SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
			                   WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

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                       				  FORM 8-K

                			       CURRENT REPORT

      		      Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the 
			               Securities Exchange Act of 1934 

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       		 Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)
				                     December 20, 1996



              			     ARROW ELECTRONICS, INC.
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(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


     New York                 1-4482                    11-1806155
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(State of                     (Commission file          (IRS employer
 Incorporation)                number)                   identification
							 number)


        		    25 Hub Drive, Melville, New York 11747
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(Address, including zip code, of principal executive office)


                        				516-391-1300
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(Registrant's telephone no., including area code)



Item 5. Other Events.

	On December 20, 1996 Arrow Electronics, Inc. agreed to 
	acquire the volume electronic component distribution 
	businesses of Premier Farnell plc.


Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

    (c) Exhibit 99 (i)  Press release dated December 20, 1996 
			                     issued by Arrow Electronics, Inc. 
                     			announcing the agreement to acquire the 
                     			volume electronic component distribution 
                     			businesses of Premier Farnell plc.



                                                           				Exhibit 99 (I)


                   		     ARROW TO ACQUIRE VOLUME DISTRIBUTION 

                          			BUSINESS OF PREMIER FARNELL PLC



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MELVILLE, NEW YORK, December 20, 1996 -- Arrow Electronics, Inc. 
(NYSE:ARW) announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to 
acquire the volume electronic component distribution businesses 
(FES) of Premier Farnell plc for approximately $300 million.  
With annual sales of approximately $500 million and operations in 
15 countries, the FES Group is one of Europe's leading 
distributors of semiconductors, passive and electromechanical 
components, and interconnect products to original equipment 
manufacturers and other industrial customers.

"The FES businesses will strengthen our ability to serve our 
customers throughout Europe," said Stephen P. Kaufman, Chairman 
and Chief Executive Officer of Arrow, "and their strength in 
passive, electromechanical, and connector products is a natural 
complement to our own leading position in semiconductors.  It is 
our expectation that the acquisition will be additive to earnings 
in 1997," he added.

The companies will also enter into a trading agreement under 
which Arrow will become a preferred supplier to Premier Farnell's 
remaining core catalogue business.  Similarly, Arrow will be able 
to source certain of its product requirements from Premier 
Farnell.

The purchase agreement has been approved by the Boards of 
Directors of both companies and is subject to customary closing 
conditions, principal among which is the obtaining of certain 
regulatory approvals.  It is expected that the transaction will 
be completed before the end of March.

Arrow is the world's largest distributor of electronic components 
and computer products to industrial and commercial customers.


                      				  # # #

CONTACT:  Robert E. Klatell
       	  Executive Vice President
	         516-391-1300



                        				 SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act 
of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed 
on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

				       ARROW ELECTRONICS, INC.


				       By:  s/Robert E. Klatell
      					    -----------------------------
					    Name:  Robert E. Klatell
					    Title: Executive Vice President


Dated:  December 31, 1996