Document:

<PAGE>

                       AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO RIGHTS AGREEMENT

     Amendment No. 1 dated as of September 6, 2000 to the Rights Agreement dated
as of December 3, 1997 (the "Rights Agreement") among THOMAS & BETTS
CORPORATION, as Issuer (the "Issuer"), and FIRST CHICAGO TRUST COMPANY, as
Rights Agent (the "Rights Agent").

                               W I T N E S S E T H

     WHEREAS, on December 3, 1997 the Board of Directors of the Issuer
authorized and declared a dividend of one preferred stock purchase right (a
"Right") for each share of Issuer's common stock outstanding at the close of
business on December 15, 1997 (the "Record Date") and authorized the issuance,
upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Rights Agreement,
of one Right in respect of each share of common stock issued after the Record
Date, each Right representing the right to purchase, upon the terms and subject
to the conditions set forth in the Rights Agreement, one two-hundredth of a
share of Issuer's Series A Participating Cumulative Preferred Stock; and

     WHEREAS, the Rights Agreement expires on December 15, 2000 and the parties
wish to, among other things, extend its term until December 15, 2003.

     NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto agree as follows:

     SECTION 1. DEFINED TERMS; REFERENCES. Unless otherwise specifically defined
herein, each term used herein which is defined in the Rights Agreement has the
meaning assigned to such term in the Rights Agreement. Each reference to
"hereof", "hereunder", "herein" and "hereby" and each other similar reference
and each reference to the "Rights Agreement" and "this Agreement" and each other
reference contained in the Rights Agreement shall, after this Amendment becomes
effective, refer to the Rights Agreement as amended hereby.

     SECTION 2. AMENDMENT TO SECTION 1. The definition of "Common Stock" as set
forth in Section 1 of the Rights Agreement is amended to read in its entirety as
follows:

     "'Common Stock' means the Common Stock, $0.10 par value per share, of the
     Company, except that, when used with reference to any Person other than the
     Company, `Common Stock' means the capital stock of such Person with the
     greatest voting power, or the equity securities or other equity interest
     having power to control or direct the management, of such Person."

     The definition of "Final Expiration Date" as set forth in Section 1 of the
Rights Agreement is amended to read in its entirety as follows:

     "'Final Expiration Date' means the close of business on December 15, 2003."

<PAGE>

     The definition of "Purchase Price" as set forth in Section 1 of the Rights
Agreement is amended to read in its entirety as follows:

     "'Purchase Price' means the price (subject to adjustment as provided
     herein) at which a holder of a Right may purchase one two-hundredth of a
     share of Preferred Stock (subject to adjustment as provided herein) upon
     exercise of a Right, which price shall initially be $100."

     SECTION 3. AMENDMENT TO SECTION 2. Section 2 of the Rights Agreement is
amended to read in its entirety as follows:

     "SECTION 2. APPOINTMENT OF RIGHTS AGENT. The Company hereby appoints the
     Rights Agent to act as agent for the Company and the holders of the Rights
     in accordance with the terms and conditions hereof, and the Rights Agent
     hereby accepts such appointment. The Company may from time to time appoint
     such Co-Rights Agents as it may deem necessary or desirable upon prior
     written notice to the Rights Agent. The Rights Agent shall have no duty to
     supervise and in no event be liable for the acts or omissions of any such
     Co-Rights Agents. If the Company appoints one or more Co-Rights Agents, the
     respective duties of the Rights Agent and any Co-Rights Agents shall be as
     the Company shall determine"

     SECTION 4. AMENDMENT TO SECTION 3(d). Section 3(d) of the Rights Agreement
is amended to read in its entirety as follows:

     "(d) Certificates for the Common Stock issued after the effective date of
     this Amendment but prior to the earlier of the Distribution Date and the
     Expiration Date shall have impressed on, printed on, written on or
     otherwise affixed to them the following legend:

     This certificate also evidences certain Rights as set forth in a Rights
     Agreement between Thomas & Betts Corporation and First Chicago Trust
     Company dated as of December 3, 1997, as amended by Amendment No. 1 thereto
     dated September 6, 2000 (the "Rights Agreement"), the terms of which are
     hereby incorporated herein by reference and a copy of which is on file at
     the principal executive offices of the Company. The Company will mail to
     the holder of this certificate a copy of the Rights Agreement without
     charge promptly after receipt of a written request therefor. Under certain
     circumstances, as set forth in the Rights Agreement, such Rights may be
     evidenced by separate certificates and no longer be evidenced by this
     certificate, may be redeemed or exchanged or may expire. As set forth in
     the Rights Agreement, Rights issued to, or held by, any Person who is, was
     or becomes an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate thereof (as
     such terms are defined in the Rights Agreement), whether currently held by
     or on behalf of such Person or by any subsequent holder, may be null and
     void."

<PAGE>

     SECTION 5. AMENDMENT TO SECTION 18(a). Section 18(a) of the Rights
Agreement is amended by inserting the word "gross" after the word "without" and
before the word "negligence" in the second sentence of Section 18(a).

     SECTION 6. AMENDMENT TO SECTION 20(c). Section 20(c) of the Rights
Agreement is amended to read in its entirety as follows:

     "(c) The Rights Agent shall be liable hereunder only for its own gross
     negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct."

     SECTION 7. AMENDMENT TO RIGHTS CERTIFICATE. Exhibit B to the Rights
Agreement be and is hereby amended and restated to read in its entirety as
Exhibit B attached hereto.

     SECTION 8. GOVERNING LAW. This Amendment shall be governed by and construed
in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

     SECTION 9. COUNTERPARTS. This Amendment may be signed in any number of
counterparts, each of which shall be an original, with the same effect as if the
signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument.

     SECTION 10. EFFECTIVENESS. This Amendment shall become effective as of
September 6, 2000 when the Issuer shall have received from the Rights Agent a
counterpart hereof signed by such party or facsimile or other written
confirmation (in form satisfactory to the Issuer) that such party has signed a
counterpart hereof.

<PAGE>

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amendment No. 1 to
be duly executed as of the date first above written.

                         THOMAS & BETTS CORPORATION

                         By: /s/ T. Kevin Dunnigan
                            -----------------------------------------
                         Name: T. Kevin Dunnigan
                         Title: Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

                         8155 T&B Boulevard
                         Memphis, Tennessee 38125
                         Attention:  Vice President-General Counsel

                         FIRST CHICAGO TRUST COMPANY

                         By: /s/ Gerald J. O'Leary
                            -----------------------------------------
                         Name: Gerald J. O'Leary
                         Title: Managing Director

                         525 Washington Boulevard
                         Suite 4660
                         Jersey City, NJ 07310
                         Attention: Tenders & Exchanges
                                    Administration

<PAGE>

                                                                       EXHIBIT B

                           [FORM OF RIGHT CERTIFICATE]

No. R-                                                                    Rights
                                                       ------------------

NOT EXERCISABLE AFTER THE EARLIER OF DECEMBER 15, 2003 AND THE DATE ON WHICH THE
RIGHTS EVIDENCED HEREBY ARE REDEEMED OR EXCHANGED BY THE COMPANY AS SET FORTH IN
THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT. AS SET FORTH IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT, RIGHTS ISSUED TO, OR
HELD BY, ANY PERSON WHO IS, WAS OR BECOMES AN ACQUIRING PERSON OR AN AFFILIATE
OR ASSOCIATE THEREOF (AS SUCH TERMS ARE DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT),
WHETHER CURRENTLY HELD BY OR ON BEHALF OF SUCH PERSON OR BY ANY SUBSEQUENT
HOLDER, MAY BE NULL AND VOID. [THE RIGHTS REPRESENTED BY THIS RIGHT CERTIFICATE
ARE OR WERE BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY A PERSON WHO WAS OR BECAME AN ACQUIRING PERSON
OR AN AFFILIATE OR AN ASSOCIATE OF AN ACQUIRING PERSON (AS SUCH TERMS ARE
DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT). THIS RIGHT CERTIFICATE AND THE RIGHTS
REPRESENTED HEREBY MAY BE OR MAY BECOME NULL AND VOID IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES
SPECIFIED IN SECTION 7(d) OF THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT.](1)

                                RIGHT CERTIFICATE

                           THOMAS & BETTS CORPORATION

     This Right Certificate certifies that ______________________, or registered
assigns, is the registered holder of the number of Rights set forth above, each
of which entitles the holder (upon the terms and subject to the conditions set
forth in the Rights Agreement dated as of December 3, 1997, as amended by
Amendment No. 1 thereto dated as of September 6, 2000 (the "RIGHTS AGREEMENT")
between Thomas & Betts Corporation, a Tennessee corporation (the "COMPANY"), and
First Chicago Trust Company (the "RIGHTS AGENT")) to purchase from the Company,
at any time after the Distribution Date and prior to the Expiration Date, ___
two-hundredth[s] of a fully paid, nonassessable share of Series A Participating
Cumulative Preferred Stock (the "PREFERRED STOCK") of the Company at a purchase
price of $100 per one two-hundredth of a share (the "PURCHASE PRICE"), payable
in lawful money of the United States of America, upon surrender of this Right
Certificate, with the form of election to purchase and related certificate duly
executed, and payment of the Purchase Price at an office of the Rights Agent
designated for such purpose.

----------

     (1)  If applicable, insert this portion of the legend and delete the
          preceding sentence.

<PAGE>

     Terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein have the meanings
assigned to them in the Rights Agreement.

     The number of Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate (and the number
and kind of shares issuable upon exercise of each Right) and the Purchase Price
set forth above are as of [December 15, 1997], and may have been or in the
future be adjusted as a result of the occurrence of certain events, as more
fully provided in the Rights Agreement.

     Upon the occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event, if the Rights evidenced
by this Right Certificate are beneficially owned by (a) an Acquiring Person or
an Associate or Affiliate of an Acquiring Person, (b) a transferee of an
Acquiring Person (or any such Associate or Affiliate) who becomes a transferee
after the Acquiring Person becomes such, or (c) under certain circumstances
specified in the Rights Agreement, a transferee of an Acquiring Person (or any
such Associate or Affiliate) who becomes a transferee prior to or concurrently
with the Acquiring Person becoming such, such Rights shall become null and void,
and no holder hereof shall have any right with respect to such Rights from and
after the occurrence of such Section 11(a)(ii) Event.

     This Right Certificate is subject to all of the terms, provisions and
conditions of the Rights Agreement, which terms, provisions and conditions are
hereby incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof and to which
Rights Agreement reference is hereby made for a full description of the rights,
limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities hereunder of the
Rights Agent, the Company and the holders of the Right Certificates, which
limitations of rights include the temporary suspension of the exercisability of
such Rights under the specific circumstances set forth in the Rights Agreement.

     Upon surrender at the principal office or offices of the Rights Agent
designated for such purpose and subject to the terms and conditions set forth in
the Rights Agreement, any Rights Certificate or Certificates may be transferred
or exchanged for another Rights Certificate or Certificates evidencing a like
number of Rights as the Rights Certificate or Certificates surrendered.

     Subject to the provisions of the Rights Agreement, the Board of Directors
of the Company may, at its option,

          (a) at any time prior to the earlier of (i) the close of business on
     the tenth day after the Stock Acquisition Date (or such later date as a
     majority of the Continuing Directors may designate prior to such time as
     the Rights are no longer redeemable) and (ii) the Final Expiration Date,
     redeem all but not less than all the then outstanding Rights at a
     redemption price of $.005 per Right; or

          (b) at any time after any Person becomes an Acquiring Person (but
     before such Person becomes the Beneficial Owner of 50% or more of the
     shares of Common Stock then outstanding), exchange all or part of the then
     outstanding Rights (other than Rights held by the Acquiring Person and
     certain related Persons) for shares of Common Stock at an exchange ratio of
     one share of Common Stock per Right. If the Rights shall be

<PAGE>

     exchanged in part, the holder of this Right Certificate shall be entitled
     to receive upon surrender hereof another Right Certificate or Certificates
     for the number of whole Rights not exchanged.

     No fractional shares of Preferred Stock are required to be issued upon the
exercise of any Right or Rights evidenced hereby (other than fractions which are
multiples of one two-hundredth of a share of Preferred Stock, which may, at the
election of the Company, be evidenced by depositary receipts), but in lieu
thereof a cash payment will be made, as provided in the Rights Agreement. If
this Right Certificate shall be exercised in part, the holder shall be entitled
to receive upon surrender hereof another Right Certificate or Certificates for
the number of whole Rights not exercised.

     No holder of this Right Certificate shall be entitled to vote, receive
dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of the shares of capital stock
which may at any time be issuable on the exercise hereof, nor shall anything
contained in the Rights Agreement or herein be construed to confer upon the
holder hereof, as such, any of the rights of a shareholder of the Company or any
right to vote for the election of directors or upon any matter submitted to
shareholders at any meeting thereof, or to give or withhold consent to any
corporate action, or to receive notice of meetings or other actions affecting
shareholders (except as provided in the Rights Agreement), or to receive
dividends or subscription rights, or otherwise, until the Right or Rights
evidenced by this Right Certificate shall have been exercised as provided in the
Rights Agreement.

     This Right Certificate shall not be valid or obligatory for any purpose
until it shall have been countersigned by the Rights Agent.

<PAGE>

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly
executed under its corporate seal by its authorized officers.

Dated as of                   , 20
           ------------------     --

                              THOMAS & BETTS CORPORATION

                              By:
                                 -----------------------------------------
                                   Chief Executive Officer

[SEAL]

Attest:

     Secretary

Countersigned:

FIRST CHICAGO TRUST COMPANY,
as Rights Agent

By:
   -------------------------------
     Authorized Signature

<PAGE>

                    Form of Reverse Side of Right Certificate

                               FORM OF ASSIGNMENT

                    (To be executed if the registered holder
                   desires to transfer the Right Certificate.)

FOR VALUE RECEIVED
                  --------------------------------------------------------------

hereby sells, assigns and transfers unto
                                        ----------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  (Please print name and address of transferee)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

this Right Certificate, together with all right, title and interest therein, and
does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint ______________________ Attorney,
to transfer the within Right Certificate on the books of the within-named
Company, with full power of substitution.

Dated:                        , 20
      ------------------------     --

                                   ---------------------------------------------
                                   Signature

Signature Guaranteed:

<PAGE>

                                   CERTIFICATE

     The undersigned hereby certifies by checking the appropriate boxes that:

     (1) the Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate ___are ___are not being
assigned by or on behalf of a Person who is or was an Acquiring Person or an
Affiliate or Associate of any such Acquiring Person (as such terms are defined
in the Rights Agreement);

     (2) after due inquiry and to the best knowledge of the undersigned, it
___did ___did not acquire the Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate from
any Person who is, was or became an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or
Associate of an Acquiring Person.

Dated:                   , 20
      -------------------    --    ---------------------------------------------
                                   Signature

                                   ----------

     The signatures to the foregoing Assignment and Certificate must correspond
to the name as written upon the face of this Right Certificate in every
particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever.

                                   ----------

<PAGE>

                          FORM OF ELECTION TO PURCHASE

          (To be executed if the registered holder desires to exercise
                  Rights represented by the Right Certificate.)

To:  THOMAS & BETTS CORPORATION

     The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise ____________ Rights
represented by this Right Certificate to purchase shares of Preferred Stock
issuable upon the exercise of the Rights (or such other securities of the
Company or of any other person which may be issuable upon the exercise of the
Rights) and requests that certificates for such securities be issued in the name
of and delivered to:

Please insert social security
or other identifying number

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                         (Please print name and address)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

     If such number of Rights shall not be all the Rights evidenced by this
Right Certificate, a new Right Certificate for the balance of such Rights shall
be registered in the name of and delivered to:

Please insert social security
or other identifying number

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                         (Please print name and address)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dated:                        , 20
      ------------------------     --

                                   ---------------------------------------------
                                   Signature

Signature Guaranteed:

<PAGE>

                                   CERTIFICATE

     The undersigned hereby certifies by checking the appropriate boxes that:

     (1) the Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate ___are ___are not being
exercised by or on behalf of a Person who is or was an Acquiring Person or an
Affiliate or Associate of any such Acquiring Person (as such terms are defined
in the Rights Agreement);

     (2) after due inquiry and to the best knowledge of the undersigned, it
___did ___did not acquire the Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate from
any Person who is, was or became an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or
Associate of an Acquiring Person.

Dated:                   , 20
      -------------------    --    ---------------------------------------------
                                   Signature

                                   ----------

The signature to the foregoing Election to Purchase and Certificate must
correspond to the name as written upon the face of this Right Certificate in
every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever.

                                   ----------

<PAGE>

                                                                       EXHIBIT C

                           THOMAS & BETTS CORPORATION

                             SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS PLAN

                                Summary of Terms

<TABLE>

<S>                          <C>
FORM OF SECURITY              The Board of Directors has declared a dividend of
                              one preferred stock purchase right for each
                              outstanding share of the Company's Common Stock,
                              payable to holders of record as of the close of
                              business on December 15, 1997 (each a "RIGHT" and
                              collectively, the "RIGHTS")

TRANSFER                      Prior to the Distribution Date2, the Rights will
                              be evidenced by the certificates for, and will be
                              transferred with, the Common Stock, and the
                              registered holders of the Common Stock will be
                              deemed to be the registered holders of the Rights.

                              After the Distribution Date, the Rights Agent will
                              mail separate certificates evidencing the Rights
                              to each record holder of the Common Stock as of
                              the close of business on the Distribution Date,
                              and thereafter the Rights will be transferable
                              separately from the Common Stock.

EXERCISE                      Prior to the Distribution Date, the Rights will
                              not be exercisable.

                              After the Distribution Date, each Right will be
                              exercisable to purchase, for $100 (the "Purchase
                              Price"), one two-hundredth of a share of Series A
                              Participating Cumulative Preferred Stock, no par
                              value per share, of the Company.
</TABLE>

----------

     2    Distribution Date means the earlier of:

     (1)  the 10th day after public announcement that any person or group has
     become the beneficial owner of 15% or more of the Company's Common Stock
     and

     (2)  the 10th business day after the date of the commencement of a tender
     or exchange offer by any person which would, if consummated, result in such
     person becoming the beneficial owner of 15% or more of the Company's Common
     Stock, in each case, subject to extension by a majority of the Directors
     not affiliated with the Acquiring Person.

<PAGE>

<TABLE>

<S>                          <C>
FLIP-IN                       If any person or group (an "Acquiring Person")
                              becomes the beneficial owner of 15% or more of the
                              Company's Common Stock, then each Right (other
                              than Rights beneficially owned by the Acquiring
                              Person and certain affiliated persons) will
                              entitle the holder to purchase, for the Purchase
                              Price, a number of shares of the Company's Common
                              Stock having a market value of twice the Purchase
                              Price.

FLIP-OVER                     If, after any person has become an Acquiring
                              Person, (1) the Company is involved in a merger or
                              other business combination in which the Company is
                              not the surviving corporation or its Common Stock
                              is exchanged for other securities or assets or (2)
                              the Company or one or more of its subsidiaries
                              sell or otherwise transfer assets or earning power
                              aggregating more than 50% of the assets or earning
                              power of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken
                              as a whole, then each Right will entitle the
                              holder to purchase, for the Purchase Price, a
                              number of shares of common stock of the other
                              party to such business combination or sale (or in
                              certain circumstances, an affiliate) having a
                              market value of twice the Purchase Price.

EXCHANGE                      At any time after any person has become an
                              Acquiring Person (but before any person becomes
                              the beneficial owner of 50% or more of the
                              Company's Common Stock), a majority of the
                              Directors not affiliated with the Acquiring Person
                              may exchange all or part of the Rights (other than
                              the Rights beneficially owned by the Acquiring
                              Person and certain affiliated persons) for shares
                              of Common Stock at an exchange ratio of one share
                              of Common Stock per Right.

REDEMPTION                    The Board of Directors may redeem all of the
                              Rights at a price of $.005 per Right at any time
                              prior to the close of business on the 10th day
                              after public announcement that any person has
                              become an Acquiring Person (subject to extension
                              by a majority of the Directors not affiliated with
                              the Acquiring Person).

                              After any person has become an Acquiring Person,
                              the Rights may be redeemed only with the approval
                              of a majority of the Directors not affiliated with
                              the Acquiring Person.
</TABLE>

<PAGE>

<TABLE>

<S>                           <C>
EXPIRATION                    The Rights will expire on December 15, 2003,
                              unless earlier exchanged or redeemed.

AMENDMENTS                    Prior to the Distribution Date, the Rights
                              Agreement may be amended in any respect.

                              After the Distribution Date, the Rights Agreement
                              may be amended in any respect that does not
                              adversely affect the Rights holders (other than
                              any Acquiring Person and certain affiliated
                              persons).

                              After any person has become an Acquiring Person,
                              the Rights Agreement may be amended only with the
                              approval of a majority of the Directors not
                              affiliated with the Acquiring Person.

VOTING RIGHTS                 Rights holders have no rights as a shareholder of
                              the Company, including the right to vote and to
                              receive dividends.

ANTIDILUTION PROVISIONS       The Rights Agreement includes antidilution
                              provisions designed to prevent efforts to diminish
                              the efficacy of the Rights.

TAXES                         While the dividend of the Rights will not be
                              taxable to shareholders or to the Company,
                              shareholders or the Company may, depending upon
                              the circumstances, recognize taxable income in the
                              event that the Rights become exercisable as set
                              forth above.
</TABLE>

                                   ----------

A copy of the Rights Agreement has been filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission as an Exhibit to a Registration Statement on Form 8-A. A copy of the
Rights Agreement, as amended, is available free of charge from the Company. This
summary description of the Rights does not purport to be complete and is
qualified in its entirety by reference to the Rights Agreement.<PAGE>

                                                                    Exhibit 10.4

                                                      Thomas & Betts Corporation
                                                      8155 T&B Boulevard
                                                      Memphis, TN 38125
                                                      (901) 252-5000
                                                      www.TNB.com

                                                                    THOMAS&BETTS
--------------------------------------------------------------------============

September 18, 2000

Mr. Clyde R. Moore
9258 Forest Hill Lane
Germantown, TN  38139

Dear Clyde:

         Outlined below are the terms and conditions of your separation from
Thomas & Betts Corporation ("Thomas & Betts"), which, upon your signature where
indicated below, shall constitute the separation agreement binding upon Thomas &
Betts and you.

           1. You agree that your service as Chairman, Director and Chief
Executive Officer of Thomas & Betts is terminated effective as of August 9,
2000. You have been placed on an inactive employment status for the period from
August 9, 2000 to December 31, 2000 (the "Inactive Period").

           2. Until the end of the Inactive Period, you will continue to
participate in all health and welfare benefit plans, pension benefit plans and
perquisite plans that are currently provided to you by Thomas & Betts.

           3. Your Employment Agreement dated November 3, 1997 (the "Employment
Agreement") is hereby terminated and cancelled and shall be null and void as of
August 9, 2000.

           4. Your termination date from Thomas & Betts shall be December 31,
2000, the date of the completion of the Inactive Period.

           5. Following the last day of the Inactive Period, but no later than
January 12, 2001 you will receive a lump-sum severance payment in the amount of
$2,640,000 gross. This represents a payment equivalent to two times your annual
base salary, car allowance and target bonus of 75% of base.

<PAGE>

           6. The Human Resources Committee (the "Human Resources Committee") of
the Board of Directors of Thomas & Betts (the "Board") has given the consent of
Thomas & Betts necessary to treat your termination of employment as an early
retirement for purposes of your stock option grants and has taken action
providing that all stock options granted to you by Thomas & Betts that remain
unexercised, regardless of when such stock options were granted, may be
exercised in full at any time within six (6) years after completion of the
Inactive Period, provided, however, that if such exercise occurs more than three
(3) months after completion of the Inactive Period, the option shall be treated
as a nonqualified stock option, and no option will extend beyond its expiration
date.

           7. Regarding your Restricted Stock Awards, the Human Resources
Committee has determined that such awards shall not be forfeited upon completion
of the Inactive Period and has taken action providing that such awards granted
to you by Thomas & Betts that remain unvested, regardless of when such
Restricted Stock Awards were granted, be released to you as of the time the
restrictions lapse. It is intended that, in accordance with past practices, the
awards will be released as per the original schedules if you have not violated
either Section 15 or 19 below. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this
Section 7, in the event of a "Change of Control," as such term was defined in
the Employment Agreement, the restrictions then in effect on all restricted
stock awards granted to you by Thomas & Betts shall lapse and all shares subject
to such awards shall be released to you.

           8. The Human Resources Committee has approved an additional grant of
benefits under the Thomas & Betts Executive Retirement Plan ("Retirement Plan"),
as follows: Your benefits under the Retirement Plan shall be calculated under
Section 2.05(b) of the Retirement Plan with the addition of five (5) years of
age and credited service such that you shall be credited with a total of twenty
(20) years, and such additional months as appropriate, of service.

           9. Thomas & Betts will maintain your corporate membership at
Southwind Country Club as long as you maintain your primary residence in the
Memphis area or for a maximum of two years following completion of the Inactive
Period, whichever is shorter.

          10. You will retain use of your cell phone during the Inactive Period,
and said account will be transferred to your personal account on January 1,
2001.

          11. Your computer and peripheral equipment will be transferred to you
as personal property.

                                       2
<PAGE>

          12. Until December 31, 2005 or the date you relocate your primary
residence outside the Memphis area, whichever is sooner, you may continue to use
the services of the Thomas & Betts Travel Department. All expenses relating to
such usage will be billed directly to you.

          13. During the Inactive Period, you will provide consulting services
to Thomas & Betts as may be reasonably requested from time to time both to
facilitate the transition of the business as well as on other matters within
your competence, knowledge and experience.

          14. Upon the completion of the Inactive Period, your retirement
benefits shall be as follows:

                  (a) Executive Retirement Plan benefits as outlined in Section
         8 above, which in no event shall be less than the amounts shown in
         Attachment A;

                  (b) Medical and dental coverage, for you, Sherry and, so long
         as he qualifies as a covered dependent, Chris, commencing on the day
         following your termination date subject to the provisions of Section 16
         below. Note that when you become eligible for Medicare, the plan
         provided by Thomas & Betts will become your secondary plan. The plan
         benefits will be based upon then-current plan offerings made available
         to active employees of Thomas & Betts, however, a contribution will not
         apply, so that Thomas & Betts will pay all premiums (including employee
         contributions) for such medical and dental coverage. As you know, such
         plans may be changed from time to time and such changes in plan design
         will be applied to you in the same manner they are applied to our
         active employee participants with the exception that no contribution
         will be required to be made by you;

                  (c) Benefits under the Executive Life Insurance Plan shall be
         provided in accordance with the plan document. That is, you have the
         option of continuing the coverage by paying the premium directly; you
         can allow the cash value of the policy to fund the premiums until it
         runs out, or you can elect to take the cash value of the policy at the
         time the premium becomes due. Specific information regarding these
         options will be provided as soon as it is available; and

                  (d) Thomas & Betts agrees to indemnify and hold harmless you
         and your legal representatives and successors to the fullest extent
         permitted by the laws of the State of Tennessee with respect to any
         judgement or other binding decision of any arbitrator, tribunal or
         government agency arising at any time out of any event, action or
         omission

                                       3
<PAGE>

         related to or in connection with your having been a director, officer
         or employee of Thomas & Betts or having served as a director or
         officer of another corporation or other organization at the request of
         Thomas & Betts; provided, however, that this indemnification shall
         apply in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by
         you only if such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the
         Board. This indemnification shall continue in full force and effect for
         a period of not less than the duration of all statutes of limitations
         applicable to such matters (or in the case of events, actions or
         omissions giving rise to matters which have not been resolved prior to
         the expiration of such period, until such matters are finally
         resolved). Without limiting the foregoing, Thomas & Betts shall
         periodically advance all expenses (including attorneys' and paralegals'
         fees and other costs and expenses) as incurred with respect to the
         foregoing to the fullest extent permitted by the laws of the State of
         Tennessee, and you shall be defended by the counsel of your choice. You
         shall not unreasonably withhold your consent to the settlement of any
         claim for monetary damages for which you are entitled to be fully
         indemnified hereunder. From and after the date hereof, Thomas & Betts
         shall maintain in effect for at least five years following the
         completion of the Inactive Period the policies of directors' and
         officers' liability insurance to the extent currently maintained by
         Thomas & Betts and under terms and conditions at least as favorable to
         you, and in amounts at least as much, as those currently in effect as
         to you. If you are otherwise entitled to indemnification under the
         terms of this Section 14(d) Thomas & Betts shall indemnify you for any
         deductible applicable under such policies. For the avoidance of doubt
         (i) the indemnity and insurance referenced above shall apply only with
         respect to your actions on behalf of Thomas & Betts and any entity for
         which you served as an officer or director at the request of Thomas &
         Betts (such as the National Electrical Manufacturers Association and
         the Industry Data Exchange Association) and not to your actions on
         behalf of other organizations which you may have served without the
         request of Thomas & Betts (such as Kroger), (ii) the indemnity and
         insurance shall only apply to claims arising from your actions prior to
         August 9, 2000 and (iii) with respect to the commitment to continue,
         for the stated five-year period, the policies of directors' and
         officers' liability insurance to the extent currently maintained,
         Thomas & Betts is not required to provide coverage that is any more
         extensive than the existing coverage under such policies in terms of
         events and entities covered and amounts of coverage.

         15. You will refrain, directly or indirectly, from being employed by,
engaging in or rendering service of any nature to a business which represents a
principal and direct competitor of the business of Thomas & Betts or any
affiliate or subsidiary for a period of two years after completion of the
Inactive Period

                                       4
<PAGE>

unless you obtain our prior written consent. You also acknowledge that during
your employment you developed, acquired and had access to substantial highly
confidential operations, legal, technical and financial information. You
agree that you shall retain all such confidential information in trust in a
fiduciary capacity for the sole benefit of Thomas & Betts and will not by any
means divulge, use, or permit any third party to use any such confidential
information except with the written approval of the Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer of Thomas & Betts or except to the extent that such
confidential information (i) becomes a matter of public record or is
published in a newspaper, magazine or other periodical or on electronic or
other media available to the general public, other than as a result of your
act or omission, (ii) is required to be disclosed by any law, regulation or
order of any court or government regulatory commission, department or agency,
provided that you give notice of such requirement to Thomas & Betts to enable
Thomas & Betts to seek an appropriate protective order, or (iii) is required
to be used or disclosed by you to perform properly your duties under Sections
13 and 17 hereof. Nothing herein shall be construed as preventing you from
using in any subsequent employment or other endeavor your talents, skills,
knowledge or expertise that you may have gained, developed or retained as a
result of your employment by Thomas & Betts provided that you do not use or
disclose any confidential information of Thomas Betts and you do not
otherwise violate the first sentence of this Section 15.

          16. You will notify us upon acceptance of any offer of employment
obtained. In such event, the following will apply:

                  (a) Comprehensive coverage for medical and dental benefits
         will cease as of the date you become eligible to participate in such
         plans of any one or more subsequent employers providing standard
         benefits and offered generally to employees of the employer; provided,
         however, that (i) if such plans of any subsequent employer provide
         coverage which is less favorable to you or your dependents in terms of
         benefits than the coverage provided under the Thomas & Betts plans
         (including any limitation on coverage of a pre-existing condition),
         then the coverage described in Section 14(b) above will continue
         uninterrupted, but will be secondary to the coverage provided under the
         plans of any such subsequent employer, and (ii) the coverage described
         in Section 14(b) above will, in any case, resume as the primary
         coverage commencing as of the date you are no longer eligible for
         coverage under such plans of any such subsequent employer. If you are
         eligible for continuation of the coverage provided under such plans of
         any such subsequent employer pursuant to COBRA, you shall notify Thomas
         & Betts and at the written direction of Thomas & Betts you will elect
         such COBRA benefit continuation for the full period such continuation
         is available and Thomas & Betts will pay to you in advance the cost of
         the COBRA premiums you incur for the COBRA

                                       5
<PAGE>

         continuation coverage. If such COBRA continuation coverage is provided
         to you but is less favorable to you or your dependents in terms of
         benefits than the coverage provided under the Thomas & Betts plans
         (including any limitation on coverage of a pre-existing condition) your
         coverage under the Thomas & Betts plan will continue as secondary to
         such COBRA coverage until the termination of such COBRA coverage, at
         which time your Thomas & Betts coverage will resume as primary.
         Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, your Thomas & Betts benefits
         will be secondary to your Medicare benefits after the date you become
         eligible for Medicare.

                  (b) You will secure from your new employer an agreement to
         make you available at reasonable times in order to fulfill your
         obligations under Section 17 of this agreement.

          17. You agree to cooperate fully in any investigation or other legal
proceeding requested by Thomas & Betts with respect to any matter that arose
during your employment with Thomas & Betts or which may involve matters within
your knowledge. If any claims are asserted by Thomas & Betts or an affiliate
against a third party or by a third party against Thomas & Betts (including its
affiliated entities), with respect to any matter that arose during your
employment or about which you have any knowledge or information, you will
cooperate fully in the prosecution or defense of such claims by Thomas & Betts
and its affiliated entities. Thomas & Betts will to the extent commercially
practicable pay, but will in any case reimburse, all reasonable expenses you
incur in fulfilling your duties under this Section 17.

          18. You agree that except as may be required of you by a court or a
government investigation you will not make any communication regarding Thomas &
Betts, its affiliates or any officer, director or employee of Thomas & Betts or
its affiliates which may be detrimental to the business, reputation or image of
Thomas & Betts or its affiliates or disparaging of any such individual. Thomas &
Betts agrees that it will instruct each of its officers and directors not to
make any disparaging communication regarding you, and no director, officer or
employee of Thomas & Betts will be authorized by Thomas & Betts to make any such
disparaging communications regarding you.

          19. From the date hereof until the second anniversary of the
completion of the Inactive Period (the "Non-Solicitation Period"), you will not
solicit or recruit or hire as an employee or consultant any individual who
serves or has served as an active employee of Thomas & Betts or an affiliated
entity at any time during the Non-Solicitation Period, unless you have received
the prior written consent of Thomas & Betts. Any request you make to Thomas &
Betts for such consent will be considered promptly in good faith by Thomas &
Betts and will be

                                       6
<PAGE>

denied only after Thomas & Betts has determined, in its sole discretion, that
such consent would jeopardize important confidential information of Thomas &
Betts.

          20. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein or in
any other agreement or document, if you violate the provisions of either Section
15 or 19 above, then without limiting Thomas & Betts' right to seek other
appropriate damages and equitable relief, Sections 6 and 7 shall be void ab
initio (as if they never existed), you shall not be entitled to the benefits
provided under those Sections and Thomas & Betts will be entitled to take any
and all action to cancel and terminate such benefits.

          21. This agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of
any successor or assignee of Thomas & Betts.

          22. This agreement shall be construed in accordance with and governed
by the laws of the State of Tennessee.

          23. Nothing contained in this agreement shall supersede or eliminate
any other retirement or other benefit to which you are entitled; the benefits
provided herein are in addition to any other benefits to which you would
otherwise be entitled. To the extent any benefit conferred here may be
inconsistent with any practice or policy maintained by the Company, the
provisions of this letter shall be controlling.

          Please indicate your acceptance and agreement to the terms hereof by
signing in the space provided below.

                                       Sincerely,
                                       Thomas & Betts Corporation

                                          /s/ T. Kevin Dunnigan
                                       ---------------------------
                                       By:       T. Kevin Dunnigan
                                                 Chairman and CEO

Agreed:    /s/ Clyde R. Moore
       ---------------------------
        Clyde R. Moore

Date:            9-18-00
       ---------------------------

                                       7

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