FIFTH AMENDMENT AND WAIVER
                              TO
     AMENDED AND RESTATED SENIOR NOTE PURCHASE AGREEMENT
                 Dated as of October 2, 1996
      This  Fifth Amendment and Waiver to Amended and Restated
Senior Note Purchase Agreement (this "Amendment") is dated  as
of October 2, 1996 by and among Merisel Americas, Inc., a ▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇  corporation ("the Company"), Merisel, Inc.,  a  Delaware
corporation   ("Merisel,  Inc."),   as   guarantor   and   the
Noteholders  signatory hereto, and is made with  reference  to
that   certain  Amended  and  Restated  Senior  Note  Purchase
Agreement  dated  as of December 23, 1993  by  and  among  the
Company  and the original Purchasers of the Notes referred  to
therein, and amended as of September 30, 1994, June 23,  1995,
April 12, 1996 and June 30, 1996 (the "Existing Agreement") by
and  among the Company and the original Purchases of the Notes
referred  to  therein.  Capitalized terms used herein  without
definition shall have the same meanings herein as set forth in
the Existing Agreement.
                           RECITAL
      The  parties  hereto have agreed to modify the  Existing
Agreement as hereinafter set forth in accordance with  Section
8.1 of the Existing Agreement.
     IN CONSIDERATION of the mutual promises and covenants set
forth herein, the parties hereto agree as follows:
          1. Waivers.  (a)  Effective as of the Effective Time (as
defined  in  Section  4  of this Amendment),  the  undersigned
Noteholders  hereby  consent  to  the  sale  (the  "Sale")  by
Merisel,  Inc. and the Company of certain of their direct  and
indirect  wholly-owned Subsidiaries described  on  Schedule  I
hereto to CHS Electronics, Inc. (the "Buyer") pursuant to  the
Purchase Agreement, dated as of August 29, 1996 (the "Purchase
Agreement"), as amended, by and among the Buyer, Merisel, Inc.
and  the Company.  The undersigned Noteholders also waive  com
pliance  by the Company with the provisions of Sections  6.14,
3.4(a)(ii) and 3.4(c) of the Existing Agreement (the "Waiver")
commencing as of the Effective Time solely to the extent  that
such  Sections  would otherwise require a  prepayment  of  the
Notes  and  of  the Debt outstanding under the  New  Revolving
Credit  Agreement as a result of the Sale; provided,  however,
that  as a condition to the foregoing Waiver, the Company  and
Merisel,  Inc. shall cause the sum of (x) $29,000,000  of  the
Net  Asset  Sale Proceeds from the Sale plus (y)  40%  of  the
amount, if any, of aggregate Net Asset Sale Proceeds from  the
Sale  in  excess  of $130,000,000, to be paid  in  immediately
available  funds to the  Noteholders (upon receipt thereof  by
Merisel,  Inc., the Company or their respective  Subsidiaries,
as  applicable) as a prepayment of the Notes.   No  Make-Whole
Premium shall be owing in respect of such prepayment.
          (a)    Effective as of the Effective Time, the Noteholders
hereby  waive  the  provisions of  (i)  Section  6.23  of  the
Existing Agreement to the extent necessary to permit the amend
ment  and  waivers of the Subordinated Notes and  Subordinated
Note  Purchase  Agreement  contemplated  by  clause  (iii)  of
Section  3  hereof and (ii) with respect to facts,  events  or
circumstances  occurring  at  or before  the  Effective  Time,
Sections 6.6, 6.17, 6.25, 6.28, 6.31, 6.32 and 6.37.
          2.     Amendments to the Existing Agreement.  The following
amendments to the Existing Agreement shall become effective at
the Effective Time:
               (I)    The Existing Agreement is hereby amended by deleting
Section 1.1 and inserting in its place the following:
                "1.1   Description of Notes.  The Company  has
     authorized  the issuance for exchange of $100,000,000  ag
     gregate  principal  amount of its  Amended  and  Restated
     11.5% Senior Notes (the "Notes") to be dated the date  of
     issue,  to  bear interest on the unpaid principal  amount
     from and after Fifth Amendment Effective Time to maturity
     at  the  rate of (a) if no Event of Default has  occurred
     and  is  continuing, 11.5% per annum (the "Coupon Rate"),
     or  (b)  if  an  Event  of Default has  occurred  and  is
     continuing,  the Overdue Rate, and on any  overdue  Make-
     Whole Premium and (to the extent legally enforceable) any
     overdue  installment of interest at the Overdue Rate,  to
     mature   on   the  Final  Maturity  Date,   and   to   be
     substantially in the form attached hereto  as  Exhibit  A
     (Revised   as   of   April  12,  1996);  provided   that,
     notwithstanding  the terms of the Notes relating  to  the
     payment of principal and interest, on and after the Fifth
     Amendment  Effective Time interest on  and  principal  of
     such  Notes  shall  be paid at such  times  and  in  such
     amounts  as  are  provided in this  Agreement;  provided,
     further,  from  and  after May  31,  1997  no  Make-Whole
     Premium  shall become payable with respect to the  Notes.
     The  Company will pay interest monthly in arrears on  the
     fifth   day  of  each  month  (beginning  May  5,  1996).
     Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day  year
     of twelve 30-day months.  The term "Notes" as used herein
     shall  include each Note delivered pursuant to this Agree
     ment.
                             -2-    
               (II)    The Existing Agreement is hereby amended by deleting
the definition of "Consolidated Tangible Net Worth" in Section
2.1 and inserting in its place the following:
           "Consolidated Tangible Net Worth" means, as of  any
     date of determination, the Consolidated Net Worth of  the
     Company, Merisel Europe or Merisel, Inc. (as indicated by
     the   context)  without  taking  into  consideration  the
     effects  of (i) Additional Restructuring Fees,  (ii)  any
     write-downs  in  connection with  (A)  any  sale  of  any
     Subsidiaries  of  Merisel, Inc. or any  restructuring  in
     connection  with  such sale or (B) with  respect  to  the
     first  quarter  of  1996 only, accounts  payable  to  the
     extent  (but only to the extent) such write-downs  exceed
     $7,000,000 and (iii) with respect to the third quarter of
     1996  only, non-recurring charges and expenses, including
     those  relating to severance, relocations,  asset  write-
     downs  or  losses  in connection with dispositions,  less
     goodwill,  patents,  trademarks, organizational  expense,
     deferred   research  and  development   costs,   deferred
     marketing  expenses and other intangible  assets  of  the
     Company,  Merisel  Europe  or  Merisel,  Inc.   and   its
     Subsidiaries,  determined  on  a  consolidated  basis  in
     accordance with GAAP.
               (III)       The Existing Agreement is hereby amended by
deleting  the definition of "Final Maturity Date"  in  Section
2.1 and inserting in its place the following:
          "Final Maturity Date" shall mean January 31, 1998.
               (IV)   The Existing Agreement is hereby amended by inserting
the following in the appropriate alphabetical order:
           "Business Plan" means the Merisel Business Plan for
     1996  and 1997 dated September 13, 1996, copies of  which
     have been previously furnished to the Noteholders.
            "Excepted   Prepayments"   means   any   permanent
     prepayment   of  the  Notes  pursuant  to   (i)   Section
     3.4(a)(ii), but only with respect to an Asset Sale of the
     North Carolina Property and (ii) Section 3.4(a)(vi).
          "Fifth Amendment" means that certain Fifth Amendment
     and  Waiver to Amended and Restated Senior Note  Purchase
     Agreement, dated as of October 2, 1996, by and among  the
     Company, Merisel, Inc. and the Noteholders.
          "Fifth Amendment Effective Time" means the Effective
     Time (as defined in the Fifth Amendment).
                             -3-
          "North Carolina Property" means the undeveloped land
     located in Cary, North Carolina currently leased  by  Mer
     isel Properties, Inc.
           "Planned  Consolidated EBITSDA" means  Consolidated
     EBITSDA as set forth in the Business Plan.
          "Planned Consolidated Net Income" means Consolidated
     Net Income as set forth in the Business Plan.
               (V)    The Existing Agreement is hereby amended by deleting
the table set forth in Section 3.4(a)(i) and inserting in lieu
thereof the following:
              "February 28, 1997   $  600,000
               March 31, 1997      $  600,000
               April 30, 1997      $  600,000
               May 31, 1997        $  600,000
               June 30, 1997       $  600,000
               January 2, 1998     $3,000,000
               In  addition  to
               the foregoing, in the event that
               (x)  the payment due on June 30,
               1997  in  respect of the  12.50%
               Senior Notes issued pursuant  to
               the  Indenture  is  paid  (other
               than    with    Securities    as
               permitted  pursuant  to  Section
               6.43)  at any time prior to  the
               Final Maturity Date, on the date
               of   such  payment  the  Company
               shall   prepay  the  outstanding
               Notes  by  an  aggregate  amount
               equal  to $19,000,000 (less  the
               aggregate    amount    of    any
               prepayments  of  the  Notes   in
               excess   of  $29,000,000  (other
               than  Excepted Prepayments) made
               during the period from the Fifth
               Amendment Effective Time through
               the  date  of such payment)  and
               (y)   in  the  event  that   the
               payment due on December 31, 1997
               in  respect of the 12.50% Senior
               Notes  issued  pursuant  to  the
               Indenture  is paid  (other  than
               with   Securities  as  permitted
               pursuant to Section 6.43) at any
               time prior to the Final Maturity
               Date,   on  the  date  of   such
               payment the Company shall prepay
               the  outstanding  Notes  by   an
               aggregate   amount   equal    to
               $31,000,000 (less the  aggregate
               amount of any prepayments of the
               Notes  in  excess of $29,000,000
               (other       than       Excepted
               Prepayments)  made  during   the
               period  from the Fifth Amendment
               Effective Time through the  date
               of such payment)."
                             -4-
               (VI)    The Existing Agreement is hereby amended by adding a
new paragraph (vi) to Section 3.4(a) to read as follows:
               "(VI)  On the date of receipt by Merisel, Inc.,
the  Company,  Merisel  Europe  or  any  of  their  respective
domestic  Subsidiaries  (from and after  the  Fifth  Amendment
Effective Time) of any United States federal, state and  local
income  tax refunds in respect of loss carrybacks or  research
and  development credits more fully described in the  attached
Exhibit A (currently estimated by the Company to be $4,000,000
to  $6,000,000 in the aggregate, it being understood that  the
actual  amount thereof may be less than such estimate, notwith
standing  the Company's use of its reasonable best efforts  to
collect  such  refunds),  the Company  shall  prepay  the  out
standing  Notes by an aggregate amount equal  to  40%  of  the
amount  of  such  tax refunds (net of reasonable  professional
fees  and expenses associated with obtaining such refunds  and
any  required reserves associated therewith in accordance with
GAAP).   No Make-Whole Premium shall be owing with respect  to
such payments."
               (VII)       The Existing Agreement is hereby amended by
deleting  the first sentence of paragraph (c) of  Section  3.4
and inserting the following in lieu thereof:
               "Any mandatory prepayment of the Notes pursuant
          to  Section  3.4(a)(ii)-(vi)  shall  be  applied  to
          reduce  the  final payment of the Notes due  on  the
          Final  Maturity Date and otherwise in inverse  order
          of maturities."
               (VIII)      The Existing Agreement is hereby amended by
deleting  Section 6.28 and inserting in its place  the  follow
ing:
          "6.28  (Intentionally omitted)."
               (IX)   The Existing Agreement is hereby amended by deleting
Section 6.6 and inserting in its place the following:
          "6.6  Maintenance of Merisel, Inc.'s Consolidated Ad
     justed  Tangible Net Worth.  Merisel, Inc. shall maintain
     Consolidated Adjusted Tangible Net Worth as of the end of
     the fourth quarter of 1996 and at the end of each quarter
     during 1997 equal to the Consolidated Tangible Net  Worth
     at the end of the third quarter of 1996, plus the Planned
     Consolidated Net Income planned for the fourth quarter of
     1996  and  each quarter of 1997 ending on or  before  the
     last  day of the quarter for which such determination  is
     being  
                              -5-
     made,  less the differential between the  Planned
     Consolidated  EBITSDA  for  each  such  quarter  and  the
     minimum Consolidated EBITSDA for such quarter provided in
     Section 6.29."
               (X)    The Existing Agreement is hereby amended by deleting
Section 6.29 and inserting in its place the following:
          "6.29  Minimum Consolidated EBITSDA of Merisel, Inc.
     The aggregate Consolidated EBITSDA of Merisel, Inc. as of
     the last date of the periods indicated below shall not be
     less than the correlative amounts indicated below:
          Period                Consolidated EBITSDA
          
          4th Quarter of 1996            $ 8,000,000
          1st Quarter of 1997            $11,000,000
          2nd Quarter of 1997            $12,400,000
          3rd Quarter of 1997            $14,560,000
          4th Quarter of 1997           $19,280,000"
          
               (XI)   The Existing Agreement is hereby amended by deleting
Section 6.25 and inserting in its place the following:
           "6.25  Maintenance of Merisel, Inc.'s  Fixed Charge
     Coverage Ratio.  For each period indicated below, the  ra
     tio  of (i) Consolidated EBITSDA of Merisel, Inc. to (ii)
     Consolidated Interest Charges of Merisel, Inc., shall  be
     not less than the correlative amount indicated below:
          Period                           Ratio
          
          Fourth Quarter of 1996         0.61:1.00
          First Quarter of 1997          0.83:1.00
          Second Quarter of 1997         0.89:1.00
          Third Quarter of 1997          1.13:1.00
          Fourth Quarter of 1997         1.44:1.00"
          
               (XII)       The Existing Agreement is hereby amended by
deleting  Sections 6.30 and 6.31 and inserting in their  place
the following:
          "6.30  Maintenance of Inventory Turnover Ratio.  For
     each period indicated below, the ratio of (i) the ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
     dated aggregate cost of sales of Merisel, Inc. at the end
     of such period multiplied by four to (ii) the Average Con
     solidated  Net Inventory of Merisel, Inc.  shall  be  not
     less than the correlative amount indicated below:
                             -6-
                                   Minimum Permitted
          Period                   Inventory Turnover
          
          Fourth Quarter of 1996         9.00
          First Quarter of 1997          9.00
          Second Quarter of 1997         9.00
          Third Quarter of 1997          9.00
          Fourth Quarter of 1997         9.00
          
            6.31    Minimum  Ratio  of  Accounts  Payable   to
     Inventory.  For each period indicated below, the ratio of
     the  Consolidated amount of accounts payable of  Merisel,
     Inc.  on  the last day of such period to the Consolidated
     amount  of inventory of Merisel, Inc. on the last day  of
     such  period shall be not less than the correlative ratio
     indicated below (the "A/P Inventory Ratio"):
                                       Minimum
          Period                   Permitted Ratio
          
          Fourth Quarter of 1996      0.90:1.00
          First Quarter of 1997       0.90:1.00
          Second Quarter of 1997      0.90:1.00
          Third Quarter of 1997       0.90:1.00
          Fourth Quarter of 1997      0.90:1.00
          
     ; provided that Merisel, Inc. shall maintain an A/P Inven
     tory Ratio equal to or greater than 1.00:1.00 for one out
     of each two consecutive periods indicated above."
               (XIII)      The Existing Agreement is herby amended by
deleting  Section 6.37 and inserting in its place  the  follow
ing:
          "6.37  Minimum Accounts Payable.  On the last day of
     each  period indicated below, the Consolidated amount  of
     accounts payable of Merisel, Inc. shall be not less  than
     the correlative amount indicated below:
          Period                       Amount
          
          Fourth Quarter of 1996    $380,000,000
          First Quarter of 1997     $390,000,000
          Second Quarter of 1997    $390,000,000
          Third Quarter of 1997     $390,000,000
          Fourth Quarter of 1997    $500,000,000"
          
               (XIV)       The Existing Agreement is hereby amended by
deleting (i) the references to Section 6.28 in clauses (a) and
(b) of Section 6.17 and (ii) the requirement in clause (l)  of
                              -7-
Section  6.17  that  the Company deliver written  reports  con
cerning the cash balances of Merisel, Inc. alone.
               (XV)   The Existing Agreement is hereby amended by deleting
Section 6.35 in its entirety and inserting in lieu thereof the
following:
                    "6.35 (Intentionally omitted)."
               (XVI)       The Existing Agreement is hereby amended by adding
a new Section 6.42 to read as follows:
          "6.42  The Company shall use reasonable best efforts
     to  (x) obtain any United States federal, state and local
     income  tax refunds to which the Company, Merisel Europe,
     Merisel, Inc. or any of their respective domestic  Subsid
     iaries  may  be entitled and (y) sell the North  Carolina
     Property,  in each case as soon as practicable  following
     the Fifth Amendment Effective Time."
               (XVII)      The Existing Agreement is hereby amended by
deleting  in  its  entirety clause (i) in  the  definition  of
"Permitted  Liens" in Section 2.1 and inserting in  its  place
the following:
                              "(i)  Liens permitted under that
               certain  letter  dated as of  October  2,  1996
               between  the  Company and the  Noteholders,  as
               amended from time to time;"
               (XVIII)     The Existing Agreement is hereby amended by adding
a  new  clause (k) to the definition of "Permitted  Liens"  in
Section 2.1 to read as follows:
                              "(k)  Liens securing obligations
               of   the  Company,  Merisel  Europe  and  their
               Subsidiaries  under  foreign  exchange  hedging
               arrangements  or  other similar  contracts  and
               agreements  entered  into  for  non-speculative
               purposes to protect the Company, Merisel Europe
               and their Subsidiaries against fluctuations  in
               currency  exchange  rates;  provided,  however,
               that  the  maximum aggregate amount  of  assets
               subject   to   such  Liens  shall  not   exceed
               $10,000,000."
               (XIX)       The Existing Agreement is hereby amended by
incorporating by reference into Section 6.7(b) the new  clause
(x)  that  is being added to Section 7.02(c) of the  Revolving
Credit Agreement.
                             -8-
               (XX)    The Existing Agreement is hereby amended by deleting
the  table  set  forth in Section 6.32 and inserting  in  lieu
thereof the following:
          "Fiscal Year 1996               $12,885,000
           First Quarter of 1997          $ 4,000,000
           First Two Quarters of 1997     $ 7,000,000
           First Three Quarters of 1997   $11,000,000
           Fiscal Year 1997               $13,000,000"
          
               (XXI)       The Existing Agreement is hereby amended by adding
a new Section 6.43 to read as follows:
           "6.43   Merisel, Inc. Debt Restructuring.   Neither
     Merisel, Inc. nor the Company shall not, directly or indi
     rectly,   issue,  or  cause  or  permit  to  be   issued,
     Securities of Merisel, Inc. to or for the benefit of  the
     holders  of  Parent  Notes, except for  the  issuance  of
     common  equity  Securities of Merisel, Inc.  or  Merisel,
     Inc.  Preferred Securities (as hereinafter  defined),  in
     each  case  in  exchange  for all outstanding  principal,
     interest and other amounts owed or owing on or in respect
     of   the   Parent   Notes.   "Merisel,   Inc.   Preferred
     Securities" means preferred equity securities of Merisel,
     Inc.  ("Original  Preferred  Securities")  that  are  not
     mandatorily redeemable, do not otherwise mature, will not
     be  called  by  or on behalf of Merisel,  Inc.  and  with
     respect to which the holders thereof have no right to  re
     ceive  cash  or other property (other than common  equity
     Securities of Merisel, Inc. or additional Securities  hav
     ing the same terms as such Original Preferred Securities)
     on  account of liquidation preferences, accrued dividends
     or  otherwise, in each case unless and until there  shall
     have occurred the payment in full in cash of all outstand
     ing  principal, interest and other amounts due on  or  in
     respect of the Notes or this Agreement."
               (XXII)      The Existing Agreement is hereby amended by
deleting  Section 6.38 and inserting in its place  the  follow
ing:
                    "6.38 (Intentionally Deleted)"
               (XXIII)     Anything to the contrary in Section 7.1 of the
Existing Agreement notwithstanding, neither (x) any failure by
Merisel  FAB to make any payment when due, whether  at  stated
maturity  or  otherwise,  of any  amount  in  respect  of  the
accounts  payable owed to Vanstar, Inc., any exercise  of  rem
edies  by  the  holder  thereof against  Merisel  FAB  or  any
judgment rendered against Merisel FAB with respect thereto nor
                            -9-
(y)  any   default in the payment of interest  on  the  Parent
Notes shall constitute an Event of Default or Default for  the
purposes of the Amended Agreement, the Notes or the other docu
ments referred to therein, except to the extent that the  same
is preceded or followed by, or otherwise connected to, (i) the
commencement, if any, of an insolvency, bankruptcy or  similar
proceeding by or against Merisel, Inc. or any of its Subsidiar
ies  or (ii) in the case of Merisel, Inc., if earlier, the  ex
ercise  of  any  remedy in respect of such default  by  or  on
behalf of one or more holders of Parent Notes or the indenture
trustee thereof (including without limitation the acceleration
of the outstanding principal amount of the Parent Notes or the
commencement  of an action by one or more of such  holders  or
such indenture trustee in respect of such default).
               (XXIV)      The Existing Agreement is hereby amended by
deleting  clause  (n) of Section 7.1 in its  entirety  and  in
serting in lieu thereof the following:
                    "(n)  (Intentionally omitted)."
               (XXV)       The Existing Agreement is hereby amended by
inserting at the end of Section 9.5 the following:
                    "Notwithstanding the foregoing, so long as
     no  Event  of Default has occurred and is continuing  the
     Company shall only be responsible for the fees, costs and
     expenses  of  one  financial  advisor  for  all  of   the
     Revolving  Credit Lenders under the New Revolving  Credit
     Agreement  and the holders of the Notes and, the  Company
     shall  only  be  responsible for the fees,  expenses  and
     disbursements of such financial advisor to the extent the
     same  relate  to  the  review of  monthly  and  quarterly
     financial   information  supplied  by  the  Company   and
     quarterly (or other periodic) management reviews.
           Section  3.  Reaffirmation of Parent Guaranty.   By
its  signature  below,  Merisel,  Inc.  (i)  consents  to  the
amendment  of  the Existing Agreement by this Amendment,  (ii)
acknowledges  and reaffirms its obligations  owing  under  the
Parent  Guaranty and (iii) agrees that the Parent Guaranty  is
and shall remain in full force and affect.
           Section 4.  Conditions to the Effective Time.   The
Waiver,  amendments  and  agreements set  forth  herein  shall
become   effective  (the  time  of  such  effectiveness,   the
"Effective  Time") upon the satisfaction of all the  following
conditions:
                 (i)      this Amendment shall have been executed and
delivered  by  all  the Noteholders, the Company  and  Merisel
Inc.;
                 (ii)     the Company, Merisel Europe, Merisel, Inc.
and  all the Lenders (as defined in the Revolving Credit Agree
ment)  shall have executed and delivered the Second  Amendment
to  the Revolving Credit Agreement, which shall be in form and
substance acceptable to the Noteholders;
                 (iii)    the Company, Merisel Europe, Merisel, Inc. and
certain  holders of the Subordinated Notes shall have executed
and  delivered  the Fourth Amendment to the Subordinated  Note
Purchase  Agreement,  which shall be  in  form  and  substance
acceptable to the Noteholders;
                 (iv)    the Sale contemplated by the Purchase Agreement
shall  have been consummated, and the portion of the Net Asset
Sale Proceeds required to be paid pursuant to Section 1, shall
have  been  so paid substantially contemporaneously with  such
consummation;
                 (v)     all the representations and warranties made by the
Company  and  Merisel, Inc. in Section 5  shall  be  true  and
correct in all material respects as of the Effective Time;
                 (vi)    the delivery by Merisel Canada of a Consent
and Acknowledgment in the form of Annex A hereto;
                 (vii)   the delivery by Merisel Europe of a Consent
and Acknowledgement in the form of Annex B hereto;
                 (viii)  the delivery by the Company and Merisel, Inc. to the
Noteholders  executed copies of (x) certified  resolutions  of
their respective Boards of Directors approving and authorizing
the execution, delivery and performance of this Amendment, (y)
signature   and  incumbency  certificates  of   the   officers
executing  this  Amendment and (z)  executed  copies  of  this
Amendment; and
                 (ix)   all corporate and other proceedings required to be
taken  in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby
shall have been taken.
           Section 5.  Representations and Warranties  of  the
Company  and Merisel, Inc.  In order to induce the Noteholders
to  enter into this Amendment and to grant the Waiver with  re
spect to the Existing Agreement, the Company and Merisel, Inc.
represent  and  warrant to each Noteholder that the  following
statements are true, correct and complete:
          (a)    Corporate Power and Authority.  Each of the Company and
Merisel,  Inc. has all requisite corporate power and authority
to  enter  into this Agreement and to carry out  the   
                             -11-
transactions  contemplated by, and perform its respective obligations
under,  the  Existing Agreement as amended by  this  Amendment
(the "Amended Agreement").
          (b)    Authorization of Agreements.  The execution and
delivery of this Agreement and the performance of the  Amended
Agreement have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate
action by the Company and Merisel, Inc.
          (c)    No Conflict.  The execution and delivery by the Company
and Merisel, Inc. of this Amendment and the performance by the
Company and Merisel, Inc. of the Amended Agreement do not  and
shall not (i) violate any provision of law, rule or regulation
applicable  to the Company, Merisel, Inc. or any of  their  re
spective Subsidiaries, or the Certificate of Incorporation  or
bylaws  of  the Company, Merisel, Inc. or any of their  respec
tive  Subsidiaries, (ii) conflict with, result in a breach  of
or  constitute (with due notice or lapse of time  or  both)  a
default  under any material contractual obligation of the  Com
pany,  Merisel, Inc. or any of their respective  Subsidiaries,
(iii)  result in or require the creation or imposition of  any
Lien  upon any of their properties or assets, or (iv)  require
any approval of stockholders or any approval or consent of any
Person  under  any contractual obligation of the Company,  Mer
isel, Inc. or any of their respective Subsidiaries, other than
those that have been obtained.
          (d)    Governmental Consents.  The execution and delivery by
the  Company  and  Merisel, Inc. and the  performance  by  the
Company and Merisel, Inc. of the Amended Agreement do not  and
shall  not require any registration with, consent or  approval
of, or notice to, or other action to, with or by, any Federal,
state or other governmental authority or regulatory body.
          (e)    Binding Obligation.  This Amendment and the Amended
Agreement are the legally valid and binding obligation of  the
Company and Merisel, Inc., enforceable against each of them in
accordance  with  their terms, except as  enforcement  may  be
limited  by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium
or other similar law relating to or limiting creditors' rights
generally   or   by  equitable  principles  relating   to   en
forceability.
          (f)    Incorporation of Representations and Warranties from
Existing   Agreement.   The  representations  and   warranties
contained in Section 5 of the Existing Agreement are and shall
be  true, correct and complete in all material respects on and
as  of the Effective Date to the same extent as though made on
and as of that date, except to the extent that such representa
tions  and warranties specifically relate to an earlier  date,
                             -12-
in   which  case  they are true, correct and complete  in  all
material respects as of such earlier date.
          (g)    Absence of Default.  After giving effect to this
Amendment,  no event has occurred and is continuing  or  shall
result  from the consummation of the transactions contemplated
by  this  Amendment that would constitute an Event of Default,
or  an  event  that with the passage of time,  the  giving  of
notice or both would constitute an Event of Default.
          Section 6.  Miscellaneous.
          (h)    On and after the Effective Time, each reference in the
Existing Agreement to "this Agreement", "hereunder", "hereof",
"herein",  or  words of like import referring to the  Existing
Agreement,  and  each  reference in the Notes  and  the  other
documents  referred to in the Existing Agreement to the  "Note
Purchase Agreement", "thereunder", "thereof", or words of like
import referring to the Existing Agreement shall mean and be a
reference  to  the  Existing  Agreement  as  amended  by  this
Amendment.
          (i)    Except as specifically waived by this Amendment, the
Existing Agreement, the Notes and the other documents referred
to  in  the Existing Agreement shall remain in full force  and
effect and are hereby ratified and confirmed.
          (j)    The execution, delivery and performance of this
Amendment shall not, except as expressly provided herein,  con
stitute  a waiver of any provision of, or operate as a  waiver
of  any  right,  power or remedy of the Agent  or  any  Lender
under,  the  Existing  Agreement, the  Notes  or  any  of  the
documents referred to in the Existing Agreement.
          (k)    This Amendment may be executed in any number of
counterparts, and by different parties hereto in separate coun
terparts,  each of which when so executed and delivered  shall
be  deemed  an  original,  but  all  such  counterparts  taken
together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
          (l)    Section headings in this Amendment are included herein
for  convenience of reference only and shall not constitute  a
part  of this Amendment for any other purpose or be given  any
substantive effect.
          (m)    Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, if the
Effective  Time does not occur on or before October 11,  1996,
this  Amendment  shall  be  of no force  or  effect,  and  the
Existing Agreement shall remain in full force and effect as if
                             -13-
this Amendment had not been executed or delivered by any party
hereto.
          (n)    THIS AMENDMENT AND THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE
PARTIES HERETO AND ALL OTHER ASPECTS HEREOF SHALL BE DEEMED TO
BE  MADE  UNDER, SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND SHALL BE  CONSTRUED
AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF CALI
FORNIA.
(p)
           IN  WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused
this Fifth Amendment and Waiver to Amended and Restated Senior
Note Purchase Agreement to be executed by their respective  of
ficers  thereunto duly authorized as of the date  first  above
written.
                              MERISEL AMERICAS, INC.
                              By:
                                   Name:
                                   Title:
                              MERISEL, INC.
                              By:
                                   Name:
                                   Title:
                                   NOTEHOLDERS
                                   Name of Holder:__________________
                                              By:__________________
                                                 Title
                           -14-
                           ANNEX A
                 CONSENT AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
           The undersigned hereby consents to the terms of the
Fifth  Amendment to Amended and Restated Senior Note  Purchase
Agreement  dated as of October 2, 1996 (the "Amendment")  with
respect to the Amended and Restated Senior Note Purchase Agree
ment dated as of December 23, 1993 (as amended, the "Note  Pur
chase  Agreement") among Merisel Americas, Inc. Merisel,  Inc.
as Guarantor and the Noteholders party thereto, and hereby con
firms   and  agrees  that  each  document  executed   by   the
undersigned  pursuant to and as defined in the  Note  Purchase
Agreement  is,  and shall continue to be, in  full  force  and
effect  and  is hereby ratified and confirmed in all  respects
except that, on and after the effective date of the Amendment,
each  reference  in each such document to "the  Note  Purchase
Agreement,"  "thereunder," "thereof," "therein"  or  words  of
like  import  referring to the Note Purchase  Agreement  shall
mean  and  be  a reference to the Note Purchase  Agreement  as
amended by the Amendment.
                                   MERISEL CANADA, INC.
                                   By: _____________________
                                   Name:
                                   Title:
Dated:  As of October __, 1996
                             -15-
                                                       ANNEX B
                 CONSENT AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
           The undersigned hereby consents to the terms of the
Fifth  Amendment to Amended and Restated Senior Note  Purchase
Agreement  dated as of October 2, 1996 (the "Amendment")  with
respect to the Amended and Restated Senior Note Purchase Agree
ment dated as of December 23, 1993 (as amended, the "Note  Pur
chase  Agreement") among Merisel Americas, Inc. Merisel,  Inc.
as Guarantor and the Noteholders party thereto, and hereby con
firms   and  agrees  that  each  document  executed   by   the
undersigned  pursuant to and as defined in the  Note  Purchase
Agreement  is,  and shall continue to be, in  full  force  and
effect  and  is hereby ratified and confirmed in all  respects
except that, on and after the effective date of the Amendment,
each  reference  in each such document to "the  Note  Purchase
Agreement,"  "thereunder," "thereof," "therein"  or  words  of
like  import  referring to the Note Purchase  Agreement  shall
mean  and  be  a reference to the Note Purchase  Agreement  as
amended by the Amendment.
                                   MERISEL EUROPE, INC.
                                   By: _____________________
                                   Name:
                                   Title:
Dated:  As of October __, 1996