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
    / /  Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule
         14a-6(e)(2))
    /X/  Definitive Proxy Statement
    / /  Definitive Additional Materials
    / /  Soliciting  Material  Pursuant  to  Section  240.14a-11(c)  or  Section
         240.14a-12
 
                                       MARSHALL INDUSTRIES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                (Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    (Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
 
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
 
/X/  $125 per  Exchange Act  Rules 0-11(c)(1)(ii),  14a-6(i)(1), 14a-6(i)(2)  or
     Item 22(a)(2) of Schedule 14A.
/ /  $500  per  each party  to  the controversy  pursuant  to Exchange  Act Rule
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/ /  Fee  computed  on   table  below   per  Exchange   Act  Rules   14a-6(i)(4)
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                              MARSHALL INDUSTRIES
                              9320 TELSTAR AVENUE
                        EL MONTE, CALIFORNIA 91731-2895
 
                    NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
 
    The  Annual  Meeting  of  Shareholders (the  "Annual  Meeting")  of Marshall
Industries (the  "Company") will  be held  at the  office of  the Company,  9320
Telstar Avenue, El Monte, California, on October 22, 1996 at 9 a.m., local time,
for the following purposes:
 
    1.   To  elect directors  for the  year. Gordon  S. Marshall,  Robert Rodin,
       Richard D. Bentley, Richard C.  Colyear, Jean Fribourg, Lathrop  Hoffman,
       Jose  Menendez,  Raymond  G.  Rinehart  and  Howard  C.  White  have been
       nominated for election as directors.
 
    2.  To consider and act upon a proposal to ratify the appointment of  Arthur
       Andersen  LLP as the  Company's independent auditors  for the fiscal year
       ending May 31, 1997.
 
    3.  To transact such other business as may properly come before the  meeting
       or any adjournment thereof.
 
    Only  shareholders of record at the close of business on August 26, 1996 are
entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Annual Meeting.
 
    If you do not plan to attend personally, please promptly sign and return the
enclosed proxy in the accompanying envelope.  Your proxy is solicited on  behalf
of  the management  of the Company.  It is necessary  to have a  majority of all
outstanding shares  represented  at the  Annual  Meeting in  order  to  transact
official business. A proxy statement is set forth on the following pages.
 
                                          By Order of the Board of Directors
 
                                          GORDON S. MARSHALL
                                               Chairman
 
September 4, 1996

                              MARSHALL INDUSTRIES
                              9320 TELSTAR AVENUE
                        EL MONTE, CALIFORNIA 91731-2895
 
                                PROXY STATEMENT
                            MAILED SEPTEMBER 4, 1996
 
    The  accompanying proxy is solicited on behalf of the management of Marshall
Industries (the "Company")  for use  at the  Annual Meeting  of Shareholders  on
October  22, 1996  (the "Annual  Meeting") or  any adjournment  thereof, and the
expense of such  solicitation will  be borne  by the  Company. Proxies  properly
executed  and  received by  the Company  prior  to the  Annual Meeting,  and not
revoked, will be voted.
 
    A shareholder giving a proxy has the power to revoke it at any time prior to
its use by filing with  the Secretary of the Company  a written revocation or  a
proxy  bearing a later date, or if  personally present at the Annual Meeting, by
electing to vote in person.
 
    The holders of Common  Stock of record  on the books of  the Company at  the
close of business on August 26, 1996 are eligible to vote at the Annual Meeting.
On  that date,  there were 17,064,764  shares outstanding  held by approximately
6,000 shareholders. Each  shareholder is  entitled to  one vote  for each  share
owned. A shareholder is entitled to cumulate votes for the election of directors
(that  is, cast for  any one or more  candidates a number of  votes equal to the
number of the shareholder's shares multiplied  by the number of directors to  be
elected).  However,  no  shareholder  may cumulate  votes  for  the  election of
directors unless the  names of such  candidates have been  placed in  nomination
prior  to the voting, and  the shareholder has given  notice of his intention to
cumulate votes at the Annual Meeting prior to the voting. If any one shareholder
has given such  notice, each  shareholder may cumulate  his votes  and give  one
candidate  all of his votes or distribute  his votes among as many candidates as
he sees fit. If any shareholder  elects cumulative voting, the proxyholders  are
authorized in their discretion to vote their proxies cumulatively.
 
    A  majority  of  the  outstanding  shares  of  the  Company's  Common Stock,
represented in  person or  by proxy,  will  constitute a  quorum at  the  Annual
Meeting.  In  determining  the  shares present,  shares  with  respect  to which
authority to vote is withheld, abstentions and shares held of record by a broker
or its nominee ("broker shares") that are voted on any matter will be  included.
Broker  shares  that  are  not voted  on  any  matter will  not  be  included in
determining the shares present. The election  of each director and the  approval
of  any  other matter  submitted  to a  vote  of the  shareholders  requires the
affirmative vote of a majority of  the shares voting. In determining the  number
of shares voting on the election of directors or any other matter submitted to a
vote  of the shareholders,  shares with respect to  which authority is withheld,
abstentions and broker shares that are not voted will not be included.
 
    The solicitation of proxies for the Annual Meeting will be made primarily by
mail. However, if necessary to ensure satisfactory representation at the  Annual
Meeting,  additional  solicitation may  take place  by telephone,  telegraph and
personal interview by employees  of the Company. No  such employee will  receive
additional compensation for such services.
 
                                       1

                             ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
 
    At  present, the Bylaws of  the Company provide that  the Board of Directors
will be composed of between seven and thirteen directors, with the exact  number
of  directors to be set from time to  time by the Board or the shareholders. The
Board of Directors in October, 1994, established the present number of directors
at nine. Unless  otherwise instructed,  the proxyholders will  vote the  proxies
received  by them for the nine nominees shown below for the term of one year and
until their successors are duly elected and qualified. All of the nominees  have
consented  to being named in this Proxy  Statement, and to serve as directors if
elected. Although  it  is  not  contemplated  that  any  of  the  nominees  will
subsequently  decline or be unable to serve  as a director, in either event, the
proxies will be  voted by  the proxyholders  for such  other persons  as may  be
designated by the present Board of Directors.
 
    The  following table sets forth certain information as of July 31, 1996 with
respect to those persons  who are nominees for  re-election as directors of  the
Company,  each of whom, if elected, will  serve until the next Annual Meeting of
Shareholders and until their successors are duly elected and qualified.
 


                                                                             SHARES OF COMMON STOCK
                                                                              BENEFICIALLY OWNED(1)
                                                                            -------------------------
                                                                                 
                                                                             AMOUNT AND
                                                                              NATURE OF
                                                                             BENEFICIAL      PERCENT
           NAME                AGE                  POSITION                  OWNERSHIP      OF CLASS
- --------------------------  ---------  -----------------------------------  -------------    --------
Gordon S. Marshall             76      Chairman of the Board                     771,530(2)    4.5%
Robert Rodin                   42      Director, President and Chief              73,500(4)    *
                                         Executive Officer
Richard D. Bentley             56      Director and Executive Vice                19,584       *
                                         President
Richard C. Colyear             57      Director                                    2,000       *
Jean Fribourg                  51      Director                                      500       *
Lathrop Hoffman                71      Director                                    4,000       *
Jose Menendez                  59      Director                                      500       *
Raymond G. Rinehart            74      Director                                    5,500(3)    *
Howard C. White                55      Director                                    1,400       *
<FN>
- ------------------------
 * Represents less than 1%.
(1)  Except as provided under state community property laws and unless otherwise
     indicated, each nominee has sole  voting and investment power with  respect
     to the shares shown as beneficially owned by him.
(2)  Includes  62,500 shares  which are  subject to  options that  are presently
     exercisable or become exercisable on or before September 30, 1996.
(3)  Includes 3,900 shares held in a  revocable trust for which Mr. Rinehart  is
     the trustee.
(4)  Includes  45,000 shares  which are  subject to  options that  are presently
     exercisable or become exercisable on or before September 30, 1996.

 
    Mr. Marshall is the founder of the Company and has been its Chairman of  the
Board  since October 1954 and  was Chief Executive Officer  of the Company until
April, 1994. Additionally, he served as President of the Company from April 1982
to June 1992. Mr. Marshall is also a member of the Board of Amistar Corporation.
 
                                       2

    Mr. Rodin became a Vice President in October 1988 and was promoted to Senior
Vice President in August 1989, to President and Chief Operating Officer in  June
1992  and to Chief Executive  Officer in April 1994. He  joined the Company as a
Sales Manager in October 1983. Mr. Rodin has served as a director of the Company
since October, 1992.
 
    Mr. Bentley became a Vice President in October 1986 and was appointed Senior
Vice President in April 1988. He was promoted to Executive Vice President of the
Company in August  1989. Mr. Bentley  has served  as a director  of the  Company
since October, 1992.
 
    Mr. Colyear has served as a director of the Company since August 1991. Since
1989  Mr.  Colyear  has been  President  of Colyear  Development  Corporation, a
privately held real  estate firm  which develops  and operates  both office  and
industrial  properties. From 1967 to 1989,  Mr. Colyear was employed by Security
Pacific National Bank in various capacities, including First Vice President,  in
connection with its commercial lending activities.
 
    Mr.  Fribourg has served as  a director since October  1994 and has been the
Chief Executive Officer of Sonepar  Electronique International (SEI) since  1992
and is a member of the SEI and Sonepar Distribution Executive Boards. During the
last ten years, Mr. Fribourg has held several management and executive positions
with  Sonepar  and  SEI,  including  SEI  Country  Manager  (Spain)  and Sonepar
Distribution Country Manager (Spain and Portugal).
 
    Mr. Hoffman has served as  a director since August  1984. For more than  the
last  5  years, Mr.  Hoffman, through  several  corporations, owns  and operates
Acura, General  Motors,  Honda,  Isuzu  and  Saturn  automobile  dealerships  in
Southern  California. Mr. Hoffman is also Chairman of the Board of Granite State
Bank (formerly The Bank of Monrovia) in Monrovia, California.
 
    Mr. Menendez has served as  a director since October  1994 and has been  the
Chairman  of the Executive Boards of SEI and Sonepar Distribution since 1990 and
1991, respectively. Mr. Menendez also has held the position of Managing Director
and is a member of the Executive Board of Sonepar, S.A. since 1992. Mr. Menendez
has held management and executive positions with the Sonepar companies for  over
twenty years.
 
    Mr.  Rinehart has been  a director of  the Company since  1982. Mr. Rinehart
formerly served  as  Chairman  of  the  Executive  Committee  of  the  Board  of
Directors,  Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer of Clow
Corporation. For more than the last 5 years, Mr. Rinehart has been the  Chairman
of the Board of RGR Enterprises, and is a director of Goshen Rubber Co.
 
    Mr.  White has been  a director since  January 1992. From  1965 to 1991, Mr.
White was associated with  the international accounting  and consulting firm  of
Arthur  Andersen & Co., SC. Until his retirement in 1991, Mr. White was Managing
Director of Finance for  Arthur Andersen & Co's  worldwide organization and  had
also  served  as Managing  Partner, Accounting,  Audit and  Financial Consulting
Practice, Los Angeles/Southern California, Hawaii and Nevada.
 
COMMITTEES
 
    Among the  committees  created  by  the Board  of  Directors  are  an  Audit
Committee  and  a Stock  Option  and Compensation  Committee  (the "Compensation
Committee"). The Board has not designated a nominating committee. The members of
the Audit Committee are Richard C. Colyear, Lathrop Hoffman, Raymond G. Rinehart
and Howard C. White.  The Audit Committee reviews  and makes recommendations  to
the Board of Directors with respect to (i) the engagement or re-engagement of an
independent  accounting firm to audit the Company's financial statements for the
then current fiscal year, and the terms of such
 
                                       3

engagement; (ii)  the  Company's policies  and  procedures for  maintaining  the
Company's  books  and  records  and furnishing  information  to  the independent
auditors; (iii) the procedures to encourage access to the Audit Committee and to
facilitate the timely  reporting during  the year of  the Company's  independent
auditors'   recommendations  and  advice  to   the  Audit  Committee;  (iv)  the
implementation by management  of the independent  auditors' recommendations  and
advice;  (v) the implementation by management of the recommendations made by the
independent auditors  in its  annual management  letter; (vi)  the adequacy  and
implementation  of the Company's  internal accounting controls  and the adequacy
and competency of the related personnel;  and (vii) such other matters  relating
to  the Company's financial affairs and accounts as the Committee may in its own
discretion deem desirable. One Audit Committee meeting was held during the  last
fiscal year.
 
    The  Compensation Committee members are Richard C. Colyear, Lathrop Hoffman,
Raymond G. Rinehart and Howard  C. White. The Compensation Committee  recommends
changes  in employees' salaries,  incentives, pensions, savings  plans and other
fringe benefits to the Board, and administers the Company's stock option  plans.
As  administrator  of the  stock option  plans,  the Committee  determines which
employees are eligible for participation in the plans, designates the  optionees
and,  within the restrictions  of each particular plan,  determines the terms of
the grant and exercise  of options under the  plans. The Compensation  Committee
also makes recommendations from time to time to the Board of Directors regarding
possible  modifications or amendments of the  Company's stock options plans. The
Compensation Committee held three meetings during the last fiscal year.
 
    The Board of Directors held a total of five meetings during the last  fiscal
year. Each director attended all of the meetings of the Board and the Committees
on  which he served, except for Mr. Fribourg who attended four of the five Board
meetings and Mr. Menendez who attended two of the five Board meetings.
 
SECTION 16 REPORTS
 
    Based on its review of copies of Forms 3, 4 and 5 filed by the officers  and
directors  of  the  Company with  the  Securities and  Exchange  Commission, the
Company believes that all such  Forms required to be  filed with respect to  the
fiscal  year ended May 31, 1996 were timely  filed pursuant to Section 16 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 with the exception of a late filing of Form 4 by
Robert Rodin with respect  to the granting of  50,000 stock options in  October,
1995. The Form 4 was filed within 30 days of the due date.
 
REMUNERATION OF DIRECTORS
 
    Directors  who are employees receive  no additional compensation for serving
as directors. All outside directors receive monthly retainers of $1,500,  except
for Mr. White, and $1,500 for each meeting attended. Mr. White receives a $2,000
monthly  retainer as Chairman of the Compensation Committee. In fiscal year 1996
Mr. White  received a  bonus of  $5,000  for his  work on  various  compensation
projects.
 
                                       4

                             PRINCIPAL SHAREHOLDERS
 
    The  following table  sets forth certain  information, as of  July 31, 1996,
with respect to each shareholder known by the Company to be the beneficial owner
of more than  5% of its  outstanding Common  Stock, and share  ownership by  all
executive officers and directors of the Company as a group.
 


                                                           AMOUNT AND NATURE
                    NAME AND ADDRESS                         OF BENEFICIAL       PERCENT
                   OF BENEFICIAL OWNER                        OWNERSHIP(1)       OF CLASS
- ---------------------------------------------------------  ------------------  ------------
                                                                         
Strong Capital Management, Inc.                                1,777,650(2)          10.4%
The Prudential Insurance                                       1,436,100(3)           8.4%
  Company of America
First Pacific Advisors, Inc.                                   1,337,400(4)           7.8%
All executive officers and directors as a group                  909,514(5)           5.3%
  (10 persons)
<FN>
- ------------------------
(1)  Except as provided under state community property laws and unless otherwise
     indicated,  each  shareholder has  sole  voting and  investment  power with
     respect to the shares shown as beneficially owned by that shareholder.
 
(2)  Pursuant to  a Schedule  13G dated  February 13,  1996 and  filed with  the
     Securities   and  Exchange  Commission,  Strong  Capital  Management,  Inc.
     reported beneficial ownership  of over  5% of the  Company's Common  Stock.
     Based  on information subsequently obtained from Strong Capital Management,
     Inc., the Company believes that  on July 31, 1996,  it had sole voting  and
     dispositive  power with  respect to  206,050 shares  and shared  voting and
     dispositive power with respect to 1,571,600 shares.
 
(3)  Pursuant to  a Schedule  13G dated  February 12,  1996 and  filed with  the
     Securities  and Exchange  Commission, The  Prudential Insurance  Company of
     America reported beneficial ownership  of over 5%  of the Company's  Common
     Stock.  Based  on  information subsequently  obtained  from  The Prudential
     Insurance Company of America, the Company  believes that on July 31,  1996,
     it had sole voting and dispositive power with respect to 919,900 shares and
     shared voting and dispositive power with respect to 516,200 shares.
 
(4)  Pursuant  to a  Schedule 13G  dated February  13, 1996  and filed  with the
     Securities and Exchange Commission,  First Pacific Advisors, Inc.  reported
     beneficial  ownership of  over 5% of  the Company's Common  Stock. Based on
     information subsequently  obtained from  First Pacific  Advisors, Inc.  the
     Company  believes  that  on  July  31,  1996,  it  had  shared  voting  and
     dispositive power with respect to 1,337,400 shares.
 
(5)  Includes 132,500 shares  which are  subject to options  that are  presently
     exercisable or become exercisable on or before September 30, 1996.

 
                                       5

                               EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
 
    The  following table  sets forth certain  information with  respect to those
persons who are executive officers of the Company as of July 31, 1996.
 


                                                                                              SHARES OF COMMON STOCK
                                                                                               BENEFICIALLY OWNED(1)
                                                                                             -------------------------
                                                                                              AMOUNT AND
                                                                                              NATURE OF
                                                                                              BENEFICIAL   PERCENT OF
          NAME               AGE                            POSITION                          OWNERSHIP       CLASS
- ------------------------  ---------  ------------------------------------------------------  ------------  -----------
                                                                                               
Gordon S. Marshall           76      Chairman of the Board                                     771,530(2)         4.5%
Robert Rodin                 42      President and Chief Executive Officer                      73,500(3)       *
Richard D. Bentley           56      Executive Vice President                                      19,584       *
Henry W. Chin                49      Vice President, Finance, Chief Financial Officer and
                                       Secretary                                                31,000(4)       *
<FN>
- ------------------------
 *   Represents less than 1%.
 
(1)  Except as provided under state community property laws and unless otherwise
     indicated, each nominee has sole  voting and investment power with  respect
     to the shares shown as beneficially owned by him.
 
(2)  Includes  62,500 shares  which are  subject to  options that  are presently
     exercisable or become exercisable on or before September 30, 1996.
 
(3)  Includes 45,000  shares which  are subject  to options  that are  presently
     exercisable or become exercisable on or before September 30, 1996.
 
(4)  Includes  25,000 shares  which are  subject to  options that  are presently
     exercisable or become exercisable on or before September 30, 1996.

 
    Mr. Marshall is the founder of the Company and has been its Chairman of  the
Board  since October 1954. He served as President of the Company from April 1982
to June 1992 and was Chief Executive Officer of the Company from October 1954 to
April 1994.
 
    Mr. Rodin became a Vice President in October 1988 and was promoted to Senior
Vice President in August 1989, to President and Chief Operating Officer in  June
1992  and to Chief Executive Officer in April,  1994. He joined the Company as a
Sales Manager in October 1983 and has held various management positions with the
Company, including Division Manager-Boston, and Regional Vice
President-Northeast.
 
    Mr. Bentley became a Vice President in October 1986 and was appointed Senior
Vice President in April 1988. He was promoted to Executive Vice President of the
Company in August 1989.  He joined Marshall in  June 1978 as Northeast  Regional
Manager.  Prior to joining  the Company, Mr. Bentley  was associated with Cramer
Electronics for fifteen years.
 
    Mr. Chin joined the Company as Corporate Controller in November 1984 and was
promoted to Vice  President in  August 1989 and  to Chief  Financial Officer  in
October 1991. Mr. Chin is a Certified Public Accountant.
 
    Each  officer  serves  at the  pleasure  of  the Board  and,  unless earlier
removed, is elected annually for a one year term.
 
                                       6

                             EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
 
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
 
    The following  table provides  certain  summary information  concerning  the
compensation  for the last three fiscal years of the Chief Executive Officer and
each of the other executive officers of the Company.
 


                                                                                              LONG-TERM
                                                          ANNUAL COMPENSATION              COMPENSATION(1)
                                               -----------------------------------------  ------------------
                                                           INCENTIVE                        STOCK OPTIONS
            NAME AND                                        PAYMENTS     OTHER ANNUAL          (NO. OF             ALL OTHER
       PRINCIPAL POSITION         FISCAL YEAR    SALARY       (2)       COMPENSATION(3)      OPTIONS)(4)      COMPENSATION(5)(6)
- --------------------------------  -----------  ----------  ----------  -----------------  ------------------  -------------------
                                                                                            
Gordon S. Marshall (7)                  1996   $  525,000  $  240,698      $  --                  --               $   3,731
 Chairman of the Board                  1995      510,417     197,845         --                  --                   4,501
                                        1994      500,000     211,796         --                  --                   4,497
Robert Rodin                            1996      645,833     279,747         --                  50,000               5,642
 President and                          1995      458,333     225,283         --                  --                   4,620
 Chief Executive Officer                1994      358,333     149,637         --                  50,000               5,612
Richard D. Bentley                      1996      361,000     165,504         --                  --                   9,058
 Executive Vice President               1995      340,000     131,354         --                  --                   4,858
                                        1994      304,167     126,080         --                  --                   5,326
Henry W. Chin                           1996      225,000     101,625         --                  --                   5,756
 Vice President, Finance,               1995      197,500      76,098         --                  20,000               4,802
 Chief Financial Officer                1994      172,500      72,959         --                  --                   5,314
 and Secretary
<FN>
- ------------------------
(1)  The Company did not make any payments or awards that would be  classifiable
     under  the  "Restricted Stock  Award" and  "LTIP Payout"  columns otherwise
     required to  be included  in the  table by  the applicable  Securities  and
     Exchange Commission ("SEC") disclosure rules.
 
(2)  The  Company has  an incentive  plan in  which all  full-time employees are
     participants and  is based  on the  Company's pre-tax  profits. Under  this
     incentive  plan, the Company's  officers can earn  up to 80%  of their base
     salaries as incentive compensation.
 
(3)  The amounts  included  in this  column  for  each of  the  named  executive
     officers  do  not include  the value  of certain  perquisites which  in the
     aggregate did  not  exceed  the lower  of  $50,000  or 10%  of  each  named
     executive's   aggregate  fiscal  1994,  1995   or  1996  salary  and  bonus
     compensation.
 
(4)  Represents shares of stock underlying options granted under the 1992  Stock
     Option  Plan. There  were no individual  grants of stock  options in tandem
     with stock appreciation rights ("SAR's") or freestanding SAR's made  during
     the  fiscal  years ended  May 31,  1994,  1995 or  1996 to  the above-named
     executive officers.
 
(5)  Amounts contributed  by  the  Company under  the  Marshall  Industries  Tax
     Deferred  Profit  Sharing  Plan  which provides  for  participation  by any
     employee of  Marshall who  has  completed six  months of  employment.  Each
     participant  may defer from 2% to 12%  of his earnings each payroll period,
     the amount of  which is placed  by the Company  in a nonforfeitable,  fully
     vested  account on the  employee's behalf. Under the  tax laws, the maximum
     amount which can be  deferred for calendar years  1994, 1995 and 1996  were
     $9,240,  $9,240 and $9,500, respectively. The Company contributes quarterly
     an amount

 
                                       7


  
     equal to 50% of the employee's contributions in the quarter up to a maximum
     amount equal to 3% of the  employee's earnings in the quarter. The  vesting
     for the Company's contributions is at 20% for each year of service with the
     Company.
 
(6)  In  1992,  the Board  authorized increased  amounts  of life  insurance for
     Messrs. Rodin,  Bentley  and  Chin  at  a  total  annual  premium  cost  of
     approximately  $7,000.  In  addition,  because  the  annual  premium  for a
     $1,000,000 insurance  policy on  Mr. Marshall's  life would  be $70,000  to
     $80,000,  it was deemed preferable to provide a widow's benefit of $200,000
     per year to Mrs. Marshall if  she survives Mr. Marshall. The present  value
     of that benefit on an actuarial basis is less than $400,000.
 
(7)  See Certain Relationships and Related Transactions.

 
STOCK OPTION GRANTS IN LAST FISCAL YEAR
 
    The  following table provides  information with respect  to the stock option
grants made during the 1996 fiscal  year under the Company's Stock Option  Plans
to the named executive officer:
 


                                            INDIVIDUAL GRANTS
                            --------------------------------------------------  POTENTIAL REALIZABLE VALUE
                             NUMBER OF    % OF TOTAL                               AT ASSIGNED RATES OF
                            SECURITIES      OPTIONS                              STOCK PRICE APPRECIATION
                            UNDERLYING    GRANTED TO    EXERCISE                     FOR OPTION TERM
                              OPTIONS    EMPLOYEES IN    OR BASE   EXPIRATION   --------------------------
                            GRANTED(1)    FISCAL YEAR   PRICE(2)      DATE         5%(3)         10%(3)
                            -----------  -------------  ---------  -----------  ------------  ------------
                                                                            
Robert Rodin                    50,000          100%    $  35.875    10/24/05   $  1,128,300  $  2,859,200
<FN>
- ------------------------
(1)  The  option will  become exercisable  in four  equal and  successive annual
     installments, with the  first such  installment to  become exercisable  one
     year after the grant date. The grant date is October 24, 1995.
 
(2)  At fair market value at date of grant.
 
(3)  Represents  gain that would be realized  assuming the options were held for
     the entire ten-year option period and  the stock price increased at  annual
     compounded  rates of  5% and  10%. Actual  gains, if  any, on  stock option
     exercises and Common  Stock holdings  will be dependent  on overall  market
     conditions  and on  the future  performance of  the Company  and its Common
     Stock. There can be no assurance  that the amounts reflected in this  table
     will be achieved.

 
AGGREGATE OPTION EXERCISES IN LAST FISCAL YEAR AND YEAR-END OPTION VALUES
 
    The  following table provides  information concerning the  exercise of stock
options during the 1996 fiscal year by each of the named executive officers  and
the year-end value of their unexercised options.
 


                                                              NUMBER OF SECURITIES        VALUE OF UNEXERCISED
                                  NUMBER OF                  UNDERLYING UNEXERCISED      IN-THE-MONEY OPTIONS AT
                                   SHARES      AGGREGATE   OPTIONS AT FISCAL YEAR END      FISCAL YEAR END(2)
                                 ACQUIRED ON     VALUE     --------------------------  ---------------------------
             NAME                 EXERCISE    REALIZED(1)  EXERCISABLE  UNEXERCISABLE  EXERCISABLE   UNEXERCISABLE
- -------------------------------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -------------  ------------  -------------
                                                                                   
Gordon S. Marshall                        0    $       0       62,500              0   $  1,367,563   $         0
Robert Rodin                              0            0       45,000        195,000        633,875     2,269,375
Richard D. Bentley                   10,000      187,250            0        120,000              0     2,085,000
Henry W. Chin                             0            0       25,000         15,000        378,125        91,875
<FN>
- ------------------------
(1)  Based  on the fair market value of the shares on the exercise date less the
     exercise price paid for the shares.
(2)  Based on the fair market  value of the shares or  $31.375 per share on  the
     last  day  of the  fiscal year  less  the exercise  price payable  for such
     shares.

 
                                       8

                              EMPLOYEE AGREEMENTS
 
    In February, 1996,  the Company  entered into Change  In Control  Agreements
with  Mr. Marshall and Mr. Rodin. Each  of these agreements provides that should
there be a  "change in control"  (as defined), and  the officer's employment  is
terminated either (i) involuntarily, without just cause, or (ii) voluntarily, if
the  officer has determined in good faith that his duties have been altered in a
material respect or there has been  a material reduction in his compensation  or
the  officer is required to be based at  any office or location more than thirty
miles from the Company's current corporate headquarters, then upon  termination,
Mr.  Marshall  and Mr.  Rodin  would be  entitled  to receive  cash compensation
subject to  a non-compete  provision. Mr.  Marshall's agreement  provides for  a
one-time  cash payment  equal to the  product of  five times the  greater of the
compensation for the last full calendar year or $750,000. Mr. Rodin's  agreement
provides  for  a one-time  cash payment  equal to  the product  of 36  times the
highest monthly base  salary paid or  payable to Mr.  Rodin during the  12-month
period  immediately preceding  the month of  termination. In  addition Mr. Rodin
will receive a one-time  cash payment equal  to the product  of three times  the
average  annual bonus for the last three  full fiscal years before the change in
control date. For the three  years following such termination, Messrs.  Marshall
and  Rodin and their immediate  families will be entitled  to all benefits under
any welfare benefit  plans, arrangements,  or programs provided  by the  Company
that  are generally applicable to an executive  of the Company. Upon a change in
control the Company  shall cause the  vesting of  any stock options  held to  be
accelerated  to the  change in  control date.  The total  payments payable under
these agreements  could be  reduced,  under certain  circumstances, so  that  no
portion  of  such  payments  will  be  subject  to  the  "parachute"  excise tax
provisions of Section 4999 of the  Internal Revenue Code. A "change of  control"
of  the Company is generally  defined as (i) any  consolidation or merger of the
Company, other  than  a merger  of  the Company  in  which the  holders  of  the
Company's  common stock  immediately prior to  the merger have  at least seventy
percent (70%) ownership of the voting capital stock of the surviving corporation
immediately after the merger, (ii) any reorganization, sale or other disposition
of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, (iii) the shareholders
of the Company approve any plan  or proposal for the liquidation or  dissolution
of  the Company,  (iv) any  person shall become  the beneficial  owner of thirty
percent (30%)  or more  of  the Company's  outstanding  common stock  or  voting
securities,  or (v) individuals who, as of the date of the agreement, constitute
the entire  Board  of Directors  shall  cease for  any  reason to  constitute  a
majority  thereof unless  the election,  or the  nomination for  election by the
Company's shareholders, of each new director was approved by a vote of at  least
a  majority  of the  directors who  were  on the  Board as  of  the date  of the
agreement. Under  the severance  agreements, an  officer may  be terminated  for
"cause";  defined generally as (i) the  willful and continued failure to perform
his or  her  duties, or  (ii)  the willful  engagement  in misconduct  which  is
materially injurious to the Company.
 
    With   shareholders'  approval,   the  Company   amended  its   Articles  of
Incorporation in  1988  to  limit  the liability  of  the  Company's  directors,
officers, and other agents to the extent permitted under California law.
 
                 CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
 
    In  addition to the distribution of  component parts, the Company provides a
variety of value added services to its customers. Through the use of third party
contractors,  the   Company   provides  cable   assembling   and   manufacturing
capabilities. One of the third party contract manufacturing arrangements is with
Amistar,  a  company of  which  Mr. Marshall  is  a director  and  a substantial
shareholder. Under this arrangement, Marshall accepts orders from its  customers
and  provides the necessary  components, which Amistar  then "mounts" on circuit
boards. Marshall pays Amistar  for its services and  invoices the customers  for
the completed product. The Company believes that the amounts paid to Amistar are
not in excess of the
 
                                       9

amounts  that  would  be  charged by  unaffiliated  manufacturers  for  the same
services. During the fiscal years ended May 31, 1994, 1995 and 1996, the Company
paid Amistar approximately  $1,857,000, $1,043,000  and $655,000,  respectively,
under this arrangement.
 
            COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
 
    THE  COMPENSATION  COMMITTEE OF  THE BOARD  OF  DIRECTORS HAS  FURNISHED THE
FOLLOWING REPORT ON EMPLOYEE COMPENSATION. SUCH REPORT WILL NOT BE DEEMED TO  BE
INCORPORATED  BY  REFERENCE BY  ANY GENERAL  STATEMENT INCORPORATING  THIS PROXY
STATEMENT INTO ANY FILING  BY THE COMPANY  UNDER THE SECURITIES  ACT OF 1933  OR
UNDER  THE  SECURITIES  ACT OF  1934,  EXCEPT  TO THE  EXTENT  THAT  THE COMPANY
SPECIFICALLY INCORPORATES THIS INFORMATION BY REFERENCE AND SHALL NOT  OTHERWISE
BE DEEMED SOLICITING MATERIAL OR BE DEEMED FILED UNDER SUCH ACTS.
 
    The   Compensation  Committee  consists   entirely  of  independent  outside
directors and has  responsibility for administering  the Company's stock  option
plans and setting the senior executives' annual salaries.
 
    The  Company's executive compensation programs are  intended to enable it to
attract and retain  talented executives  and to reward  them appropriately.  The
Compensation  Committee attempts  to determine  the appropriate  total levels of
compensation, as  well  as  the  appropriate mix  of  basic  salary,  short-term
incentives and long-term incentives.
 
    All  of the Company's  executive officers, as  well as all  of its full-time
employees, participate in  the Company's incentive  plan. The plan  is based  on
pre-tax  profits of the  Company. The Company's  officers can earn  up to 80% of
their base salaries as incentive compensation.
 
    In making its salary and stock option decisions, the Compensation  Committee
considers  a  number  of  factors.  However,  its  ultimate  determination  is a
subjective one and is  based on the total  mix of information. The  Compensation
Committee   reviews  the  compensation  practices   of  five  of  the  Company's
competitors as reported  in their  public filings. Those  competitors are  Arrow
Electronics,  Inc., Avnet, Inc.,  Bell Industries, Pioneer-Standard Electronics,
Inc. and  Wyle Electronics.  These  companies are  included  in the  peer  group
comparisons  elsewhere in this Proxy  Statement. The Compensation Committee also
compares the Company's short and long-term results with the performance of those
same competitors, the  industry in general  and various other  related data,  to
ensure  a pay-for-performance linkage. The primary performance measures examined
are earnings results, total shareholder return and the strength of the Company's
strategic position. By these measures, the Compensation Committee believes  that
the Company achieves above average to superior results.
 
    The  Committee meets without  the CEO to evaluate  his performance, and with
the CEO  to evaluate  the  performance of  other  executive officers.  The  1996
salaries for the Company's CEO and executive officers were reviewed and approved
during two meetings of the Compensation Committee which were held on October 24,
1995 and January 23, 1996. The Committee believes that the total compensation of
its executives is competitive and appropriately rewards their achievements.
 
                                          Howard C. White, Chairman
                                          Richard C. Colyear
                                          Lathrop Hoffman
                                          Raymond G. Rinehart
 
                                       10

               COMPARISON OF 5-YEAR CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN AMONG
            MARSHALL INDUSTRIES, S&P 500 INDEX AND PEER GROUP INDEX
 
    The  following  graph compares  cumulative total  shareholder return  on the
Company's Common  Stock for  the  periods indicated  with the  cumulative  total
return  of  companies on  the  Standard &  Poor's 500  Stock  Index and  a group
consisting of the Company's  peer corporations. The  corporations making up  the
peer  companies  group are  the  34 electronic  component  distributor companies
included  in  SIC  Code  5065  --  Electronic  Parts  &  Equipment,  N.E.C.  The
information for the graph was provided by Media General Financial Services. This
graph  assumes that $100 was invested on June 1, 1991 in the Company and each of
the two indices, and that dividends were reinvested. It should be noted that the
Company has  not  paid dividends  on  its Common  Stock,  and no  dividends  are
included in the representation of the Company's performance.
 
                  COMPARE 5-YEAR CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN AMONG
             MARSHALL INDUSTRIES, S&P 500 INDEX AND SIC CODE INDEX
 
EDGAR REPRESENTATION OF DATA POINTS USED IN PRINTED GRAPHIC
 


              MARSHALL INDUSTRIES        INDUSTRY INDEX        BROAD MARKET
                                                   
1991                           100.00               100.00              100.00
1992                           143.48               141.38              109.86
1993                           181.52               160.70              122.64
1994                           213.04               156.45              127.87
1995                           234.78               193.32              153.68
1996                           272.83               245.13              197.39

 
                     ASSUMES $100 INVESTED ON JUNE 1, 1991
                          ASSUMES DIVIDEND REINVESTED
                        FISCAL YEAR ENDING MAY 31, 1996
 
                                       11

                 PROPOSAL -- SELECTION OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
 
    The  Board of Directors of the Company  has appointed Arthur Andersen LLP as
independent accountants for the Company for the fiscal year ending May 31, 1997.
Representatives of Arthur Andersen LLP are expected to be present at the  Annual
Meeting and will have an opportunity to make a statement if they desire to do so
and are expected to be available to respond to appropriate questions.
 
    THE  BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND MANAGEMENT  RECOMMEND THAT THE SHAREHOLDERS VOTE
FOR THE PROPOSAL TO RATIFY THE APPOINTMENT OF ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP.
 
               SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS FOR THE NEXT ANNUAL MEETING
 
    Copies of resolutions proposed by shareholders  to be presented at the  1997
Annual  Meeting of Shareholders must be received by the Company at its corporate
headquarters, 9320 Telstar Avenue, El Monte, California 91731-2895 on or  before
May  31, 1997 to have such resolutions  included in the proxy statement and form
of proxy for such Annual Meeting.
 
                                 OTHER MATTERS
 
    The management does not know  of any other matters to  be acted upon at  the
Annual  Meeting. If  any other  matters should  properly come  before the Annual
Meeting, or  an adjournment  thereof, the  proxies will  be voted  with  respect
thereto in accordance with the discretion of the proxyholders.
 
                                                    GORDON S. MARSHALL
                                                         Chairman
 
                                   FORM 10-K
 
        The  Company's  Annual Report  to Shareholders  for the  fiscal year
    ended May 31, 1996 includes  a copy of its  Annual Report on Form  10-K,
    including the financial statements and schedules thereto, filed with the
    Securities and Exchange Commission.
 
                                       12

                         MARSHALL INDUSTRIES/PROXY 1996
          THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
 
    I hereby appoint Gordon S. Marshall and Henry W. Chin, and each of them or
either of them with full power to act without the other and with full power of
substitution, my true and lawful attorneys and proxies, to vote all the shares
of stock of Marshall Industries held of record by me on August 26, 1996 and to
act for me and in my name, place and stead at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders
to be held on Tuesday, October 22, 1996 or any adjournment thereof, for the
purpose of considering and voting upon the following:
 
    1. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS.
 
       / / For ALL Nominees listed below
 
       / / Withhold authority to vote ALL Nominees listed below
 
       (INSTRUCTION: TO WITHHOLD AUTHORITY TO VOTE FOR ANY INDIVIDUAL NOMINEE,
       STRIKE A LINE THROUGH THE NOMINEE'S NAME IN THE LIST BELOW.)
 

                                                                                
Gordon S. Marshall     Richard D. Bentley     Jean Fribourg          Jose Menendez          Howard C. White
Robert Rodin           Richard C. Colyear     Lathrop Hoffman        Raymond G. Rinehart

 
    2. PROPOSAL TO RATIFY THE APPOINTMENT OF ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP AS THE
       COMPANY'S INDEPENDENT AUDITORS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING MAY 31, 1997.
 
               / / FOR             / / AGAINST             / / ABSTAIN
 
    3. In their discretion, the proxies are authorized to vote upon such other
       business as may properly come before the meeting and to vote the proxies
       cumulatively in their discretion if cumulative voting is in effect at the
       meeting.
 
                    (Please sign and date the reverse side)

 
    THIS PROXY WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED WILL BE VOTED IN THE MANNER DIRECTED
HEREIN BY THE UNDERSIGNED SHAREHOLDER. IF NO DIRECTION IS MADE, THIS PROXY WILL
BE VOTED FOR PROPOSALS 1 AND 2.
 
                                           Please sign exactly as name appears
                                           below. This Proxy should be dated,
                                           signed by the shareholder as name
                                           appears hereon, and returned promptly
                                           in the enclosed envelope. Persons
                                           signing in a fiduciary capacity
                                           should so indicate.
 
                                           -------------------------------------
                                                         Signature
 
                                           -------------------------------------
                                                 Signature if held jointly
                                           DATED: ________________________, 1996