Exhibit 10.1

LOGO [g20139img001.jpg]

May 12, 2008

Mr. Dov Charney

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

American Apparel, Inc.

747 Warehouse Street

Los Angeles, CA 90021

Dear Mr. Charney:

Tatum, LLC (“Tatum,” “we,” or “us”) is pleased that American Apparel, Inc. (the
“Company,” “you” or “your”) desires to employ William T. Gochnauer, a member of
Tatum (the “Employee”), to serve as the Interim Chief Financial Officer of the
Company. This letter along with the terms and conditions attached as Exhibit A
and any other exhibits or schedules attached hereto (collectively, the
“Agreement”) confirms our mutual understanding of the terms and conditions upon
which we will make available to you the Employee and Tatum’s intellectual
capital to the Employee for use in connection with the Employee’s employment
relationship with you.

Effective as of May 14, 2008, the Employee will become your employee serving in
the capacity set forth above and, as such, a duly elected or appointed officer
of the Company. The Employee shall be an “employee at will,” and thus is for no
definite term. Employee’s employment may be terminated either by Employee or
Employer at any time, with or without cause, as provided for in Section 4 of
Exhibit A.

The Employee will work on a full-time basis, and be subject to the supervision,
direction and control of and report directly to the Company’s Chief Executive
Officer, the board of directors of the Company, or both. While the Employee will
remain a member of Tatum and have access to Tatum’s intellectual capital to be
used in connection with the Employee’s employment relationship with you, we will
have no supervision, direction or control over the Employee with respect to the
services provided by the Employee to you.

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

You will pay directly to the Employee a salary of $33,600.00 per month
(“Salary”), less all required deductions and withholdings. In addition, you will
reimburse the Employee for out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Employee to
the same extent that you reimburse other senior managers for such expenses. In
addition to the amounts payable to the Employee, you will pay directly to Tatum
a fee of $14,400.00 per month (“Fees”), Payments to the Employee shall be made
in accordance with the Company’s standard payroll and expense reimbursement
policies. Payments to Tatum shall be made on the first day of every month as
long as Fees are accrued under this agreement, and should be made in accordance
with the instructions set forth on Exhibit A. The Company will also provide the
Employee with living arrangements and expense reimbursements as set forth
Exhibit B to this Agreement.

As an employee, the Employee will be eligible for vacation and holidays
consistent with the Company’s policy as it applies to senior management. The
Employee will be exempt from any delay periods otherwise required for vacation
and holiday eligibility.

You will have the opportunity to make the Employee a permanent, full-time member
of Company management at any time during the term of this Agreement by entering
into another form of Tatum agreement, the terms of which will be negotiated at
such time.

As a condition to providing the services hereunder, we require a security
deposit in an amount equal to $15,000 (the “Deposit”), which will only be used
by us under the limited circumstances described on Exhibit A to this Agreement.
The Deposit is due upon the execution of this Agreement.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Company will provide Tatum or the Employee with written evidence that the
Company maintains directors’ and officers’ insurance and employment practices
liability insurance covering the Employee in an amount reasonably acceptable to
the Employee at no additional cost to the Employee, and the Company will
maintain such insurance at all times while this Agreement remains in effect.
Furthermore, the Company will maintain such insurance coverage with respect to
occurrences arising during the term of this Agreement for at least six years
following the termination of this Agreement or will purchase a directors’ and
officers’ extended reporting period or “tail” policy to cover the Employee.

We appreciate the opportunity to serve you and believe this Agreement accurately
reflects our mutual understanding. We would be pleased to discuss this Agreement
with you at your convenience. If the foregoing is in accordance with your
understanding, please sign a copy of this Agreement and return it to my
attention.

Sincerely,

 

Tatum, LLC

/s/ Arthur Cohen

Arthur Cohen Associate Managing Partner

Accepted and agreed:

 

American Apparel, Inc. By:  

/s/ Dov Charney

Name:   Dov Charney Title:   CEO / President

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Exhibit A

Terms and Conditions

1. Relationship of the Parties. The parties agree that Tatum will be serving the
Company as an independent contractor for all purposes and not as an employee,
agent, partner of, or joint venturer with the Company and that the Employee will
be serving the Company as an employee at will of the Company for all purposes
and not as an independent contractor.

2. Payment Terms. Payments to Tatum should be made by electronic transfer in
accordance with the instructions set forth below or such alternative
instructions as provided by Tatum from time to time. Any amounts not paid when
due may be subject to a periodic service charge equal to the lesser of 1.5% per
month and the maximum amount allowed under applicable law, until such amounts
are paid in full, including assessed service charges. In lieu of terminating
this Agreement, Tatum may suspend the provision of services (including the
Employee’s services) if amounts owed are not paid in accordance with the terms
of this Agreement.

 

Bank Name:

   Wells Fargo, N.A.

Branch:

   San Francisco

Account Name:

   Tatum, LLC

Account Number:

   4121546642

Routing Number for ACH Payments:

   121000248

Swift Code:

   WFBIUS6S

Please reference American Apparel in the body of the payment.

3. Deposit. If the Company breaches this Agreement and fails to cure such breach
as provided for herein, Tatum will be entitled to apply the Deposit to its or
the Employee’s damages resulting from such breach. In the event the Deposit
falls below the amount required, the Company will pay Tatum an additional amount
equal to the shortfall. Upon the termination of this Agreement, Tatum will
return to the Company the balance of the Deposit remaining after application of
any amounts to damages as provided for herein, including, without limitation,
unfulfilled payment obligations of the Company to Tatum or the Employee.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

4. Termination.

(a) Either party may terminate this Agreement for any reason by providing the
other party a minimum of 15 days’ advance written notice and such termination
will be effective as of the date specified in such notice, provided that such
date is no earlier than 15 days after the date of delivery of the notice. Tatum
will continue to provide, and the Company will continue to pay for, the services
until the termination effective date.

(b) Tatum may terminate this Agreement immediately upon written notice to the
Company if: (i) the Company is engaged in or asks Tatum or the Employee to
engage in or ignore any illegal or unethical activity; (ii) the Employee ceases
to be a member of Tatum for any reason; (iii) the Employee becomes disabled; or
(iv) the Company fails to pay any amounts due to Tatum or the Employee when due.
For purposes of this Agreement, disability will be defined by the applicable
policy of disability insurance or, in the absence of such insurance, by Tatum’s
management acting in good faith. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in lieu of
terminating this Agreement under (ii) and (iii) above, upon the mutual agreement
of the parties, the Employee may be replaced by another Tatum member.

(c) In the event that a party commits a breach of this Agreement, other than for
the reasons described in the above Section, and fails to cure the same within 10
days following delivery by the non-breaching party of written notice specifying
the nature of the breach, the non-breaching party may terminate this Agreement
effective upon written notice of such termination.

(d) The termination of this Agreement will not destroy or diminish the binding
force and effect of any of the provisions of this Agreement that expressly, or
by reasonable implication, come into or continue in effect on or after such
termination, including, without limitation, provisions relating to payment of
fees and expenses (including witness fees and expenses), hiring the Employee,
governing law, arbitration, limitation of liability, and indemnity.

5. Hiring the Employee Outside of a Tatum Agreement. The parties recognize and
agree that Tatum is responsible for introducing the Employee to the Company.
Therefore, if, at any time during the term of this Agreement or the 12-month
period following the termination of this Agreement, other than in connection
with this Agreement or another Tatum agreement, the Company employs the
Employee, or engages the Employee as an independent contractor, Tatum will, be
entitled to receive as a placement fee an amount equal to forty percent (45%) of
the Annualized Compensation (as defined below). The amount will be due and
payable to Tatum upon written demand to the Company. “Annualized Compensation”
means the equivalent of the Employee’s Salary

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

calculated on a full-time annual basis plus the maximum amount of any bonus for
which the Employee was eligible with respect to the then-current bonus year.

6. Warranties and Disclaimers. It is understood that Tatum does not have a
contractual obligation to the Company other than to provide the Employee to the
Company and to provide the Employee access to Tatum’s intellectual capital to be
used in connection with the Employee’s employment relationship with the Company.
The Company acknowledges that any information, including any resources delivered
through Tatum’s proprietary information and technology system, will be provided
by Tatum as a tool to be used in the discretion of the Company. Tatum will not
be responsible for any action taken by the Company in following or declining to
follow any of Tatum’s or the Employee’s advice or recommendations. Tatum
represents to the Company that Tatum has conducted its standard screening and
investigation procedures with respect to the Employee becoming a member of
Tatum, and the results of the same were satisfactory to Tatum. Tatum disclaims
all other warranties, whether express, implied or statutory. Without limiting
the foregoing, Tatum makes no representation or warranty as to the services
provided by the Employee, or the accuracy or reliability of reports,
projections, certifications, opinions, representations, or any other information
prepared or made by Tatum or the Employee (collectively, the “Information”) even
if derived from Tatum’s intellectual capital, and Tatum will not be liable for
any claims of reliance on the Information or that the Information does not
comply with federal, state or local laws or regulations. The services provided
by Tatum hereunder are for the sole benefit of the Company and not any unnamed
third parties. The services will not constitute an audit, review, or
compilation, or any other type of financial statement reporting or attestation
engagement that is subject to the rules of the AICPA or other similar state or
national professional bodies and will not result in an opinion or any form of
assurance on internal controls.

7. Limitation of Liability; Indemnity.

(a) The liability of Tatum in any and all categories and for any and all causes
arising out of this Agreement, whether based in contract, tort, negligence,
strict liability or otherwise will, in the aggregate, not exceed the actual Fees
paid by the Company to Tatum. In no event will Tatum be liable for incidental,
consequential, punitive, indirect or special damages, including, without
limitation, any interruption or loss of business, profit or goodwill. As a
condition for recovery of any liability, the Company must assert any claim
against Tatum within six months after discovery or 60 days after the termination
of this Agreement, whichever is earlier.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(b) The Company agrees to indemnify Tatum and the Employee to the full extent
permitted by law for any losses, costs, damages, and expenses (including
reasonable attorneys’ fees), as they are incurred, in connection with any cause
of action, suit, or other proceeding arising in connection with the Employee’s
services to the Company.

8. Governing Law, Arbitration, and Witness Fees.

(a) This Agreement will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws
of the State of New York, without regard to conflicts of laws provisions.

(b) Any claim or dispute arising between the parties with respect to this
Agreement shall be settled exclusively by confidential final and binding
arbitration in New York. in accordance with the rules of the Judicial
Arbitration and Mediation Service (“JAMS”) – New York which are then in effect,
except that we both agree that there shall be one arbitrator appointed, by the
following process: JAMS shall provide a list of nine potential arbitrators, and
each party shall strike four arbitrators, with Tatum and/or Employee providing
their strikes first, and American Apparel striking four names thereafter. The
arbitrator will have no authority to award damages in excess or in contravention
of this Agreement and may not amend or disregard any provision of this
Agreement, including this Section. Notwithstanding the foregoing, either party
may seek appropriate injunctive relief from any court of competent jurisdiction,
and Tatum may pursue payment of undisputed amounts through any court of
competent jurisdiction.

9. Miscellaneous.

(a) This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties with
regard to the subject matter hereof and supersede any and all agreements,
whether oral or written, between the parties with respect to its subject matter.
No amendment or modification to this Agreement will be valid unless in writing
and signed by both parties.

(b) If any portion of this Agreement is found to be invalid or unenforceable,
such provision will be deemed severable from the remainder of this Agreement and
will not cause the invalidity or unenforceability of the remainder of this
Agreement, except to the extent that the severed provision deprives either party
of a substantial portion of its bargain.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(c) Neither the Company nor Tatum will be deemed to have waived any rights or
remedies accruing under this Agreement unless such waiver is in writing and
signed by the party electing to waive the right or remedy. The waiver by any
party of a breach or violation of any provision of this Agreement will not
operate or be construed as a waiver of any subsequent breach of such provision
or any other provision of this Agreement.

(d) Neither party will be liable for any delay or failure to perform under this
Agreement (other than with respect to payment obligations) to the extent such
delay or failure is a result of an act of God, war, earthquake, civil
disobedience, court order, labor dispute, or other cause beyond such party’s
reasonable control.

(e) The Company may not assign its rights or obligations under this Agreement
without the express written consent of Tatum. Nothing in this Agreement will
confer any rights upon any person or entity other than the parties hereto and
their respective successors and permitted assigns and the Employee.

(f) The prevailing party in any dispute which arises under this Agreement shall
be entitled to recover the reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs they incur as a
result of any such dispute.

(g) The Company agrees to allow Tatum to use the Company’s logo and name on
Tatum’s website and other marketing materials for the sole purpose of
identifying the Company as a client of Tatum. Tatum will not use the Company’s
logo or name in any press release or general circulation advertisement without
the Company’s prior written consent.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Exhibit B

Employee Living and Travel Expense Matters

This Exhibit B sets forth the living arrangements and expense reimbursement
arrangements agreed upon by Tatum, LLC (“Tatum”) and American Apparel, Inc. (the
“Company”) in connection with that certain Executive Services Agreement, dated
May 14, 2008 (the “Agreement”), by and between Tatum and the Company.

1. Living Arrangements: During the term of the Agreement, the Company will
provide to the Employee a furnished apartment or the reasonable equivalent in a
facility that is reasonably appropriate in the circumstances and is acceptable
to the Employee. Such apartment or its equivalent shall include the necessary
utilities, including, but not limited to, telephone and internet access. Until
such time as that apartment or its equivalent can be obtained, the Employee will
utilize reasonable judgment in selecting appropriate hotels and food service
providers that will be reimbursed by the Company.

2. Travel Expenses: The Company recognizes that the Employee resides in the San
Francisco Bay Area, and must travel to Los Angeles to provide the services
contemplated under the Agreement. Accordingly, the Company will reimburse the
Employee for reasonable travel expenses to and from the San Francisco Bay Area
not less frequently than weekly, including air travel (coach or business class
for any flights longer than 3 hours), travel to and from the respective
airports, parking, and related expenses, all in accordance with Company policy.
The Company will make the same reimbursements available in such circumstances
that the Employee’s spouse may travel to Los Angeles in lieu of the Employee’s
travel to the San Francisco Bay Area.

3. Rental Car: The Company will provide the Employee with a suitable rental car
or other available Company owned automobile and will reimburse related
reasonable expenses during the term of the Agreement.