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    <TD nowrap align="left" valign="top">As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May&nbsp;7, 2004
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="right" valign="top">Registration No.&nbsp;333 <U>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</u></TD>
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<P align="center" style="font-size: 14pt"><B>UNITED STATES<BR>
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</B>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 12pt"><B>WASHINGTON, DC 20549</B>
</DIV>

<P align="center" style="font-size: 18pt"><B>FORM S-8</B>

<P align="center" style="font-size: 12pt"><B>REGISTRATION STATEMENT<BR>
UNDER THE<BR>
SECURITIES ACT OF 1933</B>

<P align="center" style="font-size: 24pt"><B>THOMAS &#038; BETTS CORPORATION</B>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)</DIV>

<DIV align="center">
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    <TD align="center" valign="top">Tennessee
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">22-1326940</TD>
</TR>

<TR style="font-size: 1px">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><HR size="1" noshade>&nbsp;
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><HR size="1" noshade>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top">(State or other jurisdiction
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">(I.R.S. employer</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top">of incorporation or organization)
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">identification no.)</TD>
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<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">8155 T&#038;B Boulevard<BR>
Memphis, Tennessee 38125

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><HR size="1" noshade width="100%" align="center"></DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)</DIV>


<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">Thomas &#038; Betts Corporation Equity Compensation Plan

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><HR size="1" noshade width="100%" align="center"></DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">(Full title of the plan)</DIV>


<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">J. N. Raines, Esq.<BR>
Vice President-General Counsel and Secretary<BR>
Thomas &#038; Betts Corporation<BR>
8155 T&#038;B Boulevard<BR>
Memphis, Tennessee 38125<BR>
(901)&nbsp;252-8000


<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><HR size="1" noshade width="100%" align="center"></DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">(Name and address of agent for service)</DIV>


<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">Copy to:


<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">Jean D. Renshaw, Esq.<BR>
Drinker Biddle &#038; Reath LLP<BR>
One Logan Square<BR>
18<sup>th</sup> and Cherry Streets<BR>
Philadelphia, PA 19103-6996<BR>
(215)&nbsp;988-2700



<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><B>CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE</B>


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    <TD width="2%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="9%">&nbsp;</TD>
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    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR style="font-size: 1px" valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="left" colspan="23" style="border-bottom: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">    <TD width="1%" style="border-left: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>

    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><B>Proposed Maximum</B></TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><B>Proposed Maximum</B></TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><B>&nbsp;</B></TD>
    <TD width="1%" style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">    <TD width="1%" style="border-left: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>

    <TD nowrap align="center"><B>Title of Securities</B></TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><B>Amount to be</B></TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><B>Offering Price per</B></TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><B>Aggregate Offering</B></TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><B>Amount of</B></TD>
    <TD width="1%" style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">    <TD width="1%" style="border-left: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>

    <TD nowrap align="center"><B>to be Registered</B></TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><B>Registered (1)</B></TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><B>Unit (2)</B></TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><B>Price (2)</B></TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><B>Registration Fee (2)</B></TD>
    <TD width="1%" style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
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                    <TD align="center" valign="top" style="border-top: 1px solid #000000"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">Common stock, $.10
par value
</DIV></TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 1px solid #000000; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="right" valign="bottom" style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" valign="bottom" style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">3,500,000</TD>
    <TD nowrap valign="bottom" style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 1px solid #000000; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="right" valign="bottom" style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">$</TD>
    <TD align="right" valign="bottom" style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">23.91</TD>
    <TD nowrap valign="bottom" style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 1px solid #000000; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="right" valign="bottom" style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">$</TD>
    <TD align="right" valign="bottom" style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">83,685,000.00</TD>
    <TD nowrap valign="bottom" style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 1px solid #000000; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="right" valign="bottom" style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">$</TD>
    <TD align="right" valign="bottom" style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">10,602.89</TD>
    <TD nowrap valign="bottom" style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%" style="border-right: 2px solid #000000; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<TR style="font-size: 1px" valign="bottom">
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<P>
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    <TD width="2%" nowrap align="left">(1)</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>Pursuant to Rule 416(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
&#147;Securities Act&#148;), this Registration Statement also registers such
indeterminate number of additional shares as may become issuable in
connection with stock splits, stock dividends or similar transactions.</TD>
</TR>

<TR>
    <TD colspan="5">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="2%" nowrap align="left">(2)</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>Calculated pursuant to Rule&nbsp;457(h)(1) of the Securities Act. The
proposed maximum offering price per share, the proposed maximum aggregate
offering price, and the amount of the registration fee are computed based
upon $23.91, the average of the high and low sales prices of the Common
Stock of Thomas &#038; Betts Corporation as reported on the New York Stock
Exchange on May&nbsp;6, 2004.</TD>
</TR>

</TABLE>

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<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">-1-
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<A name="toc"><DIV align="CENTER" style="page-break-before:always"><U><B>TABLE OF CONTENTS</B></U></DIV></A>

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<TR><TD colspan="9"><A HREF="#000">PART II</A></TD></TR>
<TR><TD></TD><TD colspan="8"><A HREF="#001">Item&nbsp;3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference.</A></TD></TR>
<TR><TD></TD><TD colspan="8"><A HREF="#002">Item&nbsp;4. Description of Securities.</A></TD></TR>
<TR><TD></TD><TD colspan="8"><A HREF="#003">Item&nbsp;5. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.</A></TD></TR>
<TR><TD></TD><TD colspan="8"><A HREF="#004">Item&nbsp;6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.</A></TD></TR>
<TR><TD></TD><TD colspan="8"><A HREF="#005">Item&nbsp;7. Exemption from Registration Claimed.</A></TD></TR>
<TR><TD></TD><TD colspan="8"><A HREF="#006">Item&nbsp;8. Exhibits.</A></TD></TR>
<TR><TD></TD><TD colspan="8"><A HREF="#007">Item&nbsp;9. Undertakings.</A></TD></TR>
<TR><TD colspan="9"><A HREF="#008">SIGNATURES AND POWER OF ATTORNEY</A></TD></TR>
<TR><TD colspan="9"><A HREF="#009">EXHIBIT INDEX</A></TD></TR>
<TR><TD colspan="9"><A HREF="d15264exv5.htm">Opinion/Consent of J.N. Raines, Esq.</A></TD></TR>
<TR><TD colspan="9"><A HREF="d15264exv23w1.htm">Consent of KPMG LLP</A></TD></TR>
</TABLE>
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<DIV align="left"><A NAME="000"></A></DIV>

<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><B>PART II</B>



<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><B>INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT</B>


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<DIV align="left"><A NAME="001"></A></DIV>

<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">Item&nbsp;3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference.



<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The following documents which have been filed by Thomas &#038; Betts
Corporation (the &#147;Company&#148;) with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
&#147;Commission&#148;) pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended (the &#147;Exchange Act&#148;) are incorporated by reference in this
Registration Statement:


<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(a)&nbsp;The Company&#146;s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
December&nbsp;31, 2003;


<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(b)&nbsp;The Company&#146;s Quarterly Report on From 10-Q for the fiscal quarter
ended March&nbsp;31, 2004;


<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(c)&nbsp;The
Company&#146;s Current Report on Form 8-K filed April&nbsp;27, 2004; and


<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(d)&nbsp;The description of the Company&#146;s common stock, par value $0.10 per
share (the &#147;Common Stock&#148;), which is contained in the Company&#146;s registration
statement on Form 8-A dated December&nbsp;12, 1997, and filed December&nbsp;15, 1997,
including any amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such
description and the Company&#146;s Form 8-B dated May&nbsp;2, 1996, and filed on May&nbsp;2,
1996.


<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;All reports and definitive proxy or information statements filed pursuant
to Section&nbsp;13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of this
Registration Statement and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment
which indicates that all securities offered hereby have been sold or which
de-registers all securities then remaining unsold shall be deemed to be
incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement and to be a part
hereof from the date of filing such documents.


<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be
incorporated herein by reference shall be deemed to be modified or superseded
for purposes of this registration statement to the extent that a statement
contained herein by reference modified or superseded such prior statement. Any
statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified
or superseded, to constitute a part of this registration statement.

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<DIV align="left"><A NAME="002"></A></DIV>

<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">Item&nbsp;4. Description of Securities.



<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Not applicable.

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<DIV align="left"><A NAME="003"></A></DIV>

<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">Item&nbsp;5. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.



<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Certain legal matters in connection with the issuance of the shares of
Common Stock offered hereby will be passed upon for the Company by J.N. Raines,
Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of the Company. Mr.&nbsp;Raines is
the beneficial owner of 32,749 shares of the Company&#146;s Common Stock and has
received options to purchase 81,448 additional shares of Common Stock of the
Company, of which 37,146 shares are currently exercisable or will be
exercisable within the next 60&nbsp;days.

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<DIV align="left"><A NAME="004"></A></DIV>

<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">Item&nbsp;6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.



<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Article&nbsp;VIII of the Company&#146;s Amended and Restated Charter provides:



<P align="left" style="margin-left:2%; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;LIMITATION OF DIRECTOR LIABILITY. No person who is or was a
director of the corporation, or such person&#146;s heirs, executors or
administrators, shall be personally liable to the corporation or its
shareholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a
director; provided, however, that this provision shall not eliminate
or limit the liability of any such party (i)&nbsp;for any breach of a
director&#146;s duty of loyalty to the corporation or its shareholders,
(ii)&nbsp;for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve
intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, or (iii)&nbsp;for
unlawful distributions under the Tennessee Business Corporation Act.
Any repeal or modification of the provisions of this Article&nbsp;VIII,
directly or by the adoption of an inconsistent provision of this
Charter, shall not adversely affect any right or protection in favor
of a particular individual at the time of such repeal or
modification.


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<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Sections&nbsp;48-18-501 through 509 of the Tennessee Business Corporation Act
(&#147;Sections&nbsp;48-18-501 through 509&#148;) authorize a corporation to provide for the
indemnification of officers, directors, employees and agents in terms
sufficiently broad to permit indemnification under certain circumstances for
liabilities (including reimbursement for expenses incurred) arising under the
Securities Act.


<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Article&nbsp;5 of the Company&#146;s by-laws provides:



<P align="left" style="margin-left:2%; font-size: 10pt">Indemnification of Officers and Directors. Section&nbsp;1. Right to
Indemnification. Each person who was or is made a party or is
threatened to be made a party to or is involved in any action, suit
or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or
investigative (hereinafter a &#147;proceeding&#148;), by reason of the fact
that he or she, or a person of whom he or she is the legal
representative, is or was a director or officer of the Corporation
or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director
or officer of another corporation or of a partnership, joint
venture, trust or other enterprise, including service with respect
to employee benefit plans, whether the basis of such proceeding is
alleged action in an official capacity as a director or officer or
in any other capacity while serving as a director or officer, shall
be indemnified and held harmless by the Corporation to the fullest
extent authorized or permitted by the Tennessee Business Corporation
Act, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended (but, in the
case of any such amendment, only to the extent that such amendment
permits the Corporation to provide broader indemnification rights
than said law permitted the Corporation to provide prior to such
amendment), against all expense, liability and loss (including
attorneys&#146; fees, judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes or penalties
and amounts paid or to be paid in settlement) reasonably incurred or
suffered by such person in connection therewith and such
indemnification shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a
director or officer and shall inure to the benefit of his or her
heirs, executors and administrators; provided, however, that the
Corporation shall indemnify any such person seeking indemnification
in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such
person only if such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by
the Board of Directors. The right to indemnification conferred in
this Section shall include the right to be paid by the Corporation
the expenses incurred in defending any such proceeding in advance of
its final disposition; provided, however, that, if the Tennessee
Business Corporation Act requires, the payment of such expenses
incurred by a director or officer in his or her capacity as a
director or officer (and not in any other capacity in which service
was or is rendered by such person while a director or officer,
including, without limitation, service to an employee benefit plan)
in advance of the final disposition of a proceeding, shall be made
only upon delivery to the Corporation of an undertaking, by or on
behalf of such director or officer, to repay all amounts so advanced
if it shall ultimately be determined that such director or officer
is not entitled to be indemnified under this Section or otherwise.



<P align="left" style="margin-left:2%; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Section&nbsp;2. Right of Claimant to Bring Suit. If a claim under
Section&nbsp;1 of this Article is not paid in full by the Corporation
within ninety days after a written claim has been received by the
Corporation, the claimant may at any time thereafter bring suit
against the Corporation to recover the unpaid amount of the claim
and, if successful in whole or in part, the claimant shall be
entitled to be paid also the expense of prosecuting such claim. It
shall be a defense to any such action (other than an action brought
to enforce a claim for expenses incurred in defending any proceeding
in advance of its final disposition where the required undertaking,
if any is required, has been tendered to the Corporation) that the
claimant has not met the standards of conduct which make it
permissible under the Tennessee Business Corporation Act for the
Corporation to indemnify the claimant for the amount claimed, but
the burden of proving such defense shall be on the Corporation.
Neither the failure of the Corporation (including its Board of
Directors, independent legal counsel, or its shareholders) to have
made a determination prior to the commencement of such action that
indemnification of the claimant is proper in the circumstances
because he or she has met the applicable standard of conduct set
forth in the Tennessee Business Corporation Act, nor an actual
determination by the Corporation (including its Board of Directors,
independent legal counsel, or its shareholders) that the claimant
has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall be a defense
to the action or create a presumption that the claimant has not met
the applicable standard of conduct.



<P align="left" style="margin-left:2%; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Section&nbsp;3. Non-Exclusivity of Rights; Continuation of Rights.
The right to indemnification and the payment of expenses incurred in
defending a proceeding in advance of its final disposition conferred
in this Article shall not be exclusive of any other right which any
person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, provision of
the Charter, Bylaw, agreement, vote of shareholders or disinterested
directors or otherwise. All rights to indemnification under this
Article shall be deemed to be a contract between the Corporation and
each director or officer of the Corporation who serves or served in
such capacity at any time while this Article is in effect. Any
repeal or modification of this Article or any repeal or modification
of relevant provisions of the Tennessee Business


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<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">


<P align="left" style="margin-left:2%; font-size: 10pt">Corporation Act or any other applicable laws shall not in any
way diminish any rights to indemnification of such director or
officer or the obligations of the Corporation arising hereunder.



<P align="left" style="margin-left:2%; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Section&nbsp;4. Insurance. The Corporation may maintain insurance,
at its expense, to protect itself and any director or officer of the
Corporation or another corporation, partnership, joint venture,
trust or other enterprise against any such expense, liability or
loss, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to
indemnify such person against such expense, liability or loss under
the Tennessee Business Corporation Act.

<!-- link2 "Item&nbsp;7. Exemption from Registration Claimed." -->
<DIV align="left"><A NAME="005"></A></DIV>

<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">Item&nbsp;7. Exemption from Registration Claimed.



<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Not applicable.

<!-- link2 "Item&nbsp;8. Exhibits." -->
<DIV align="left"><A NAME="006"></A></DIV>

<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">Item&nbsp;8. Exhibits.


<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<!-- Begin Table Head -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="4%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="4%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="92%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="left"><B>Exhibit</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center"><B>&nbsp;</B></TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="left"><B>Number</B><HR size="1" noshade></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center"><B>Exhibit</B><HR size="1" noshade></TD>
</TR>

<!-- End Table Head -->
<!-- Begin Table Body -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">4
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Thomas &#038; Betts Corporation Equity Compensation Plan (Incorporated by
reference to Appendix&nbsp;D of the Company&#146;s definitive Proxy Statement dated
March&nbsp;26, 2004).</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">5
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Opinion of J.N. Raines, Esq.</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">23.1
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Consent of KPMG LLP, independent public accountants.</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">23.2
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Consent of counsel (contained in Exhibit&nbsp;5).</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">24
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Powers of Attorney (included as part of the signature page hereto).</TD>
</TR>

<!-- End Table Body -->
</TABLE>
</DIV>


<!-- link2 "Item&nbsp;9. Undertakings." -->
<DIV align="left"><A NAME="007"></A></DIV>

<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">Item&nbsp;9. Undertakings.



<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The undersigned Company hereby undertakes:


<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(a)&nbsp;(1)&nbsp;To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being
made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:



<P align="left" style="margin-left:2%; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(i) To include any prospectus required by section 10(a)(3) of the
Securities Act of 1933;



<P align="left" style="margin-left:2%; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after
the effective date of the Registration Statement (or the most recent
post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate,
represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the
Registration Statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or
decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of
securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any
deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range
may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission
pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act of 1933 if, in the
aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20%
change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the
&#147;Calculation of Registration Fee&#148; table in the effective registration
statement; and



<P align="left" style="margin-left:2%; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of
distribution not previously disclosed in the Registration Statement or any
material change to such information in the Registration Statement;


<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(2)&nbsp;That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to
be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and
the offering of such securities at the time shall be deemed to be the initial
bona fide offering thereof.


<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(3)&nbsp;To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any
of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of
the offering.


<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">-4-
</DIV>

<!-- PAGEBREAK -->
<P><HR noshade><P>
<H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always"><A HREF="#toc">Table of Contents</A></H5><P>

<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">

<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The undersigned Company hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the
Company&#146;s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the
Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan&#146;s
annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is
incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a
new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.


<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities
Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of
the Company pursuant to the foregoing provisions, the Company has been advised
that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such
indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and
is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification
against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Company of expenses
incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Company in
the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such
director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being
registered, the Company will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter
has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate
jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public
policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final
adjudication of such issue.


<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">-5-
</DIV>

<!-- PAGEBREAK -->
<P><HR noshade><P>
<H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always"><A HREF="#toc">Table of Contents</A></H5><P>

<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">
<!-- link1 "SIGNATURES AND POWER OF ATTORNEY" -->
<DIV align="left"><A NAME="008"></A></DIV>

<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><B>SIGNATURES AND POWER OF ATTORNEY</B>



<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Company
certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the
requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration
Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in the City of Memphis, State of Tennessee, on this 7th day of May,
2004.

<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="font-size: 10pt">
<TR>
    <TD width="48%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="35%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="15%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
    <TD valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="3"><B>THOMAS &#038; BETTS CORPORATION</B><BR>
(Company)<BR>
&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top">By:&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="2" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000">/s/ Kenneth W. Fluke
&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="2">Kenneth W. Fluke&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="2">Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
    <TD colspan="5">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>


<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature
appears below hereby constitutes and appoints Dominic J. Pileggi, Kenneth W.
Fluke and J. N. Raines, and each of them, his or her true and lawful
attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution,
for him or her and in his or her name, to execute a Registration Statement on
Form S-8 to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, relating to the registration of up to
3,500,000 shares of Thomas &#038; Betts Corporation Common Stock in connection with
the Thomas &#038; Betts Corporation Equity Compensation Plan and any and all
amendments to such Registration Statement whether filed prior or subsequent to
the time such Registration Statement becomes effective, including amendments
and any post-effective amendments to such Registration Statement for the same
offering that are to be effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended; and hereby ratifies and confirms all that
such attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, or their or his substitute
or substitutes may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue of these presents.


<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed on May&nbsp;7, 2004 by the following persons
in the capacities indicated.

<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<!-- Begin Table Head -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="40%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="20%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="40%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="left"><B>Signature</B><HR size="1" noshade></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center"><B>Title</B><HR size="1" noshade></TD>
</TR>

<!-- End Table Head -->
<!-- Begin Table Body -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="left" valign="top">/s/  Dominic J. Pileggi
<HR size="1" noshade>
Dominic J. Pileggi</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">
President, Chief Executive Officer and Director<BR>
(Principal Executive Officer)</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom" style="padding-top: 1em">
    <TD align="left" valign="top">/s/  Ernest H. Drew
<HR size="1" noshade>
Ernest H. Drew</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">
Director</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom" style="padding-top: 1em">
    <TD align="left" valign="top">/s/  T. Kevin Dunnigan
<HR size="1" noshade>
T. Kevin Dunnigan</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">
Chairman of the Board and Director</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom" style="padding-top: 1em">
    <TD align="left" valign="top">/s/  Jeananne K. Hauswald
<HR size="1" noshade>
Jeananne K. Hauswald</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">
Director</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom" style="padding-top: 1em">
    <TD align="left" valign="top">/s/ Dean Jernigan
<HR size="1" noshade>
Dean Jernigan</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">
Director</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom" style="padding-top: 1em">
    <TD align="left" valign="top">/s/  Ronald B. Kalich, Sr.
<HR size="1" noshade>
Ronald B. Kalich, Sr.</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">
Director</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom" style="padding-top: 1em">
    <TD align="left" valign="top">/s/  Robert A. Kenkel
<HR size="1" noshade>
Robert A. Kenkel</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">
Director</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom" style="padding-top: 1em">
    <TD align="left" valign="top">/s/  Kenneth R. Masterson
<HR size="1" noshade>
Kenneth R. Masterson</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">
Director</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom" style="padding-top: 1em">
    <TD align="left" valign="top">/s/  Jean-Paul Richard
<HR size="1" noshade>
Jean-Paul Richard</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">
Director</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom" style="padding-top: 1em">
    <TD align="left" valign="top">/s/
<HR size="1" noshade>
Jerre L. Stead</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">
Director</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom" style="padding-top: 1em">
    <TD align="left" valign="top">/s/ David D. Stevens
<HR size="1" noshade>
David D. Stevens</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">
Director</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom" style="padding-top: 1em">
    <TD align="left" valign="top">/s/
<HR size="1" noshade>
William H. Waltrip</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">
Director</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom" style="padding-top: 1em">
    <TD align="left" valign="top">/s/ Kenneth W. Fluke
<HR size="1" noshade>
Kenneth W. Fluke</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer<BR>
(Principal Financial Officer and Principal<BR>
Accounting Officer)</TD>
</TR>

<!-- End Table Body -->
</TABLE>
</DIV>



<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;
</DIV>

<!-- PAGEBREAK -->
<P><HR noshade><P>
<H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always"><A HREF="#toc">Table of Contents</A></H5><P>

<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">
<!-- link1 "EXHIBIT INDEX" -->
<DIV align="left"><A NAME="009"></A></DIV>

<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">EXHIBIT INDEX


<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<!-- Begin Table Head -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="4%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="4%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="92%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="left"><B>Exhibit</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center"><B>&nbsp;</B></TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="left"><B>Number</B><HR size="1" noshade></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center"><B>Exhibit</B><HR size="1" noshade></TD>
</TR>

<!-- End Table Head -->
<!-- Begin Table Body -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">4
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Thomas &#038; Betts Corporation Equity Compensation Plan (Incorporated by
reference to Appendix&nbsp;D of the Company&#146;s definitive Proxy Statement dated
March&nbsp;26, 2004.</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">5
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Opinion of J.N. Raines, Esq.</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">23.1
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Consent of KPMG LLP, independent public accountants.</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">23.2
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Consent of counsel (contained in Exhibit&nbsp;5).</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">24
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Powers of Attorney (included as part of the signature page hereto).</TD>
</TR>

<!-- End Table Body -->
</TABLE>
</DIV>



<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;
</DIV>

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sv8
Table of Contents
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 7, 2004
Registration No. 333
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 20549
FORM S-8
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER THE
SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
THOMAS & BETTS CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Tennessee
22-1326940
(State or other jurisdiction
(I.R.S. employer
of incorporation or organization)
identification no.)
8155 T&B Boulevard
Memphis, Tennessee 38125
(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)
Thomas & Betts Corporation Equity Compensation Plan
(Full title of the plan)
J. N. Raines, Esq.
Vice President-General Counsel and Secretary
Thomas & Betts Corporation
8155 T&B Boulevard
Memphis, Tennessee 38125
(901) 252-8000
(Name and address of agent for service)
Copy to:
Jean D. Renshaw, Esq.
Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP
One Logan Square
18
th
and Cherry Streets
Philadelphia, PA 19103-6996
(215) 988-2700
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
Proposed Maximum
Proposed Maximum
Title of Securities
Amount to be
Offering Price per
Aggregate Offering
Amount of
to be Registered
Registered (1)
Unit (2)
Price (2)
Registration Fee (2)
Common stock, $.10
par value
3,500,000
$
23.91
$
83,685,000.00
$
10,602.89
(1)
Pursuant to Rule 416(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"Securities Act"), this Registration Statement also registers such
indeterminate number of additional shares as may become issuable in
connection with stock splits, stock dividends or similar transactions.
(2)
Calculated pursuant to Rule 457(h)(1) of the Securities Act. The
proposed maximum offering price per share, the proposed maximum aggregate
offering price, and the amount of the registration fee are computed based
upon $23.91, the average of the high and low sales prices of the Common
Stock of Thomas & Betts Corporation as reported on the New York Stock
Exchange on May 6, 2004.
-1-
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PART II
Item 3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference.
Item 4. Description of Securities.
Item 5. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.
Item 6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.
Item 7. Exemption from Registration Claimed.
Item 8. Exhibits.
Item 9. Undertakings.
SIGNATURES AND POWER OF ATTORNEY
EXHIBIT INDEX
Opinion/Consent of J.N. Raines, Esq.
Consent of KPMG LLP
Table of Contents
PART II
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
Item 3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference.
The following documents which have been filed by Thomas & Betts
Corporation (the "Company") with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"Commission") pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act") are incorporated by reference in this
Registration Statement:
(a) The Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 2003;
(b) The Company's Quarterly Report on From 10-Q for the fiscal quarter
ended March 31, 2004;
(c) The
Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed April 27, 2004; and
(d) The description of the Company's common stock, par value $0.10 per
share (the "Common Stock"), which is contained in the Company's registration
statement on Form 8-A dated December 12, 1997, and filed December 15, 1997,
including any amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such
description and the Company's Form 8-B dated May 2, 1996, and filed on May 2,
1996.
All reports and definitive proxy or information statements filed pursuant
to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of this
Registration Statement and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment
which indicates that all securities offered hereby have been sold or which
de-registers all securities then remaining unsold shall be deemed to be
incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement and to be a part
hereof from the date of filing such documents.
Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be
incorporated herein by reference shall be deemed to be modified or superseded
for purposes of this registration statement to the extent that a statement
contained herein by reference modified or superseded such prior statement. Any
statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified
or superseded, to constitute a part of this registration statement.
Item 4. Description of Securities.
Not applicable.
Item 5. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.
Certain legal matters in connection with the issuance of the shares of
Common Stock offered hereby will be passed upon for the Company by J.N. Raines,
Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of the Company. Mr. Raines is
the beneficial owner of 32,749 shares of the Company's Common Stock and has
received options to purchase 81,448 additional shares of Common Stock of the
Company, of which 37,146 shares are currently exercisable or will be
exercisable within the next 60 days.
Item 6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.
Article VIII of the Company's Amended and Restated Charter provides:
LIMITATION OF DIRECTOR LIABILITY. No person who is or was a
director of the corporation, or such person's heirs, executors or
administrators, shall be personally liable to the corporation or its
shareholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a
director; provided, however, that this provision shall not eliminate
or limit the liability of any such party (i) for any breach of a
director's duty of loyalty to the corporation or its shareholders,
(ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve
intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, or (iii) for
unlawful distributions under the Tennessee Business Corporation Act.
Any repeal or modification of the provisions of this Article VIII,
directly or by the adoption of an inconsistent provision of this
Charter, shall not adversely affect any right or protection in favor
of a particular individual at the time of such repeal or
modification.
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Sections 48-18-501 through 509 of the Tennessee Business Corporation Act
("Sections 48-18-501 through 509") authorize a corporation to provide for the
indemnification of officers, directors, employees and agents in terms
sufficiently broad to permit indemnification under certain circumstances for
liabilities (including reimbursement for expenses incurred) arising under the
Securities Act.
Article 5 of the Company's by-laws provides:
Indemnification of Officers and Directors. Section 1. Right to
Indemnification. Each person who was or is made a party or is
threatened to be made a party to or is involved in any action, suit
or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or
investigative (hereinafter a "proceeding"), by reason of the fact
that he or she, or a person of whom he or she is the legal
representative, is or was a director or officer of the Corporation
or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director
or officer of another corporation or of a partnership, joint
venture, trust or other enterprise, including service with respect
to employee benefit plans, whether the basis of such proceeding is
alleged action in an official capacity as a director or officer or
in any other capacity while serving as a director or officer, shall
be indemnified and held harmless by the Corporation to the fullest
extent authorized or permitted by the Tennessee Business Corporation
Act, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended (but, in the
case of any such amendment, only to the extent that such amendment
permits the Corporation to provide broader indemnification rights
than said law permitted the Corporation to provide prior to such
amendment), against all expense, liability and loss (including
attorneys' fees, judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes or penalties
and amounts paid or to be paid in settlement) reasonably incurred or
suffered by such person in connection therewith and such
indemnification shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a
director or officer and shall inure to the benefit of his or her
heirs, executors and administrators; provided, however, that the
Corporation shall indemnify any such person seeking indemnification
in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such
person only if such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by
the Board of Directors. The right to indemnification conferred in
this Section shall include the right to be paid by the Corporation
the expenses incurred in defending any such proceeding in advance of
its final disposition; provided, however, that, if the Tennessee
Business Corporation Act requires, the payment of such expenses
incurred by a director or officer in his or her capacity as a
director or officer (and not in any other capacity in which service
was or is rendered by such person while a director or officer,
including, without limitation, service to an employee benefit plan)
in advance of the final disposition of a proceeding, shall be made
only upon delivery to the Corporation of an undertaking, by or on
behalf of such director or officer, to repay all amounts so advanced
if it shall ultimately be determined that such director or officer
is not entitled to be indemnified under this Section or otherwise.
Section 2. Right of Claimant to Bring Suit. If a claim under
Section 1 of this Article is not paid in full by the Corporation
within ninety days after a written claim has been received by the
Corporation, the claimant may at any time thereafter bring suit
against the Corporation to recover the unpaid amount of the claim
and, if successful in whole or in part, the claimant shall be
entitled to be paid also the expense of prosecuting such claim. It
shall be a defense to any such action (other than an action brought
to enforce a claim for expenses incurred in defending any proceeding
in advance of its final disposition where the required undertaking,
if any is required, has been tendered to the Corporation) that the
claimant has not met the standards of conduct which make it
permissible under the Tennessee Business Corporation Act for the
Corporation to indemnify the claimant for the amount claimed, but
the burden of proving such defense shall be on the Corporation.
Neither the failure of the Corporation (including its Board of
Directors, independent legal counsel, or its shareholders) to have
made a determination prior to the commencement of such action that
indemnification of the claimant is proper in the circumstances
because he or she has met the applicable standard of conduct set
forth in the Tennessee Business Corporation Act, nor an actual
determination by the Corporation (including its Board of Directors,
independent legal counsel, or its shareholders) that the claimant
has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall be a defense
to the action or create a presumption that the claimant has not met
the applicable standard of conduct.
Section 3. Non-Exclusivity of Rights; Continuation of Rights.
The right to indemnification and the payment of expenses incurred in
defending a proceeding in advance of its final disposition conferred
in this Article shall not be exclusive of any other right which any
person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, provision of
the Charter, Bylaw, agreement, vote of shareholders or disinterested
directors or otherwise. All rights to indemnification under this
Article shall be deemed to be a contract between the Corporation and
each director or officer of the Corporation who serves or served in
such capacity at any time while this Article is in effect. Any
repeal or modification of this Article or any repeal or modification
of relevant provisions of the Tennessee Business
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Corporation Act or any other applicable laws shall not in any
way diminish any rights to indemnification of such director or
officer or the obligations of the Corporation arising hereunder.
Section 4. Insurance. The Corporation may maintain insurance,
at its expense, to protect itself and any director or officer of the
Corporation or another corporation, partnership, joint venture,
trust or other enterprise against any such expense, liability or
loss, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to
indemnify such person against such expense, liability or loss under
the Tennessee Business Corporation Act.
Item 7. Exemption from Registration Claimed.
Not applicable.
Item 8. Exhibits.
Exhibit
Number
Exhibit
4
Thomas & Betts Corporation Equity Compensation Plan (Incorporated by
reference to Appendix D of the Company's definitive Proxy Statement dated
March 26, 2004).
5
Opinion of J.N. Raines, Esq.
23.1
Consent of KPMG LLP, independent public accountants.
23.2
Consent of counsel (contained in Exhibit 5).
24
Powers of Attorney (included as part of the signature page hereto).
Item 9. Undertakings.
The undersigned Company hereby undertakes:
(a) (1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being
made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:
(i) To include any prospectus required by section 10(a)(3) of the
Securities Act of 1933;
(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after
the effective date of the Registration Statement (or the most recent
post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate,
represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the
Registration Statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or
decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of
securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any
deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range
may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission
pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act of 1933 if, in the
aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20%
change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the
"Calculation of Registration Fee" table in the effective registration
statement; and
(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of
distribution not previously disclosed in the Registration Statement or any
material change to such information in the Registration Statement;
(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to
be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and
the offering of such securities at the time shall be deemed to be the initial
bona fide offering thereof.
(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any
of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of
the offering.
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The undersigned Company hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the
Company's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the
Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan's
annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is
incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a
new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities
Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of
the Company pursuant to the foregoing provisions, the Company has been advised
that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such
indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and
is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification
against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Company of expenses
incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Company in
the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such
director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being
registered, the Company will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter
has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate
jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public
policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final
adjudication of such issue.
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SIGNATURES AND POWER OF ATTORNEY
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Company
certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the
requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration
Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in the City of Memphis, State of Tennessee, on this 7th day of May,
2004.
THOMAS & BETTS CORPORATION
(Company)
By:
/s/ Kenneth W. Fluke
Kenneth W. Fluke
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature
appears below hereby constitutes and appoints Dominic J. Pileggi, Kenneth W.
Fluke and J. N. Raines, and each of them, his or her true and lawful
attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution,
for him or her and in his or her name, to execute a Registration Statement on
Form S-8 to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, relating to the registration of up to
3,500,000 shares of Thomas & Betts Corporation Common Stock in connection with
the Thomas & Betts Corporation Equity Compensation Plan and any and all
amendments to such Registration Statement whether filed prior or subsequent to
the time such Registration Statement becomes effective, including amendments
and any post-effective amendments to such Registration Statement for the same
offering that are to be effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended; and hereby ratifies and confirms all that
such attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, or their or his substitute
or substitutes may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue of these presents.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed on May 7, 2004 by the following persons
in the capacities indicated.
Signature
Title
/s/  Dominic J. Pileggi
Dominic J. Pileggi
President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
(Principal Executive Officer)
/s/  Ernest H. Drew
Ernest H. Drew
Director
/s/  T. Kevin Dunnigan
T. Kevin Dunnigan
Chairman of the Board and Director
/s/  Jeananne K. Hauswald
Jeananne K. Hauswald
Director
/s/ Dean Jernigan
Dean Jernigan
Director
/s/  Ronald B. Kalich, Sr.
Ronald B. Kalich, Sr.
Director
/s/  Robert A. Kenkel
Robert A. Kenkel
Director
/s/  Kenneth R. Masterson
Kenneth R. Masterson
Director
/s/  Jean-Paul Richard
Jean-Paul Richard
Director
/s/
Jerre L. Stead
Director
/s/ David D. Stevens
David D. Stevens
Director
/s/
William H. Waltrip
Director
/s/ Kenneth W. Fluke
Kenneth W. Fluke
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial Officer and Principal
Accounting Officer)
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EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit
Number
Exhibit
4
Thomas & Betts Corporation Equity Compensation Plan (Incorporated by
reference to Appendix D of the Company's definitive Proxy Statement dated
March 26, 2004.
5
Opinion of J.N. Raines, Esq.
23.1
Consent of KPMG LLP, independent public accountants.
23.2
Consent of counsel (contained in Exhibit 5).
24
Powers of Attorney (included as part of the signature page hereto).