1
                                                                   Exhibit (99)





                                 BEARINGS, INC.
                                  SUPPLEMENTAL
                           DEFINED CONTRIBUTION PLAN
   2
                                 BEARINGS, INC.
                                  SUPPLEMENTAL
                           DEFINED CONTRIBUTION PLAN



Section                                                                                                  Page
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                                                  ARTICLE I
                                                 DEFINITIONS

1.1      Definitions  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .               2
1.2      Construction   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .               4

                                                  ARTICLE II
                                      ELIGIBILITY FOR PLAN PARTICIPATION                                  5


                                                 ARTICLE III
                                          SUPPLEMENTAL CONTRIBUTIONS

3.1      Supplemental 401(k) Contributions  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .               6
3.2      Supplemental Matching Contributions  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .               6
3.3      Vesting of Supplemental Matching
           Contributions  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .               6
3.4      Years of Vesting Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .               7


                                                  ARTICLE IV
                                              SEPARATE ACCOUNTS

4.1      Types of Separate Accounts   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .               8
4.2      Adjustment of Separate Accounts  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .               8
4.3      Investment Elections for Supplemental
           401(k) Contributions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .               8
4.4      Investment Change of future Supplemental
           401(k) Contributions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .               9
4.5      Election to Transfer Invested Past
           Supplemental 401(k) Contributions  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .               9
4.6      Investment of Matching Contributions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .              10

                                                  ARTICLE V
                                                 DISTRIBUTION

5.1      Distribution Upon Termination of Employment  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .              11
5.2      Method of Distribution   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .              11
5.3      Times of Payments  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .              11
5.4      Hardship Distribution  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .              12
5.5      Distributions Upon Death . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .              12






                                      (i)
   3

                                                                                                   
5.6      Taxes  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .              12


                                                  ARTICLE VI
                                                BENEFICIARIES                                            13


                                                 ARTICLE VII
                                          ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS

7.1      Administration   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .              14
7.2      Powers and Authorities of the Board  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .              14
7.3      Indemnification  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .              14

                                                 ARTICLE VIII
                                          AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION                                      16


                                                  ARTICLE IX
                                                MISCELLANEOUS

9.1      Non-Alienation of Benefits   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .              17
9.2      Payment of Benefits to Others  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .              17
9.3      Plan Non-Contractual   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .              17
9.4      Funding  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .              18
9.5      Claims of Other Persons  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .              18
9.6      Severability   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .              18
9.7      Governing Law  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .              19






                                      (ii)
   4
                                 BEARINGS, INC.
                                  SUPPLEMENTAL
                           DEFINED CONTRIBUTION PLAN


              WHEREAS, Bearings, Inc. (hereinafter referred to as the
"Company") desires to establish a supplemental retirement plan for the benefit
of a select group of management or highly compensated employees employed by the
Company or an Affiliate thereof whose benefits under the Bearings, Inc.
Retirement Savings Plan are limited or reduced by certain provisions of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (hereinafter referred to as the
"Code"), or are reduced otherwise due to participation in a deferred
compensation program;

              NOW, THEREFORE, effective as of January 1, 1996, the Company
hereby establishes the Bearings, Inc. Supplemental Defined Contribution Plan
(hereinafter referred to as the "Plan") to provide benefits not otherwise
provided due to such limitations as hereinafter set forth.
   5
                                   ARTICLE I

                                  DEFINITIONS

              1.1  DEFINITIONS.  Except as otherwise required by the context,
the terms used in the Plan shall have the meaning hereinafter set forth.

                    (a)  AFFILIATE.   The term "AFFILIATE" shall mean any
              member of a controlled group of corporations (as determined under
              Section 414(b) of the Code) of which the Company is a member; any
              member of a group of trades or businesses under common control
              (as determined under Section 414(c) of the Code) with the
              Company; and any member of an affiliated service group (as
              determined under Section 414(m) of the Code) of which the Company
              is a member.

                    (b)  BENEFICIARY.  The term "BENEFICIARY" shall mean the
              person who, in accordance with the provisions of Article VI,
              shall be entitled to receive a distribution hereunder in the
              event a Participant dies before his interest under the Plan has
              been distributed to him in full.

                    (c)  BOARD.  The term "BOARD" shall mean the Board of
              Directors of the Company.

                    (d)  CHANGE OF CONTROL.  The term "CHANGE OF CONTROL" shall
              mean the occurrence of either of the following events:

                            (i) when any "person" (as such term is used in
                    Section 13(d)(3) and 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act) becomes
                    the "beneficial owner" (as such term is used in Rule 13d-3
                    under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934) of
                    securities of the Company representing 40 percent or more
                    of the combined voting power of the Company's then
                    outstanding securities; or

                            (ii) when individuals who at the beginning of any
                    two-year period constitute the Board of Directors of the
                    Company cease for any reason to constitute at least 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 two-thirds of the
                    directors then still in office who were directors at the
                    beginning of such period.





                                     - 2 -
   6
                    (e)  CODE.  The term "CODE" shall mean the Internal Revenue
              Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.  Reference to a
              section of the Code shall include such section and any comparable
              section or sections of any future legislation that amends,
              supplements, or supersedes such section.

                    (f)  COMPANY.  The term "COMPANY" shall mean Bearings,
              Inc., its corporate successors, and the surviving corporation
              resulting from any merger of Bearings, Inc. with any other
              corporation or corporations.

                    (g)  COMPANY STOCK.  The term "COMPANY STOCK" shall mean
              the common stock of the Company.

                    (h)  COMPANY STOCK FUND.  The term "COMPANY STOCK FUND"
              shall mean the Fund consisting primarily of Company Stock.

                    (i)  COMMITTEE.  The term "COMMITTEE" shall mean Bearings,
              Inc. Supplemental Excess Defined Contribution Plan Committee
              which shall be comprised of the same individuals who serve on the
              administrative committee for the Retirement Savings Plan and
              which shall administer the Plan in accordance with the provisions
              of Article VII.

                    (j)  COMPENSATION.  The term "COMPENSATION" shall mean the
              total wages which are paid to a Participant during a Plan Year by
              an Employer for his services as an Employee while he is a
              Participant, including incentive compensation, commissions,
              bonuses, and elective contributions made on behalf of such
              Participant under the Plan or any other plan that are not
              includible in gross income under Sections 125 and 402(e)(3) of
              the Code, but excluding moving or educational reimbursement
              expenses, amounts deferred under any non-qualified deferred
              compensation program, amounts realized from the exercise of stock
              options, imputed income attributable to any fringe benefit, and
              any amounts received in lieu of benefits under a plan that meets
              the requirements of Section 125 of the Code.

                    (k)  FUND.  The term "FUND" shall mean any of the funds
              maintained for the investment of Plan assets in accordance with
              the provisions of Article VII.

                    (l)  PARTICIPANT.  The term "PARTICIPANT" shall mean any
              employee of the Company or an Affiliate, who participates in the
              Plan pursuant to Article II of the Plan.





                                     - 3 -
   7
                    (m)  PLAN.  The term "PLAN" shall mean the Bearings, Inc.
              Supplemental Defined Contribution Plan as set forth herein.

                    (n)  RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLAN.  The term "RETIREMENT SAVINGS
              PLAN" shall mean the Bearings, Inc.  Retirement Savings Plan, as
              amended from time to time.

                    (o)  SEPARATE ACCOUNT.  The term "SEPARATE ACCOUNT" shall
              mean each of the accounts maintained in the name of a Participant
              pursuant to Section 4.1 of the Plan.

                    (p)  SUPPLEMENTAL MATCHING ACCOUNT.  The term "SUPPLEMENTAL
              MATCHING ACCOUNT" shall mean the Separate Account to which
              Supplemental Matching Contributions are credited in accordance
              with the provisions of Sections 3.2 and 4.1 of the Plan.

                    (q)  SUPPLEMENTAL MATCHING CONTRIBUTIONS.  The term
              "SUPPLEMENTAL MATCHING CONTRIBUTIONS" shall mean the Employer
              contributions credited to a Participant under the Plan pursuant
              to Section 3.2.

                    (r)  SUPPLEMENTAL 401(K) CONTRIBUTION ACCOUNT.  The term
              "SUPPLEMENTAL 401(K) CONTRIBUTION ACCOUNT" shall mean the
              Separate Account to which Supplemental 401(k) Contributions are
              credited in accordance with the provisions of Sections 3.1 and
              4.1 of the Plan.

                    (s)  SUPPLEMENTAL 401(K) CONTRIBUTIONS.  The term
              "SUPPLEMENTAL 401(K) CONTRIBUTIONS" shall mean the contributions
              credited to a Participant under the Plan pursuant to Section 3.1.

                    (t)  VALUATION DATE.  The term "VALUATION DATE" shall mean
              each business day of each calendar month.

                    (u)  YEARS OF VESTING SERVICE.  The term "YEARS OF VESTING
              SERVICE"  shall mean service credited to a Participant under the
              provisions of Section 3.5.

              1.2  CONSTRUCTION.  Where necessary or appropriate to the meaning
hereof, the singular shall be deemed to include the plural, the plural to
include the singular, the masculine to include the feminine, and the feminine
to include the masculine.





                                     - 4 -
   8
                                   ARTICLE II

                       ELIGIBILITY FOR PLAN PARTICIPATION

              Any select management or highly compensated employee of an
Employer who is determined to be highly compensated pursuant to procedures
established by the Company and whose contributions under the Retirement Savings
Plan are limited due to the provisions of Section 401(a)(17), Section 401(k),
Section 401(m), Section 402(g), or Section 415 of the Code, shall become a
Participant in the Plan upon the filing of a written election in the form and
manner prescribed by the Company to reduce his Compensation for the purpose of
making Supplemental 401(k) Contributions under the Plan.





                                     - 5 -
   9
                                  ARTICLE III

                           SUPPLEMENTAL CONTRIBUTIONS

              3.1   SUPPLEMENTAL 401(K) CONTRIBUTIONS.  The Supplemental 401(k)
Contribution Account of each Participant shall be credited with Supplemental
401(k) Contributions equal to the amount deferred from his Compensation in
accordance with a completed Compensation reduction authorization form with
respect to the Plan and in accordance with procedures established by the
Company.  Such Compensation reduction authorization may be revised with respect
to future Supplemental 401(k) Contributions as of any January 1, or July 1,
provided that such revision occurs prior to such effective date.

              3.2   SUPPLEMENTAL MATCHING CONTRIBUTIONS.  The Supplemental
Matching Account of each Participant who is employed by the Employer shall be
credited each year with Supplemental Matching Contributions equal to the amount
with respect to which Matching Contributions under the Bearings, Inc. Savings
Plan are limited for such year due to the impact of the provisions of Sections
401(k) and 401(m) of the Code.

              3.3   VESTING OF SUPPLEMENTAL MATCHING CONTRIBUTIONS.  A
Participant shall become vested in the balance of his Supplemental Matching
Account pursuant to the following schedule.



              Years of Vesting Service                              Percentage Vested
              ------------------------                              -----------------
                                                                 
              Less than one                                                 0%
              One but less than two                                         25%
              Two but less than three                                       50%
              Three but less than four                                      75%
              Four                                                          100%






                                     - 6 -
   10
Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Participant who is employed by the Company or
an Affiliate shall become 100% vested in his Supplemental Matching Account upon
the earlier of: (i) attainment of age 65, (ii) disability, (iii) death, or (iv)
a Change of Control.

              3.4   YEARS OF VESTING SERVICE.  For purposes of determining the
vested interest of a Participant in his Supplemental Matching Account, a
Participant shall be credited with Years of Vesting Service equal to the Years
of Service with which he is credited under the Bearings, Inc. Retirement
Savings Plan.





                                     - 7 -
   11
                                   ARTICLE IV

                               SEPARATE ACCOUNTS

              4.1   TYPES OF SEPARATE ACCOUNTS.  Each Participant shall have
established in his name Separate Accounts which shall reflect the type of
contributions credited to him pursuant to Article III.  Such Separate Accounts
shall be as follows:

              (a)   a Supplemental 401(k) Account which shall reflect the
                    Supplemental 401(k) Contributions credited to a Participant
                    pursuant to Section 3.1 and any adjustment thereto pursuant
                    to Section 4.2; and

              (b)   a Supplemental Matching Account which shall reflect the
                    Supplemental Matching Contributions credited to a
                    Participant pursuant to Section 3.2 and any adjustment
                    thereto pursuant to Section 4.2; and

              4.2   ADJUSTMENT OF SEPARATE ACCOUNTS.  The Separate Accounts of
a Participant shall be adjusted as of each Valuation Date to reflect the deemed
investment of such Separate Accounts in the Funds as determined by the
Committee.

              4.3   INVESTMENT ELECTIONS FOR SUPPLEMENTAL 401(K) CONTRIBUTIONS.
Each Participant, upon becoming a Participant under the Plan in accordance with
the provisions of Article II, shall make an investment election directing the
manner in which his Supplemental 401(k) Contributions shall be deemed to be
invested in the Funds.  The investment election of a Participant shall specify
a combination which in the aggregate equals 100 percent and conforms with
procedures prescribed by the Company, indicating in which Funds his
Supplemental 401(k) Contributions shall be deemed to be invested.  The
investment option so elected by a Participant shall remain in effect until he
changes his investment election pursuant to Section 4.4 or receives
distribution of his Separate Accounts.





                                     - 8 -
   12
              4.4   INVESTMENT CHANGE OF FUTURE SUPPLEMENTAL 401(K)
CONTRIBUTIONS.  Each Participant may elect to change the manner in which
contributions credited to his Supplemental 401(k) Contribution Account are to
be deemed invested.  Any such change in the investment election of a
Participant with respect to his Supplemental 401(k) Contributions shall specify
a combination among the Funds which in the aggregate equals 100 percent.  Such
election shall be made in the manner specified by the Company and in accordance
with procedures prescribed by the Company.  The investment option so elected by
a Participant shall remain in effect until he makes another election change
with respect to future contributions in accordance with the provisions of the
Plan.  Any such election which directs a change in an investment election
heretofore in effect shall become effective in accordance with procedures
prescribed by the Company and in the form, time and manner specified by the
Company.  Amounts credited to the Separate Accounts of such Participant as of
any date prior to the date on which such change is to become effective shall
not be affected by any such change.

              4.5   ELECTION TO TRANSFER INVESTED PAST SUPPLEMENTAL 401(K)
CONTRIBUTIONS.  Subject to any procedures adopted by the Company, a Participant
may elect to have the balance of his Supplemental 401(k) Contribution Account
transferred from the Fund or Funds in which it is deemed invested to one or
more of the other Funds.  Any such election shall be made in the form, time,
and manner specified by the Company and in accordance with procedures
prescribed by the Company.  Upon receipt of such election, the Company shall
cause the transfer of such amount as of the effective date of the election of
the Participant from the Fund or Funds in which it is deemed invested to the
Fund or Funds so elected and designated by the Participant.





                                     - 9 -
   13
              4.6   INVESTMENT OF MATCHING CONTRIBUTIONS.  All Matching
Contributions shall be deemed to be invested in the Company Stock Fund.





                                     - 10 -
   14
                                   ARTICLE V

                                  DISTRIBUTION

              5.1   DISTRIBUTION UPON TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT.  The entire
balance credited to a Participant's Separate Accounts shall be distributed to
such Participant or his Beneficiary after termination of such Participant's
employment with the Employer and Affiliates.  The value of any Separate Account
deemed to be invested in Company Stock shall be distributed in Company Stock or
in cash pursuant to the election of the Participant and the value of any
Separate Account deemed to be invested in a Fund, other than one consisting of
Company Stock, shall be distributed in cash.

              5.2   METHOD OF DISTRIBUTION.  Except as otherwise may be
provided in Sections 5.3 and 5.4, the benefits payable under the Plan from a
Participant's Separate Accounts shall be paid to the Participant, or his
Beneficiary, if applicable, in a single sum cash payment or in equal annual
installment payments over a period of not more than three years and shall be
determined as of the most recent Valuation Date.

              5.3   TIME OF PAYMENTS.  Except as otherwise may be provided in
the Trust or as provided in Section 5.3, distribution of the value of a
Participant's Separate Accounts shall commence upon a date which is not more
than 30 days after the earlier of (i) the Participant's termination of
employment due to resignation, retirement, death or other reason, or (ii) the
date he receives his interest under the Retirement Savings Plan.
Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, a Participant,
subject to approval of the Company, may elect to change the manner and the time
of distribution of the value of his Separate Accounts during the period which
commences no earlier than 90 days prior to his termination of employment and
terminates no later than 30 days prior to his termination of employment.





                                     - 11 -
   15
              5.4   HARDSHIP DISTRIBUTION.  Prior to the time the Separate
Accounts of a Participant becomes payable under Section 5.3, the Company, in
its sole discretion, may elect to distribute all or a portion of the
Participant's Separate Accounts on account of severe financial hardship of the
Participant.  For purposes of the Plan, severe financial hardship shall be
deemed to exist in the event the Company determines that the Participant
requires a distribution to meet immediate and heavy financial needs resulting
from a sudden or unexpected illness or accident of the Participant or a member
of his or her family, loss of the Participant's property due to casualty, or
other similar extraordinary and unforeseeable circumstances arising as a result
of events beyond the control of the Participant.  A distribution based on
financial hardship shall not exceed the amount required to meet the immediate
financial need created by the hardship.

              5.5   DISTRIBUTIONS UPON DEATH.  Upon the death of a Participant,
the value of his Separate Accounts shall be paid to his Beneficiary pursuant to
the provisions of Section 5.3 and Article VI.

              5.6   TAXES.  In the event any taxes are required by law to be
withheld or paid from any payments made pursuant to the Plan, the Company shall
cause the withholding of such amounts from such payments and shall transmit the
withheld amounts to the appropriate taxing authority.





                                     - 12 -
   16
                                   ARTICLE VI

                                 BENEFICIARIES

              In the event a Participant dies before his interest under the
Plan in his Separate Accounts has been distributed to him in full, any
remaining interest shall be distributed pursuant to Article V to his
Beneficiary, who shall be the person designated in writing and in the form and
manner specified by the Company as his Beneficiary under the Plan.  In the
event a Participant does not designate a Beneficiary or his designated
Beneficiary does not survive him, his beneficiary under the Retirement Savings
Plan shall be his Beneficiary for Plan purposes.


                                     - 13 -
   17
                                  ARTICLE VII

                           ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS

              7.1   ADMINISTRATION.  The Plan shall be administered by the
Company in a manner that is generally consistent with the administration of the
Retirement Savings Plan, as from time to time amended, except that the Plan
shall be administered as an unfunded plan not intended to meet the
qualification requirements of Section 401 of the Code.

              7.2   POWERS AND AUTHORITIES OF THE COMMITTEE.  The Company shall
have full power and authority to interpret, construe and administer the Plan
and its interpretations and construction hereof, and actions hereunder,
including the timing, form, amount or recipient of any payment to be made
hereunder, shall be binding and conclusive on all persons for all purposes.
The Company may delegate any of its powers, authorities, or responsibilities
for the operation and administration of the Plan to any person or to the
Committee so designated in writing by it and may employ such attorneys, agents,
and accountants as it may deem necessary or advisable to assist it in carrying
out its duties hereunder.  No member of the Committee shall be liable to any
person for any action taken or omitted in connection with the interpretation
and administration of the Plan unless attributable to his own willful
misconduct or lack of good faith.  Members of the Committee shall not
participate in any action or determination regarding their own benefits, if
any, payable under the Plan.

              7.3   INDEMNIFICATION.  In addition to whatever rights of
indemnification a member of the Committee, or any other person or persons to
whom any power, authority, or responsibility is delegated pursuant to Section
7.2, may be entitled under the articles of incorporation, regulations, or
by-laws of the Company, under any provision of law, or under any other
agreement, the Company shall satisfy any liability actually and reasonably
incurred





                                     - 14 -
   18
by any such member or such other person or persons, including expenses,
attorneys' fees, judgments, fines, and amounts paid in settlement, in
connection with any threatened, pending, or completed action, suit, or
proceeding which is related to the exercise or failure to exercise by such
member or such other person or persons of any of the powers, authority,
responsibilities, or discretion provided under the Plan.





                                     - 15 -
   19
                                  ARTICLE VIII

                           AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION

              The Company reserves the right to amend or terminate the Plan at
any time by action of the Board; provided, however, that no such action shall
adversely affect any Participant who is receiving benefits under the Plan or
whose Separate Accounts are credited with any contributions thereto, unless an
equivalent benefit is provided under another plan or program sponsored by the
Employer.





                                     - 16 -
   20
                                   ARTICLE IX

                                 MISCELLANEOUS

              9.1   NON-ALIENATION OF BENEFITS.  No benefit under the Plan
shall at any time be subject in any manner to alienation or encumbrance.  If
any Participant or Beneficiary shall attempt to, or shall, alienate or in any
way encumber his benefits under the Plan, or any part thereof, or if by reason
of his bankruptcy or other event happening at any time any such benefits would
otherwise be received by anyone else or would not be enjoyed by him, his
interest in all such benefits shall automatically terminate and the same shall
be held or applied to or for the benefit of such person, his spouse, children,
or other dependents as the Board may select.

              9.2   PAYMENT OF BENEFITS TO OTHERS.  If any Participant or
Beneficiary to whom a benefit is payable is unable to care for his affairs
because of illness or accident, any payment due (unless prior claim therefor
shall have been made by a duly qualified guardian or other legal
representative) may be paid to the spouse, parent, brother, or sister, or any
other individual deemed by the Board to be maintaining or responsible for the
maintenance of such person.  Any payment made in accordance with the provisions
of this Section 9.2 shall be a complete discharge of any liability of the Plan
with respect to the benefit so paid.

              9.3   PLAN NON-CONTRACTUAL.  Nothing herein contained shall be
construed as a commitment or agreement on the part of any person employed by
the Employer to continue his employment with the Employer, and nothing herein
contained shall be construed as a commitment on the part of the Employer to
continue the employment or the annual rate of compensation of any such person
for any period, and all Participants shall remain subject to discharge to the
same extent as if the Plan had never been established.





                                     - 17 -
   21
              9.4   FUNDING.  In order to provide a source of payment for its
obligations under the Plan, the Company may establish a trust fund.  Subject to
the provisions of the trust agreement governing such trust fund, the obligation
of the Employer under the Plan to provide a Participant or a Beneficiary with a
benefit constitutes the unsecured promise of such Employer to make payments as
provided herein, and no person shall have any interest in, or a lien or prior
claim upon, any property of the Employer.  In addition, it is the intention of
the Employer that benefits credited to a Participant under the Plan shall not
be included in the gross income of the gross income of the Participants or
their Beneficiaries until such time as benefits are distributed under the
provisions of the Plan.  If, at any time, it is determined that benefits under
the Plan are currently taxable to a Participant or his Beneficiary, the
currently amounts credited to the Participant's Separate Accounts which become
so taxable shall be distributable immediately to him; provided, however, that
in no event shall amounts so payable to a Participant exceed the value of his
Separate Accounts.

              9.5   CLAIMS OF OTHER PERSONS.  The provisions of the Plan shall
in no event be construed as giving any person, firm or corporation any legal or
equitable right as against the Employer, its officers, employees, or directors,
except any such rights as are specifically provided for in the Plan or are
hereafter created in accordance with the terms and provisions of the Plan.

              9.6   SEVERABILITY.  The invalidity or unenforceability of any
particular provision of the Plan shall not affect any other provision hereof,
and the Plan shall be construed in all respects as if such invalid or
unenforceable provision were omitted herefrom.





                                     - 18 -
   22
              9.7   GOVERNING LAW.  The provisions of the Plan shall be
governed and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Ohio.

              EXECUTED at Cleveland, Ohio, this _______ day of ____________,
1995.

                                              BEARINGS, INC.


                                              By:_______________________________
                                                 Title:





                                     - 19 -