Document:

exv10w2

Exhibit 10.2

EXECUTION COPY

NORTEK, INC., NORTEK HOLDINGS, INC. and RICHARD L. BREADY

AMENDED AND RESTATED EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

     This EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) among NORTEK, INC, a Delaware corporation
(“Nortek”), NORTEK HOLDINGS, INC., a Delaware corporation (“Nortek Holdings”) (Nortek and Nortek
Holdings, collectively being referred to hereinafter as “Employer”), and Richard L. Bready, a
resident of Rhode Island (hereinafter called “Employee”), amends and restates that certain
Employment Agreement among Nortek, Prior Holdings (as defined below) and Employee dated as of
January 9, 2003 (the “Prior Agreement”).

     WHEREAS, on July 15, 2004, THL Buildco Holdings, Inc. and THL Buildco, Inc., companies
affiliated with Thomas H. Lee Partners, L.P., entered into a stock purchase agreement with
affiliates of Kelso & Company, L.P., Employee 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”);

     WHEREAS, immediately following the Closing, as defined in the Stock Purchase Agreement, (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.”);

     WHEREAS, Employee was employed by Nortek and Prior Holdings as Chairman and Chief Executive
Officer and Employee possesses intimate knowledge of the business and affairs of Nortek and has
acquired certain confidential information and data with respect to Nortek;

     WHEREAS, at the time of the Acquisition, Employee was employed by Nortek and Prior Holdings
under the Prior Agreement;

     WHEREAS, Employer desires to assure that it will have the benefit of the continued service and
experience of Employee as Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Employer and an
integral part of its management for a period of time and Employee is willing to enter into an
agreement to such ends upon the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement; and

     WHEREAS, Employee and Employer desire to enter into this Agreement, which shall amend and
restate the Prior Agreement and govern the terms of Employee’s employment with Employer as of the
date of, and immediately following, the Acquisition (the “Effective Time”). In consideration of
the foregoing and the mutual agreements herein contained, the parties mutually agree as follows:

 

     1. Employment Period and Duties

     (a) During the Employment Period, Employer shall employ Employee, and Employee shall serve as
an employee of Employer, provided, however, that if the Stock Purchase Agreement is terminated
according to its terms, then at the time of such termination, this Agreement shall terminate and be
of no force or effect. For purposes of this Agreement, “Employment Period” shall mean the period of
time commencing at the Effective Time and ending, unless sooner terminated pursuant to the
provisions hereof, on December 31, 2009; provided that on December 31, 2009 and each anniversary
thereof, the Employment Period shall automatically extend for one additional year unless written
notice of intent not to extend is delivered by Employer to Employee at least 90 days prior to the
scheduled end of the Employment Period.

     (b) During the Employment Period, Employee shall serve as Chairman, President and Chief
Executive Officer of Employer, or in such other executive capacity at a similar level of
responsibility and with such other duties as the board of directors of Nortek Holdings (the
“Board”) and Employee may from time to time mutually determine, and Employee accepts employment on
the terms and conditions contained herein and agrees to devote a substantial part of his working
time and energies to the business of Employer and to faithfully and diligently perform the
customary duties of his office and such other duties, reasonable vacations (of not less than four
weeks per year) and time devoted to charitable and community service, and absences due to illness
and holidays excepted. Such other duties may include the performance of services for any of
Employer’s subsidiaries and, without further remuneration (except as otherwise agreed), may also
include service as an officer or director of one or more of Employer’s subsidiaries. Nothing
herein shall prohibit Employee from managing or supervising his personal investments or from
devoting attention to his other business interests that do not materially interfere with his
obligations to Employer hereunder or compete with Employer or its subsidiaries.

     (c) During the Employment Period, Employer shall maintain an appropriately appointed executive
office for Employee in Providence, Rhode Island (or at such other location as Employee and Employer
shall mutually agree) of not less than the size of Employee’s current office and associated
administrative space from which Employee shall perform his duties and shall provide Employee with
executive secretarial and other administrative staff and services suitable to his offices and
duties, staffed by persons approved by Employee and with such staff members’ salaries and benefits
as Employee shall approve.

     (d) During the Employment Period, Employer shall not, without obtaining Employee’s consent,
terminate the employment of any employee listed in Exhibit A hereto.

     2. Compensation

     (a) Basic Salary. Employee shall receive a basic annual salary of not less than $3,500,000 or
such greater amount as determined from time to time at the discretion of the Board (hereinafter
called the “Basic Salary”) during the Employment Period, payable in equal monthly installments on
the 15th day of each month.

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     (b) Incentive Compensation.

          (i) Employer shall pay Employee incentive compensation determined by multiplying $5,000,000 by
a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days from January 1, 2004 to the Effective Time
and the denominator of which is 366. Such incentive compensation shall be paid in cash at the
Effective Time.

          (ii) Employee shall not be entitled to earn any incentive or bonus compensation during the
Employment Period, other than as set forth in Section 2(b)(i) immediately above. The Board,
however, may elect to award Employee incentive or bonus compensation from time to time; provided
that it does so through an award that specifically designates Employee as the recipient and
provided further that any decision to make such an award, the amount of any such award made, and
all other terms and conditions thereof shall be at the discretion of the Board. An award in one
year shall not entitle Employee to an award in any other year. Employee acknowledges that there is
no direct or implied agreement, promise or understanding of any kind to grant him incentive or
bonus compensation, other than as provided in Section 2(b)(i) hereof.

     (c) Equity Issuance. THL-Nortek Investors, LLC (the “LLC”) shall issue to Employee at the
Effective Time 23,586.66 Class C Units of the LLC, subject to the terms and conditions of the
Management Unit Subscription Agreement, dated as of August 27, 2004, between Employee and the LLC.

     (d) Life Time Medical Coverage.

     (i) From and after the date upon which the Employment Period expires or
terminates for any reason (the “Triggering Date”), Employer shall provide Employee
and his Spouse for so long as they shall live with lifetime Medical Coverage at no
cost to Employee. For purposes of this Agreement, (x) “Spouse” shall mean any
individual married to Employee only during the time such individual is married to
Employee, provided that an individual who is married to Employee at the time of
Employee’s death shall be a Spouse for the remainder of such individual’s lifetime
and (y) “Medical Coverage” shall mean all medical and dental benefits that are
provided Employee at the Effective Time, any medical or dental expense that would be
deductible by Employee under section 213 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended (the “Code”), including insurance premiums, long term care benefits
(determined without regard to any limitation under section 213 of the Code),
co-payments and deducible amounts (all determined without regard to the deductible
threshold set forth in section 213(a) of the Code) if paid by the Employee directly,
and such other reasonable medical and dental expenses that Employer may approve from
time to time, but in no event shall Employer’s reimbursement obligation for
Employee, his Spouse or dependents under this Section 2(d) exceed $1,000,000
(exclusive of any gross up for taxes pursuant to Sections 2(d)(iii) or 8 hereof) in
the aggregate during Employee’s and his Spouse’s lifetimes. Such Medical Coverage
shall be extended to any dependent of Employee but only for so long as such person
remains a “dependent” under the terms and conditions of Employer’s health plan in
existence at the Effective Time. Employer shall make all reasonable efforts to

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include Employee, his Spouse and dependents in any comprehensive medical and/or
dental plan provided to active employees from time to time. Employee must make all
reasonable effort to obtain and to maintain (at Employer’s expense as provided
herein) any form of comprehensive medical and/or dental insurance that Employer may
require from time to time. If Employee is or becomes eligible for Medicare
benefits, the coverage provided by this Section shall be supplemental to Medicare
coverage, Parts A and B, and the Employee shall be required to submit claims to
Medicare before making any claim for medical care under this Section.

     (ii) Upon the Triggering Date, or any time thereafter, upon the written request
of Employee or his Spouse, Employer shall authorize a lump sum cash payment in lieu
of lifetime Medical Coverage in an amount established by the Board that is
reasonably sufficient to provide the lifetime Medical Coverage. For illustrative
purposes, a sample calculation of such lump sum cash payment is set forth in Exhibit
B hereto.

     (iii) Employer agrees to make a “gross up” payment to Employee to cover any and
all state and federal income taxes that may be due as a result of the benefits
provided under Section 2(d)(i) above and on any lump sum payment under Section
2(d)(ii) above (and the tax on any such “gross up” payment) as a consequence of
providing such lifetime Medical Coverage to Employee, his Spouse and his dependents.

     (iv) Following the Triggering Date, Employee shall notify the Employer of any
change in (x) his marital status or (y) the status of his dependents as
“dependents,” as soon as practicable following such change.

     (e) Benefits. Employee shall be eligible to participate in any deferred compensation, pension
or other benefit plan in which executive personnel of Employer are eligible to participate. In
addition, other than as provided in Section 16 hereof, Employee shall be entitled to receive all
other benefits or participate in any employee benefit plans generally available to executive
personnel of Employer, including without limitation, any hospital, medical, accident, disability,
life insurance, and dental coverage, any stock option or savings plans, or any pension or other
retirement benefit plans.

     (f) Reimbursement and Perquisites. Employer shall promptly reimburse Employee for all business
expenses incurred by Employee during the Employment Period; shall promptly pay or reimburse
Employee for club and professional association dues, assessments and fees for at least such clubs
and associations as Employee was a member of and Employer was making such payments or
reimbursements at the Effective Time; and shall provide to Employee for his exclusive business and
personal use two automobiles of his selection, pay all expenses of ownership, operation, repair and
maintenance of such vehicles, provide a suitable substitute vehicle in the event either automobile
is not available for use by Employee for any reason and replace each such automobile not less often
than biannually with a new vehicle at the option of Employee. Employer shall provide Employee with
use of (or reimburse Employee for use of) a private aircraft for business and personal travel in a
manner consistent with Employer’s practice prior to the Effective Time, provided that,
notwithstanding the foregoing, Employee use of the

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private aircraft for personal travel shall be limited to not more than fifty (50) hours per
year. Any tax liability to Employee resulting from any of any of payments, reimbursements or other
provision of perquisites provided pursuant to this Section 2(f) shall be solely Employee’s
responsibility.

     3. Termination

     (a) If Employee dies, the Employment Period or the Noncompete Period (as defined in Section 4
hereof) shall end and his employment hereunder shall be deemed to cease as of the date of his
death.

     (b) If Employee is incapacitated by accident, sickness, or otherwise so as to render him, for
a period of 365 consecutive days, mentally or physically incapable of performing the services
required of him under this Agreement (such incapacity, a “Disability”) and, if requested by
Employee, the basis for such incapacity is certified by a licensed physician, Employer, acting
through its Board, may terminate the Employment Period.

     (c) Employee shall have the right to terminate the Employment Period without Good Reason at
any time by written notice to the Board, not less than 20 business days in advance of such
termination.

     (d) Employer, acting through the Board, shall have the right to terminate the Employment
Period for Cause (as hereinafter defined), without further obligation hereunder on the part of
Employer or Employee except payment to Employee of amounts earned or accrued hereunder to the date
of termination, pursuant to the procedures specified in this Section 3(d); provided that the
Employment Period shall not be terminated for Cause if prior to the finding of the Board with
respect thereto, the Employment Period shall have terminated for any other reason. For purposes of
this Agreement, “Cause” shall mean: (i) the willful and continued failure of Employee to perform
substantially Employee’s material duties pursuant to Section 1(b) hereof (other than any such
failure resulting from, or contributed to by, incapacity due to physical or mental illness), after
a written demand for substantial performance is delivered to Employee by the Board which notice is
adopted at an in-person meeting of the Board called and held for such purpose (after reasonable
notice is provided to Employee and Employee is given an opportunity, together with counsel, to be
heard before the Board) and which notice specifically identifies the manner in which Employee has
not substantially performed his material duties, or (ii) because of conviction of Employee of a
crime involving theft, embezzlement or fraud against Employer or a civil judgment in which Employer
is awarded damages from Employee in respect of a claim of loss of funds through fraud or
misappropriation by Employee. Performance by Employee of his duties under Section 1(b) hereof shall
be presumed to be substantially performed, and any act, or failure or act, based upon authority
given pursuant to a resolution duly adopted by the Board or any committee of the Board or based
upon the advice of counsel for Employer (including members of its legal staff) or which has been
acquiesced in by the Board shall be conclusively presumed to be done, or omitted to be done, by
Employee consistent with his obligations under Section 1(b) hereof. Termination of the Employment
Period for Cause shall not occur unless and until there shall have been delivered to Employee a
copy of a resolution duly adopted by the affirmative vote of all of the members of the Board
excluding Employee at an in-person meeting of the Board called and held for such purpose (after
notice of not less than 20 business days is provided to Employee and Employee is given an
opportunity, together with

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counsel, to be heard before the Board), finding that, in the good faith opinion of the Board,
termination for Cause is justified based solely on information presented at such meeting.

     (e) Employer, acting through the Board, shall have the right to terminate the Employment
Period without Cause, by written notice to Employee, not less than 20 business days in advance of
such termination.

     (f) Good Reason. Employee shall have the right to terminate the Employment Period at any time
with Good Reason (as defined in Section 5) by written notice to the Board.

     (g) Any amounts due Employee hereunder in the event of termination of the Employment Period
shall be considered severance pay in consideration of his past services and in consideration of his
continued services from the date hereof, are considered reasonable by Employer and not in the
nature of a penalty, shall not be reduced by compensation or income received by Employee from any
other employment or other source and shall not be offset by any claims Employer may have against
Employee; timely payment of such amounts is further agreed by the parties hereto to be in full
satisfaction and compromise of any claims arising out of the performance or nonperformance of this
Agreement that either party might have against the other, other than any claims Employee may have
under the provisions of Section 8 hereof.

     4. Noncompetition and Confidentiality

     (a) Employee agrees that he shall not compete with Employer as hereinafter provided for a
period (the “Noncompete Period”) equal to:

     (i) if the Employment Period is terminated pursuant to Section 3(c) or (d)
hereof, one year beginning as of the first day following such termination, or

     (ii) if the Employment Period is terminated pursuant to Section 3(b), (e) or
(f) hereof or as described in Section 5(a), clause (y), the longer of (x) one year
beginning as of the first day following such termination of the Employment Period
and (y) a period commencing on the first day following such termination and ending
on December 31, 2009.

     (b) Employee’s agreement not to compete with Employer during the Noncompete Period shall be
limited to prohibiting Employee from owning a greater than 5% equity interest in, serving as a
director, officer, employee or partner of, or being a consultant to or co-venturer with any
business enterprise or activity that competes in North America with any line of business conducted
by Employer or any of its subsidiaries at the termination of the Employment Period and accounting
for more than 5% of Employer’s gross revenues for its fiscal year ending immediately prior to the
year in which the Employment Period ends. During the Noncompete Period, Employee agrees that he
will not hire or attempt to hire any person employed by Employer or any of its subsidiaries during
the 24 month period prior to the termination of the Employment Period, assist such a hiring by any
other person or entity, encourage any such employee to terminate his relationship with Employer (or
any such subsidiary) or solicit or encourage any customer or vendor of Employer to terminate its
relationship with Employer.

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     (c) Employee shall hold in a fiduciary capacity for the benefit of Employer all secret or
confidential information, knowledge or data relating to Employer or any of its subsidiaries, and
their respective businesses, which shall have been obtained by Employee during Employee’s
employment by Employer or any of their predecessors and which shall not be or become public
knowledge (other than by acts by Employee or representatives of Employee in violation of this
Agreement). After termination of Employee’s employment with Employer, Employee shall not, without
the prior written consent of Employer or as may otherwise be required by law or legal process,
communicate or divulge any such information, knowledge or data to anyone other than Employer and
those designated by it.

     (d) It is agreed that Employer, in addition to any other remedies available to it, shall be
entitled to preliminary and permanent injunctive relief against any breach or threatened breach by
Employee of any of the covenants in this Section 4. Employee and Employer further agree that, in
the event that any provision of this Section 4 shall be determined by any court of competent
jurisdiction to be unenforceable by reason of its being extended over too great a time, too large a
geographic area or too great a range of activities, such provision shall be deemed to be modified
to permit its enforcement to the maximum extent permitted by law.

     5. Severance Pay-Termination by Employer

     (a) If (x) the Employment Period shall terminate by reason of Employer’s exercise of its right
under Section 3(e) to terminate without Cause or in the event Employee elects to terminate the
Employment Period for Good Reason or (y) Employee’s employment is terminated due to the Employer’s
delivery of notice not to extend the Employment Period pursuant to Section 1(a) hereof, Employer
shall thereafter be obligated to provide and Employee, or in the event of his death, his estate,
shall be entitled to receive, for a period of one year beginning as of the first day following such
termination (or, if longer, for a period commencing on such date and ending on December 31, 2009):

     (i) an amount for each year, payable in the manner set forth in Section 2
hereof, equal to $1,750,000;

     (ii) continued coverage, at the expense of the Employer, under the same or
equivalent disability, accident and life insurance policies as Employee was covered
by immediately prior to termination of the Employment Period;

     (iii) an executive office for Employee located outside of Employer’s
headquarters but within Providence, Rhode Island and secretarial and other
administrative services, all reasonably suitable to Employee’s then current needs
and consistent with his former offices and duties during the Employment Period.; and

     (iv) continuation of the perquisites specified in Section 2(f) hereof.

     (b) For purposes of this Agreement, “Good Reason” shall mean:

     (i) any reduction of, or failure to pay, Employee’s Basic Salary or other
compensation as described in Section 2(a) and 2(b)(i) hereof;

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     (ii) any failure to provide the benefits or payments required by Sections 2(c)
(“Equity Issuance”), 2(d) (“Lifetime Medical Coverage”), 8 (Gross-Up Payment) and 10
(Indemnification) of this Agreement, any deferred compensation plan established on
or after the Effective Time in which Employee is a participant, or Sections 6.4(a),
7.1, 8.2 or Article X of the Securityholders Agreement by and among Employee, the
LLC and certain other parties, dated as of August 27, 2004 (the “Securityholders
Agreement”) or the registration rights provided in the Registration Rights Agreement
(as defined in the Securityholders Agreement) when in effect.

     (iii) assignment to Employee of any duties materially inconsistent with his
position (including status, offices and titles), authority, duties or
responsibilities as contemplated by Section 1(b) above or any other action by
Employer which results in a material diminution of such position, authority, duties
or responsibilities;

     (iv) relocation of Employer’s principal executive offices, or any event that
causes Employee to have his principal place of work changed, to any location outside
Providence, Rhode Island;

     (v) any requirement by Employer that Employee travel away from his office in
the course of his duties significantly more than the number of consecutive days or
aggregate days in any calendar year than was required of him prior to the Effective
Time; and

     (vi) without limiting the generality or effect of the foregoing, any other
material breach by Employer, LLC or any successor thereto or transferee of
substantially all the assets thereof, of this Agreement, the Securityholders
Agreement or the Registration Rights Agreement or any material breach by the LLC of
the Limited Liability Company Agreement with respect to Employee;

provided, however, that Employee may not terminate the Employment Period for Good
Reason unless and until he has given Employer notice specifically identifying the
nature of the Good Reason and provided Employer a reasonable opportunity to cure and
the Good Reason continues uncured.

     6. Death Benefit

     If the Employment Period shall terminate by reason of Employee’s death, his estate or
designated beneficiary shall thereafter be entitled to receive from Employer a death benefit for a
period of one year beginning as of the first day following his death (or, if longer, for a period
commencing on such date and ending on December 31, 2009) in an annual amount equal to $1,750,000,
such death benefit shall be payable in the manner set forth in Section 2 hereof.

     7. Disability Benefit

     If the Employment Period shall terminate by reason of Employee’s Disability, Employee, or in
the event of his death, his estate, shall thereafter be entitled to receive from Employer: (i)

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for a period of one year commencing from the date of such termination (or, if longer, for a period
commencing on such date and ending on December 31, 2009), a disability benefit in an annual amount
equal to $1,750,000, payable in the manner set forth in Section 2 hereof.

     8. Gross-up Payment

     (a) In the event that it is determined that any payment or benefit provided by Employer or any
of their predecessors to or for the benefit of Employee, either under this Agreement or otherwise,
and whether before or after the date hereof, will be subject to the excise tax imposed by section
4999 of the Code or any successor provision (“section 4999”), Employer will, prior to the date on
which any amount of the excise tax must be paid or withheld, make an additional lump-sum payment
(the “gross-up payment”) to Employee. The gross-up payment will be sufficient, after giving effect
to all federal, state and other taxes and charges (including interest and penalties, if any) with
respect to the gross-up payment, to make Employee whole for all taxes (including withholding taxes)
and any associated interest and penalties, imposed under or as a result of section 4999.

     (b) Determinations under this Section 8 will be made by the Employer’s tax accountant as of
the Effective Time unless Employee has reasonable objections to the use of that firm, in which case
the determinations will be made by a comparable firm chosen by Employee after consultation with
Employer (the firm making the determinations to be referred to as the “Firm”). The determinations
of the Firm will be binding upon Employer and Employee except as the determinations are established
in resolution (including by settlement) of a controversy with the Internal Revenue Service to have
been incorrect. All fees and expenses of the Firm will be paid by Employer.

     (c) If the Internal Revenue Service asserts a claim that, if successful, would require
Employer to make a gross-up payment or an additional gross-up payment, Employer and Employee will
cooperate fully in resolving the controversy with the Internal Revenue Service. Employer will make
or advance such gross-up payments as are necessary to prevent Employee from having to bear the cost
of payments made to the Internal Revenue Service in the course of, or as a result of, the
controversy. The Firm will determine the amount of such gross-up payments or advances and will
determine after resolution of the controversy whether any advances must be returned by Employee to
Employer. Employer will bear all expenses of the controversy and will gross Employee up for any
additional taxes that may be imposed upon Employee as a result of its payment of such expenses.

     (d) Employer shall provide Employee with a letter of credit no later than the Effective Time
covering Employee’s potential exposure, if any, to the excise tax imposed by section 4999 (or any
payment resulting from such exposure) on terms reasonably acceptable to Employer and Employee.

     9. Expenses

     Employer agrees to reimburse Employee for all reasonable expenses incurred by Employee in
connection with the negotiation of this Agreement, the Stock Purchase Agreement and any other
agreements and transactions contemplated thereby.

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     10. Indemnification

     Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, Employer agrees to pay all costs
and expenses incurred by Employee in connection with the enforcement of this Agreement 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 Agreement or termination of the Employment Period.

     11. Survival

     Provisions of this Agreement shall survive any expiration or termination of this Agreement, if
so provided herein or if necessary or desirable to accomplish the purposes of such provisions,
including without limitation Sections 4, 8 and 10 hereof.

     12. Notices

     All notices or other communications given hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to
have been duly given if mailed by certified mail or hand delivered, if to Employer, at 50 Kennedy
Plaza, Providence, Rhode Island 02903-2360, attention of the General Counsel, with a copy to Thomas
H. Lee Partners, L.P., 75 State Street Boston, MA 02109, attention of Anthony DiNovi, or at such
other address(es) as Employer shall have furnished to Employee in writing, or if to Employee, at
280 Irving Avenue, Providence RI 02906, or at such other address as Employee shall have furnished
to Employer in writing.

     13. Governing Law

     This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Rhode Island and Providence
Plantations.

     14. Severability

     The provisions of this Agreement are severable, and in the event that any one or more
paragraphs are deemed illegal or unenforceable, the remaining paragraphs shall remain in full force
and effect.

     15. Effectiveness/Prior Agreements

     This Agreement shall be binding on Employee and Employer as of the date hereof. If the
Effective Time does not occur, this Agreement shall be of no force and effect. As of the Effective
Time, the Prior Agreement shall terminate and no payments shall thereafter be made thereunder.
Under no circumstances shall the Closing or the Acquisition or any shareholder approval thereof or
any event relating thereto be deemed a “Change of Control” for any purposes under the Prior
Agreement. This Agreement will constitute the entire agreement between Employer and Employee and
will supersede all prior negotiations and written or oral agreements with respect to the full time
employment of Employee by Employer, including the Prior Agreement and all other prior employment
agreements between Employee and Employer or any

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of its predecessors, except as explicitly provided herein. No changes, alterations or
modifications may be made to this Agreement, except by a writing signed by each of the parties
hereto.

     16. Waivers and Acknowledgements

     Employee acknowledges that he is not a participant in the Nortek, Inc. Change in Control
Severance Benefit Plan for Key Employees, As Amended and Restated June 12, 1997 or any similar plan
and waives any and all rights to participate in the Nortek, Inc. Second Amended and Restated Change
in Control Severance Benefit Plan for Key Employees or any other such plans. Employee acknowledges
that he is not now a participant in any SERP sponsored by Nortek, Nortek Holdings or any of their
affiliates and he hereby waives any right to such participation hereafter. Employee acknowledges
that Exhibit C hereto sets forth all life insurance policies to which Employer and he, or any trust
established by him, are a party and agrees that, upon the transfer of those life insurance policies
from Employer to Employee, any split dollar agreements associated with any of those policies has
terminated and Employer has no further obligation with respect to those policies and agreements,
including without limitation the payment of any further premiums.

     17. Assignment

     Neither Employer nor Employee may make any assignment of this Agreement or any interest
herein, by operation of law or otherwise, without the prior written consent of the other; provided,
however, that Nortek and Nortek Holdings each, in the event that it shall hereafter, consolidate
with, or merge into, any other entity or transfer all or substantially all of its properties or
assets to another entity, may assign its rights and obligations under this Agreement without the
consent of Employee to such other entity. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be
binding upon Employer and Employee, their respective successors, executors, administrators, heirs
and permitted assigns.

     18. Counterparts.

     This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in one or more counterparts, each of which shall
be deemed to be an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same agreement.

     19. Acknowledgements.

     The parties agree that the following are to be accomplished at the Effective Time: (a)
payment to Employee of incentive compensation as specified in Section 2(b)(i) hereof; (b) payment
to Employee in accordance with Section 6 of the amended and restated agreement between Nortek and
Employee dated as of the 1st of June, 2001; (c) forgiveness of the principal and
interest outstanding at the Effective Time on the loan to Employee described in section 2(f) of the
Prior Agreement; and (d) transfer to Employee of all life insurance policies listed on Exhibit C
hereto.

[Remainder of page intentionally blank]

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     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have duly executed this Agreement as of August 27, 2004.

	 	 	 	 	 
	 	NORTEK, INC.

 	 
	 	By:  	/s/ Kevin W. Donnelly
 	 
	 	 	Name:  	Kevin W. Donnelly 	 
	 	 	Title:  	Vice President 	 
	 
	 	NORTEK HOLDINGS, INC.

 	 
	 	By:  	/s/ Kevin W. Donnelly
 	 
	 	 	Name:  	Kevin W. Donnelly 	 
	 	 	Title:  	Vice President 	 
	 
	 	 	 
	 	 	                                                     /s/ Richard L. Bready
 	 
	 	 	Richard L. Bready 	 
	 	 	 

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EXHIBIT A

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EXHIBIT B

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EXHIBIT C

LIFE INSURANCE POLICIES

AIG Sun America, Policy No. 7013959A

Prudential Policy No. 79-789-625

New York Life Policy No. 62-782-609

New York Life Policy No. 75-500-312

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Exhibit 10.3

AMENDMENT

TO

AMENDED AND RESTATED EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

This Amendment is made and entered into this 17th day of December, 2009 by and between NORTEK, INC.
(“Employer”) and Richard L. Bready (“Employee”):

RECITALS

	 	1.	 	Employee, Employer and the Nortek Holdings, Inc. (“Holdings”) entered into that
certain Amended and Restated Employment Agreement dated August 27, 2004 (the “Agreement”).
	 
	 	2.	 	Employee and Employer desire to further amend the Agreement as provided herein and
Employee, Employer and Holdings agree that Holdings shall cease to be a party to the
Agreement and shall no longer be considered an “Employer” thereunder.

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing recitals, and of the promises, covenants, terms
and conditions contained herein, the parties hereto agree as follows:

	 	A.	 	Section 5(a) of the Agreement is amended by deleting such Section in its entirety and
replacing it with the following:
	 
	 	 	 	“5. Severance Pay

     (a)(i) If the Employment Period shall terminate for any reason, other than by reason of
termination by Employer for Cause under Section 3(d) of this Agreement, Employer shall
thereafter be obligated to provide and Employee, or in the event of his death, his estate,
shall be entitled to receive, for a period of 18 months beginning as of the date following such
termination (the “Benefit Period”) an amount for each month, payable in the manner set forth in
Section 2 hereof, equal to one-twelfth of the Basic Salary.

     (a)(ii) Upon a termination of employment or the Employment Period for any reason set
forth in subsection (a)(i), above other than by reason of Employee’s death, during the Benefit
Period, Employee shall also receive:

(A) continued coverage, at the expense of Employer, under the same or equivalent
disability, accident and life insurance policies as Employee was covered by
immediately prior to the termination of the Employment Period;

 

 

(B) an executive office for Employee located outside of Employer’s headquarters
but within Providence, Rhode Island and secretarial and other administrative
services, all reasonably suitable to Employee’s then current needs and consistent
with his former offices and duties during the Employment Period; and

(C) continuation of the perquisites specified in Section 2(f) hereof.”

	 	B.	 	Section 6 of the Agreement is hereby amended by deleting such Section in its
entirety.
	 
	 	C.	 	Section 7 of the Agreement is hereby amended by deleting such Section in its
entirety.
	 
	 	D.	 	A new Section 18 is added to the Agreement, which Section shall read as follows:
	 
	 	 	 	“18. Section 409A
	 
	 	 	 	Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement or any other plan, agreement, or
arrangement to the contrary, the terms of the Policy adopted by Nortek, Inc. and
Subsidiaries, dated December 28, 2008, governing the timing of payments by reason of
‘separation from service’ to ‘specified employees’, shall govern any applicable amounts
payable under this Agreement. Further notwithstanding any other provision of this
Agreement or any other plan, agreement, or arrangement to the contrary, the terms of the
Nortek, Inc. and Subsidiaries 409A Reimbursement Policy, dated December 28, 2008, governing
the timing of certain reimbursement payments, shall govern any applicable amounts payable
under this Agreement.”
	 
	 	E.	 	Each of Holdings, Employer and Employee acknowledge and agree that, as of the date
hereof, Holdings shall cease to be a party to the Agreement and shall no longer be
considered an “Employer” thereunder.
	 
	 	F.	 	This Amendment shall be governed by the laws of the State of Rhode Island and
Providence Plantations.
	 
	 	G.	 	All sections and cross-references in the Agreement are hereby renumbered
appropriately.
	 
	 	H.	 	Except as expressly amended by this Amendment, the Agreement shall remain in effect
and continue in accordance with its terms. For the avoidance of doubt, except as provided
in Section G of this Amendment, nothing in this Amendment shall be interpreted to modify,
alter or amend the provisions of Section 2(d) of the Agreement, and Employer shall not
take any position inconsistent with the foregoing.

-2-

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have duly executed this Amendment as of December 17, 2009.

	 	 	 	 	 
	 	NORTEK, INC.

 	 
	 	By:  	/s/ Kevin W. Donnelly
 	 
	 	 	Name:  	Kevin W. Donnelly 	 
	 	 	Title:  	Vice President, General
 Counsel
and Secretary 	 
	 
	 	 	 
	 	 	                                                          /s/ Richard L. Bready
 	 
	 	 	Richard L. Bready 	 
	 	 	 	 
	 

Acknowledged and Agreed:

NORTEK HOLDINGS, INC.

	 	 	 	 	 
	By:  	/s/ Kevin W. Donnelly
 	 
	 	Name:  	Kevin W. Donnelly 	 
	 	Title:  	Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary 	 
	 

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