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                                                                    Exhibit 10.6

                         EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

     THIS EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this "AGREEMENT") is made, entered
into and effective as of ____________ (the "EFFECTIVE DATE") by and among UNITED
STATIONERS INC., a Delaware corporation (hereinafter, together with its
successors, referred to as "HOLDING"), UNITED STATIONERS SUPPLY CO., an Illinois
corporation (hereinafter, together with its successors, referred to as the
"COMPANY", and, together with Holding, the "COMPANIES"), and __________________
(hereinafter referred to as the "EXECUTIVE").

     WHEREAS, the Companies have a need for executive management services; and

     WHEREAS, the Executive is qualified and willing to render such services to
the Companies;

     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants
and agreements contained herein, the parties agree as follows:

     SECTION 1.  DEFINITIONS.

            (a)  As used in this Agreement, the following terms have the
     respective  meanings set forth below:

                 "ACCRUED BENEFITS" means (i) all salary earned or accrued
            through the date the Executive's employment is terminated, (ii)
            reimbursement for any and all monies advanced in connection with the
            Executive's employment for reasonable and necessary expenses
            incurred by the Executive through the date the Executive's
            employment is terminated, (iii) all accrued and unpaid annual
            incentive compensation awards for the year immediately prior to the
            year in which the Executive's employment is terminated, and (iv) all
            other payments and benefits to which the Executive is entitled at
            the date of termination under the terms of any applicable
            compensation arrangement or benefit plan or program of the Company.
            "Accrued Benefits" shall not include any entitlement to severance
            pay or severance benefits under any Company severance policy or plan
            generally applicable to the Company's salaried employees.

                 "AFFILIATE" shall have the meaning given such term in Rule
            12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

                 "BOARD" shall mean, so long as Holding owns all of the
            outstanding Voting Securities (as hereinafter defined in the
            definition of Change of Control) of the Company, the board of
            directors of Holding. In all other cases, Board means the board of
            directors of the Company.

                 "CAUSE" shall mean (i) conviction of, or plea of NOLO
            CONTENDERE to, a felony (excluding motor vehicle violations); (ii)
            theft or embezzlement, or

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            attempted theft or embezzlement, of money or property or assets of
            the Company or any of its Affiliates; (iii) illegal use of drugs;
            (iv) material breach of this Agreement; (v) commission of any act or
            acts of moral turpitude; (vi) gross negligence or willful misconduct
            in the performance of Executive's duties; (vii) breach of any
            fiduciary duty owed to the Company, including, without limitation,
            engaging in competitive acts while employed by the Company; or
            (viii) the Executive's willful refusal to perform the assigned
            duties for which the Executive is qualified as directed by the
            Executive's Supervising Officer (as hereinafter defined) or the
            Board; provided, that in the case of any event constituting Cause
            within clauses (iv) through (viii) which is curable by the
            Executive, the Executive has been given written notice by the
            Companies of such event said to constitute Cause, describing such
            event in reasonable detail, and has not cured such action within
            thirty (30) days of such written notice as reasonably determined by
            the Chief Executive Officer. For purposes of this definition of
            Cause, action or inaction by the Executive shall not be considered
            "willful" unless done or omitted by the Executive (A) intentionally
            or not in good faith and (B) without reasonable belief that the
            Executive's action or inaction was in the best interests of the
            Companies, and shall not include failure to act by reason of total
            or partial incapacity due to physical or mental illness.

                 "CHANGE OF CONTROL" shall mean (a) Any "Person" (having the
            meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3(a)(9) of the Exchange Act
            and used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) thereof, including a "group"
            within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3)) has or acquires "Beneficial
            Ownership" (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act)
            of 30% or more of the combined voting power of Holding's then
            outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the
            election of directors ("VOTING SECURITIES"); provided, however, that
            in determining whether a Change of Control has occurred, Voting
            Securities which are held or acquired by (i) Holding of any of its
            subsidiaries or (ii) an employee benefit plan (or a trust forming a
            part thereof) maintained by Holding or any of its subsidiaries shall
            not constitute a Change of Control. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a
            Change of Control shall not be deemed to occur solely because any
            Person acquired Beneficial Ownership of more than the permitted
            amount of Voting Securities as a result of the issuance of Voting
            Securities by Holding in exchange for assets (including equity
            interests) or funds with a fair value equal to the fair value of the
            Voting Securities so issued; provided that if a Change of Control
            would occur (but for the operation of this sentence) as a result of
            the issuance of Voting Securities by Holding, and after such
            issuance of Voting Securities by Holding, such Person becomes the
            Beneficial Owner of any additional Voting Securities which increases
            the percentage of the Voting Securities Beneficially Owned by such
            Person to more than 50% of the Voting Securities of Holding, then a
            Change of Control shall occur; (b) At any time during a period of
            two consecutive years, the individuals who at the beginning of such
            period constituted the Board (the "INCUMBENT BOARD") cease for any
            reason to constitute more than 50% of the Board; provided, however,
            that if the election, or nomination for election by Holding's
            stockholders, of any new director was approved by a vote of more
            than 50% of the directors then comprising the

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            Incumbent Board, such new director shall, for purposes of this
            subsection (b), be considered as though such person were a member of
            the Incumbent Board; provided, further, however, that no individual
            shall be considered a member of the Incumbent Board if such
            individual initially assumed office as a result of (i) either an
            actual "Election Consent" (as described in Rule 14a-11 promulgated
            under the Exchange Act) or other actual solicitation of proxies or
            consents by or on behalf of a Person other than the Incumbent Board
            (a "PROXY CONTEST"), or (ii) by reason of an agreement intended to
            avoid or settle any actual or threatened Election Contest or Proxy
            Contest; (c) Consummation of a merger, consolidation or
            reorganization or approval by Holding's stockholders of a
            liquidation or dissolution of Holding or the occurrence of a
            liquidation or dissolution of Holding ("BUSINESS COMBINATION"),
            unless, following such Business Combination: (1) the Persons with
            Beneficial Ownership of Holding, immediately before such Business
            Combination, have Beneficial Ownership of more than 50% of the
            combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities
            entitled to vote generally in the election of directors of the
            corporation (or in the election of a comparable governing body of
            any other type of entity) resulting from such Business Combination
            (including, without limitation, an entity which as a result of such
            transaction owns Holding or all or substantially all of Holding's
            assets either directly or through one or more subsidiaries) (the
            "SURVIVING COMPANY") in substantially the same proportions as their
            Beneficial Ownership of the Voting Securities immediately before
            such Business Combination, (2) the individuals who were members of
            the Incumbent Board immediately prior to the execution of the
            initial agreement providing for such Business Combination constitute
            more than 50% of the members of the board of directors (or
            comparable governing body of a noncorporate entity) of the Surviving
            Company; and (3) no Person (other than Holding, any of its
            subsidiaries or any employee benefit plan (or any trust forming a
            part thereof) maintained by Holding, the Surviving Company or any
            Person who immediately prior to such Business Combination had
            Beneficial Ownership of 30% or more of the then Voting Securities)
            has Beneficial Ownership of 30% or more of the then combined voting
            power of the Surviving Company's then outstanding voting securities;
            provided, that notwithstanding this clause (3), a Change of Control
            shall not be deemed to occur solely because any Person acquired
            Beneficial Ownership of more than 30% of Voting Securities as a
            result of the issuance of Voting Securities by Holding in exchange
            for assets (including equity interests) or funds with a fair value
            equal to the fair value of the Voting Securities so issued; or (d)
            Approval by Holding's stockholders of an agreement for the
            assignment, sale, conveyance, transfer, lease or other disposition
            of all or substantially all of the assets of Holding to any Person
            (other than a subsidiary of Holding or other entity, the Persons
            with Beneficial Ownership of which are the same Persons with
            Beneficial Ownership of Holding and such Beneficial Ownership is in
            substantially the same proportions), or the occurrence of the same.
            Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Change of Control shall not be
            deemed to occur solely because any Person acquired Beneficial
            Ownership of more than the permitted amount of Voting Securities as
            a result of the acquisition of Voting Securities by the Company
            which, by reducing the

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            number of Voting Securities outstanding, increases the proportional
            number of shares Beneficially Owned by such Person; provided that if
            a Change of Control would occur (but for the operation of this
            sentence) as a result of the acquisition of Voting Securities by the
            Company, and after such acquisition of Voting Securities by the
            Company, such Person becomes the Beneficial Owner of any additional
            Voting Securities which increases the percentage of the Voting
            Securities Beneficially Owned by such Person, then a Change of
            Control shall occur.

                 "EXCHANGE ACT" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
            as amended.

                 "GOOD REASON" shall mean (i) any material breach by the
            Companies of this Agreement, (ii) any material reduction, without
            the Executive's written consent, in the Executive's title, duties,
            responsibilities or authority; provided, however, that for purposes
            of this clause (ii), neither (A) a change in the Executive's
            Supervising Officer or the number or identity of the Executive's
            direct reports, (B) a change in the Executive's title, duties,
            responsibilities or authority as a result of a realignment or
            restructuring of the Companies' executive organizational chart nor
            (C) a change in the Executive's title, duties, responsibilities or
            authority as a result of a realignment or restructuring of the
            Companies following a Change of Control shall be deemed by itself to
            materially reduce Executive's title, duties, responsibilities or
            authority, as long as, in the case of either (A), (B) or (C),
            Executive continues to report to either the Chief Executive Officer
            or Chief Operating Officer of the Companies, or (iii) without
            Executive's written consent: (A) a reduction in the Executive's Base
            Salary or elimination of or reduction in the level of executive
            benefits and/or perquisites (other than across-the-board reductions
            applied in the same percentage at the same time to all of the
            Companies' senior executives at the same grade level), (B) the
            relocation of the Executive's principal place of employment more
            than fifty (50) miles from its location on the Effective Date of
            this Agreement, or (C) the relocation of the Company's corporate
            headquarters office outside of the Chicago, IL metropolitan area.
            For purposes of this Agreement, a Change of Control, alone, does not
            constitute Good Reason. Furthermore, notwithstanding the above, the
            occurrence of any of the events described above will not constitute
            Good Reason unless the Executive gives the Companies written notice
            within thirty (30) days after the occurrence of any of such events
            that the Executive believes that such event constitutes Good Reason,
            and the Companies thereafter fail to cure any such event within
            thirty (30) days after receipt of such notice.

                 "PERSON" shall mean any natural person, firm, corporation,
            limited liability company, trust, partnership, limited or limited
            liability partnership, business association, joint venture or other
            entity and, for purposes of the definition of Change of Control
            herein, shall comprise any "person", within the meaning of Sections
            13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act, including a "group" as therein
            defined.

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                 "SUBSIDIARY" shall mean, with respect to any Person, any other
            Person of which such first Person owns 20% or more of the economic
            interest in such Person or owns or has the power to vote, directly
            or indirectly, securities representing 20%or more of the votes
            ordinarily entitled to be cast for the election of directors or
            other governing Persons.

            (b)  The capitalized terms used in Section 5(j) have the respective
     meanings assigned to them in such Section and the following additional
     terms have the respective meanings assigned to them in the Sections hereof
     set forth opposite them:

            "Annual Bonus"                                    Section 4(b)
            "Base Salary"                                     Section 4(b)
            "Bonus Plan"                                      Section 4(b)
            "Confidential information or proprietary data"    Section 6(a)(2)
            "Customer"                                        Section 6(d)(2)
            "Employment Period"                               Section 2
            "Supervising Officer"                             Section 3(a)
            "Term" and "Termination Date"                     Section 2

     SECTION 2.  TERM AND EMPLOYMENT PERIOD. Subject to Section 19 hereof, the
term of this Agreement ("TERM") shall commence on the Effective Date of this
Agreement and shall continue until the effective date of termination of the
Executive's employment hereunder pursuant to Section 5 of this Agreement. The
period during which the Executive is employed by the Companies pursuant to this
Agreement is referred to herein as the "EMPLOYMENT PERIOD." The date on which
termination of the Executive's employment hereunder shall become effective is
referred to herein as the "TERMINATION DATE."

     SECTION 3.  DUTIES.

            (a)  During the Employment Period, the Executive (i) shall serve as
     _________________ of the Companies, (ii) shall report directly to an
     officer of the Companies (the "SUPERVISING OFFICER") who shall be selected
     by the Board or the Chief Executive Officer in its or his or her sole
     discretion, (iii) shall, subject to and in accordance with the authority
     and direction of the Board and/or the Supervising Officer have such
     authority and perform in a diligent and competent manner such duties as may
     be assigned to the Executive from time to time by the Board and/or the
     Supervising Officer and (iv) shall devote the Executive's best efforts and
     such time, attention, knowledge and skill to the operation of the business
     and affairs of the Companies as shall be necessary to perform the
     Executive's duties. During the Employment Period, the Executive's place of
     performance for the Executive's duties and responsibilities shall be at the
     Companies' corporate headquarters office, unless another principal place of
     performance is agreed in writing among the parties and except for required
     travel by the Executive on the Companies' business or as may be reasonably
     required by the Companies.

            (b)  Notwithstanding the foregoing, it is understood during the
     Employment Period, subject to any conflict of interest policies of the
     Companies, the Executive may

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     (i) serve in any capacity with any civic, charitable, educational or
     professional organization provided that such service does not materially
     interfere with the Executive's duties and responsibilities hereunder, (ii)
     make and manage personal investments of the Executive's choice, and (iii)
     with the prior consent of the Companies' Chief Executive Officer, which
     shall not be unreasonably withheld, serve on the board of directors of one
     (1) for-profit business enterprise.

     SECTION 4.  COMPENSATION. During the Employment Period, the Executive shall
be compensated as follows:

            (a)  the Executive shall receive, at such intervals and in
     accordance with such Company payroll policies as may be in effect from time
     to time, an annual salary (pro rata for any partial year) equal to
     $__________ ("BASE SALARY"). The Base Salary shall be reviewed by the Board
     from time to time and may, in the Board's sole discretion, be increased
     when deemed appropriate by the Board; if so increased, it shall not
     thereafter be reduced (other than an across-the-board reduction applied in
     the same percentage at the same time to all of the Companies' senior
     executives at the same grade level);

            (b)  during the Employment Period, the Executive shall be eligible
     to earn an annual incentive compensation award under the Companies'
     management incentive or bonus plan, or a successor plan thereto, as shall
     be in effect from time to time (the "BONUS PLAN"), subject to achievement
     of performance goals determined in accordance with the terms of the Bonus
     Plan (such annual incentive compensation award, the "ANNUAL BONUS"), with
     such Annual Bonus to be payable in a cash lump sum at such time as bonuses
     are ordinarily paid to the Companies' senior executives at the same grade
     level;

            (c)  the Executive shall be reimbursed, at such intervals and in
     accordance with such Company policies as may be in effect from time to
     time, for any and all reasonable and necessary business expenses incurred
     by the Executive for the benefit of the Companies, subject to documentation
     in accordance with the Companies' policies;

            (d)  the Executive shall be entitled to participate in all
     incentive, savings and retirement plans, stock option plans, practices,
     policies and programs applicable generally to other senior executives of
     the Companies at the same grade level and as determined by the Board from
     time to time;

            (e)  the Executive and/or the Executive'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 to senior executives of the Companies at the same grade level
     (including, without limitation, medical, prescription, dental, disability,
     salary continuance, employee life, group life, and accidental death and
     travel accident insurance plans and programs) to the extent applicable
     generally to other executives of the Companies at the same grade level;

            (f)  the Executive shall be provided with an automobile allowance or
     a Company-leased automobile, in either case in accordance with the
     Companies' then

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     applicable Executive Automobile Policy; the Executive shall be entitled to
     not less than twenty (20) paid vacation days per calendar year (pro rata
     for any partial year); and

            (g)  the Executive shall be entitled to participate in the Company's
     other executive fringe benefits and perquisites generally applicable to the
     Companies' senior executives at the same grade level in accordance with the
     terms and conditions of such arrangements as are in effect from time to
     time.

     SECTION 5.  TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT.

            (a)  All Accrued Benefits to which the Executive (or the Executive's
     estate or beneficiary) is entitled shall be payable within thirty (30) days
     following termination of the Employment Period, except as otherwise
     specifically provided herein or under the terms of any applicable policy,
     plan or program, in which case the payment terms of such policy, plan or
     program shall be determinative.

            (b)  Any termination by the Companies, or by the Executive, of the
     Employment Period shall be communicated by written notice of such
     termination to the Executive, if such notice is delivered by the Companies,
     and to the Companies, if such notice is delivered by the Executive, each in
     compliance with the requirements of Section 13 hereof. Except in the event
     of termination of the Employment Period by reason of Cause or the
     Executive's death, the Termination Date shall be no earlier than thirty
     (30) days following the date on which notice of termination is delivered by
     one party to the other in compliance with the requirements of Section 13
     hereof.

            (c)  If the Employment Period is terminated by the Executive for
     Good Reason or by the Companies for any reason other than Cause and other
     than within two (2) years following a Change of Control, then, as the
     Executive's exclusive right and remedy in respect of such termination:

                 (i)       the Executive shall be entitled to receive from the
            Company the Executive's Accrued Benefits in accordance with
            Section 5(a);

                 (ii)      the Executive shall be entitled to an amount equal to
            one (1) times the Executive's then existing Base Salary, to be paid
            in such intervals and at such times in accordance with the Company's
            payroll practices in effect from time to time over the twelve (12)
            month period following the Termination Date;

                 (iii)     the Executive shall be entitled to a payment in an
            amount equal to one (1) times the target incentive compensation
            award for the calendar year during which the Termination Date
            occurs, to be paid in equal installments in such intervals and at
            such times in accordance with the Company's payroll practices in
            effect from time to time over the twelve (12) month period following
            the Termination Date;

                 (iv)      the Executive shall be entitled to a lump-sum payment
            to be paid within thirty (30) days following the Termination Date in
            an amount equal to the pro-rata target incentive compensation award
            for the calendar year during which

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            the Termination Date occurs, with such pro-rata target incentive
            compensation award determined by multiplying the target incentive
            compensation award amount by a fraction, the numerator of which is
            the number of days in the calendar year of the Termination Date
            elapsed prior to the Termination Date and the denominator of which
            is three hundred and sixty-five (365);

                 (v)       the Executive shall continue to be covered, upon the
            same terms and conditions described in Section 4(e) hereof, by the
            same or equivalent medical, dental, hospitalization, life and
            disability insurance plans, programs and/or arrangements as in
            effect for the Executive immediately prior to the Termination Date
            until the earlier of: (A) the twelve (12) month anniversary
            following the date of the Executive's Termination Date, and (B) the
            date the Executive receives substantially equivalent coverage under
            the plans, programs and/or arrangements of a subsequent employer;

                 (vi)      if the Executive's outstanding stock options have not
            by then fully vested pursuant to the terms of the Companies'
            applicable stock option plan(s) and applicable stock option
            agreement(s), then to the extent permitted in the Companies'
            applicable stock option plan(s) and as provided in the applicable
            option agreement(s), the Executive shall continue to vest in the
            Executive's unvested stock options following the Termination Date;
            and

                 (vii)     the Executive shall be entitled to receive executive
            level career transition assistance services provided by a career
            transition assistance firm selected by the Executive and paid for by
            the Companies in an amount not to exceed twenty percent (20%) of the
            sum of (i) the Executive's then existing Base Salary and (ii) the
            target incentive compensation award for the calendar year during
            which the Termination Date occurs. The Executive shall not be
            eligible to receive cash in lieu of executive level career
            transition assistance services.

            (d)  If during the Employment Period, a Change of Control occurs and
     the Employment Period is terminated by the Companies for any reason other
     than Cause or by the Executive for Good Reason within two (2) years from
     the date of such Change of Control, then:

                 (i)       the Executive shall be entitled to receive from the
            Company the Executive's Accrued Benefits in accordance with Section
            5(a);

                 (ii)      the Executive shall be entitled to a lump-sum payment
            in an amount equal to one and one-half (1-1/2) times the Executive's
            then existing Base Salary, to be paid within thirty (30) days
            following the Termination Date;

                 (iii)     the Executive shall be entitled to a lump-sum payment
            in an amount equal to one and one-half (1-1/2) times the Executive's
            target incentive compensation award for the calendar year during
            which the Termination Date occurs, to be paid within thirty (30)
            days following the Termination Date;

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                 (iv)      the Executive shall be entitled to a lump-sum payment
            to be paid within thirty (30) days following the Termination Date in
            an amount equal to the pro-rata target incentive compensation award
            for the calendar year during which the Termination Date occurs. Such
            pro-rata target incentive compensation award shall be determined by
            multiplying the target incentive compensation award amount by a
            fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days in the
            calendar year of the Termination Date elapsed prior to the
            Termination Date and the denominator of which is three hundred and
            sixty-five (365).

                 (v)       the Executive shall continue to be covered, upon the
            same terms and conditions described in Section 4(e) hereof, by the
            same or equivalent medical, dental, hospitalization, life and
            disability insurance plans, programs and/or arrangements as in
            effect for the Executive immediately prior to the Change of Control
            until the earlier of: (A) the eighteen (18) month anniversary
            following the date of the Executive's Termination Date, and (B) the
            date the Executive receives substantially equivalent coverage under
            the plans, programs and/or arrangements of a subsequent employer;

                 (vi)      the Executive shall receive one and one-half (1-1/2)
            additional years of credit for purposes of age, benefit service and
            vesting under the Company's defined benefit retirement plan;

                 (vii)     if the Executive's outstanding stock options have not
            by then fully vested pursuant to the terms of the Companies'
            applicable stock option plan(s) and applicable option agreement(s),
            then to the extent permitted in the Companies' applicable stock
            option plan(s) and as provided in the applicable stock option
            agreement(s), the Executive shall continue to vest in the
            Executive's unvested stock options following the Termination Date;

                 (viii)    the Executive shall be entitled to receive executive
            level career transition assistance services provided by a career
            transition assistance firm selected by the Executive and paid for by
            the Companies in an amount not to exceed twenty percent (20%) of the
            sum of (i) the Executive's then existing Base Salary and (ii) the
            target incentive compensation award for the calendar year during
            which the Termination Date occurs. The Executive shall not be
            eligible to receive cash in lieu of executive level career
            transition assistance services; and

                 (ix)      the Executive shall be entitled to be reimbursed by
            the Companies on an as incurred basis for the Executive's reasonable
            attorneys' fees, costs and expenses incurred in conjunction with any
            dispute regarding Section 5(d).

            (e)  Except for Executive's vested benefits under the Companies'
     employee benefit plans, any amounts payable pursuant to Sections 5(c) and
     5(d) above shall be considered severance payments and be in full and
     complete satisfaction of the obligations of the Companies to the Executive
     in connection with the termination of the Executive's employment. The
     Company shall deliver a Form 1099 to the Executive reflecting such
     payments.

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            (f)  If the Employment Period is terminated as a result of the
     Executive's death, permanent disability (as defined in the Companies'
     Board-approved disability plan or policy, as in effect from time to time)
     or retirement (as defined in the Companies' Board-approved retirement plan
     or policy, as in effect from time to time), then the Executive shall be
     entitled to (i) the Executive's Accrued Benefits in accordance with Section
     5(a)(ii) any benefits that may be payable to the Executive under any
     applicable Board-approved disability, life insurance or retirement plan or
     policy in accordance with the terms of such plan or policy, and (iii) a
     lump sum payment to be paid within thirty (30) days following the
     Termination Date in an amount equal to the pro-rata target incentive
     compensation award for the calendar year during which the Termination Date
     occurs by reason of the Executive's death, permanent disability or
     retirement. Such pro-rata target incentive compensation award shall be
     determined by multiplying the target incentive compensation award amount by
     a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days in the calendar
     year of the Termination Date elapsed prior to the Termination Date and the
     denominator of which is three hundred and sixty-five (365).

            (g)  Notwithstanding anything else contained herein, if the
     Executive voluntarily terminates employment without Good Reason, or the
     Companies terminate the Executive's employment for Cause, all of the
     Executive's rights to payment from the Companies (including pursuant to any
     plan or policy of the Companies) shall terminate immediately, except the
     right to payment for Accrued Benefits in respect of periods prior to such
     termination and the Executive's vested benefits under the Companies'
     employee benefit plans.

            (h)  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this
     Section 5, the Executive shall be required to execute the Companies' then
     current standard release agreement as a condition to receiving any of the
     payments and benefits provided for in Sections 5(c) and (d), excluding the
     Accrued Benefits in accordance with Section 5(a). It is acknowledged and
     agreed that the then current standard release agreement shall be a mutual
     release and shall not diminish or terminate the Executive's rights under
     this Agreement.

            (i)  Upon termination of the Executive's employment with the
     Companies, subject to the Executive's affirmative obligations pursuant to
     Section 6, the Executive shall be under no obligation to seek other
     employment or otherwise mitigate the obligations of the Companies under
     this Agreement.

            (j)  If it shall be determined that any payment or distribution of
     any type to or in respect of the Executive made directly or indirectly, by
     the Companies, whether paid or payable or distributed or distributable
     pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or otherwise (the "TOTAL
     PAYMENTS"), is or will be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999
     of the Internal 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, are collectively referred to as the
     "EXCISE TAX"), then the Executive shall be entitled to receive an
     additional payment (a "GROSS-UP PAYMENT") in an amount such that after
     payment by the Executive of all taxes (including any interest or penalties
     imposed with respect to such taxes) imposed upon the Gross-Up Payment, the
     Executive

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     retains an amount of the Gross-Up Payment equal to the Excise Tax imposed
     upon the Total Payments.

                 (i)       All computations and determinations relevant to
            Section 5(j) and this subsection 5(j)(i) shall be made by a national
            accounting firm selected and reimbursed by the Companies from among
            the ten (10) largest accounting firms in the United States as
            determined by gross revenues (the "ACCOUNTING FIRM"), subject to the
            Executive's consent (not to be unreasonably withheld), which firm
            may be the Companies' accountants. Such determinations shall include
            whether any of the Total Payments are "parachute payments" (within
            the meaning of Section 280G of the Code). In making the initial
            determination hereunder as to whether a Gross-Up Payment is
            required, the Accounting Firm shall determine that no Gross-Up
            Payment is required if the Accounting Firm is able to conclude that
            no "Change of Control" has occurred (within the meaning of Section
            280G of the Code). If the Accounting Firm determines that a Gross-Up
            Payment is required, the Accounting Firm shall provide its
            determination (the "DETERMINATION"), together with detailed
            supporting calculations regarding the amount of any Gross-Up Payment
            and any other relevant matter both to the Companies and the
            Executive by no later than thirty (30) days following the
            Termination Date, if applicable, or such earlier time as is
            requested by the Companies or the Executive (if the Executive
            reasonably believes that any of the Total Payments may be subject to
            the Excise Tax). If the Accounting Firm determines that no Excise
            Tax is payable by the Executive, it shall furnish the Executive and
            the Companies with a written statement that such Accounting Firm has
            concluded that no Excise Tax is payable (including the reasons
            therefor) and that the Executive has substantial authority not to
            report any Excise Tax on Executive's federal income tax return.

                 (ii)      If a Gross-Up Payment is determined to be payable, it
            shall be paid to the Executive within twenty (20) days after the
            Determination (and all accompanying calculations and other material
            supporting the Determination) is delivered to the Companies by the
            Accounting Firm. Any determination by the Accounting Firm shall be
            binding upon the Companies and the Executive, absent manifest error.

                 (iii)     As a result of 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
            not made by the Companies should have been made ("UNDERPAYMENT"), or
            that Gross-Up Payments will have been made by the Companies which
            should not have been made ("OVERPAYMENTS"). In either such event,
            the Accounting Firm shall determine the amount of the Underpayment
            or Overpayment that has occurred. In the case of an Underpayment,
            the amount of such Underpayment (together with any interest and
            penalties payable by the Executive as a result of such Underpayment)
            shall be promptly paid by the Companies to or for the benefit of the
            Executive.

                                       11
<Page>

                 (iv)      In the case of an Overpayment, the Executive shall,
            at the direction and expense of the Companies, take such steps as
            are reasonably necessary (including the filing of returns and claims
            for refund), follow reasonable instructions from, and procedures
            established by, the Companies, and otherwise reasonably cooperate
            with the Companies to correct such Overpayment, provided, however,
            that the Executive shall not in any event be obligated to return to
            the Companies an amount greater than the portion of the Overpayment
            that Executive has retained or has recovered as a refund from the
            applicable taxing authorities.

                 (v)       The Executive shall notify the Companies in writing
            of any claim by the Internal Revenue Service relating to the
            possible application of the Excise Tax under Section 4999 of the
            Code to any of the payments and amounts referred to herein and shall
            afford the Companies, at their expense, the opportunity to control
            the defense of such claim (for the sake of clarity, if the Internal
            Revenue Service is successful in any such claim or the Executive
            reaches a final settlement with the Internal Revenue Service with
            respect to such claim (after having afforded the Companies, at their
            expense, the opportunity to control the defense of such claim), the
            amount of the Excise Tax resulting from such successful claim or
            settlement shall be determinative as to whether or not there has
            been an Underpayment or an Overpayment for purposes of subsection
            5(j)(iii).

                 (vi)      Without limiting the intent of this Section 5(j) to
            make the Executive whole, on an after-tax basis, from the
            application of the Excise Taxes, all determinations by the
            Accounting Firm shall be made with a view to minimizing the
            application of Sections 280G and 4999 of the Code of any of the
            Total Payments, subject, however, to the following: the Accounting
            Firm shall make its determination on the basis of "substantial
            authority" (within the meaning of Section 6230 of the Code) and
            shall provide opinions to that effect to both the Companies and the
            Executive upon the request of either of them.

     SECTION 6.  FURTHER OBLIGATIONS OF THE EXECUTIVE.

           (a)   (1)       During and following the Executive's employment by
     the Companies, the Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, disclose,
     disseminate, make available or use any confidential information or
     proprietary data of the Companies or any of their Subsidiaries, except as
     reasonably necessary or appropriate for the Executive to perform the
     Executive's duties for the Companies, or as authorized in writing by the
     Board or as required by any court or administrative agency (and then only
     after prompt notice to the Companies to permit the Companies to seek a
     protective order).

                 (2)       For purposes of this Agreement, "CONFIDENTIAL
     INFORMATION OR PROPRIETARY DATA" means information and data prepared,
     compiled, or acquired by or for the Executive during or in connection with
     the Executive's employment by the Companies (including, without limitation,
     information belonging to or provided in confidence by any Customer,
     Supplier, trading partner or other Person to which the Executive had access
     by reason of Executive's employment with the Companies) which is not
     generally known to the public or which could be harmful to the Companies or
     their

                                       12
<Page>

     Subsidiaries if disclosed to Persons outside of the Companies. Such
     confidential information or proprietary data may exist in any form,
     tangible or intangible, or media (including any information
     technology-related or electronic media) and includes, but is not limited
     to, the following information of or relating to the Companies or any of
     their Subsidiaries, Customers or Suppliers:

                 (i)       Business, financial and strategic information, such
            as sales and earnings information and trends, material, overhead and
            other costs, profit margins, accounting information, banking and
            financing information, pricing policies, capital
            expenditure/investment plans and budgets, forecasts, strategies,
            plans and prospects.

                 (ii)      Organizational and operational information, such as
            personnel and salary data, information concerning the utilization or
            capabilities of personnel, facilities or equipment, logistics
            management techniques, methodologies and systems, methods of
            operation data and facilities plans.

                 (iii)     Advertising, marketing and sales information, such as
            marketing and advertising data, plans, programs, techniques,
            strategies, results and budgets, pricing and volume strategies,
            catalog, licensing or other agreements or arrangements, and market
            research and forecasts and marketing and sales training and
            development courses, aids, techniques, instruction and materials.

                 (iv)      Product and merchandising information, such as
            information concerning offered or proposed products or services and
            the sourcing of the same, product or services specifications, data,
            drawings, designs, performance characteristics, features,
            capabilities and plans and development and delivery schedules.

                 (v)       Information about existing or prospective Customers
            or Suppliers, such as Customer and Supplier lists and contact
            information, Customer preference data, purchasing habits, authority
            levels and business methodologies, sales history, pricing and rebate
            levels, credit information and contracts.

                 (vi)      Technical information, such as information regarding
            plant and equipment organization, performance and design,
            information technology and logistics systems and related designs,
            integration, capabilities, performance and plans, computer hardware
            and software, research and development objectives, budgets and
            results, intellectual property applications, and other design and
            performance data.

            (b)  All records, files, documents and materials, in whatever form
     and media, relating to the Companies' or any of their Subsidiaries'
     business (including, but not limited to, those containing or reflecting any
     confidential information or proprietary data) which the Executive prepares,
     uses, or comes into contact with, including the originals and all copies
     thereof and extracts and derivatives therefrom, shall be and remain the
     sole property of the Companies or their Subsidiaries. Upon termination of
     the Executive's

                                       13
<Page>

     Employment Period for any reason, the Executive shall immediately return
     all such records, files, documents, materials and other property of the
     Companies and their Subsidiaries in the Executive's possession, custody or
     control, in good condition, to the Companies.

            (c)  During (i) the Executive's employment by the Companies and (ii)
     the twelve (12) month period following the end of the Executive's
     Employment Period, the Executive shall not within the United States and
     Canada in any capacity (whether as an owner, employee, consultant or
     otherwise) at any time perform, manage, supervise, or be responsible or
     accountable for anyone else who is performing services -- which are the
     same as, substantially similar or related to the services the Executive is
     providing, or during the last two years of the Executive's employment by
     the Companies has provided, for the Companies or their Subsidiaries -- for,
     or on behalf of, any other Person who or which is (1) a wholesaler of
     office products, including traditional office products, computer consumable
     products, office furniture, janitorial and/or sanitation products,
     audio/visual and business machines or such other products whether or not
     related to the foregoing provided by the Companies or their Subsidiaries
     during the last twelve (12) months of the Executive's Employment Period,
     (2) a provider of services the same as or substantially similar to those
     provided by the Companies or their Subsidiaries during the last twelve (12)
     months of the Executive's Employment Period, or (3) engaged in a line of
     business other than described in (1) or (2) hereinabove which is the same
     or substantially similar to the lines of business engaged in by the
     Companies or their Subsidiaries during the last twelve (12) months of the
     Executive's Employment Period.

            (d)  (1)       During (i) the Executive's employment by the
     Companies and (ii) the twelve (12) month period following the end of the
     Executive's Employment Period, the Executive shall not at any time,
     directly or indirectly, solicit any Customer for or on behalf of any Person
     other than the Companies or any of their Subsidiaries with respect to the
     purchase of (A) office products, including traditional office products,
     computer consumable products, office furniture, janitorial and/or
     sanitation products, audio/visual and business machines, or such other
     products whether or not related to the foregoing provided by the Companies
     or their Subsidiaries to such Customer during the last twelve (12) months
     of the Executive's Employment Period, (B) services the same as or
     substantially similar to those provided by the Companies or their
     Subsidiaries to such Customer during the last twelve (12) months of the
     Executive's Employment Period or (C) products or services from a line of
     business other than as described in (A) or (B) herein which are the same or
     substantially similar to the products and services provided to such
     Customer from a line of business engaged in by the Companies or their
     Subsidiaries during the last twelve (12) months of the Executive's
     Employment Period. Without limiting the foregoing, (i) during the
     Executive's employment by the Companies and (ii) insofar as the Executive
     may be employed by, or acting for or on behalf of, a Supplier at any time
     within the twelve (12) month period following the end of the Executive's
     Employment Period, the Executive shall not at any time, directly or
     indirectly, solicit any Customer to switch the purchase of the products or
     services described hereinabove from the Companies or their Subsidiaries to
     Supplier.

                                       14
<Page>

                 (2)       For purposes of this Agreement, a "CUSTOMER" is any
     Person who or which has ordered or purchased by or from the Companies or
     any of their Subsidiaries (A) office products, including traditional office
     products, computer consumable products, office furniture, janitorial and/or
     sanitation products, audio/visual and business machines or such other
     products whether or not related to the foregoing, (B) services provided by
     or from the Companies or any of their Subsidiaries or (C) products or
     services from a line of business other than as described in (A) or (B)
     herein which are the same or substantially similar to the products and
     services from a line of business engaged in by the Companies or their
     Subsidiaries during the last twelve (12) months of the Executive's
     Employment Period. For purposes of this Agreement, a "SUPPLIER" is any
     Person who or which has furnished to the Companies or their Subsidiaries
     for resale (A) office products, including traditional office products,
     computer consumable products, office furniture, janitorial and/or
     sanitation products, audio/visual and business machines or such other
     products whether or nor related to the foregoing (B) services provided by
     or from the Companies or any of their Subsidiaries or (C) products or
     services from a line of business other than as described in (A) or (B)
     herein which are the same or substantially similar to the products and
     services from a line of business engaged in by the Companies or their
     Subsidiaries during the last twelve (12) months of the Executive's
     Employment Period.

            (e)  During the Executive's employment by the Companies and during
     the twelve (12) month period following the end of the Executive's
     Employment Period, the Executive shall not at any time, directly or
     indirectly, induce or solicit any employee of the Companies or any of their
     Subsidiaries for the purpose of causing such employee to terminate his or
     her employment with the Companies or such Subsidiary.

           (f)   The Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, make or cause
     to be made (and shall prohibit the officers, directors, employees, agents
     and representatives of any Person controlled by Executive not to make or
     cause to be made) any disparaging, derogatory, misleading or false
     statement, whether orally or in writing, to any Person, including members
     of the investment community, press, and customers, competitors and advisors
     to the Companies, about the Companies, their respective parents,
     Subsidiaries or Affiliates, their respective officers or members of their
     boards of directors, or the business strategy or plans, policies, practices
     or operations of the Companies, or of their respective parents,
     Subsidiaries or Affiliates.

            (g)  If any court determines that any portion of this Section 6 is
     invalid or unenforceable, the remainder of this Section 6 shall not thereby
     be affected and shall be given full effect without regard to the invalid
     provision. If any court construes any of the provisions of Section 6(c),
     6(d), 6(e) or 6(f) above, or any part thereof, to be unreasonable because
     of the duration or scope of such provision, such court shall have the power
     to reduce the duration or scope of such provision and to enforce such
     provision as so reduced.

            (h)  During the Executive's Employment Period and during the twelve
     (12) month period following the end of Executive's Employment Period, the
     Executive agrees that, prior to accepting employment with a Customer or
     Supplier of the Companies, the Executive will give notice to the Chief
     Executive Officer of the Companies. The

                                       15
<Page>

     Companies reserve the right to make such Customer or Supplier aware of the
     Executive's obligations under Section 6 of this Agreement.

            (i)  During and following Executive's Employment Period, the
     Executive shall furnish a copy of this Section 6 in its entirety to any
     prospective employer prior to accepting employment with such prospective
     employer.

            (j)  The Executive hereby acknowledges and agrees that damages will
     not be an adequate remedy for the Executive's breach of any provision of
     this Section 6, and further agrees that the Companies shall be entitled to
     obtain appropriate injunctive and/or other equitable relief for any such
     breach, without the posting of any bond or other security, in addition to
     all other legal remedies to which the Companies may be entitled.

     SECTION 7.  SUCCESSORS. The Companies may assign their rights under this
Agreement to any successor to all or substantially all the assets of the
Companies, by merger or otherwise, and may assign or encumber this Agreement and
its rights hereunder as security for indebtedness of the Companies. Any such
assignment by the Companies shall remain subject to the Executive's rights under
Section 5 hereof. The rights of the Executive under this Agreement may not be
assigned or encumbered by the Executive, voluntarily or involuntarily, during
the Executive's lifetime, and any such purported assignment shall be void AB
INITIO. Notwithstanding the foregoing, all rights of the Executive under this
Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Executive's
personal or legal representatives, estates, executors, administrators, heirs and
beneficiaries. All amounts payable to the Executive hereunder shall be paid, in
the event of the Executive's death, to the Executive's estate, heirs or
representatives.

     SECTION 8.  THIRD PARTIES. Except for the rights granted to the Companies
and their Subsidiaries pursuant hereto (including, without limitation, pursuant
to Section 6 hereof) and except as expressly set forth or referred to herein,
nothing herein expressed or implied is intended or shall be construed to confer
upon or give any person other than the parties hereto and their successors and
permitted assigns any rights or remedies under or by reason of this Agreement.

     SECTION 9.  ENFORCEMENT. The provisions of this Agreement shall be regarded
as divisible and, if any of said provisions or any part or application thereof
is declared invalid or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, the
same shall not affect the other provisions hereof, other parts or applications
thereof or the whole of this Agreement, but such provision shall be deemed
modified to the extent necessary to render such provision enforceable, and the
rights and obligations of the parties shall be construed and enforced
accordingly, preserving to the fullest permissible extent the intent and
agreements of the parties herein set forth.

     SECTION 10. AMENDMENT. This Agreement may not be amended or modified at any
time except by a written instrument approved by the Board, and executed by the
Companies and the Executive; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that any attempted amendment or
modification without such approval and execution shall be null and void AB
INITIO and of no effect.

                                       16
<Page>

     SECTION 11. PAYMENT AND WITHHOLDING. The Company shall be responsible as
employer for payment of all cash compensation and severance payments provided
herein and Holding shall cause the Company to make such payments. The Executive
shall not be entitled to receive any additional compensation from either of the
Companies for any services the Executive provides to Holding or the Companies'
Subsidiaries. The Company shall be entitled to withhold from any amounts to be
paid to the Executive hereunder any federal, state, local, or foreign
withholding or other taxes or charges which it is from time to time required to
withhold. The Company shall be entitled to rely on an opinion of counsel if any
question as to the amount or requirement of any such withholding shall arise.

     SECTION 12. GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement and the rights and obligations
hereunder shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the
State of Illinois, without regard to principles of conflicts of law of Illinois
or any other jurisdiction.

     SECTION 13. NOTICE. Notices given pursuant to this Agreement shall be in
writing and shall be deemed given when received and, if mailed, shall be mailed
by United States registered or certified mail, return receipt requested,
addressee only, postage prepaid:

            IF TO THE COMPANIES:

            United Stationers Inc.
            United Stationers Supply Co.
            2200 E. Golf Road
            Des Plaines, IL 60016-1267
            Attention: General Counsel

            IF TO THE EXECUTIVE:

            [Name]
            [Address]
            ------------------------------

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

or to such other address as the party to be notified shall have given to the
other in accordance with the notice provisions set forth in this Section 13.

     SECTION 14. NO WAIVER. No waiver by either party at any time of any breach
by the other party of, or compliance with, any condition or provision of this
Agreement to be performed by the other party shall be deemed a waiver of similar
or dissimilar provisions or conditions at any time.

     SECTION 15. HEADINGS. The headings contained herein are for reference only
and shall not affect the meaning or interpretation of any provision of this
Agreement.

     SECTION 16. INDEMNIFICATION. The provisions set forth in the
Indemnification Agreement appended hereto as ATTACHMENT A are hereby
incorporated into this Agreement and made a part hereof. The parties shall
execute the Indemnification Agreement contemporaneously with the execution of
this Agreement.

                                       17
<Page>

     SECTION 17. EXECUTION IN COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement, including the
Indemnification Agreement, may be executed in any number of counterparts, each
of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute
one and the same instrument.

     SECTION 18. ARBITRATION. Any dispute, controversy or question arising
under, out of, or relating to this Agreement (or the breach thereof), or, the
Executive's employment with the Companies or termination thereof, shall be
referred for arbitration in Chicago, Illinois to a neutral arbitrator selected
by the Executive and the Companies (or if the parties are unable to agree on
selection of such an arbitrator, one selected by the American Arbitration
Association pursuant to its rules referred to below) and this shall be the
exclusive and sole means for resolving such dispute. Such arbitration shall be
conducted in accordance with the National Rules for Resolution of Employment
Disputes of the American Arbitration Association. Except as provided in Section
5(d)(ix) above, the arbitrator shall have the discretion to award reasonable
attorneys' fees, costs and expenses to the prevailing party. Judgment upon the
award rendered by the arbitrator may be entered in any court having jurisdiction
thereof. Nothing in this Section 18 shall be construed so as to deny the
Companies the right and power to seek and obtain injunctive relief in a court of
equity for any breach or threatened breach by the Executive of any of the
Executive's covenants in Section 6 hereof. Moreover, this Section 18 and Section
12 hereof shall not be applicable to any dispute, controversy or question
arising under, out of, or relating to the Indemnification Agreement.

     SECTION 19. SURVIVAL. Notwithstanding the stated Term of this Agreement,
the provisions of this Agreement necessary to carry out the intention of the
parties as expressed herein, including without limitation those in Sections 5,
6, 7, 16 and 18, shall survive the termination or expiration of this Agreement.

     SECTION 20. CONSTRUCTION. The parties acknowledge that this Agreement is
the result of arm's-length negotiations between sophisticated parties each
afforded representation by legal counsel. Each and every provision of this
Agreement shall be construed as though both parties participated equally in the
drafting of same, and any rule of construction that a document shall be
construed against the drafting party shall not be applicable to this Agreement.

     SECTION 21. FREE TO CONTRACT. The Executive represents and warrants to the
Companies that the Executive is able freely to accept employment by the
Companies as described in this Agreement and that there are no existing
agreements, arrangements or understandings, written or oral, that would prevent
the Executive from entering into this Agreement, would prevent or restrict the
Executive in any way from rendering services to the Companies as provided herein
during the Employment Period or would be breached by the future performance by
the Executive of the Executive's duties and responsibilities hereunder.

     SECTION 22. ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement, including the Indemnification
Agreement, supersedes all other agreements, arrangements or understandings
(whether written or oral) between the Companies and the Executive with respect
to the subject matter of this Agreement and the Executive's employment
relationship with the Companies and any of their Subsidiaries, and this
Agreement contains the sole and entire agreement among the parties hereto with
respect to the subject matter hereof.

                                       18
<Page>

                                   *    *    *

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement in one or more
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed one and the same instrument, as of
the day and year first written above.

                                  UNITED STATIONERS INC.

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

                                  UNITED STATIONERS SUPPLY CO.

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

                                  EXECUTIVE:

                                  ----------------------------------------------
                                       [Name]

                                       19
<Page>

                                  Attachment A

Form of Indemnification Agreement entered into among United, USSC (only as to
selected provisions) and various executive officers of United as Exhibit 10.7 to
this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

                                       20<Page>

                                                                    Exhibit 10.7

                            INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT

     This INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT is made and entered into as of the ___ day
of July, 2002 (the "Agreement"), by and between United Stationers Inc., a
Delaware corporation (the "Company"), the director or executive officer of the
Company whose name appears on the signature page of this Agreement
("Indemnitee"), and for purposes of Section 9 only, United Stationers Supply
Co., an Illinois corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company
("USSCO").

     WHEREAS, highly competent persons are becoming more reluctant to serve
publicly-held corporations as directors or executive officers or in other
capacities unless they are provided with reasonable protection through insurance
or indemnification against risks of claims and actions against them arising out
of their service to and activities on behalf of the corporations.

     WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board") has determined
that the Company should act to assure its directors and executive officers that
there will be increased certainty of such protection in the future.

     WHEREAS, it is reasonable, prudent and necessary for the Company
contractually to obligate itself to indemnify such persons to the fullest extent
permitted by applicable law so that they will serve or continue to serve the
Company free from undue concern that they will not be so indemnified.

     WHEREAS, Indemnitee is willing to serve, to continue to serve and to take
on additional service for or on behalf of the Company on the condition that
Indemnitee be so indemnified.

     WHEREAS, in consideration of the benefits received and to be received by
the Company in connection with actions taken and to be taken by the Board and by
the officers of the Company, the Company has determined that it is in the best
interest of the Company for the reasons set forth above to be a party to this
Agreement and to provide indemnification to the directors and executive officers
of the Company in connection with their service to and activities on behalf of
the Company and its subsidiaries.

     WHEREAS, the Company acknowledges that for purposes of this Agreement the
directors and executive officers of the Company who enter into this Agreement
are serving in such capacities at the request of the Company.

<Page>

     WHEREAS, the Company further acknowledges that such directors and executive
officers are willing to serve, to continue to serve and to take on additional
service for or on behalf of the Company, thereby benefiting the Company and its
subsidiaries, on the condition that the Company enter into, and provide
indemnification pursuant to, this Agreement.

     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the covenants
contained herein, the Company and Indemnitee do hereby covenant and agree as
follows:

     1.   DEFINITIONS.

          (a)  For purposes of this Agreement:

                    (i)    "Affiliate" shall mean any corporation, partnership,
joint venture, trust or other enterprise in respect of which Indemnitee is or
was or will be serving directly or indirectly at the request of the Company.

                    (ii)   "Disinterested Director" shall mean a director of the
Company who is not or was not a party to the Proceeding in respect of which
indemnification is being sought by Indemnitee.

                    (iii)  "Expenses" shall include all reasonable attorneys'
fees and costs, retainers, court costs, transcripts, fees of experts, witness
fees, travel expenses, duplicating costs, printing and binding costs, telephone
charges, postage, delivery service fees and all other disbursements or expenses
incurred in connection with asserting or defending claims.

                    (iv)   "Independent Counsel" shall mean a law firm or lawyer
that neither is presently nor in the past calendar year has been retained to
represent: (i) the Company or Indemnitee in any matter material to any such
party or (ii) any other party to the Proceeding giving rise to a claim for
indemnification hereunder in any matter material to such other party.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term "Independent Counsel" shall not include
any law firm or person who, under the applicable standards of professional
conduct then prevailing, would have a conflict of interest in representing any
of the Company or Indemnitee in an action to determine Indemnitee's right to
indemnification under this Agreement. All Expenses of the Independent Counsel
incurred in connection with acting pursuant to this Agreement shall be borne by
the Company.

                    (v)    "Losses" shall mean all liabilities, losses and
claims (including judgments, fines, penalties and amounts to be paid in
settlement) incurred in connection with any Proceeding.

                    (vi)   "Proceeding" shall include any threatened, pending or
completed action, suit, arbitration, mediation, alternate dispute resolution
mechanism, investigation, administrative hearing or any other proceeding,
whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative.

                                        2
<Page>

     2.   SERVICE BY INDEMNITEE. Indemnitee agrees to begin or continue to serve
the Company or any Affiliate as a director or an executive officer.
Notwithstanding anything contained herein, this Agreement shall not create a
contract of employment between the Company and Indemnitee, and the termination
of Indemnitee's relationship with the Company or an Affiliate by either party
hereto shall not be restricted by this Agreement.

     3.   INDEMNIFICATION. The Company agrees to indemnify Indemnitee for, and
hold Indemnitee harmless from and against, any Losses or Expenses at any time
incurred by or assessed against Indemnitee arising out of or in connection with
the service of Indemnitee as a director or an executive officer of the Company
or in any capacity for an Affiliate at the request of the Company (collectively
referred to as a "Director or an Officer of the Company") to the fullest extent
permitted by the laws of the State of Delaware in effect on the date hereof or
as such laws may from time to time hereafter be amended to increase the scope of
such permitted indemnification. Without diminishing the scope of the
indemnification provided by this Section 3, the rights of indemnification of
Indemnitee provided hereunder shall include but shall not be limited to those
rights set forth hereinafter.

     4.   ACTION OR PROCEEDING OTHER THAN AN ACTION BY OR IN THE RIGHT OF THE
COMPANY. Indemnitee shall be entitled to the indemnification rights provided
herein if Indemnitee is a person who was or is made a party or is threatened to
be made a party to or is involved (including, without limitation, as a witness)
in any Proceeding, other than an action by or in the right of the Company, as
the case may be, by reason of (a) the fact that Indemnitee is or was a Director
or an Officer of the Company or (b) anything done or not done by Indemnitee in
any such capacity.

     5.   ACTIONS BY OR IN THE RIGHT OF THE COMPANY. Indemnitee shall be
entitled to the indemnification rights provided herein if Indemnitee is a person
who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is involved
(including, without limitation, as a witness) in any Proceeding brought by or in
the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of (a) the
fact that Indemnitee is or was a Director or an Officer of the Company or (b)
anything done or not done by Indemnitee in any such capacity. Pursuant to this
Section, Indemnitee shall be indemnified against Losses or Expenses incurred or
suffered by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee's behalf in connection with the defense
or settlement of any Proceeding if Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a
manner Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best
interests of the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this
Section, no such indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or
matter as to which Delaware law expressly prohibits such indemnification by
reason of an adjudication of liability of Indemnitee to the Company unless and
only to the extent that the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or the
court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application
that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances
of the case, Indemnitee is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such
Losses and Expenses which the Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem
proper.

     6.   INDEMNIFICATION FOR LOSSES AND EXPENSES OF PARTY WHO IS WHOLLY OR
PARTLY SUCCESSFUL. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, to the
extent that Indemnitee has been wholly successful on the merits or otherwise in
any Proceeding referred to in Section 3, 4 or 5 hereof on any claim, issue or
matter therein, Indemnitee shall be indemnified against all Losses and Expenses
incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee's behalf in connection therewith. If

                                        3
<Page>

Indemnitee is not wholly successful in such Proceeding but is successful, on the
merits or otherwise, as to one or more but less than all claims, issues or
matters in such Proceeding, the Company agrees to indemnify Indemnitee to the
maximum extent permitted by law against all Losses and Expenses incurred by
Indemnitee in connection with each successfully resolved claim, issue or matter.
In any review or Proceeding to determine the extent of indemnification, the
Company shall bear the burden of proving any lack of success and which amounts
sought in indemnity are allocable to claims, issues or matters which were not
successfully resolved. For purposes of this Section and without limitation, the
termination of any such claim, issue or matter by dismissal with or without
prejudice shall be deemed to be a successful resolution as to such claim, issue
or matter.

     7.   PAYMENT FOR EXPENSES OF A WITNESS. Notwithstanding any other provision
of this Agreement, to the extent that Indemnitee is, by reason of the fact that
Indemnitee is or was a Director or an Officer of the Company, a witness in any
Proceeding, the Company agrees to pay to Indemnitee all Expenses actually and
reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee's behalf in connection
therewith.

     8.   ADVANCEMENT OF EXPENSES. All Expenses incurred by or on behalf of
Indemnitee (or reasonably expected by Indemnitee to be incurred by Indemnitee
within three months) in connection with any Proceeding shall be paid by the
Company in advance of the final disposition of such Proceeding within twenty
days after the receipt by the Company of a statement or statements from
Indemnitee requesting from time to time such advance or advances, whether or not
a determination to indemnify has been made under Section 10. Indemnitee's
entitlement to such advancement of Expenses shall include those incurred in
connection with any Proceeding by Indemnitee seeking an adjudication or award in
arbitration pursuant to this Agreement. The financial ability of Indemnitee to
repay an advance shall not be a prerequisite to the making of such advance. Such
statement or statements shall reasonably evidence such Expenses incurred (or
reasonably expected to be incurred) by Indemnitee in connection therewith and
shall include or be accompanied by a written undertaking by or on behalf of
Indemnitee to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that
Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified therefor pursuant to the terms of
this Agreement.

     9.   GUARANTEE. In the event that the Company fails or is unable to perform
any of its payment obligations under the terms of this Agreement, USSCO hereby
unconditionally guarantees that it will perform the obligations of the Company
and pay Indemnitee for any Losses or Expenses for which Indemnitee is entitled
to be indemnified or for Expenses to be advanced hereunder. Such payment will be
made promptly upon request and without the necessity of a demand.

     10.  PROCEDURE FOR DETERMINATION OF ENTITLEMENT TO INDEMNIFICATION.

          (a)  When seeking indemnification under this Agreement (which shall
not include in any case the right of Indemnitee to receive payments pursuant to
Section 7 and Section 8 hereof, which shall not be subject to this Section 10),
Indemnitee shall submit a written request for indemnification to the Company.
Determination of Indemnitee's entitlement to indemnification shall be made
promptly, but in no event later than 30 days after receipt by the Company of
Indemnitee's written request for indemnification. The Secretary of the Company
shall, promptly

                                        4
<Page>

upon receipt of Indemnitee's request for indemnification, advise the Board that
Indemnitee has made such request for indemnification.

          (b)  The entitlement of Indemnitee to indemnification under this
Agreement shall be determined in the specific case (1) by the Board by a
majority vote of the Disinterested Directors, even though less than a quorum, or
(2) if there are no Disinterested Directors, or if such Disinterested Directors
so direct, by Independent Counsel or (3) by the stockholders.

          (c)  In the event the determination of entitlement is to be made by
Independent Counsel, such Independent Counsel shall be selected by the
Indemnitee, subject to the approval of the Board, such approval not to be
unreasonably withheld. Upon failure of the Indemnitee to so select such
Independent Counsel or upon failure of the Board to so approve, such Independent
Counsel shall be selected by the American Arbitration Association of New York,
New York or such other person as such Association shall designate to make such
selection.

          (d)  If the determination made pursuant to Section 10(b) is that
Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification to the full extent of Indemnitee's
request, Indemnitee shall have the right to seek entitlement to indemnification
in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 11 hereof.

          (e)  If the person or persons empowered pursuant to Section 10(b) to
make a determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification shall have
failed to make the requested determination within 30 days after receipt by the
Company of such request, the requisite determination of entitlement to
indemnification shall be deemed to have been made and Indemnitee shall be
absolutely entitled to such indemnification, absent (i) misrepresentation by
Indemnitee of a material fact in the request for indemnification or (ii) a final
judicial determination that all or any part of such indemnification is expressly
prohibited by law.

          (f)  The termination of any Proceeding by judgment, order, settlement
or conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not,
of itself, adversely affect the rights of Indemnitee to indemnification
hereunder except as may be specifically provided herein, or create a presumption
that Indemnitee did not act in good faith and in a manner which Indemnitee
reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the
Company, as the case may be, or create a presumption that (with respect to any
criminal action or proceeding) Indemnitee had reasonable cause to believe that
Indemnitee's conduct was unlawful.

          (g)  For purposes of any determination of good faith hereunder,
Indemnitee shall be deemed to have acted in good faith if in taking such action
Indemnitee relied on the records or books of account of the Company or an
Affiliate, including financial statements, or on information supplied to
Indemnitee by the officers of the Company or an Affiliate in the course of their
duties, or on the advice of legal counsel for the Company or an Affiliate or on
information or records given or reports made to the Company or an Affiliate by
an independent certified public accountant or by an appraiser or other expert
selected with reasonable care to the Company or an Affiliate. The Company shall
have the burden of establishing the absence of good faith. The provisions of
this Section 10(g) shall not be deemed to be exclusive or to limit in any way
the other circumstances in which Indemnitee may be deemed to have met the
applicable standard of conduct set forth in this Agreement.

                                        5
<Page>

          (h)  The knowledge and/or actions, or failure to act, of any other
director, officer, agent or employee of the Company or an Affiliate shall not be
imputed to Indemnitee for purposes of determining the right to indemnification
under this Agreement.

     11.  REMEDIES IN CASES OF DETERMINATION NOT TO INDEMNIFY OR TO ADVANCE
          EXPENSES.

          (a)  In the event that (i) a determination is made that Indemnitee is
not entitled to indemnification hereunder, (ii) advances are not made pursuant
to Section 8 hereof or (iii) payment has not been timely made following a
determination of entitlement to indemnification pursuant to Section 10 hereof,
Indemnitee shall be entitled to seek a final adjudication either through an
arbitration proceeding or in an appropriate court of the State of Delaware or
any other court of competent jurisdiction of Indemnitee's entitlement to such
indemnification or advance.

          (b)  In the event a determination has been made in accordance with the
procedures set forth in Section 10 hereof, in whole or in part, that Indemnitee
is not entitled to indemnification, any judicial proceeding or arbitration
referred to in Section 11(a) shall be de novo and Indemnitee shall not be
prejudiced by reason of any such prior determination that Indemnitee is not
entitled to indemnification, and the Company shall bear the burdens of proof
specified in Sections 6 and 10 hereof in such proceeding.

          (c)  If a determination is made or deemed to have been made pursuant
to the terms of Section 10 hereof or this Section 11 that Indemnitee is entitled
to indemnification, the Company shall be bound by such determination in any
judicial proceeding or arbitration in the absence of (i) a misrepresentation of
a material fact by Indemnitee or (ii) a final judicial determination that all or
any part of such indemnification is expressly prohibited by law.

          (d)  To the extent deemed appropriate by the court, interest shall be
paid by the Company to Indemnitee at a rate equal to the rate paid by the
Company or its subsidiaries to the principal senior secured lender thereto for
amounts which the Company indemnifies or is obliged to indemnify Indemnitee for
the period commencing with the date on which Indemnitee requested
indemnification (or reimbursement or advancement of any Expenses) and ending
with the date on which such payment is made to Indemnitee by the Company.

     12.  EXPENSES INCURRED BY INDEMNITEE TO ENFORCE THIS AGREEMENT. All
Expenses incurred by Indemnitee in connection with the preparation and
submission of Indemnitee's request for indemnification hereunder shall be borne
by the Company. In the event that Indemnitee is a party to or intervenes in any
proceeding in which the validity or enforceability of this Agreement is at issue
or seeks an adjudication to enforce Indemnitee's rights under, or to recover
damages for breach of, this Agreement, Indemnitee, if Indemnitee prevails in
whole in such action, shall be entitled to recover from the Company, and shall
be indemnified by the Company against, any Expenses incurred by Indemnitee. If
it is determined that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification for part (but
not all) of the indemnification so requested, Expenses incurred in seeking
enforcement of such partial indemnification shall be reasonably prorated among
the claims, issues or matters for which Indemnitee is entitled to
indemnification and for claims, issues or matters for which Indemnitee is not so
entitled.

                                        6
<Page>

     13.  NON-EXCLUSIVITY. The rights of indemnification and to receive advances
as provided by this Agreement shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights
to which Indemnitee may at any time be entitled under any law, certificate of
incorporation, by-law, other agreement, vote of stockholders or resolution of
directors or otherwise, both as to action in Indemnitee's official capacity and
as to action in another capacity while holding such directorship or office. To
the extent Indemnitee would be prejudiced thereby, no amendment, alteration,
rescission or replacement of this Agreement or any provision hereof shall be
effective as to Indemnitee with respect to any action taken or omitted by such
Indemnitee in Indemnitee's position with the Company or an Affiliate or any
other entity which Indemnitee is or was serving at the request of the Company
prior to such amendment, alteration, rescission or replacement.

     14.  DURATION OF AGREEMENT. This Agreement shall apply to any claim
asserted and any Losses and Expenses incurred in connection with any claim
asserted on or after the effective date of this Agreement and shall continue
until and terminate upon the later of: (a) ten years after Indemnitee has ceased
to occupy any of the positions or have any of the relationships described in
Section 3, 4 or 5 hereof; or (b) one year after the final termination of all
pending or threatened Proceedings of the kind described herein with respect to
Indemnitee. This Agreement shall be binding upon the Company and its successors
and assigns and shall inure to the benefit of Indemnitee and Indemnitee's
spouse, assigns, heirs, devisee, executors, administrators or other legal
representatives.

     15.  MAINTENANCE OF D&O INSURANCE.

          (a)  The Company hereby covenants and agrees with Indemnitee that, so
long as Indemnitee shall continue to serve as a Director or an Officer of the
Company and thereafter so long as Indemnitee shall be subject to any possible
claim or threatened, pending or completed Proceeding, whether civil, criminal or
investigative, by reason of the fact that Indemnitee was a Director or an
Officer of the Company or any other entity which Indemnitee was serving at the
request of the Company, the Company shall maintain in full force and effect (i)
the directors' and officers' liability insurance issued by the insurer and
having the policy amount and deductible as currently in effect with respect to
directors and officers of the Company or any of its subsidiaries and (ii) any
replacement or substitute policies issued by one or more reputable insurers
providing in all respects coverage at least comparable to and in the same amount
as that currently provided under such existing policy (collectively, "D&O
Insurance").

          (b)  In all policies of D&O Insurance, Indemnitee shall be named as an
insured in such a manner as to provide Indemnitee the same rights and benefits,
subject to the same limitations, as are accorded to the Company's directors or
officers most favorably insured by such policy.

          (c)  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in (a) above,
the Company shall have no obligation to maintain D&O Insurance if the Company
determines in good faith that such insurance is not reasonably available, the
premium cost for such insurance is disproportionate to the amount of coverage
provided or the coverage provided by such insurance is limited by exclusions so
as to provide an insufficient benefit.

                                        7
<Page>

          (d)  If the Company ceases to maintain D&O Insurance, the Company
shall notify Indemnitee in writing of such cessation within three (3) calendar
days of the earlier of (i) the date the Company determines to cease D&O
Insurance or (ii) the date D&O Insurance ceases.

     16.  SEVERABILITY. Should any part, term or condition hereof be declared
illegal or unenforceable or in conflict with any other law, the validity of the
remaining portions or provisions hereof shall not be affected thereby, and the
illegal or unenforceable portions hereof shall be and hereby are redrafted to
conform with applicable law, while leaving the remaining portions hereof intact.

     17.  COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in two or more
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which
together shall constitute one and the same document.

     18.  HEADINGS. Section headings are for convenience only and do not control
or affect meaning or interpretation of any terms or provisions hereof.

     19.  MODIFICATION AND WAIVER. No supplement, modification or amendment of
this Agreement shall be binding unless executed in writing by each of the
parties hereto.

     20.  NO DUPLICATIVE PAYMENT. The Company shall not be liable under this
Agreement to make any payment of amounts otherwise indemnifiable hereunder if
and to the extent that Indemnitee has otherwise actually received such payment
(net of Expenses incurred in collecting such payment) under any insurance
policy, contract, agreement or otherwise.

     21.  NOTICES. All notices, requests, demands and other communications
provided for by this Agreement shall be in writing (including telecopier or
similar writing) and shall be deemed to have been given at the time when mailed,
enclosed in a registered or certified postpaid envelope, in any general or
branch office of the United States Postal Service, or sent by Federal Express or
other similar overnight courier service, addressed to the address of the parties
stated below or to such changed address as such party may have fixed by notice
or, if given by telecopier, when such telecopy is transmitted and the
appropriate answer back is received.

          (a)  If to Indemnitee, to the address appearing on the signature page
hereof.

          (b)  If to the Company to:

               United Stationers Inc.
               2200 East Golf Road
               Des Plaines, Illinois 60016-1267
               Attention: General Counsel

     22.  GOVERNING LAW. The parties agree that this Agreement shall be governed
by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the internal laws of the
State of Delaware without regard to its conflicts of law rules.

                                        8
<Page>

     23.  CONSTRUCTION. The parties acknowledge that this Agreement is the
result of arm's-length negotiations between sophisticated parties each afforded
representation by legal counsel. Each and every provision of this Agreement
shall be construed as though both parties participated equally in the drafting
of same, and any rule of construction that a document shall be construed against
the drafting party shall not be applicable to this Agreement.

     24.  ENTIRE AGREEMENT. Subject to the provisions of Section 13 hereof,
this Agreement constitutes the entire understanding between the parties and
supersedes all proposals, commitments, writings, negotiations and
understandings, oral and written, and all other communications between the
parties relating to the subject matter hereof. This Agreement may not be amended
or otherwise modified except in writing duly executed by all of the parties. A
waiver by any party of any breach or violation of this Agreement shall not be
deemed or construed as a waiver of any subsequent breach or violation thereof.

            [THE REMAINDER OF THIS PAGE IS INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK.]

                                        9
<Page>

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of
the date first above written.

                                        UNITED STATIONERS INC.

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

                                        INDEMNITEE

                                        By:
                                           ------------------------------------

                                        Name:
                                             ----------------------------------
                                        Address:
                                                -------------------------------
                                        City and State:
                                                       ------------------------

                                        For the purposes of Section 9 only,

                                        UNITED STATIONERS SUPPLY CO.

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

                                       10

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