EX-10.8 11 exh10-8.txt MANAGEMENT ADVISORY AGRMT EXHIBIT 10.8 AGREEMENT FOR MANAGEMENT ADVISORY, STRATEGIC PLANNING AND CONSULTING SERVICES THIS AGREEMENT is made effective as of the 22nd day of December, 2004 (the "Effective Date"), by and between Investcorp International Inc., a Delaware corporation ("III"), and Associated Materials Incorporated, a Delaware corporation ("AMI"). WHEREAS, III, by and through its officers, employees, agents and affiliates has developed in connection with the conduct of its business and affairs various areas of expertise in the fields of management, finance, marketing, and strategic planning; and WHEREAS, AMI desires to avail itself of the expertise of III in those areas hereinabove enumerated and in which III is acknowledged to have expertise, for a period of five (5) years from the Effective Date, said 5-year period being referred to as the "Term"; NOW, THEREFORE, the parties do hereby agree as follows: 1. Appointment. AMI hereby appoints III to render management advisory,strategic planning and consulting services to AMI on an exclusive basis during the Term as herein contemplated. 2. III. During the Term, III shall render to AMI, by and through such of its officers, employees, agents and affiliates as III, in its sole discretion, shall designate from time to time, management advisory, strategic planning and consulting services. Said services shall consist of advice concerning management, finance, marketing, strategic planning, and such other services as shall be requested from time to time by the Board of Directors of AMI. AMI acknowledges and agrees that the services to be provided by III hereunder do not encompass services that would be required in connection with an acquisition, restructuring or initial public offering by AMI, or a private sale of the stock or assets of AMI. Should AMI desire to engage III to provide financial advisory services in connection with any such type of transaction, such engagement shall be subject to the negotiation of mutually acceptable fee arrangements for such additional services, albeit the indemnification obligations of AMI as set forth in paragraph 6 of this Agreement shall apply to any such additional services performed by III. 1 3. Fees. In consideration of III's performance of the above-described services, AMI shall pay to III, in cash, consulting services fees at the rate of $4,000,000 for the first year of the Term and $500,000 per year for the remaining duration of the Term (collectively, the "Fee"). It is recognized that the services provided under this Agreement will not be evenly distributed over time and that a significant portion of such services will be performed early in the period of time covered by this Agreement. It is also recognized that, subject to the terms of this Agreement, AMI is committed to pay the full amount payable hereunder, and the Fee, once paid, is non-refundable. The full amount of the Fee for the entire Term shall be paid on the Effective Date. 4. Reimbursements. Within 15 calendar days of delivery of III's invoice, AMI shall reimburse III for its reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with the performance of services pursuant to this Agreement. 5. Permissible Activities. Nothing herein shall in any way preclude III from engaging in any business activities or from performing services for its own account or for the account of others. 6. Indemnification. AMI shall indemnify and hold harmless III and its directors, officers, employees, agents and controlling persons (each being an "Indemnified Party") from and against any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities, joint or several, to which such Indemnified Party may become subject under any applicable federal or state law, or otherwise, relating to or arising out of the management, strategic planning and consulting services contemplated by, this Agreement. AMI shall reimburse any Indemnified Party for all costs and expenses (including reasonable counsel fees and expenses) incurred in connection with the investigation of, preparation for or defense of any pending or threatened claim or any action or proceeding arising therefrom, whether or not such Indemnified Party is a party. AMI shall not be liable under the foregoing indemnification provision to the extent that any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense is found in a final judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted primarily from the bad faith or gross negligence of III. 7. Amendments. No amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement, or consent to any departure by either party from any such provision, shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the parties to this Agreement and then such amendment, waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given. 2 8. Notices. Any and all notices hereunder shall, in the absence of receipted hand delivery, be deemed duly given when mailed, if the same shall be sent by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, and the mailing date shall be deemed the date from which all time periods pertaining to a date of notice shall run. Notices shall be addressed to the parties at the following addresses: If to III, to: Investcorp International Inc. 280 Park Avenue 36th Floor New York, New York 10017 Attention: President with a copy to: Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP 200 Park Avenue New York, New York 10166 Attention: David B. Rosenauer, Esq. If to AMI, to: Associated Materials Incorporated 3773 State Road Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio 44233 9. Entire Agreement. This Agreement shall constitute the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof, and shall supersede all previous oral and written (and all contemporaneous oral) negotiations, commitments, agreements and understandings relating hereto. 10. Assignment. This Agreement shall be assignable by either party hereto provided that the non-assigning party consents in writing to such assignment. 11. Applicable Law. This Agreement shall be construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of New York (without regard to the conflicts of laws provisions thereof or of any other jurisdiction) and shall inure to the benefit of, and be binding upon, III and AMI and their respective successors and assigns. 12. No Continuing Waiver. The waiver by any party of any breach of this Agreement shall not operate or be construed to be a waiver of any subsequent breach. 3 13. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but which together shall constitute one and the same instrument 4 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties has caused this Agreement for Management Advisory, Strategic Planning and Consulting Services to be executed and delivered by its duly authorized officer or agent as set forth below. INVESTCORP INTERNATIONAL INC. By: ----------------------------- Name: Title: ASSOCIATED MATERIALS INCORPORATED By: ----------------------------- Name: Title: 5