Document:

<PAGE>

                             THOMAS & BETTS CORPORATION
                              EXECUTIVE INCENTIVE PLAN

       1. PURPOSE

       The purpose of the Thomas & Betts Corporation Executive Incentive Plan
(the "Plan") is to provide an incentive for corporate officers and other key
employees who are in a position to contribute materially to the success of the
Corporation and its subsidiaries.

       2. DEFINITIONS

       The following terms, as used herein, will have the meaning specified:

       (a) "Award" means an incentive payment made pursuant to the Plan.

       (b) "Board" means the Board of Directors of the Corporation as it may be
comprised from time to time.

       (c) "Cause" means (i) a felony conviction of a Participant; (ii) the
commission by a Participant of an act of fraud or embezzlement against the
Corporation and/or a Subsidiary; (iii) willful misconduct or gross negligence
materially detrimental to the Corporation and/or a Subsidiary; (iv) the
Participant's continued failure to implement reasonable requests or directions
arising from actions of the Board after thirty (30) days' written notice to the
Participant; (v) the Participant's wrongful dissemination or use of confidential
or proprietary information; (vi) the intentional and habitual neglect by the
Participant of his or her duties to the Corporation and/or a Subsidiary; or
(vii) any other reasons consistent with the Corporation's and/or a Subsidiary's
policies and procedures regarding dismissals as they are adopted and implemented
from time to time.

       (d) "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and any
successor statute, and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

       (e) "Committee" means the Committee appointed to administer the Plan, as
provided in Section 4.

       (f) "Corporation" means Thomas & Betts Corporation, or any successor
corporation.

       (g) "Covered Employee" means a covered employee within the meaning of
Code Section 162(m)(3).

       (h) "Employee" means executives and other key employees of the
Corporation and its Subsidiaries.

       (i) "Participant" means an Employee selected from time to time by the
Committee to participate in the Plan.

        (j) "Performance Adjustment" means a factor (or factors), as determined
by a schedule established by the Committee, that will, when multiplied by a
Participant's Target Award, determine the amount of a Participant's Award.

       (k) "Performance Criterion or Criteria" means the business criteria
selected by the Committee to measure Corporation, group, division or Subsidiary
performance from one or more of the following:

              (i)  Corporate, group, division or Subsidiary sales;

<PAGE>

              (ii) Corporate, group, division or Subsidiary return on
sales--operating profit divided by sales;

              (iii) Corporate, group, division or Subsidiary economic value
added, net operating profit after taxes, return on net assets or return on
capital;
              (iv)  Cash flow-corporate--the change in the Corporation's net
invested position;

              (v)  Cash flow- corporate, group, division or Subsidiary--group,
division or  Subsidiary contribution adjusted for certain changes in balance
sheet accounts;

              (vi) Earnings per share;

              (vii) Productivity--standard direct labor hours divided by direct
and indirect labor hours incurred;

              (viii) Quality--demerits per thousand pieces audited;

              (ix) Group, division or Subsidiary operating profit or
contribution income;

              (x) Investment turnover--net sales divided by certain assets, e.g.
net receivables and inventory, less certain liabilities, e.g. accounts payable
and accrued liabilities;

              (xi)  Return on equity--net income of the Corporation divided by
average shareholders' equity;

              (xii) Net asset investment--certain assets, e.g. accounts
receivable and goodwill, less certain liabilities, e.g. accounts payable and
dividends payable, divided by sales;

              (xiii) Inventory turns; and

              (ix) Customer service indices, e.g. fill rates, request index, and
performance to promise.

     The Committee shall establish the weighting of each Performance Criterion,
for use in determining awards under the Plan, within 90 days of the beginning of
the fiscal year to which the Performance Criterion relates.

       (l) "Maximum Award" means the level of performance on each Performance
Criterion, as approved by the Committee, that will result in a 100 percent
Performance Adjustment to a Participant's Target Award.

       (m) "Subsidiary" means any corporation in which the Corporation, directly
or indirectly, controls 50 percent or more of the total combined voting power of
all classes of such corporation's stock.

       (n) "Target Award" means, with respect to a Participant in any year, the
Participant's annual base salary multiplied by the percentage of salary
established by the Committee for that Participant.

       3. AWARDS

       (a) TARGET AWARD.  A Target Award will be established by the Committee
for each Participant. A prorated Target Award will be assigned to a Participant
with less than twelve months of service. In the event a Participant's Target
Award is changed during the year, the Participant's higher Target Award will be
the basis

                                       2
<PAGE>

for determining the Participant's Award for the year.

       (b) PERFORMANCE CRITERIA.  One or more Performance Criteria will be
established by the Committee for the Corporation and for each group, division or
Subsidiary each year. The Committee may use the same Performance Criteria each
year or may use different Performance Criteria from year to year.

       (c) PERFORMANCE TARGET. One or more Performance Targets will be
established by the Committee for each Performance Criterion selected for each
year.

       (d) PERFORMANCE ADJUSTMENT.  The Award payable to any Participant will
vary from the Target Award depending upon whether, or the extent to which,
Performance Targets have been achieved. All such determinations regarding the
achievement of any Performance Target will be made by the Committee in its sole
and absolute discretion. The Committee may not increase the amount of
compensation that would otherwise be payable upon achievement of the Performance
Target or Targets, but it may reduce a Participant's award if it believes such
action would be in the best interest of the Corporation and its shareholders.

              (i) Schedules. At the beginning of the year, the Committee will
establish a range for each Performance Criterion that correlates the percentage
of Target Award to specified levels of Corporation, group, division or
Subsidiary performance.

              (ii) Award Determination. The Award for a Participant for a given
year will be calculated by multiplying the Participant's Target Award by the
Corporation, group, division or Subsidiary Performance Adjustments,
respectively.

              (iii) Maximum Award. The maximum award payable to any Participant
in any year is $2.0 million, anything in this Plan to the contrary
notwithstanding.

       (e) PAYMENT OF AWARDS.  Awards will be paid in cash, stock, or a
combination of cash and stock after the Committee has certified the extent to
which the Performance Target or Targets have been met and as soon as practicable
after the close of the year for which they are made.  If a Participant is
disabled for more than four months of the year, the Participant may be granted a
prorated Award as and to the extent determined by the Committee. If disability
lasts four months or less, there will be no reduction in the amount of the
Award. No Award will be payable to any Participant who is not an Employee on the
last day of the year, except that if, during the last eight months of the year,
the Participant dies, or becomes disabled, the Participant may be granted a
prorated Award as and to the extent determined by the Committee, and further
provided that if the Participant retires or is involuntarily terminated other
than for Cause, the Participant may be granted a prorated Award as and to the
extent determined by the Committee, provided that Performance Targets have been
met.

       4. ADMINISTRATION

       (a) COMMITTEE. The Plan and all Awards will be administered by the Human
Resources Committee of the Board of Directors (the "Committee"), which Committee
shall consist of not less than three members of such Board of Directors, and
shall be constituted so as to enable the Plan to comply with the administration
requirements of Code Section 162(m)(4)(C). The members of the Committee shall be
designated by the Board of Directors. A majority of the members of the Committee
shall constitute a quorum. The vote of a majority of a quorum shall constitute
action by the Committee.

       (b) AUTHORITY.  The Committee will have full and complete authority, in
its sole and absolute discretion,

                                       3

<PAGE>

(i) to exercise all of the powers granted to it under the Plan, (ii) to
construe, interpret and implement the Plan and any related document, (iii) to
prescribe, amend and rescind rules relating to the Plan, (iv) to make all
determinations necessary or advisable in administering the Plan, and (v) to
correct any defect, supply any omission and reconcile any inconsistency in
the Plan.

     The Committee may delegate to the officers or employees of the Corporation
and/or a Subsidiary the authority to execute and deliver such instruments and
documents, to do all such acts and things, and to take all such other steps
deemed necessary, advisable or convenient for the effective administration of
the Plan in accordance with its terms and purpose, except that the Committee may
not delegate any authority with respect to decisions regarding timing,
eligibility, amount or other material terms of any Awards.

       (c) DETERMINATIONS.  The actions and determinations of the Committee on
all matters relating to the Plan and any Awards will be final and conclusive.

       (d) LIABILITY.  No member of the Committee or the Board will be liable
for any action taken or determination made in good faith with respect to the
Plan or any Award thereunder, and the Corporation will defend Committee and
Board members for any actions taken or decisions made in good faith under the
Plan.

       (e) PARTICIPANTS.  The Committee will designate the corporate officers
who shall be Participants in the Plan, and it may designate group, division or
Subsidiary officers to be Participants.

       (f) AWARDS.  Subject to the terms of the Plan, the Committee will have
full and complete authority to determine, among other things, the Employees to
whom, and the time or times at which, Awards will be made and the requisite
conditions thereof.

       (g) CODE SECTION 162(m).  It is the intent of the Corporation that this
Plan and Awards hereunder satisfy, and be interpreted in a manner that, in the
case of Participants who are or may be Covered Employees, satisfies the
applicable requirements of Code Section 162(m) so that the Corporation's tax
deduction for remuneration in respect of this Plan for services performed by
such Covered Employees is not disallowed in whole or in part by the operation of
such Code Section. If any provision of this Plan or if any Award would otherwise
frustrate or conflict with the intent expressed in this Section 4(g), that
provision shall be interpreted and deemed amended so as to avoid such conflict.
To the extent of any remaining irreconcilable conflict with such intent, such
provision shall be deemed void as applicable to Covered Employees.

       5.  MISCELLANEOUS

       (a) NONASSIGNABILITY.  No Award will be assignable or transferable
(including pursuant to a pledge or security interest) other than by will or by
the laws of descent and distribution.

       (b) WITHHOLDING TAXES.  Whenever payments under the Plan are to be made,
the Corporation and/or the Subsidiary will withhold therefrom an amount
sufficient to satisfy any applicable governmental withholding tax requirements
related thereto.

       (c) AMENDMENT OR TERMINATION OF THE PLAN.  The Board may from time to
time suspend or discontinue the Plan or revise, amend or terminate the Plan.

       (d) NON-UNIFORM DETERMINATIONS.  The Committee's determinations under the
Plan need not be uniform and may be made by it selectively among persons who
receive, or are eligible to receive, Awards under the

                                       4
<PAGE>

Plan, whether or not such persons are similarly situated. Without limiting
the generality of the foregoing, the Committee will be entitled, among other
things, to make non-uniform and selective determinations and to establish
non-uniform and selective Target Awards; provided, however, that the
Committee may not increase the amount of compensation that would otherwise be
payable upon achievement of the Performance Target or Targets.

       (e) OTHER PAYMENTS OR AWARDS.  Nothing contained in the Plan will be
deemed in any way to limit or restrict the Corporation, its Subsidiaries, or the
Committee from making any award or payment to any person under any other plan,
arrangement or understanding, whether now existing or hereafter in effect.

       (f) PAYMENTS TO OTHER PERSONS.  If payments are legally required to be
made to any person other than the person to whom any amount is available under
the Plan, payments will be made to the person to whom the Committee, or its
delegate, believes to be legally entitled to the payment. Any such payment will
be a complete discharge of the liability of the Committee.

       (g) UNFUNDED PLAN.  No provision of the Plan will require the Corporation
or its Subsidiaries, for the purpose of satisfying any obligations under the
Plan, to purchase assets or place any assets in a trust or other entity to which
contributions are made or otherwise to segregate any assets; nor will the
Corporation or its Subsidiaries maintain separate bank accounts, books, records
or other evidence of the existence of a segregated or separately maintained or
administered fund for such purposes. Participants will have no rights under the
Plan other than as unsecured general creditors of the Corporation and its
Subsidiaries, except that insofar as they may have become entitled to payment of
additional compensation by performance of services, they will have the same
rights as other employees under generally applicable law.

       (h) LIMITS OF LIABILITY.  Neither the Corporation or a Subsidiary, nor
any member of the Board, the Committee, or any other person participating in the
interpretation, administration or application of the Plan shall have any
liability to any party for any action taken, or not taken, in good faith under
the Plan.

       (i) RIGHTS OF EMPLOYEES.  Nothing contained in this Plan will confer upon
any Employee or Participant any right to continue in the employ or other service
of the Corporation or a Subsidiary, or constitute any contract or limit in any
way the right of the Corporation or a Subsidiary to change such person's
compensation or other benefits, or to terminate the employment or other service
of such person with or without Cause.

       (j) SECTION HEADINGS.  The section headings contained herein are for
convenience only, and in the event of any conflict, the text of the Plan, rather
than the section headings, will control.

       (k) INVALIDITY.  If any term or provision contained herein will to any
extent be invalid or unenforceable, such invalidity or unenforceability will not
affect any other provision or part hereof.

       (l) APPLICABLE LAW.  The Plan will be governed by the laws of the
jurisdiction in which the Corporation is incorporated as determined without
regard to the conflict of law principles thereof.

       (m) EFFECTIVE DATE.  The Plan shall be effective as of May 5, 1994 and,
as amended, from time to time thereafter.

                                      5<PAGE>

                                                               Exhibit 10.10

                           THOMAS & BETTS CORPORATION

                            EXECUTIVE RETIREMENT PLAN

                          (AS AMENDED DECEMBER 1, 1999)

<PAGE>

                           THOMAS & BETTS CORPORATION
                            EXECUTIVE RETIREMENT PLAN

                           AS AMENDED DECEMBER 1, 1999

                                  INTRODUCTION

Thomas & Betts Corporation (the "Company") has adopted this Executive Retirement
Plan effective as of September 2, 1992, as amended on December 16, 1993 and as
further amended on December 1, 1999, to provide additional retirement income and
death benefit protection to certain officers of the Company in recognition of
their contribution to the Company in carrying out senior management
responsibilities. The terms and conditions of participation and benefits under
this Executive Retirement Plan are set out in this document.

All benefits payable under this Plan, which is intended to constitute a
non-qualified, unfunded deferred compensation plan for a select group of
management employees under Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security
Act of 1974, as amended ("ERISA"), shall be paid out of the general assets of
the Company.

                             ARTICLE I. DEFINITIONS

1.01     "ACTUARIAL EQUIVALENT" shall mean the equivalent value when computed
         based on the UP-84 Mortality Table and an interest rate equal to 100
         percent of the interest rate which would be used by the Pension Benefit
         Guaranty Corporation (under the pre-11/l/93 methodology) for valuing
         immediate annuities for single employer plans that terminate on the
         first day of the month in which the Eligible Employee's Benefit
         payments commence (the "PBGC Interest Rate").

<PAGE>

1.02     "AFFILIATED COMPANY" shall mean any company not participating in the
         Plan which is a member of a controlled group of corporations (as
         defined in Section 414(b) of the Code) which also includes as a member
         the Company; any trade or business under common control (as defined in
         Section 414(c) of the Code) with the Company; any organization (whether
         or not incorporated) which is a member of an affiliated service group
         (as defined in Section 414(m) of the Code) which includes the Company;
         and any other entity required to be aggregated with the Company
         pursuant to regulations under Section 414(o) of the Code.

1.03     "AVERAGE MONTHLY COMPENSATION" shall mean the average monthly
         Compensation of an Eligible Employee during any sixty (60) consecutive
         months during his employment with the Company or an Affiliated Company
         affording the highest such average. Compensation for this purpose shall
         mean Compensation as defined in Section 1.10.

1.04     "BENEFICIARY" shall mean the person or persons designated by an
         Eligible Employee as beneficiary in a time and manner determined by the
         Committee. If the Eligible Employee fails to designate a Beneficiary or
         if the Beneficiary predeceases the Eligible Employee, the Eligible
         Employee's spouse shall be the Beneficiary or if no spouse survives the
         Eligible Employee, the Eligible Employee's estate shall be the
         Beneficiary. An Eligible Employee may change his designated Beneficiary
         in a time and manner determined by the Committee.

                                      -2-
<PAGE>

1.05     "BENEFIT" shall mean the payments payable under Article 2 of this Plan.

1.06     "BOARD OF DIRECTORS" shall mean the Board of Directors of Thomas &
         Betts Corporation.

1.07     "CODE" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from
         time to time.

1.08     "COMMITTEE" shall mean the Company's Human Resources Committee of the
         Board of Directors, any successor or substitute committee thereto, or,
         during any period of time when no such committee is in existence, the
         Company's entire Board of Directors.

1.09     "COMPANY" shall mean the Thomas & Betts Corporation or any successor by
         merger, purchase or otherwise, with respect to its employees and such
         affiliated companies authorized by the Board of Directors, on such
         terms and conditions as the Board may determine, to participate in the
         Plan.

1.10     "COMPENSATION" shall mean the base cash compensation paid to an
         Eligible Employee in respect of each month for services rendered to the
         Company by such Eligible Employee, plus the amount paid pursuant to the
         provisions of the Officer Profit Sharing Plan and the Management
         Incentive Plan or such substitute or similar plans, determined prior to
         any pre-tax contributions under a "qualified cash or deferred
         arrangement" (as defined under Section 401(k) of the Code and its
         applicable regulations) or under a "cafeteria plan" (as defined under
         Section 125 of the Code and its applicable regulations)

                                      -3-
<PAGE>

         and prior to any amount which an Eligible Employee has elected to defer
         under the Thomas & Betts Supplemental Executive Investment Plan.

1.11     "CREDITED SERVICE" shall mean with respect to an Eligible Employee
         service determined pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.9 of the
         Retirement Plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing, an Eligible Employee
         may, subject to the approval by the Board of Directors, be granted
         additional years of Credited Service either for purposes of determining
         the amount of Benefits under the Plan or for purposes of satisfying the
         service eligibility requirements necessary for Benefits under the Plan
         or both. The number of years of Credited Service so granted, if any,
         shall be set forth in Appendix A.

1.12     "EFFECTIVE DATE" shall mean September 2, 1992.

1.13     "ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEE" shall mean an employee who occupies a position of
         senior management with the Company who has been approved by the
         Committee and who is listed on Appendix A, as amended from time to
         time. No employee who is a party to a Supplemental Executive Retirement
         Contract (the "SERC") shall be so approved by the Committee unless such
         employee has executed, in form satisfactory to the Committee, a written
         agreement terminating all of the obligations of the Company under the
         SERC and canceling any entitlements thereunder in respect of such
         employee.

1.14     "INVESTMENT PLAN" shall mean the Thomas & Betts Corporation Employees'
         Investment Plan.

                                      -4-
<PAGE>

1.15     "NORMAL RETIREMENT DATE" shall mean the first day of the calendar month
         following an Eligible Employee's 65th birthday.

1.16     "PLAN" shall mean the Thomas & Betts Corporation Executive Retirement
         Plan, as amended from time to time.

1.17     "RETIREE" shall mean an Eligible Employee who has completed 5 or more
         years of Credited Service and attained age 55, or if such Eligible
         Employee commenced employment with the Company prior to December 1,
         1997, has completed 5 or more years of Credited Service and attained
         age 50, and in each case, who either voluntarily terminates employment
         with the Company and all Affiliated Companies at least 60 months
         following September 2, 1992 or after the Company's request or demand
         terminates employment with the Company and all Affiliated Companies
         after September 2, 1992. For purposes of determining whether employment
         commenced prior to December 1, 1997, "Company" shall not include Augat,
         Inc. or any other Affiliated Company which became authorized to
         participate in this Plan after November 30, 1997.

1.18     "RETIREMENT PLAN" shall mean the Thomas & Betts Retirement Pension Plan
         for Salaried Employees, as amended from time to time.

1.19     "10 YEAR CERTAIN AND LIFE ANNUITY" shall mean an annuity which provides
         a benefit payable during the Retiree's life and, if such Retiree dies
         during the 10 year period after the date such benefit began, a lump-sum
         payment shall be made to the Retiree's Beneficiary in respect of the
         balance of the payments for such 10 year period.

                                      -5-
<PAGE>

                    ARTICLE 2. AMOUNT OF PAYMENT OF BENEFITS

2.01     Payment of Benefit

         Except as otherwise provided in Section 2.07 hereof, Benefits shall be
         payable by the Company only with respect to an Eligible Employee who
         becomes a Retiree, subject to the provisions of Section 3.07. Such
         Benefits shall be payable from the general assets of the Company.

2.02     Amount of Benefit

         The monthly amount of the Benefit payable in the form of a 10 Year
         Certain and Life Annuity shall be equal to:

         (a)      2.5 percent of the Eligible Employee's Average Monthly
                  Compensation multiplied by the first 20 years of his Credited
                  Service plus 1.5 percent of the Eligible Employee's Average
                  Monthly Compensation multiplied by the next 15 years of his
                  Credited Service

                                      MINUS

         (b)      The sum of (i) and (ii) where

                  (i)      equals the monthly amount of benefit which is or
                           would be payable to the Eligible Employee, assuming
                           such benefit commenced on his date of termination of
                           employment pursuant to the provisions of the
                           Retirement Plan in the form of a 100% Joint and
                           Survivor Annuity (an Eligible Employee who is
                           unmarried at the time the Benefit is determined shall
                           be

                                      -6-
<PAGE>

                           deemed, for purposes of the Plan, to have a survivor
                           annuitant born on the same date as the Eligible
                           Employee), and

                  (ii)     equals the monthly amount of benefit payable under a
                           prior employer's retirement program as set forth in
                           Appendix A.

The Committee shall determine, in good faith, the appropriate amount of offset
under Section 2.02(b)(ii) to be used in calculating any Benefit under this Plan
(including, without limitation, converting such monthly benefit under Section
2.02(b)(ii) to an appropriate benefit form) and each Eligible Employee shall
cooperate with the Committee by providing any information (certifiable or
otherwise) necessary to make such determination.

2.03     Form of Payment

         (a)      Unless a Retiree has elected an optional form of benefit, as
                  provided herein, the automatic form of payment under this Plan
                  deemed to have been elected by such Retiree upon becoming an
                  Eligible Employee shall be a 10 Year Certain and Life Annuity,
                  providing for monthly payments to the Retiree for his lifetime
                  with a guaranteed minimum of one hundred twenty (120) monthly
                  payments and if the Retiree dies prior to receiving the full
                  one hundred twenty (120) monthly payments, the remainder of
                  the guaranteed payments shall be commuted and paid in one lump
                  sum to the named Beneficiary in full discharge of the
                  obligation of the Plan. In the absence of a named Beneficiary,
                  the commuted value of the remaining guaranteed payments will
                  be paid to the Retiree's estate.

                                      -7-
<PAGE>

         (b)      Any Eligible Employee may, upon becoming an Eligible Employee,
                  elect in writing that his Benefit be paid in the form of a
                  100% Joint and Survivor Annuity of Actuarial Equivalent value
                  to the Benefit otherwise payable under Section 2.03(a) above,
                  providing for a reduced monthly benefit during his lifetime
                  with 100% of such reduced monthly benefit continuing to his
                  surviving spouse to whom he was married on the date his
                  Benefit payments commenced for the remainder of such spouse's
                  lifetime. If the Retiree and the spouse to whom he was married
                  on the date his Benefit payments commenced die before
                  receiving one hundred twenty (120) monthly payments, the
                  remainder of the one hundred twenty (120) guaranteed payments
                  will be commuted and paid in one lump sum to the named
                  beneficiary of the last surviving annuitant in full discharge
                  of the obligation of the Plan. This optional form of benefit
                  shall become effective on the first day of the month for which
                  the Retiree's Benefit is first payable. If the Retiree's
                  spouse dies before the first day of the month for which the
                  Retiree's Benefit is first payable, this optional form of
                  payment shall be revoked and payments shall be made pursuant
                  to the provisions of Section 2.03(a) above.

         (c)      Any Eligible Employee may, upon becoming an Eligible Employee,
                  elect in writing that his Benefit be paid to him (or his
                  Beneficiary if he dies prior to payment under paragraph (d)
                  below) in one single payment of Actuarial Equivalent value to
                  the Benefit otherwise payable under Section 2.03(a) above.

                                      -8-
<PAGE>

         (d)      Payments shall commence as of the first day of the month
                  following the Eligible Employee's termination of employment or
                  as soon as administratively practicable thereafter.

         (e)      Any Eligible Employee may change his payment form election by
                  making a new payment form election at any time; provided,
                  however, that no such election shall be effective unless it
                  shall have been made and submitted to the Committee prior to
                  the last day of the calendar year prior to the calendar year
                  in which the Eligible Employee terminates employment with the
                  Company and each Affiliated Company.

2.04     Commencement of Benefit on or after Normal Retirement Date

         A Retiree who terminates employment on or after his Normal Retirement
         Date shall receive his Benefit commencing on the first day of the month
         following his termination of employment, subject to the provisions of
         Section 3.07. In that case, his Benefit shall be equal to the Benefit
         determined pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.02 on the basis of
         his Average Monthly Compensation and Credited Service on the date of
         his termination of employment.

2.05     Commencement of Benefit Before Normal Retirement Date

         (a)      Unless the provisions of Section 2.05(b) below are applicable,
                  a Retiree whose employment terminates for any reason prior to
                  his Normal Retirement Date shall receive a Benefit commencing
                  on the first day of the month following his

                                      -9-
<PAGE>

                  termination of employment, subject to the provisions of
                  Section 3.07. In such case, his Benefit shall be equal to the
                  Benefit determined under the provisions Section 2.02 on the
                  basis of his Average Monthly Compensation and Credited Service
                  on the date of his termination of employment; provided,
                  however, the portion of his Benefit determined under the
                  provisions of Section 2.02(a) shall be reduced by 3.6% for
                  each year and 1/12 of 3.6% for each month of a fractional year
                  by which the date the Retiree's Benefit begins prior to the
                  60th anniversary of his birth.

         (b)      A Retiree who terminates employment at the Company's request
                  prior to his Normal Retirement Date shall, subject to the
                  approval of the Committee and the provisions of Section 3.07,
                  receive a special early Benefit commencing on the first day of
                  the month following his termination of employment. The special
                  early Benefit shall be equal to:

                  (i)      his Benefit determined pursuant to the provisions of
                           Section 2.02 on the basis of his Average Monthly
                           Compensation and Credited Service on his date of
                           termination of employment; provided, however, the
                           portion of his Benefit determined under the
                           provisions of Section 2.02(a) shall be calculated on
                           the basis of the Credited Service he accrued to his
                           date of termination of employment plus any additional
                           service he would have accrued pursuant to the
                           provisions of Section 1.11 after his termination of
                           employment if he had remained in the employ of the
                           Company until his 60th birthday; increased by

                                      -10-
<PAGE>

                  (ii)     (A)      in the case of any Benefit payable in the
                                    form described in Sections 2.03(a) or (b),
                                    the Social Security cost of living
                                    percentage increase granted on Social
                                    Security benefits paid in the year of such
                                    Retiree's termination of employment and on
                                    each anniversary of such Retiree's
                                    termination of employment occurring prior to
                                    his Normal Retirement Date, the Benefit
                                    determined under the provisions of Section
                                    2.02(a) and paragraph (b) of this Section
                                    2.05 shall be increased by the Social
                                    Security cost of living percentage increase
                                    granted on Social Security benefits paid in
                                    such calendar year; provided, however, the
                                    total number of such cost of living
                                    increases applied to a Retiree's Benefit
                                    under this subparagraph (ii) shall not
                                    exceed five, and the cost of living increase
                                    percentage applied to a Retiree's Benefit
                                    under this subparagraph (ii) each year shall
                                    not exceed 5%; or

                           (B)      in the case of any Benefit payable in the
                                    form described in Section 2.03(c), a
                                    projected and compounded deemed Social
                                    Security cost of living percentage increase
                                    equal to 5% of such Benefit for the year of
                                    such Retiree's termination and 5% of such
                                    Benefit, as cumulatively increased, for each
                                    anniversary of such Retiree's termination
                                    occurring prior to his Normal Retirement
                                    Date; provided, however, the total number of
                                    such deemed cost of living

                                      -11-
<PAGE>

                                    increases applied to a Retiree's Benefit
                                    under this subparagraph (ii)(B) shall not
                                    exceed five.

2.06     Disability Benefit

         An Eligible Employee who has not reached his Normal Retirement Date and
         who ceases to be employed by the Company and each Affiliated Company on
         account of disability to be credited with Credited Service if (i) such
         Eligible Employee has completed 5 years of Credited Service (computed
         in the same manner described in Section 1.17) and has reached his 55th
         birthday, or if such Eligible Employee commenced employment with the
         Company prior to December 1, 1997, his 50th birthday, or (ii) such
         employment cessation occurs after the date specified in Appendix A with
         respect to such Eligible Employee; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, such Credited
         Service shall only continue if such Eligible Employee is eligible for
         and is continuously receiving disability benefits under the Company's
         long-term disability program. There shall also be included in his
         Credited Service any applicable waiting period for disability benefits
         under the Company's long-term disability plan; provided that after
         expiration of such period the Eligible Employee becomes entitled to
         such disability benefits. Upon reaching age 65, such disabled Eligible
         Employee shall be entitled to a disability Benefit in an amount
         determined under Section 2.02, based on his Average Monthly
         Compensation at the time he ceased employment on account of disability
         and his Credited Service based on Section 1.11 and the preceding
         provisions of this Section 2.06. For purposes of Section 2.06(i),
         "Company" shall not include Augat, Inc. or any other Affiliated Company
         which became authorized to participate in this Plan after November 30,
         1997.

                                      -12-
<PAGE>

2.07     Pre-Retirement Death Benefit

         (a)      If (i) prior to his employment termination, an Eligible
                  Employee dies after he has completed 5 or more years of
                  Credited Service and reached his 55th birthday, or if such
                  Eligible Employee commenced employment with the Company prior
                  to December 1, 1997, his 50th birthday, (ii) an Eligible
                  Employee dies prior to his termination of employment, but
                  after the date specified in Appendix A with respect to such
                  Eligible Employee, or (iii) an Eligible Employee dies while
                  accruing Credited Service under Section 2.06, a spouse's
                  Benefit shall be payable to his surviving spouse. Such
                  spouse's Benefit shall be a lump sum payment which is
                  Actuarially Equivalent to the amount of monthly benefit the
                  spouse would have received if the Benefit which the Eligible
                  Employee would have received under Section 2.02 of this Plan,
                  reduced pursuant to the provision of Section 2.05(a) of this
                  Plan, had commenced on the Eligible Employee's date of death
                  in the form of a 100% joint and survivor annuity and the
                  Eligible Employee had died immediately thereafter. Such
                  spouse's benefit shall be paid as soon as practicable
                  following such Eligible Employee's date of death. For purposes
                  of Section 2.07(a)(i), "Company" shall not include Augat, Inc.
                  or any other Affiliated Company which became authorized to
                  participate in this Plan after November 30, 1997.

                                      -13-
<PAGE>

2.08     Restoration of Service

         If an Eligible Employee who retired or otherwise terminated employment
         is restored to employment with the Company or an Affiliated Company,
         the monthly payments under the Plan shall be discontinued and, upon
         subsequent retirement or termination of employment with the Company or
         any Affiliated Company, the Eligible Employee's Benefit shall be
         computed in accordance with the provisions of this Article 2, as
         applicable, and shall be reduced by the actuarial equivalent value of
         the Benefit payments he received prior to his subsequent retirement.

2.09     Designation of Beneficiary

         For purposes of Sections 2.03 and 2.07, each Eligible Employee shall
         file a written designation of Beneficiary with the Committee upon
         qualifying for participation hereunder. Such designation shall remain
         in force until revoked by the Eligible Employee by filing a new
         beneficiary form with the Committee.

2.10     Receipt of Single-Sum Payment

         If any Retiree has received a single sum payment under Section 2.03(c)
         above, such Retiree's Beneficiary shall have no further interest in the
         Plan or any benefits payable thereunder.

                          ARTICLE 3. GENERAL PROVISIONS

3.01     Administration

         The administration of the Plan, the exclusive power to interpret it,
         and the responsibility for carrying out its provisions are vested in
         the Committee. The Committee shall have

                                      -14-
<PAGE>

         full discretionary authority to interpret the Plan and resolve all
         matters arising in connection with the Plan. The Committee may adopt
         procedural rules and may employ and rely on such legal counsel,
         actuaries, accountants and agents as it may deem advisable to assist in
         the administration of the Plan. Decisions of the Committee shall be
         conclusive and binding on all persons. The expenses of the Committee
         attributable to the administration of this Plan shall be paid directly
         by the Company.

3.02     Funding

         (a)      All amounts payable in accordance with this Plan shall
                  constitute a general unsecured obligation of the Company. Such
                  amounts, as well as any administrative costs relating to the
                  Plan, shall be paid out of the general assets of the Company,
                  unless the provisions of paragraph (b) below are applicable.

         (b)      The Board of Directors may, for administrative reasons,
                  establish a grantor trust for the benefit of Eligible
                  Employees in the Plan. The assets of said trust will be held
                  separate and apart from other Company funds and shall be used
                  exclusively for the purposes set forth in the Plan and the
                  applicable trust agreement, subject to the following
                  conditions:

                  (i)      the creation of said trust shall not cause the Plan
                           to be other than "unfunded" for purposes of Title I
                           of ERISA;

                  (ii)     the Company shall be treated as the "grantor" of said
                           trust for purposes of Section 671 and 677 of the
                           Internal Revenue Code; and

                                      -15-
<PAGE>

                  (iii)    said trust agreement shall provide that its assets
                           may be used to satisfy claims of the Company's
                           general creditors, provided that the rights of such
                           general creditors are enforceable under federal and
                           state law.

3.03     No Contract of Employment

         The establishment of the Plan shall not be construed as conferring any
         legal right upon any person for a continuation of employment, nor shall
         it interfere with the right of the Company to discharge any employee.

3.04     Competency

         If the Committee shall find that any person to whom any amount is or
         was payable hereunder is unable to care for his affairs because of
         illness or accident, or has died, then the Company, if it so elects,
         may direct that any payment due him or his estate (unless a prior claim
         therefore has been made by a duly appointed legal representative) or
         any part thereof be paid or applied for the benefit of such person or
         for the benefit of his spouse, children or other dependents, an
         institution maintaining or having custody of such person, any other
         person deemed by the Committee to be a proper recipient on behalf of
         such person otherwise entitled to payment, or any of them, in such
         manner and proportion as the Company may deem proper. Any such payment
         shall be in complete discharge of the liability of the Company
         therefor.

                                      -16-
<PAGE>

3.05     Withholding Taxes

         The Company shall have the right to deduct from each payment to be made
         under the Plan any required withholding taxes.

3.06     Nonalienation

         Except insofar as may otherwise be required by law, no amount payable
         at any time under the Plan shall be subject in any manner to alienation
         by anticipation, sale, transfer, assignment, bankruptcy, pledge,
         attachment, charge or encumbrance of any kind nor in any manner be
         subject to the debts or liabilities of any person and any attempt to so
         alienate or subject any such amount, whether presently or thereafter
         payable, shall be void. If any person shall attempt to, or shall,
         alienate, sell, transfer, assign, pledge, attach, charge or otherwise
         encumber any amount payable under the Plan, or any part thereof, or if
         by reason of his bankruptcy or other event happening at any such time
         such amount would be made subject to his debts or liabilities or would
         otherwise not be enjoyed by him, then the Committee, if it so elects,
         may direct that such amount be withheld and that the same or any part
         thereof be paid or applied to or for the benefit of such person, his
         spouse, children or other dependents, or any of them, in such manner
         and proportion as the Committee may deem proper.

3.07     Forfeiture for Cause

         In the event that an Eligible Employee or Retiree shall at any time be
         convicted for a crime involving dishonesty or fraud on the part of such
         Eligible Employee or Retiree in his relationship with the Company or an
         Affiliated Company, all benefits that would

                                      -17-
<PAGE>

         otherwise be payable to him under the Plan shall be forfeited. If a
         Retiree shall at any time be under indictment for any such crime any
         Benefit amounts payable to such Retiree shall be suspended pending
         conviction, dismissal or acquittal in respect thereof. If the Retiree
         is not convicted, the suspended amounts shall be paid to him (with
         simple interest accruing at the PBGC Interest Rate) within thirty days
         after the date of the dismissal or acquittal. For this purpose, any
         so-called ALFORD plea or plea of NOLO CONTENDERE shall be deemed to
         constitute an acquittal.

3.08     Mergers/Transfers

         This Plan shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Company
         and its successors and assignees and the Eligible Employee, his
         designees and his estate. Nothing in this Plan shall preclude the
         Company from consolidating or merging into or with, or transferring all
         or substantially all of its assets to, another corporation which
         assumes this Plan and all obligations of the Company hereunder. Upon
         such a consolidation, merger or transfer of assets and assumption, the
         term "Company" shall refer to such other corporation and this Plan
         shall continue in full force and effect.

3.09     Change of Control

         Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, in the case of an
         Eligible Employee who has an employment agreement with the Company
         which provides for his or her continued employment following a change
         of control ("Employment Agreement"), the following provisions shall
         apply in the event that such Eligible Employee's employment with the

                                      -18-
<PAGE>

         Company is terminated under the circumstances described in Section 7(d)
         of his or her Employment Agreement:

         (a)      Such Eligible Employee, if not a Retiree as defined in Section
                  1.17, shall be deemed to be a Retiree and shall be entitled to
                  a Benefit determined in accordance with Section 2.02,
                  provided, however, that Section 2.02(a)(ii) shall not apply;

         (b)      For purposes of Section 2.02(a)(i), such Eligible Employee's
                  years of Credited Service shall be increased by a period of
                  time equal to the Remainder of the Employment Period (as
                  defined in Section 7(d)(i)(D) of the Employment Agreement);
                  and

         (c)      The Actuarial Equivalent value of such Eligible Employee's
                  Benefit (determined in accordance with the foregoing
                  provisions of this Section 3.085) shall be paid to him or her
                  in a lump sum within 30 days after the date of termination of
                  his or her employment.

3.10     Calculations

         Whenever, under this Plan, it is necessary to determine whether one
         benefit is less than, equal to, or larger than another, whether or not
         such benefits are provided under this Plan, such determination shall be
         made by the Company's independent consulting actuary, using mortality
         and interest (unless otherwise specified in this Plan) and any other
         assumptions normally used at the time by such actuary in determining
         actuarial equivalents under the Retirement Plan.

                                      -19-
<PAGE>

3.11     Elections

         All elections, designations, requests, notices, instructions, and other
         communications from an Eligible Employee, Retiree, or other person to
         the Committee required or permitted under the Plan shall be in such
         form as is prescribed from time to time by the Committee, shall be
         mailed by Certified or Registered mail, Return Receipt Requested, or
         personally delivered to the principal offices of the Corporation, and
         shall be deemed to have been given and delivered only upon actual
         receipt thereof at such location.

3.12     Acceleration of Payment

         Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, the
         Company shall make payments hereunder to a Retiree or Beneficiary
         before such payments are otherwise due if the Committee determines,
         based on a change in the tax or revenue laws of the United States of
         America, a published ruling or similar announcement issued by the
         Internal Revenue Service, a regulation issued by the Secretary of the
         Treasury or his delegate, a decision by a court of competent
         jurisdiction involving an Eligible Employee, Retiree or Beneficiary, or
         a closing agreement made under Code Section 7121 that is approved by
         the Internal Revenue Service and involves an Eligible Employee, Retiree
         or Beneficiary, that an Eligible Employee, Retiree or Beneficiary has
         recognized or will recognize income for federal income tax purposes
         with respect to amounts that are or will be payable to him under the
         Plans before they are paid to him. In such cases, any such Retiree or
         Beneficiary so affected shall receive the remaining Benefit payments
         payable to him and, where appropriate, his Beneficiary in one single
         payment of Actuarial

                                      -20-
<PAGE>

         Equivalent value to such remaining payments. Upon receipt of such
         accelerated payment the provisions of Section 2.10 shall apply to any
         Beneficiary of such Retiree.

3.13     Construction

         (a)      The Plan is intended to constitute an unfunded deferred
                  compensation arrangement for a select group of management or
                  highly compensated employees and therefore exempt from the
                  requirements or Sections 201, 301 and 401 of ERISA. All rights
                  hereunder shall be governed by and construed in accordance
                  with the laws of the State of Tennessee and, except to the
                  extent otherwise herein provided, in accordance with the
                  provisions of the Retirement Plan.

         (b)      The masculine pronoun shall mean the feminine wherever
                  appropriate.

         (c)      The captions preceding the sections and articles hereof have
                  been inserted solely as a matter of convenience and in no way
                  define or limit the scope or intent of any provisions of the
                  Plan.

3.14     Insurance Products

         The Company may require each Eligible Employee to assist it in
         obtaining life insurance policies on the lives of each Eligible
         Employee, which policies would be owned by, and be payable to, the
         Company. The Eligible Employee may be required to complete an
         application for life insurance, furnish underwriting information
         including medical examinations by a life insurance company-approved
         examiner, and authorize release of medical history to the life
         insurance company's underwriter, as designated by the

                                      -21-
<PAGE>

         Company. An Eligible Employee shall have no right or interest in such
         policies or the proceeds thereof.

3.15     Nature of Obligation

         No Eligible Employee, Retiree or Beneficiary shall have any interest in
         any specific asset of the Company or any Affiliated Company as a result
         of the Plan. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to create a trust
         of any kind or any fiduciary relationship between the Company (or any
         Affiliated Company) and any Eligible Employee, Retiree or Beneficiary.
         Any right to receive any Benefit under the Plan shall only be the right
         of a general unsecured creditor.

3.16     Legal Fees

         In the event that any claim by an Eligible Employee for payment of any
         benefit under the Plan is disputed by the Company or the trustee of any
         "rabbi" trust created in connection therewith, or any other dispute in
         respect of the Plan or any such trust arises between any Eligible
         Employee, the Company and/or such trustee, any such Eligible Employee
         shall be promptly reimbursed for all reasonable attorney fees and
         expenses, after satisfaction by the Eligible Employee of a lifetime
         deductible equal to $25,000, incurred by any such Eligible Employee (i)
         in pursuing any such claim, or (ii) in connection with any such other
         dispute.

                                      -22-
<PAGE>

            ARTICLE 4. AMENDMENT, TERMINATION, OR PARTICIPANT REMOVAL

The Board of Directors reserves the right to modify or to amend, in whole or in
part, or to terminate this Plan at any time. However, no modification, amendment
or termination of the Plan shall reduce the Benefit being paid to a Retiree as
of the date of any such amendment or termination. In respect of any Eligible
Employee, no modification or amendment shall adversely affect such Eligible
Employee, unless such Eligible Employee consents to such modification or
amendment in writing, and, if the Plan is terminated by the Company, each
Eligible Employee shall be entitled to a Benefit calculated under Article 2
above, based on such Eligible Employee's service and compensation to the date of
such plan termination.

Also, with respect to an Eligible Employee who is not a Retiree pursuant to
Section 1.17 of the Plan, if such Eligible Employee is removed as a participant
from the Plan by the Committee, then such former Eligible Employee shall have no
rights to any Benefits under the Plan, but rather such former Eligible Employee
shall only have those rights that are available to such former Eligible Employee
under the Company's other benefit plans.

                                      -23-
<PAGE>

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, THOMAS & BETTS CORPORATION has caused this Plan, as
amended, to be duly executed this 1st day of December, 1999.

Attest:                               THOMAS & BETTS CORPORATION

/s/ Jerry Kronenberg                      By: /s/ Clyde R. Moore
----------------------------------        --------------------------------------
Jerry Kronenberg                          Clyde R. Moore
Vice President-General Counsel and        President and Chief Executive Officer
   Secretary

(Corporate Seal)

                                      -24-
<PAGE>

Source: [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00005-of-00352.parquet"}, [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00005-of-00352.parquet"}]]