act or acts of personal dishonesty taken by the
      Employee and intended to result in personal enrichment of the Employee at
      the expense of the Company, (ii) repeated material breaches or significant
      and intentional deterioration in performance by the Employee of the
      Employee's obligations under Section 4(a) of this Agreement (other than as
      a result of incapacity due to physical or mental illness) which are
      demonstrably willful and deliberate on the Employee's part and which are
      not remedied in a reasonable period of time after receipt of written
      notice from the Company specifying such breach or (iii) the conviction of
      the Employee of a felony.

            (c) Good Reason. The Employee's employment may be terminated by the
      Employee during the Employment Period for Good Reason. For purposes of
      this Agreement, "Good Reason" means:

                  (i) The assignment to the Employee of any duties inconsistent
            in any material respect with the Employee's position (including
            status, offices, titles and reporting requirements), authority,
            duties or responsibilities as contemplated by Section 4(a) of this
            Agreement, or any other action by the Company or any affiliate which
            results in a diminution in such position, authority, duties or
            responsibilities, excluding for this purpose an isolated,
            insubstantial and inadvertent action not taken in bad faith and
            which is remedied by the Company promptly after receipt of notice
            thereof given by the Employee;

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                  (ii) any failure by the Company to comply with any of the
            provisions of Section 4(b) of this Agreement, other than an
            isolated, insubstantial and inadvertent failure not occurring in bad
            faith and which is remedied by the Company promptly after receipt of
            notice thereof given by the Employee;

                  (iii) the Company's requiring the Employee to be based at any
            office or location other than that described in Section 4(a)(i)(B)
            hereof, except for travel reasonably required in the performance of
            the Employee's responsibilities;

                  (iv) any purported termination by the Company of the
            Employee's employment otherwise than as expressly permitted by this
            Agreement; or

                  (v) any failure by the Company to comply with and satisfy
            Section 11(c) of this Agreement.

      For purposes of this Section 5(c), any good faith determination of "Good
Reason" made by the Employee shall be conclusive. Moreover, as used in this
Agreement, the term "affiliate" shall include any company which controls, is
controlled by, or is under common control with the Company.

            (d) Notice of Termination. Any termination by the Company for Cause
      or by the Employee for Good Reason shall be communicated by Notice of
      Termination to the other party hereto given in accordance with Section
      12(b) of this Agreement. For purposes of this Agreement, a "Notice of
      Termination" means a written notice which (i) indicates the specific
      termination provision in this Agreement relied upon, (ii) sets forth in
      reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis
      for termination of the Employee's employment under the provisions so
      indicated, and (iii) if the Date of Termination (as defined below) is
      other than the date of receipt of such notice, specifies

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      the termination date (which date shall be not more than fifteen (15) days
      after the giving of such notice). The failure by the Employee or the
      Company to set forth in the Notice of Termination any fact or circumstance
      which contributes to a showing of Good Reason or Cause shall not waive any
      right of the Employee or the Company hereunder or preclude the Employee or
      the Company from asserting such fact or circumstance in enforcing the
      Employee's or the Company's rights hereunder.

            (e) Date of Termination. "Date of Termination" means the date of
      receipt of the Notice of Termination or any later date specified therein,
      as the case may be; provided, however, that (i) if the Employee's
      employment is terminated by the Company other than for Cause or
      Disability, the Date of Termination shall be the date on which the Company
      notifies the Employee of such termination, and (ii) if the Employee's
      employment is terminated by reason of death or Disability, the Date shall
      be the date of death of the Employee or the Disability Effective Date, as
      the case may be.

      6. Obligations of the Company Upon Termination.

            (a) Good Reason; Other Than for Cause, Death or Disability. If,
      during the Employment Period, the Company shall terminate the Employee's
      employment other than for Cause, Disability or death or if the Employee
      shall terminate his employment for Good Reason:

                  (i) The Company shall pay to the Employee in a lump sum in
            cash within 30 days after the Date of Termination the aggregate of
            the following amounts:

                        (A) to the extent not theretofore paid, the Employee's
                  Annual Base Salary through the Date of Termination; and

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                        (B) the product of (x) the Annual Bonus (computed as if
                  any bonus amount paid in stock pursuant to the Company's
                  executive stock ownership policy was paid in cash) paid to the
                  Employee for the last full fiscal year (if any) ending during
                  the Employment Period or, if higher, the Annual Bonus paid to
                  the Employee for the last fiscal year prior to the Effective
                  Date (as applicable, the "Recent Bonus") and (y) a fraction,
                  the numerator of which is the number of days in the current
                  fiscal year through the Date of Termination and the
                  denominator of which is 365; and

                        (C) in the case of compensation previously deferred by
                  the Employee, all amounts previously deferred (together with
                  any accrued interest thereon) and not yet paid by the Company,
                  and any accrued vacation pay not yet paid by the Company (the
                  sum of the amounts in clauses (A), (B), and (C) shall be
                  hereinafter referred to as the "Accrued Obligations"); and

                        (D) the product of (x) 2.00 and (y) the sum of (i) the
                  Annual Base Salary and (ii) the Recent Bonus; and

                        (E) all amounts in the Employee's retirement plan
                  accounts which will become fully vested upon the Date of
                  Termination notwithstanding the existing vesting schedule.

                  (ii) For two years from the Date of Termination, or such
            longer period as any plan, program, policy or practice may provide,
            the Company shall continue to provide benefits to the Employee
            and/or the Employee's family at least equal to

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            those which would have been provided to them in accordance with the
            plans, programs, practices and policies described in Section
            4(b)(iv) of this Agreement if the Employee's employment had not been
            terminated, including health insurance and life insurance, in
            accordance with the most favorable plans, programs, practices or
            policies of the Company and its subsidiaries during the 90-day
            period immediately preceding the Effective Date or, if more
            favorable to the Employee and/or the Employee's family, as in effect
            at any time thereafter with respect to other key employees of the
            Company and its subsidiaries and/or their families, and for purposes
            of eligibility for retiree benefits pursuant to such plans,
            programs, practices and policies, the Employee shall be considered
            to have remained employed until the end of the Employment Period and
            to have retired on the last day of such period. If the terms of any
            benefit plan referred to in this section do not permit continued
            participation by the Employee, then the Company will arrange for
            other coverage, providing substantially similar benefits.

                  (iii) All options and similar awards granted to the Employee
            by the Company shall immediately vest notwithstanding any vesting
            schedule in any option or award agreement.

            (b) Death. If the Employee's employment is terminated by reason of
      the Employee's death during the Employment Period, this Agreement shall
      terminate without further obligations to the Employee's legal
      representatives under this Agreement, other than payment of the Accrued
      Obligations. All such Accrued Obligations shall be paid to the Employee's
      estate or beneficiary, as applicable, in a lump sum in cash within thirty
      (30) days of the Date of Termination. Anything in this Agreement to the
      contrary

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      notwithstanding, the Employee's family shall be entitled to receive
      benefits at least equal to the most favorable benefits provided by the
      Company and its subsidiaries to surviving families of employees of the
      Company and such subsidiaries under such plans, programs, practices and
      policies relating to family death benefits, if any, in accordance with the
      most favorable plans, programs, practices, and policies of the Company and
      its subsidiaries in effect at any time during the 90-day period
      immediately preceding the Effective Date or, if more favorable to the
      Employee and/or the Employee's family, as in effect on the date of the
      Employee's death with respect to other key employees of the Company and
      its subsidiaries and/or their families.

            (c) Disability. If the Employee's employment is terminated by reason
      of the Employee's Disability during the Employment Period, this Agreement
      shall terminate without further obligations to the Employee, other than
      payment of all Accrued Obligations. All such Accrued Obligations shall be
      paid to the Employee in a lump sum in cash within 30 days of the Date of
      Termination. Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding,
      the Employee shall also be entitled after the Disability Effective Date to
      receive disability and other benefits at least equal to the most favorable
      of those provided by the Company and its subsidiaries to disabled
      employees and/or their families under such plans, programs, practices and
      policies relating to disability, if any, in accordance with the most
      favorable plans, programs, practices and policies of the Company and its
      subsidiaries in effect at any time during the 90-day period immediately
      preceding the Effective Date or, if more favorable to the Employee and/or
      the Employee's family, as in effect at any time thereafter with respect to
      other key employees of the Company and its subsidiaries and/or their
      families.

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            (d) Cause; Other than for Good Reason. If the Employee's employment
      shall be terminated for Cause during the Employment Period, this Agreement
      shall terminate without further obligations to the Employee other than the
      obligation to pay to the Employee the Annual Base Salary through the Date
      of Termination plus the amount of any compensation previously deferred by
      the Employee (together with accrued interest thereon) in each case to the
      extent theretofore unpaid. If the Employee terminates employment other
      than for Good Reason, this Agreement shall terminate without further
      obligations to the Employee, other than those obligations accrued or
      earned and vested (if applicable) by the Employee through the Date of
      Termination, including for this purpose, all Accrued Obligations. All such
      Accrued Obligations shall be paid to the Employee in a lump sum in cash
      within 30 days of the Date of Termination.

      7. Non-exclusivity of Rights. Nothing in this Agreement shall prevent or
limit the Employee's continuing or future participation in any benefit, bonus,
incentive or other plans, programs, policies or practices provided by the
Company or any of its subsidiaries and for which the Employee may qualify, nor
shall anything herein limit or otherwise affect such rights as the Employee may
have under any stock option or other agreements with the Company or any of its
subsidiaries. Amounts which are vested benefits or which the Employee is
otherwise entitled to receive under any plan, program, policy or practice of the
Company or any of its subsidiaries at or subsequent to the Date of Termination
shall be payable in accordance with such plan, program, policy or practice.

      8. Full Settlement; Resolution of Disputes.

            (a) The Company's obligation to make the payments provided for in
      this Agreement and otherwise to perform its obligations hereunder shall
      not be affected by

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      any set-off, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other claim, right or
      action which the Company may have against the Employee or others. In no
      event shall the Employee be obligated to seek other employment or take any
      other action by way of mitigation of the amounts payable to the Employee
      under any of the provisions of this Agreement. The Company agrees to pay,
      to the full extent permitted by law, all legal fees and expenses which the
      Employee may incur as a result of any contest (regardless of the outcome
      thereof) by the Company or others of the validity or enforceability of, or
      liability under, any provision of this Agreement or any guarantee of
      performance thereof, plus in each case interest at the applicable Federal
      rate provided for in Section 7872(f)(2) of the Code for any period during
      which the Company is in default in its obligation to make any payment
      hereunder.

            (b) If there shall be any dispute between the Company and the
      Employee (i) in the event of any termination of the Employee's employment
      by the Company, whether such termination was for Cause, or (ii) in the
      event of any termination of employment by the Employee, whether Good
      Reason existed, then, unless and until there is a final, nonappealable
      judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction declaring that such
      termination was for Cause or that the determination by the Employee of the
      existence of Good Reason was not made in good faith, the Company shall pay
      all amounts, and provide all benefits, to the Employee's family or other
      beneficiaries, as the case may be, that the Company would be required to
      pay or provide pursuant to Section 6 as though such termination were by
      the Company without Cause or by the Employee for Good Reason; provided,
      however, that the Company shall not be required to pay any disputed
      amounts pursuant to this paragraph except upon receipt of an undertaking
      by or on behalf

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      of the Employee to repay all such amounts to which the Employee is
      ultimately adjudged by such court not to be entitled.

      9. Certain Additional Payments by the Company.

            (a) Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, in
      the event it shall be determined that any payment or distribution by the
      Company to or for the benefit of the Employee, whether paid or payable or
      distributable pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or otherwise (a
      "Payment"), would be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of
      the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code") or any interest
      or penalties with respect to such excise tax (such excise tax, together
      with any such interest and penalties, and hereinafter collectively
      referred to as the "Excise Tax"), then the Employee shall be entitled to
      receive an additional payment (a "Gross-Up Payment") in an amount such
      that after payment by the Employee of all taxes, including any income or
      Excise Tax imposed upon the Gross-Up Payments, the net amount payable to
      Employee hereunder shall be equal to the aggregate amount Employee would
      have received hereunder if such Excise Tax were not applicable.

            (b) Subject to the provisions of Section 9(c), all determinations
      required to be made under this Section 9, including whether a Gross-Up
      Payment is required and the amount of such Gross-Up Payment, shall be made
      by Arthur Andersen & Co. (the "Accounting Firm") which shall provide
      detailed supporting calculations both to the Company and the Employee
      within 25 days of the Date of Termination, if applicable, or such earlier
      time as is requested by the Company. The initial Gross-Up Payment, if any,
      as determined pursuant to this Section 9(b), shall be paid to the Employee
      within 5 days of the receipt of the Accounting Firm's determination. If
      the Accounting Firm

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      determines that no Excise Tax is payable to the Employee, it shall furnish
      the Employee with an opinion that he has substantial authority not to
      report any Excise Tax on his federal income tax return. Any determination
      by the Accounting Firm shall be binding upon the Company and the Employee.
      As a result of the uncertainty in the application of Section 4999 of the
      Code at the time of the initial determination by the Accounting Firm
      hereunder, it is possible that Gross-Up Payments which will not have been
      made by the Company should have been made ("Underpayment"), consistent
      with the calculations required to be made hereunder. In the event that the
      Company exhausts its remedies pursuant to Section 9(c) and the Employee
      thereafter is required to make a payment of any Excise Tax, the Accounting
      Firm shall determine the amount of the Underpayment that has occurred and
      any such Underpayment shall be promptly paid by the Company to or for the
      benefit of the Employee.

            (c) The Employee shall notify the Company in writing of any claim by
      the Internal Revenue Service that, if successful, would require the
      payment by the Company of the Gross-Up Payment. Such notification shall be
      given as soon as practicable but no later than 10 business days after the
      Employee knows of such claim and shall apprise the Company of the nature
      of such claim and the date on which such claim is requested to be paid.
      The Employee shall not pay such claim prior to the expiration of the
      thirty-day period following the date on which the Employee gives such
      notice to the Company (or such shorter period ending on the date that any
      payment of taxes with respect to such claim is due). If the Company
      notifies the Employee in writing prior to the expiration of such period
      that it desires to contest such claim, the Employee shall:

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                  (i) give the Company any information reasonably requested by
            the Company relating to such claim;

                  (ii) take such action in connection with contesting such claim
            as the Company shall reasonably request in writing from time to
            time, including, without limitation, accepting legal representation
            with respect to such claim by an attorney reasonably selected by the
            Company;

                  (iii) cooperate with the Company in good faith in order to
            effectively contest such claim;

                  (iv) permit the Company to participate in any proceedings
            relating to such claim;

      provided, however, that the Company shall bear and pay directly all costs
      and expenses (including attorneys fees and any additional interest and
      penalties) incurred in connection with such contest and shall indemnify
      and hold the Employee harmless, on an after-tax basis, for any Excise Tax
      or income tax, including interest and penalties with respect thereto,
      imposed as a result of such representation and payment of costs and
      expenses. Without limitation on the foregoing provisions of this Section
      9(c), the Company shall control all proceedings taken in connection with
      such contest and, at its sole option, may pursue or forgo any and all
      administrative appeals, proceedings, hearings and conferences with the
      taxing authority in respect of such claim and may, at its sole option,
      either direct the Employee to pay the tax claimed and sue for a refund or
      contest the claim in any permissible manner, and the Employee agrees to
      prosecute such contest to a determination before any administrative
      tribunal, in a court of initial jurisdiction and in one or more appellate
      courts, as the Company shall determine; provided, however, that if

                                       19
<PAGE>

      the Company directs the Employee to pay such claim and sue for a refund,
      the Company shall advance the amount of such payment to the Employee, on
      an interest-free basis and shall indemnify and hold the Employee harmless,
      on an after-tax basis, from any Excise Tax or income tax, including
      interest or penalties with respect thereto, imposed with respect to any
      imputed income with respect to such advance; and further provided, that
      any extension of the statute of limitations relating to payment of taxes
      for the taxable year of the Employee with respect to which such contested
      amount is claimed to be due is limited solely to such contested amount.
      Furthermore, the Company's control of the contest shall be limited to
      issues with respect to which a Gross-Up Payment would be payable hereunder
      and the Employee shall be entitled to settle or contest, as the case may
      be, any other issue raised by the Internal Revenue Service or any other
      authority.

            (d) If, after the receipt by the Employee of an amount advanced by
      the Company pursuant to Section 9(c), the Employee becomes entitled to
      receive any refund with respect to such claim, the Employee shall (subject
      to the Company's complying with the requirements of Section 9(c)) promptly
      pay to the Company the amount of such refund (together with any interest
      paid or credited thereon after taxes applicable thereto). If, after the
      receipt by the Employee of an amount advanced by the Company pursuant to
      Section 9(c), a determination is made that the employee shall not be
      entitled to any refund with respect to such claims and the Company does
      not notify the Employee in writing of its intent to contest such denial of
      refund prior to the expiration of thirty days after such determination,
      then such advance shall be forgiven and shall not be required to be repaid
      and the amount of such advance shall offset, to the extent thereof, the
      amount of Gross-Up Payment required to be paid.

                                       20
<PAGE>

      10. Confidential Information. The Employee shall hold in a fiduciary
capacity for the benefit of the Company all secret or confidential information,
knowledge or data relating to the Company or any of its subsidiaries, and their
respective businesses, which shall have been obtained by the Employee during the
Employee's employment by the Company or any of its subsidiaries and which shall
not be or become public knowledge (other than by acts by the Employee or his
representatives in violation of this Agreement). After termination of the
Employee's employment with the Company, the Employee shall not, without the
prior written consent of the Company, communicate or divulge any such
information, knowledge or data to anyone other than the Company and those
designated by it. In no event shall an asserted violation of the provisions of
this Section 10 constitute a basis for deferring or withholding any amounts
otherwise payable to the Employee under this Agreement.

      11. Successors.

            (a) This Agreement is personal to the Employee and without the prior
      written consent of the Company shall not be assignable by the Employee
      otherwise than by will or the laws of descent and distribution. This
      Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the
      Employee's legal representatives.

            (b) This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon
      the Company and its successors and assigns.

            (c) The Company will require any successor (whether direct or
      indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation, or otherwise) to all or
      substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company to assume
      expressly and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to
      the same extent that the Company would be required to perform it if no
      such succession had taken place. As used in this Agreement, "Company"

                                       21
<PAGE>

      shall mean the Company as hereinbefore defined and any successor to its
      business and/or assets.

      12. Miscellaneous.

            (a) This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance
      with the laws of the State of Texas without reference to principles of
      conflict of laws. The captions of this Agreement are not part of the
      provisions hereof and shall have no force or effect. This Agreement may
      not be amended or modified otherwise than by a written agreement executed
      by the parties hereto and their respective successors and legal
      representatives.

            (b) All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in
      writing and shall be given by hand delivery to the other party or by
      registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid,
      addressed as follows:

        If to the Employee:

        Bruce M. Taten
        3716 Jardin Street
        Houston, TX  77005

        If to the Company:

        Pentacon, Inc.
        10375 Richmond Avenue, Suite 700
        Houston, TX  77042
        Attention:  Bruce Taten

or to such other address as either party shall have furnished to the other in
writing in accordance herewith. Notice and communications shall be effective
when actually received by the addresses.

                                       22
<PAGE>

            (c) The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this
      Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other
      provision of this Agreement.

            (d) The Company may withhold from any amounts payable under this
      Agreement such Federal, state or local taxes as shall be required to be
      withheld pursuant to any applicable law or regulation.

            (e) The Employee's or the Company's failure to insist upon strict
      compliance with any provision hereof shall not be deemed to be a waiver of
      such provision or any other provision hereof.

            (f) This Agreement contains the entire understanding of the Company
      and the Employee with respect to the subject matter hereof.

            (g) The Employee and the Company acknowledge the employment of the
      Employee by the Company is "at will", and, prior to the Effective Date,
      may be terminated by either the Employee or the Company at any time. Upon
      a termination of the Employee's employment prior to the Effective Date,
      there shall be no further rights under this Agreement.

     [Remainder of page intentionally left blank - signature page follows.]

                                       23
<PAGE>

      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Employee has hereunto set his hand and, pursuant
to the authorization from its Board of Directors, the Company has caused these
presents to be executed in its name on its behalf, all as of the date and year
first above written.

                                                  /s/ BRUCE M. TATEN
                                            ----------------------------------
                                            Name: BRUCE M. TATEN

                                            PENTACON, INC.

                                            By: /s/ MARK E. BALDWIN
                                            ----------------------------------
                                            Name:  Mark E. Baldwin

                                            Title: Chairman of the Board &
                                                   Chief Executive Officer

                                       24Prepared by MERRILL CORPORATION www.edgaradvantage.com

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FIRST AMENDMENT TO AMENDMENT AGREEMENT    
  

    This First Amendment to Amendment Agreement (the "First Agreement") is dated this    day of November, 2000, and is
between Apex Inc., a Washington corporation (the "Company"), and Kevin J. Hafer ("Employee"), and amends that certain Amendment Agreement by and between the Company and Employee dated
March 7, 2000 (the "Amendment Agreement"). Any capitalized term used in this First Amendment without definition shall have the meaning given such term in the Amendment Agreement. 

 
 

RECITALS    
  

    WHEREAS, on March 7, 2000, the Company and Employee entered into the Amendment Agreement; and 

    WHEREAS,
the Company and Employee now wish to enter into this First Amendment amending certain provisions of the Amendment Agreement. 

 
 

AGREEMENT    
  

    NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements contained in this Amendment, the Company and Employee agree as follows: 

    1.  Section 3.  Section 3 of the Amendment Agreement is hereby amended by deleting the
existing language of Section 3 in its entirety and substituting the following new language: 

    3.  Termination and Severance.  The parties agree that the closing of the Apex Merger will constitute a
termination of the Employment Agreement without Cause within the meaning of Section 1.6 of the Employment Agreement, and that, provided Employee satisfies (and continues to satisfy) all of his
obligations relating to the termination of his employment under the Employment Agreement (including his obligations under Sections 2, 3, and 4.1 of the Employment Agreement), then so long as Employee
does not breach Sections 2, 3, or 4.1 of the Employment Agreement, Employee shall be entitled to continue: 

    (a)
through the first anniversary of the closing of the Apex Merger, to receive a biweekly base salary of $11,538.46 (less required withholding and deductions), and thereafter through
the second anniversary of the closing of the Apex Merger, to receive a biweekly base salary of $7,692.31 (less required withholding and deductions); 

    (b)
to be eligible for employee and dependent coverage under the Company's (or Holdco's) medical and dental plans, and to have access to Apex email (only through February 15,
2001), Apex voicemail, a portable computer, and a pager, to the same extent as available to other Company employees; 

    (c)
through the second anniversary of the closing of the Apex Merger, to be insured under the Company's (or Holdco's) insurance policies (including its directors and officers
policies) to the same extent other officers and employees are insured; 

    (d)
through the second anniversary of the closing of the Apex Merger, to be entitled to indemnification under the Company's Articles of Incorporation to the same extent other officers
and employees are indemnified for acts during employment with the Company; and 

    (e)
through the second anniversary of the closing of the Apex Merger, to be reimbursed by the Company for all ordinary and necessary documented business expenses incurred by Employee
in connection with the performance of duties requested by the Chief Executive Officer of Holdco. 

In
addition, the Company will pay to Employee on or before the next payroll date following the closing of the Apex Merger an amount representing his accrued but unused vacation and personal time (less
required withholding and deductions) through such closing date. Employee further acknowledges that he will not accrue any additional vacation or personal time after 

 

such closing date or be eligible for any other incentive or other bonus payments or stock option grants from the Company or from Holdco for 2000 or thereafter other than bonuses accrued by the Company
prior to the closing of the Apex Merger the payment of which is approved by the Apex Compensation Committee. Employee and the Company further agree that, to the extent the provisions of this
Section 3 are inconsistent with Sections 1.2 and/or 1.3 of the Employment Agreement, the provisions of
this Section 3 shall be deemed to amend Sections 1.2 and 1.3 of the Employment Agreement, and the remaining terms and conditions of the Employment Agreement shall remain unchanged and in full
force and effect. Employee acknowledges and agrees that his confidentiality, non-solicitation, and noncompete obligations described in Section 2 and 3 of the Employment Agreement
shall continue until the fourth anniversary of the closing of the Apex Merger, and Employee further acknowledges that he will be entitled to receive the benefits specified in this Section 3
only if he is not in material breach of this Amendment Agreement or his Employment Agreement (including his confidentiality and noncompete obligation described in Sections 2 and 3 of the Employment
Agreement). Employee understands and agrees that, as an additional condition to receiving or retaining the benefits described in this Amendment Agreement (including Section 2 and this
Section 3), Employee must execute and deliver to the Company immediately prior to the closing of the Apex Merger the Confirmation of Resignation and General Release Agreement attached as  Attachment A. Employee also understands and agrees that, as a further condition to receiving or retaining the benefits described in this
Section 3, Employee must execute and deliver to the Company two Confirmations of Resignation and General Release Agreement in the form attached as Attachment
B, the first of which shall be delivered to the Company contemporaneously with the execution and delivery of this First Amendment to Amendment Agreement and the second of which
shall be executed and delivered to the Company one day after the termination of Employee's employment with the Company. 

    2.  Section 6.  Section 6 of the Amendment Agreement is hereby amended by deleting the
existing language of Section 6 in its entirety and substituting the following new language: 

    6.  Standstill Agreement.  Employee agrees that, for the period beginning on the closing of the Apex
Merger and ending at the close of business on the second anniversary of the closing of the Apex Merger, neither Employee nor any of his affiliates (as such term is defined under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "1934 Act")) will in any manner, directly or indirectly, (a) effect or seek, offer or propose (whether publicly or otherwise) to effect or cause or
participate in or in any way assist any other person to affect to seek, offer or propose (whether publicly or otherwise) to effect or cause or participate in (i) any acquisition of any
securities (or beneficial ownership thereof) or assets (other than non-material assets) of the Company or Holdco; (ii) any tender or exchange offer, merger, consolidation or other
business combination involving the Company or Holdco; (iii) any recapitalization, restructuring, liquidation, dissolution or other extraordinary transaction with respect to the Company or
Holdco or any material portion of the Company's or Holdco's business; or (iv) any "solicitation" of "proxies" (as such terms are used in the proxy rules of the Securities and Exchange
Commission) or consents to vote any voting securities of Holdco or the Company; (b) form, join or in any way participate in a "group" (as defined under the 1934 Act) with respect to the
securities of Holdco or the Company; (c) otherwise act, alone or in concert with others, to seek to control or influence the management, Board of Directors or policies of the Company or Holdco
or propose any matter for submission to a vote of stockholders of the Company or Holdco; (d) take any action to which, to the knowledge of Employee requires the Company or Holdco to make a
public announcement regarding any of the types of matters set forth in (a) above; or (e) enter into any discussions or arrangements with any third party with respect to any of the
foregoing or advise, assist, encourage, finance or seek to persuade others to take any action with respect to the foregoing.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Amendment Agreement, nothing in this Amendment Agreement shall 

2

 

prohibit Employee or his affiliates from purchasing any debt, or up to an aggregate of not more than 1.5% of any class of publicly traded equity securities of the Company or of Holdco. 

    3.  Section 8.  Section 8 of the Amendment Agreement is hereby amended by deleting the
existing language of Section 8 in its entirety and substituting the following new language: 

    8.  Complete Release of the Company.  In consideration for the acceleration of options described in
Section 2 and the continued benefits to be paid to Employee as described in Section 3 and other benefits set forth in this Amendment Agreement, which Employee is not otherwise entitled
to receive and which are given to him specifically in exchange for this release as a result of negotiations between himself and the Company, Employee, on behalf of himself, his marital community, and
his and their heirs, successors, and assigns, releases and discharges the Company, its affiliated and predecessor organizations, its affiliates (including Avocent Corporation), their employee benefit
plans, their current and former directors, officers, agents, employees, and attorneys, and each of their respective successors and assigns (the "Released Parties"), from any and all claims, charges,
causes of action, and damages (including attorneys' fees and costs actually incurred of any type), known and unknown, arising prior to the date of this Amendment Agreement ("Claims"), including such
Claims related in any way to Employee's employment with the Company, service as an officer or director of the Company or any of its affiliates, or the termination of his employment relationship with
the Company on the second anniversary of the closing of the Apex Merger. 

    For
the purposes of implementing a full and complete release and discharge of the Company and the other Released Parties, and each of them, Employee expressly acknowledges that this
Amendment Agreement is intended to include in its effect, without limitation, all Claims which he does not know or suspect to exist in his favor at the time he signs this Amendment Agreement, and that
this Amendment Agreement is intended to fully and finally resolve any such Claim or Claims. 

    This
release specifically includes but is not limited to rights and claims under the local, state or federal laws prohibiting discrimination in employment, including the Civil Rights
Acts, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Washington Law Against Discrimination, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Employee Retirement Income
Security Act, as well as any other state or federal laws or common law theories relating to discrimination in employment, the termination of employment, or personal injury, including without
limitation all claims for breach of contract, fraud, defamation, loss of consortium, infliction of emotional distress, additional compensation, back pay or benefits (other than as provided for in this
Amendment Agreement). 

    4.  Attachment B.  Attachment B to the Amendment
Agreement is hereby amended by deleting such Attachment B in its entirety and substituting the attached new Attachment
B. 

    5.  Remaining Terms Unchanged.  Except as specifically set forth in this First Amendment, all remaining
terms in the Amendment Agreement shall remain unchanged and in full force and effect. 

3

 

    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties has executed this First Amendment, in the case of the Company by its duly authorized officer,
as of the day and year set forth below. 

	DATE:	
	 	APEX INC.
	

 	

 	
 	

By:	

	

 	

 	
 	

Title:	

	

 	

 	
 	
KEVIN J. HAFER:
	

 	

 	
 	

4

 
ATTACHMENT B  

  
 

    CONFIRMATION OF RESIGNATION AND GENERAL RELEASE    
  

    By signing below, I hereby acknowledge and confirm my agreement to all the terms of the Amendment Agreement ("Agreement"). I also agree that, as of the date I
sign this document, I release and waive any and all additional employment claims (e.g., statutory employment claims, wrongful discharge types of claims or related claims, breach of employment contract
types of claims, but not claims for breach of the Agreement itself) I may have relating to my employment with Apex Inc. and/or the termination of that relationship which I would not have but
for my being an employee of Apex Inc. since the time I signed the Agreement, as well as releasing and waiving any and all other claims referenced in Paragraph 8 of the Agreement to the
extent permitted by law. 

	*Dated:	 	 	 	 	 
	 	
	 	 	 	 
	

 	

 	
 	

 	
 	

EMPLOYEE:
	

 	

 	
 	

 	
 	

 Kevin J. Hafer

*THIS DOCUMENT TO BE EXECUTED AND DELIVERED TO THE COMPANY TWICE: FIRST, CONTEMPORANEOUSLY WITH THE EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF THE FIRST AMENDMENT TO THE AMENDMENT AGREEMENT,
AND SECOND, ONE DAY AFTER THE TERMINATION OF EMPLOYEE'S EMPLOYMENT WITH THE COMPANY, AS DESCRIBED IN THE AMENDMENT AGREEMENT (AS AMENDED).

5

 
ATTACHMENT B  

  
 

    CONFIRMATION OF RESIGNATION AND GENERAL RELEASE    
  

    By signing below, I hereby acknowledge and confirm my agreement to all the terms of the Amendment Agreement ("Agreement"). I also agree that, as of the date I
sign this document, I release and waive any and all additional employment claims (e.g., statutory employment claims, wrongful discharge types
of claims or related claims, breach of employment contract types of claims, but not claims for breach of the Agreement itself) I may have relating to my employment with Apex Inc. and/or the
termination of that relationship which I would not have but for my being an employee of Apex Inc. since the time I signed the Agreement, as well as releasing and waiving any and all other
claims referenced in Paragraph 8 of the Agreement to the extent permitted by law. 

	*Dated:	 	 	 	 	 
	 	
	 	 	 	 
	

 	

 	
 	

 	
 	

EMPLOYEE:
	

 	

 	
 	

 	
 	

 Kevin J. Hafer

*THIS DOCUMENT TO BE EXECUTED AND DELIVERED TO THE COMPANY TWICE: FIRST, CONTEMPORANEOUSLY WITH THE EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF THE FIRST AMENDMENT TO THE AMENDMENT AGREEMENT,
AND SECOND, ONE DAY AFTER THE TERMINATION OF EMPLOYEE'S EMPLOYMENT WITH THE COMPANY, AS DESCRIBED IN THE AMENDMENT AGREEMENT (AS AMENDED).

6

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