As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 27, 1998

                                                      Registration No. 333-
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                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                           Washington, D.C. 20549-1004
                                ----------------

                                    FORM S-3
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                                   AVNET, INC.
             ------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


            New York                                  11-1890605
  ----------------------------                     ----------------
  (State or other jurisdiction                     (I.R.S. Employer
of incorporation or organization)                 Identification No.)

                                                  David R. Birk, Esq.
                                       Senior Vice President and General Counsel
      80 Cutter Mill Road                              Avnet, Inc.
  Great Neck, New York  11021                      80 Cutter Mill Road
     (516) 466-7000                         Great Neck, New York  11021
 -----------------------------                       (516) 466-7000    
 (Address, including zip code,           ---------------------------------------
and telephone number, including          (Name, address, including zip code, and
  area code, of registrant's                telephone number, including area
 principal executive offices)                  code, of agent for service)

                                   COPIES TO:

   Bernard Cedarbaum, Esq.                      Valerie Ford Jacob, Esq.
  Carter, Ledyard & Milburn             Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson
        2 Wall Street                        One New York Plaza, 25th Floor
  New York, New York  10005                   New York, New York 10004-1980
       (212) 732-3200                                (212) 859-8000

     Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public:  From time
to time after the effective date of this Registration  Statement,  as determined
by market conditions and other factors.

     If the only  securities  being  registered  on this Form are to be  offered
pursuant to dividend or interest  reinvestment plans, please check the following
box. |_|

     If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on
a delayed or continuous  basis  pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of
1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest
reinvestment plans, check the following box. |X|




                                                        





     If this Form is filed to  register  additional  securities  for an offering
pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box
and list  the  Securities  Act  registration  statement  number  of the  earlier
effective registration statement for the same offering. |_|

     If this Form is a  post-effective  amendment  filed pursuant to Rule 462(c)
under the  Securities  Act,  check the following box and list the Securities Act
registration  statement number of the earlier effective  registration  statement
for the same offering. |_|

     If delivery of the  prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to Rule 434,
please check the following box. |_|

     Pursuant  to  Rule  429(b),  the  prospectus  constituting  Part I of  this
Registration   Statement,  as  such  prospectus  may  hereafter  be  amended  or
supplemented,  is a combined  prospectus  which also relates to the registrant's
Registration Statement on Form S-3, Registration No. 33-51835.


                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
================================================================================================================================== Title of each class of Amount to be Proposed maximum Proposed maximum Amount of securities to be registered registered offering price per unit aggregate offering price registration fee - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Debt Securities .............. $400,000,000 100% (1)(2) $400,000,000(2) $118,000.00 Debt Securities............... 100,000,000(3) 100% (1)(2) 100,000,000(2) -0- (4) ----------- ----------- ------------ Total...................... $500,000,000(1)(5) 100% (1)(2) $500,000,000(2) $118,000.00 - -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) If any Debt Securities are issued at an original issue discount, the amount to be registered shall be increased so as to result in an aggregate offering price of all Debt Securities equal to $500,000,000, and the proposed maximum offering price per security will be correspondingly decreased. (2) Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee. Excludes accrued interest, if any, from the date of issuance. (3) Pursuant to Rule 429(b), this $100,000,000 principal amount of Debt Securities is being carried forward from the registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-3, Registration No. 33-51835. (4) A registration fee associated with these Debt Securities, in the amount of $34,482.76, was previously paid by the registrant with its Registration Statement on Form S-3, Registration No. 33-51835. Accordingly, since the registration fee for these Debt Securities as currently computed would be $29,500.00, no registration fee is currently payable with respect to these Debt Securities. (5) If any Debt Securities are issued in a principal amount denominated in a foreign currency, the amount to be registered shall be such amount as shall result in an aggregate principal amount equivalent to $500,000,000 at the time of the initial offerings. ---------------------------- -ii- The registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until this Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine. -iii- Information contained herein is subject to completion or amendment. A registration statement relating to these securities has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These securities may not be sold nor may offers to buy be accepted prior to the time the registration statement becomes effective. This prospectus shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any State in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such State. SUBJECT TO COMPLETION PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS DATED MAY 27, 1998 PROSPECTUS Avnet, Inc. Debt Securities ______ Avnet, Inc., a New York corporation (the "Company"), may offer, from time to time, debt securities consisting of debentures, notes and/or other unsecured evidences of indebtedness (the "Debt Securities") at an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $500,000,000 or, if the principal of the Debt Securities is payable in a foreign or composite currency, the equivalent thereof at the time of the initial offerings. The Debt Securities may be offered as separate series and may be offered in amounts, at prices and on terms to be determined at the time of sale. When a particular series of Debt Securities (the "Offered Debt Securities") are offered, a supplement to this Prospectus (a "Prospectus Supplement") will be delivered with this Prospectus setting forth the terms of such Offered Debt Securities, including, if applicable, the specific designation, aggregate principal amount, denominations, currency, purchase price, maturity, rate (which may be fixed or variable) and time of payment of interest, redemption terms, and any listing on a securities exchange of the Offered Debt Securities. The Debt Securities may be issued in registered or bearer form or both. In addition, all or a portion of the Debt Securities of a series may be issued in temporary or permanent global form. Debt Securities in bearer form will be offered only to non-United States persons and to offices located outside the United States of certain United States financial institutions. THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE. The Offered Debt Securities may be sold directly by the Company, or indirectly through agents designated from time to time or through underwriters or dealers, or through a combination of such methods. See "Plan of Distribution." If any agents of the Company or any underwriters or dealers are involved in the sale of the Offered Debt Securities, the names of such agents, underwriters or dealers and any applicable commissions or discounts will also be set forth in the Prospectus Supplement. The net proceeds to the Company from such sale will be set forth in the Prospectus Supplement. The date of this Prospectus is _____________ __ , 1998. AVAILABLE INFORMATION The Company is subject to the informational requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and in accordance therewith files reports, proxy statements and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission"). Such reports, proxy statements and other information can be inspected and copied at the public reference facilities maintained by the Commission at Room 1024, Judiciary Plaza, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549, and at the following regional offices of the Commission: New York Regional Office, 7 World Trade Center, 13th Floor, New York, New York 10048; and Chicago Regional Office, Suite 1500, Citicorp Center, 500 West Madison Street, Chicago, Illinois 60661-2511. Copies of such materials can be obtained at prescribed rates from the Public Reference Section of the Commission at Room 1024, Judiciary Plaza, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549. Information on the operation of the Public Reference Section may be obtained by calling the Commission at 1-800-SEC-0330. Such material can also be obtained on the Commission's Web site at http://www.sec.gov, and can be inspected at the offices of the New York Stock Exchange, Inc., 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005, and the Pacific Stock Exchange, Inc., 301 Pine Street, San Francisco, California 94104 or 618 South Spring Street, Los Angeles, California 90014, on which exchanges the common stock of the Company is listed. This Prospectus constitutes a part of a Registration Statement on Form S-3 (which, together with all amendments and exhibits thereto, is referred to herein as the "Registration Statement") filed by the Company with the Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"). This Prospectus omits certain of the information contained in the Registration Statement, and reference is hereby made to the Registration Statement for further information with respect to the Company and the Debt Securities offered hereby. Any statement contained herein concerning the provisions of any contract or other document is not necessarily complete, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the copy of such contract or other document filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement or otherwise filed with the Commission. The Registration Statement may be inspected without charge at the office of the Commission at Room 1024, Judiciary Plaza, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549, and copies thereof may be obtained from the Commission at prescribed rates. -2- INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE The following documents filed by the Company with the Commission (File No. 1-4224) are incorporated herein by reference: 1. The Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 27, 1997; 2. The Company's definitive proxy statement dated October 10, 1997, for the annual meeting of the shareholders of the Company held on November 19, 1997; 3. The Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarterly periods ended September 26, 1997, December 26, 1997, and March 27, 1998; and 4. The Company's Current Reports on Form 8-K bearing cover dates of September 23, 1997, September 25, 1997, and February 6, 1998. All documents subsequently filed by the Company pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act prior to the termination of the offering of the Debt Securities shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Prospectus and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of such documents. Any statement contained herein or in a document incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Prospectus to the extent that a statement contained in any subsequently filed document deemed to be incorporated herein or contained in the accompanying Prospectus Supplement modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of the Registration Statement or this Prospectus. The Company will provide without charge to each person to whom a copy of this Prospectus is delivered, on the written or oral request of any such person, a copy of any or all of the documents incorporated herein by reference (other than exhibits to such documents, unless such exhibits are specifically incorporated by reference into the documents that this Prospectus incorporates). Requests for such copies should be directed to Raymond Sadowski, Senior Vice President, Avnet, Inc., 80 Cutter Mill Road, Great Neck, New York 11021 (telephone (516) 466- 7000). -3- THE COMPANY The Company is one of the world's largest distributors of electronic and electromechanical components and computer products sold principally to industrial customers and to some commercial and military customers. The Company's principal suppliers are Intel, Motorola, National Semiconductor, Texas Instruments, Advanced Micro Devices, Harris Corporation, AMP, Inc., ITT Cannon, Bendix Corporation, Digital Equipment Corporation, Hewlett Packard, IBM, Connor Peripherals and Seagate Technology. Its primary customers are original equipment manufacturers. Electronic components are shipped either as received from the Company's suppliers or with assembly or other value added. The Company also provides inventory management services with respect to the electronic components it sells. RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES The following table sets forth the ratio of the Company's earnings to fixed charges, on a consolidated basis, for the periods indicated: Nine months Year ended ended ------------------------------------------------------------- March 27, June 27, June 28, June 30, July 1, June 30, 1998(1) 1997 1996 1995 1994(2) 1993 ------- ---- ---- ---- ------- ---- 8.1 10.3 10.7 8.7 7.9 8.7 - ------- (1) Income before income taxes for the nine months ended March 27, 1998, includes the gain on the sale of Channel Master ($33.8 million), offset somewhat by costs relating to the anticipated divestiture of Avnet Industrial, the closure of the Company's corporate headquarters in Great Neck, New York, and the anticipated loss on the sale of Company-owned real estate, amounting to $13.3 million in the aggregate. Had such one-time items (amounting to $20.5 million, net) not been included, the ratio of earnings to fixed charges for the nine months ended March 27, 1998, would have been 7.5 on a pro forma basis. (2) Income before income taxes for the year ended July 1, 1994, includes restructuring and integration charges of $22.7 million in connection with the acquisition of Hall-Mark Electronics Corporation. Had such one-time charges not been included, the ratio of earnings to fixed charges for the year ended July 1, 1994, would have been 8.9 on a pro forma basis. -4- USE OF PROCEEDS Except as may be set forth in a Prospectus Supplement, the Company intends to use the net proceeds from the sale of the Debt Securities for general corporate purposes, which may include repayment of debt, capital expenditures, possible acquisitions, repurchases of the Company's common stock, and working capital. Pending such use, the net proceeds may be temporarily invested in short-term securities. Depending on market conditions, the financial needs of the Company and other factors, the Company may, from time to time, undertake additional financings. The amount and timing of such financings, if any, cannot be determined at this time. DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES The following description of the terms of the Debt Securities sets forth certain general terms and provisions of the Debt Securities to which any Prospectus Supplement may relate. The particular terms of the Debt Securities offered by any Prospectus Supplement (the "Offered Debt Securities") and the extent, if any, to which such general provisions may apply to the Offered Debt Securities will be described in the Prospectus Supplement relating to such Offered Debt Securities. The Debt Securities are to be issued under an Indenture dated as of February 1, 1994 (the "Indenture"), between the Company and The First National Bank of Chicago, as Trustee (the "Trustee"), which is an exhibit incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement. The following summary of certain general provisions of the Indenture and the Debt Securities does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to, the provisions of the Indenture, including the definitions therein of certain terms. Whenever particular provisions in the Indenture are referred to herein, such provisions are incorporated by reference herein. Unless otherwise defined herein, all capitalized terms in this section have the same meanings given to such terms in the Indenture. General The aggregate principal amount of Debt Securities which can be issued under the Indenture is unlimited. The Debt Securities to which this Prospectus relates will be issued from time to time in one or more series in amounts the proceeds of which will aggregate up to $500,000,000 and will be offered to the public on terms determined by market conditions at the time of sale. The Debt Securities will be unsecured and will rank pari passu with all other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness of the Company. The Indenture does not limit the amount of other indebtedness or securities, other than certain secured indebtedness as described below, that may be issued by the Company. -5- Debt Securities of a series may be issued in registered form ("Registered Securities") or bearer form ("Bearer Securities") or both as specified in the terms of the series. Debt Securities in bearer form will be offered only to non-United States persons and to offices located outside the United States of certain United States financial institutions. Debt Securities of a series may be issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more global securities ("Global Securities") registered in the name of a depository or its nominee and, in such case, beneficial interests in the Global Securities will be shown on, and transfers thereof will be effected only through, records maintained by the designated depository and its participants. Reference is made to the Prospectus Supplement relating to the particular series of Offered Debt Securities offered thereby for the following terms of such Offered Debt Securities: o The designation, aggregate principal amount and authorized denominations; o The issue price expressed as a percentage of the aggregate principal amount; o The date or dates of maturity; o The interest rate per annum (fixed or floating) or the method by which such interest rate will be determined; o The dates interest will commence accruing and, if applicable, be paid and, for Registered Securities, the record dates for interest payments; o Where principal and interest, if any, will be paid; o Any optional or mandatory sinking fund provisions; o The dates and redemption prices relating to any optional or mandatory redemption provisions and other terms and provisions of any optional or mandatory redemptions; o The denominations of Registered Securities if other than denominations of $1,000 and any multiple thereof, and the denominations of Bearer Securities if other than denominations of $5,000; o The portion of the principal amount payable on declaration of acceleration of maturity or provable in bankruptcy, if other than the principal amount; o Any Events of Default, if not set forth in the Indenture; -6- o The currency or currencies, including composite currencies, of payment of the principal (and premium, if any) and interest (if any), if other than the currency of the United States of America; o If the principal (and premium, if any) or interest, if any, are to be payable, at the election of the Company or any Holder thereof, in coin or currency other than that in which the Offered Debt Securities of the series are stated to be payable, the period or periods within which, and the terms and condition on which, such election may be made; o If such securities are to be denominated in a currency or currencies, including composite currencies, other than the currency of the United States of America, the equivalent price in the currency of the United States of America for purposes of determining the voting rights of Holders of such Offered Debt Securities as Outstanding Securities under the Indenture; o If the amount of payments of principal (and premium, if any), or portions thereof, or interest may be determined with reference to an index, formula or other method, the manner of determining such amounts; o Whether the Offered Debt Securities will be issuable in registered or bearer form or both, any restrictions applicable to the offer, sale or delivery of the Offered Debt Securities in bearer form, and whether the Offered Debt Securities in bearer form will be exchangeable (and the terms on which such exchange may be made) for Offered Debt Securities in registered form; o Whether Offered Debt Securities will be issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities and, if so, the method of transferring beneficial interest in such Global Security or Global Securities; o The application, if any, of certain provisions of the Indenture relating to defeasance and discharge, and related conditions; o Any additional restrictive covenants or other material terms relating thereto which may not be inconsistent with the Indenture; and o Any applicable federal income tax consequences. Unless otherwise indicated in the Prospectus Supplement relating thereto, principal (and premium, if any) will be payable, and the Registered Securities will be transferable, at the corporate trust office of the Trustee in New York, New York. Unless other arrangements are made, interest, if any, will be paid by checks mailed to the Holders of Registered Securities at their registered addresses. To the extent set forth in the Prospectus Supplement relating thereto, -7- Bearer Securities and the coupons appertaining thereto will be payable, against surrender thereof, subject to any applicable laws and regulations, at the offices of such paying agencies outside the United States as the Company may appoint from time to time. No service charge will be made for any transfer or exchange of the Debt Securities, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith. One or more series of the Debt Securities may be issued as discounted Debt Securities (bearing no interest or interest at a rate which at the time of issuance is below market rates) to be sold at a substantial discount below their stated principal amount. Federal income tax consequences and other special considerations applicable to any such discounted Debt Securities will be described in the Prospectus Supplement relating thereto. The Company will comply with Section 14(e) of the Exchange Act, and any tender offer rules of the Commission under the Exchange Act which may then be applicable, in connection with any obligation of the Company to purchase Offered Debt Securities at the option of the holders thereof. Any such obligation applicable to a series of Debt Securities will be described in the Prospectus Supplement or Prospectus Supplements relating thereto. The Company may at any time purchase Debt Securities at any price in the open market or otherwise. Debt Securities so purchased by the Company may, at its sole option, be held, resold or surrendered to the Trustee for cancellation. Certain Definitions "Attributable Debt" means, as to any particular lease, the greater of (i) the fair market value of the property subject to the lease (as determined by the Company's Board of Directors), or (ii) the total net amount of rent required to be paid during the remaining term of the lease, discounted by the weighted average effective interest cost per annum of the outstanding Debt Securities of all series, compounded semi-annually. "Consolidated Net Assets" means total assets after deducting therefrom all current liabilities as set forth in the most recent balance sheet of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries and computed in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. "Funded Debt" means (i) all indebtedness for money borrowed having a maturity of more than twelve months from the date as of which the determination is made or having a maturity of twelve months or less but by its terms being renewable or extendible beyond twelve months from such date at the option of the borrower, and (ii) rental obligations payable more than twelve months from such date under leases which are capitalized in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (such rental obligations to be included as Funded Debt at the amount so capitalized and to be included as an asset for the purposes of the definition of Consolidated Net Assets). -8- "Person" means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof. "Principal Property" means any manufacturing or processing plant or warehouse owned at the date hereof or hereafter acquired by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company which is located within the United States and the gross book value (including related land and improvements thereon and all machinery and equipment included therein without deduction of any depreciation reserves) of which on the date as of which the determination is being made exceeds 2% of Consolidated Net Assets, other than (i) any such manufacturing or processing plant or warehouse or any portion thereof (together with the land on which it is erected and fixtures comprising a part thereof) which is financed by industrial development bonds which are tax exempt pursuant to Section 103 of the Internal Revenue Code (or which receive similar tax treatment under any subsequent amendments thereto or any successor laws thereof or under any other similar statute of the United States), (ii) any property which in the opinion of the Company's Board of Directors is not of material importance to the total business conducted by the Company as an entirety, or (iii) any portion of a particular property which is similarly found not to be of material importance to the use or operation of such property. "Restricted Subsidiary" means a Subsidiary of the Company (i) substantially all the property of which is located, or substantially all the business of which is carried on, within the United States, and (ii) which owns a Principal Property. "Subsidiary" means any corporation more than 50% of the outstanding Voting Stock of which at the time of determination is owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company and/or by one or more other Subsidiaries. "Voting Stock" means capital stock of a corporation of the class or classes having general voting power under ordinary circumstances to elect at least a majority of the Board of Directors, managers or trustees of such corporation (irrespective of whether or not at the time stock of any other class or classes shall have or might have voting power upon the occurrence of any contingency). Highly Leveraged Transactions Unless otherwise described in a Prospectus Supplement relating to any Offered Debt Securities, there are no covenants or provisions contained in the Indenture which may afford the holders of Offered Debt Securities direct protection in the event of a highly leveraged transaction involving the Company. -9- Restrictions on Secured Debt The Company covenants in the Indenture, for the benefit of each series of Debt Securities other than any series which specifically provides otherwise, that if the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary shall after the date of the Indenture incur or guarantee any loans, notes, bonds, debentures or other similar evidences of indebtedness for money borrowed ("Debt") secured by a mortgage, pledge or lien ("Mortgage") on any Principal Property of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, or on any share of stock or Debt of any Restricted Subsidiary, the Company will secure or cause such Restricted Subsidiary to secure the Debt Securities equally and ratably with (or, at the Company's option, prior to) such secured Debt, unless the aggregate amount of all such secured Debt (plus all Attributable Debt which is not excluded as described below under the caption " -- Restrictions on Sale and Leaseback Financings") would not exceed 10% of Consolidated Net Assets. This restriction will not apply to, and there will be excluded from secured Debt in any computation of the above restriction, Debt secured by (a) Mortgages on property of, or on any shares of stock of or Debt of, any corporation existing at the time such corporation becomes a Restricted Subsidiary, (b) Mortgages in favor of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary, (c) Mortgages in favor of governmental bodies to secure progress, advance or other payments, (d) Mortgages on property, shares of stock or Debt existing at the time of acquisition thereof (including acquisition through merger or consolidation) and purchase money and construction or improvement Mortgages which are entered into within 180 days after the acquisition of such property, shares or Debt or, in the case of real property, within 180 days after the later of (1) the completion of construction on, substantial repair to, alteration or development of, or substantial improvement to, such property, or (2) the commencement of commercial operations on such property, (e) mechanics' and similar liens arising in the ordinary course of business in respect of obligations not due or being contested in good faith, (f) Mortgages arising from deposits with, or the giving of any form of security to, any governmental agency required as a condition to the transaction of business or to the exercise of any privilege, franchise or license, (g) Mortgages for taxes, assessments or government charges or levies which are not then due or, if delinquent, are being contested in good faith, (h) Mortgages (including judgment liens) arising from legal proceedings being contested in good faith, (i) Mortgages existing at the date of the Indenture and (j) any extension, renewal or refunding of any Mortgage referred to in the foregoing clauses (a) through (i) inclusive. Restrictions on Sale and Leaseback Financings The Company covenants in the Indenture, for the benefit of each series of Debt Securities other than any series which specifically provides otherwise, that the Company will not itself, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, enter into any sale and leaseback transaction involving any Principal Property, unless after giving effect thereto the aggregate amount of all Attributable Debt with respect to all such transactions, plus all secured Debt which is not -10- excluded as described above under the caption " -- Restrictions on Secured Debt," would not exceed 10% of Consolidated Net Assets. This restriction will not apply to, and there will be excluded from Attributable Debt in any computation of the above restriction, any sale and leaseback transaction if (a) the lease is for a period, including renewal rights, of not in excess of three years, (b) the sale or transfer of the Principal Property is made within 180 days after its acquisition or within 180 days after the later of (1) the completion of construction on, substantial repair to, alteration or development of, or substantial improvement to, such property, or (2) the commencement of commercial operations thereon, (c) the transaction is between the Company and a Restricted Subsidiary, or between Restricted Subsidiaries, (d) the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary would be entitled to incur a Mortgage on such Principal Property securing Debt in an amount equal to the Attributable Debt with respect to such transaction without equally or ratably securing the Securities, or (e) the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary, within 180 days after the sale or transfer is completed, applies to the retirement of Funded Debt of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary ranking on a parity with or senior to the Debt Securities, or to the purchase of other property which will constitute a Principal Property having a fair market value at least equal to the fair market value of the Principal Property leased, an amount equal to the greater of the net proceeds of the sale of the Principal Property or the fair market value (as determined by the Company's Board of Directors) of the Principal Property leased at the time of entering into such arrangement (as determined by the Board of Directors). Restrictions on Mergers and Consolidations The Company covenants in the Indenture that it will not merge or sell, convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all of its assets unless (i) the successor Person is the Company or another Person organized under the laws of the United States (including any state thereof and the District of Columbia) which assumes the Company's obligations in the Debt Securities and under the Indenture, and (ii) after giving effect to such transaction, the Company or the successor Person would not be in default under the Indenture. Events of Default The Indenture defines "Events of Default" with respect to the Debt Securities of any series as being one of the following events: (i) default in the payment of any installment of interest on that series for 30 days after becoming due; (ii) default in the payment of principal on that series when due; (iii) default in the deposit of any sinking fund payment on that series when due; (iv) default in the performance of any other covenant in the Debt Securities of that series or the Indenture (other than a covenant included in the Indenture solely for the benefit of any series of Debt Securities other than that series) for 90 days after notice; (v) certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization; and (vi) any other Event of Default provided with respect to Debt Securities of that series. If an Event of Default shall occur and be continuing with respect to the Debt Securities of any series, either the Trustee or the holders of at least 25% in principal amount -11- of the Debt Securities then outstanding of that series may declare the principal amount of the Debt Securities of such series (or, in the case of Debt Securities sold at an original issue discount, the amount specified in the terms thereof) and the accrued interest thereon, if any, to be due and payable. Under certain conditions, such a declaration may be rescinded. The Indenture provides that the Trustee shall, within 90 days after the occurrence of a default known to it, give the affected holders of Debt Securities notice of all uncured defaults known to it (the term "default" to mean the events specified above without grace periods); provided that, except in the case of default in the payment of principal of or interest on any Debt Security, the Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if it in good faith determines that the withholding of such notice is in the interest of the affected holders of Debt Securities. The Company will be required to furnish to the Trustee annually a statement by certain officers of the Company certifying that there are no defaults or specifying any default. The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Debt Securities of any series will have the right, subject to certain limitations, to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee with respect to the Debt Securities of such series, and to waive certain defaults with respect thereto. The Indenture provides that in case an Event of Default shall occur and be continuing, the Trustee shall exercise such of its rights and powers under the Indenture, and use the same degree of care and skill in exercising the same, as a prudent Person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of such Person's own affairs. Subject to such provisions, the Trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under the Indenture at the request of any of the holders of Debt Securities unless they shall have offered to the Trustee reasonable security or indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred by the Trustee in compliance with such request. Modification of the Indenture With certain exceptions, the Indenture may be modified or amended with the consent of the holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Debt Securities of each series affected by the modification; provided that no such modification or amendment may be made, without the consent of the holder of each Debt Security affected, which would (i) reduce the principal amount of or the interest on any Debt Security, or change the stated maturity of the principal of, or any installment of interest on, any Debt Security or the other terms of payment thereof, or (ii) reduce the above-stated percentage of Debt Securities, the consent of the holders of which is required to modify or amend the Indenture, or the percentage of Debt Securities of any series, the consent of the holders of which is required to waive certain past defaults. -12- Defeasance and Discharge The Indenture provides that the Company may elect, with respect to the Debt Securities of any series, to terminate (and be deemed to have satisfied) any and all of its obligations in respect of such Debt Securities (except for certain obligations to register the transfer or exchange of Debt Securities, to replace stolen, lost or mutilated Debt Securities, to maintain paying agencies and hold monies for payment in trust and, if so specified with respect to the Debt Securities of a certain series, to pay the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on such specified Debt Securities) on the 91st day after the deposit with the Trustee, in trust, of money and/or U.S. Government Obligations (as defined) which, through the payment of interest thereon and principal thereof in accordance with their terms, will provide money in an amount sufficient to pay any installment of principal of (and premium, if any), and interest, if any, on, and any mandatory sinking fund payments in respect of, such Debt Securities on the stated maturity of such payments in accordance with the terms of the Indenture and such Debt Securities. Such a trust may be established only if, among other things, the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel (who may be counsel to the Company) to the effect that, based upon applicable Federal income tax law or a ruling published by the United States Internal Revenue Service, such a defeasance and discharge will not be deemed, or result in, a taxable event with respect to holders of such Debt Securities. If so specified with respect to the Debt Securities of a series, such a trust may be established only if establishment of the trust would not cause the Debt Securities of any such series listed on any nationally recognized securities exchange to be de-listed as a result thereof. Concerning the Trustee The First National Bank of Chicago is the Trustee under the Indenture and has been appointed by the Company as initial Security Registrar with regard to the Debt Securities. The Company currently does, and from time to time in the future may, maintain lines of credit and have customary banking relationships with the Trustee. The Trustee may serve as trustee for other debt securities issued by the Company from time to time. PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION The Company may sell Offered Debt Securities to or through one or more underwriters or dealers, directly to institutional investors or other purchasers, through agents, or through a combination of such or other methods. The distribution of the Offered Debt Securities may be effected from time to time in one or more transactions at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed, or at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to such prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices. If underwriters are used in the sale, the Offered Debt Securities will be acquired by the underwriters for their own account and may be resold from time to time in one or more -13- transactions, including negotiated transactions, at a fixed public offering price or at varying prices determined at the time of sale. The Offered Debt Securities may be offered to the public either through underwriting syndicates represented by one or more managing underwriters or directly by one or more firms acting as underwriters. The underwriter or underwriters with respect to a particular underwritten offering of Offered Debt Securities will be named in the Prospectus Supplement relating to such offering and, if an underwriting syndicate is used, the managing underwriter or underwriters will be set forth on the cover of such Prospectus Supplement. Unless otherwise set forth in the Prospectus Supplement, the obligations of the underwriters to purchase the Offered Debt Securities will be subject to certain conditions precedent and the underwriters will be obligated to purchase all the Offered Debt Securities if any are purchased. The Offered Debt Securities may be sold directly by the Company or through agents designated by the Company from time to time. Any agent involved in the offer or sale of the Offered Debt Securities in respect of which this Prospectus is delivered will be named, and any commissions payable by the Company to such agent will be set forth, in the Prospectus Supplement relating thereto. Unless otherwise indicated in the Prospectus Supplement, any such agent will be acting on a best efforts basis for the period of its appointment. In connection with the sale of Offered Debt Securities, underwriters or agents may receive compensation from the Company or from purchasers of Offered Debt Securities for whom they may act as agents in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions. Underwriters may sell Offered Debt Securities to or through dealers, and such dealers may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from the underwriters and/or commissions from the purchasers for whom they may act as agents. Underwriters, dealers and agents that participate in the distribution of Offered Debt Securities may be deemed to be underwriters, and any discounts or commissions received by them from the Company and any profit on the resale of Offered Debt Securities by them may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions, under the Securities Act. Any such underwriter or agent will be identified, and any such compensation received from the Company will be described, in the related Prospectus Supplement. If so indicated in the related Prospectus Supplement, the Company will authorize underwriters or other persons acting as the Company's agents to solicit offers by certain institutions to purchase Offered Debt Securities from the Company at the public offering price set forth in the Prospectus Supplement pursuant to contracts providing for payment and delivery on a future date. Institutions with which such contracts may be made include commercial and savings banks, insurance companies, pension funds, investment companies, educational and charitable institutions and other institutions, but in all cases such institutions must be approved by the Company. The obligations of any purchaser under any such contract will be subject to the condition that the purchase of the Offered Debt Securities shall not at the time of delivery be prohibited under the laws of the jurisdiction to which such purchaser is subject. The underwriters and such other agents will not have any responsibility in respect of the validity or performance of such contracts. -14- Under agreements which may be entered into by the Company, underwriters and agents who participate in the distribution of Offered Debt Securities may be entitled to indemnification by the Company against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribution by the Company with respect to payments they may be required to make in respect thereof. Certain of the underwriters or agents and their affiliates may engage in transactions with and perform services for the Company or its affiliates in the ordinary course of their respective businesses. If underwriters or dealers are used in the sale, until the distribution of the Offered Debt Securities is completed, rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission may limit the ability of any such underwriters and certain selling group members, if any, to bid for and purchase the Offered Debt Securities. As an exception to these rules, representatives of any underwriters are permitted to engage in certain transactions that stabilize the price of the Offered Debt Securities. Such transactions may consist of bids or purchases for the purpose of pegging, fixing or maintaining the price of the Offered Debt Securities. If the underwriters create a short position in the Offered Debt Securities in connection with the offerings, i.e., if they sell more Offered Debt Securities than are set forth on the cover page of the Prospectus Supplement, the representatives of the underwriters may reduce that short position by purchasing Offered Debt Securities in the open market. The representatives of the underwriters may also elect to reduce any short position by exercising all or part of any over allotment option, if any, described in the Prospectus Supplement. In general, purchases of a security for the purpose of stabilization or to reduce a short position could cause the price of the security to be higher than it might be in the absence of such purchases. Neither the Company nor any underwriter or agent makes any representation or prediction as to the direction or magnitude of any effect that the transactions described above may have on the price of the Offered Debt Securities. In addition, neither the Company nor any underwriter or agent makes any representation that the representatives of any underwriters will engage in such transactions or that such transactions, once commenced, will not be discontinued without notice. The representatives of the underwriters may also impose a penalty bid on certain underwriters and selling group members, if any. This means that if the representatives of the underwriters purchase Offered Debt Securities in the open market to reduce the underwriters' short position or to stabilize the price of the Offered Debt Securities, they may reclaim the amount of the selling concession from the underwriters and selling group members who sold those Offered Debt Securities as part of the offering. The imposition of a penalty bid might also have an effect on the price of the Offered Debt Securities to the extent that it discourages resales of the Offered Debt Securities. -15- The Debt Securities may or may not be listed on a national securities exchange or traded in the over-the-counter market. No assurances can be given as to the liquidity of the trading market for any of such securities. LEGAL MATTERS The validity of the Offered Debt Securities will be passed upon for the Company by David R. Birk, Senior Vice President and General Counsel of the Company. Mr. Birk beneficially owns 17,794 shares of the Company's common stock, including 14,375 shares issuable upon exercise of employee stock options. Certain legal matters with respect to the Offered Debt Securities will be passed upon for the underwriters, dealers or agents, if any, by Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson (a partnership including professional corporations), One New York Plaza, New York, New York 10004, unless otherwise specified in the Prospectus Supplement. EXPERTS The consolidated financial statements and schedule incorporated by reference in this Prospectus and elsewhere in the Registration Statement have been audited by Arthur Andersen LLP, independent public accountants, as indicated in their report with respect thereto, and are incorporated by reference herein in reliance upon the authority of said firm as experts in giving said report. -16- PART II INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution. The expenses in connection with the registration of the securities being offered hereby are estimated to be: Securities and Exchange Commission registration fee....................................... $118,000 Rating agency fees......................................... 180,000 Legal fees................................................. 50,000 Accounting fees............................................ 50,000 Printing and engraving expenses............................ 15,000 Blue sky fees and expenses................................. 10,000 Trustee's fees and expenses................................ 2,500 Miscellaneous.............................................. 14,500 -------- Total............................................. $440,000 Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers. Section 53 of the registrant's By-laws provides as follows: "Indemnification" "A. The Corporation shall indemnify, and advance the expenses of, any director, officer or employee to the full extent permitted by the New York Business Corporation Law as the same now exists or may hereafter be amended. "B. The indemnification and advancement of expenses granted pursuant to this Section 53 shall not be exclusive or limiting of any other rights to which any person seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses may be entitled when authorized by (i) a resolution or shareholders, (ii) a resolution of directors or (iii) an agreement providing for such indemnification; provided that no indemnification may be made to or on behalf of any such person if a judgment or other final adjudication adverse to such person establishes that his acts were committed in bad faith or were the result of active and deliberate dishonesty and were material to the cause of action so adjudicated, or that he personally gained in fact a financial profit or other advantage to which he was not legally entitled. II-1 "C. No amendment, modification or rescission of these By-laws shall be effective to limit any person's right to indemnification with respect to any alleged cause of action that accrues or other incident or matter that occurs prior to the date on which such modification, amendment or rescission is adopted." Section 721 of the New York Business Corporation Law (the "B.C.L.") provides that no indemnification may be made to or on behalf of any director or officer of the Registrant if "a judgment or other final adjudication adverse to the director or officer establishes that his acts were committed in bad faith or were the result of active and deliberate dishonesty and were material to the cause of action so adjudicated, or that he personally gained in fact a financial profit or other advantage to which he was not legally entitled." Section 53B of the Registrant's By-laws includes the foregoing statutory language. The rights granted under Section 53 of the By-laws are in addition to, and are not exclusive of, any other rights to indemnification and expenses to which any director or officer may otherwise be entitled. Under the B.C.L., a New York corporation may indemnify any director or officer who is made or threatened to be made a party to an action by or in the right of such corporation against "amounts paid in settlement and reasonable expenses, including attorneys' fees," actually and necessarily incurred by him in connection with the defense or settlement of such action, or in connection with an appeal therein, if such director or officer acted, in good faith, for a purpose which he reasonably believed to be in the best interests of the corporation, except that no indemnification shall be made in respect of (1) a threatened action, or a pending action which is settled or otherwise disposed of, or (2) any claim, issue or matter as to which such director or officer shall have been adjudged liable to the corporation, unless and only to the extent that a court determines that the director or officer is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity (B.C.L. Section 722(c)). A corporation may also indemnify directors and officers who are parties to other actions or proceedings (including actions or proceedings by or in the right of any other corporation or other enterprise which the director or officer served at the request of the corporation) against "judgments, fines, amounts paid in settlement and reason able expenses, including attorneys' fees," actually or necessarily incurred as a result of such actions or proceedings, or any appeal therein, provided the director or officer acted, in good faith, for a purpose which he reasonably believed to be in the best interests of the corporation (or in the case of service to another corporation or other enterprise at the request of such corporation, not opposed to the best interests of such corporation) and, in criminal cases, that he also had no reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful (B.C.L. Section 722(a)). Any indemnification under Section 722 may be made only if authorized in the specific case by disinterested directors, or by the board of directors upon the opinion in writing of independent legal counsel that indemnification is proper, or by the shareholders (B.C.L. Section 723(b)), but even without such authorization, a court may order indemnification in certain circumstances (B.C.L. Section 724). Further, any director or officer who is "successful, on the merits or otherwise," in the defense of an action or proceeding is entitled to indemnification as a matter of right (B.C.L. Section 723(a)). II-2 A New York corporation may generally purchase insurance, consistent with the limitations of New York insurance law and regulatory supervision, to indemnify the corporation for any obligation which it incurs as a result of the indemnification of directors and officers under the provisions of the B.C.L., so long as no final adjudication has established that the directors' or officers' acts of active and deliberate dishonesty were material to the cause of action so adjudicated or that the directors or officers personally gained in fact a financial profit or other advantage (B.C.L. Section 726). The registrant's directors and officers are currently covered as insureds under directors' and officers' liability insurance. Such insurance, subject to annual renewal and certain rights of the insurer to terminate, provides an aggregate maximum of $50,000,000 of coverage for directors and officers of the Registrant and its subsidiaries against claims made during the policy period relating to certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933 (the "Securities Act"). Item 16. Exhibits. Exhibit No. --- 1 Form of Standard Underwriting Agreement Provisions. 4 Indenture dated as of February 1, 1994, between the registrant and The First National Bank of Chicago, as Trustee, filed as Exhibit 4 to the registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K (Commission File No. 1-4224) bearing cover date of March 8, 1994, and incorporated herein by reference. 5 Opinion of David R. Birk, Esq. with respect to the legality of the securities being registered hereunder. 12 Statement of computation of ratios of earnings to fixed charges. 23(a) Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP. 23(b) Consent of David R. Birk, Esq. (included in Exhibit 5). 24 Powers of Attorney. 25 Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility of The First National Bank of Chicago under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939. II-3 Item 17. Undertakings. (1) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes: (a) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement: (i) to include any prospectus required by section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act; (ii) to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of this Registration Statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment hereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in this Registration Statement. (Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the change in volume represents no more than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the "Calculation of Registration Fee" table in the effective registration statement.); and (iii) to include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in this Registration Statement or any material change to such information in this Registration Statement; provided, however, that paragraphs (i) and (ii) above do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act") that are incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement; (b) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered herein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. (c) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering. (2) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered herein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. II-4 (3) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the provisions referred to in Item 15 above, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue. (4) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that: (a) For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this Registration Statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or (4) or 497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of this Registration Statement as of the time it was declared effective; and (b) For the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. II-5 SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3, and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the Town of Great Neck, State of New York, on May 27, 1998. AVNET, INC. By:/s/Raymond Sadowski ------------------- Raymond Sadowski Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed on May 27, 1998, by the following persons in the capacities indicated: Signature Title - --------- ----- * - ----------- Chairman of the Board, Chief Leon Machiz Executive Officer and Director * Director - ------------ Eleanor Baum * Director - ----------------- Gerald J. Berkman II-6 Signature Title - --------- ----- * - ------------------- Director J. Veronica Biggins * - ------------------- Director Joseph F. Caligiuri * - ------------- Director Ehud Houminer * - ------------------ Director Salvatore J. Nuzzo * - ---------------- Director Frederic Salerno * - ---------- Director David Shaw * - ---------- Director Roy Vallee * - -------------- Director Keith Williams II-7 Signature Title - --------- ----- * - ----------------- Director Frederick S. Wood /s/Raymond Sadowski - ------------------- Senior Vice President and Raymond Sadowski Chief Financial Officer /s/John F. Cole - --------------- Controller and John F. Cole Chief Accounting Officer _________________ * By:/s/Raymond Sadowski ------------------- Raymond Sadowski Attorney-in-Fact II-8 EXHIBIT INDEX Exhibit No. --- 1 Form of Standard Underwriting Agreement Provisions 4 Indenture dated as of February 1, 1994, between the registrant and The First National Bank of Chicago, as Trustee, filed as Exhibit 4 to the registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K (Commission File No. 1-4224) bearing cover date of March 8, 1994, and incorporated herein by reference 5 Opinion of David R. Birk, Esq. with respect to the legality of the securities being registered hereunder 12 Statement of computation of ratios of earnings to fixed charges 23(a) Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP 23(b) Consent of David R. Birk, Esq. (included in Exhibit 5) 24 Powers of Attorney 25 Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility of The First National Bank of Chicago under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939



                                    EXHIBIT 1








                                                                        May 1998





                                   AVNET, INC.

                                 DEBT SECURITIES


                   STANDARD UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT PROVISIONS

     1.  Introductory.  Avnet,  Inc., a New York  corporation  (the  "Company"),
proposes  to issue  and sell from time to time  certain  of its debt  securities
registered  under  the  registration  statement  referred  to  in  Section  3(a)
("Securities").  The Securities  will be issued under an indenture,  dated as of
February 1, 1994 (such  indenture as amended or  supplemented is herein referred
to as the  "Indenture"),  between  the Company  and The First  National  Bank of
Chicago, as Trustee, in one or more series, which series may vary as to interest
rates, maturities,  redemption provisions,  selling prices and other terms, with
all such terms for any particular  series of the Securities  being determined at
the time of sale. Particular series of the Securities will be sold pursuant to a
Pricing Agreement  referred to in Section 2, for resale in accordance with terms
of offering determined at the time of sale.

     The firm or firms which agree to purchase the  Securities  are  hereinafter
referred to as the "Underwriters" of such Securities,  and the representative or
representatives  of the Underwriters,  if any,  specified in a Pricing Agreement
referred to in Section 2 are hereinafter  referred to as the  "Representatives";
provided,   however,  that  if  the  Pricing  Agreement  does  not  specify  any
representative of the Underwriters,  the term  "Representatives," as used herein
(other than in the second sentence of Section 2), shall mean the Underwriters.

     2. Purchase and Offering of Securities.  The obligation of the Underwriters
to  purchase  the  Securities  will  be  evidenced  by an  exchange  of  written
communications  ("Pricing Agreement") at the time the Company determines to sell
the  Securities.  The Pricing  Agreement  will  incorporate  by reference  these
Standard  Underwriting  Agreement  Provisions  (these  "Provisions"),  except as
otherwise provided therein, and will specify (1) the firm or firms which will be
Underwriters, (2) the names of any Representatives,  (3) the principal amount of
Securities to be purchased by each Underwriter and the purchase price to be paid
by the  Underwriters,  (4) the terms of the Securities not already  specified in
the Indenture, (5) the time and date on which delivery of the Securities will be
made to the Representatives for the accounts of the several Underwriters against
payment by the several  Underwriters through the Representatives of the purchase
price in New York  Clearing  House funds (such time and date, or such other time
and  date  not  later  than  seven  full   business   days   thereafter  as  the
Representatives and the Company



                     





agree to as to time and date for payment and  delivery,  being herein and in the
Pricing  Agreement  referred  to as the  "Closing  Date")  and (6) the  place of
delivery and payment.

     The  obligations of the  Underwriters  to purchase the  Securities  will be
several and not joint.  The  Securities  delivered  to the  Underwriters  on the
Closing Date will be in definitive fully registered form, in such  denominations
and registered in such names as the Representatives may request.

     Certificates  for the  Securities  shall be registered in such names and in
such  denominations  as the  Representatives  may request not less than two full
business days in advance of the Closing Date.

     3.  Representations  and Warranties of the Company:  The Company represents
and  warrants to each of the  Underwriters  as of the date of  execution  of any
Pricing Agreement (the "Representation Date") and as of any Closing Date that:

               (a) the Company is permitted to use Form S-3 under the Securities
          Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), and has filed with the Securities
          and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") a registration statement on
          such Form, which has become effective,  for the registration under the
          Act of the Securities.  Such registration statement, as amended at the
          Representation   Date,  meets  the  requirements  set  forth  in  Rule
          415(a)(1)(x) under the Act and complies in all other material respects
          with said Rule. Such  registration  statement,  including the exhibits
          thereto, as amended at the Representation  Date, is hereinafter called
          the  "Registration  Statement"  and  the  prospectus  included  in the
          Registration  Statement,  as  supplemented to reflect the terms of any
          series of the Securities and the plan of distribution  thereof, in the
          form  furnished to the  Underwriters  for use in  connection  with the
          offering of the Securities,  is hereinafter  called the  "Prospectus."
          Any reference herein to the  Registration  Statement or the Prospectus
          shall be deemed to include the  documents  incorporated  by  reference
          therein  pursuant  to Item 12 of Form S-3 which were  filed  under the
          Securities  Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act") on or before the
          Representation Date or the date of the Prospectus, as the case may be,
          and  any  reference  herein  to  the  terms  "amend,"  "amendment"  or
          "supplement"  with  respect  to  the  Registration  Statement  or  the
          Prospectus shall be deemed to include the filing of any document under
          the  Exchange  Act  after the  Representation  Date or the date of the
          Prospectus,  as the case may be, deemed to be incorporated  therein by
          reference;

               (b)  (i)  the  Registration  Statement,  the  Prospectus  and the
          Indenture  comply  in  all  material   respects  with  the  applicable
          requirements  of the Act, the Trust  Indenture Act of 1939 (the "Trust
          Indenture  Act")  and  the  Exchange  Act  and  the  respective  rules
          thereunder,  and  (ii)  neither  the  Registration  Statement  nor the
          Prospectus  contains any untrue  statement of a material fact or omits
          to state any



                                        2





          material fact  required to be stated  therein or necessary in order to
          make the statements therein not misleading;  provided,  however,  that
          the Company  makes no warranty or  representation  with respect to any
          statement contained in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus in
          reliance upon and in conformity with information  furnished in writing
          by or on behalf of any Underwriter  through the Representatives to the
          Company  expressly  for  use  in  the  Registration  Statement  or the
          Prospectus;

               (c) all of the issued and outstanding  shares of capital stock of
          the Company have been duly and validly  authorized  and issued and are
          fully  paid,  non-assessable  and free of  statutory  and  contractual
          preemptive  rights;  the  Company  and each of its  subsidiaries  (the
          "Subsidiaries")  have been duly  incorporated and are validly existing
          as  corporations  in good standing under the laws of their  respective
          jurisdictions of  incorporation,  with full power and authority to own
          their respective properties and conduct their respective businesses as
          described  in the  Registration  Statement  and  the  Prospectus;  the
          Company  has full power and  authority  to  execute  and  deliver  the
          Pricing  Agreement  (including these Provisions) and the Indenture and
          to issue and sell the Securities as herein contemplated;

               (d) the Company and each of its  Subsidiaries  are duly qualified
          or licensed  by, and are in good  standing  in, each  jurisdiction  in
          which  they  conduct  their  respective  businesses  and in which  the
          failure,  individually  or in  the  aggregate,  to be so  licensed  or
          qualified  could have a  material  adverse  effect on the  operations,
          business or condition of the Company and its  Subsidiaries  taken as a
          whole, and with respect to the Company,  the  jurisdictions  listed on
          Schedule A hereto  constitute a complete  list of such  jurisdictions;
          and the Company and each of its  Subsidiaries are in compliance in all
          material  respects  with the  laws,  orders,  rules,  regulations  and
          directives issued or administered by such jurisdictions;

               (e) neither the Company nor any of its  Subsidiaries is in breach
          of, or in default under (nor has any event occurred which with notice,
          lapse of time,  or both  would  constitute  a breach  of,  or  default
          under),  its  respective  charter or by-laws or in the  performance or
          observance  of  any  obligation,   agreement,  covenant  or  condition
          contained in any material  indenture,  mortgage,  deed of trust,  bank
          loan or credit agreement or other agreement or instrument to which the
          Company or any of its  Subsidiaries is a party or by which any of them
          is bound,  and the execution,  delivery and performance of the Pricing
          Agreement  (including  these  Provisions)  and the Indenture,  and the
          issuance  of the  Securities  and  consummation  of  the  transactions
          contemplated hereby and thereby,  will not conflict with, or result in
          any breach of or constitute a default under (nor  constitute any event
          which with notice,  lapse of time,  or both would  constitute a breach
          of, or default under), any provisions of the charter or by-laws of the
          Company  or any of its  Subsidiaries  or under  any  provision  of any
          material  license,  indenture,  mortgage,  deed of trust, bank loan or
          credit agreement or other agreement or instrument to which the Company
          or any of its



                                        3





          Subsidiaries  is a party or by which  any of them or their  respective
          properties  may be bound or  affected,  or under any  federal,  state,
          local or foreign law,  regulation  or rule or any decree,  judgment or
          order specifically binding on the Company or any of its Subsidiaries;

               (f)  the  Indenture  has  been  duly  authorized,   executed  and
          delivered by the Company and is a legal,  valid and binding  agreement
          of the Company  enforceable against the Company in accordance with its
          terms,  except  as  the  enforceability  thereof  may  be  limited  by
          bankruptcy,  insolvency,  reorganization,  moratorium  or similar laws
          affecting  creditors' rights generally,  and by general  principles of
          equity;

               (g) the Securities  have been duly  authorized by the Company and
          when  executed and  delivered by the Company  will  constitute  legal,
          valid and binding  obligations of the Company  enforceable against the
          Company in accordance with their terms,  except as the  enforceability
          thereof  may be limited  by  bankruptcy,  insolvency,  reorganization,
          moratorium or similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally,  and
          by general principles of equity;

               (h) the Pricing Agreement has been duly authorized,  executed and
          delivered by the Company;

               (i) the  Securities  and the  Indenture  conform in all  material
          respects to the  description  thereof  contained  in the  Registration
          Statement and Prospectus;

               (j) no  approval,  authorization,  consent  or order of or filing
          with  any  national,   state  or  local   governmental  or  regulatory
          commission, board, body, authority or agency is required in connection
          with the issuance and sale of the  Securities as  contemplated  hereby
          other than registration of the Securities under the Act, qualification
          of the  Indenture  under the  Trust  Indenture  Act and any  necessary
          qualification  under the  securities  or blue sky laws of the  various
          jurisdictions  in  which  the  Securities  are  being  offered  by the
          Underwriters;

               (k) the accountants  whose reports on the consolidated  financial
          statements  of the  Company  and its  Subsidiaries  are filed with the
          Commission as part of the  Registration  Statement and  Prospectus are
          independent  public  accountants  as  required  by  the  Act  and  the
          applicable published rules and regulations thereunder;

               (l)  each  of the  Company  and  its  Subsidiaries  (i)  has  all
          necessary licenses,  authorizations,  consents and approvals which are
          material to its business, (ii) has made all filings required under any
          federal,  state, local or foreign law, regulation or rule, the failure
          to make which would have a material  adverse effect on the operations,
          business,  prospects  or  financial  condition  of the Company and its
          Subsidiaries taken as a whole (a "Material Adverse Effect"), and (iii)
          has obtained



                                        4





          all  necessary  authorizations,  consents  and  approvals  from  other
          persons  which are material to its  business;  neither the Company nor
          any of its  Subsidiaries is in violation of, or in default under,  any
          such  license,  authorization,  consent or  approval  or any  federal,
          state, local or foreign law,  regulation or rule or any decree,  order
          or judgment  applicable to the Company or any of its  Subsidiaries the
          effect of which  violation  or  default,  singly or in the  aggregate,
          would have a Material Adverse Effect;

               (m) all legal or governmental proceedings, contracts or documents
          of a character required to be described in the Registration  Statement
          or the  Prospectus  or to be filed as an exhibit  to the  Registration
          Statement have been so described or filed as required;

               (n)  there  are no  actions,  suits  or  proceedings  pending  or
          threatened  against the Company or any of its  Subsidiaries  or any of
          their  respective  properties,  at law or in equity,  before or by any
          federal,   state,   local  or  foreign   governmental   or  regulatory
          commission,  board, body,  authority or agency which, singly or in the
          aggregate,  have a reasonable  likelihood  of resulting in  judgments,
          decrees or orders having a Material Adverse Effect;

               (o) the audited financial statements included in the Registration
          Statement and the Prospectus present fairly the consolidated financial
          position of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of the dates indicated
          and the  consolidated  results  of  operations  and cash  flows of the
          Company and its Subsidiaries for the periods specified; such financial
          statements  have been prepared in conformity  with generally  accepted
          accounting principles applied on a consistent basis during the periods
          involved;

               (p) subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is
          given in the Registration Statement and Prospectus,  and except as may
          be otherwise stated in the Registration Statement or Prospectus, there
          has not been (A) any material  and  unfavorable  change,  financial or
          otherwise,  in  the  business,   properties,   prospects,   regulatory
          environment,   results  of  operations  or  condition   (financial  or
          otherwise),   present  or   prospective,   of  the   Company  and  its
          Subsidiaries taken as a whole, (B) any transaction,  which is material
          and unfavorable to the Company and its Subsidiaries  taken as a whole,
          contemplated or entered into by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
          or  (C)  any   obligation,   contingent  or  otherwise,   directly  or
          indirectly,  incurred by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries  which
          is material and unfavorable to the Company and its Subsidiaries  taken
          as a whole;

               (q) no Subsidiary is a  "significant  subsidiary" as that term is
          defined in Item 1-02(w) of Regulation S-X promulgated under the Act;

               (r) the  Company  and each of the  Subsidiaries  have  filed  all
          material  federal  and state  income and  franchise  tax  returns  (or
          obtained extensions with respect



                                        5





          to the filing of such  returns) and have paid all taxes shown  thereon
          as currently due, and the Company has no knowledge of any material tax
          deficiency  which has been or might be asserted against the Company or
          any of the  Subsidiaries;  all material tax liabilities are adequately
          provided for on the books of the Company and each of the Subsidiaries;

               (s) the  Company  and its  Subsidiaries  own or  possess,  or can
          acquire on reasonable terms, adequate material patents, patent rights,
          licenses,   trademarks,   inventions,   service  marks,  trade  names,
          copyrights and know-how (including trade secrets and other proprietary
          or confidential information,  systems or procedures,  whether patented
          or unpatented)  (collectively,  "intellectual  property") necessary to
          conduct  the  business  now or  proposed  to be  operated  by  them as
          described in the  Registration  Statement and in the  Prospectus,  and
          neither the  Company  nor any of its  Subsidiaries  has  received  any
          notice  of  infringement  of or  conflict  with (or  knows of any such
          infringement  of or  conflict  with)  asserted  rights of others  with
          respect to any of such intellectual  property which, if such assertion
          of infringement or conflict were sustained, would result, singly or in
          the aggregate, in any Material Adverse Effect;

               (t) neither  the  Company nor any agent  acting on its behalf has
          taken or will take any action that might  cause the Pricing  Agreement
          or sale of the Securities to violate Regulation T, U or X of the Board
          of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, in each case as in effect,
          or as the same may hereafter be in effect, on the Closing Date;

               (u) except as described  in the  Registration  Statement  and the
          Prospectus, (i) the operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries are
          in   compliance  in  all  material   respects   with  all   applicable
          environmental  laws,  (ii)  the  Company  and  its  Subsidiaries  have
          obtained  all  material  environmental,  health  and  safety  permits,
          licenses and approvals necessary for its operation,  all such permits,
          licenses  and  approvals  are  in  effect  and  the  Company  and  its
          Subsidiaries are in compliance in all material respects with the terms
          and conditions  thereof,  (iii) with respect to any property currently
          or  formerly  owned,  leased or  operated by the Company or any of its
          Subsidiaries,  (a)  neither the  Company  nor any such  Subsidiary  is
          subject to any judicial or administrative proceeding or any order from
          or   agreement   with  any   governmental   authority   (collectively,
          "Proceedings"),  and (b) the Company  does not have  knowledge  of any
          pending or  threatened  investigation  by any  governmental  authority
          (collectively,  "Investigations") relating to any violation or alleged
          violation of any environmental  law, any release or threatened release
          of a hazardous  material into the environment,  or any remedial action
          that  may be  necessary  in  connection  with any  such  violation  or
          release,  except for such Proceedings or Investigations which, whether
          individually  or in the  aggregate,  could not be  expected  to have a
          Material  Adverse  Effect,  (iv)  neither  the  Company  nor any  such
          Subsidiary has filed



                                        6





          any notice  under any  environmental  law  indicating  past or present
          treatment,  storage,  disposal or release of a hazardous material into
          the  environment in a manner that is not in compliance  with, or which
          could result in liability under, applicable environmental laws, except
          where such non-compliance or liability, whether individually or in the
          aggregate,  could not be expected to have a Material  Adverse  Effect,
          (v) neither the Company nor any such Subsidiary has received notice of
          a claim that it may be subject to  liability  (a "Notice") as a result
          of a release or threatened release of hazardous  material,  except for
          such Notice which, whether individually or in the aggregate, could not
          be expected to have a Material  Adverse Effect,  and (vi) there are no
          events,  circumstances or conditions that might reasonably be expected
          to form the  basis of an order  for  clean-up  or  remediation,  or an
          action,  suit or proceeding by any private party or governmental  body
          or agency,  against or materially  affecting the Company or any of its
          subsidiaries relating to chemicals, pollutants,  contaminants, wastes,
          toxic substances, petroleum or petroleum products or any environmental
          law,  and  to  the  best  of  the  Company's  knowledge,  there  is no
          reasonable basis for any such order,  action,  suit or proceeding with
          respect to any  environmental  law which  could be  expected to have a
          Material Adverse Effect;

               (v) the Company is not an  "investment  company" or an affiliated
          person  of,  or  "promoter"  or   "principal   underwriter"   for,  an
          "investment  company,"  as such terms are  defined  in the  Investment
          Company  Act of  1940,  as  amended,  and the  rules  and  regulations
          thereunder; and

               (w) to the best knowledge of the Company, no labor problem exists
          with  employees  of the  Company  or any  of  its  Subsidiaries  or is
          imminent that could have a Material Adverse Effect.

     4. Certain Covenants of the Company: The Company hereby agrees:

               (a) to furnish such information as may be reasonably  required by
          and otherwise to cooperate with, the Representatives in qualifying the
          Securities for offering and sale under the securities or blue sky laws
          of such states as the  Representatives  may designate  (including  the
          provisions of Florida blue sky law, if requested,  relating to issuers
          doing  business  with Cuba) and to  maintain  such  qualifications  in
          effect as long as required  for the  distribution  of the  Securities,
          provided  that the  Company  shall not be  required  to  qualify  as a
          foreign  corporation  or a dealer  or to  consent  to the  service  of
          process  under the laws of any such state  (except  service of process
          with respect to the offering  and sale of the  Securities)  or to take
          any action which would or could subject the Company to taxation in any
          state  where it is not now so  subject;  and to  promptly  advise  the
          Representatives of the receipt by the Company of any notification with
          respect to the suspension of the  qualification  of the Securities for
          sale in any  jurisdiction  or the  initiation  or  threatening  of any
          proceeding for such purpose;



                                        7





               (b) to make available to the Representatives in New York City, as
          soon  as  practicable   after  the  Registration   Statement   becomes
          effective,  and  thereafter  from  time  to  time  to  furnish  to the
          Underwriters,  as many copies of the  Prospectus (or of the Prospectus
          as  amended  or  supplemented  if the  Company  shall  have  made  any
          amendments or  supplements  thereto  after the  effective  date of the
          Registration Statement) as the Underwriters may reasonably request for
          the purposes contemplated by the Act;

               (c) that the  Company  will use its  best  efforts  to cause  any
          amendment of the Registration  Statement to become effective promptly.
          The Company will not file any amendment to the Registration  Statement
          or amendment or supplement to the Prospectus relating to any series of
          the Securities to which the  Underwriters  of such series shall object
          in writing after a reasonable  opportunity to review the same. Subject
          to the  foregoing  sentence,  the Company  will cause each  Prospectus
          supplement  relating to the Securities to be filed with the Commission
          pursuant  to the  applicable  paragraph  of Rule 424  within  the time
          period  prescribed  and  will  provide  evidence  satisfactory  to the
          Underwriters  of such timely filing.  The Company will promptly advise
          the  Underwriters  of any series of Securities (A) when any Prospectus
          supplement  relating  to such  series  shall  have been filed with the
          Commission pursuant to Rule 424, (B) when, prior to termination of the
          offering of such series,  any amendment to the Registration  Statement
          shall have been filed with the Commission or become effective,  (C) of
          any request by the  Commission  for any amendment of the  Registration
          Statement  or  supplement  to the  Prospectus  or for  any  additional
          information,  (D) of the receipt by the Company of any notification of
          the  issuance  by the  Commission  of any stop  order  suspending  the
          effectiveness  of  the  Registration  Statement  or  the  use  of  any
          Prospectus or Prospectus  supplement or, if the Company has knowledge,
          of the  institution  or threat of any  proceeding for that purpose and
          (E) of the receipt by the Company of any notification  with respect to
          the suspension of the  qualification of the Securities for sale in any
          jurisdiction  or, if the Company has  knowledge,  of the initiation or
          threat of any proceeding for such purpose. The Company will make every
          reasonable effort to prevent the issuance of any such stop order or of
          any order  suspending  or preventing  any such use and, if issued,  to
          obtain as soon as possible the withdrawal thereof;

               (d) to furnish to the Representatives  and, upon request, to each
          of the other Underwriters for a period of three years from the date of
          each   Pricing   Agreement   (i)  copies  of  any   reports  or  other
          communications  which the Company  shall send to its  shareholders  or
          shall from time to time publish or publicly  disseminate,  (ii) copies
          of all annual, quarterly and current reports filed with the Commission
          on Forms 10- K, 10-Q and 8-K,  or such  other  similar  form as may be
          designated by the Commission,  and (iii) such other information as the
          Representatives  may reasonably  request  regarding the Company or its
          Subsidiaries;




                                        8





               (e) to advise the Underwriters of a series of Securities promptly
          of the  happening  of any event known to the  Company  within the time
          during  which a  prospectus  relating to such series is required to be
          delivered under the Act which,  in the judgment of the Company,  would
          require the making of any change in the Prospectus then being used, or
          in the  information  incorporated  therein by  reference,  so that the
          Prospectus would not include an untrue statement of a material fact or
          omit to  state a  material  fact  necessary  to  make  the  statements
          therein,  in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not
          misleading,  and,  during such time,  to prepare and  furnish,  at the
          Company's  expense,  to the  Underwriters  promptly such amendments or
          supplements to such Prospectus as may be necessary to reflect any such
          change and to furnish to the  Representatives  a copy of such proposed
          amendment or supplement before filing any such amendment or supplement
          with the Commission;

               (f) that, as soon as  practicable  after the date of each Pricing
          Agreement,  the Company will make generally  available to its Security
          holders an earnings statement that satisfies the provisions of Section
          11(a) of the Act and Rule 158 under the Act;

               (g) to apply the net proceeds from the sale of the  Securities in
          the  manner  set forth  under the  caption  "Use of  Proceeds"  in the
          Prospectus;

               (h) to pay all expenses,  fees and taxes (other than any transfer
          taxes  and fees and  disbursements  of  counsel  for the  Underwriters
          except as set forth  under  Section 5 hereof and (iii) and (iv) below)
          in connection with (i) the preparation and filing of the  Registration
          Statement,  each  preliminary  prospectus,  the  Prospectus,  and  any
          amendments or supplements  thereto, and the printing and furnishing of
          copies of each thereof to the Underwriters  and to dealers  (including
          costs  of  mailing  and  shipment),  (ii) the  preparation,  issuance,
          execution,  authentication  and delivery of the Securities,  (iii) the
          printing of the Pricing  Agreement  (including these  Provisions),  an
          Agreement Among  Underwriters,  any dealer  agreements,  any Powers of
          Attorney,  the  Indenture  and the  reproduction  and/or  printing and
          furnishing  of  copies  of each  thereof  to the  Underwriters  and to
          dealers   (including   costs  of  mailing  and  shipment),   (iv)  the
          qualification of the Securities for offering and sale under state laws
          and the  determination of their eligibility for investment under state
          law as aforesaid  (including  the legal fees and filing fees and other
          disbursements  of counsel for the  Underwriters)  and the printing and
          furnishing  of  copies  of any blue sky  surveys  or legal  investment
          surveys to the  Underwriters  and to  dealers,  (v) any listing of the
          Securities on any  securities  exchange and any  registration  thereof
          under the Exchange  Act,  (vi) any fees payable to  investment  rating
          agencies with respect to the  Securities,  (vii) any filing for review
          of the public  offering of the Securities by the National  Association
          of Securities Dealers,  Inc. (the "NASD"),  and (viii) the performance
          of the Company's other obligations hereunder; and



                                        9






               (i) that  the  Company  will  not,  without  the  consent  of the
          Representatives,  offer or sell, or publicly announce its intention to
          offer or sell, (i) any debt  securities  pursuant to a public offering
          or (ii) any unsecured debt securities  pursuant to a private placement
          which  contemplates  the purchasers of such debt securities  receiving
          customary   registration  rights,  in  each  case  during  the  period
          beginning on the date of the Pricing Agreement and ending the 90th day
          following  the date of the  Pricing  Agreement.  The  Company  has not
          taken,  and will not take,  directly or  indirectly,  any action which
          might  reasonably be expected to cause or result in the  stabilization
          or manipulation of the price of any security to facilitate the sale or
          resale of the Securities.

     5. Reimbursement of Underwriters'  Expenses:  If the Securities of a series
to which the attached Pricing Agreement relates are not delivered for any reason
other than (a) a termination of the  obligations of the several  Underwriters in
accordance with clause (a)(iii), (a)(iv) or (a)(v) of Section 9 hereof, or (b) a
default  by one  or  more  of  the  Underwriters  in  its  or  their  respective
obligations  hereunder,  the Company shall reimburse the Underwriters for all of
their  out-of-pocket  expenses,  including the fees and  disbursements  of their
counsel.

     6. Conditions of Underwriters' Obligations:  The several obligations of the
Underwriters  to purchase and pay for the Securities are subject to the accuracy
of the  representations  and warranties on the part of the Company herein on the
Representation  Date and at the Closing Date  (including  those contained in the
Pricing Agreement), to the accuracy of the statements of officers of the Company
made pursuant to the provisions hereof, to the performance by the Company of its
obligations hereunder and to the following conditions:

               (a) The  Company  shall  furnish  to the  Representatives  at the
          Closing Date an opinion of Carter, Ledyard & Milburn,  counsel for the
          Company, or other counsel to the Company reasonably  acceptable to the
          Representatives,  addressed to the  Underwriters and dated the Closing
          Date and in form satisfactory to counsel for the Underwriters, stating
          that:

                    (i) the Pricing  Agreement (which  incorporates by reference
               all of these  Provisions) has been duly authorized,  executed and
               delivered by the Company;

                    (ii) the  Indenture has been duly  authorized,  executed and
               delivered  by the Company and  constitutes  the legal,  valid and
               binding agreement of the Company  enforceable against the Company
               in   accordance   with  its   terms,   except   insofar   as  the
               enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy,  insolvency,
               reorganization,  moratorium or similar laws affecting  creditors'
               rights generally, and by general principles of equity;




                                       10





                    (iii)  the  Securities  have  been  duly  authorized  by the
               Company and, when executed and  authenticated  in accordance with
               the terms of the  Indenture  and delivered to and paid for by the
               Underwriters, will be legal, valid and binding obligations of the
               Company  enforceable against the Company in accordance with their
               terms,  except  insofar  as  the  enforceability  thereof  may be
               limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws
               affecting creditors' rights generally,  and by general principles
               of equity;

                    (iv)  the  Securities  and  the  Indenture  conform  in  all
               material respects to the summary  descriptions  thereof contained
               in the Registration Statement and Prospectus;

                    (v) the Registration Statement and the Prospectus (except as
               to the financial statements and schedules and other financial and
               statistical  data contained or incorporated by reference  therein
               and the  Trustee's  Statement of  Eligibility  on Form T-1, as to
               which such counsel need express no opinion)  comply as to form in
               all material respects with the requirements of the Act;

                    (vi) the  Registration  Statement has become effective under
               the Act and,  to the best of such  counsel's  knowledge,  no stop
               order  proceedings with respect thereto are pending or threatened
               under the Act;

                    (vii) no  approval,  authorization,  consent  or order of or
               filing  with  any  United  States   Federal  or  New  York  State
               governmental or regulatory commission,  board, body, authority or
               agency is  required in  connection  with the issue or sale of the
               Securities  by the  Company as  contemplated  hereby,  other than
               registration of the Securities under the Act and qualification of
               the Indenture  under the Trust Indenture Act (except such counsel
               need express no opinion as to any necessary  qualification  under
               the   state   securities   or  blue  sky  laws  of  the   various
               jurisdictions  in which the  Securities  are being offered by the
               Underwriters);

                    (viii) the Indenture has been duly qualified under the Trust
               Indenture Act.

     In  addition,  such  counsel  shall  state  that  it  has  participated  in
conferences   with   officers   and  other   representatives   of  the  Company,
representatives  of  the  independent  public  accountants  of the  Company  and
representatives  of the Underwriters,  at which the contents of the Registration
Statement  and  Prospectus  were  discussed  and,  although such counsel has not
independently  verified,  is not passing upon and does not assume responsibility
for, the accuracy,  completeness or fairness of the statements  contained in the
Registration  Statement  or  Prospectus  (except as and to the extent  stated in
subparagraph (iv) above), no facts have come to the attention of such



                                       11





counsel, in the course of such participation, that causes it to believe that the
Registration Statement, or any post-effective  amendment thereto, as of the date
it was declared  effective,  contained an untrue statement of a material fact or
omitted to state a material fact  required to be stated  therein or necessary to
make the  statements  therein  not  misleading,  or that the  Prospectus  or any
supplement thereto, at the date of such Prospectus or such supplement and at all
times up to and  including  the Closing  Date,  contained  or contains an untrue
statement  of a  material  fact or  omitted  or omits to state a  material  fact
required  to be stated  therein  or  necessary  in order to make the  statements
therein,  in the light of the  circumstances  under  which they were  made,  not
misleading (it being  understood  that such counsel need express no opinion with
respect to the  financial  statements  and  schedules  and other  financial  and
statistical  data included in the  Registration  Statement or Prospectus or with
respect to the Trustee's Statement of Eligibility on Form T-1).

     In rendering  such opinion,  counsel may state that such opinion is limited
to United States Federal and New York law.

               (b) The  Company  shall  furnish  to the  Representatives  at the
          Closing Date an opinion of David R. Birk,  Senior Vice  President  and
          General Counsel for the Company,  or such other counsel to the Company
          reasonably  acceptable  to  the  Representatives,   addressed  to  the
          Underwriters  and dated the Closing Date and in form  satisfactory  to
          counsel for the Underwriters, stating that:

                    (i) the Company is a  corporation  validly  existing  and in
               good standing under the laws of the State of New York,  with full
               corporate  power and authority to own its  properties and conduct
               its business as described in the  Registration  Statement and the
               Prospectus  and to issue,  sell and  deliver  the  Securities  as
               herein contemplated;

                    (ii) the outstanding  shares of capital stock of the Company
               have been duly and  validly  authorized  and issued and are fully
               paid,  non-assessable  and  free  of  statutory  and  contractual
               preemptive rights;

                    (iii)  each  of the  Subsidiaries  organized  in the  United
               States of America is a corporation  validly  existing and in good
               standing  under  the  laws  of  its  respective  jurisdiction  of
               incorporation  with full corporate power and authority to own its
               respective  properties and to conduct its respective business (in
               rendering this opinion with respect to  jurisdictions  other than
               the State of New York,  such counsel may state that he is relying
               exclusively  on  certificates   and  other  documents  of  public
               officials of such jurisdictions);

                    (iv) the Company is duly qualified to transact business as a
               foreign  corporation  in the  jurisdictions  listed on Schedule A
               hereto, other than the



                                       12





               State of New York (in rendering  this  opinion,  such counsel may
               state that he is relying  exclusively on  certificates  and other
               documents of public officials of such jurisdictions);

                    (v) to the best of such  counsel's  knowledge,  neither  the
               Company  nor  any of its  Subsidiaries  is in  breach  of,  or in
               default  under (nor has any event  occurred  which  with  notice,
               lapse of time,  or both would  constitute a breach of, or default
               under),  any  "material  contract"  (within  the  meaning of Item
               601(b)(10) of Regulation S-K promulgated  under the Exchange Act)
               to which the Company or any of its  Subsidiaries is a party or by
               which any of them or their respective  properties may be bound or
               affected,  or under any United  States  Federal or New York State
               law,  regulation or rule, or under any decree,  judgment or order
               applicable to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries;

                    (vi) the execution,  delivery and performance of the Pricing
               Agreement and the Indenture and the issuance of the Securities by
               the  Company  and  the   consummation   by  the  Company  of  the
               transactions  contemplated hereby and thereby do not and will not
               conflict  with,  or result in any  breach  of,  or  constitute  a
               default under (nor constitute any event which with notice,  lapse
               of time, or both would  constitute a breach of or default under),
               any provisions of the charter or by-laws of the Company or any of
               its Subsidiaries or under any provision of any material  license,
               indenture,  mortgage,  deed of trust, bank loan, credit agreement
               or other  agreement or  instrument to which the Company or any of
               its  Subsidiaries  is a party  or by  which  any of them or their
               respective properties may be bound or affected, or under any law,
               regulation or rule or any decree, judgment or order applicable to
               the Company or any of its Subsidiaries;

                    (vii) to the best of such counsel's knowledge,  there are no
               contracts,   licenses,  agreements,  leases  or  documents  of  a
               character  which  are  required  to be filed as  exhibits  to the
               Registration  Statement or to be  summarized  or described in the
               Prospectus which have not been so filed, summarized or described;

                    (viii) to the best of such counsel's knowledge, there are no
               actions,  suits or proceedings  pending or threatened against the
               Company  or any of its  Subsidiaries  or any of their  respective
               properties,  at law or in equity or before or by any  commission,
               board,  body,  authority  or  agency  which  are  required  to be
               described in the Prospectus but are not so described;

                    (ix)  the  documents   incorporated   by  reference  in  the
               Registration Statement and Prospectus,  when they were filed (or,
               if an amendment with



                                       13





               respect to any such  document was filed when such  amendment  was
               filed),  complied as to form in all  material  respects  with the
               requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules thereunder (except
               as to the financial  statements and schedules and other financial
               data contained or incorporated  by reference  therein as to which
               such counsel need express no opinion);

               (c) The  Representatives  shall have  received from the Company's
          independent public accountants letters dated, respectively,  as of the
          Representation  Date  and  the  Closing  Date,  and  addressed  to the
          Underwriters in the forms theretofore approved by the Representatives.

               (d) The  Representatives  shall have received at the Closing Date
          the  favorable  opinion of  counsel  for the  Underwriters,  dated the
          Closing  Date, in form and substance  reasonably  satisfactory  to the
          Representatives.

               (e) Prior to the Closing Date (i) the Registration  Statement and
          all amendments  thereto,  or modifications  thereof, if any, shall not
          contain  an untrue  statement  of a  material  fact or omit to state a
          material fact  required to be stated  therein or necessary in order to
          make the statements therein not misleading and (ii) the Prospectus and
          all amendments or supplements  thereto,  or modifications  thereof, if
          any, shall not contain an untrue statement of material fact or omit to
          state a material  fact  required to be stated  therein or necessary in
          order  to  make  the   statements   therein,   in  the  light  of  the
          circumstances under which they are made, not misleading.

               (f) Between the  Representation  Date and the Closing  Date,  (i)
          there has been no material adverse change in the condition,  financial
          or  otherwise,  or in  the  earnings,  business  affairs  or  business
          prospects  of the  Company  and  its  subsidiaries  considered  as one
          enterprise, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business,
          and (ii) no  transaction  which is  material  and  unfavorable  to the
          Company  shall  have been  entered  into by the  Company or any of its
          Subsidiaries.

               (g)  The  Company  will,  at the  Closing  Date,  deliver  to the
          Representatives a certificate of two of its executive  officers to the
          effect  that the  representations  and  warranties  of the Company set
          forth in Section 3 of this  Agreement and the  conditions set forth in
          subsections (e) and subsection (f) of this Section 6 have been met and
          are true and correct as of such date.

               (h) The Company shall have furnished to the Representatives  such
          other documents and  certificates as to the accuracy and  completeness
          of any statement in the  Registration  Statement and the Prospectus as
          of the Closing Date as the Representatives may reasonably request.




                                       14





               (i) The Company shall perform such of its obligations under these
          Provisions  and the Pricing  Agreement  as are to be  performed by the
          terms hereof and thereof at or before the Closing Date.

               (j)  No  stop  order   suspending   the   effectiveness   of  the
          Registration  Statement  has been issued and no  proceedings  for that
          purpose have been instituted or threatened.

               (k) At the Closing Date,  counsel for the Underwriters shall have
          been furnished with such  information,  certificates  and documents as
          they may  reasonably  require for the purpose of enabling them to pass
          upon the issuance and sale of the  Securities as  contemplated  herein
          and related  proceedings,  or in order to evidence the accuracy of any
          of the representations or warranties, or the fulfillment of any of the
          conditions,  herein  contained;  and  all  opinions  and  certificates
          mentioned  above or elsewhere in this  Agreement  shall be  reasonably
          satisfactory in form and substance to the  Representatives and counsel
          for the Underwriters.

     7. Indemnification.

               (a) The  Company  agrees  to  indemnify  and hold  harmless  each
          Underwriter  and each person,  if any,  who  controls any  Underwriter
          within  the  meaning  of  Section  15 of the Act or  Section 20 of the
          Exchange Act as follows:

               (i)  against  any and all  loss,  liability,  claim,  damage  and
          expense whatsoever,  as incurred,  arising out of any untrue statement
          or alleged  untrue  statement  of a  material  fact  contained  in the
          Registration  Statement  (or any  amendment  thereto),  including  the
          information  deemed to be part of the Registration  Statement pursuant
          to Rule 430A(b)  under the Act (the "Rule 430A  Information")  or Rule
          434 under the Act (the "Rule 434 Information"),  if applicable, or the
          omission or alleged omission  therefrom of a material fact required to
          be stated  therein or  necessary  to make the  statements  therein not
          misleading  or arising out of any untrue  statement or alleged  untrue
          statement of a material fact included in any preliminary prospectus or
          the  Prospectus  (or any  amendment  or  supplement  thereto),  or the
          omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact necessary in
          order  to  make  the   statements   therein,   in  the  light  of  the
          circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;

               (ii)  against  any and all loss,  liability,  claim,  damage  and
          expense whatsoever, as incurred, to the extent of the aggregate amount
          paid  in  settlement  of  any  litigation,  or  any  investigation  or
          proceeding  by  any   governmental   agency  or  body,   commenced  or
          threatened,  or of any claim  whatsoever  based  upon any such  untrue
          statement  or  omission,  or any  such  alleged  untrue  statement  or
          omission;



                                       15





          provided that  (subject to Section 7(d) below) any such  settlement is
          effected with the written consent of the Company; and

               (iii)  against  any  and  all  expense  whatsoever,  as  incurred
          (including, subject to Section 7(c) hereof, the fees and disbursements
          of counsel  chosen by the  Representatives),  reasonably  incurred  in
          investigating,  preparing or defending against any litigation,  or any
          investigation  or  proceeding  by any  governmental  agency  or  body,
          commenced or threatened,  or any claim  whatsoever based upon any such
          untrue statement or omission,  or any such alleged untrue statement or
          omission, to the extent that any such expense is not paid under (i) or
          (ii) above;

          provided,  however,  that the indemnity  provided in this Section 7(a)
          shall not apply to any loss,  liability,  claim,  damage or expense to
          the extent arising out of any untrue  statement or omission or alleged
          untrue  statement or omission  made in reliance upon and in conformity
          with written  information  furnished to the Company by or on behalf of
          any Underwriter through the  Representatives  expressly for use in the
          Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto),  including the Rule
          430A  Information  and the Rule 434  Information  deemed  to be a part
          thereof,  if  applicable,   or  any  preliminary   prospectus  or  the
          Prospectus  (or any amendment or supplement  thereto) (the  "Furnished
          Information");  and provided, further, that with respect to any untrue
          statement or omission or alleged untrue  statement or omission made in
          any  preliminary  prospectus,  the indemnity  provided in this Section
          7(a) shall not inure to the benefit of any  Underwriter  from whom the
          person  asserting any such losses,  claims,  damages,  liabilities  or
          expenses purchased the Securities concerned to the extent that (i) any
          such loss, claim, damage, liability or expense of such Underwriter and
          its  affiliates  results  from  the  fact  that  a copy  of the  final
          Prospectus  was not sent or given  to such  person  at or prior to the
          written  confirmation  of sale of such  Securities  as required by the
          Act, and (ii) the untrue  statement or omission has been  corrected in
          the final Prospectus.

               (b) Each  Underwriter  severally  agrees  to  indemnify  and hold
          harmless the Company,  its directors,  each of its officers who signed
          the Registration Statement,  and each person, if any, who controls the
          Company  within the  meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of
          the Exchange Act against any and all loss,  liability,  claim,  damage
          and expense described in the indemnity  contained in subsection (a) of
          this  Section  7,  as  incurred,  but  only  with  respect  to  untrue
          statements or omissions,  or alleged  untrue  statements or omissions,
          made  in  the  Registration   Statement  (or  any  amendment  thereto)
          including  the Rule  430A  Information  and the  Rule 434  Information
          deemed  to be a  part  thereof,  if  applicable,  or  any  preliminary
          prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement  thereto)
          in reliance  upon and in conformity  with the  Furnished  Information,
          which the  Underwriters  agree to  identify  by letter to the  Company
          dated each Closing Date.




                                       16





               (c) Each  indemnified  party  shall give  notice as  promptly  as
          reasonably  practicable  to  each  indemnifying  party  of any  action
          commenced  against  it in  respect  of which  indemnity  may be sought
          hereunder,  but failure to so notify an  indemnifying  party shall not
          relieve such  indemnifying  party from any liability  hereunder to the
          extent it is not materially  prejudiced as a result thereof and in any
          event  shall  not  relieve  it from  any  liability  which it may have
          otherwise than on account of this indemnity agreement.  In the case of
          parties  indemnified  pursuant to Section  7(a) above,  counsel to the
          indemnified parties shall be selected by the Representatives,  and, in
          the case of  parties  indemnified  pursuant  to  Section  7(b)  above,
          counsel to the  indemnified  parties shall be selected by the Company.
          An  indemnifying  party  may  participate  at its own  expense  in the
          defense of any such  action;  provided,  however,  that counsel to the
          indemnifying   party  shall  not  (except  with  the  consent  of  the
          indemnified  party) also be counsel to the  indemnified  party.  In no
          event shall the  indemnifying  parties be liable for fees and expenses
          of more than one counsel (in addition to any local  counsel)  separate
          from their own counsel for all indemnified  parties in connection with
          any one action or separate but similar or related  actions in the same
          jurisdiction   arising  out  of  the  same  general   allegations   or
          circumstances.  No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written
          consent of the indemnified parties, settle or compromise or consent to
          the entry of any  judgment  with  respect  to any  litigation,  or any
          investigation  or  proceeding  by any  governmental  agency  or  body,
          commenced or threatened,  or any claim  whatsoever in respect of which
          indemnification  or contribution  could be sought under this Section 7
          or Section 8 hereof (whether or not the indemnified parties are actual
          or potential parties thereto),  unless such settlement,  compromise or
          consent (i)  includes  an  unconditional  release of each  indemnified
          party   from   all   liability   arising   out  of  such   litigation,
          investigation,  proceeding  or claim  and  (ii)  does  not  include  a
          statement as to or an admission of fault,  culpability or a failure to
          act by or on behalf of any indemnified party.

               (d) If at any time an  indemnified  party shall have requested an
          indemnifying  party to reimburse  the  indemnified  party for fees and
          expenses of counsel,  such indemnifying  party agrees that it shall be
          liable  for any  settlement  of the  nature  contemplated  by  Section
          7(a)(ii)  effected  without its written consent if (i) such settlement
          is entered into more than 45 days after  receipt by such  indemnifying
          party of the aforesaid  request,  (ii) such  indemnifying  party shall
          have received  notice of the terms of such settlement at least 30 days
          prior  to  such   settlement   being   entered  into  and  (iii)  such
          indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed such indemnified party in
          accordance  with such  request  prior to the date of such  settlement.
          Notwithstanding the immediately  preceding sentence, if at any time an
          indemnified  party  shall  have  requested  an  indemnifying  party to
          reimburse the indemnified  party for fees and expenses of counsel,  an
          indemnifying  party  shall not be  liable  for any  settlement  of the
          nature  contemplated by Section 7(a)(ii)  effected without its consent
          if such  indemnifying  party (i) reimburses such indemnified  party in
          accordance with



                                       17





          such request to the extent it considers  such request to be reasonable
          and  (ii)   provides   written   notice  to  the   indemnified   party
          substantiating the unpaid balance as unreasonable,  in each case prior
          to the date of such settlement.

     8. Contribution. If the indemnification provided for in Section 7 hereof is
for any reason  unavailable to or  insufficient  to hold harmless an indemnified
party in  respect  of any  losses,  liabilities,  claims,  damages  or  expenses
referred to  therein,  then each  indemnifying  party  shall  contribute  to the
aggregate  amount of such  losses,  liabilities,  claims,  damages and  expenses
incurred by such  indemnified  party, as incurred,  (i) in such proportion as is
appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company, on the one
hand,  and the  Underwriters,  on the  other  hand,  from  the  offering  of the
Securities  pursuant  to  the  applicable  Pricing  Agreement,  or  (ii)  if the
allocation  provided by clause (i) is not permitted by  applicable  law, in such
proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative  benefits referred
to in clause (i) above but also the relative  fault of the  Company,  on the one
hand, and the Underwriters, on the other hand, in connection with the statements
or omissions  which  resulted in such losses,  liabilities,  claims,  damages or
expenses, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.

     The relative  benefits  received by the Company,  on the one hand,  and the
Underwriters,  on the  other  hand,  in  connection  with  the  offering  to the
Securities pursuant to the applicable Pricing Agreement shall be deemed to be in
the same  respective  proportions as the total net proceeds from the offering of
such  Securities  (before  deducting  expenses)  received by the Company and the
total  underwriting  discount received by the Underwriters,  in each case as set
forth on the cover of the Prospectus, or, if Rule 434 is used, the corresponding
location on the term sheet,  bear to the aggregate initial public offering price
of such Securities as set forth on such cover.

     The relative fault of the Company,  on the one hand, and the  Underwriters,
on the other hand,  shall be  determined  by reference  to, among other  things,
whether  any such  untrue or alleged  untrue  statement  of a  material  fact or
omission or alleged  omission to state a material  fact  relates to  information
supplied by the Company or by the Underwriters and the parties' relative intent,
knowledge,  access to  information  and  opportunity  to correct or prevent such
statement or omission.

     The  Company  and the  Underwriters  agree  that it  would  not be just and
equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 8 were determined by pro rata
allocation  (even  if the  Underwriters  were  treated  as one  entity  for such
purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the
equitable  considerations  referred  to above in this  Section 8. The  aggregate
amount of losses,  liabilities,  claims,  damages  and  expenses  incurred by an
indemnified  party and  referred  to above in this  Section 8 shall be deemed to
include any legal or other  expenses  reasonably  incurred  by such  indemnified
party in investigating,  preparing or defending  against any litigation,  or any
investigation or proceeding



                                       18





by any  governmental  agency  or body,  commenced  or  threatened,  or any claim
whatsoever based upon any such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or
alleged omission.

     Notwithstanding  the provisions of this Section 8, no Underwriter  shall be
required  to  contribute  any  amount in excess of the amount by which the total
price at which the Securities  underwritten  by it and distributed to the public
exceeds the amount of any damages  which such  Underwriter  has  otherwise  been
required  to pay by reason of any such  untrue or alleged  untrue  statement  or
omission or alleged omission.

     No person  guilty of  fraudulent  misrepresentation  (within the meaning of
Section 11(f) of the Act) shall be entitled to contribution  from any person who
was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.

     For  purposes  of this  Section 8, each  person,  if any,  who  controls an
Underwriter  within  the  meaning  of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the
Exchange Act shall have the same rights to contribution as such Underwriter, and
each  director  of the  Company,  each  officer  of the  Company  who signed the
Registration Statement, and each person, if any, who controls the Company within
the  meaning of Section  15 of the Act or Section 20 of the  Exchange  Act shall
have  the  same  rights  to  contribution  as  the  Company.  The  Underwriters'
respective  obligations to contribute  pursuant to this Section 8 are several in
proportion to the number or aggregate  principal  amount, as the case may be, of
Securities set forth opposite their respective  names in the applicable  Pricing
Agreement, and not joint.

     9. Termination.

               (a) The  Representatives  may  terminate the  applicable  Pricing
          Agreement,  by notice to the  Company,  at any time at or prior to the
          Closing Date, if (i) there has been, since the Representation  Date or
          since the  respective  dates as of which  information  is given in the
          Prospectus, any material adverse change in the condition, financial or
          otherwise, or in the earnings,  business affairs or business prospects
          of the  Company and its  subsidiaries  considered  as one  enterprise,
          whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business, or (ii) any
          of the ratings  accorded any of the Company's  debt  securities  shall
          have been downgraded,  or placed under  surveillance or review,  other
          than  with  positive  implications,   by  any  "nationally  recognized
          statistical  rating  organization,"  as that  term is  defined  by the
          Commission in Rule 15c3-1(c)(2)(vi)(F)(ii)  under the Exchange Act, or
          (iii) there has occurred any material  adverse change in the financial
          markets in the United States or, if the Securities are  denominated or
          payable  in,  or  indexed  to,  one  or  more   foreign  or  composite
          currencies,  in the applicable international financial markets, or any
          outbreak of  hostilities  or escalation  thereof or other  calamity or
          crisis or any change or development  involving a prospective change in
          national or international political, financial or economic conditions,
          in each  case  the  effect  of  which  is such as to make  it,  in the
          judgment  of  the   Representatives,   impracticable   to  market  the
          Securities or



                                       19





          to enforce  contracts for the sale of the Securities,  or (iv) trading
          in any  securities  of the Company has been  suspended  or  materially
          limited by the Commission or the New York Stock  Exchange,  or trading
          generally  on the  New  York  Stock  Exchange  or the  American  Stock
          Exchange  or in the  Nasdaq  National  Market  has been  suspended  or
          materially limited, or minimum or maximum prices for trading have been
          fixed,  or maximum ranges for prices have been required,  by either of
          said  exchanges or by such system or by order of the  Commission,  the
          NASD or any other governmental  authority, or (v) a banking moratorium
          has been declared by either Federal or New York authorities or, if the
          Securities  include  debt  securities  denominated  or payable  in, or
          indexed  to,  one or more  foreign  or  composite  currencies,  by the
          relevant authorities in the related foreign country or countries.

               (b) If these  Provisions or the applicable  Pricing  Agreement is
          terminated  pursuant  to this  Section  9, such  termination  shall be
          without  liability  of any party to any other party except as provided
          in Section 5 hereof,  and provided further that Sections 3, 7, 8 and 9
          shall survive such termination and remain in full force and effect.

     10. Notices: Except as otherwise herein provided, all statements, requests,
notices and agreements shall be in writing and, if to the Underwriters, at their
addresses  furnished to the Company in the Pricing  Agreement for the purpose of
communications  hereunder  and, if to the Company,  shall be  sufficient  in all
respects if  delivered or telefaxed to the Company at the offices of the Company
at 80 Cutter Mill Road,  Great  Neck,  New York 11021,  Attention:  Mr.  Raymond
Sadowski (fax no. (516) 466-0349).

     11.  Construction:  These  Provisions  and the Pricing  Agreement  shall be
governed by, and  construed  in  accordance  with,  the laws of the State of New
York. The section headings in these Provisions have been inserted as a matter of
convenience of reference and are not a part of these Provisions.

     12. Parties at Interest: The agreements set forth herein and in the Pricing
Agreement have been and are made solely for the benefit of the  Underwriters and
the Company and the controlling  persons,  directors and officers referred to in
Sections 7 and 8 hereof, and their respective successors, assigns, executors and
administrators.  No  other  person,  partnership,   association  or  corporation
(including a purchaser,  as such purchaser,  from any of the Underwriters) shall
acquire or have any right under or by virtue of these  Provisions or the Pricing
Agreement.





                                       20







                                   Schedule A
                                   ----------

         JURISDICTIONS IN WHICH AVNET, INC. IS INCORPORATED OR QUALIFIED

Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut,  Florida,
Georgia,   Idaho,   Illinois,   Indiana,  Iowa,  Kansas,   Kentucky,   Maryland,
Massachusetts,   Michigan,   Minnesota,   Mississippi,   Missouri,  Nevada,  New
Hampshire,  New Jersey,  New Mexico, New York, North Carolina,  Ohio,  Oklahoma,
Oregon,  Pennsylvania,  Puerto  Rico,  Rhode  Island,  Tennessee,  Texas,  Utah,
Washington, Wisconsin









                                       21





                                   AVNET, INC.

                                 DEBT SECURITIES

                                PRICING AGREEMENT
                                -----------------

                                                                         , 199

Avnet, Inc.
80 Cutter Mill Road
Great Neck, New York 11021
Attention:

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         Referring to the Debt Securities of Avnet, Inc. (the "Company") covered
by the  Registration Statement on Form S-3 (No.  333-      ) (the  "Registration
Statement")  filed  by  the  Company,  on  the  basis  of  the  representations,
warranties  and  agreements  contained in this  Agreement  and in the  Company's
Standard  Underwriting  Agreement  Provisions  attached  hereto  (the  "Standard
Underwriting  Agreement"),  and  subject to the terms and  conditions  set forth
herein and therein, the Underwriters named on Schedule I hereto ("Underwriters")
agree to purchase,  severally and not jointly, and the Company agrees to sell to
the  Underwriters, $             aggregate  principal amount  of    % Due  (the 
"Securities") in the respective principal amounts set forth opposite  the  names
of  the Underwriters on Schedule A hereto.

         The price at which the  Securities  shall be purchased from the Company
by the Underwriters shall be     % of the principal amount thereof [plus accrued
interest from              , 199 ].  The Securities will be offered as set forth
in the Prospectus Supplement relating thereto.

The Securities will have the following terms:

Title:

Interest Rate:     % per annum

Interest Payment Dates:              and
                                                     commencing            , 199

Maturity:

Other Provisions:   as set forth in the Prospectus Supplement relating to the
                    Securities



                                        1





Closing:   A.M. on          , 199 , at                    , in New York Clearing
              House          (next day) funds.

                  Name[s] and Address[es] of Representative[s]:









         The provisions contained in the Standard Underwriting Agreement, a copy
of which  has  been  filed  as  Exhibit  1 to the  Registration  Statement,  are
incorporated herein by reference.

         The Securities will be made available for checking and packaging at the
office of at least 24 hours prior to the Closing Date.

         We represent that we are authorized to act for the several Underwriters
named in  Schedule A hereto in  connection  with this  financing  and any action
under this agreement by any of us will be binding upon all the Underwriters.

         This Pricing Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, all
of which counterparts shall constitute one and the same instrument.





                                        2





         If the  foregoing  is in  accordance  with  your  understanding  of our
agreement, kindly sign and return to us the enclosed duplicate hereof, whereupon
it  will  become  a  binding   agreement  among  the  Company  and  the  several
Underwriters in accordance with its terms.

    Very truly yours,



                                             [NAMES OF REPRESENTATIVES]
                                             On behalf of themselves and
                                               as Representatives of the
                                               Several Underwriters

                                             By_____________________________




                                             By_____________________________
                                               Name:
                                               Title:


The foregoing Pricing Agreement
is hereby confirmed as of the
date first above written

AVNET, INC.


By__________________________
  Name:
  Title:




                                        3




                 



                                   SCHEDULE I




                                                                     Principal
                  Underwriter                                         Amount
                  -----------                                         ------
























                                                                        -------
                           Total. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  $_______







                                    EXHIBIT 5








                                                               Avnet, Inc.

                                                               David R. Birk
                                                           Senior Vice President
                                                                   and
                                                              General Counsel

                                                                May 26, 1998

Board of Directors
Avnet, Inc.
80 Cutter Mill Road
Great Neck, New York  11021

               Re: Registration Statement on Form S-3
                   ----------------------------------

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     I refer  to the  Registration  Statement  on Form  S-3  (the  "Registration
Statement") to be filed by Avnet,  Inc. (the  "Company") with the Securities and
Exchange Commission in connection with the registration under the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended,  of up to $500,000,000  aggregate  principal  amount of the
Company's  debt  securities to be issued from time to time in one or more public
offerings (the "Debt Securities").

     I have examined and am familiar with originals,  or copies the authenticity
of  which  has  been  established  to my  satisfaction,  of such  documents  and
instruments as I have deemed  necessary to express the opinions  hereinafter set
forth. Based upon the foregoing, it is my opinion that the Debt Securities, when
issued or  delivered  in the  manner  provided  for in the form of  Underwriting
Agreement  filed as an exhibit to the  Registration  Statement,  will be legally
issued and the binding obligations of the Company.

     I consent  to the use of this  opinion  as  Exhibit  5 to the  Registration
Statement  and to the reference to me under the caption  "Legal  Matters" in the
prospectus constituting Part I thereof.

                                            Very truly yours,

                                            /s/David R. Birk

                                            David R. Birk
DRB/me

    Avnet, Inc.   o   80 Cutter Mill Road   o   Great Neck, NY 11021-3107   o
                            Telephone (516) 466-7000



                                   EXHIBIT 12






Avnet, Inc. Computation of Ratios of Earnings to Fixed Charges Nine months Year ended ended ------------------------------------------------------------------ March 27, June 27, June 28, June 30, July 1, June 30, 1998(1) 1997 1996 1995 1994(2) 1993 ------- ---- ---- ---- ------- ---- (Dollar amounts in thousands) Income before income taxes.............................. $237,534 $313,419 $325,039 $243,374 $154,838 $114,183 Add fixed charges........................... 33,641 33,766 33,441 31,473 22,492 14,901 ------- -------- ------- ------- ------- ------- Income as adjusted.......................... $271,175 $347,185 $358,480 $274,847 $177,330 $129,084 ======= ======= ======= ======= ======= ======= Fixed charges: Interest on indebtedness.................. $27,182 $26,076 $25,916 $23,175 $14,733 $8,972 Amortization of debt expense............................ 116 165 149 324 161 66 Rents: Portion of rents representative of the interest factor ................ 6,343 7,525 7,376 7,974 7,598 5,863 ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------- Total fixed charges......................... $33,641 $33,766 $33,441 $31,473 $22,492 $14,901 ====== ====== ====== ====== ====== ====== Ratio of earnings to fixed charges.............................. 8.1 10.3 10.7 8.7 7.9 8.7 === ==== ==== === === ===
Notes: - ----- (1) Income before income taxes for the nine months ended March 27, 1998, includes the gain on the sale of Channel Master ($33.8 million), offset somewhat by costs relating to the anticipated divestiture of Avnet Industrial, the closure of the Company's corporate headquarters in Great Neck, New York, and the anticipated loss on the sale of Company-owned real estate, amounting to $13.3 million in the aggregate. Had such one-time items (amounting to $20.5 million, net) not been included, the ratio of earnings to fixed charges for the nine months ended March 27, 1998, would have been 7.5 on a pro forma basis. (2) Income before income taxes for the year ended July 1, 1994, includes restructuring and integration charges of $22.7 million in connection with the acquisition of Hall-Mark Electronics Corporation. Had such one-time charges not been included, the ratio of earnings to fixed charges for the year ended July 1, 1994, would have been 8.9 on a pro forma basis.


                                  EXHIBIT 23(a)










                    CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS



     As independent public  accountants,  we hereby consent to the incorporation
by reference in this  Registration  Statement of our report dated July 30, 1997,
included in Avnet, Inc.'s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 27,
1997, and to all references to our firm included in this Registration Statement.


                                                     /s/ ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP



New York, New York
May 26, 1998











                                   EXHIBIT 24








                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:

     The undersigned does hereby make,  constitute and appoint David R. Birk and
Raymond Sadowski,  and each of them, his  attorneys-in-fact and agents with full
power of  substitution,  to  execute  for him and in his  behalf  in any and all
capacities  a  Registration  Statement  under the  Securities  Act of 1933,  any
amendments to such Registration Statement (including post-effective amendments),
and any other documents  incidental  thereto,  relating to up to $500,000,000 of
debt securities of Avnet,  Inc. which may be offered and sold from time to time,
and to  file  the  same,  with  all  exhibits  thereto  and all  other  required
documents, with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  The undersigned further
grants unto said  attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and
authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary
to be done in  connection  with the said  filings,  as fully to all  intents and
purposes as he might or could do in person,  hereby ratifying and confirming all
that  said  attorneys-in-fact  and  agents  and/or  any of them or  their or his
substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

     IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the  undersigned  has executed this power of attorney
this 26th day of May, 1998.



                                            /s/Leon Machiz
                                            --------------
                                            Leon Machiz









                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:

     The undersigned does hereby make,  constitute and appoint David R. Birk and
Raymond Sadowski,  and each of them, her  attorneys-in-fact and agents with full
power of  substitution,  to  execute  for her and in her  behalf  in any and all
capacities  a  Registration  Statement  under the  Securities  Act of 1933,  any
amendments to such Registration Statement (including post-effective amendments),
and any other documents  incidental  thereto,  relating to up to $500,000,000 of
debt securities of Avnet,  Inc. which may be offered and sold from time to time,
and to  file  the  same,  with  all  exhibits  thereto  and all  other  required
documents, with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  The undersigned further
grants unto said  attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and
authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary
to be done in  connection  with the said  filings,  as fully to all  intents and
purposes as she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all
that  said  attorneys-in-fact  and  agents  and/or  any of them or  their or his
substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

     IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the  undersigned  has executed this power of attorney
this 26th day of May, 1998.



                                            /s/Eleanor Baum
                                            ---------------
                                            Eleanor Baum









                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:

     The undersigned does hereby make, constitute and appoint David R. Birk
and Raymond Sadowski,  and each of them, his  attorneys-in-fact  and agents with
full power of substitution,  to execute for him and in his behalf in any and all
capacities  a  Registration  Statement  under the  Securities  Act of 1933,  any
amendments to such Registration Statement (including post-effective amendments),
and any other documents  incidental  thereto,  relating to up to $500,000,000 of
debt securities of Avnet,  Inc. which may be offered and sold from time to time,
and to  file  the  same,  with  all  exhibits  thereto  and all  other  required
documents, with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  The undersigned further
grants unto said  attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and
authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary
to be done in  connection  with the said  filings,  as fully to all  intents and
purposes as he might or could do in person,  hereby ratifying and confirming all
that  said  attorneys-in-fact  and  agents  and/or  any of them or  their or his
substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

     IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the  undersigned  has executed this power of attorney
this 26th day of May, 1998.



                                             /s/Gerald J. Berkman
                                             --------------------
                                             Gerald J. Berkman








                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:

     The undersigned does hereby make,  constitute and appoint David R. Birk and
Raymond Sadowski,  and each of them, her  attorneys-in-fact and agents with full
power of  substitution,  to  execute  for her and in her  behalf  in any and all
capacities  a  Registration  Statement  under the  Securities  Act of 1933,  any
amendments to such Registration Statement (including post-effective amendments),
and any other documents  incidental  thereto,  relating to up to $500,000,000 of
debt securities of Avnet,  Inc. which may be offered and sold from time to time,
and to  file  the  same,  with  all  exhibits  thereto  and all  other  required
documents, with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  The undersigned further
grants unto said  attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and
authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary
to be done in  connection  with the said  filings,  as fully to all  intents and
purposes as she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all
that  said  attorneys-in-fact  and  agents  and/or  any of them or  their or his
substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

     IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the  undersigned  has executed this power of attorney
this 26th day of May, 1998.



                                            /s/J. Veronica Biggins
                                            ----------------------
                                            J. Veronica Biggins









                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:

     The undersigned does hereby make,  constitute and appoint David R. Birk and
Raymond Sadowski,  and each of them, his  attorneys-in-fact and agents with full
power of  substitution,  to  execute  for him and in his  behalf  in any and all
capacities  a  Registration  Statement  under the  Securities  Act of 1933,  any
amendments to such Registration Statement (including post-effective amendments),
and any other documents  incidental  thereto,  relating to up to $500,000,000 of
debt securities of Avnet,  Inc. which may be offered and sold from time to time,
and to  file  the  same,  with  all  exhibits  thereto  and all  other  required
documents, with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  The undersigned further
grants unto said  attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and
authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary
to be done in  connection  with the said  filings,  as fully to all  intents and
purposes as he might or could do in person,  hereby ratifying and confirming all
that  said  attorneys-in-fact  and  agents  and/or  any of them or  their or his
substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

     IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the  undersigned  has executed this power of attorney
this 26th day of May, 1998.



                                            /s/Joseph F. Caligiuri
                                            ----------------------
                                            Joseph F. Caligiuri








                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:

     The undersigned does hereby make,  constitute and appoint David R. Birk and
Raymond Sadowski,  and each of them, his  attorneys-in-fact and agents with full
power of  substitution,  to  execute  for him and in his  behalf  in any and all
capacities  a  Registration  Statement  under the  Securities  Act of 1933,  any
amendments to such Registration Statement (including post-effective amendments),
and any other documents  incidental  thereto,  relating to up to $500,000,000 of
debt securities of Avnet,  Inc. which may be offered and sold from time to time,
and to  file  the  same,  with  all  exhibits  thereto  and all  other  required
documents, with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  The undersigned further
grants unto said  attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and
authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary
to be done in  connection  with the said  filings,  as fully to all  intents and
purposes as he might or could do in person,  hereby ratifying and confirming all
that  said  attorneys-in-fact  and  agents  and/or  any of them or  their or his
substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

     IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the  undersigned  has executed this power of attorney
this 26th day of May, 1998.



                                            /s/Ehud Houminer
                                            ----------------
                                            Ehud Houminer








                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:

     The undersigned does hereby make,  constitute and appoint David R. Birk and
Raymond Sadowski,  and each of them, his  attorneys-in-fact and agents with full
power of  substitution,  to  execute  for him and in his  behalf  in any and all
capacities  a  Registration  Statement  under the  Securities  Act of 1933,  any
amendments to such Registration Statement (including post-effective amendments),
and any other documents  incidental  thereto,  relating to up to $500,000,000 of
debt securities of Avnet,  Inc. which may be offered and sold from time to time,
and to  file  the  same,  with  all  exhibits  thereto  and all  other  required
documents, with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  The undersigned further
grants unto said  attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and
authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary
to be done in  connection  with the said  filings,  as fully to all  intents and
purposes as he might or could do in person,  hereby ratifying and confirming all
that  said  attorneys-in-fact  and  agents  and/or  any of them or  their or his
substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

     IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the  undersigned  has executed this power of attorney
this 26th day of May, 1998.


                                            /s/Salvatore J. Nuzzo
                                            ---------------------
                                            Salvatore J. Nuzzo








                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:

     The undersigned does hereby make,  constitute and appoint David R. Birk and
Raymond Sadowski,  and each of them, his  attorneys-in-fact and agents with full
power of  substitution,  to  execute  for him and in his  behalf  in any and all
capacities  a  Registration  Statement  under the  Securities  Act of 1933,  any
amendments to such Registration Statement (including post-effective amendments),
and any other documents  incidental  thereto,  relating to up to $500,000,000 of
debt securities of Avnet,  Inc. which may be offered and sold from time to time,
and to  file  the  same,  with  all  exhibits  thereto  and all  other  required
documents, with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  The undersigned further
grants unto said  attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and
authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary
to be done in  connection  with the said  filings,  as fully to all  intents and
purposes as he might or could do in person,  hereby ratifying and confirming all
that  said  attorneys-in-fact  and  agents  and/or  any of them or  their or his
substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

     IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the  undersigned  has executed this power of attorney
this 26th day of May, 1998.



                                            /s/Frederic Salerno
                                            -------------------
                                            Frederic Salerno








                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:

     The undersigned does hereby make,  constitute and appoint David R. Birk and
Raymond Sadowski,  and each of them, his  attorneys-in-fact and agents with full
power of  substitution,  to  execute  for him and in his  behalf  in any and all
capacities  a  Registration  Statement  under the  Securities  Act of 1933,  any
amendments to such Registration Statement (including post-effective amendments),
and any other documents  incidental  thereto,  relating to up to $500,000,000 of
debt securities of Avnet,  Inc. which may be offered and sold from time to time,
and to  file  the  same,  with  all  exhibits  thereto  and all  other  required
documents, with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  The undersigned further
grants unto said  attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and
authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary
to be done in  connection  with the said  filings,  as fully to all  intents and
purposes as he might or could do in person,  hereby ratifying and confirming all
that  said  attorneys-in-fact  and  agents  and/or  any of them or  their or his
substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

     IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the  undersigned  has executed this power of attorney
this 26th day of May, 1998.



                                            /s/David Shaw
                                            -------------
                                            David Shaw








                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:

     The undersigned does hereby make,  constitute and appoint David R. Birk and
Raymond Sadowski,  and each of them, his  attorneys-in-fact and agents with full
power of  substitution,  to  execute  for him and in his  behalf  in any and all
capacities  a  Registration  Statement  under the  Securities  Act of 1933,  any
amendments to such Registration Statement (including post-effective amendments),
and any other documents  incidental  thereto,  relating to up to $500,000,000 of
debt securities of Avnet,  Inc. which may be offered and sold from time to time,
and to  file  the  same,  with  all  exhibits  thereto  and all  other  required
documents, with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  The undersigned further
grants unto said  attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and
authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary
to be done in  connection  with the said  filings,  as fully to all  intents and
purposes as he might or could do in person,  hereby ratifying and confirming all
that  said  attorneys-in-fact  and  agents  and/or  any of them or  their or his
substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

     IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the  undersigned  has executed this power of attorney
this 26th day of May, 1998.



                                            /s/Roy Vallee
                                            -------------
                                            Roy Vallee








                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:

     The undersigned does hereby make,  constitute and appoint David R. Birk and
Raymond Sadowski,  and each of them, his  attorneys-in-fact and agents with full
power of  substitution,  to  execute  for him and in his  behalf  in any and all
capacities  a  Registration  Statement  under the  Securities  Act of 1933,  any
amendments to such Registration Statement (including post-effective amendments),
and any other documents  incidental  thereto,  relating to up to $500,000,000 of
debt securities of Avnet,  Inc. which may be offered and sold from time to time,
and to  file  the  same,  with  all  exhibits  thereto  and all  other  required
documents, with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  The undersigned further
grants unto said  attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and
authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary
to be done in  connection  with the said  filings,  as fully to all  intents and
purposes as he might or could do in person,  hereby ratifying and confirming all
that  said  attorneys-in-fact  and  agents  and/or  any of them or  their or his
substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

     IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the  undersigned  has executed this power of attorney
this 26th day of May, 1998.



                                            /s/Keith Williams
                                            -----------------
                                            Keith Williams








                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:

     The undersigned does hereby make,  constitute and appoint David R. Birk and
Raymond Sadowski,  and each of them, his  attorneys-in-fact and agents with full
power of  substitution,  to  execute  for him and in his  behalf  in any and all
capacities  a  Registration  Statement  under the  Securities  Act of 1933,  any
amendments to such Registration Statement (including post-effective amendments),
and any other documents  incidental  thereto,  relating to up to $500,000,000 of
debt securities of Avnet,  Inc. which may be offered and sold from time to time,
and to  file  the  same,  with  all  exhibits  thereto  and all  other  required
documents, with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  The undersigned further
grants unto said  attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and
authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary
to be done in  connection  with the said  filings,  as fully to all  intents and
purposes as he might or could do in person,  hereby ratifying and confirming all
that  said  attorneys-in-fact  and  agents  and/or  any of them or  their or his
substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

     IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the  undersigned  has executed this power of attorney
this 26th day of May, 1998.



                                            /s/Frederick Wood
                                            -----------------
                                            Frederick Wood








                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:

     The undersigned does hereby make,  constitute and appoint David R. Birk and
Raymond Sadowski,  and each of them, his  attorneys-in-fact and agents with full
power of  substitution,  to  execute  for him and in his  behalf  in any and all
capacities  a  Registration  Statement  under the  Securities  Act of 1933,  any
amendments to such Registration Statement (including post-effective amendments),
and any other documents  incidental  thereto,  relating to up to $500,000,000 of
debt securities of Avnet,  Inc. which may be offered and sold from time to time,
and to  file  the  same,  with  all  exhibits  thereto  and all  other  required
documents, with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  The undersigned further
grants unto said  attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and
authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary
to be done in  connection  with the said  filings,  as fully to all  intents and
purposes as he might or could do in person,  hereby ratifying and confirming all
that  said  attorneys-in-fact  and  agents  and/or  any of them or  their or his
substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

     IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the  undersigned  has executed this power of attorney
this 26th day of May, 1998.



                                            /s/Raymond Sadowski
                                            -------------------
                                            Raymond Sadowski








                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:

     The undersigned does hereby make,  constitute and appoint David R. Birk and
Raymond Sadowski,  and each of them, his  attorneys-in-fact and agents with full
power of  substitution,  to  execute  for him and in his  behalf  in any and all
capacities  a  Registration  Statement  under the  Securities  Act of 1933,  any
amendments to such Registration Statement (including post-effective amendments),
and any other documents  incidental  thereto,  relating to up to $500,000,000 of
debt securities of Avnet,  Inc. which may be offered and sold from time to time,
and to  file  the  same,  with  all  exhibits  thereto  and all  other  required
documents, with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  The undersigned further
grants unto said  attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and
authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary
to be done in  connection  with the said  filings,  as fully to all  intents and
purposes as he might or could do in person,  hereby ratifying and confirming all
that  said  attorneys-in-fact  and  agents  and/or  any of them or  their or his
substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

     IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the  undersigned  has executed this power of attorney
this 26th day of May, 1998.



                                            /s/John Cole
                                            ------------
                                            John Cole










                                   EXHIBIT 25



                      SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549


                                    FORM T-1
                                    --------

                            STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY
                      UNDER THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939
                  OF A CORPORATION DESIGNATED TO ACT AS TRUSTEE

                CHECK IF AN APPLICATION TO DETERMINE ELIGIBILITY
                   OF A TRUSTEE PURSUANT TO SECTION 305(b)(2)___

                                _________________

                       THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO
               (Exact name of trustee as specified in its charter)

    A National Banking Association                      36-0899825
                                                    (I.R.S. employer
                                                   identification number)

One First National Plaza, Chicago, Illinois              60670-0126
(Address of principal executive offices)                 (Zip Code)

                       The First National Bank of Chicago
                      One First National Plaza, Suite 0286
                          Chicago, Illinois 60670-0286
             Attn: Lynn A. Goldstein, Law Department (312) 732-6919
            (Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)


                           __________________________
                                   Avnet, Inc.
         (Exact name of obligors as specified in their trust agreements)


            New York                                          11-1890605
(State or other jurisdiction of                            (I.R.S. employer
 incorporation or organization)                         identification number)


          80 Cutter Mill Road
          Great Neck, New York                                      11021
(Address of principal executive offices)                          (Zip Code)




                                 Debt Securities
                         (Title of Indenture Securities)




                                                         





Item 1.  General  Information.  Furnish  the  following  information  as to  the
         trustee:

         (a)      Name and address of each examining or
         supervising authority to which it is subject.

         Comptroller of Currency,  Washington,  D.C.;  Federal  Deposit
         Insurance   Corporation,   Washington,   D.C.;  The  Board  of
         Governors of the Federal Reserve System, Washington D.C..

         (b)      Whether it is authorized to exercise
         corporate trust powers.

         The trustee is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers.

Item 2.  Affiliations  With the  Obligor.  If the obligor is an affiliate of the
         trustee, describe each such affiliation.

         No such affiliation exists with the trustee.


Item 16. List of  exhibits.  List  below all  exhibits  filed as a part of this
         Statement of Eligibility.

         1.  A copy of the articles of association of the
             trustee now in effect.*

         2.  A copy of the  certificates of authority of the trustee to
             commence business.*

         3.  A copy of the  authorization  of the  trustee to  exercise
             corporate trust powers.*

         4.  A copy of the existing by-laws of the trustee.*

         5.  Not Applicable.

         6.  The consent of the trustee  required by Section  321(b) of
             the Act.




                                        2







         7.  A copy of the latest  report of  condition  of the trustee
             published  pursuant  to  law or  the  requirements  of its
             supervising or examining authority.

         8.  Not Applicable.

         9.  Not Applicable.


     Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Trust  Indenture  Act of  1939,  as
     amended,  the  trustee,  The First  National  Bank of  Chicago,  a national
     banking  association  organized  and existing  under the laws of the United
     States of America,  has duly caused this  Statement  of  Eligibility  to be
     signed on its behalf by the undersigned,  thereunto duly authorized, all in
     the City of Chicago and State of Illinois, on the 11th day of May, 1998.


             The First National Bank of Chicago,
             Trustee

             By  /s/Steven M. Wagner
                -------------------
                Steven M. Wagner
                First Vice President





* Exhibit 1, 2, 3 and 4 are herein incorporated by reference to Exhibits bearing
identical  numbers  in Item 16 of the Form  T-1 of The  First  National  Bank of
Chicago,  filed as Exhibit  25.1 to the  Registration  Statement  on Form S-3 of
SunAmerica  Inc.,  filed with the Securities and Exchange  Commission on October
25, 1996 (Registration No. 333-14201).






                                        3







                                    EXHIBIT 6



                       THE CONSENT OF THE TRUSTEE REQUIRED
                          BY SECTION 321(b) OF THE ACT


                                                              May 11, 1998



Securities and Exchange Commission
Washington, D.C.  20549

Gentlemen:

In connection with the  qualification of the indenture  between Avnet,  Inc. and
The First National Bank of Chicago, as Trustee,  the undersigned,  in accordance
with  Section  321(b) of the Trust  Indenture  Act of 1939,  as amended,  hereby
consents that the reports of examinations of the undersigned, made by Federal or
State authorities authorized to make such examinations, may be furnished by such
authorities to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon its request therefor.


                          Very truly yours,
     
                          The First National Bank of Chicago



                        By:  /s/Steven M. Wagner
                             -------------------
                                Steven M. Wagner
                                First Vice President





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                                    EXHIBIT 7
Legal Title of Bank: The First National Bank of Chicago Call Date: 06/30/97 ST-BK: 17-1630 FFIEC 031 Address: One First National Plaza, Ste 0303 Page RC-1 City, State Zip: Chicago, IL 60670 FDIC Certificate No.: 0/3/6/1/8 --------- Consolidated Report of Condition for Insured Commercial and State-Chartered Savings Banks for December 31, 1997 All schedules are to be reported in thousands of dollars. Unless otherwise indicated, report the amount outstanding as of the last business day of the quarter. Schedule RC--Balance Sheet C400 Dollar Amounts in ---- Thousands RCFD BIL MIL THOU --------- ---- ------------ ASSETS 1. Cash and balances due from depository institutions (from Schedule RC-A): a. Noninterest-bearing balances and currency and coin(1)...... 0081 4,267,336 1.a. b. Interest-bearing balances(2)............................... 0071 6,893,837 1.b. 2. Securities a. Held-to-maturity securities(from Schedule RC-B, column A).................................................. 1754 0 2.a. b. Available-for-sale securities (from Schedule RC-B, column D)....................................................... 1773 5,691,722 2.b. 3. Federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to resell 1350 6,339,940 3. 4. Loans and lease financing receivables: a. Loans and leases, net of unearned income (from Schedule RC-C)............................................. RCFD 2122 25,202,984 4.a. b. LESS: Allowance for loan and lease losses.................. RCFD 3123 419,121 4.b. c. LESS: Allocated transfer risk reserve...................... RCFD 3128 0 4.c. d. Loans and leases, net of unearned income, allowance, and reserve (item 4.a minus 4.b and 4.c)....................... 2125 24,783,863 4.d. 5. Trading assets (from Schedule RD-D)........................... 3545 6,703,332 5. 6. Premises and fixed assets (including capitalized leases)...... 2145 743,426 6. 7. Other real estate owned (from Schedule RC-M)............ 2150 7,727 7. 8. Investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries and associated companies (from Schedule RC-M)................................ 2130 134,959 8. 9. Customers' liability to this bank on acceptances outstanding.. 2155 644,340 9. 10. Intangible assets (from Schedule RC-M)........................ 2143 268,501 10. 11. Other assets (from Schedule RC-F)............................. 2160 2,004,432 11. 12. Total assets (sum of items 1 through 11)...................... 2170 58,483,415 12.
_____________ (1) Includes cash items in process of collection and unposted debits. (2) Includes time certificates of deposit not held for trading.
Legal Title of Bank: The First National Bank of Chicago Call Date: 09/30/97 ST-BK: 17-1630 FFIEC 031 Address: One First National Plaza, Ste 0303 Page RC-2 City, State Zip: Chicago, IL 60670 FDIC Certificate No.: 0/3/6/1/8 Schedule RC-Continued Dollar Amounts in Thousands Bil Mil Thou --------- ------------ LIABILITIES 13. Deposits: a. In domestic offices (sum of totals of columns A and C from Schedule RC-E, part 1).......................... RCON 2200 21,756,846 13.a (1) Noninterest-bearing(1)........................... RCON 6631 9,197,227 13.a.1 (2) Interest-bearing................................. RCON 6636 559,619 13.a.2 b. In foreign offices, Edge and Agreement subsidiaries, and IBFs (from Schedule RC-E, part II)............... RCFN 2200 14,811,410 13.b. (1) Noninterest bearing.............................. RCFN 6631 332,801 13.b.1 (2) Interest-bearing................................. RCFN 6636 14,478,609 13.b.2 14. Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase: RCFD 2800 4,535,422 14 15. a. Demand notes issued to the U.S. Treasury RCON 2840 43,763 15.a b. Trading Liabilities(from Schedule RC-D)....................... RCFD 3548 6,523,239 15.b 16. Other borrowed money: a. With a remaining maturity of one year or less............ RCFD 2332 1,360,165 16.a b. With a remaining maturity of than one year through three years................................................... A547 576,492 16.b . c. With a remaining maturity of more than three years .......... A548 703,981 16.c 17. Not applicable 18. Bank's liability on acceptance executed and outstanding. RCFD 2920 644,341 18 19. Subordinated notes and debentures (2)................... RCFD 3200 1,700,000 19 20. Other liabilities (from Schedule RC-G).................. RCFD 2930 1,322,077 20 21. Total liabilities (sum of items 13 through 20).......... RCFD 2948 53,987,736 21 22. Not applicable EQUITY CAPITAL 23. Perpetual preferred stock and related surplus........... RCFD 3838 0 23 24. Common stock............................................ RCFD 3230 200,858 24 25. Surplus (exclude all surplus related to preferred stock) RCFD 3839 2,999,001 25 26. a. Undivided profits and capital reserves............... RCFD 3632 1,273,239 26.a. b. Net unrealized holding gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities........................ RCFD 8434 24,096 26.b. 27. Cumulative foreign currency translation adjustments..... RCFD 3284 (1,515) 27 28. Total equity capital (sum of items 23 through 27)....... RCFD 3210 4,495,679 28 29. Total liabilities and equity capital (sum of items 21 and 28).......................................................... RCFD 3300 58,483,415 29
Memorandum To be reported only with the March Report of Condition. 1. Indicate in the box at the right the number of the statement below that best describes the most comprehensive level of auditing work performed for the bank by independent external auditors as Number of any date during 1996............................RCFD 6724....[ N/A ] M.1
1 = Independent audit of the bank conducted in 4. = Directors' examination of the bank performed by other accordance with generally accepted auditing external auditors (may be required by state standards by a certified public accounting firm chartering authority) which submits a report on the bank 2 = Independent audit of the bank's parent holding company 5 = Review of the bank's financial statements by external conducted in accordance with generally accepted auditing auditors standards by a certified public accounting firm which 6 = Compilation of the bank's financial statements by external submits a report on the consolidated holding company auditors (but not on the bank separately) 7 = Other audit procedures (excluding tax preparation work) 3 = Directors' examination of the bank conducted in 8 = No external audit work accordance with generally accepted auditing standards by a certified public accounting firm may be required by state chartering authority)
_________ (1) Includes total demand deposits and noninterest-bearing time and savings deposits. (2) Includes limited-life preferred stock and related surplus. 6