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                                                                  EXHIBIT 10.16

                      [LETTERHEAD OF DOUGHTY HANSON & CO.]

The Directors
Knowles Electronics Inc
1151 Maplewood Drive
Itasca, Illinois
60143
                                                                    28 June 1999

Dear Sirs

SERVICE AGREEMENT

We refer to the Recapitalisation Agreement dated 23rd June 1999 in relation to
which Doughty Hanson & Co Managers Limited ("DHCM") has agreed to assist you,
and you have agreed to work exclusively with DHCM in the recapitalisation (the
"Recapitalisation") of certain businesses comprising the Knowles Electronics Inc
("the Recapitalised Businesses"). For arranging the purchase of shares or assets
in various legal entities, we have undertaken to negotiate the details of the
sale and purchase agreement with Knowles family ("the Vendor") at a purchase
price of US$530 million.

In consideration of DHCM providing these services to Knowles Electronics Inc, we
would now like to confirm our agreement concerning the fees to be paid to DHCM
upon the successful completion of the Recapitalisation.

1.    Knowles Electronics Inc intends to acquire 90% of the Vendor's interests
      in the Recapitalised Businesses.

2.    DHCM has undertaken to provide Knowles Electronics Inc with the following
      services:

      -     Advising and supervising the financial, commercial, environmental,
            tax and insurance due diligence of the business to be acquired using
            third party advisors where appropriate;

      -     Supervising the applications to the individual jurisdictions for
            competition authorities clearance;

      -     Advising on the setting up of appropriate management incentive
            arrangements for senior management;

      -     Mediating and arranging the purchase of the business activities as
            described above including negotiating Letters of Intent, Purchase
            Contract, and agreeing all associated documentation with the Vendor;
            and

      -     Advising and assisting in the establishment of an appropriate tax
            structure for Knowles Electronics Inc and its subsidiaries.
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                                     [LOGO]
                                     DOUGHTY
                                     HANSON
                                      & CO

3.    Knowles Electronics Inc has agreed to pay DHCM a flat fee for the services
      mentioned above at an amount of US$3million (plus VAT if applicable). This
      fee shall be due to DHCM only upon a successful completion of the
      Recapitalisation, and is subject to the provisions below.

      The fee shall become due and payable at the completion of the
      Recapitalisation.

4.    Knowles Electronics Inc has undertaken and agreed that it will fully
      reimburse DHCM for its out-of-pocket expenses (including VAT to the extent
      that it is non-recoverable for DHCM); however, out-of-pocket expenses
      (including non-recoverable VAT) shall only be chargeable insofar as the
      aggregate amount of such expenses exceeds the fee payable above. Knowles
      Electronics Inc has agreed to pay such an amount either in total or in
      instalments when invoiced.

5.    In addition, Knowles Electronics Inc has agreed that it will fully
      reimburse DHCM for all expenses of all professional advisers engaged by
      DHCM for the purpose of undertaking the activities listed above and
      otherwise in connection with the Recapitalisation (including VAT to the
      extent that it is non-recoverable for DHCM). Knowles Electronics Inc will
      pay such expenses either in total or in instalments when invoiced. For the
      avoidance of doubt, DHCM's professional advisers shall include, inter
      alia, PricewaterhouseCoopers (financial due diligence and tax);
      Environmental Resource Management (environmental due diligence); Kirkland
      & Ellis (Co-ordination of legal due diligence, senior facilities
      documentation, Recapitalisation documentation, shareholders agreement
      documentation subordinated loan documentation); Willis Coroon (insurance
      due diligence); Frost & Sullivan (technical due diligence) and such other
      legal, tax, accounting, environmental and other consultant professional
      advisers as DHCM may engage from time to time in the course of the
      Recapitalisation.

6.    DHCM has undertaken and will continue to undertake to keep secret and
      confidential all information which we have received or which we will
      receive in rendering services stipulated under this agreement except as
      required under DHCM's obligations relating to Doughty Hanson & Co Funds.

7.    Knowles Electronics Inc has agreed and confirms such agreement that in
      fulfilling its obligations under this agreement, DHCM is entitled to enter
      into sub-contractor agreements with third parties to which DHCM passes
      over its confidentiality obligations as mentioned above.

8.    This agreement is governed by the laws of England.
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                                     [LOGO]
                                     DOUGHTY
                                     HANSON
                                      & CO

Please signify your agreement to the above terms by countersigning the attached
copy of this letter and sending the signed version back to us.

/s/ Ken Terry
For and on behalf of
Doughty Hanson & Co Managers Limited

We agree with the contents of this letter

/s/ Reg G. Garratt
Knowles Electronics Inc<PAGE>   1
                                                                  EXHIBIT 10.17

                      [LETTERHEAD OF DOUGHTY HANSON & CO.]

The Directors
Knowles Electronics Inc
1151 Maplewood Drive
Itasca, Illinois
60143

                                                                    28 June 1999

Dear Sirs

COMMISSION AGREEMENT

We refer to the Recapitalisation Agreement dated 23rd June 1999 in relation to
which Doughty Hanson & Co Managers Limited ("DHCM") has agreed to assist you,
and you have agreed to work exclusively with DHCM in the recapitalisation (the
"Recapitalisation") of certain businesses comprising the Knowles Electronics Inc
("the Recapitalised Businesses"). For arranging bank finance for the purchase of
shares or assets in various legal entities, we have undertaken to negotiate the
details of the terms and agreements for such financing with Knowles Family ("the
Vendor") at a purchase price of US$530 million.

In consideration of DHCM providing these services to Knowles Electronics Inc, we
should now like to confirm our agreement concerning the commissions to be paid
to DHCM upon the successful completion of the Recapitalisation.

1.    Knowles Electronics Inc intends to acquire 90% of certain of the Vendors'
      interests in the Recapitalised Businesses.

2.    DHCM has undertaken and continues to undertake to use its reasonable
      endeavours to arrange the necessary senior debt and subordinated debt
      financing for the Recapitalisation including in particular the following
      services:

      -     Arranging Senior Term Loan Financing of US$200 million for the
            purpose of financing the purchase price, the expenses of the
            recapitalisation and the refinancing of the existing indebtedness of
            the Company;

      -     Arranging for a Subordinated Debt Facility of US$150 million for the
            purpose of financing the purchase price, the expenses of the
            acquisition and the refinancing of the existing indebtedness of the
            Vendors' interests;

      -     Arranging Working Capital Facilities of US$50 million for the
            purpose of future working capital needs of the business;

      -     Arranging currency or interest rate swap and/or interest rate cap
            and/or other hedging facilities to manage the interest rate and
            foreign
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                                     [LOGO]
                                     DOUGHTY
                                     HANSON
                                      & Co

            exchange risks of the business as needed;

      o     Negotiating and agreeing appropriate bank loan and security
            documentation supporting the Senior Term Loan Facilities,
            Subordinated Bridge Facility and the Working Capital Facility; and

3.    Knowles Electronics Inc hereby agrees to pay DHCM arrangement commissions
      in respect of the above equivalent to 0.5% of the Total Senior Bank
      Facilities of US$200 million arranged for the Recapitalisation, plus 0.5%
      of the Subordinated Debt Financing Facility of US$150 million plus 0.5% of
      the Working Capital Facility of US$50 million. The total aggregate
      commissions of US$2 million are due to DHCM only upon a successful
      completion of the Recapitalisation, and are subject to the provisions
      below.

      The aggregate commissions shall become due and payable upon completion of
      the Recapitalisation.

4.    Knowles Electronics Inc hereby agrees that it will fully reimburse DHCM
      for its out-of-pocket expenses (including VAT to the extent that it is
      non-recoverable for DHCM); however, out-of-pocket expenses (including
      non-recoverable VAT) shall only be chargeable insofar as the aggregate
      amount of such expenses exceed the commissions payable above. Knowles
      Electronics Inc will pay such an amount either in total or in instalments
      when invoiced.

5.    In addition, Knowles Electronics Inc hereby agrees that it will fully
      reimburse DHCM for all expenses of all professional advisers engaged by
      DHCM for the purpose of undertaking the activities listed above and
      otherwise in connection with the Recapitalisation (including VAT to the
      extent that it is non-recoverable for DHCM). Knowles Electronics Inc will
      pay such expenses either in total or in instalments when invoiced. For the
      avoidance of doubt, DHCM's professional advisers shall include, inter
      alia, PriceWaterhouseCoopers (financial due diligence and tax);
      Environmental Resources Management (environmental due diligence); Kirkland
      & Ellis (Co-ordination of legal due diligence, senior facilities
      documentation, sale and purchase documentation, shareholders agreement
      documentation subordinated loan documentation); Willis Corroon (insurance
      due diligence); Frost & Sullivan (technical due diligence) and such other
      legal, tax, accounting, environmental and other consultant professional
      advisers as DHCM may engage from time to time in the course of the
      Recapitalisation.

6.    DHCM has undertaken and continues to undertake to keep secret and
      confidential all information which we have received or which we will
      receive in rendering services stipulated under this agreement except as
      required under DHCM's obligations relating to Doughty Hanson & Co Funds.

7.    Knowles Electronics Inc has agreed and confirms such agreement that in
      fulfilling its obligations under this agreement, DHCM is entitled to enter
      into sub-contractor agreements with third parties to which DHCM passes
      over its confidentiality obligations as mentioned above.
<PAGE>   3

                                     [LOGO]
                                     DOUGHTY
                                     HANSON
                                      & Co

8.    This agreement is governed by the laws of England.

Please signify your agreement to the above terms by countersigning the attached
copy of this letter and sending the signed version back to us.

/s/ Ken Terry
For and on behalf of
Doughty Hanson & Co Managers Limited

We agree with the contents of this letter

/s/ Reg G. Garratt
Knowles Electronics Inc

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