Document:

exv10w8

Exhibit 10.8

NORTEK, INC.

Second Amended and Restated

Change in Control Severance Benefit

Plan for Key Employees

Effective Date: August 27, 2004

     This Second Amended and Restated Change in Control Severance Benefit Plan for Key Employees
(this “Plan”) amends and restates the Nortek, Inc. Change in Control Severance Benefit Plan for Key
Employees As Amended and Restated June 12, 1997 (the “First Amended Plan”) as of the Effective
Date.

     Nortek, Inc. (the “Company”) desires to assure that it and its subsidiaries (the “Employer”)
will have the benefit of the continued service and experience of certain of their key employees
designated as hereinafter provided (“Employees,” or individually, the “Employee”) and to assure
Employer and the Employee of the continuity of management of the Company and the Employer in the
event of any actual or threatened change in control of the Company and adopts this Plan to provide
such assurances.

     1. Effective Date. The Effective Date shall occur on the date of and immediately
following the Acquisition, as defined herein. THL Buildco Holdings, Inc. and THL Buildco, Inc.,
companies affiliated with Thomas H. Lee Partners, L.P., having entered into a stock purchase
agreement on July 15, 2004 with affiliates of Kelso & Company, L.P. and certain other parties (the
“Stock Purchase Agreement”), pursuant to which THL Buildco, Inc. agreed to purchase all the
outstanding capital stock of the then-existing Nortek Holdings, Inc. (“Prior Holdings”), there
subsequently occurred the Closing, as defined in the Stock Purchase Agreement, and immediately
thereafter (A) THL Buildco, Inc. merged with and into Prior Holdings and Prior Holdings merged
with and into Nortek, with Nortek continuing as the surviving corporation, and (B) THL Buildco
Holdings, Inc. became the new parent company of Nortek and was renamed “Nortek Holdings, Inc.,”
which acquisition by THL Buildco, Inc. and the related mergers are collectively referred to
hereinafter as the “Acquisition.”

     2. Designated Employees. Employees entitled to participate in the Plan shall be those
designated from time to time by the Board of Directors of the Company or its designees.

     3. Agreement of Employees. Designated Employees in order to participate in the Plan
must enter into written agreements with Employer with respect to participation in the Plan in a
form prescribed by Employer, which need not be the same for all such Employees and which may
provide for reduced benefits or less favorable terms than are provided for in this Plan generally
and which shall contain, among other things, the agreement of such Employees that in the event any
person (“Person”), as that term is defined or used in Sections 13(d) or 14(d)(2) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (“Exchange Act”), begins a tender or exchange offer, solicitation of proxies
from the Company’s security holders or takes other actions to effect a Change in Control (as
hereinafter defined), such Employee will not voluntarily terminate his

 

 

employment with Employer until such Person has abandoned or terminated such efforts to effect
a Change in Control or until a Change in Control has occurred.

     4. Change in Control. For purposes of this Plan, a “Change in Control” shall be
deemed to have occurred if and when

     (a) There occurs any event or series of events that would be required to be reported as
a change in control in response to Item 5.01 on a Form 8-K filed by the Company under the
Exchange Act or in any other filing by the Company with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (assuming for this purpose that the Company is required to make filings with the
Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Exchange Act) unless the Person acquiring
control is or is an affiliate of such Employee; or

     (b) The Company executes an agreement of acquisition, merger or consolidation which
contemplates that after the effective date provided for in the agreement, all or
substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company shall be controlled by
another corporation or other entity; provided, however, for purposes of this paragraph (b)
that (i) if such an agreement requires as a condition precedent approval by the Company’s
shareholders of the agreement or transaction, a Change in Control shall not be deemed to
have taken place unless and until such approval is secured and (ii) if the voting
shareholders of such other corporation or entity shall, substantially after such effective
date, be substantially the same as the voting shareholders of the Company immediately prior
to such effective date, the execution of such agreement shall not, by itself, constitute a
“Change in Control”; or

     (c) Any Person which does not include the Employee or any affiliate of the Company as
of the Effective Date becomes the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly (either as a
result of the acquisition of securities or as the result of an arrangement or understanding,
including the holding of proxies, with or among security holders), of securities of the
Company representing 25% or more of the votes that could then be cast in an election for
members of the Company’s Board of Directors unless within 15 days of being advised that such
ownership level has been reached, a majority of the Continuing Directors then in office
adopts a resolution approving the acquisition of that level of securities ownership by such
Person; or

     (d) During any period of 24 consecutive months, commencing after the Effective Date,
individuals who at the beginning of such 24-month period were directors of the Company shall
cease to constitute at least a majority of the Company’s Board of Directors, unless the
election of each director who was not a director at the beginning of such period has been
approved in advance by directors representing at least two thirds of (i) the directors then
in office who were directors at the beginning of the 24-month period or (ii) the directors
specified in clause (i) plus directors whose election has been so approved by directors
specified in clause (i).

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     For purposes of this Plan, directors of the Company shall be “Continuing Directors” if they
were directors at the beginning of any such 24-month period or were approved in the manner provided
in paragraph (d) of this Section 4.

     5. Benefit Upon the Acquisition. Within 30 days following the Acquisition, regardless
of whether an Employee’s employment has been terminated, the Company shall pay to any Employee who
was a participant in the First Amended Plan at the time of Acquisition an amount equal to 20% of
the annual rate of his basic salary immediately prior to the Effective Date. No such benefit will
be payable to any Employee hereunder, however, in connection with any subsequent Change in Control.

     6. Severance Benefit. If during a period of 24 months following a Change in Control
(including the Acquisition or any subsequent Change in Control), either (i) the employment of
Employee is terminated by Employer or (ii) there is a material adverse change in the terms of the
employment of Employee which entitles Employee to treat any such change as such a termination as
hereinafter provided, Employee shall be entitled to receive severance pay at an annual rate equal
to (i) his basic salary at the annual rate in effect immediately prior to any such Change in
Control (or, if higher, immediately prior to such termination), plus (ii) the highest amount of
bonus or incentive compensation paid or payable in cash to Employee (irrespective of any decision
to defer any payment with respect thereto) for any one of the three calendar years prior to such
Change in Control (or, if higher, immediately prior to such termination), such severance pay to be
paid for the 24-month period following such termination in the same manner as Employee’s basic
salary was paid immediately prior to such termination and to be subject to appropriate tax
withholding. [For example, if Employee’s basic salary was $100,000 immediately prior to a Change
in Control, his highest bonus in the prior three years was $20,000 and he is paid monthly, his
severance pay for each of the 24 months following termination would be $10,000.] Payment of such
amount shall be considered severance pay in consideration of past services, services subsequent to
Employee’s designation under this Plan and continued services during a period while any such Change
in Control is pending and thereafter and is not to be reduced by compensation or income received by
Employee from any other employment or other source.

     In the event of such a termination, Employee shall continue for a period of 24 months after
termination to be covered at the expense of Employer by the same or equivalent hospital, medical,
accident, disability and life insurance coverages as he was covered immediately prior to such
termination; provided, however, that in lieu of such coverage, Employee may elect to be paid in
cash, within 15 days after such termination, an amount equal to Employer’s cost of providing such
coverages during such period.

     Notwithstanding the foregoing, all payments to which Employee would be entitled under this
Plan shall be reduced to the extent necessary so that he shall not be liable for the federal excise
tax levied on certain “excess parachute payments” under Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code.

     Following a Change in Control, a material adverse change in the terms of employment of
Employee by Employer which Employee is entitled to treat as a termination by Employer for purposes
of this Plan includes:

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     (a) Without Employee’s express written consent, assignment of Employee to any duties
inconsistent with his position, duties and responsibilities and status with Employer
immediately prior to a Change in Control; or

     (b) A reduction by the Employer in Employee’s base salary as in effect immediately
prior to a Change in Control;

     (c) A failure by Employer to continue any cash bonus or incentive plans in which
Employee is entitled to participate immediately prior to a Change in Control or a
modification of any such plans with the result that the cash bonus or incentive compensation
(“Bonus”) paid to Employee for any calendar year in which such Change in Control occurs or
in the subsequent 24-month period is less than the average Bonus awarded Employee for the
three years prior to the Change in Control (or such shorter period as he has been employed
by Employer); or

     (d) Without Employee’s express written consent, the Employer’s requiring Employee to be
based anywhere other than within 25 miles of his office location immediately prior to a
Change in Control, except for required travel on the Employer’s business to an extent
substantially consistent with his business travel obligations immediately prior to a Change
in Control; or

     (e) The failure by the Employer to continue in effect any benefit or compensation plan,
stock ownership plan, stock purchase plan, stock option plan, life insurance plan,
health-and-accident plan or disability plan in which Employee is participating at the time
of a Change in Control (or plans providing Employee with substantially similar benefits), or
the taking of any action by the Employer which would adversely affect Employee’s
participation or materially reduce his benefits under any of such plans; or

     (f) The taking of any action by the Employer which would deprive Employee of any
material fringe benefit enjoyed by him immediately prior to a Change in Control or the
failure by the Employer to provide him with the number of paid vacation days to which he is
then entitled in accordance with the Employer’s normal vacation policy in effect immediately
prior to a Change in Control; or

     (g) The failure by the Employer or the Company to obtain the written agreement to
perform the Company’s obligations under this Plan by any successor of the Company; or

     (h) Any breach by the Company or Employer of any provision of this Plan.

     7. Limited Effect. This Plan, any agreement entered into pursuant hereto and payment of
severance benefits hereunder shall not give Employee any right of continued employment, and no
right to any compensation or benefits from the Company or Employer except the right specifically
stated herein for certain severance pay benefits in the event of a Change in Control at a time when
Employee is still employed by Employer and is a designated Employee under this Plan, shall not
limit Employer’s right to terminate Employee’s employment at any time prior to a Change in Control,
with or without cause, or to terminate Employee’s

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designation as an Employee under this Plan, except as may be otherwise provided in a written
employment agreement between Employee and Employer, and shall not confer on Employee any right to
severance pay except in the event as specifically provided for herein.

     8. Termination. This Plan and the employee benefits described herein may be terminated as to
all Employees or as to any specific Employee at any time by the Company acting by a majority of the
Continuing Directors then in office; provided that no such termination occurring after 180 days
prior to a Change in Control shall have occurred shall terminate or effect the rights of any
Employee hereunder.

     9. Indemnification. Employer agrees to pay all costs and expenses incurred by Employee in
connection with the enforcement of his rights under this Plan and will indemnify and hold harmless
Employee from and against any damages, liabilities and expenses (including without limitation fees
and expenses of counsel) incurred by Employee in connection with any litigation or threatened
litigation, including any regulatory proceedings, arising out of the making, performance or
enforcement of this Plan.

     10. Governing Law. This Plan and agreements made with Employees hereunder shall be governed
by the laws of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations.

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AGREEMENT

     This Agreement is entered into between Nortek, Inc. (the “Employer”) and                     , an
employee of Employer (the “Employee”) who has been designated by the Board of Directors of Employer
as being entitled to participate in the Second Amended and Restated Change in Control Severance
Benefit Plan for Key Employees (the “Plan”).

     In consideration of his designation as being entitled to participate in the Plan, Employee
accepts the terms and conditions of the Plan and agrees not to voluntarily terminate his employment
with the Employer as required by, and under the circumstances stated in, Section 3 of the Plan, and
Employer confirms that Employee is a participant in the Plan, subject to the terms and conditions
thereof.

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 

	 	 	 	 	NORTEK, INC.	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 
	 	By:	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 	 	 

	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 

	 	 

-6-exv10w9

Exhibit 10.9

First Amendment

to the Nortek, Inc. Second Amended and Restated

Change in Control Severance Benefit Plan for Key Employees

     WHEREAS, Nortek, Inc. (the “Company”) adopted the Nortek, Inc. Second Amended and Restated
Change in Control Severance Benefit Plan for Key Employees (the “Plan”) effective August 24, 2004;

     WHEREAS, the Plan may be amended by the Company at any time; and

     WHEREAS, the Company wishes to amend the Plan to comply with the final regulations under
Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended;

     NOW, THEREFORE, the Company hereby amends the Plan as follows, effective, except where
otherwise provided, January 1, 2008:

	1.	 	The second paragraph of Section 6 is deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:
	 
	 	 	“In the event of such a termination, Employee shall continue for a period of 24 months after
termination to be covered at the expense of Employer by the same or equivalent hospital,
medical, accident, disability, and life insurance coverages as he was covered immediately
prior to such termination.”
	 
	2.	 	The following new Section 6A is inserted following Section 6, to read in its entirey as
follows:

     “6A. Specified Employees.

     (a) If at the time of Separation from Service an Employee is a Specified Employee, any
and all amounts payable hereunder to such Employee that constitute deferred compensation
subject to Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (“Section 409A”) as
determined by the Company in its sole discretion, and that would (but for this sentence) be
payable within six months following such Separation from Service, shall instead be paid in
the form of a single lump sum payment on the date that follows the date of such Separation
from Service by six (6) months and one day, together with interest at the “short-term
applicable federal rate” determined on a semi-annual basis, prescribed by the Internal
Revenue Service under Section 1274(d) of the Internal Revenue Code (or any successor
provision). Payments, if any, due following six (6) months following Separation from
Service shall continue to be paid at the time and in the form otherwise provided hereunder.

 

 

     (b) The following definitions shall apply for purposes of this Plan:

     (i) “Specified Employee” means an individual who is determined by the Company
to be a specified employee as defined in subsection (a)(2)(B)(i) of Section 409A.
Nortek, Inc. may, but need not, elect in writing, subject to the applicable
limitations under Section 409A, any of the special elective rules prescribed in
Section 1.409A-1(i) of the Treasury Regulations for purposes of determining
“specified employee” status. Any such written election shall be deemed part of this
Plan.

     (ii) “Separation from Service” means a separation from service within the
meaning of Treasury regulations §1.409A-1(h). For this purpose, references in this
Plan to “termination of employment” shall mean a Separation from Service.

     (c) Separate Payment Election. For purposes of Section 409A, an
Employee’s right to receive any installment payment upon Separation from Service
pursuant to this Plan, offer letter or other similar agreement shall be treated as a
right to receive a series of separate and distinct payments.”

	3.	 	The following Sections 11 through 13, inclusive are added to the Plan, to read
in their entirety as follows:

     “11. Administration. The Plan shall be administered by the Company acting
through its duly authorized officers and their delegates (the “Administrator”). The
Administrator shall have full discretionary authority to construe the Plan, to establish
procedures, and to take all such other actions as are necessary or appropriate to administer
the Policy.

     12. Employment Not Guaranteed. Nothing in this Plan shall be construed as
giving any person the right to be retained in the service of the Company as an employee or
independent contractor.

     13. Miscellaneous. Neither the Administrator nor the Company, nor any officer
or other representative of the Company, nor any other person, shall have any liability to
any employee for any taxes or increased taxes, or related interest or penalties, incurred by
reason of the failure of any payment to comply with any applicable requirements of Section
409A.”

[The remainder of this page is left intentionally blank.]

 

 

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Nortek, Inc. has caused this instrument of amendment to be executed by
its duly authorized officer this 29th day of December, 2008.

	 	 	 	 	 
	 	Nortek, Incorporated

 	 
	 	By:  	/s/ Edward J. Cooney
 	 
	 	 	Authorized Officer

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