BT OFFICE PRODUCTS INTERNATIONAL INC
DEF 14A, 1996-05-24
PAPER & PAPER PRODUCTS
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                                  SCHEDULE 14A 
                                (RULE 14A-101) 
                   INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT 
                           SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION 
                  Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) 
                    of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 

Filed by the registrant [x] 
Filed by a party other than the registrant [ ] 

Check the appropriate box:

[ ] Preliminary proxy statement 
[x] Definitive proxy statement 
[ ] Definitive additional materials 
[ ] Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-11(c) or Rule 14a-12 

                    BT OFFICE PRODUCTS INTERNATIONAL, INC. 
               (Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter) 

Payment of filing fee (Check the appropriate box): 

[x] $125 per Exchange Act Rule 0-11(c)(1)(ii), 14a-6(i)(1), or 14a-6(j)(2). 
[ ] $500 per each party to the controversy pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 
    14a-6(i)(3). 
[ ] Fee computed on the table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(4) 
    and 0-11. 
      (1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies: 
      (2) Aggregate number of securities to which transactions apply: 
      (3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed 
          pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11: 
      (4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction: 

[ ] Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act 
    Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was 
    paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement 
    number, or the form or schedule and the date of its filing. 
      (1) Amount previously paid: 

      (2) Form, schedule or registration statement no.: 

      (3) Filing party: 

      (4) Date filed: 


<PAGE>
                    BT OFFICE PRODUCTS INTERNATIONAL, INC. 
                           2150 EAST LAKE COOK ROAD 
                         BUFFALO GROVE, IL 60089-1877 
                                (847) 793-7500 
                            --------------------
                   NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS 
                         TO BE HELD ON JUNE 25, 1996 
                            --------------------

   NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the annual meeting of stockholders (the 
"Annual Meeting") of BT Office Products International, Inc., a Delaware 
corporation (the "Company"), will be held at the Drake Hotel, 140 East Walton 
Place, Chicago, Illinois 60611 at 10:00 a.m. on June 25, 1996, for the 
following purposes: 

   1.  To elect directors of the Company to serve until the next annual 
       meeting of stockholders and until their successors are duly elected 
       and qualified; 

   2. To ratify the appointment of Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P. as the Company's 
      independent auditors for the fiscal year ending December 31, 1996; and 

   3. To transact such other business as may properly come before the Annual 
      Meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof. 

   The close of business on May 15, 1996 has been fixed as the record date for 
determining the stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the Meeting.
All holders of record of common stock of the Company at that date are entitled
to vote at the Meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof.
                              
                                    By Order of the Board of Directors, 


                                    /s/ John J. McKiernan
                                    ---------------------------
                                    John J. McKiernan Secretary 

Buffalo Grove, Illinois 
May 24, 1996 

IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOUR SHARES BE REPRESENTED AT THE MEETING REGARDLESS OF 
THE NUMBER OF SHARES YOU HOLD. PLEASE COMPLETE, SIGN AND MAIL THE ENCLOSED 
PROXY IN THE ACCOMPANYING ENVELOPE EVEN IF YOU INTEND TO BE PRESENT AT THE 
MEETING. RETURNING THE PROXY WILL NOT LIMIT YOUR RIGHT TO VOTE IN PERSON OR 
TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL MEETING, BUT WILL ENSURE YOUR REPRESENTATION IF YOU 
CANNOT ATTEND. IF YOU HOLD SHARES IN MORE THAN ONE NAME, OR IF YOUR STOCK IS 
REGISTERED IN MORE THAN ONE WAY, YOU MAY RECEIVE MORE THAN ONE COPY OF THE 
PROXY MATERIAL. IF SO, PLEASE SIGN AND RETURN EACH OF THE PROXY CARDS THAT 
YOU RECEIVE SO THAT ALL OF YOUR SHARES MAY BE VOTED. 


<PAGE>
                    BT OFFICE PRODUCTS INTERNATIONAL, INC. 
                           2150 EAST LAKE COOK ROAD 
                         BUFFALO GROVE, IL 60089-1877 
                                (847) 793-7500 
                         -------------------------
                               PROXY STATEMENT 
                         -------------------------

   This Proxy Statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation of 
proxies by the Board of Directors of BT Office Products International, Inc. 
(the "Company") for use at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the "Meeting") 
to be held at the Drake Hotel, 140 East Walton Place, Chicago, Illinois 60611 
on June 25, 1996, at 10:00 a.m., and at any postponements or adjournments 
thereof. This Proxy Statement and the related proxy card are first being 
mailed to stockholders on or about May 24, 1996. 

   Only holders of record of the Company's common stock, par value $.01 per 
share (the "Common Stock"), as of the close of business on May 15, 1996 (the 
"Record Date"), will be entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Meeting. 
As of the Record Date, there were 33,400,000 shares of Common Stock issued 
and outstanding, each of which is entitled to one vote. There is no other 
class of voting securities issued and outstanding. The presence in person or 
by proxy of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Common 
Stock will be necessary to constitute a quorum for the transaction of 
business at the Meeting. 

   All shares represented by properly executed proxies will be voted in 
accordance with the instructions indicated thereon unless such proxies 
previously have been revoked. If any proxies do not contain voting 
instructions, the shares represented by such proxies will be voted FOR the 
election of the nominees for director listed below and FOR the ratification 
of the appointment of Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P. as the Company's independent 
auditors for the fiscal year ending December 31, 1996. It is not anticipated 
that any matters other than those set forth in this Proxy Statement will be 
brought before the Meeting. If any other matters properly come before the 
Meeting, the shares represented by all properly executed proxies will be 
voted in accordance with the judgment of the persons named on such proxies. 
Shares abstaining, and shares held in street name as to which a broker has 
not voted on some matters but has voted on other matters ("Broker 
Non-Votes"), will be included in determining whether a quorum exists at the 
Meeting. Approval of each matter specified in the Notice of Meeting requires 
the affirmative vote of a majority of shares of Common Stock present in 
person or by proxy at the Meeting entitled to vote thereon. Stockholders may 
not cumulate their votes. In determining whether a proposal specified in the 
Notice of Meeting has received the requisite number of affirmative votes, 
abstentions and Broker Non-Votes will have the same effect as votes against 
the proposal. 

   Any stockholder who executes and delivers a proxy may revoke it at any 
time prior to its exercise at the Meeting by (1) delivering to the Secretary 
of the Company a duly executed proxy bearing a later date; (2) filing a 
written notice of revocation with the Secretary of the Meeting; or (3) 
appearing at the Meeting and voting in person. 

   In addition to solicitations by mail, some directors, officers and 
employees of the Company may solicit proxies for the Meeting personally or by 
telephone or telegram without extra remuneration therefor. The Company will 
also provide persons, firms, banks and corporations holding shares in their 
names or in the names of nominees, which in either case are beneficially 
owned by others, with proxy materials for transmittal to such beneficial 
owners and will reimburse such record owners for their expenses in doing so. 
The costs of soliciting proxies will be borne by the Company. 

<PAGE>
   THE COMPANY HEREBY UNDERTAKES TO PROVIDE WITHOUT CHARGE TO EACH PERSON TO 
WHOM A COPY OF THIS PROXY STATEMENT HAS BEEN DELIVERED, UPON THE WRITTEN 
REQUEST OF ANY SUCH PERSON, A COPY OF THE COMPANY'S ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 
10-K, INCLUDING THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT 
SCHEDULE, THAT HAS BEEN FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION 
PURSUANT TO RULE 13A-1 UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 FOR THE 
FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1995. REQUESTS FOR SUCH COPIES SHOULD BE 
DIRECTED TO BT OFFICE PRODUCTS INTERNATIONAL, INC., 2150 E. LAKE COOK ROAD, 
BUFFALO GROVE, ILLINOIS 60089-1877 (TELEPHONE NUMBER: (847) 793-7500), 
ATTENTION: MR. JOHN J. MCKIERNAN, SECRETARY. 

                            ELECTION OF DIRECTORS 

NOMINEES 

   The Board of Directors has nominated seven persons for election as 
directors of the Company at the Meeting, each to serve until the 1997 Annual 
Meeting of Stockholders of the Company and until his successor shall have 
been duly elected and qualified. All of the nominees are currently serving as 
directors of the Company. Klaas de Kluis, who is currently the Chairman of 
the Board of Directors, and Robert F.W. van Oordt, who is also currently a 
director, are retiring from the Board of Directors and accordingly are not 
standing for reelection. 

   Each nominee has consented to be named in this Proxy Statement and to 
serve if elected. If, prior to the Meeting, any nominee should become 
unavailable to serve for any reason, the shares represented by all properly 
executed proxies will be voted for such alternate individual as shall be 
designated by the Board of Directors, unless the Board of Directors shall 
determine to reduce the number of directors pursuant to the By-laws of the 
Company. 

   Certain information regarding each nominee is set forth below, including 
such individual's age and principal occupations, a brief account of business 
experience during at least the last five years, other directorships currently 
held and the year in which the individual was first elected a director of the 
Company. 

   FRANK J. DE WIT, age 56, a member of the Company's Board of Directors 
since February 1995 and the Chairman of the Executive Board of KNP BT since 
May 1996, was Deputy Chairman of the Executive Board of KNP BT from March 
1993 to April 1996 and was Chairman of the Board of Management of N.V. 
Koninklijke KNP ("KNP"), a predecessor of NV Koninklijke KNP BT ("KNP BT"), 
from January 1983 to March 1993. Mr. de Wit currently serves as a member of 
the Supervisory Board of AEGON N.V. (a Netherlands insurance company), a 
member of the Supervisory Board of Societe Generale de Banque (a Belgium 
banking company) and a member of the Supervisory Board of Koninklijke 
Nijverdal-Ten Cate nv (a Netherlands textile manufacturing company). 

   RUDOLF A.J. HUYZER, age 54, has served as a member of the Company's Board 
of Directors since December 1990 and as President and Chief Executive Officer 
of the Company since April 1995. Mr. Huyzer has also been a member of the 
Executive Board of the Distribution Group of KNP BT since January 1996. He 
previously served as President of the Office Products Division of KNP BT, 
which division was responsible for administering KNP BT's office products 
distribution businesses in the United States and Europe, since 1990, and 
prior to that as President of the then combined Paper Merchanting and Office 
Products Division of KNP BT since 1988. Prior to joining KNP BT, Mr. Huyzer 
was a member of the Executive Board of Wegener N.V., a Netherlands 
publishing, printing and distribution company from 1985 to 1988. 

                                        2
<PAGE>
   ROB W.J.M. BONNIER, age 53, a member of the Company's Board of Directors 
since February 1995, has also served as a member of the Executive Board of 
KNP BT since March 1993. From January 1983 to March 1993, Mr. Bonnier was a 
member of the Board of Management of KNP. In addition, Mr. Bonnier is a 
member of the Supervisory Board of each of NV Koninklijke Sphinx Gustavsberg 
(a Netherlands porcelain manufacturing company), Gelderse Papiergroep N.V. (a 
Netherlands paper manufacturing company) and Alpinvest NV (a Netherlands 
venture capital firm) and a member of the Council of the Amsterdam Stock 
Exchange. 

   KARL M. VON DER HEYDEN, age 59, has served as a member of the Company's 
Board of Directors since February 1996. Mr. von der Heyden has been a senior 
advisor to the Clipper Group, a private merchant bank, since August 1994. Mr. 
von der Heyden also currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors of 
Federated Department Stores, Inc., Trizec Corporation Ltd., Cadbury Schweppes 
plc and The Country Baskets Index Fund, Inc. He previously served as 
President and Chief Executive Officer of Metallgesellschaft Corp. from August 
1993 through July 1994 and, prior thereto, as Co-Chairman and Co-Chief 
Executive Officer of RJR Nabisco from March 1993 through June 1993 and as 
Chief Financial Officer of RJR Nabisco from June 1989 through June 1993. 

   LORRENCE T. KELLAR, age 58, has served as a member of the Company's Board 
of Directors since January 1996. Mr. Kellar has been a Vice President--Real 
Estate of K-Mart Corporation since May 1996. Mr. Kellar also currently serves 
as a member of the Board of Directors of the Multi-Color Corporation and as a 
trustee of the Bartlett Management Trust, a mutual fund investment company. 
He previously served as Group Vice President of Kroger Co. from 1986 to April 
1996 and as a member of the Board of Directors of the U.S. Shoe Corporation 
from May 1986 to May 1995. 

   FRANS H.J. KOFFRIE, age 44, a member of the Company's Board of Directors 
since January 1996, has also served as a member of the Executive Board of KNP 
BT since March 1993 and as a director of Buhrmann-Tetterode International 
B.V. since May 1995. He previously served as a member of the Executive Board 
of the VRG Groep N.V. from April 1990 to March 1993. 

   JAMES B. MILLER, age 65, has served as a member of the Company's Board of 
Directors since February 1995. Mr. Miller was Chairman of the Board, Chief 
Executive Officer and the majority shareholder of Miller Business Systems, 
Inc., a contract stationer based in Arlington, Texas and the predecessor of 
BT Miller Business Systems, Inc. ("BT Miller"), from January 1972 until the 
acquisition of Miller Business Systems, Inc. by the Company in November 1992. 

   THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT STOCKHOLDERS VOTE FOR ALL NOMINEES 
FOR DIRECTOR. 

   The Board of Directors met five times during the period from January 1 to 
December 31, 1995 ("Fiscal 1995"). No incumbent director during Fiscal 1995 
attended fewer than 75 percent of the aggregate of: (1) the total number of 
meetings of the board of directors (held during the period for which he has 
been a director); and (2) the total number of meetings held by all committees 
of the board on which he served (during the periods that he served). 

   The Board has three standing committees. The principal responsibilities of 
each of the standing committees and the members of such committees are set 
forth below. 

   1. AUDIT COMMITTEE. The Audit Committee: (i) makes recommendations to the 
      Board as to the independent accountants to be appointed by the Board; 
      (ii) reviews with the independent accountants the scope of their 
      examinations; (iii) receives the reports of the independent accountant 
      for the purpose of reviewing and considering questions relating to 
      their examination and such reports; (iv) reviews, either directly or 
      indirectly or through independent accountants, 

                                        3
<PAGE>
      the internal accounting and auditing procedures of the Company; (v) 
      reviews related party transactions; and (vi) performs such other 
      functions as may be assigned to it from time to time by the Board. The 
      Audit Committee currently consists of Messrs. Kellar and von der 
      Heyden. The Audit Committee was established on January 25, 1996 and, 
      accordingly, did not have any meetings in Fiscal 1995. 

   2. COMPENSATION COMMITTEE. The Compensation Committee: (i) oversees 
      compensation policies for executive officers of the Company; (ii) 
      approves salaries and bonuses for such officers; and (iii) administers 
      the Company's 1995 Stock Option Plan. The Compensation Committee 
      currently consists of Messrs. Kellar, de Kluis and von der Heyden. The 
      Compensation Committee was established on January 25, 1996 and, 
      accordingly, did not have any meetings in Fiscal 1995. 

   3. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. The Executive Committee has the authority to 
      exercise all of the powers of the Board of Directors, with the 
      exception of those powers which may only be exercised by the Board of 
      Directors in accordance with the Delaware General Corporation Law. The 
      Executive Committee currently consists of Messrs. de Kluis and Huyzer. 
      The Executive Committee did not formally meet during Fiscal 1995. 

   The Board of Directors does not have a nominating committee. 

COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS 

   Directors who are not employees of the Company receive an annual fee of 
$20,000 for their service on the Board and the Chairman of the Board of 
Directors receives an annual fee of $30,000. Directors who are employees of 
the Company do not receive a fee for attending such meetings. All directors 
are reimbursed for expenses incurred in attending meetings. 

                              EXECUTIVE OFFICERS 

   The Board of Directors appoints the Company's executive officers. Certain 
information concerning the Company's executive officers is set forth below, 
except that information concerning Mr. Huyzer is set forth above under 
"Election of Directors." 

   JOHN J. MCKIERNAN, age 58, has served as the Company's Vice 
President--Finance and Administration and Chief Financial Officer since 
January 1995 and as Secretary of the Company since April 1995. Prior to his 
appointment to those positions, he served principally as the Vice 
President--Finance and Administration for Unisource, the paper products 
distribution subsidiary of Alco Standard Corporation, from May 1982 until 
June 1994. Mr. McKiernan is a certified public accountant. 

   HOWARD L. BROWN, age 50, has served as Regional President, Northeast 
Region of the Company since January 1995, as a Vice President of the Company 
since April 1995, and as the Chief Executive Officer of BT Summit Office 
Products, Inc. ("BT Summit") from October 1987 through December 1994. Mr. 
Brown was the President and majority stockholder of Summit Office Supply, 
Inc., a contract stationer based in New York City serving the New York 
metropolitan area and the predecessor of BT Summit, from 1975 until the 
acquisition of a controlling interest in Summit Office Supply, Inc. by the 
Company in September 1987. 

   RICHARD C. DUBIN, age 55, has served as Regional President, Midwest-West 
Region of the Company since January 1995, as a Vice President of the Company 
since April 1995, and as the President of BT Buschart Office Products, Inc. 
("BT Buschart") from April 1990 through December 1994. Mr. Dubin 

                                        4
<PAGE>
was the President of Buschart Office Products, Inc., a contract stationer 
serving the St. Louis metropolitan area and the predecessor of BT Buschart, 
from September 1981 until the acquisition of Buschart Office Products, Inc. 
by the Company in April 1990. 

   DAVID KIRSHNER, age 56, has served as Regional President, Great Lakes 
Region of the Company since January 1995, as a Vice President of the Company 
since April 1995, and as the President of BT Publix Office Products, Inc. 
("BT Publix") from June 1986 through December 1994. Mr. Kirshner was the Vice 
President of Publix Office Supplies, Inc., a contract stationer serving the 
Chicago metropolitan area and the predecessor of BT Publix, from 1975 until 
June 1986 and the President of Publix Office Supplies, Inc. from June 1986 
until the acquisition of Publix Office Supplies, Inc. by the Company in April 
1990. 

   MICHAEL J. MILLER, age 40, has served as Regional President, 
South-Southeast Region of the Company since January 1995, as a Vice President 
of the Company since April 1995, and as the President of BT Miller from 
November 1992 through December 1994. Mr. Miller was the President and a 
stockholder of Miller Business Systems, Inc., the predecessor of BT Miller, 
from November 1985 until the acquisition of Miller Business Systems, Inc. by 
the Company in November 1992. 

   JANHEIN H. PIETERSE, age 44, has served as Regional President, BT Office 
Products Europe since July 1995, as a Vice President of the Company since 
April 1995, and prior thereto had served as the President--European 
Operations of the Office Products Division since January 1995. He previously 
served as the President of the Copier Division of KNP BT from April 1994 to 
December 1994. From October 1992 to March 1994, Mr. Pieterse served as the 
President of Trimbach B.V., a solid board packaging manufacturing company. 
From August 1991 to September 1992, he served as the Managing Director of a 
group of packaging manufacturing companies of KNP BT. From January 1989 to 
July 1991, Mr. Pieterse was the Managing Director of all operating companies 
in Australia and New Zealand of Koninklijke Van Ommeren N.V., a Netherlands 
shipping/tanker company, and from 1986 to 1988, he served as the President of 
the worldwide airfreight network of such company. 

   Mr. Michael Miller is the son of Mr. James Miller. There are no other 
family relationships among any of the directors or executive officers of the 
Company. 

                CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS 

REORGANIZATION 

   On June 30, 1995, KNP BT and KNP BT USA, Inc., the holding company of KNP 
BT's United States operations (the "Holding Company"), effected the series of 
transactions described below (collectively, the "Reorganization") in order to 
reorganize the legal ownership of various of their businesses and to 
recapitalize the ongoing office products distribution business which now 
constitutes the Company. Prior to the Reorganization, the Holding Company had 
operated KNP BT's U.S. office products distribution business (through its 
ownership of its U.S. office products companies) as well as certain packaging 
manufacturing businesses in the United States (the "Packaging Businesses") 
and certain other activities which are unrelated to the U.S. office products 
distribution business. Through various directly-and indirectly-held non-U.S. 
subsidiaries, KNP BT had operated: (1) Hartmann & Cie GmbH & Co. KG, a 
contract stationer based in Frankfurt, Germany ("Hartmann"), including 
Classic Burobedarf Vertriebs GmbH, the company that operates the Classic 
licensing business ("Classic"); (2) Wurth Burobedarf + Organisation GmbH, a 
contract stationer based in Bingen, Germany ("Wurth"); (3) Georg Steinmetz 
GmbH, a contract stationer based in Worms, Germany ("Steinmetz"); (4) BVZ 
Buroversorgungszentrum GmbH, a company that operates a modern 65,000 square 
foot distribution center located near Frankfurt, Germany ("BVZ," and, 
together with Hartmann, Wurth, and 

                                        5
<PAGE>
Steinmetz, "Hartmann/Wurth"); (5) Veenman Kantoormachines BV, Repro Copiers 
Nederland BV, Direct Dealer Services BV and Veenman Office Management BV 
(collectively, the "Veenman Group"), which group is engaged in the 
distribution of copiers, office machines and related services and supplies, 
and office products in The Netherlands; (6) Copygraphic plc, a contract 
stationer based in London, England ("Copygraphic"); (7) Bierbrauer + Nagel 
GmbH & Co KG and certain related companies, an office products and computer 
supplies dealer in Stuttgart, Germany ("B+N," and, together with the Veenman 
Group, Copygraphic and Hartmann/Wurth, the "European Businesses"); and (8) 
Kelly Paper Company, a wholesale cash and carry printing paper and supplies 
business primarily for small commercial printers in California, Arizona and 
Nevada ("Kelly Paper"). 

   In effecting the Reorganization, KNP BT transferred to the Holding Company 
all of the ownership interest in the European Businesses and Kelly Paper and 
made a capital contribution of $118.0 million to the Holding Company (the 
"Capital Contribution"). The Holding Company transferred the Packaging 
Businesses and certain other assets and liabilities not related to the 
ongoing operations of the office products distribution business to KNP BT. As 
a result of the Reorganization, the Company is now the owner, either directly 
or indirectly through its subsidiaries, of all of the office products 
distribution businesses formerly operated by KNP BT's Office Products 
Division. 

RELATIONSHIP WITH KNP BT 

   Prior to the initial public offering of 10,000,000 shares of Common Stock 
of the Company on the New York Stock Exchange on July 19, 1995 (the 
"Offering"), KNP BT, through its ownership of all of the Common Stock of the 
Company, had the ability to elect the Company's Board of Directors and to 
control the direction and policies of the Company and the outcome of any 
matter requiring stockholder approval, including mergers, consolidations and 
the sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, and to 
prevent or cause a change of control of the Company. Following the Offering, 
KNP BT, together with Buhrmann-Tetterode International B.V., a wholly-owned 
subsidiary of KNP BT ("BTIBV"), owns approximately 70% of the outstanding 
Common Stock of the Company and continues to have sufficient voting power to 
elect the Company's Board of Directors and control such matters. 

   In the normal course of business, the Office Products Division, on the one 
hand, and KNP BT and its other affiliates (including the Packaging 
Businesses), on the other hand, have from time to time entered into various 
business transactions and agreements, and the Company and its subsidiaries 
and KNP BT and its affiliates may enter into additional material transactions 
in the future. The following is a summary of each of the material agreements 
that the Company and KNP BT entered into in connection with the Offering as 
well as all material transactions between the Company and KNP BT and its 
other subsidiaries since January 1, 1995. Unless otherwise expressly 
indicated, such transactions were not necessarily conducted on an arm's 
length basis. Certain of the transactions are evidenced by agreements which 
are summarized below. 

   In connection with Mr. Huyzer's relocation from The Netherlands to the 
United States in September 1994, the Company advanced Mr. Huyzer $l,017,928 
for the purchase of a residence in the Chicago area. The note evidencing the 
advance provides that interest is payable quarterly and will accrue at a rate 
of 7.25% per annum beginning on November 6, 1994 with respect to $915,428 of 
the principal amount thereof and beginning on January 1, 1995 with respect to 
the balance of the principal amount. A required principal payment of $17,928 
was made on January 1, 1995. Principal is repayable in quarterly installments 
beginning in September 1996 and thereafter until September 2024. As of May 
13, 1996, the aggregate principal amount outstanding under such note was 
$1,000,000. 

  CREDIT FACILITIES 

   INTEREST BEARING ADVANCES. Prior to the Offering, the Company maintained 
short-term credit facilities through KNP BT Antilliana NV, an affiliate of 
KNP BT ("Antilliana"), and KNP BT 

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<PAGE>
Europcenter NV, an affiliate of KNP BT ("Europcenter," and, together with 
Antilliana and the other financing affiliates of KNP BT, "KNP BT Lender"), 
for its acquisitions and working capital requirements. The aggregate 
principal amount outstanding under such facilities was $96.6 million as of 
June 30, 1995 (after giving effect to the Capital Contribution). The average 
interest rate on amounts outstanding under such facilities was 9.0% for the 
six months ended June 30, 1995. The amount outstanding under such facilities 
at the time of the Offering was reduced by $42.3 million of the net proceeds 
received from the Offering of $98.5 million (after underwriting discounts and 
commissions and costs related to the Offering and the Reorganization) ("Net 
Proceeds"). The remaining balance was converted into loans under the Credit 
Agreement that became effective upon the completion of the Offering. 

   ACQUISITION ADVANCES. KNP BT Lender made non-interest bearing advances to 
the Company in 1994 and 1995 to finance all of the Company's acquisitions in 
such years prior to the Offering. Such advances amounted to approximately 
$65.8 million prior to the Offering. These advances were repaid in full with 
a portion of the Net Proceeds from the Offering. 

   CREDIT AGREEMENT. Under the Credit Agreement, Antilliana has agreed to 
lend the Company directly or through an affiliate up to $200 million for 
financing of acquisitions, capital expenditures and general corporate 
purposes. Under the multi-currency facility, revolving loans in U.S. Dollars 
will bear interest at the prime rate and revolving loans in German Marks, 
British Pounds and Netherlands Guilders will bear interest at 1.00% over the 
applicable interbank rate as determined therein. Term loans in U.S. Dollars, 
German Marks, British Pounds and Netherlands Guilders will bear interest at 
 .75% over the applicable interbank rate as determined therein. The Credit 
Agreement contains certain reporting obligations and restrictive covenants 
which impose limitations with respect to, among other things, incurrence of 
liens and dispositions of assets. The Credit Agreement also contains certain 
events of default, the most significant of which includes KNP BT's failure to 
own, beneficially and of record, more than 50% of the issued and outstanding 
share capital of the Company. The Credit Agreement provides for a reduction 
of the commitment and the outstanding borrowings thereunder in July 1997 to 
no more than $100 million and for the termination of the facility in July 
1998. The Company has agreed to pay an annual commitment fee of .35% of the 
daily unused amount of the commitment under the Credit Agreement. Under the 
Credit Agreement, the Company is obligated to compensate Antilliana for any 
tax withholding that may be imposed by applicable tax treaties. The tax 
withholding rate in the U.S. tax treaty with the Netherlands Antilles is due 
to change on July 1, 1996 from 0% to 30%. At December 31, 1995, the Company 
had outstanding loans for its U.S. operations through The Netherlands 
Antilles of $74.8 million. The Company is exploring other financing 
alternatives to reduce or avoid the effect of the foregoing change in tax 
withholding rate. 

  REGISTRATION RIGHTS 

   Pursuant to the terms of a registration rights agreement (the 
"Registration Rights Agreement") among the Company, KNP BT and BTIBV, which 
agreement became effective upon completion of the Offering in July 1995, each 
of BTIBV and KNP BT has the right to require the Company to register for 
public offering and sale all or a portion of the Common Stock held by it from 
time to time (subject to certain limitations) on a maximum of four occasions 
(and, if pursuant to a short-form registration statement, if available, on an 
unlimited number of occasions). In addition, during the term of the 
Registration Rights Agreement, each of BTIBV and KNP BT has the right to 
participate in any registration of Common Stock initiated by the Company, 
subject to certain limitations. The Company will pay all out-of-pocket 
expenses of any such registrations, including reasonable fees and expenses of 
one counsel for BTIBV and KNP BT, and will indemnify BTIBV and KNP BT and 
their respective officers and directors against certain liabilities, 
including liabilities under the federal securities laws, in connection 
therewith. Each of BTIBV and KNP BT will pay all underwriting discounts and 

                                        7
<PAGE>
commissions applicable to shares of Common Stock sold by it pursuant to any 
such registrations. The rights of BTIBV and KNP BT under the Registration 
Rights Agreement are transferable to any affiliate of KNP BT. 

  TAX MATTERS 

   The Company, KNP BT and certain of KNP BT's affiliates entered into a tax 
matters agreement in connection with the Reorganization and the Offering (the 
"Tax Matters Agreement") whereby KNP BT will indemnify the Company for any 
taxes and any related interest, penalties or other additions to tax ("Taxes") 
arising in any taxable year in respect of the Packaging Businesses and their 
disposition in the Reorganization and any Taxes arising in any year with 
respect to certain other operations that were disposed of by the Company 
prior to the Offering. Under the Tax Matters Agreement, KNP BT will also 
indemnify the Company to the extent of any Taxes relating to its office 
products distribution operations prior to the Reorganization in excess of 
certain thresholds specified in the agreement. The computation of any 
increase in Taxes and any resulting liability for indemnity payments will be 
determined after giving effect to the tax adjustment otherwise giving rise to 
indemnification and to any other net refunds of Taxes to which indemnity is 
provided to that indemnified party. 

   The Tax Matters Agreement also provides for the treatment of such matters 
as allocating overlap period Taxes, return preparation, refunds, audits and 
controversies with tax authorities, sharing information and resolving 
controversies between parties. 

   Prior to the Reorganization, the Company and certain of its subsidiaries, 
as well as the Packaging Businesses, had comprised the consolidated United 
States federal income tax group for returns filed by KNP BT. For periods 
following the Reorganization, the Company will no longer be a part of KNP 
BT's consolidated United States federal income tax returns, and will file a 
consolidated United States Federal income tax return for itself and its 
subsidiaries. 

  INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY 

   Pursuant to a license agreement between KNP BT and the Company, which 
became effective upon the completion of the Offering in July 1995, KNP BT has 
granted a royalty-free, perpetual license to the Company and its subsidiaries 
to use the name "BT" along with KNP BT's logo in connection with the 
Company's office products distribution businesses. However, the license to 
use such logo terminates upon the change of control of the Company or upon 
the occurrence of certain other events. 

  SERVICES 

   KNP BT and its subsidiaries have provided services to the Company and its 
subsidiaries, including certain financial and treasury services, as well as 
insurance, tax, legal and human resource services. In connection with such 
services, the Company has paid fees to KNP BT. The Company has also provided 
certain support services to KNP BT and its affiliates (including the 
Packaging Businesses). 

   The Company and KNP BT entered into an Intercompany Services Agreement for 
the continuing provision of such services, which agreement became effective 
upon completion of the Offering in July 1995. The agreement has a one-year 
term and thereafter automatically renews for successive one year periods 
unless earlier terminated by either party. Such agreement provides for fees 
to be paid at rates determined on the basis of costs calculated in a manner 
not inconsistent with past practices, if any, but no greater than the good 
faith estimate of the fee that would be charged by an independent third 
party. At any time during the term of the agreement, the Company or KNP BT 
may request that KNP BT or the Company, as the case may be, provide 
additional or different services or cease providing one or more services then 
being provided. 

                                        8
<PAGE>
   The Company uses office space provided by KNP BT for certain of its 
executive officers and employees in KNP BT's headquarters in Amsterdam. Since 
July 1995, the Company has reimbursed KNP BT at market rates for the cost of 
such space. 

  GUARANTIES 

   KNP BT has guaranteed certain obligations of the Company, including 
obligations under various leases for real property and equipment. KNP BT 
continues to maintain its outstanding guaranties and to provide certain 
additional guaranties pursuant to the terms of an agreement for credit 
support (the "Agreement for Credit Support") with the Company and certain of 
its subsidiaries, which agreement became effective upon the completion of the 
Offering in July 1995. Subject to the terms and conditions of the Agreement 
for Credit Support, KNP BT agreed to provide from time to time until January 
31, 1996, directly or through one of its affiliates, guaranties of certain 
obligations of the Company and one or more such subsidiaries up to an 
aggregate principal amount of all such guaranteed obligations outstanding of 
$50.0 million, of which $15.8 million was outstanding at December 31, 1995. 
Each of the Company and such subsidiaries will reimburse any amounts paid by 
KNP BT under any guaranty made by KNP BT under the Agreement for Credit 
Support. The Company and such subsidiaries have agreed to pay a guaranty fee 
to KNP BT of .25% per annum of (i) up to a maximum of $50.0 million through 
January 31, 1996, and (ii) thereafter, the daily aggregate principal amount 
of the guaranteed obligations outstanding for each day through the earlier of 
the repayment of such obligations and the release of KNP BT with respect to 
all guaranties. The Agreement for Credit Support contains certain events of 
default which include KNP BT's failure to own, beneficially and of record, 
more than 50% of the issued and outstanding share capital of the Company 
(provided, however, that KNP BT is obligated under the Credit Agreement to 
give 45 days' notice to the Company of its intention to so reduce its 
ownership of the Company's share capital). 

  SALES TO AND PURCHASES FROM AFFILIATES 

   The Company has sold office products and related services to affiliates of 
KNP BT. Such transactions generally were effected on terms comparable to 
those available in transactions with unaffiliated parties. Revenue from such 
transactions amounted to approximately $1,413,000 for Fiscal 1995. In 
addition, the Company has occasionally purchased certain products from KNP BT 
and its other affiliates (including the Packaging Businesses) for resale. 
Such purchases totalled approximately $8,567,000 for Fiscal 1995. The Company 
expects to continue to engage in similar affiliated party transactions on 
generally the same basis as it would engage in such transactions with 
unaffiliated third parties. 

  LEASE 

   The Veenman Group leases one of its facilities from an affiliate of KNP BT 
under an operating lease that expires on September 30, 1999. Rental expense 
under such lease was $648,000 in 1995. Future annual minimum lease payments 
are $673,000. 

                            EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION 

   Set forth below is information concerning the Company's compensation of its 
chief executive officer and the other four most highly compensated executive
officers of the Company.

   Prior to the Reorganization, the Company's business was operated through the 
Office Products Division of KNP BT. In anticipation of the Reorganization, Mr.
Huyzer, who had acted as President of the Office Products Division, became
President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company in April 1995.

                                        9
<PAGE>
   The following table summarizes the compensation paid or accrued by KNP BT 
for services rendered in all capacities to the Office Products Division 
during 1994 and by the Company during 1995 to Mr. Huyzer and each of the 
other four most highly compensated executive officers of the Company 
(collectively, including Mr. Huyzer, the "Named Executive Officers"). 

                          SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                        ANNUAL                            LONG-TERM
                                                     COMPENSATION                        COMPENSATION 
                                                     ------------                        ------------          
                                                                                    AWARDS         PAYOUTS 
                                                                                -------------  --------------
                                                                                   SECURITIES 
NAME AND                                                         OTHER ANNUAL      UNDERLYING                   ALL OTHER 
PRINCIPAL POSITION       YEAR(1)    SALARY          BONUS       COMPENSATION(2)   OPTIONS(#)(3) LTIP PAYOUTS  COMPENSATION 
- ----------------------- -------- -------------  -------------- ---------------- -------------  -------------- ---------------
<S>                      <C>       <C>             <C>             <C>               <C>            <C>               <C>
Rudolf A.J. Huyzer  ...    1995   $500,000        $ 50,000(4)        --             200,000            --      $  4,186(5)
President and Chief        1994    365,744(6)      194,506        434,189(7)          --               --            --(8) 
Executive Officer 

Howard L. Brown .......    1995    350,000           --              --             105,000            --        36,386(9)
Vice President and         1994    288,000         330,000(10)       --               --               --        29,804(11)
Regional President, 
Northeast Region 

Michael J. Miller  ....    1995    250,000           --              --              70,000            --        28,000(12)
Vice President and         1994    186,538          56,100           --               --           $62,500(13)   41,144(14)
Regional President, 
South-Southeast Region 

Richard C. Dubin ......    1995    250,000           --              --             70,000             --        25,000(15)
Vice President and         1994    150,000          45,000           --               --            58,000(16)   56,961(17)
Regional President, 
Midwest-West Region 

David Kirshner ........    1995    250,000           --              --             70,000             --        27,772(18)
Vice President and         1994    194,468          31,816           --               --               --        87,672(19)
Regional President, 
Great Lakes Region 
<FN>
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 (1) The Company became a reporting company under the Securities Exchange Act 
     of 1934, as amended, in July 1995 and is not required to provide 
     information for any period prior to fiscal 1994. 

 (2) With respect to each of the Named Executive Officers other than as 
     indicated for Mr. Huyzer in 1994, the aggregate amount of perquisites 
     and other personal benefits, securities or property received was less 
     than either $50,000 or 10% of the total annual salary and bonus reported 
     for such officer. 

 (3) All of the options were granted pursuant to the Company's 1995 Stock 
     Option Plan. See "Employee Benefit Plans--1995 Stock Option Plan." 

 (4) Guaranteed payment pursuant to the terms of Mr. Huyzer's employment 
     agreement. See "Employment Agreements." 

 (5) Consists of employer matching contributions to the Company's 401(k) 
     plan. In addition, Mr. Huyzer was granted options to purchase 10,000 
     shares of KNP BT stock on May 4, 1995, representing approximately 1% of 
     the total number of options granted to KNP BT employees for 1995. The 
     exercise price of the options is NLG 37.90 (or $23.69 based on the 
     December 31, 1995 exchange rate of NLG 1 = $.625 (the "1995 Exchange 
     Rate")). The options expire on May 3, 1999. The potential realizable 
     values of Mr. Huyzer's options granted in 1995 at assumed annual rates 
     of stock price appreciation over the option terms of 5% and 10%, 
     respectively, were $51,047 and $109,934. The foregoing 5% and 10% 
     assumed annual rates of compound stock price appreciation over the term 
     of the options are set forth in accordance with rules and regulations of 
     the Securities and Exchange Commission and do not represent the 
     Company's estimate of KNP BT's stock price appreciation or a projection 
     by the Company of KNP BT's future stock prices. 

 (6) $247,855 of this amount was paid in Netherlands guilders throughout 1994 
     and has been translated to U.S. dollars based upon the December 30, 1994 
     exchange rate of NLG 1 = $.5761 (the "1994 Exchange Rate"). 

 (7) This amount includes: $240,000 for an allowance to accommodate the 
     higher cost of housing in the United States; $146,198 for a settling-in 
     allowance to accommodate Mr. Huyzer's move; $8,373 for fringe benefits; 
     and $20,631 for certain disability coverage. Such amount also includes 
     $4,321 for an expense account and $14,666 for an auto allowance, which 
     amounts were paid in Netherlands guilders and have been translated at 
     the 1994 Exchange Rate. 
                                       10
<PAGE>
 (8) Mr. Huyzer was granted options to purchase 10,000 shares of KNP BT stock 
     on May 9, 1994, representing approximately 1% of the total number of 
     options granted to KNP BT employees for 1994. The exercise price of the 
     options is NLG 37.90 ($23.69 based on the 1995 Exchange Rate). The 
     options expire on May 8, 1998. The potential realizable values of Mr. 
     Huyzer's options granted in 1994 at assumed annual rates of stock price 
     appreciation over the option terms of 5% and 10%, respectively, were 
     $51,047 and $109,934. The foregoing 5% and 10% assumed annual rates of 
     compound stock price appreciation over the term of the options are set 
     forth in accordance with rules and regulations of the Securities and 
     Exchange Commission and do not represent the Company's estimate of KNP 
     BT's stock price appreciation or a projection by the Company of KNP BT's 
     future stock prices. 

 (9) Consists of employer matching contributions to the Company's 401(k) plan 
     of $1,386 and a payment of $35,000 in lieu of participation in the 
     Company's SERP. 

(10) Includes special bonus payment of $150,000 received in June 1995 with 
     respect to the year 1994 pursuant to the terms of Mr. Brown's employment 
     agreement. 

(11) Consists of employer matching contributions to the Company's 401(k) plan 
     of $1,004 and a payment of $28,800 in lieu of participation in the 
     Company's SERP. 

(12) Consists of employer matching contributions to the Company's 401(k) plan 
     of $3,000 and accruals under the Company's SERP of $25,000. See 
     "Employee Benefit Plans--Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan." 

(13) Payment received in December 1995, attributable to the years 1994 and 
     1993. See "Long-Term Incentive Plan." 

(14) Consists of employer matching contributions to the Company's 401(k) plan 
     of $3,000 and accruals under the Company's SERP of $38,144 with respect 
     to the period from 1992 through 1994, of which $17,500 is attributable 
     to 1994. See "Employee Benefit Plans--Supplemental Executive Retirement 
     Plan." 

(15) Consists of employer matching contributions to the Company's 401(k) plan 
     of $660 and accruals under the Company's SERP of $24,340. See "Employee 
     Benefit Plans--Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan." 

(16) Payment received in March 1996, attributable to the years 1994 and 1993. 
     See "Long-Term Incentive Plan." 

(17) Consists of employer matching contributions to the Company's 401(k) plan 
     of $1,618 and accruals under the Company's SERP of $55,343 with respect 
     to the period from 1992 through 1994, of which $14,912 is attributable 
     to 1994. See "Employee Benefit Plans--Supplemental Executive Retirement 
     Plan." 

(18) Consists of employer matching contributions to the Company's 401(k) plan 
     of $2,772 and accruals under the Company's SERP of $25,000. See 
     "Employee Benefit Plans--Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan." 

(19) Consists of employer matching contributions to the Company's 401(k) plan 
     of $2,645 and accruals under the Company's SERP of $85,026 with respect 
     to the period from 1991 through 1994, of which $19,184 is attributable 
     to 1994. See "Employee Benefit Plans--Supplemental Executive Retirement 
     Plan." 
</FN>
</TABLE>

                                       11
<PAGE>
OPTION GRANTS IN FISCAL 1995 

   The following table sets forth certain information concerning individual 
grants of options to purchase Common Stock made by the Company during Fiscal 
1995 to each of the Named Executive Officers. 
<TABLE>
                      OPTION GRANTS IN LAST FISCAL YEAR 

<CAPTION>
                                                                                            POTENTIAL REALIZABLE VALUE 
                                                                                                        AT 
                                                                                              ASSUMED ANNUAL RATES OF 
                                                                                           STOCK PRICE APPRECIATION FOR 
                                                 INDIVIDUAL GRANTS                                OPTION TERM(3) 
NAME AND POSITION                                -----------------                         -----------------------------
                          NUMBER OF    PERCENT OF 
                          SECURITIES   TOTAL OPTIONS 
                          UNDERLYING    GRANTED TO 
                          OPTIONS      EMPLOYEES IN     EXERCISE PRICE    EXPIRATION 
                        GRANTED(#)(1) FISCAL 1995(2)     ($ PER SHARE)       DATE             5%            10% 
- ----------------------- ------------- ----------------  ---------------  -------------   -------------    -------------
<S>                        <C>                <C>             <C>           <C>            <C>            <C>
Rudolf A.J. Huyzer  ...    200,000           17.0%           11.50         07/18/05       $1,446,700     $3,666,200 
President and Chief 
Executive Officer 

Howard L. Brown .......    105,000            9.0%           11.50         07/18/05          759,517      1,924,755 
Vice President and 
Regional President, 
Northeast Region 

Michael J. Miller  ....     70,000            6.0%           11.50         07/18/05          506,345      1,283,170 
Vice President and 
Regional President, 
South-Southeast Region 

Richard C. Dubin ......     70,000            6.0%           11.50         07/18/05          506,345      1,283,170 
Vice President and 
Regional President, 
Midwest-West Region 

David Kirshner ........     70,000            6.0%           11.50         07/18/05          506,345      1,283,170 
Vice President and 
Regional President, 
Great Lakes Region 
<FN>
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) All of the options were granted pursuant to the Company's 1995 Stock 
    Option Plan. See "Employee Benefit Plans--1995 Stock Option Plan." The
    options are exercisable in accordance with the following vesting schedule:

    (a) as to fifty percent (50%) of the number of shares covered by the 
        option, after the completion of one (1) year of continuous service 
        from the grant date; 

    (b) as to twenty-five percent (25%) of the number of shares covered by 
        the option, after the completion of two (2) years of continuous 
        service from the grant date; and 

    (c) as to the remaining twenty-five percent (25%) of the number of shares 
        covered by the option, after the completion of three (3) years of 
        continuous service from the grant date. 

(2) The total number of options granted in 1995 pursuant to the 1995 Stock 
    Option Plan was 1,183,000. In addition, an option to purchase 20,000 shares
    of the Company's Common Stock was granted in 1995 to a former employee of
    the Company pursuant to a separate agreement on substantially the same
    terms, including, without limitation, the exercise price and vesting
    schedule, as the options granted to the Named Executive Officers pursuant to
    the Company's 1995 Stock Option Plan.

(3) The 5% and 10% assumed annual rates of compound stock price appreciation 
    over the term of the options are computed in accordance with rules and
    regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and do not represent
    the Company's estimate of stock price appreciation or a projection by the
    Company of future stock prices. The 5% and 10% assumed rates of appreciation
    would result in the price of the Company's Common Stock increasing to
    approximately $18.75 and $29.875 per share, respectively.
</FN>
</TABLE>

                                       12
<PAGE>
   The following table summarizes the aggregated option exercises by the 
Named Executive Officers in Fiscal 1995 and the year-end values of 
unexercised options. 
<TABLE>
                AGGREGATED OPTION EXERCISES IN FISCAL 1995 AND 
                    FISCAL 1995 YEAR-END OPTION VALUES(1) 

<CAPTION>
                                                              NUMBER OF SECURITIES 
                                                             UNDERLYING UNEXERCISED       VALUE OF UNEXERCISED 
                             SHARES                                OPTIONS AT             IN-THE-MONEY OPTIONS 
                            ACQUIRED                           DECEMBER 31, 1995          AT DECEMBER 31, 1995 
NAME AND POSITION          ON EXERCISE    VALUE REALIZED   EXERCISABLE/UNEXERCISABLE   EXERCISABLE/UNEXERCISABLE 
- ----------------------- -------------- ---------------  -------------------------- --------------------------
<S>                            <C>             <C>                <C>                         <C>
Rudolf A.J. Huyzer  ...        --             --                 30,000/0(2)                 $ 41,250/0 
President and Chief                                             0/200,000(3)                  0/900,000 
Executive Officer 

Howard L. Brown .......        --             --                  5,000/0(2)                        0/0 
Vice President and                                              0/105,000(3)                  0/472,500 
Regional President, 
Northeast Region 

Michael J. Miller  ....        --             --                 0/70,000(3)                  0/315,000 
Vice President and 
Regional President, 
South-Southeast Region 

Richard C. Dubin ......        --             --                  7,000/0(2)                   13,250/0 
Vice President and                                               0/70,000(3)                  0/315,000 
Regional President, 
Midwest-West Region 

David Kirshner ........        --             --                  5,000/0(2)                        0/0 
Vice President and                                               0/70,000(3)                  0/315,000 
Regional President, 
Great Lakes Region 
<FN>
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Dollar amounts have been translated from Netherlands guilders based upon 
    the December 31, 1995 exchange rate of NLG 1 = $.625. 

(2) Share numbers refer to shares of KNP BT. 

(3) Share numbers refer to shares of the Company. 
</FN>
</TABLE>

LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN 

   The Company maintained a long-term incentive compensation plan for certain 
of its executive officers, which plan was terminated for years after 1994 
effective December 31, 1994. The plan's participants, including Messrs. 
Dubin, Kirshner and M. Miller, were eligible to receive payments to be 
determined by the Company based on the attainment of certain financial 
targets. Pursuant thereto, Mr. M. Miller received a payment of $62,500 in 
December 1995 and Mr. Dubin received a payment of $58,000 in March 1996, in 
each case attributable to the years 1994 and 1993. 

COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS 

   Directors who are not employees of the Company receive an annual fee of 
$20,000 for their service on the Board and the Chairman of the Board of 
Directors receives an annual fee of $30,000. Directors who are employees of 
the Company do not receive a fee for attending such meetings. All directors 
are reimbursed for expenses incurred in attending meetings. 

                                       13
<PAGE>
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS 

   The Company and KNP BT have entered into an agreement with Mr. Huyzer, 
effective as of September 1, 1994, pursuant to which Mr. Huyzer serves as 
President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company. Such employment 
agreement is for an initial term of two (2) years to be followed by 
successive terms of one (1) year, unless the parties agree not to renew the 
agreement or the agreement is otherwise terminated in accordance with its 
terms. Pursuant to the agreement, Mr. Huyzer will receive an annual base 
salary of $500,000, an annual bonus of up to 80% of his base salary based on 
the achievement of certain annual performance targets, but in no event less 
than 10% of base salary during the initial term of the agreement, and certain 
perquisites and other benefits. In addition, Mr. Huyzer would receive 
long-term disability insurance in an amount equal to 100% of his deemed 
equivalent Dutch base salary for the first 24 months of disability and 80% of 
his deemed equivalent Dutch base salary for the months thereafter. Mr. Huyzer 
is eligible to participate in the KNP BT Directors Pension Plan (the "KNP BT 
Pension Plan"). Under the KNP BT Pension Plan, KNP BT pays the employer's 
contribution. Mr. Huyzer's pensionable salary under the KNP BT Pension Plan 
is set at Netherlands guilders NLG 600,000 (USD $375,000) as of January 1, 
1996 and such amount will be reviewed periodically for potential adjustments 
in light of base salary developments for comparable jobs in The Netherlands. 
Under such plan, Mr. Huyzer's retirement age is set at sixty-two years. 

   In addition, in the event of a change in control of the Company or if Mr. 
Huyzer's employment with the Company is terminated by the Company without 
cause or terminates due to his disability, as the case may be, Mr. Huyzer 
will be repatriated to The Netherlands at KNP BT's expense and either (i) 
shall be employed by KNP BT in a comparable job for a period of twenty-four 
months after such repatriation or (ii) shall be paid a severance payment by 
KNP BT equal to the total of Mr. Huyzer's base salary and bonus compensation 
for a period up to the last twenty-four months that he was employed. In 
addition, in either case, Mr. Huyzer will be entitled to a pension based upon 
employment up to the age of sixty-two. 

   In connection with Mr. Huyzer's relocation from The Netherlands to the 
United States in September 1994, the Company advanced Mr. Huyzer $l,017,928 
for the purchase of a residence in the Chicago area. The note evidencing the 
advance provides that interest is payable quarterly and will accrue at a rate 
of 7.25% per annum beginning on November 6, 1994 with respect to $915,428 of 
the principal amount thereof and beginning on January 1, 1995 with respect to 
the balance of the principal amount. A required principal payment of $17,928 
was made on January 1, 1995. Principal is repayable in quarterly installments 
beginning in September 1996 and thereafter until September 2024. As of May 
13, 1996, the aggregate principal amount outstanding under such note was 
$1,000,000. 

   The Company has entered into employment agreements with Messrs. Brown, 
Dubin, Kirshner and M. Miller, effective as of January 1, 1995, pursuant to 
which they serve as Regional Presidents of, respectively, the Northeast 
Region, the Midwest-West Region, the Great Lakes Region and the 
South-Southeast Region. Each of these agreements is for a term of four years 
unless renewed or sooner terminated in accordance with its terms. 

   Pursuant to such agreements, each of Messrs. Brown, Dubin, Kirshner and M. 
Miller receives an annual base salary, an annual bonus of up to 50% of his 
base salary based on achievement of certain financial criteria and personal 
targets and certain perquisites and other benefits. Mr. Brown receives an 
additional amount equal to 10% of his base salary in lieu of participation in 
the Company's Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan. See "Employee Benefits 
Plans--Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan." Pursuant to the terms of his 
employment agreement, Mr. Brown also received a special bonus of $150,000 in 
1995 with respect to the year 1994. 

   If the employment of Messrs. Brown, Dubin, Kirshner or M. Miller is 
terminated due to death, disability, resignation (other than following 
non-renewal by the Company in the final year of the initial 

                                       14
<PAGE>
term as provided in the agreements) or for cause, such person is entitled to 
receive earned and unpaid base salary through the effective date of 
termination, business expense reimbursements, and all other amounts due but 
unpaid to such person for the year immediately preceding the year in which 
such termination occurs. In addition, if the employment of Messrs. Brown, 
Dubin, Kirshner or M. Miller is terminated due to death or disability, such 
person is entitled to receive any unpaid perquisite allowance and a prorated 
bonus payment for the year during which such termination occurs. 

   If the employment of Messrs. Brown, Dubin, Kirshner or M. Miller is 
terminated by the Company without cause or by the resignation of such person 
(following non-renewal by the Company in the final year of the initial term 
as provided in the agreements), such person shall be entitled to continuation 
for the remainder of the initial term of base salary, full benefits, 
perquisite allowance, retirement plan contributions and payment of a bonus 
for each year remaining in the initial term. 

   Each such employment agreement contains a covenant not to compete with the 
Company. The covenant applies during the term of employment plus a period of 
eighteen months after the termination of employment with the Company. 

KNP BT PENSION PLANS 

   Mr. Huyzer participates in certain retirement programs offered by KNP BT, 
including the Average Indexed Salary Module plan ("AIS"), applicable to all 
KNP BT employees in The Netherlands, and the Elective Contribution Module 
("ECM") and Flexible Retirement Module ("FRM") plans. ECM is applicable to 
KNP BT employees whose annual base salary exceeds $87,750. Benefits from all 
of these programs are paid from contributions of KNP BT. Mr. Huyzer will 
receive an estimated annual age 65 retirement benefit of $25,760 (with annual 
adjustments) from AIS based upon his annual adjusted base salary up to 
$87,750 and annual contributions by KNP BT of $6,905 (indexed) and an accrued 
benefit as of December 31, 1995 of $13,518. ECM provides benefits in addition 
to AIS in the form of an account balance which will be converted to an 
annuity when the employee reaches age 65. The estimated ECM benefit which 
will have accrued for the account of Mr. Huyzer at age 65 is $802,239 plus 
interest, based upon continuing annual contributions by KNP BT of $34,448 
(indexed) and an accrued benefit as of December 31, 1995 of $359,249. The FRM 
provides a supplemental benefit for employees who retire between the ages of 
60 and 65. Mr. Huyzer will receive an estimated account balance of $321,925 
plus interest (which will be converted to an annuity upon his retirement), 
based upon annual contributions of KNP BT of $31,577 (indexed). As of 
December 31, 1995, the account balance is $127,167. The FRM is also composed 
of an accrued benefit as of December 31, 1995 of $61,425, based upon annual 
contributions by KNP BT of $13,163 (indexed). If he retires at age 65, these 
two benefits under the FRM will be added to the benefits received by Mr. 
Huyzer from AIS and ECM. Mr. Huyzer's contributions to the KNP BT retirement 
programs totalled $25,209 as of December 31, 1995. All of the foregoing 
amounts have been converted into U.S. dollars based upon the December 31, 
1995 exchange rate of NLG 1 = $.625. 

EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS 

 1995 STOCK OPTION PLAN 

 DESCRIPTION OF THE PLAN. 

   The Company's 1995 Stock Option Plan (the "Plan") is intended to further 
the Company's policy of encouraging ownership of Common Stock by key 
employees and to provide incentives for such persons. The Plan is expected to 
benefit the Company and its shareholders by enabling the Company to attract 
and retain highly qualified persons and by rewarding key employees for their 
contribution toward increasing the value of the Common Stock. 

                                       15
<PAGE>
   A total of 4,188,000 shares of authorized but unissued Common Stock has 
been reserved for issuance under the Plan upon the exercise of options, 
subject to adjustment in the event of a stock split, stock dividend or other 
change in the Common Stock. In lieu of unissued shares, the Company, at its 
discretion, may transfer, upon the exercise of options, reacquired shares or 
shares bought in the open market for the purposes of the Plan. If any options 
terminate for any reason or expire without having been exercised in full, the 
shares of Common Stock not purchased under such options will be available for 
issuance under the Plan. 

   The administrator of the Plan (the "Administrator") was the Company's 
Board of Directors until January 25, 1996, when the Board of Directors 
appointed the Compensation Committee to be the Administrator. Subject to the 
provisions of the Plan, the Administrator has authority to make all 
determinations deemed necessary or advisable for the administration of the 
Plan, including, without limitation: (a) to grant options, subject to the 
terms and conditions of the option agreement approved by the Administrator 
and in conformity with the Plan; (b) to determine the purchase price of the 
Common Stock covered by each option, the persons to whom, and the time or 
times at which options shall be granted, whether such options shall be 
"incentive stock options" ("ISOs") intended to satisfy the requirements of 
Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), 
non-qualified stock options ("NQOs"), or both, and the number of shares of 
Common Stock to be covered by each option; (c) to interpret the Plan; (d) to 
prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to the Plan; (e) 
to determine the terms of particular option agreements; (f) with the consent 
of the respective optionee, to modify or amend any option agreement; (g) to 
execute on behalf of the Company any instrument required to effectuate the 
grant of an option; (h) to accelerate the exercise date of any option; and 
(i) to ensure satisfaction of any withholding tax obligation in connection 
with any option. The Administrator's determination on the foregoing matters 
is deemed conclusive. 

   The purchase price of the Common Stock covered by each option is 
determined by the Administrator, but may not be less than 90% (100%, or in 
certain events 110%, in the case of an ISO) of the fair market value of the 
Common Stock on the date of the grant of the option. The term of each option 
may be for such period as the Administrator shall determine, but not more 
than ten years (or five years in the case of certain ISOs) from the date of 
grant and may be subject to earlier termination under certain circumstances. 
The purchase price of the shares as to which an option is exercised must be 
paid in full at the time of exercise in cash or, if permitted by the 
Administrator, by delivery of shares of Common Stock. The vesting schedule, 
if any, for options is determined by the Administrator and set forth in each 
option agreement, as applicable. Options are not transferable otherwise than 
by will, by the laws of descent and distribution or pursuant to a "qualified 
domestic relations order" (as defined in Section 414(p) of the Code), and an 
option may be exercised, during the lifetime of the optionee, only by such 
optionee or his legal representative, as the case may be. Options generally 
must be exercised within ninety days following termination of service (or 
three years, in the case of death or disability), but in no event after the 
expiration of the term of the option. 

   Unless the Plan has been previously terminated, no option may be granted 
after the tenth anniversary of the adoption of the Plan. The Board of 
Directors may at any time prior to such date terminate the Plan or make such 
modification or amendment of the Plan as it shall deem advisable; provided, 
however, that no amendment may be made, without the approval of the 
shareholders of the Company, except as provided in the Plan in respect of a 
change in capitalization, which would (i) increase the maximum number of 
shares for which options may be granted under the Plan, (ii) amend the 
requirements as to the class of persons eligible to receive options or (iii) 
materially increase the benefits accruing to optionees under the Plan. 

   The Plan provides that in the event of a "change of control" (as 
hereinafter defined) other than in connection with a "pooling transaction" 
(as hereinafter defined), the options shall, subject to the 

                                       16
<PAGE>
provisions of the Plan in respect of a change in capitalization, remain 
outstanding and shall become exercisable by the optionee upon the terms and 
conditions of the Plan and the option agreement between the respective 
optionee and the Company; provided, however, that the Administrator may, in 
its discretion, take one or more of the following actions in connection with 
a "change of control" (other than a "pooling transaction"): (i) permit the 
acquiror to assume the obligations of the Company under the Plan on the same 
or better terms as those granted under the Plan; (ii) declare that any or all 
options shall terminate as of a date to be fixed by the Administrator and 
give the respective optionees the right to exercise such option or options 
prior to such date; (iii) declare that any or all options shall terminate as 
of a date to be fixed by the Administrator and may require that the 
respective optionees surrender all or a portion of their unexercised options 
for cancellation by the Company prior to such date and receive (a) the cash, 
securities or other consideration he would have received had he been entitled 
to exercise, and had he exercised, such option or options immediately prior 
to such "change of control" and had he disposed of his shares issuable upon 
such exercise in connection with such change of control, minus (b) an amount 
of cash or fair market value of securities or other such consideration equal 
to the exercise price of such options; and/or (iv) declare that, upon the 
exercise of any or all options after a "change of control" in accordance with 
the provisions of the Plan, the respective optionee shall be entitled to 
receive only the cash, securities or other consideration he would have been 
entitled to receive had he been entitled to exercise, and had he exercised, 
such option immediately prior to such "change of control" and had he disposed 
of his option shares in connection with such "change of control." 

   The Plan further provides that if, during the term of one or more options, 
there shall occur a "change of control" which is intended to qualify as a 
"pooling of interests" for accounting and financial reporting purposes (a 
"Pooling Transaction"), it shall be a condition to the effectiveness of such 
"change of control" transaction that the acquiror agree to assume the 
obligations of the Company under the Plan on the same or better terms as 
those granted under the Plan. 

   For the purposes of the Plan, a "change of control" is defined as (i) a 
merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another corporation which 
is not an affiliate of the Company or a recapitalization or reorganization of 
the Company where, immediately upon the consummation of such merger, 
consolidation, reorganization or recapitalization, the persons who were the 
shareholders of the Company immediately prior to such merger, consolidation, 
reorganization or recapitalization do not immediately thereafter own more 
than 50% of the total voting power of the merged, consolidated, reorganized 
or recapitalized company's voting securities entitled to vote generally in 
the election of directors; (ii) the sale of all or substantially all of the 
assets of the Company to another person or entity which is not an affiliate 
of the Company; or (iii) the acquisition by any person, entity or "group" 
(excluding, for this purpose, the Company, any affiliate of the Company, or 
any employee benefit plan of the Company or of any affiliate of the Company 
which acquires beneficial ownership of voting securities of the Company), as 
defined in the Plan, of "beneficial ownership" as defined in the Plan of 
either 50% or more of the then outstanding shares of Common Stock or 50% or 
more of the combined voting power of the Company's then outstanding voting 
securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors. 

 FEDERAL TAX CONSEQUENCES. 

   The following discussion is only a brief summary of the U.S. Federal 
income tax aspects of options granted under the Plan based on such tax laws 
in effect on the date hereof. This summary is not intended to be exhaustive, 
and does not describe a number of special tax rules that could apply in 
certain circumstances (I.E., alternative minimum tax). State, local and 
foreign income tax consequences are not discussed, and may vary from locality 
to locality. 

   The grant of ISOs or NQOs will not result in taxable income for the 
optionee at the time the option is granted and the Company will not be 
entitled to a deduction at that time. 

                                       17
<PAGE>
   In general, an optionee will be subject to tax for the year of exercise of 
an NQO on the amount of ordinary income equal to the difference between the 
purchase price and the fair market value of the Common Stock received at the 
time of such exercise. The Company will be entitled to a deduction in a 
corresponding amount. Income tax withholding requirements apply upon 
exercise. The optionee's tax basis in the Common Stock acquired on exercise 
will be equal to the purchase price plus the amount of ordinary income 
subject to tax upon such exercise. Upon subsequent disposition of the Common 
Stock, the holder will realize capital gain or loss, long-term or short-term, 
depending upon the length of time the holder held the Common Stock received 
upon the option exercise. 

   If an optionee exercises an NQO by delivery of already-owned Common Stock 
as payment of the purchase price, no gain or loss will be recognized with 
respect to the Common Stock so delivered and the optionee will be subject to 
tax on an amount of ordinary income equal to the difference between the 
purchase price and the fair market value of the Common Stock received at the 
time of such exercise. As is the case of exercise by delivering cash, the 
Company will be entitled to a deduction equal to the amount of ordinary 
income recognized by the optionee where the exercise involves delivery of 
already-owned Common Stock. The optionee's tax basis in the Common Stock 
acquired on exercise equivalent in number to the Common Stock surrendered 
will be the same as the optionee's tax basis in the surrendered Common Stock 
and the tax basis in the additional Common Stock obtained by the option 
exercise will be equal to the amount of compensation income realized. For 
purposes of determining long-term or short-term capital gain, the holding 
period of the Common Stock equivalent in number to the Common Stock 
surrendered will include the holding period of the surrendered Common Stock 
while the additional Common Stock acquired on exercise will have a holding 
period that starts on the exercise date. 

   In general, the exercise of an ISO will not result in income for the 
optionee if the optionee (i) does not dispose of the Common Stock within two 
years after the date of grant or one year after the acquisition of the Common 
Stock upon exercise and (ii) is an employee of the Company or a subsidiary of 
the Company from the date of option grant until three months before the 
exercise date. If these requirements are met, the tax basis of the Common 
Stock upon later disposition will be the purchase price. Any gain will be 
taxed to the holder as long-term capital gain and the Company will not be 
entitled to a deduction. The excess of the fair market value on the exercise 
date over the purchase price is an item of tax preference, potentially 
subject to the alternative minimum tax. 

   If an optionee exercises an ISO by delivery of already-owned Common Stock 
as payment of the purchase price and at the date of exercise the requirements 
of clauses (i) and (ii) in the immediately preceding paragraph are satisfied, 
no gain or loss will be recognized with respect to the Common Stock so 
delivered. Furthermore, the optionee's tax basis in the Common Stock acquired 
on exercise equivalent in number to the Common Stock surrendered will be the 
same as the optionee's tax basis in the surrendered Common Stock and the tax 
basis in the additional Common Stock obtained by the option exercise will be 
equal to zero. For purposes of determining long-term or short-term capital 
gain, the holding period of the Common Stock equivalent in number to the 
Common Stock surrendered will include the holding period of the surrendered 
Common Stock while the additional Common Stock acquired on exercise will have 
a holding period that commences on the exercise date. 

   If an optionee disposes of the Common Stock acquired upon exercise prior 
to the expiration of either of the holding periods described in clause (i) 
above, the optionee will recognize ordinary income and the Company will be 
entitled to a corresponding deduction equal to the lesser of (a) the fair 
market value of the Common Stock on the exercise date minus the purchase 
price or (b) the amount realized on disposition minus the purchase price. Any 
gain in excess of the amount of the ordinary income portion will be taxable 
as long-term or short-term capital gain depending upon the length of time the 
Common Stock was held after exercise. 

                                       18
<PAGE>
   The following table summarizes the aggregate number of option grants as of 
May 13, 1996 under the Plan. Each option is exercisable for one share of Common
Stock, which had a market value of $19.625 per share as of May 13, 1996.

         STOCK OPTIONS GRANTED PURSUANT TO THE 1995 STOCK OPTION PLAN 

                                                               OPTIONS PURSUANT 
                      NAME AND POSITION                           TO THE PLAN 
- ------------------------------------------------------------- -----------------

Rudolf A.J. Huyzer 
  President and Chief Executive Officer                                200,000 

Howard L. Brown 
  Vice President and Regional President, Northeast Region              105,000 

Michael J. Miller 
  Vice President and Regional President, South-Southeast Region         70,000 

Richard C. Dubin 
  Vice President and Regional President, Midwest-West Region            70,000 

David Kirshner 
  Vice President and Regional President, Great Lakes Region             70,000 

Current Executive Officers as a Group                                  655,000 

Current Non-employee Directors as a Group                                  -0-

All other employees as a group                                         528,000 

Total options granted pursuant to the Plan                           1,183,000 


 SUPPLEMENTAL EXECUTIVE RETIREMENT PLAN 

   Certain executive officers of the Company participate in the Company's 
Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (the "SERP"), which provides 
supplemental non-qualified retirement benefits to participants. The SERP 
requires the Company to credit annually to the participant's account an 
amount equal to a percentage of such participant's annual compensation as 
determined by the Company. For each year prior to January 1, 1995 during 
which an amount is deemed to be held in a participant's account, his account 
is credited with interest at a rate equal to that of thirty-year U.S. 
Treasury securities as of the end of that year. From and after 1995, a 
participant's account is treated as if deemed to be invested in investment 
vehicles available to such participant under the 401(k) plan and credited 
annually with income, expenses, gains and losses from such deemed 
investments. 

   A "grantor trust" under Section 677 of the Code may be established under the 
SERP. In the event of a "change-in-control" (as defined in the SERP), the
Company is obliged to transfer amounts equal to the accounts under the SERP to
the trust. Assets in the trust, at all times, are subject to claims of the
general creditors of the grantor of such trust.

   Upon a participant's termination of employment with the Company for any 
reason other than "cause" (as defined in the SERP), such participant is entitled
to receive the entire value of his account. Payment under the SERP is made
either in a lump sum or in monthly installments over a period of no more than
five years, as elected by the participant. The SERP also allows participants to
designate beneficiaries to receive their SERP benefits in the event of death.

   Amounts accrued in 1994 and 1995 under the SERP for the Named Executive 
Officers are reported in the Summary Compensation Table above. See 
"--Executive Compensation." 

                                       19
<PAGE>
           COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION 

GENERAL 

   The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company (the 
"Compensation Committee") was established by the Board on January 25, 1996 and
Messrs. de Kluis and Kellar were appointed to serve thereon. Upon his election
to the Board on February 19, 1996, Mr. von der Heyden was appointed to serve on
the Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee oversees compensation
policies for executive officers of the Company, approves salaries and bonuses
for such officers and administers the Company's 1995 Stock Option Plan. Such
functions were performed by a committee consisting of Messrs. de Kluis, van
Oordt and de Wit (with the Board of Directors as a whole administering the 1995
Stock Option Plan) for 1995 since the Compensation Committee had not yet been
established and, accordingly, this report is presented by Messrs. de Kluis, van
Oordt and de Wit rather than by the Compensation Committee.

   Prior to the Offering on July 19, 1995, the Company was a wholly-owned 
subsidiary of KNP BT. In connection with the Offering and in order to assess the
compensation practices of the Company's competitors and of similarly sized
companies, the Company during 1995 retained the services of William M. Mercer,
Incorporated, a national compensation consulting firm, to consult with it
regarding its compensation policies and in connection therewith to analyze the
executive officer compensation practices of comparative companies both within
and outside of the office products industry.

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION PHILOSOPHY 

   The Company's compensation philosophy is to seek to compensate its executive 
officers in a manner designed to motivate such officers to increase stockholder
value. In furtherance of this goal, the Compensation Committee determines
compensation packages for the Company's executive officers based upon individual
and Company performance as well as upon competitive factors. Competitive
compensation practices are determined by reference to a group of six office
products companies as well as a broader group of distribution and wholesale
companies. The principal components of the Company's executive officer
compensation program are base salary, annual incentive bonus and stock options.
Each of the Company's executive officers also receives additional forms of
compensation as described above in the Summary Compensation Table and the
footnotes thereto and under the headings "Employment Agreements" and "Employee
Benefit Plans."

BASE SALARY 

   Base salaries for the Company's executive officers are subject to annual 
review for potential adjustment, consistent with the terms of applicable
employment agreements, based upon several factors, including individual
performance, base salary levels for comparable positions at comparable companies
and the Company's performance. In determining salary adjustments for the
Company's executive officers (other than Mr. Huyzer) for 1995, the committee
relied in part on Mr. Huyzer's evaluations and recommendations concerning each
officer's responsibilities for 1995 and, where applicable, performance during
1994. Salaries for the Named Executive Officers were increased in 1995 by an
average of approximately 38% over 1994 levels, due to a significant increase in
the responsibilities of such officers resulting from the Company's
reorganization, and in recognition of individual performance and competitive
market movements.

ANNUAL INCENTIVE 

   The Company's executive officers are eligible to receive annual cash 
incentive awards (generally of up to fifty percent (50%) of annual base salary)
based upon individual performance, the performance of the operating region for
which such officer has primary responsibility, where applicable, and the

                                       20
<PAGE>
Company's overall operating results. Target levels for such performance were set
by the committee at the beginning of 1995. The Company did not achieve the
minimum performance level required to generate awards to the Named Executive
Officers in 1995. Therefore, other than the contractual guaranteed payment to
Mr. Huyzer described above under the heading "Employment Agreements," no annual
incentive awards were paid to the Named Executive Officers based on 1995
performance. Target performance would have placed the Named Executive Officers'
total annual cash compensation (salary plus annual incentive) at approximately
the median of the competitive market. Due to the absence of annual incentive
payments for 1995, total annual cash compensation was generally below such
median.

STOCK OPTIONS 

   Compensation through increases in the value of the Company's equity is a key 
component of the Company's compensation program for executive officers. The
Company's 1995 Stock Option Plan adopted in connection with the Offering (the
"Plan") is designed to retain key employees including executive officers and to
align a significant portion of their financial interests with those of the
Company's stockholders in the long-term appreciation of the Company's stock.
Options granted under the Plan have such vesting and exercise periods as the
Compensation Committee may determine. In determining the number of options to be
granted to an executive officer under the Plan, the Compensation Committee
considers such officer's position, level of responsibility within the Company,
the officer's existing equity holdings, the potential reward to the officer if
the stock appreciates in value, the incentives to retain the officer's services
to the Company, the competitiveness of the officer's overall compensation
arrangements and the officer's individual performance. Based upon a review of
such factors, the Board in connection with the Offering granted to Mr. Brown
options to purchase 105,000 shares of the Company's Common Stock and granted to
each of Messrs. Dubin, Kirshner and M. Miller options to purchase 70,000 shares
of the Company's Common Stock. In each case, the exercise price of the options
granted was equal to the Offering price, representing the fair market value of
the Common Stock as of the grant date. The committee anticipates that future
option grants will be made annually by the Compensation Committee in order to
continue to foster equity ownership by the Company's executive officers and to
provide them with competitive levels of equity-based incentive compensation.

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER'S COMPENSATION 

   In determining Mr. Huyzer's compensation, the Board considered similar 
factors to those used in determining compensation of the other executive
officers. The Board also considered Mr. Huyzer's importance in the Company's
achievement of its strategic objectives, including the consummation of
acquisitions and the Offering, and his contributions toward the overall growth
of the Company. A greater percentage of Mr. Huyzer's overall compensation
compared with that of the other executive officers is subject to consistent,
positive long-term performance of the Company, including profitability and
return to shareholders. Pursuant to the terms of his employment agreement, Mr.
Huyzer received a base salary of $500,000 for 1995 and he was eligible to
receive a bonus of up to eighty percent (80%) of such base salary. As described
above, Mr. Huyzer's bonus award for 1995 was limited to $50,000, as guaranteed
in his employment agreement, due to the fact that the Company did not meet the
minimum performance level required to generate a greater award. In connection
with the Offering, Mr. Huyzer was granted options under the Plan to purchase
200,000 shares of the Company's Common Stock at the Offering price. Although he
is a member of the Board of Directors, Mr. Huyzer did not participate in the
committee's and Board's determinations concerning his compensation, including
the granting of stock options to him.

TAX DEDUCTIBILITY 

   Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, limits the 
Company's federal income tax deduction for certain executive compensation in
excess of $1 million paid to named executive officers. The Company believes its
current compensation programs meet the requirements to

                                       21
<PAGE>
qualify for compensation to be deductible for federal income tax purposes. In
the future, it is the Company's intent to modify, when necessary, compensation
plans for the Company's executive officers so that the Company's federal tax
deduction is maximized. Because the Company believes that the use of prudent
judgment in determining pay levels is in the best interests of the Company and
its shareholders, under some circumstances it may determine to pay amounts of
compensation that may not be fully deductible. However, the Company reserves the
right to use prudent judgment in establishing compensation policies to attract
and retain qualified executives to manage the Company and to reward such
executives for outstanding performance, while taking into consideration the
financial impact of such actions on the Company.

         COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION 

   The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors was established on 
January 25, 1996 and, accordingly, did not deliberate on executive compensation
matters during Fiscal 1995. Such functions were performed by a committee
consisting of Messrs. de Kluis, van Oordt and de Wit for Fiscal 1995. No
executive officer of the Company served as: (i) a member of the compensation
committee (or other board committee performing equivalent functions or, in the
absence of any such committee, the entire board of directors) of another entity,
one of whose executive officers served on the Board of Directors of the Company;
(ii) a director of another entity, one of whose executive officers served on the
Board of Directors of the Company; or (iii) a member of the compensation
committee (or other board committee performing equivalent functions or, in the
absence of any such committee, the entire board of directors) or another entity,
one of whose executive officers served as a director of the Company.

                             COMPANY PERFORMANCE 

   The chart below compares the Company's Common Stock performance with the 
performance of the Standard & Poor's 500 Composite Stock Price Index ("S&P 500
Index") and a Peer Group Index by valuing the changes in common stock prices
from July 19, 1995 (the date that the Company's Common Stock began trading on
the New York Stock Exchange) through December 31, 1995 plus reinvested
dividends. The Securities and Exchange Commission requires that a company create
a peer group index with which to compare its own stock performance (if a
published peer group index does not exist) by selecting a grouping of companies
that includes companies whose lines of business are similar to its own. Since a
Peer Group Index does not exist for the market in which the Company operates, a
peer group was created using the following office products companies: Boise
Cascade Office Products Corporation, Corporate Express, Inc., U.S. Office
Products Company, OfficeMax, Inc., Office Depot, Inc., Staples, Inc. and Viking
Office Products, Inc. The chart below assumes in each case an initial investment
of $100.00 on July 19, 1995 plus reinvestment of dividends, with the Peer Group
Index investment weighted on the basis of market capitalization at July 19,
1995.

                                       22
<PAGE>
                              PERFORMANCE GRAPH 
                    COMPARISON OF CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURNS 

                                  [LINE GRAPH]

                                        7/19/95           12/31/95
                                        -------           --------

BT Office Products International, Inc.    100                139

S&P 500                                   100                111

PEER GROUP                                100                109

                   SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL 
                            OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT 

   Prior to the Offering, all of the Common Stock of the Company was 
beneficially owned by KNP BT. KNP BT is principally engaged in the distribution
and sale of paper, the sale of graphic and information systems, the manufacture
of paper and packaging products and, through the Company, the distribution of
office products. KNP BT had net sales in 1995 of NLG 15.0 billion ($9.3 billion)
and at the end of 1995 employed over 26,000 persons worldwide in more than 30
countries. KNP BT is headquartered in Amsterdam. KNP BT is the resulting
corporation from the merger of KNP, BT and VRG in March 1993. The Office
Products Division of BT became a part of the Office Products Division of KNP BT
as a result of such merger.

   By virtue of its beneficial ownership of a majority of the outstanding shares
of the Company's Common Stock, KNP BT is in a position to control substantially
all corporate transactions requiring the

                                       23
<PAGE>
vote of a majority of stockholders, including election of the entire Board of
Directors, as well as merger and consolidation proposals, without the
concurrence of other stockholders, and thereby is in a position to control the
Company. In connection with the Offering, KNP BT and certain of its affiliates
entered into various transactions and agreements with the Company which govern
certain ongoing relationships, including an intercompany services agreement and
a credit facility agreement, between the Company and KNP BT and its affiliates.

   KNP BT is the beneficial owner of 23,400,000 shares of Common Stock, or 
approximately 70% of the issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock.
Approximately 26% of such shares are held of record by Buhrmann-Tetterode
International B.V., a wholly-owned subsidiary of KNP BT ("BTIBV"), and the
balance is held of record by KNP BT. The address for KNP BT and BTIBV is
Paalbergweg 2, 1105 AG Amsterdam ZO, P.O. Box 23456, 1100 DZ Amsterdam Z0, The
Netherlands.

   The following table sets forth as of May 13, 1996 certain information 
regarding the beneficial ownership of the Common Stock (i) by each person who is
known by the Company to own beneficially more than 5% of the Common Stock, (ii)
by each current director and Named Executive Officer of the Company and (iii) by
all executive officers and directors of the Company as a group. Except as
otherwise indicated below, each of the persons named in the table has sole
voting and investment power with respect to the securities beneficially owned.

                                                                  PERCENTAGE OF 
                                             NUMBER OF SHARES     COMMON STOCK 
                                             OF COMMON STOCK      BENEFICIALLY 
         NAME OF BENEFICIAL OWNER           BENEFICIALLY OWNED      OWNED(1) 
- ------------------------------------------ -------------------   --------------
NV Koninklijke KNP BT ....................       23,400,000           70.1 
Klaas de Kluis ...........................            8,700             * 
Rudolf A.J. Huyzer .......................          208,700(2)          * 
Robert F.W. van Oordt ....................            4,300             * 
Frank J. de Wit ..........................            4,300             * 
Rob W.J.M. Bonnier .......................            4,300             * 
James B. Miller ..........................           22,000             * 
Frans H.J. Koffrie .......................             --               --
Lorrence T. Kellar .......................            1,000             * 
Karl von der Heyden ......................             --               --
Howard L. Brown ..........................          155,000(3)          * 
Michael J. Miller ........................           70,000(4)          * 
Richard C. Dubin .........................           70,000(4)          * 
David Kirshner ...........................           73,000(4)          * 
All Directors and Executive Officers as a 
  Group (15 persons) .....................          764,600(5)         2.3 
- ------------------
(1) An asterisk denotes beneficial ownership of 1% or less of the Common 
    Stock. 

(2) Includes 200,000 options granted under the 1995 Stock Option Plan. 

(3) Includes 105,000 options granted under the 1995 Stock Option Plan. 

(4) Includes 70,000 options granted under the 1995 Stock Option Plan. 

(5) Includes 655,000 options granted under the 1995 Stock Option Plan. 

                                       24
<PAGE>
                        RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF 
                             INDEPENDENT AUDITORS 

   Upon recommendation of the Audit Committee, the Board of Directors on 
May 14, 1996 replaced Ernst & Young LLP, who served as the Company's independent
auditors for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1995, and appointed Coopers &
Lybrand L.L.P. as the Company's independent auditors for the fiscal year ending
December 31, 1996. The Board of Directors is requesting ratification of such
appointment by the Company's shareholders.

   Representatives of both Ernst & Young LLP and Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P. are 
expected to be present at the Meeting and will have the opportunity to make a 
statement, if they so desire, and are expected to be available to respond to 
appropriate questions from those attending such Meeting. 

   Ernst & Young LLP's reports on the financial statements of the Company for 
the fiscal years ended December 31, 1995 and 1994 did not contain an adverse 
opinion or a disclaimer of opinion, and were not qualified or modified as to 
uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles. 

   In connection with the audits of the Company's financial statements for each 
of the two fiscal years ended December 31, 1995 and 1994, and in the subsequent
interim period, there were no disagreements with Ernst & Young LLP on any
matters of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure,
or auditing scope and procedures which, if not resolved to the satisfaction of
Ernst & Young LLP would have caused Ernst & Young LLP to make reference to the
matter in their report.

   In a letter to the Company dated January 30, 1996, Ernst & Young LLP advised 
the Company that based on the status of the audit it noted no material
weaknesses in the Company's internal controls. In March 1996, the Company
discovered certain irregularities at the New York Division involving
misstatements in the reporting of gross profit margins and operating expenses as
well as concealment in the accounting records of a theft of Company assets.
Ernst & Young LLP advised the Company in a letter dated April 5, 1996 that a
material weakness in internal controls existed at the New York Division,
relating to such irregularities. The irregularities led to the Company's
reduction of previously reported unaudited operating income for 1995 and the
Company's restatement of operating income for 1994.

   On March 26, 1996, the Audit Committee discussed the foregoing irregularities
with Ernst & Young LLP and authorized the Company's legal counsel, Winthrop,
Stimson, Putnam & Roberts, to investigate the irregularities and pursue
recoveries. Based on the Company's internal investigation and the preliminary
results of such counsel's investigation, the Company believes that the
discovered irregularities were due primarily to the misconduct of a few
individuals at a single unit. Key financial management personnel at the New York
Division were suspended from their duties and the Company has hired new
personnel and is in the process of hiring additional new personnel at such unit.

   The Company has authorized Ernst & Young LLP to respond fully to any 
inquiries of Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P. concerning the foregoing internal control 
issues. 

                       COMPLIANCE WITH SECTION 16(A) OF 
               THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934, AS AMENDED 

   Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, requires 
the Company's directors, executive officers and persons holding more than 10
percent of a registered class of the Company's equity securities to file with
the Securities and Exchange Commission and the New York Stock Exchange initial
reports of ownership, reports of changes in ownership and annual reports of

                                       25
<PAGE>
ownership of Common Stock and other equity securities of the Company. Such 
directors, officers, and ten-percent stockholders are also required to furnish
the Company with copies of all such filed reports.

   Based solely upon a review of the copies of such reports furnished to the 
Company, or representations that no reports were required, the Company believes
that all of its directors, executive officers and 10% shareholders complied with
all filing requirements under Section 16(a) in 1995.

                STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS FOR 1997 ANNUAL MEETING 

   Stockholders may submit proposals on matters appropriate for stockholder 
action at the Company's annual meetings, consistent with regulations adopted by
the Securities and Exchange Commission. Proposals to be considered for inclusion
in the Proxy Statement for the 1997 annual meeting must be received by the
Company at its principal executive offices not later than January 24, 1997.
Proposals should be directed to the attention of the Secretary, BT Office
Products International, Inc., 2150 East Lake Cook Road, Buffalo Grove, Illinois
60089-1877.

                                         By Order of the Board of Directors, 
                                         


                                         John J. McKiernan 
                                         Secretary 

Buffalo Grove, Illinois 
May 24, 1996 

                                       26
<PAGE>
                                FORM OF PROXY 
                    BT OFFICE PRODUCTS INTERNATIONAL, INC. 
                           2150 EAST LAKE COOK ROAD 
                             RIVERWALK, SUITE 590 
                        BUFFALO GROVE, ILLINOIS 60089 
         THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS 

   The undersigned hereby appoints Rudolf A.J. Huyzer and John J. McKiernan as 
Proxies, each with the power of substitution, and hereby authorizes each of them
to represent and to vote, as designated below, all the shares of common stock,
par value $.01 per share, of BT Office Products International, Inc. (the
"Company") held of record by the undersigned on May 15, 1996 at an Annual
Meeting of Stockholders of the Company to be held on June 25, 1996 or any
adjournment or postponement thereof.

1. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS   FOR ALL NOMINEES LISTED     WITHHOLD AUTHORITY
                           BELOW (EXCEPT AS MARKED     TO VOTE FOR ALL NOMINEES
                           TO THE CONTRARY BELOW) [ ]  LISTED BELOW [ ]  
                              

(INSTRUCTION: TO WITHHOLD AUTHORITY TO VOTE FOR ANY INDIVIDUAL NOMINEE STRIKE 
              A LINE THROUGH THE NOMINEE'S NAME IN THE LIST BELOW.) 

NOMINEES: (EACH TO SERVE UNTIL THE 1997 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS AND 
          UNTIL THEIR SUCCESSORS ARE DULY ELECTED AND QUALIFIED) 

           FRANK J. DE WIT, RUDOLF A.J. HUYZER, ROB W.J.M. BONNIER, 
KARL M. VON DER HEYDEN, LORRENCE T. KELLAR, FRANS H.J. KOFFRIE, JAMES B. 
                                    MILLER 

2. TO RATIFY THE APPOINTMENT OF COOPERS & LYBRAND L.L.P. AS THE COMPANY'S 
   INDEPENDENT AUDITORS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1996. 

                   [ ] APPROVE  [ ] DISAPPROVE  [ ] ABSTAIN 

3. TO CONSIDER AND ACT UPON ANY OTHER BUSINESS AS MAY PROPERLY COME BEFORE 
   THE MEETING OR ANY ADJOURNMENT OR POSTPONEMENT THEREOF. 

                                (SEE OTHER SIDE)


<PAGE>
                          (CONTINUED FROM OTHER SIDE)

     WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED IN THE MANNER DIRECTED
HEREIN BY THE UNDERSIGNED STOCKHOLDER. IF NO DIRECTION IS MADE, THIS PROXY WILL
BE VOTED FOR PROPOSALS 1 AND 2.

                                     -----------------------------------
                                     NAME (PLEASE PRINT)


                                     -----------------------------------
                                     NAME OF CORPORATION (IF APPLICABLE) 


                                     (BY)
                                      ----------------------------------
                                                   SIGNATURE 

                                     (DATE)----------------------------- , 1996 
                                      WHEN SIGNING AS ATTORNEY, EXECUTOR,
                                      ADMINISTRATOR, TRUSTEE OR GUARDIAN, PLEASE
                                      GIVE FULL TITLE AS SUCH. IF A CORPORATION,
                                      PLEASE PROVIDE THE FULL NAME OF THE
                                      CORPORATION AND THE SIGNATURE OF THE
                                      AUTHORIZED OFFICER SIGNING ON ITS BEHALF.

        PLEASE MARK, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THIS PROXY TO THE COMPANY. 




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