AVNET INC
S-3, 2000-01-19
ELECTRONIC PARTS & EQUIPMENT, NEC
Previous: ATWOOD OCEANICS INC, SC 13G/A, 2000-01-19
Next: BETHLEHEM CORP, 10QSB, 2000-01-19





    As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 19, 2000

================================================================================

                       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
     2211 South 47th Street                           Avnet, Inc.
     Phoenix, Arizona 85034                     2211 South 47th Street
      (480) 643-2000                            Phoenix, Arizona 85034
   ----------------------------                   (480) 643-2000
  (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:

 Stephen V. Burger, Esq.            Bruno Fine           John Evangelakos, Esq.
Carter, Ledyard & Milburn      SEI Investments B.V.        Sullivan & Cromwell
      2 Wall Street              c/o Sonepar S.A.           125 Broad Street
New York, New York  10005        37, Rue de Liege       New York, New York 10004
     (212) 732-3200             75008 Paris FRANCE           (212) 558-4000
                               011-331-53-42-33-03







<PAGE>



     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 being  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. |_|

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

==============================================================================================================================
             Title of each                                           Proposed                 Proposed
               class of                                               maximum                  maximum              Amount of
             securities to               Amount to be             offering price              aggregate           registration
             be registered                   registered               per unit              offering price             fee
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                      <C>                       <C>                     <C>                   <C>
Common Stock, par value $1.00
  per share ...........................  1,171,270 shs.            $55.96875(1)            $65,554,517(1)        $17,306.40
==============================================================================================================================

</TABLE>


(1)  Calculated pursuant to Rule 457(c) under the Securities Act of 1933, on the
     basis of the average of the high and the low prices  ($56.1875  and $55.75)
     of a share  of  common  stock  as  reported  for New  York  Stock  Exchange
     composite transactions on January 13, 2000.

                                   ----------

     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 the  registration  statement  shall become
effective  on such  date  as the  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission,  acting
pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.


================================================================================

                                      -ii-

<PAGE>



The  information in this  Prospectus is not complete and may be changed.  We may
not sell  these  securities  until the  registration  statement  filed  with the
Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer
to  sell  these  securities  and it is not  soliciting  an  offer  to buy  these
securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.






<PAGE>



                  Subject to completion, dated January 19, 2000

PROSPECTUS
                                   Avnet, Inc.

                        1,171,270 Shares of Common Stock,
                            Par Value $1.00 per Share

     This  prospectus  relates  to  offers  and  sales  from time to time by SEI
Investments  B.V. of up to 1,171,270  shares of the common stock of Avnet,  Inc.
Avnet  issued  these  shares  to  SEI   Investments   on  January  3,  2000,  as
consideration  for  SEI  Investments'  sale  to  Avnet  of an  84%  interest  in
Eurotronics  B.V.  Avnet will receive no part of the  proceeds  from the sale of
these shares by SEI Investments.

     The Avnet  common  stock is listed on the New York Stock  Exchange  and the
Pacific  Exchange  (symbol:  AVT).  On January __, 2000,  the closing price of a
share of the common  stock as  reported  for New York Stock  Exchange  composite
transactions was $____.

     SEI Investments has informed Avnet that it may sell the shares from time to
time in ordinary brokers' transactions at then current market prices or in other
transactions at negotiated prices. SEI Investments may effect these transactions
through or with brokers or dealers who may receive  compensation  in the form of
commissions or discounts.

     The  principal  executive  offices of Avnet are  located at 2211 South 47th
Street, Phoenix, Arizona 85034 (telephone (480) 643-2000).

     Neither the  Securities and Exchange  Commission  nor any state  securities
commission has approved or disapproved of the common stock being offered by this
Prospectus,  or  determined  if this  Prospectus  is truthful or  complete.  Any
representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.


                The date of this Prospectus is __________, 2000.






<PAGE>



                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

                                                                            Page
                                                                            ----

Forward-Looking Statements..................................................  2
Selling Shareholder ........................................................  3
Plan of Distribution .......................................................  4
Legal Matters...............................................................  6
Experts.....................................................................  6
Where You Can Find More Information ........................................  6


                           FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

     This  prospectus  contains or  incorporates  by  reference  forward-looking
statements with respect to Avnet's  financial  condition,  results of operations
and  business.  You can find many of these  statements by looking for words like
"believes," "expects," "anticipates," "estimates" or similar expressions.

     These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous assumptions, risks
and  uncertainties.  Factors that may cause actual results to differ  materially
from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements include the following:

     o    Competitive  pressures among distributors of electronic components and
          computer   products  may  increase   significantly   through  industry
          consolidation, entry of new competitors or otherwise.

     o    General economic or business conditions,  domestic and foreign, may be
          less  favorable  than  expected,  resulting  in  lower  sales  than we
          expected.

     o    Costs  or  difficulties  related  to the  integration  into  Avnet  of
          newly-acquired  businesses, or businesses we expect to acquire, may be
          greater than we expected.

     o    Avnet may lose  customers or suppliers as a result of the  integration
          into Avnet of newly-acquired businesses.

     o    Legislative or regulatory  changes may adversely affect the businesses
          in which Avnet is engaged.




                                       -2-

<PAGE>



     o    Adverse changes may occur in the securities markets.

     o    Changes in interest rates and currency fluctuations may reduce Avnet's
          profit margins.

     o    Avnet may be  adversely  affected  by the  allocation  of  products by
          suppliers.

     Because forward-looking  statements are subject to risks and uncertainties,
actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by them. We
caution you not to place undue reliance on these statements, which speak only as
of the date of this prospectus.

     We do not  undertake  any  obligation  to update  publicly  or  revise  any
forward-looking  statements,  whether  as a result  of new  information,  future
events or otherwise.

                               SELLING SHAREHOLDER

     As of the date of this prospectus,  SEI Investments  B.V., a Dutch company,
owns all of the  1,171,270  shares of Avnet common  stock being  offered by this
prospectus (the "Shares"),  which represent approximately 2.67% of the shares of
Avnet common stock  currently  outstanding.  SEI  Investments is a subsidiary of
Sonepar  Electronique  International,  a French limited liability  company.  SEI
Investments is offering all of the Shares for its own account,  and does not own
any shares of Avnet common stock apart from the Shares.  Because SEI Investments
may offer some or all of the Shares in an offering which is not  underwritten on
a firm  commitment  basis,  we cannot  estimate  the  number of Shares  that SEI
Investments will hold after it completes the sale of the Shares.

     Except as described in the following  paragraphs,  neither SEI  Investments
B.V. nor any of its  affiliates  has had any position,  office or other material
relationship with Avnet or any of its affiliates during the past three years.

     On January 3, 2000,  Avnet issued the 1,171,270  Shares to SEI  Investments
B.V. in exchange  for SEI  Investments'  84%  interest in  Eurotronics  B.V.,  a
European electronics  components  distributor.  Avnet had acquired the remaining
16% interest in Eurotronics  from Marshall  Industries on October 18, 1999. From
that date until Avnet acquired 100% of Eurotronics on January 3, 2000,  Avnet in
effect  succeeded  to the rights of  Marshall  Industries  under a  Shareholders
Agreement dated September 15, 1997,  among Sonepar  Electronique  International,
SEI Investments, Marshall Industries and a Marshall Industries subsidiary. These
rights included (a) the right to appoint and dismiss two members of Eurotronics'
Board of Supervisory  Directors,  and (b) a requirement that certain significant
Eurotronics  corporate  transactions  be  approved  by  unanimous  vote  of  the
Eurotronics Board of Supervisory  Directors.  For further information,  we refer
you to the  Shareholders  Agreement,  which is an  exhibit  to the  registration
statement  on Form S-3 of which this  prospectus  is a part.  See "Where You Can
Find More Information."



                                       -3-

<PAGE>



     During the past three years,  Jean Fribourg has been the managing  director
of  Eurotronics  B.V. and some of its  subsidiaries,  and is  continuing as such
since Avnet acquired a 100% interest of Eurotronics on January 3, 2000.

                              PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

     Avnet is registering  the Shares on behalf of SEI  Investments,  as selling
shareholder,  and also on behalf of any donees, pledgees,  transferees and other
successors-in-interest  that may receive Shares from SEI  Investments  after the
date of this  prospectus as a gift,  pledge,  partnership  distribution or other
non-sale  related  transfer.  Avnet is bearing all costs,  expenses  and fees in
connection with the registration of the Shares, and SEI Investments will pay any
brokerage  commissions and similar selling expenses  attributable to the sale of
Shares.  Avnet will receive no part of the proceeds  from the sale of the Shares
by SEI Investments.

     SEI  Investments  has  informed  Avnet that it proposes to effect  sales of
Shares from time to time

     o    in one or more types of transactions on the New York Stock Exchange or
          the  Pacific   Exchange,   including  block   transactions,   exchange
          distributions and special offerings,

     o    in the over-the-counter market,

     o    in  negotiated  transactions,  including an  underwritten  offering or
          underwritten offerings,

     o    through put or call options transactions relating to the Shares,

     o    through short sales of Shares, or

     o    a combination of these methods of sale,

at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, or at negotiated prices.  These
sales may or may not involve  brokers or dealers.  SEI  Investments  has advised
Avnet  that  it  has  not  entered  into  any  agreements,   understandings   or
arrangements with any underwriters or  broker-dealers  regarding the sale of the
Shares, nor is there an underwriter or coordinating  broker acting in connection
with the proposed sale of Shares by SEI Investments.

     SEI  Investments  may sell Shares  directly to  purchasers or to or through
broker-dealers,   which  may  act  as  agents  or   principals.   Any  of  these
broker-dealers may receive  compensation in the form of discounts,  concessions,
or commissions from SEI Investments and/or the purchasers of the Shares for whom
such broker-dealers may act as agents or to whom they



                                       -4-

<PAGE>



may sell as principal,  or both.  Compensation as to a particular  broker-dealer
may exceed customary commissions.

     SEI Investments and any broker-dealers that act in connection with the sale
of Shares  might be  "underwriters"  within the meaning of Section  2(11) of the
Securities  Act, and any  compensation  these  broker-dealers  receive,  and any
profit they realize  from the resale of the Shares  while acting as  principals,
might be considered as underwriting  discounts or commissions.  Avnet has agreed
to indemnify each person who  participates  as an underwriter in the offering or
sale of the Shares against certain  liabilities,  including  liabilities arising
under the Securities Act.

     Because  SEI  Investments  may be an  "underwriter"  within the  meaning of
Section  2(11) of the  Securities  Act,  it will be  subject  to the  prospectus
delivery  requirements of the Securities Act for offers and sales of the Shares,
including  delivery through the facilities of the New York Stock Exchange or the
Pacific  Exchange as provided in Rule 153 under the  Securities  Act.  Avnet has
informed SEI Investments that the  anti-manipulative  provisions of Regulation M
promulgated  under  the  Exchange  Act may  apply to sales in the  market by SEI
Investments.

     SEI  Investments  also may  resell  all or a portion  of the Shares in open
market  transactions  in reliance upon Rule 144 under the Securities  Act, if it
meets the criteria and satisfies the requirements of Rule 144.

     If SEI Investments notifies Avnet that SEI Investments has entered into any
material arrangement with a broker-dealer for the sale of Shares through a block
trade, special offering,  exchange  distribution or secondary  distribution or a
purchase by a broker or dealer, Avnet will file a supplement to this prospectus,
if required, pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act, disclosing

     o    the name of the participating broker-dealer(s),

     o    the number of Shares involved,

     o    the price at which such Shares were sold,

     o    the commission paid or discounts or concessions allowed to the broker-
          dealer(s), where applicable,

     o    whether the broker-dealer(s) conducted any investigation to verify the
          information in or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, and

     o    other material facts of the transaction.




                                       -5-

<PAGE>



Also, if SEI  Investments  notifies Avnet that a donee,  pledgee,  transferee or
other  successor-in-interest of the Shares intends to sell more than 500 Shares,
Avnet will file an appropriate supplement to this prospectus.


                                  LEGAL MATTERS

     David R. Birk,  Senior Vice  President,  Secretary  and General  Counsel of
Avnet, is passing upon the legality of the Shares.  Mr. Birk  beneficially  owns
43,284 shares of Avnet common stock,  which includes 40,625 shares issuable upon
exercise of employee stock options.


                                     EXPERTS

     The consolidated  financial  statements and schedule of Avnet as of July 2,
1999 and June 27, 1998, and for each of the three years in the period ended July
2, 1999, respectively, incorporated by reference in this prospectus from Avnet's
Annual  Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal  year  ended July 2, 1999,  have been
audited by Arthur Andersen LLP, independent public accountants,  as indicated in
their report with respect thereto,  and are incorporated  herein by reference in
reliance upon the authority of that firm as experts in giving such reports.

     The consolidated  financial statements of Marshall Industries as of May 31,
1999 and 1998, and for each of the three years in the period ended May 31, 1999,
respectively,  incorporated by reference in this prospectus from Avnet's Current
Report on Form 8-K bearing cover date of October 20, 1999,  have been audited by
Arthur  Andersen  LLP,  independent  public  accountants,  as indicated in their
report  with  respect  thereto,  and are  incorporated  herein by  reference  in
reliance upon the authority of that firm as experts in giving such reports.


                       WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

     This  prospectus  is a part of a  registration  statement on Form S-3 which
Avnet filed with the SEC under the  Securities Act of 1933. We refer you to this
registration statement for further information concerning Avnet and the offering
of the Shares by this prospectus.

     Avnet files annual,  quarterly and special  reports,  proxy  statements and
other information with the Securities and Exchange  Commission  (Commission File
Number  1-4224).  These filings  contain  important  information  which does not
appear in this prospectus.  For further  information about Avnet, you may obtain
these filings over the internet at the SEC's web site at http://www.sec.gov. You
may also read and copy these filings at the



                                       -6-

<PAGE>



SEC's public reference room at 450 Fifth Street, N.W.,  Washington,  D.C. 20549.
You may obtain  information  on the  operation of the public  reference  room by
calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330, and may obtain copies of Avnet's filings from
the public reference room by calling (202) 942-8090.

     The SEC allows Avnet to  "incorporate by reference"  information  into this
prospectus,  which means that we can disclose  important  information  to you by
referring  you to other  documents  which  Avnet has filed or will file with the
SEC.  We are  incorporating  by  reference  in  this  prospectus  the  following
documents:

o    Avnet's' Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended July 2, 1999;

o    Avnet's  Quarterly  Report  on Form  10-Q for the  quarterly  period  ended
     October 1, 1999;

o    Avnet's'  Current  Reports on Form 8-K bearing cover dates of September 28,
     1999, October 20, 1999 and December 22, 1999; and

o    The   description   of  Avnet's  common  stock  which  appears  in  Avnet's
     Registration  Statement  for the  registration  of the common  stock  under
     Section  12(b)  of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of  1934,  including  any
     amendment or report filed to update this description.

     All  documents  which Avnet files with the SEC  pursuant to Section  13(a),
13(c),  14 or  15(d)  of the  Securities  Exchange  Act  after  the date of this
prospectus and before the  termination of this offering of Shares will be deemed
to be  incorporated  by reference in this prospectus and to be a part of it from
the filing dates of such documents.  Certain  statements in and portions of this
prospectus  update  and  replace  information  in  the  above  listed  documents
incorporated  by  reference.  Likewise,  statements  in or  portions of a future
document  incorporated  by reference in this  prospectus  may update and replace
statements in and portions of this prospectus or the above listed documents.

     We shall provide you without charge,  upon your written or oral request,  a
copy of any of the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus, other
than  exhibits to such  documents  which are not  specifically  incorporated  by
reference into such documents.  Please direct your written or telephone requests
to the  Corporate  Secretary,  Avnet,  Inc.,  2211 South 47th  Street,  Phoenix,
Arizona (Telephone 480-643-2000).





                                       -7-

<PAGE>



                                     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........................................   $17,306.00
Legal fees and expenses.....................................    20,000.00
Accountants' fees and expenses..............................     4,000.00
Miscellaneous...............................................     3,694.00
                                                               ----------
         Total..............................................   $45,000.00


Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

     Section 54 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 54 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.

          "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."




                                      II-1

<PAGE>



     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 54 of
the Registrant's By-laws includes the foregoing statutory language.

     The rights  granted under Section 54 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 reasonable 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)).

     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



                                      II-2

<PAGE>



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     Registration Rights Agreement dated as of January 3, 2000 between SEI
         Investments B.V. and Avnet, Inc.

   5     Opinion of David R. Birk, Esq. with respect to the legality of the
         securities being registered hereunder.

  23(a)  Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP.

  23(b)  Consent of David R. Birk, Esq. (included in Exhibit 5).

  24     Powers of Attorney.

  99     Shareholders Agreement dated September 15, 1997, among Sonepar
         Electronique  International,  SEI Investments  B.V.,  Marshall
         Industries and Marshall Industries  Investments B.V., filed as
         Exhibit 10.3 to Marshall Industries'  Quarterly Report on Form
         10-Q for the  quarterly  period  ended  August 31,  1997,  and
         incorporated herein by reference (Commission File No. 1-5441).






                                      II-3

<PAGE>



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

<PAGE>



     (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

<PAGE>



                                   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 City of Phoenix, State of Arizona, on January 19, 2000.

                                            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 January 19, 2000,  by the  following
persons in the capacities indicated:

    Signature                                    Title
    ---------                                    -----



/s/Roy Vallee                                    Chairman of the Board, Chief
- --------------------                             Executive Officer and Director
Roy Vallee



    *
- --------------------                             Director
Eleanor Baum



    *                                            Director
- --------------------
J. Veronica Biggins



    *                                            Director
- --------------------
Joseph F. Caligiuri





                                      II-6

<PAGE>



    Signature                                    Title
    ---------                                    -----



    *                                            Director
- --------------------
Lawrence W. Clarkson



    *                                            Director
- --------------------
Ehud Houminer



    *                                            Director
- --------------------
James A. Lawrence



    *                                            Director
- --------------------
Salvatore J. Nuzzo



    *                                            Director
- --------------------
Frederic Salerno



    *
- --------------------                             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-7

<PAGE>



                                  EXHIBIT INDEX



  Exhibit
    No.
    ---

     1                  Registration Rights Agreement dated as of January 3,
                        2000, between SEI Investments B.V. and Avnet, Inc.

     5                  Opinion of David R. Birk, Esq. with respect to the
                        legality of the securities being registered hereunder

    23(a)               Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP

    23(b)               Consent of David R. Birk, Esq. (included in Exhibit 5)

    24                  Powers of Attorney

    99                  Shareholders Agreement dated September 15, 1997,
                        among   Sonepar    Electronique    International,    SEI
                        Investments  B.V.,   Marshall  Industries  and  Marshall
                        Industries  Investments  B.V.,  filed as Exhibit 10.3 to
                        Marshall  Industries'  Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for
                        the  quarterly   period  ended  August  31,  1997,   and
                        incorporated herein by reference (Commission File No.
                        1-5441).
















                                    EXHIBIT 1




<PAGE>





                          REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
                          -----------------------------



     This  REGISTRATION  RIGHTS AGREEMENT is dated as of January 3, 2000 between
SEI  Investments  B.V.,  a private  company  with  limited  liability  (besloten
vennootschap  met beperkte  aansprakelijkheid)  organized  under the laws of The
Netherlands ("Seller") and Avnet, Inc., a New York corporation ("Purchaser").

                              W I T N E S S E T H :

     WHEREAS,  Seller and Purchaser have entered into a Share Purchase Agreement
of even date herewith (the "Share  Purchase  Agreement")  providing for the sale
and  transfer  of shares of  Eurotronics  B.V.  (the "SEI  Shares") by Seller to
Purchaser;

     WHEREAS,  the Share Purchase  Agreement calls for the issuance by Purchaser
to Seller of 1,171,270  shares of common  stock,  par value $1.00 per share,  of
Purchaser  ("Consideration Shares"). As a condition to the sale by Seller of the
SEI shares to Purchaser, the Purchaser has agreed to provide registration rights
with respect to the Consideration Shares as set forth in this Agreement;

     In   consideration   of  the  premises,   and  of  the  mutual   covenants,
representations,  warranties and agreements herein contained, the parties hereto
agree as follows:

     1. Certain Definitions.
        --------------------

     As used in this  Agreement,  the  following  terms shall have the following
respective meanings:

          (a) "Affiliate" means, as applied to any person, any other person that
     directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controls, or is
     controlled by, or is under common control with,  such person at the time at
     which  the  determination  of  affiliation  is  made.  The  term  "control"
     (including, with correlative meanings, the terms "controlled by" and "under
     common  control  with"),  as applied to any person,  means the  possession,
     direct or  indirect,  of the power to direct or cause the  direction of the
     management  and policies of that person,  whether  through the ownership of
     voting securities,  voting rights or other ownership interests, by contract
     or otherwise.

          (b) "Closing  Date" shall mean the Closing Date specified in the Share
     Purchase Agreement.





<PAGE>



          (c) "Commission" shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission, or
     any other federal agency at the time  administering the Exchange Act or the
     Securities  Act,  whichever  is the  relevant  statute  for the  particular
     purpose.

          (d) "Exchange Act" shall mean the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, or
     any  successor   thereto,   and  the  rules  and  regulations   promulgated
     thereunder, all as the same shall be amended from time to time.

          (e) The term  "holder"  shall mean the Seller  and/or any Affiliate of
     the Seller which, on the Closing Date,  becomes the holder of record of any
     Registrable  Securities,   and  their  respective  successors  and  assigns
     pursuant to Section 8(d) of this Agreement.

          (f)  The  term  "person"  shall  mean  a   corporation,   association,
     partnership  or other  entity or an  individual,  government  or  political
     subdivision thereof or governmental agency.

          (g)  "Registration  Expenses"  shall  have the  meaning  set  forth in
     Section 4 of this Agreement.

          (h)  "Registrable  Securities"  shall  mean the  Consideration  Shares
     purchased pursuant to the Share Purchase Agreement, and any securities into
     which or for which the  Consideration  Shares  may  hereafter  be  changed,
     converted  or  exchanged,  and any other shares or  securities  issued with
     respect to the Consideration Shares to holders of the Consideration Shares;
     provided, however, that securities shall cease to be Registrable Securities
     when (i) a registration  statement covering such Registrable Securities has
     been declared effective and they have been sold or otherwise transferred by
     the holder  thereof  pursuant to such effective  registration  statement or
     (ii) they have been  distributed to the public pursuant to Rule 144 (or any
     successor provision) promulgated under the Securities Act.

          (i)  "Securities  Act" shall mean the  Securities  Act of 1933, or any
     successor  thereto,  and  the  rules,  regulations  and  forms  promulgated
     thereunder, all as the same shall be amended from time to time.

          (j) "Shelf Registration" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2
     of this Agreement.



                                        2

<PAGE>



     2. Registration Under the Securities Act.
        --------------------------------------

     Purchaser  shall file on or prior to a date that is 11 business  days after
the Closing  Date,  but not prior to the Closing  Date,  a "shelf"  registration
statement providing for the offer and sale by the holders of all the Registrable
Securities, on an appropriate form pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act
and/or  any  similar  rule that may be  adopted by the  Commission  (the  "Shelf
Registration").  Purchaser  agrees to use its  reasonable  best efforts to cause
such Shelf  Registration  to be declared  effective  as promptly as  practicable
after such filing and to keep such Shelf Registration continuously effective for
a period ending on the earlier of (x) the second anniversary of the Closing Date
and (y) the  earliest  time the  Registrable  Securities  can all be sold by the
Seller in a single  transaction  pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities  Act.
Purchaser further agrees, if necessary,  to supplement or make amendments to the
Shelf  Registration,  if  required  by the rules,  regulations  or  instructions
applicable  to  the   registration   form  used  by  Purchaser  for  such  Shelf
Registration  or by the Securities Act or rules and  regulations  thereunder for
shelf registration.

     Notwithstanding  anything  herein  to  the  contrary,  Purchaser  shall  be
entitled  to  delay  such  filing  and/or  the  effective   time  of  the  Shelf
Registration  for up to 60 days if Purchaser  shall determine in good faith that
such filing or effectiveness is reasonably likely to interfere with a pending or
contemplated financing, merger, sale or acquisition of assets,  recapitalization
or other corporate  action or policies of the Company,  it being understood that
Purchaser  shall  be  entitled  to  delay  only  twice  for up to 60 days in the
aggregate.

     3. Registration Procedures.
        ------------------------

     In  connection  with  Purchaser=s  obligations  with  respect  to the Shelf
Registration  pursuant to Section 2 hereof,  Purchaser  shall use its reasonable
best efforts to effect or cause the  registration of the Registrable  Securities
under  the  Securities  Act to permit  the  offer  and sale of such  Registrable
Securities  by the holders  thereof in  accordance  with the  holders'  intended
method or methods of  distribution  thereof,  and  pursuant  thereto,  Purchaser
shall, as soon as reasonably possible:

          (a) prepare and file with the Commission a  registration  statement or
     registration  statements with respect to the Shelf Registration on any form
     which may be utilized by Purchaser  and which shall permit the  disposition
     of the  Registrable  Securities  in  accordance  with the method or methods
     thereof disclosed to Purchaser by the holders,  and use its reasonable best
     efforts to cause such registration statement or registration  statements to
     become effective as promptly as practicable after filing;

          (b)  prepare  and  file  with  the  Commission   such  amendments  and
     supplements  to a  registration  statement or statements  hereunder and the
     prospectus used in connection therewith as may be necessary to maintain the
     effectiveness  of such  registration  statement for the  applicable  period
     specified in Section 2 hereof, and comply with the provisions of



                                        3

<PAGE>



     the Exchange Act and the Securities Act with respect to the  disposition of
     all of the  Registrable  Securities  to be  included  in such  registration
     statement  during such applicable  period in accordance with the methods of
     disposition disclosed to Purchaser by the holders;

          (c) not less than five  business  days  before  filing a  registration
     statement or related prospectus with respect to a Shelf Registration or any
     amendments or  supplements  thereto,  furnish to each holder of Registrable
     Securities  covered  by such  Shelf  Registration  and  their  counsel  and
     managing underwriters,  if any, copies of all such documents proposed to be
     filed (including  exhibits),  and Purchaser will not file any such document
     with the Commission if (i) in the case of the registration  statement,  the
     holders  of a  majority  of the  Registrable  Securities  included  in such
     registration  statement shall reasonably object to such filing within three
     business  days of their  receipt of such  document or (ii) any holder shall
     reasonably object to information in such a document  concerning such holder
     within three business days of its receipt of such document;

          (d) promptly notify the selling  holders of Registrable  Securities to
     be  included  in  a  registration  statement  hereunder  and  the  managing
     underwriters,  if any,  of the  Registrable  Securities  being sold and (if
     requested by any such person) confirm such advice in writing, (i) when such
     registration  statement,  the  prospectus or any  prospectus  supplement or
     post-effective  amendment  has  been  filed,  and,  with  respect  to  such
     registration statement or any post-effective  amendment,  when the same has
     become  effective,  (ii) of any request by the Commission for amendments or
     supplements  to  such  registration  statement  or  the  prospectus  or for
     additional information, (iii) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop
     order suspending the  effectiveness of such  registration  statement or the
     initiation  of any  proceedings  for that  purpose,  (iv) of the receipt by
     Purchaser  of  any  notification  with  respect  to the  suspension  of the
     qualification of the Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction or
     the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose, or (v) at
     any time when a prospectus is required to be delivered under the Securities
     Act, of the  happening of any event as a result of which such  registration
     statement,   prospectus,   any  prospectus  supplement,   or  any  document
     incorporated  by  reference  in any of the  foregoing  contains  an  untrue
     statement of a material  fact or omits to state any material  fact required
     to be stated  therein  or  necessary  to make the  statements  therein  not
     misleading in light of the circumstances then existing;

          (e) use its  reasonable  best efforts to obtain the  withdrawal of any
     order suspending the effectiveness of a registration statement hereunder or
     any post-effective amendment thereto at the earliest practicable date;

          (f)  in  connection  with  an  underwritten  offering  of  Registrable
     Securities,  promptly prepare a revised prospectus, a prospectus supplement
     or post-effective  amendment that complies with the Securities Act and that
     includes such  information  that Purchaser and the managing  underwriter or
     underwriters of such offering may deem



                                        4

<PAGE>



     reasonably  appropriate;  and make all required  filings of such prospectus
     supplement or post-effective  amendment  promptly after notification of the
     matters to be  included in such  prospectus  supplement  or  post-effective
     amendment;

          (g) furnish to the holders of Registrable Securities to be included in
     a registration  statement  hereunder and each  underwriter,  if any, of the
     Consideration  Shares being sold such number of copies of such registration
     statement,  each  such  amendment  and  supplement  thereto  (in each  case
     including  all  exhibits   thereto),   the  prospectus   included  in  such
     registration  statement  and  such  other  documents  as  such  holder  and
     underwriter,  if any, may  reasonably  request in order to  facilitate  the
     disposition of the  Registrable  Securities  owned by such holders;  at any
     time when such holders have not been given notice of the  occurrence of any
     event described in Section 3(d)(iii),  (iv) or (v) above, or when Purchaser
     has not been given the notice  described in the last sentence of Section 3,
     Purchaser  consents  to the  use  of the  prospectus  or any  amendment  or
     supplement thereto by the selling holders of Registrable Securities and the
     underwriters  in connection  with the offering and sale of the  Registrable
     Securities  covered  by the  prospectus  or  any  supplement  or  amendment
     thereto;

          (h) use its  reasonable  best  efforts to (i)  register or qualify the
     Registrable Securities to be included in a registration statement hereunder
     under such other securities laws or blue sky laws of such  jurisdictions in
     the United States as the holders of such  Registrable  Securities  and each
     managing  underwriter,  if any, of the  Registrable  Securities  being sold
     shall reasonably request, (ii) keep such registrations or qualifications in
     effect  for so long as the  registration  statement  remains  in effect and
     (iii)  take any and all such  actions  as may be  reasonably  necessary  or
     advisable to enable such holders and underwriter, if any, to consummate the
     disposition in such jurisdictions of such Registrable Securities; provided,
     however,  that Purchaser  shall not be required for any such purpose to (A)
     qualify  generally  to  do  business  as  a  foreign   corporation  in  any
     jurisdiction  wherein it would not otherwise be required to qualify but for
     the  requirements  of this Section 3(h),  (B) subject itself to taxation in
     any such jurisdiction,  or (C) consent to general service of process in any
     such jurisdiction;

          (i) use its  reasonable  best efforts to cause all of the  Registrable
     Securities  to be  included in a  registration  statement  hereunder  to be
     registered  with or  approved  by such  other  United  States  governmental
     agencies or  authorities  as may be necessary by virtue of the business and
     operations  of  Purchaser  to enable  the  holder  or  holders  thereof  to
     consummate the disposition of such Registrable Securities;

          (j)  cooperate  with the holders of the  Registrable  Securities to be
     included  in  a   registration   statement   hereunder   and  the  managing
     underwriters,  if any, to furnish for delivery at least two  business  days
     prior to the  closing  of any sale  certificates  representing  Registrable
     Securities to be sold and not bearing any restrictive legends;  and, in the
     case of an underwritten offering, enable such Registrable Securities to be



                                        5

<PAGE>



     registered in such names as the managing  underwriters may request at least
     two business days prior to any sale of the Registrable Securities;

          (k) enter into such customary  agreements  (including an  underwriting
     agreement)  and take such other  actions  in  connection  therewith  as the
     holders  of a  majority  of the  Registrable  Securities  shall  reasonably
     request  in  order  to  expedite  or  facilitate  the  disposition  of such
     Registrable Securities, and in connection with an underwritten offering, at
     the request of the holders of a majority of the  Registrable  Securities or
     the managing underwriters,  (i) make such representations and warranties to
     the underwriters in form, substance and scope as are customarily made in an
     underwritten  offering;  (ii) obtain such  opinions of counsel to Purchaser
     (which may be Purchaser's  General  Counsel) in customary form and covering
     such  matters  of the  type  customarily  covered  by such  opinion  as the
     managing underwriters may reasonably request, addressed to the underwriters
     and dated the date of the closing under the underwriting  agreement;  (iii)
     obtain  "cold  comfort"  letters  from  the  independent  certified  public
     accountants  of  Purchaser  addressed  to the  underwriters  and  dated the
     effective date of such  registration  statement and the date of the closing
     under the underwriting agreement,  such letters to be in customary form and
     covering such matters of the type customarily covered by such letters;  and
     (iv) deliver such documents and certificates as may be reasonably requested
     by the managing  underwriters to evidence  compliance with clause (i) above
     and with any customary conditions  contained in the underwriting  agreement
     or other agreement entered into by Purchaser;

          (l) use its  reasonable  best  efforts  to list all  such  Registrable
     Securities on each securities exchange and automated inter-dealer quotation
     system on which such Registrable Securities are then listed or admitted for
     trading;

          (m) use its  reasonable  efforts to assist the holders of  Registrable
     Securities in the marketing of  Registrable  Securities in connection  with
     such  registration  hereunder,  it  being  understood  that  no  directors,
     officers or other  representatives  of Purchaser will be required to attend
     any "road shows" or analyst or investor  presentations  in connection  with
     the Shelf Registration; and

          (n) otherwise use its best efforts to comply with all applicable rules
     and  regulations  of the  Commission,  and make  available  to its security
     holders, as soon as reasonably practicable, an earning statement covering a
     period of at least twelve  months  which shall  satisfy the  provisions  of
     Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 thereunder.

     Notwithstanding  anything  herein to the  contrary,  at any time  after the
effectiveness  of  the  Shelf  Registration,  Purchaser  shall  be  entitled  by
notifying the holders of the Registrable Securities to postpone or suspend for a
reasonable  period of time (not to  exceed  90 days in the  aggregate  minus the
number of days, if any, used by Purchaser pursuant to the last



                                        6

<PAGE>



sentence of Section 2) the offering of any  Registrable  Securities if Purchaser
shall  determine  in good  faith  that such  offering  is  reasonably  likely to
interfere with a pending or contemplated financing,  merger, sale or acquisition
of assets,  recapitalization or other corporate action or policies of Purchaser.
If Purchaser  elects to so postpone or suspend the  offering of any  Registrable
Securities,  the Purchaser shall, to the extent  necessary,  amend or supplement
the registration  statement for the Shelf Registration to permit the offering of
Registrable  Securities  immediately  following the end of such  postponement or
suspension  (it being  understood  that Purchaser may so postpone or suspend the
offering of Registrable Securities only twice in any 365 day period for a period
not to exceed in the aggregate 90 days minus the number of days, if any, used by
Purchaser pursuant to the last sentence of Section 2.

     Upon the  occurrence  of any event  described  in  Section  3(d)(v)  above,
Purchaser shall prepare and furnish to each holder included in such registration
statement and underwriter, if any, a reasonable number of copies of a prospectus
supplemented  or amended so that, as thereafter  delivered to the  purchasers of
the  Registrable  Securities,  such  prospectus  shall  not  contain  an  untrue
statement  of a material  fact or omit to state a material  fact  required to be
stated  therein or necessary to make the  statements  therein not  misleading in
light of the circumstances then existing.  Each holder of Registrable Securities
agrees that upon receipt of any notice from  Purchaser  of the  happening of any
event of the kind  described  in  Section  3(d)(v)  hereof,  such  holder  shall
forthwith discontinue the disposition of Registrable  Securities pursuant to the
registration  statement  applicable to such  Registrable  Securities  until such
holder receives copies of such amended or supplemented registration statement or
prospectus,  and if so  directed by  Purchaser,  such  holder  shall  deliver to
Purchaser (at Purchaser=s expense) all copies, other than permanent file copies,
then in such holders'  possession of the  prospectus  covering such  Registrable
Securities at the time of receipt of such notice.

     Purchaser may require the holders of  Registrable  Securities to furnish to
Purchaser such information regarding such holder and the plan of distribution of
such  Registrable  Securities  as  Purchaser  may from  time to time  reasonably
request  in order to  comply  with the  Securities  Act.  Without  limiting  the
foregoing,  Purchaser  may exclude a holder's  Registrable  Securities  from any
Shelf Registration, or (if Seller is the only holder) suspend its preparation of
the Shelf  Registration,  if such  holder  has not  furnished  to  Purchaser  in
writing,  within five business days after the Closing Date, the information with
respect to such holder and its intended plan of  distribution  which is required
by Items 507 and 508 of Regulation  S-K under the  Securities Act for disclosure
in the shelf registration statement or the prospectus included therein, it being
understood,  however,  that Purchaser  shall (i) promptly  include in such Shelf
Registration  the  Registrable  Securities  of  any  holder  who  provides  such
information  following  such five  business  day  period and (ii) file the Shelf
Registration or an appropriate amendment thereto on or prior to the date that is
ten business  days after  Purchaser  receives such  information.  The holders of
Registrable  Securities  agree to notify Purchaser as promptly as practicable of
any inaccuracy or change in information  previously furnished by such holders to
Purchaser  or of the  happening of any event in either case as a result of which
any prospectus  relating to such registration  contains an untrue statement of a
material fact regarding such holders or the



                                        7

<PAGE>



distribution of such Registrable  Securities or omits to state any material fact
regarding  such  holders  or the  distribution  of such  Registrable  Securities
required to be stated  therein or necessary to make the  statements  therein not
misleading in light of the circumstances then existing,  and to promptly furnish
to  Purchaser  any  additional  information  required  to correct and update any
previously furnished information or required such that such prospectus shall not
contain,  with respect to such holders or the  distribution of such  Registrable
Securities,  an untrue  statement of a material fact or omit to state a material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the  statements  therein
not misleading in light of the circumstances then existing.

     4. Registration Expenses.
        ----------------------

     All expenses incident to Purchaser=s performance of or compliance with this
Agreement,  including,  without  limitation,  all  Commission  and any  National
Association  of  Securities  Dealers,  Inc.  registration  and  filing  fees and
expenses,  fees and expenses of  compliance  with  securities  and blue sky laws
(including reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the underwriters, if
any, in connection with blue sky qualifications of the Registrable  Securities),
document  preparation and printing  expenses,  messenger and delivery  expenses,
fees  and  expenses  of  any  escrow  agent  or  custodian,   internal  expenses
(including,  without  limitation,  all  salaries  and  expenses  of  Purchaser=s
officers  and  employees  performing  legal  or  accounting  duties),  fees  and
disbursements  of  counsel  and  independent  certified  public  accountants  of
Purchaser (including the expenses of any special audit or "cold comfort" letters
required  by or  incident  to such  performance  and  compliance),  and fees and
expenses of any other persons,  including special experts, retained by Purchaser
(collectively,   the  "Registration  Expenses")  will  be  borne  by  Purchaser.
Notwithstanding the foregoing,  the holders of the Registrable  Securities being
registered shall pay all underwriting discounts and commissions  attributable to
the sale of such  Registrable  Securities and the fees and  disbursements of any
counsel, advisors or experts retained by such holders.

     5. Indemnification.
        ----------------

     (a) Indemnification by Purchaser.  Upon the registration of the Registrable
Securities  pursuant to Section 2 hereof,  Purchaser shall, and it hereby agrees
to, indemnify and hold harmless the holders of the Registrable  Securities,  the
directors  and  officers  and  partners  of  such   holders,   each  person  who
participates  as an  underwriter  in the  offering  or sale of such  Registrable
Securities,  each  officer,  director or partner of such  underwriter,  and each
other  person,  if any,  who  controls  any such holder or any such  underwriter
within the meaning of the  Securities  Act, from and against any and all losses,
claims,  damages or  liabilities,  joint or  several,  and  expenses  (including
reasonable fees of counsel and any amounts paid in any settlement  effected with
the  consent of  Purchaser)  to which such  holder,  such  director,  officer or
partner of such holder, such underwriter,  such officer,  director or partner of
such  underwriter,  or such  controlling  person  may become  subject  under the
Securities Act, common law or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages
or liabilities



                                        8

<PAGE>



or  expenses  (including  all such  losses,  claims,  damages,  liabilities  and
expenses  arising  out of any  actions  or  proceedings,  whether  commenced  or
threatened)  arise out of or are based upon (i) any untrue  statement or alleged
untrue  statement of any material fact contained in any  registration  statement
under which such  Registrable  Securities were  registered  under the Securities
Act, or any preliminary,  final or summary prospectus  contained therein, or any
amendment or  supplement  thereto,  or (ii) any omission or alleged  omission to
state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make
the statement therein not misleading;  provided,  however,  that Purchaser shall
not be liable to any such  person in any such case to the  extent  that any such
loss, claim,  damage,  liability (or action or proceeding,  whether commenced or
threatened,  in respect  thereof)  or expense  arises out of or is based upon an
untrue  statement or alleged  untrue  statement or omission or alleged  omission
made  in  such  registration  statement,   or  preliminary,   final  or  summary
prospectus,  or amendment or supplement in reliance upon and in conformity  with
written  information  furnished to Purchaser by such person expressly for use in
such  registration  statement  or  preliminary,  final  or  summary  prospectus,
amendment  or  supplement  (including  such  information  provided to  Purchaser
pursuant  to the  second  sentence  of the last  paragraph  of Section 3 of this
Agreement);  and provided further, however, that Purchaser will not be liable in
any case with  respect to any untrue  statement  or omission  or alleged  untrue
statement or omission made in any  preliminary  prospectus or prospectus,  or in
any amendment thereof or supplement  thereto,  to the extent that any such loss,
claim, damage or liability (or action in respect thereof) resulted from the fact
that any holder sold  Registrable  Securities  to a person to whom there was not
sent or given,  at or prior to the written  confirmation of such sale, a copy of
the prospectus as then amended or  supplemented  in any case where such delivery
is required by the Securities Act, if Purchaser had previously complied with the
provisions  of Section 3(g) hereof and if the untrue  statement  contained in or
omission from such  preliminary  prospectus  or prospectus  was corrected in the
prospectus  as  then  amended  or   supplemented.   Such   indemnification   and
reimbursement  of expenses  shall remain in full force and effect  regardless of
any investigation made by or on behalf of such holder, such director, officer or
partner of such holder, such underwriter,  such director,  officer or partner of
such underwriter,  or such controlling  person and shall survive the transfer of
such  Registrable  Securities  by  such  holder.  If,  in  connection  with  any
underwritten  offering of Registrable  Securities,  the Purchaser enters into an
underwriting  agreement,  the  indemnification  provisions of such  underwriting
agreement  shall  supersede  the  provisions of this Section 5(a) as between the
Purchaser and the underwriters that are party to such underwriting agreement.

     (b)  Indemnification  by the Holders.  Seller and any other  holders of the
Registrable Securities hereby agree, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and
hold harmless  Purchaser,  each director and officer of Purchaser and each other
person, if any who controls  Purchaser within the meaning of the Securities Act,
from and against any and all losses,  claims,  damages or liabilities,  joint or
several,  and  expenses  (including  fees of  counsel  and any  amounts  paid in
settlement  effected with the consent of such holders) to which Purchaser,  such
director  or  officer  or  controlling  person  may  become  subject  under  the
Securities Act, common law or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages
or liabilities or expenses



                                        9

<PAGE>



(including all such losses,  claims,  damages,  liabilities and expenses arising
out of any actions or proceedings,  whether commenced or threatened),  arise out
of or are based upon any untrue  statement  or alleged  untrue  statement of any
material  fact in or  omission  or alleged  omission  to state a  material  fact
required to be stated in such registration statement, or any preliminary,  final
or summary prospectus contained therein, or any amendment or supplement thereto,
or necessary to make the statements  therein not misleading,  to the extent, but
only to the extent,  such statement or alleged  statement or omission or alleged
omission was made in reliance  upon and in conformity  with written  information
furnished to Purchaser by or on behalf of such holder  expressly for use in such
registration statement or preliminary, final or summary prospectus, amendment or
supplement  (including such  information  provided to Purchaser  pursuant to the
second sentence of the last paragraph of Section 3 of this Agreement); provided,
however,  that no such  holder  shall be liable to any such  person  under  this
Section  5(b) for any amounts in excess of the dollar  amount of the proceeds to
be received by such holder from the sale of such holder=s Registrable Securities
pursuant  to  such  registration.  Such  indemnification  and  reimbursement  of
expenses shall remain in full force and effect  regardless of any  investigation
made  by or on  behalf  of  Purchaser  or  any  of its  directors,  officers  or
controlling  persons or any of such other holders of  Registrable  Securities or
their respective directors, officers, partners and controlling persons and shall
survive the transfer of such Registrable  Securities by such holder. Each holder
of  Registrable  Securities  also  agrees to  indemnify  and hold  harmless  any
underwriters  of the  Registrable  Securities,  their officers and directors and
each person who controls such  underwriters on  substantially  the same basis as
that of the indemnification of Purchaser provided in this Section 5(b).

     (c) Notices of Claims,  Etc. Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party
hereunder of written notice of the commencement of any action or proceeding with
respect  to  which a claim  for  indemnification  may be made  pursuant  to this
Section 5, such indemnified  party shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be
made against an  indemnifying  party,  give written  notice to the latter of the
commencement  of  such  action;  provided,  however,  that  the  failure  of any
indemnified  party to give  notice as  provided  herein  shall not  relieve  the
indemnifying  party of any  obligations  other than under  Section  5(a) or 5(b)
hereof.  In case any such action is brought  against an indemnified  party,  the
indemnifying party shall be entitled to participate in and to assume the defense
thereof,  jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly  notified,  to the
extent  that  it  may  wish,  with  counsel  reasonably   satisfactory  to  such
indemnified  party,  and after such notice from the  indemnifying  party to such
indemnified  party  of its  election  so to  assume  the  defense  thereof,  the
indemnifying  party shall not be liable to such indemnified  party for any legal
or other  expenses  subsequently  incurred by the latter in connection  with the
defense thereof unless the  indemnifying  party has failed to assume the defense
of such claim and to employ counsel reasonably  satisfactory to such indemnified
person.  An  indemnifying  party who elects not to assume the defense of a claim
shall not be liable for the fees and  expenses  of more than one  counsel in any
single  jurisdiction for all parties indemnified by such indemnifying party with
respect to such claim, or with respect to claims separate but similar or related
in the  same  jurisdiction  arising  out of the  same  general  allegations.  No
indemnifying party shall consent to entry of any judgment or



                                       10

<PAGE>



enter into any  settlement  with  respect to a claim  without the consent of the
indemnified party, which consent shall not be unreasonably  withheld,  or unless
such judgment or settlement includes as an unconditional term thereof the giving
by the  claimant or plaintiff  to such  indemnified  party of a release from all
liability in respect of such claim. No indemnified  party shall consent to entry
of any judgment or enter into any  settlement of any action the defense of which
has  been  assumed  by  an  indemnifying  party  without  the  consent  of  such
indemnifying party, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.

     (d) Contribution.

          (i) If for any reason the indemnification provided for in Section 5(a)
     or Section  5(b) is  unavailable  to or  insufficient  to hold  harmless an
     indemnified party in respect of any losses,  claims, damages or liabilities
     specifically covered by the indemnification provisions set forth in Section
     5(a) or Section 5(b), then the  indemnifying  party shall contribute to the
     amount paid or payable by the indemnified party as a result of such losses,
     claims,  damages,   liabilities  or  expenses  in  such  proportion  as  is
     appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnifying party and the
     indemnified party as well as any other relevant  equitable  considerations.
     The relative fault of such  indemnifying  party and indemnified party shall
     be determined  by reference  to, among other things,  whether any action in
     question,  including any untrue or alleged  untrue  statement of a material
     fact or omission or alleged  omission  to state a material  fact,  has been
     made by, or relates to information  supplied by, such indemnifying party or
     indemnified  party, and the parties relative intent,  knowledge,  access to
     information and  opportunity to correct or prevent such action.  The amount
     paid or  payable  by a party as a result of the  losses,  claims,  damages,
     liabilities  and  expenses  referred  to above  shall be deemed to include,
     subject to the  limitations  set forth in Section 5(c),  any legal or other
     fees or expenses  reasonably  incurred  by such party.  In no event shall a
     holder be required to contribute  an amount  greater then the dollar amount
     of the  proceeds  received by much  holder with  respect to the sale of any
     Registrable Securities.

          (ii) The parties  hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable
     if  contribution  pursuant to this Section 5(d) were determined by pro rata
     allocation or by any other method of allocation which does not take account
     of the equitable  considerations  referred to in the immediately  preceding
     paragraph.  No person guilty of fraudulent  misrepresentations  (within the
     meaning of  Section  11(f) of the  Securities  Act)  shall be  entitled  to
     contribution  from  any  person  who was  not  guilty  of  such  fraudulent
     misrepresentation.

          (iii)  The  contribution  provided  for in  this  Section  5(d)  shall
     survive, with respect to a holder of Registrable  Securities,  the transfer
     of Registrable Securities by such holder and with respect to a holder of



                                       11

<PAGE>



     Registrable  Securities or Purchaser  shall remain in full force and effect
     regardless  of any  investigation  made by or on behalf of any  indemnified
     party.

     (e) Other Indemnification. Indemnification and contribution similar to that
specified in Sections 5(a) through 5(d) hereof (with appropriate  modifications)
shall be given by  Purchaser  and each  holder of  Registrable  Securities  with
respect to any required  registration or other qualification of such Registrable
Securities  under any  federal  or state  law or  regulation  of a  governmental
authority other than the Securities Act.

     (f) Payments. The indemnification  required by this Section 5 shall be made
by  periodic   payments  of  the  amount   thereof  during  the  course  of  the
investigation  or defense,  as and when bills are  received  or  expense,  loss,
damage  or  liability  is  incurred,  subject  to  refund  in the event any such
payments are determined not to have been due and owing hereunder.

     6. Underwritten Offerings.
        -----------------------

     (a) Selection of Underwriters. If any of the Registrable Securities covered
by the Shelf  Registration  pursuant to Section 2 hereof are to be sold pursuant
to an underwritten  offering,  the managing  underwriter or underwriters thereof
shall be designated by the holders of a majority of the Registrable  Securities,
provided that such  designated  managing  underwriter or  underwriters is or are
reasonably acceptable to Purchaser.

     (b) Due Diligence Investigation.  If requested by the managing underwriters
of any  underwritten  offering of Registrable  Securities  pursuant to Section 2
hereof,  Purchaser shall provide the underwriters of the Registrable  Securities
being  sold  and  counsel  for  such  underwriters,  and  the  holders  of  such
Registrable   Securities  and  counsel  for  such  holders  the  opportunity  to
participate in the preparation of any  registration  statement  relating to such
Registrable  Securities,  any  prospectus  included  therein  or filed  with the
Commission,  and any amendment or supplement thereto (not including any document
filed by  Purchaser  pursuant  to  Section 13 or 14(a) of the  Exchange  Act and
incorporated  by  reference in a Shelf  Registration);  and make  available  for
inspection  by such  persons such  financial  and other  information,  books and
records of Purchaser and its subsidiaries, and cause the officers, directors and
employees  of  Purchaser  and its  subsidiaries,  and  counsel  and  independent
certified public  accountants of Purchaser and its  subsidiaries,  to respond to
such inquiries,  as shall be reasonably necessary,  in the opinion of respective
counsel  to  such  holders  and  such  underwriters,  to  conduct  a  reasonable
investigation within the meaning of the Securities Act;

     (c)  Underwriting  Agreement.  If  requested  by  the  underwriters  of any
underwritten  offering of Registrable  Securities  pursuant to Section 2 hereof,
Purchaser shall enter into an underwriting  agreement with such underwriters for
such  offering,  such agreement to be reasonably  satisfactory  in substance and
form to Purchaser, the underwriters and each holder of Registrable Securities to
be distributed by such underwriters and to contain such



                                       12

<PAGE>



representations  and  warranties  by  Purchaser  and  such  other  terms  as are
customarily   contained  in  agreements  of  that  type  used  by  the  managing
underwriter or underwriters of such offerings,  including,  without  limitation,
terms with respect to  indemnification  and  contribution,  and related  expense
reimbursement, to the effect and to the extent provided in Section 5 hereof with
such  additional,  alternative or modified terms as are customarily  provided to
such  managing  underwriter  or  underwriters.  The  holders of the  Registrable
Securities which are to be distributed by such underwriters  shall be parties to
such underwriting agreement. Such holders of Registrable Securities shall not be
required  to make  any  representations  or  warranties  to or  agreements  with
Purchaser  or  the  underwriters  other  than  representations,   warranties  or
agreements regarding such holders, such holders' Registrable Securities and such
holders'  intended  methods  of  disposition  with  respect  to the  Registrable
Securities.

     7. Rule 144.
        ---------

     Purchaser covenants to the holders of Registrable Securities that Purchaser
shall timely file the reports  required to be filed by it pursuant to Section 13
of the Exchange Act (as provided in subparagraph  (c) (1) of Rule 144 adopted by
the Commission  under the Securities Act), and shall take such further action as
any holder of Registrable  Securities may reasonably request,  all to the extent
required from time to time to enable such holder to sell Registrable  Securities
without  registration  under the  Securities  Act within the  limitation  of the
exemption  provided  by Rule 144 under the  Securities  Act, as such Rule may be
amended from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation  hereafter  adopted
by the  Commission.  Upon the request of any holder of  Registrable  Securities,
Purchaser shall deliver to such holder a written  statement as to whether it has
complied with the requirements of the said subparagraph (c) (1).

     8. Miscellaneous.
        --------------

     (a) No  Inconsistent  Agreements.  Purchaser  covenants  and agrees that it
shall not grant registration  rights with respect to any of its securities which
are  inconsistent  with the  registration  rights  contained  in this  Agreement
applicable to the parties hereto and their permitted transferees.

     (b) Specific Performance.  The parties hereto acknowledge that there may be
no adequate  remedy at law if any party fails to perform any of its  obligations
hereunder,  and  accordingly  agree that each  party,  in  addition to any other
remedy to which it may be  entitled  at law or in equity,  shall be  entitled to
compel  specific  performance  of the  obligations of any other party under this
Agreement in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement,  in any
court of the United States or any State thereof having jurisdiction.  Any remedy
under this  Section  8(b) is subject to certain  equitable  defenses  and to the
discretion of the court before which any proceedings therefor may be brought.



                                       13

<PAGE>



     (c) Notices.  All notices,  requests,  claims,  demands,  waivers and other
communications  hereunder  shall be in writing  and shall be deemed to have been
duly given when delivered by hand, if delivered  personally or by courier,  when
transmitted by fax, or three days after being deposited in the mail  (registered
or certified mail, postage prepaid,  return receipt requested) as follows: If to
Purchaser,  to Avnet,  Inc.,  2211 South 47th Street,  Phoenix,  Arizona  85034,
Attention:  General  Counsel  (fax  602-643-7629),  and  if to  Seller,  to  SEI
Investments B.V., 2, rue de la Tour des Dames, 75009 Paris,  France,  Attention:
Marie-Christine  Coisne  (fax  331-4878-0517),  or to such other  address or fax
number as any party may have  furnished  to the others in writing in  accordance
herewith.

     (d) Parties in Interest.  All the terms and  provisions  of this  Agreement
shall be binding upon, shall inure to the benefit of and shall be enforceable by
the respective  successors and assigns of the parties  hereto;  provided that no
party  may  assign,  delegate  or  otherwise  transfer  any  of  its  rights  or
obligations  under  this  Agreement  without  the  written  consent of the other
parties hereto. However, Seller may from time to time transfer any or all of the
Registrable  Securities  and  assign  its  rights  and  obligations  under  this
Agreement to one or more  Affiliates of Seller,  provided that prior to any such
transfer and assignment, (i) Seller furnishes to Purchaser an opinion of counsel
reasonably   satisfactory   to  Purchaser  that  such  transfer  of  Registrable
Securities may be effected without  registration  under the Securities Act, (ii)
Seller furnishes to Purchaser  information from which it can reasonably conclude
that the proposed  transferee  is an Affiliate of Seller,  (iii) such  Affiliate
agrees in  writing  to all the terms and  conditions  of this  Agreement  and to
status as a holder hereunder, and (iv) Seller and such Affiliate promptly comply
with the last  paragraph of Section 3 of this Agreement for purposes of amending
the  registration  statement  and related  prospectus  covering the  Registrable
Securities.  Neither  this  Agreement  nor any  provision  hereof is intended to
confer  upon any person  other than the  parties  hereto any rights or  remedies
hereunder.

     (e) Law  Governing.  This  Agreement  shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of New York,  without regard the conflicts
of laws rules thereof and by applicable United States federal law.

     (f)  Headings.  The  descriptive  headings  of  the  several  Sections  and
paragraphs  of  this  Agreement  are  inserted  for  convenience  only,  do  not
constitute a part of this  Agreement and shall not affect in any way the meaning
of interpretation of this Agreement.

     (g) Entire Agreement;  Amendments. This Agreement,  together with the Share
Purchase  Agreement and other writings referred to herein or delivered  pursuant
hereto  which form a part hereof or  referred to in Section  9.4(a) of the Share
Purchase Agreement contain the entire  understanding of the parties with respect
to their  respective  subject  matter.  This  Agreement  and the Share  Purchase
Agreement  and  such  other   writings   supersede  all  prior   agreements  and
understandings  between the parties  with  respect to their  respective  subject
matter. This Agreement may be amended and the observance of any term of this



                                       14

<PAGE>



Agreement may be waived (either generally or in a particular instance and either
retroactively or  prospectively)  only by a written  instrument duly executed by
Purchaser  and the holders of a majority of the  Registrable  Securities  at the
time outstanding.

     (h)  Counterparts.  This  Agreement may be executed in two or more separate
counterparts,  each of  which  shall be  deemed  an  original,  but all of which
together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

     IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the parties hereto have caused this  instrument to be
duly executed on the date first written above.

                                         SEI INVESTMENTS B.V.

                                         By: /s/Bruno Fine
                                             ------------------------
                                             Name:  Bruno Fine
                                             Title: Managing Director


                                         AVNET, INC.

                                         By:  /s/David R. Birk
                                              ----------------------------------
                                               Name:  David R. Birk
                                               Title: Senior Vice President and
                                                         General Counsel





                                       15






                                    EXHIBIT 5





<PAGE>



                                      AVNET
                            Corporate Services Group

                                January 14, 2000

Board of Directors
Avnet, Inc.
2211 South 47th Street
Phoenix, Arizona  85034

                  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 the offer and sale of  1,171,270  shares of the common
stock, par value $1.00 per share, of the Company by SEI Investments B.V.

     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 above  mentioned
1,171,270 shares were legally issued and are fully paid and non-assessable.

     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
                                                     Senior Vice President
                                                      and General Counsel

DRB/sc

                   2211 South 47th Street o Phoenix, AZ 85034
                         T. 480-643-2000 F. 480-643-7199









                                                   EXHIBIT 23(a)




<PAGE>






                    CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS



     As  independent   public   accountants,   we  hereby  consent  to  (1)  the
incorporation  by  reference in this  Registration  Statement on Form S-3 of our
report dated August 4, 1999,  included in Avnet,  Inc.'s  Annual  Report on Form
10-K for the year ended July 2, 1999, (2) the incorporation by reference in this
Registration  Statement on Form S-3 of our report dated August 25, 1999,  on the
consolidated  financial  statements  of  Marshall  Industries,  which  report is
included  in Avnet,  Inc.'s  Current  Report on Form 8-K  bearing  cover date of
October  20,  1999  and  (3)  all  references  to  our  firm  included  in  this
Registration Statement.


                                 /s/ ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP
                                     ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP



Phoenix, Arizona
January 14, 2000









                                   EXHIBIT 24




<PAGE>



                                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, the  undersigned's  attorneys-in-fact  and
agents with full power of  substitution,  to execute for the  undersigned 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 the offer and  resale  from  time to time of  shares of the  common  stock of
Avnet,  Inc. which are issued pursuant to the Share Purchase  Agreement  between
SEI  Investments  B.V. and Avnet,  Inc.,  and to file the same, and 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 the undersigned  might or
could  do  in  person,   hereby   ratifying   and   confirming   all  that  said
attorneys-in-fact  and agents,  and/or either of them or their or his substitute
or  substitutes,  may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue of this power of
attorney.

     IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the  undersigned  has executed this power of attorney
this 31st day of December, 1999.



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




<PAGE>



                                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, the  undersigned's  attorneys-in-fact  and
agents with full power of  substitution,  to execute for the  undersigned 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 the offer and  resale  from  time to time of  shares of the  common  stock of
Avnet,  Inc. which are issued pursuant to the Share Purchase  Agreement  between
SEI  Investments  B.V. and Avnet,  Inc.,  and to file the same, and 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 the undersigned  might or
could  do  in  person,   hereby   ratifying   and   confirming   all  that  said
attorneys-in-fact  and agents,  and/or either of them or their or his substitute
or  substitutes,  may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue of this power of
attorney.

     IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the  undersigned  has executed this power of attorney
this 31st day of December, 1999.



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




<PAGE>



                                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, the  undersigned's  attorneys-in-fact  and
agents with full power of  substitution,  to execute for the  undersigned 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 the offer and  resale  from  time to time of  shares of the  common  stock of
Avnet,  Inc. which are issued pursuant to the Share Purchase  Agreement  between
SEI  Investments  B.V. and Avnet,  Inc.,  and to file the same, and 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 the undersigned  might or
could  do  in  person,   hereby   ratifying   and   confirming   all  that  said
attorneys-in-fact  and agents,  and/or either of them or their or his substitute
or  substitutes,  may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue of this power of
attorney.

     IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the  undersigned  has executed this power of attorney
this 31st day of December, 1999.



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




<PAGE>



                                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, the  undersigned's  attorneys-in-fact  and
agents with full power of  substitution,  to execute for the  undersigned 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 the offer and  resale  from  time to time of  shares of the  common  stock of
Avnet,  Inc. which are issued pursuant to the Share Purchase  Agreement  between
SEI  Investments  B.V. and Avnet,  Inc.,  and to file the same, and 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 the undersigned  might or
could  do  in  person,   hereby   ratifying   and   confirming   all  that  said
attorneys-in-fact  and agents,  and/or either of them or their or his substitute
or  substitutes,  may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue of this power of
attorney.

     IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the  undersigned  has executed this power of attorney
this 31st day of December, 1999.



                                            /s/Lawrence W. Clarkson
                                            -----------------------
                                            Lawrence W. Clarkson




<PAGE>



                                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, the  undersigned's  attorneys-in-fact  and
agents with full power of  substitution,  to execute for the  undersigned 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 the offer and  resale  from  time to time of  shares of the  common  stock of
Avnet,  Inc. which are issued pursuant to the Share Purchase  Agreement  between
SEI  Investments  B.V. and Avnet,  Inc.,  and to file the same, and 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 the undersigned  might or
could  do  in  person,   hereby   ratifying   and   confirming   all  that  said
attorneys-in-fact  and agents,  and/or either of them or their or his substitute
or  substitutes,  may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue of this power of
attorney.

     IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the  undersigned  has executed this power of attorney
this 31st day of December, 1999.



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




<PAGE>



                                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, the  undersigned's  attorneys-in-fact  and
agents with full power of  substitution,  to execute for the  undersigned 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 the offer and  resale  from  time to time of  shares of the  common  stock of
Avnet,  Inc. which are issued pursuant to the Share Purchase  Agreement  between
SEI  Investments  B.V. and Avnet,  Inc.,  and to file the same, and 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 the undersigned  might or
could  do  in  person,   hereby   ratifying   and   confirming   all  that  said
attorneys-in-fact  and agents,  and/or either of them or their or his substitute
or  substitutes,  may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue of this power of
attorney.

     IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the  undersigned  has executed this power of attorney
this 31st day of December, 1999.



                                            /s/James A. Lawrence
                                            --------------------
                                            James A. Lawrence




<PAGE>



                                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, the  undersigned's  attorneys-in-fact  and
agents with full power of  substitution,  to execute for the  undersigned 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 the offer and  resale  from  time to time of  shares of the  common  stock of
Avnet,  Inc. which are issued pursuant to the Share Purchase  Agreement  between
SEI  Investments  B.V. and Avnet,  Inc.,  and to file the same, and 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 the undersigned  might or
could  do  in  person,   hereby   ratifying   and   confirming   all  that  said
attorneys-in-fact  and agents,  and/or either of them or their or his substitute
or  substitutes,  may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue of this power of
attorney.

     IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the  undersigned  has executed this power of attorney
this 31st day of December, 1999.



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




<PAGE>



                                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, the  undersigned's  attorneys-in-fact  and
agents with full power of  substitution,  to execute for the  undersigned 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 the offer and  resale  from  time to time of  shares of the  common  stock of
Avnet,  Inc. which are issued pursuant to the Share Purchase  Agreement  between
SEI  Investments  B.V. and Avnet,  Inc.,  and to file the same, and 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 the undersigned  might or
could  do  in  person,   hereby   ratifying   and   confirming   all  that  said
attorneys-in-fact  and agents,  and/or either of them or their or his substitute
or  substitutes,  may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue of this power of
attorney.

     IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the  undersigned  has executed this power of attorney
this 31st day of December, 1999.



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




<PAGE>


                                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, the  undersigned's  attorneys-in-fact  and
agents with full power of  substitution,  to execute for the  undersigned 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 the offer and  resale  from  time to time of  shares of the  common  stock of
Avnet,  Inc. which are issued pursuant to the Share Purchase  Agreement  between
SEI  Investments  B.V. and Avnet,  Inc.,  and to file the same, and 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 the undersigned  might or
could  do  in  person,   hereby   ratifying   and   confirming   all  that  said
attorneys-in-fact  and agents,  and/or either of them or their or his substitute
or  substitutes,  may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue of this power of
attorney.

     IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the  undersigned  has executed this power of attorney
this 31st day of December, 1999.



                                            /s/Frederick S. Wood
                                            --------------------
                                            Frederick S. Wood






© 2022 IncJournal is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission