##### 



Exhibit 10.17

English Translation

MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT

|         |  |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
|-------- |  | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|BETWEEN: |  | LES SERVICES DE GESTION HEARING CARE OF AMERICA (SGHCA) INC.,a
duly incorporated corporation established for a private interest,
having its head office at 2770 Chemin du Lac, Longueuil, Quebec,
J4N 1B8, herein represented by Mr. Steve Forget, duly authorized
as he so declares,
|         |  |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
|         |  | (Hereinafter referred to as the Manager);                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          
|         |  |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
|AND:     |  | COUSINEAU, DOUCET, PARENT, FORGET, AUDIOPROTHÉSISTES, s.e.n.c., a
general partnership, having its head office at 44 Côte du Palais,
Quebec City, Province of Quebec, G1R 4H8, herein represented by
Mr. Martin Cousineau, duly authorized as he so declares,                         
|         |  |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
|         |  | (Hereinafter referred to as CDPF                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

WHEREAS CDPFis a firm of hearing aid acousticians;

WHEREASin connection with the practice of its profession, CDPFrequires
management expertise from time to time;

WHEREASthe Managerhas renowned management expertise;

WHEREASthe Manageris prepared to provide CDPF, upon CDPFs request and
according to its instructions, with the management expertise that CDPFrequires
in order to carry on its professional activities;

NOW, THEREFORE, THE PARTIES AGREE AS FOLLOWS:



|1. |  | PREAMBLE
|-- |  | --------



| | 1.1 |  | The preamble shall form an integral part of this Agreement
and shall guide the interpretation hereof.
| | --- |  | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



---



##### 



-2-



|2. |  | OBJECT
|-- |  | ------



| | 2.1 |  | Subject to the provisions of section 4 hereinafter, the
Manager, upon the request and according to the instructions of CDPF,
shall provide to CDPFall the management expertise that CDPF
requires for the practice of its profession, to the specific
exclusion of any professional acts required by law to be performed
solely by hearing aid acousticians.
| | --- |  | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



|3. |  | DILIGENCE
|-- |  | ---------



| | 3.1 |  | The Managerundertakes to provide its management services to
CDPFin a diligent and competent manner and in good faith whenever
the Managers management services are required by CDPF.
| | --- |  | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



|4. |  | MANAGERS TASKS
|-- |  | ---------------



| | 4.1 |  | For greater certainty and without limiting the generality of
the foregoing, the Managershall perform, upon CDPFs request and
according to its instructions, the following tasks for CDPF:
| | --- |  | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



| | 4.1.1 |  | the keeping of CDPFs accounting books and
records in accordance with generally accepted accounting
standards, including the preparation of CDPFs financial
statements;
| | ----- |  | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
| | 4.1.2 |  | the hiring, laying off and dismissal of and
setting of working conditions for CDPFs non-professional,
clerical, support, administrative or other employees;            
|
| | 4.1.3 |  | the remuneration of non-professional, clerical,
support, administrative or other employees;                                                                             
|
| | 4.1.4 |  | the issuance and collection of CDPFs cheques
and other commercial instruments, with the exception of those
issued in the name of the Manager;                          
|
| | 4.1.5 |  | the collection of CDPFs receivables and the
payment of its accounts;                                                                                                   
|
| | 4.1.6 |  | the administration of day-to-day relations with
CDPFs suppliers, to the exclusion of the making of any
contracts;                                                      
|
| | 4.1.7 |  | any other day-to-day acts of management required
for the sound management of CDPF.                                                                                      



|5. |  | PROHIBITION
|-- |  | -----------



| | 5.1 |  | It is expressly agreed between the parties that the Manager
and its employees, agents and/or representatives shall not be
entitled, in any manner, to present themselves as CDPFs
representatives in connection with any acts other than those
described herein, nor may the Managerin any manner commence or
continue any legal proceeding concerning CDPF, appear in its name,
take up its defence or effect any settlement of any dispute
involving CDPF.
| | --- |  | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



---



##### 



-3-



|6. |  | REPORT
|-- |  | ------



| | 6.1 |  | The Managerundertakes to provide CDPFwith a report in
writing on its management within thirty (30) days after the end of
each month during which the Managerrendered management services to
CDPF. The said report shall be in such form as CDPFmay require from
time to time. The Managershall also be required, upon simple
written or verbal request by CDPF, to furnish any supporting
vouchers that CDPFmay require, such as deposit slips, cheques,
invoices, etc.
| | --- |  | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



|7. |  | OWNERSHIP
|-- |  | ---------



| | 7.1 |  | All reports or documentation that relate to the management of
CDPFshall remain CDPFs property at all times. The Manager
undertakes to remit forthwith all such reports and documentation
that may be in its possession or in the possession of its employees,
agents or representatives, upon simple written or verbal request by
CDPF.
| | --- |  | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



|8. |  | CONFIDENTIALITY
|-- |  | ---------------



| | 8.1 |  | The Managershall ensure that the Managerand all its
employees, agents and/or representatives keep confidential and
refrain from disclosing or using, in any manner whatsoever, for
their own benefit or the benefit of third parties, any information
or documentation concerning CDPFof which they may acquire knowledge
in the course of performing their duties hereunder or by virtue of
having access to CDPFs premises and documents, and in particular,
but without limiting the generality of the foregoing, any
information or documentation having to do with CDPFs clients or
their files.
| | --- |  | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



|9. |  | CONSIDERATION
|-- |  | -------------



| | 9.1 |  | In consideration of the management services provided by the
Managerto CDPFfrom time to time, CDPFshall pay the Managerthe
fees set forth in the attached schedule. The said amount shall be
payable by CDPFto the Manageron the tenth day following the date
of the invoice sent by the Managerto CDPF.
| | --- |  | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
| | 9.2 |  | Interest at the prime rate of the Managers banker plus five
percent (5%) per annum shall be added to any amount unpaid when due
by CDPF.                                                                                                                                                              
|
| | 9.3 |  | All applicable taxes including more specifically, but not
limited to, the goods and services tax and the Quebec sales tax
shall be added to the amount due by CDPFto the Managerhereunder.                                                                                                             



|10. |  | TERM
|--- |  | ----



| | 10.1 |  | This Agreement is made for a term of three (3) years from the
execution hereof and shall be renewable automatically for an
additional period of one year unless one of the parties prefers not
to renew the said Agreement. A party wishing to prevent the
Agreement from being renewed automatically shall send the other
party, at least thirty (30) days in advance of the renewal date, a
written notice stating that it does not intend to renew the
Agreement.
| | ---- |  | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



---



##### 



-4-



|11. |  | TERMINATION
|--- |  | -----------



| | 11.1 |  | This Agreement shall be terminated automatically within
thirty (30) days after CDPFsends the Managera notice stating that
it is in default or has refused or failed to comply with any of the
provisions contained herein, in the event that such default, refusal
or failure continues after the aforementioned period.
| | ---- |  | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



|12. |  | END OF AGREEMENT
|--- |  | ----------------



| | 12.1 |  | This Agreement shall also terminate forthwith, without any
prior notice being required, upon the occurrence of any of the
following events:
| | ---- |  | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



| | 12.1.1 |  | if one of the parties makes an assignment for the benefit of
its creditors;                                                              
| | ------ |  | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
| | 12.1.2 |  | if a receiver, trustee or other similar official is
appointed to administer the property of one of the parties;                          
|
| | 12.1.3 |  | if a petition in bankruptcy or a petition for reorganization
pursuant to any legislation is made by or against one of the
parties hereto;
|
| | 12.1.4 |  | if one of the parties commits any other act of bankruptcy or
if a winding-up order is issued by a competent court;                       
|
| | 12.1.5 |  | if one of the parties becomes insolvent;                                                                                                 
|
| | 12.1.6 |  | if CDPFfails to make payment to the Managerof any sum owed
as specified herein;                                                          
|
| | 12.1.7 |  | in the event of fraud, theft or misrepresentation by the
Manager.                                                                        



|13. |  | MISCELLANEOUS
|--- |  | -------------



| | 13.1 |  | Election of Domicile
| | ---- |  | --------------------



| | 13.1.1 |  | For purposes of this Agreement, the parties elect domicile
in the judicial district of Quebec for all legal purposes and
jurisdiction of the courts.
| | ------ |  | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



| | 13.2 |  | Amendment
| | ---- |  | ---------
|



| | 13.2.1 |  | No amendment may be made to this Agreement except by written
instrument signed by all parties.
| | ------ |  | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



| | 13.3 |  | Notices
| | ---- |  | -------
|



| | 13.3.1 |  | All notices hereunder must be given in writing.                                                                                                        
| | ------ |  | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
| | 13.3.2 |  | Any notice shall be validly given if delivered in person,
sent by registered mail or faxed to the intended recipient at
the address first stated above.
|
| | 13.3.3 |  | Any notice given in the manner aforesaid shall be deemed to
have been received at the time of delivery if delivered in
person, on the third business   



---



##### 



-5-



| |        |  | day following the mailing date if mailed, or on the
business day following the transmission date if faxed.               
| | ------ |  | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
| | 13.3.4 |  | Each party may notify the other, in the manner aforesaid, of
any change of address for purposes of the giving of notices.



| | 13.4 |  | No Waiver
| | ---- |  | ---------



| | 13.4.1 |  | The failure or delay by a party hereto to enforce a right,
remedy or prerogative hereunder shall not entail a waiver of
such right, remedy or prerogative, nor shall a party that
failed to fully exercise a right, remedy or prerogative be
prevented from exercising such right, remedy or prerogative,
in whole or in part, at any future time.
| | ------ |  | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|

| | 13.5 |  | Entire Agreement
| | ---- |  | ----------------



| | 13.5.1 |  | This Agreement sets forth the entire agreement between the
parties and no representations are made or warranties given
other than those contained herein.
| | ------ |  | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



| | 13.6 |  | Partial Invalidity
| | ---- |  | ------------------



| | 13.6.1 |  | Any decision of a court that may find any of the provisions
of this Agreement to be null or unenforceable shall not affect
the other provisions of this Agreement or the validity or
enforceability of such provisions.
| | ------ |  | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



| | 13.7 |  | Assigns
| | ---- |  | -------



| | 13.7.1 |  | Subject to the provisions hereof, this Agreement shall be
binding on the successors and assigns and on the heirs,
executors and administrators of CDPF.
| | ------ |  | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, THE PARTIES HAVE SIGNED AT Montreal, ON DECEMBER 1, 2000

THE MANAGER:

LES SERVICES DAPPROVISIONNEMENT HEARING CARE OF AMERICA INC.

By:Steve Forget


CDPF:

COUSINEAU, DOUCET, PARENT, FORGET, AUDIOPROTHÉSISTES, s.e.n.c.



---



##### 



-6-

By:Martin Cousineau






---



##### 



SCHEDULE

FEES

(Section 9.1)

The Managerand CDPFagree that the Managers administrative workload is
directly related to the number of product units for each clinic operated by
CDPF. Consequently, the management fees are set in accordance with the
following table. The fees may be changed from time to time so as to take into
consideration, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, any changes in
manufacturers suggested retail prices, wages paid to clerical staff, taxes and
other similar increases. It is agreed that all base charges (wages and other
costs) will be charged back to CDPFat the Managers cost.

Subject to the foregoing, the fee table in effect as of December 1, 2000 is as
follows:



|1. |  | Minimum fee per clinic: $300 per month per clinic, for up to 12
prostheses sold during the month.                                                                                                                                             
|-- |  | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|  
|2. |  | Additional fee per clinic for every prosthesis sold in a given month over
and above the 12 prostheses referred to in the previous paragraph, in the
amount of $25 for each such additional prosthesis starting from the
thirteenth prosthesis.