Exhibit 10.5
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
This Agreement, is effective as of the 20th day of June, 2003 (the Effective Date), and is by and between NATURES SUNSHINE PRODUCTS, INC., a Utah Corporation, having its principal place of business in Provo, Utah (NSP), and the undersigned individual (Employee).
RECITALS
WHEREAS, NSP is in the business of (i) manufacturing and selling numerous consumer products and services, including but not limited to herbs, vitamins, minerals, health foods, food supplements, skin care products and other health-related products, and (ii) distribution of products and services by the method of multilevel marketing/direct sales distribution; and
WHEREAS, Employee has been employed by NSP since December 18, 1989; and
WHEREAS, both NSP and Employee desire to embody the terms and conditions of Employees employment in a written agreement which shall supersede and revoke any and all prior agreements of employment, whether written or oral.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual agreements herein contained, the parties hereby agree as follows:
GENERAL PROVISIONS
1. Employment: NSP hereby employs Employee and Employee hereby agrees to serve NSP as its Vice President, International Europe. Employee shall devote Employees full time and efforts to NSP during the term of Employees employment and shall act with complete loyalty to NSP.
NSP may assign Employee such additional or substitute titles and duties as NSP shall determine in its sole discretion. Employee shall at all times act in a professional manner. Employee shall perform the duties set forth in Exhibit A, attached hereto, and such other duties as NSP may specify, in a competent and responsible manner and to NSPs reasonable satisfaction. Employee agrees to abide by the policies and procedures as may be set forth in handbooks, manuals and other materials provided by NSP.
2. Term: The term of Employees employment shall be twelve months, and shall hereinafter be referred to as the Initial Term. The Initial Term shall begin as of the Effective Date. Unless and until Employees employment with NSP is terminated by NSP or Employee for any reason or no reason, at the end of the Initial Term this Agreement shall automatically be renewed and extended for additional periods of twelve months each and Employees employment with NSP shall continue during the extended period.
3. Compensation:
(a) Base Salary: As compensation, NSP shall pay Employee a base salary of $117,772 per year (Base Salary). Base Salary shall be paid according to NSPs payroll schedule.
(b) Discretionary Bonus: Employee shall also be eligible to participate in the executive bonus program or any successor program (the EBP). Payment of any bonus under the EBP is in NSPs sole discretion according to the then current practice and criteria established by NSP.
(c) Employees Benefits: Until Employees employment is terminated, Employee shall be entitled to all standard employee benefits then in effect for employees of NSP holding comparable titles or positions (the Benefits).
(d) Stock Option: In addition to the base salary and bonus provided for in Sections 3(a) and 3(b) above NSP may from time to time grant to Employee options (the Options) to purchase shares of NSPs common stock (the Option Stock), pursuant to the price, terms and conditions set forth in NSPs 1995 Stock Option Plan, as amended from time to time.
4. Termination:
(a) Discretionary Termination by NSP: Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement, during the Initial Term and thereafter NSP may terminate Employees employment immediately for Cause. NSP may terminate Employees employment at will, subject to this Agreement and NSPs obligation to pay Severance Pay to Employee as provided in Section 5.
(b) Discretionary Termination by Employee: Employee may terminate Employees employment by giving NSP at least two weeks notice of said resignation.
(c) Termination for Cause by NSP: Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement, during the Initial Term and thereafter NSP may terminate Employees employment immediately for Cause. For purposes of this Agreement, Cause shall include (i) material breach by Employee of this Agreement, (ii) performance by Employee deemed unsatisfactory to NSP acting reasonably, provided NSPs expectations for specific improvement are communicated to Employee in writing with a ninety (90) day probation period allowed for the requisite improvement, (iii) Employees dishonesty or violation of company rules by Employee including that certain Confidentiality Agreement by and between NSP and Employee, or (iv) Employees conviction of or entrance of a plea of nolo contendere to a felony or to any other crime punishable by incarceration.
(d) Termination upon Death or Incapacity of Employee: Employees employment with NSP shall, at the exclusive election of NSP, terminate upon the death or Incapacity of Employee. For purposes of Sections 4 and 5, termination of Employees employment by reason of Employees death or Incapacity shall be considered termination of Employees employment by NSP without Cause and Employee shall receive the Severance Pay, if any, pursuant to Section 5.
(e) Definition of Incapacity: In this Agreement, Incapacity shall mean that Employee is for a period of ninety-five (95) consecutive days or more, unable to perform Employees duties effectively, for reasons such as emotional, mental or physical illness, deficiency or disability. In this Agreement, if any question arises as to the Incapacity of Employee, NSP shall promptly engage three physicians who are members of the American Medical Association to examine Employee and determine if Employee is able to perform the duties of Employees employment with NSP. In the event Employee appears to have mental capacity to act, one of said three physicians shall be selected by Employee, one shall be selected by NSP, and one shall be selected by the other two physicians. The decision of the three physicians shall be conclusive for all purposes of this Agreement.
5. Effect of Termination on Compensation:
(a) Discretionary Termination by NSP: If Employees employment is terminated by NSP without Cause, Employee shall be entitled to receive as severance pay (Severance
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Pay) the following: (i) an amount equal to Base Salary for the twelve (12) months from the date of termination (the Severance Pay Period) and (ii) continuation of any coverage in effect at the date of termination for Employee and his or her family at NSPs expense under NSPs major medical and life insurance plans during the Severance Pay Period.
(b) Non-Renewal by NSP Without Cause; Death; Incapacity: If NSP without Cause does not renew Employees employment at the end of the Initial Term, or the end of any employment period thereafter, or if Employees employment is terminated by reason of Employees death or Incapacity, then Employee (or Employees estate or designated beneficiary, as the case may be) shall receive Severance Pay during the Severance Pay Period.
(c) Termination by Employee; Termination or Non-Renewal by NSP For Cause: If Employees employment is (i) terminated by Employee, or (ii) terminated for Cause or for Cause not renewed by NSP, Employee shall receive only Employees Base Salary and the Benefits earned through the date of such termination.
(d) Payment: At the option of NSP, Severance Pay may be distributed in a lump sum or in regular biweekly checks over the Severance Pay Period. Any Severance Pay is subject to required payroll deductions and withholdings.
(e) Limitation: Except as provided in this Section 5, Employee shall not be entitled to any further or other Severance Pay, Base Salary, Benefits, compensation, damages or other amounts. Employee understands and agrees that notwithstanding anything in this Agreement, NSPs obligation to pay any Base Salary, benefits or Severance Pay after termination of employment depends upon Employees compliance with the agreements and covenants of Sections 6 through 9. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, Employee shall not receive any health or life insurance coverage after the date of termination, except COBRA benefits, if any, as and to the extent prescribed by law.
PROTECTION OF NSP
6. Noncompetition and Nonsolicitation:
(a) Definitions: In this Section 6, the Restricted Territory shall mean the United States and any country where (on the date the notice terminating Employees employment is received) NSP is doing business or planning to do business within the next year through a subsidiary or joint venture. In this Section 6, the Restrictive Period shall mean the period (i) commencing with the Effective Date, and (ii) ending one year after the later of (x) the date of termination of Employees employment (whether or not employment is terminated by NSP or Employee, or for Cause or otherwise), or (y) the date of final payment of Severance Pay was paid to Employee (or would have been paid but for a breach of this Agreement by Employee or for Cause termination of Employees employment).
(b) Employee Noncompetition and Nonsolicitation Covenants: Employee hereby covenants and agrees that Employee shall not, directly or indirectly, in the Restricted Territory during the Restricted Period, do any of the following:
(i) own an interest in (other than less than one percent of a publicly traded company), operate, join, control, participate in or be a distributor, agent, consultant, independent contractor, employee, officer, director, partner, principal or shareholder of any individual, person or entity having ten percent (10%) or more of its gross sales from distribution of herbs and/or vitamins;
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(ii) plan for or organize any business which competes or would compete with any herb or vitamin product of NSP, or combine with any other employee or representative of NSP to organize any such competitive business;
(iii) solicit, induce or influence (or seek to induce or influence) any person under contract with NSP (including any associate or distributor of NSP) to terminate or alter his or her relationship with NSP; or
(iv) solicit any customer of NSP where the identity or any significant information about such customer was or is Confidential Information of NSP (as such term is defined in that certain Confidentiality Agreement by and between Employee and NSP).
(c) Extension of Restrictive Period: Employee agrees that NSP, in its sole discretion, may extend the Restrictive Period and the foregoing restrictive covenants in Section 6(b) for up to an additional year. To do so, NSP must (i) give Employee at least ninety days prior notice of its intention to extend the restrictive covenant, and (ii) pay Employee an amount equal to the Base Salary for and during the period of such extension. Any such payments shall be paid according to NSPs regular payroll schedule.
(d) Intentions: It is the intention of the parties that the foregoing restrictive covenant be enforced as written, and, in any other event, enforced to the greatest extent (but to no greater extent) in time, territory and degree of participation as permitted by applicable law.
7. Non-Disparagement: Employee hereby also covenants not to disparage, orally or in writing, NSP or its management (including NSPs products, practices and policies) to any NSP employee, associate, distributor or member of the public or press. Employee understands and agrees that Employee may lose any right to Severance Pay if Employee breaches this covenant not to disparage.
8. Acknowledgement: Employee acknowledges that Employees covenants and agreements in Sections 6 and 7 are reasonable and necessary to protect the legitimate interests and Confidential Information of NSP. Employee acknowledges that Section 6 is not so broad as to prevent Employee from earning a livelihood or practicing Employees chosen profession after termination of Employees employment. The parties acknowledge and agree that the compensation and benefits provided for under this Agreement are in substantial part consideration for Employees covenants in Sections 6 and 7.
9. Enforcement: For any breach of Section 6, 7, 8 or 9, Employee agrees that NSP is entitled to equitable and other injunctive relief which may include, but shall not be limited to restraining Employee from rendering any service or performing or participating in any activity in breach of this Agreement. However, no remedy available under this Agreement (including this Section 9) is intended to be exclusive of any other remedy, and each and every remedy shall be cumulative and shall be in addition to every other available remedy or now hereafter existing at law or in equity, by statute or otherwise.
MISCELLANEOUS
10. Entire Agreement: This Agreement (including the recitals and Exhibit A, attached hereto) sets forth the entire agreement and understanding between Employee and NSP and cannot be modified or altered, nor can any provision hereof be waived, except in writing signed by Employee and a duly authorized officer of NSP.
11. Interpretation: The Section and other headings in this Agreement are for reference only and shall not affect the construction of this Agreement. Whenever the context requires, the singular shall include the plural, the plural shall include the singular, and the whole shall include any part thereof.
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12. Invalidity of Provision: If any provisions in this Agreement are held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect for any reason, such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision(s) shall be limited, construed or eliminated to the extent necessary to remove such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability and the other provisions of this Agreement shall not be affected thereby.
13. Binding Effect: This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon Employee and Employees heirs and personal representatives, and upon NSP and its successors and assigns. Employees covenants and agreements of Sections 6 through 9 shall survive the termination of Employees employment by any means, reason or party.
14. Waiver: No waiver of any provision of this Agreement shall constitute a waiver of any other provision, whether or not similar, nor shall any waiver constitute a continuing waiver.
15. Notice: Any notice given under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be sufficient if personally delivered or sent by registered or certified mail and addressed, if to Employee, to Employees address set forth in NSPs records, or if to NSP, to its principal office. Such notice shall be deemed given when delivered if delivered personally, or, if sent by registered or certified mail, at the earlier of actual receipt or three days after mailing in United States mail, addressed as aforesaid with postage prepaid.
16. Governing Law: This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Utah and any litigation arising out of it shall be conducted in applicable state courts located in Utah County or federal courts located in Salt Lake County, Utah. The parties expressly consent to such jurisdiction and venue.
AGREED TO AND ACCEPTED AS OF THE DATE FIRST ABOVE WRITTEN:
Employee: |
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Employer: |
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ROBERT W. SHAFFER |
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NATURES SUNSHINE PRODUCTS, INC. |
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\s\ Robert W. Shaffer |
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By |
\s\Douglas Faggioli |
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Signature |
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Name |
Douglas Faggioli |
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Title |
C.O.O. |
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EXHIBIT A
TO
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
BETWEEN
NATURES SUNSHINE PRODUCTS, INC.
AND
ROBERT W. SHAFFER
03062
NATURES SUNSHINE PRODUCTS, INC.
JOB DESCRIPTION
Job Title: Vice President-International-Europe |
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Effective: March, 2002 |
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Department: |
International |
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Status: Exempt |
Reports to: |
President-International |
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GENERAL SUMMARY
Performs the following types of duties: directs, coordinates and administers certain international operations under assigned area of responsibility; responsible for the attainment of profitability, sales growth and other strategic goals for international business units; manages efforts of general managers; works to develop current and long-range objectives, policies and procedures; supports conceptual, strategic and policy formulation functions related to assigned areas or responsibility; is a member of the International Executive Committee; performs other related duties as assigned.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
40% |
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Directs the development of international strategies, budgets and personnel plans to achieve corporate objectives. Directly supervises the activities of international general managers and department staff members as assigned. |
20% |
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Participates with the Vice President of International in business decision making, strategic planning and operating plans for international units of the company to ensure achievement of objectives. |
20% |
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Develops and interprets company policies. Plans, organizes, staffs and directs efforts associated with the management of existing international businesses. |
20% |
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Provides strategic information to the Vice President of International concerning the operation of international business units. Further analyzes international business performances and situations by frequent international travel to local business units. |
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES REQUIRED
Knowledge: Broad and extensive international business knowledge specific to direct sales and MLM business.
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Skill: Highly developed analytical, marketing, communication and leadership skills involving worldwide operations.
Ability to deal effectively at the highest corporate level and with members of NSPs international businesses. To provide effective support and counsel to the Vice President of International.
EXPERIENCE/EDUCATION
The equivalent of a Masters degree in international business plus more than five years international, general, and marketing/sales management experience in the direct sales or MLM industry, with two of the five years acting as a General Manager in a foreign country.
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