Exhibit 10.4
Execution Copy
VOTING AGREEMENT
THIS
VOTING AGREEMENT (this Agreement) is made and executed as of the 22nd day of May, 2009 (the Effective Date),
by, between and among Natures Sunshine Products, Inc., a Utah corporation
organized under the Utah Revised Business Corporation Act (URBCA) (the Company);
Paradigm Capital Management, Inc., a New York corporation (the Shareholder);
Kristine F. Hughes, Pauline Hughes Francis and Eugene L. Hughes (collectively,
the Hughes Parties).
RECITALS
A. As of the date of this Agreement, the
Shareholder Beneficially Owns 1,573,737 shares of common stock of the Company,
representing approximately 10.2% of the issued and outstanding common stock of
the Company.
B. The Company and the Shareholder have
agreed that, among other things, if the Companys Board of Directors (the Board)
is reconstituted as set forth herein, the Shareholder will vote its shares for
the election of the members of the reconstituted Board in the next annual
meeting of the Companys shareholders.
The parties desire to memorialize their arrangement in this Agreement.
AGREEMENT
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing
premises and mutual covenants contained herein, and for other good and valuable
consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are acknowledged, the
parties agree as follows:
1. Certain Definitions.
For purposes of this Agreement:
1.1 Affiliate has the meaning set forth in Rule 12b-2
promulgated by the SEC under the Exchange Act.
1.2 Beneficial Owner, Beneficial Ownership and Beneficially
Own have the same meaning as set forth in Rule 13d-3 promulgated by
the SEC under the Exchange Act.
1.3 SEC means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
1.4 Voting Shares means (i) all equity securities of
the Company Beneficially Owned by the Shareholder or the Hughes Parties,
respectively, as of the date of this Agreement less any such shares disposed of
by the Shareholder or the Hughes Parties, respectively, after the Effective
Date in compliance with Section 6.9 and (ii) all additional
equity securities of the Company of which the Shareholder or the Hughes Parties
may acquire Beneficial Ownership during the period from the date of this
Agreement through the Voting Agreement Termination Date (hereinafter defined).
10.3 No Assignment of Claims. The
parties represent that they have
not assigned or otherwise transferred any interests, rights, causes of action,
or claims they have, may have, or could have had against one another.
10.4 Captions; Interpretation. The captions used
in this Agreement are inserted for reference purposes only and shall not be
deemed to define, limit, extend, describe, or affect in any way the meaning,
scope or interpretation of any of the terms of this Agreement or its
intent. As the context requires, the
singular shall include the plural, and vice versa; and the masculine shall
include the feminine and neuter, and vice versa.
10.5 Counterparts. This Agreement may
be signed in any number of counterparts with the same effect as if the
signatures upon any counterpart were upon the same instrument. All signed counterparts shall be deemed to be
one original. A facsimile transmittal
bearing a photocopied signature shall be deemed an original.
10.6 Severability. The provisions of
this Agreement are severable and should any provision be void, voidable,
unenforceable or invalid, such provision shall not affect the remaining
provisions of this Agreement.
10.7 Waiver of Breach. Any waiver by any
party of any breach of any kind by the other, whether direct or implied, shall
not be construed as a continuing waiver of, or consent to, any subsequent
breach of this Agreement.
10.8 No Concession of Liability. This Agreement shall not in any event constitute, be construed
or deemed a concession or admission of any liability or wrongdoing of any of
the parties.
10.9 Entire Agreement; Amendment. With respect to the
subject matter of this Agreement, this Agreement constitutes the entire
agreement among the parties, and it may not be altered, modified or amended
except by written agreement signed by the Company and the Shareholder. With respect to the subject matter of this
Agreement, and except as expressly provided in the Agreement, all prior and
contemporaneous agreements, arrangements and understandings among the parties
are hereby superseded and rescinded.
10.10 Governing Law; Venue. This Agreement
shall be interpreted, construed and enforced according to the substantive laws
of the State of Utah. Any dispute
arising out of this Agreement, or the breach thereof, shall be brought
exclusively in any state or federal court of competent jurisdiction in the
State of Utah, the parties expressly consenting to jurisdiction and venue in
such courts.
10.11 Costs.
Each party shall bear its own costs and expenses in connection with the
negotiation, execution and performance of this Agreement or the events or
actions referred to herein.
10.12 Attorney Fees. If any party shall
breach its obligations under this Agreement, the party not in breach shall be
entitled to recover its costs, expenses and reasonable attorney fees from the
breaching party, whether such sums be expended with or without suit and
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regardless
of the forum (including but not limited to recourse in connection with any
bankruptcy case, insolvency proceeding, or arbitration proceeding).
10.13 Cumulative Remedies; Specific Performance. The rights and
remedies of the parties shall be construed cumulatively, and none of such
rights and remedies shall be exclusive of, or in lieu or limitation of, any
other right, remedy or priority allowed by law, unless specifically set forth
herein. The parties acknowledge that
irreparable harm would occur in the event that any of the provisions of this
Agreement were not performed in accordance with their specific terms or were
otherwise breached and that legal remedies alone for breach of this Agreement
may be inadequate. The parties further
acknowledge that any party by whom this Agreement is enforceable shall be
entitled to institute and prosecute proceedings, either at law or in equity, to
seek specific performance of the terms and conditions of this Agreement, to
obtain injunctive relief, or to obtain any other appropriate relief or
remedy. Any requirements for securing or
posting of any bond in connection with such remedies are hereby waived.
10.14 Notice. Any notice or other communication required or
permitted by this Agreement shall be deemed to have been received (a) upon
personal delivery or actual receipt thereof or (b) two business days
after such notice shall be faxed to the party at the fax number stated below
(or such other number as the party shall provide in writing) or deposited in
the United States mail, postage prepaid and certified (return receipt
requested) and addressed to the party at the address set forth below (or such
other address as the party shall provide in writing):
If to the Company, at the following addresses:
Jamon A. Jarvis
General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer
NATURES SUNSHINE PRODUCTS, INC.
75 East 1700 South
Provo, Utah
84606
Fax:
801.342.4555
Nolan S. Taylor
DORSEY & WHITNEY LLP
136 South Main Street, Suite 1000
Salt Lake City, Utah 84101
Fax:
801.933.7373
If to the Shareholder, at the following addresses:
Candace King Weir
Paradigm Capital Management, Inc.
9 Elk Street
Albany, New York 12207
Fax:
518-351-3550
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David I. Ferber, Esq.
Ferber Chan Essner & Coller, LLP
530 Fifth Avenue, 23rd Floor
New York, New York 10036
Fax: 212-944-7630
If to the Hughes Parties, at the following addresses:
Pauline Hughes Francis
P.O. Box 1007
Salem, UT 84653
Fax:
801.423.3130
Eugene L. Hughes
P.O. Box 51755
Provo, UT 84605
Kristine F. Hughes
P.O. Box 51755
Provo, UT 84605
10.15 Mutual Participation in Document
Preparation. Each party has participated materially in the
negotiation and preparation of this Agreement and any related items; in the
event of a dispute concerning the interpretation of any provision of this
Agreement or any related item, the rule of construction to the effect that
certain ambiguities are to be construed against the party drafting a document
will not apply.
10.16 Counsel Review. The parties severally acknowledge that prior to executing
this Agreement, they have either reviewed this Agreement with their legal
counsel, or have had the opportunity to review this Agreement with legal
counsel of their choice and have elected to forego counsel review.
10.17 No Third-Party Beneficiary Interests. Nothing contained
in this Agreement is intended to benefit any person or entity other than the
parties to this Agreement and the persons or entities who are referred to
herein; and no representation or warranty is intended for the benefit of, or to
be relied upon by, any person or entity which is not a party to this Agreement.
10.18 Warranty of Authorization. Each individual
executing this Agreement in a representative capacity warrants that he/she has
complete and unrestricted authority to execute this Agreement and to bind the
party for which such individual purports to act.
10.19 Further Acts. Upon reasonable
request, the respective parties shall perform such further acts and shall
execute and deliver such additional documents and instruments as shall be
necessary or desirable to carry out the intent of this Agreement or to induce
compliance with this Agreement.
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