Employment Agreement, dated April 30, 2009, by and between Dr. Glenn Parker and NationsHealth, Inc.
Exhibit 10.82
Employment Agreement, dated April 30, 2009, by and between Dr. Xxxxx Xxxxxx and NationsHealth, Inc.
Execution Copy
This EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) is made and entered into on April 30,
2009, by and between NationsHealth, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and Xxxxx
Xxxxxx, an individual residing at 000 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000 (the
“Executive”).
WHEREAS, the Executive and the Company entered into that certain Employment Agreement, dated
March 9, 2004, as amended on November 1, 2006, February 8, 2007, and December 23, 2008 (the
“Original Agreement”), pursuant to which the Executive was entitled to certain compensation
and benefits;
WHEREAS, in connection with the closing of the transactions contemplated under that certain
Merger Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”), dated as of April 30, 2009,
by and among ComVest NationsHealth Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company
(“Parent”), NationsHealth Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned
subsidiary of Parent, and the Company, the Company and the Executive have entered into this
Agreement;
WHEREAS, the Company and the Executive have agreed to amend, restate and supersede the
Original Agreement in its entirety as set forth herein on the Effective Date (as defined herein);
WHEREAS, the execution and delivery of this Agreement was an inducement and a condition
precedent to the Merger Agreement;
WHEREAS, after consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, the
Company desires to continue to employ the Executive in the capacity hereinafter stated, and the
Executive desires to continue in the employ of the Company in such capacity for the period and on
the terms and conditions set forth herein;
WHEREAS, the Company shall provide the Executive with certain severance benefits should the
Executive’s employment with the Company terminate under certain circumstances, such benefits to
provide the Executive with enhanced financial security and sufficient incentive and encouragement
to remain employed by the Company;
WHEREAS, the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation filed with the
Secretary of State of the State of Delaware provides that the Company shall, under certain
circumstances, indemnify the Executive for certain expenses, fees, judgments, fines, amounts paid
in settlement, and other expenses by reason of the fact that he is or was a director, officer,
employee or agent of the Company or is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director,
officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other
enterprise; and
WHEREAS, the Executive acknowledges that he has had an opportunity to consider this Agreement
and consult with an independent advisor or advisors of his choosing with regard to
the terms of
this Agreement, and enters this Agreement voluntarily and with a full understanding of its terms.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements set forth herein for
other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which is hereby acknowledged,
the parties hereto covenant and agree as follows:
1. Employment Term. Subject to Section 5 of this Agreement, the Executive shall be
employed by the Company as its Chief Executive Officer, and the Executive, in such capacity, shall
provide services to the Company for the period beginning on the Effective Date (as defined below)
and ending on the fourth (4th) anniversary of the Effective Date. This Agreement shall
automatically renew for additional one (1) year periods unless either party provides written notice
of non-renewal no less than sixty (60) days prior to the scheduled expiration of the applicable
employment period. For purposes of this Agreement, the term “Employment Term” shall mean
the period in which the Executive is employed by the Company.
2. Performance of Duties. During the Employment Term, (i) the Executive shall devote,
on a full-time basis, his energies and talents to serving in the capacity of Chief Executive
Officer of the Company, shall in good faith seek to act in the best interests of the Company, and
shall perform the duties assigned to him by the Board of Directors of the Company (the
“Board”) faithfully, efficiently and in a professional manner, (ii) the Company shall not
assign the Executive, without his consent, duties that would be inconsistent with those of the
Chief Executive Officer, and (iii) the Executive shall not, without prior written consent from the
Board:
(a) serve as or be a consultant to or employee or officer of any corporation, partnership or
other entity other than the Company (other than civic, charitable, or other public service
organizations); or
(b) have more than a five percent (5%) ownership interest in any enterprise other than the
Company if such ownership interest would adversely impact in any material respect the ability of
the Executive to perform his duties hereunder.
3. Compensation. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, during the
Employment Term, the Executive shall be compensated by the Company for his services as follows:
(a) The Executive shall receive, for each twelve (12) consecutive month period commencing as
of the Effective Date and each anniversary thereof, a base rate of salary that is not less than
$375,000.00 per year (the “Base Salary”), payable in substantially equal monthly or more
frequent installments and subject to normal tax withholding. During the Employment Term, the
Executive’s Base Salary shall not be reduced unless agreed by the Executive in writing, and shall
be reviewed by the Board on or before each anniversary of the Effective Date to determine whether
an increase in the Executive’s Base Salary is appropriate.
(b) The Executive will be eligible to receive an annual incentive bonus payment (the
“Incentive Bonus”) based on the Company’ achievement of certain performance
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objectives, in accordance the terms and conditions set forth on Exhibit 3(b) attached hereto. The
Incentive Bonus shall be paid as soon as practical after the completion of the audit of the
Company’s financial statements for the calendar year in which the Incentive Bonus is being
determined, but in no event after April 15 following the applicable bonus year.
(c) On the Effective Date, the Company shall grant to the Executive an option (the
“Option”), under the NationsHealth, Inc. 2009 Stock Incentive Plan (the “Plan”), to
purchase a number of shares of the Company’s common stock (the “Common Stock”), at an
exercise price of $0.12 per share, equal to 10.1% of the Fully Diluted Common Stock on the
Effective Date. The term “Fully Diluted Common Stock on the Effective Date” shall mean the
number of issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock on the Effective Date, plus the number of
shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of all shares of preferred stock of the Company
that are outstanding on the Effective Date, plus the number of shares of Common Stock that can be
purchased upon exercise of stock options that may be issued under the Company’ 2009 Equity
Incentive Plan, plus the number of shares of Common Stock that can be purchased upon exercise of
all warrants that are outstanding on the Effective Date (including the MHR Warrants, as defined in
the Merger Agreement), but excluding all shares of Common Stock that may be issued upon conversion
of any debt or promissory notes of the Company that is or are outstanding on the Effective Date.
Attached Exhibit 3(c) sets forth an example of the calculation of the number of shares of
Common Stock that will be subject to the Option.
(d) The Company and the Executive will enter into an award agreement relating to the Option
(the “Award Agreement”) which shall provide, among other things, that:
(i) twenty five (25%) of such Option shall vest on the first anniversary of the Effective Date
and the remaining seventy-five (75%) of such Option shall vest in equal installments every six
months commencing on the date that is 18 months after the Effective Date and ending on the fourth
(4th) anniversary of the Effective Date;
(ii) the Option shall become fully vested on the termination of Executive’s employment with
the Company for any reason (including as a result death or disability), other than (A) if the
Executive terminates his employment with the Company for any reason other than Good Reason (in
which case the Executive shall retain any part of such Option that has vested as of such
termination date) or (B) if the Company terminates the Executive on the basis of a Disqualifying
Event (as defined below), in which case the vesting or forfeiture of the Option shall be determined
in accordance with Section 3(d)(iv) and, if applicable, Section 3(d)(vi);
(iii) any unvested portion of the Option shall immediately terminate, and the Executive will
have no further right to exercise any unvested portion of the Option, if the Executive’s employment
with the Company is terminated by the Executive other than for Good Reason (but in such case, the
Executive shall retain any part of such Option that has vested as of such termination date);
(iv) if a Disqualifying Event occurs, the Executive (without regard to whether the Executive’s
employment has been terminated in connection with the events constituting the Disqualifying Event)
may not exercise the Option (whether or not any portion of
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the Option has vested), and no unvested portion of the Option shall vest, until either (w) the charges constituting the Disqualifying Event
in any such information or indictment are dismissed by a court of competent jurisdiction and the
government is prohibited from bringing the same charges against the Executive (a
“Dismissal”), (x) the Executive is acquitted of the charges constituting a Disqualifying
Event (an “Acquittal”), (y) the Executive is convicted or pleads guilty or nolo contendre
(or their equivalent) to the charges constituting a Disqualifying Event that are set forth in any
such information or indictment (a “Conviction”), or (z) five (5) years elapse from the date
of the Disqualifying Event and a Conviction has not occurred (a “Lapse”). In the case of a
Dismissal, Acquittal or a Lapse, the Option shall become fully vested and the Executive may
exercise the Option pursuant to its terms, and in the case of a Conviction the Option shall
immediately terminate and the Executive will have no further right to exercise the Option (whether
or not any portion of the Option has vested);
(v) the exercise period for the Option shall be ten (10) years from the date of grant of the
Option; and
(vi) the Option shall become fully vested on a Change in Control of the Company (as defined in
the Plan), provided, however, that in the event that a Change of Control occurs after a
Disqualifying Event and prior to a Dismissal, Acquittal, Conviction or Lapse of such Disqualifying
Event, then (i) the Option shall be deemed to have fully vested on the Change of Control if there
is a Dismissal, Acquittal or Lapse with respect to such Disqualifying Event, (ii) the Option shall
be deemed to have been forfeited in full on the date of the Change in Control if there is a
Conviction with respect to such Disqualifying Event and (iii) the Company shall take such steps as
are required to preserve the economic rights of the Executive arising in connection with such
Change in Control (including escrowing cash in connection with a Change of Control involving a
merger of the Company pursuant to which the holders of the Company’s stock receive or otherwise
hold cash or other liquid assets, such as tradeable securities), which steps shall be reasonably
acceptable to the Executive.
The term “Disqualifying Event” means the issuance or filing of an information or indictment
against the Executive pursuant to which the Executive has been charged with a criminal offense
either (y) involving embezzlement or fraud against the Company or (z) any felony committed by the
Executive that has a Company Material Adverse Effect (as defined below).
The term “Company Material Adverse Effect” means any event, circumstance, development,
condition, change, or effect which, is, either individually or in the aggregate with any other
event, circumstance, development, condition, change, or effect, materially adverse to the business,
operation, condition (financial or otherwise) assets, liabilities or results of operations of the
Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
(e) During the Employment Term, the Executive shall be entitled to participate in the
Company’s health and welfare benefit plans, as maintained by the Company from time to time, on
substantially the same terms and conditions as other senior executives of the Company.
(f) In the event that Parent purchases additional shares of the Company’s preferred stock
pursuant to the Preferred Stock Investment Option (as defined in the Merger
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Agreement), the Company
shall issue the Executive an additional option to purchase shares of Common Stock, on terms that
are the substantially the same as the Option, including an exercise price of $0.12 per share, as
adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, recapitalizations or similar events (the
“Additional Option”), such that the combined number of shares subject to the Option and the
Additional Option shall be an amount equal to 10.1% of (i) the Fully Diluted Common Stock on the
Effective Date plus (ii) the shares of Common Stock into which the preferred stock purchased by
Parent pursuant to the Preferred Stock Investment Option is convertible.
(g) Dividend Equivalent Bonus Rights. In the event that the Company makes any
dividends or distributions with respect to the Common Stock of the Company, the Company shall pay
the Executive an amount equal to the amount of dividends or other distributions the Executive would
have received if all of the shares of stock subject to the Option, without regard to whether the
Option has vested, had been issued to Executive and were outstanding (the “DE Bonus”).
Executive and Company agree that fifty percent (50%) of the DE Bonus (the “50 Percent
Amount”) shall be used by the Executive to exercise the Option (or applicable portion thereof),
provided, however, that in the event that the Option (or applicable portion thereof) has not vested
with respect to all the shares of Common Stock that can be purchased by the payment of the 50
Percent Amount, then (I) the 50 Percent Amount shall be used to purchase the maximum number of
shares purchasable upon the exercise of the vested portion of the Option, (II) the remaining
portion of 50 Percent Amount shall be put into escrow (on terms reasonably satisfactory to
Executive and the Company), and (III) such escrowed amounts shall be released when additional
shares subject to the Option vest and, upon release, will be used to exercise such newly vested
shares of stock that can be purchased under the Option. Notwithstanding the preceding provisions
in this Section 3(g), in the event that a Disqualifying Event has occurred, the DE Bonus shall be
payable to the Executive upon a Dismissal, Acquittal or Lapse and the DE Bonus shall not be payable
in the event of a Conviction (which Conviction occurs prior to a Lapse).
(h) Further Assurance Regarding Taxes. The Company agrees to cooperate with the
Executive and its tax advisors in setting the terms and conditions of the Options.
(i) Option Plan. The terms of the Plan (as applicable to the Executive) and the
Option Agreement shall be consistent with the terms set forth in this Agreement, and the Company
and its successors shall not have the right to amend the Plan or the Option Agreement in a manner
that adversely affects the Executive without the Executive’s prior written consent.
4. Restrictive Covenants. The Executive acknowledges and agrees that the Executive
has a major responsibility for the operation, development and growth of the Company’s business, the
Executive’s work for the Company has brought him and will continue to bring him into close contact
with confidential information of the Company and its customers, and the agreements and covenants
contained in this Section 4 are essential to protect the business interests of the Company
and that the Company will not enter into this Agreement but for such agreements and covenants.
Accordingly, the Executive covenants and agrees to the following:
(a) Confidential Information. Except as may be required under applicable law,
including by the lawful order of a court or agency of competent jurisdiction, the Executive agrees
to keep secret and confidential, both during the Employment Term and indefinitely after
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the
Executive’s employment with the Company terminates, all non-public information concerning the
Company and its affiliates that was acquired by, or disclosed to, the Executive during the course
of his employment by the Company or any of its affiliates, including trade secrets, know-how,
research and development, software, databases, inventions, processes, technology, and information
relating to customers (including, without limitation, credit history, repayment history, financial
information and financial statements), costs, operations, sales, pricing, suppliers, vendors,
compensation, marketing, advertising, promotions, financial data, plans, and government and
regulatory activities, whether past, current or planned and not to disclose the same, either
directly or indirectly, to any other person, firm or business entity, or to use it in any way;
provided, however, that the provisions of this Section 4(a) shall not apply
to information that (i) was, is now, or becomes generally available to the public (but not as a
result of a breach of any duty of confidentiality by which the Executive is bound); (ii) was
disclosed to the Executive by a third party not subject to any duty of confidentiality to the
Company known to Executive prior to its disclosure to the Executive; (iii) is disclosed by the
Executive in the ordinary course of the Company’s business as a proper part of his employment in
connection with communications with customers, vendors and other proper parties, provided that it
is for a proper purpose solely for the benefit of the Company, and (iv) the Company agrees in
writing was available to the Executive on a nonconfidential basis prior to disclosure. If the
Executive is requested or required by law to disclose any such information, to the extent not
legally prohibited, he will notify the Company promptly so that the Company may seek any
appropriate protective order, seek to obtain confidential treatment of such information and/or take
any other action related to the protection of such information, and the Executive shall, at the
expense of the Company, use commercially reasonable efforts to assist the Company in its efforts.
(b) Non Competition.
(i) For the Non Competition Period (as defined below), the Executive shall not directly
or indirectly, alone or as a partner, officer, director, employee, consultant, agent,
independent contractor, member or stockholder of any person or entity (“Person”),
(A) engage, anywhere in the United States or its territories, in the Business of the Company
(as defined below) or in any business activity that is directly or indirectly in competition
with the Business of the Company; provided, however, that the record or
beneficial ownership by the Executive of five percent (5%) or less of the outstanding
publicly traded capital stock of any company for investment purposes shall not be deemed to
be in violation of this Section 4(b) so long as the Executive is not an officer,
director, employee or consultant of such Person; or (B) enter the employ of, render any
services to, or acquire a financial interests in, any Person (or any division or controlled
or controlling affiliate of any Person) who or which engages in the Business of the Company.
The “Non Competition Period” means (A) in the event that the Executive’s
employment terminates as a result of the Company’s election not to renew this Agreement
under Section 1, the Non-Competition Period shall be the Employment Term, and (B) in all
other circumstances, the Non-Competition Period shall be the Employment Term and during
the one (1) year period following the Employment Term; provided, however that the Company
may elect to increase the Non-Competition Period to include a period of up
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to two (2) years
following the Employment Term by (I) providing the Executive with written notice of such
election within ten (10) days after the Employment Term, which notice specifies the duration
of the Non-Competition Period and (II) paying the Executive’s Base Salary during the
extended portion of the Non-Compete Period, which shall be in addition to the Severance
Amount required to be paid under Section 5(a).
The “Business of the Company” means the businesses in which the Company and its
subsidiaries are engaged on the date that the Executive’s employment with the Company is
terminated and any other businesses that the Company is actively pursuing on such date
(provided that the Company engages in such business within six (6) months thereafter), which
currently includes without limitation the providing of medical products to Medicare and
managed care beneficiaries and the providing of certain services, including marketing,
insurance agent training and licensing, member enrollment and service, distribution and
billing and collections, to Medicare Part D prescription drug plan providers and other
Medicare benefit sponsors.
(ii) During the Non Competition Period, the Executive shall not, directly or
indirectly, in any capacity, either separately or in association with others (A) employ or
solicit for employment or endeavor in any way to entice away from employment with the
Company or its affiliates any employee of the Company or its affiliates; provided,
however, that this restriction shall not apply to general solicitations of
employment conducted by the Executive in newspapers, trade journals, the Internet, through
recruiters or by any similar media and in each case not directed at the Company’s employees
or to the employment of, or employment discussions with, any person who responds to any such
general solicitations; (B) solicit, induce or influence any supplier, customer, agent,
consultant or other person or entity that has a business relationship with the Company to
discontinue, reduce or modify such relationship with the Company; or (C) solicit any of the
Company’s identified potential acquisition candidates.
(c) Remedies. If the Executive breaches, or threatens to commit a breach of any of
the provisions contained in Section 4(a) and/or Section 4(b) (collectively, the
“Restrictive Covenants”), the Company shall have the following rights and remedies, each of
which shall be enforceable, and each of which is in addition to, and not in lieu of, any other
rights and remedies available to the Company at law or in equity.
(i) The Executive shall account for and pay over to the Company all compensation, profits, and
other benefits which inure to the Executive’s benefit which are derived or received by the
Executive or any person or business entity controlled by the Executive, or his relatives, resulting
from any action or transactions constituting a breach of any of the Restrictive Covenants.
(ii) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 4(c)(i) above, the Executive
acknowledges and agrees that in the event of a violation or threatened violation of
any of the Restrictive Covenants, the Company shall have no adequate remedy at law and shall
therefore be entitled to enforce each such provision by temporary or permanent injunction or
mandatory relief obtained in any court of competent jurisdiction without the necessity of
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proving
damages, posting any bond or other security, and without prejudice to any other rights and remedies
that may be available at law or in equity, and the Company may also be entitled to recover its
attorneys’ fees and costs incurred to enforce any of the Restrictive Covenants from the Executive
pursuant to Section 20.
(d) Severability. If any of the Restrictive Covenants, or any part thereof, are held
to be invalid or unenforceable, the same shall not affect the remainder of the covenant or
covenants, which shall be given full effect, without regard to the invalid or unenforceable
portions. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, if any of the Restrictive Covenants,
or any part thereof, are held to be unenforceable because of the duration of such provision or the
area covered thereby, the parties hereto agree that the court making such determination shall have
the power to reduce the duration and/or area of such provision and, in its reduced form, such
provision shall then be enforceable.
(e) Proprietary Rights. The Executive acknowledges and agrees that all know-how,
documents, reports, plans, proposals, marketing and sales plans, client lists, client files, and
any materials made by the Executive during the Employment Term and within the scope of his duties
under this Agreement or by the Company are the property of the Company and shall not be used by the
Executive in any way adverse to the Company’s interests. The Executive shall not deliver,
reproduce or in any way allow such documents or things to be delivered or used by any third party
unless such delivery or reproduction is (i) made by Executive in the proper performance of his
duties hereunder or (ii) approved by the Company’s Board. The Executive hereby assigns to the
Company any rights which he may have in any such trade secret or proprietary information.
5. Termination and Compensation Due Upon Termination. The Employment Term may be
terminated by the Company at any time and for any reason (and by the Executive pursuant to
Section 5(c)) and the Executive’s right to compensation for periods after the Employment
Term shall be determined in accordance with the following:
(a) Termination Without Cause or Resignation with Good Reason. In the event the
Executive’s employment with the Company is terminated during the Employment Term by the Company
without Cause (as defined below), including a termination in connection with a sale of the Company,
the Company shall pay the Executive any compensation, benefits (including accrued vacation) and
expense reimbursement the Company owes to the Executive through the effective date of termination,
including the payment of any Incentive Bonus pursuant to Section 3(b) that has been earned and not
paid as of the effective date of the Executive’s termination (i.e., the effective date of
termination occurs after December 31st of a given year and an Incentive Bonus pursuant to Section
3(b) has been earned for such year but has not been paid as of the effective date of the
Executive’s termination) (collectively, the “Owed Obligations”). Additionally, and
conditioned upon the Executive’s voluntary execution of a written release substantially to the form
of Exhibit 5(a) (the “Release”) (to be drafted and provided by the Company within 10 days
after termination of employment) within sixty (60) days of the
Executive’s termination date that is not revoked before the expiration of such sixty (60) day
period, the Executive shall be entitled to receive payments in an aggregate cash amount equal to
Seven Hundred Eighty-Seven Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($787,500), payable in equal
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monthly
installments during the one (1) year following the Employment Term, plus the additional severance
payments to be made under Section 4(b)(i) if the Company extends the Non-Compete Period under
Section 4(b)(i).
If the Executive does not voluntarily execute the Release or the Release is deemed not to be
effective within sixty (60) days of the date the Release is executed by the Executive, the
Executive shall not be entitled to the Severance.
(b) Resignation With Good Reason. Executive shall have the right to terminate his
employment during the Employment Term for Good Reason. In the event Executive terminated his
employment for Good Reason during the Employment Term (including any extension of the Employment
Term pursuant to an Extension Notice), he will be entitled to all payments and benefits as if
Company he had been terminated pursuant to Section 5(a). “Good Reason” shall mean:
(i) The Company commits a material breach of this Agreement, including increasing the Target
EBITDA Threshold for the Incentive Bonus in violation of terms set forth in Exhibit 3(b);
(ii) The assignment of the Executive without his consent to a position, responsibilities, or
duties of a materially lesser status or degree of responsibility than his position,
responsibilities, or duties set forth in Section 2, or the Company or Board adopts policies
or procedures that materially impair the Executive’s ability to manage the day-to-day operations of
the Company or to perform his duties as Chief Executive Officer of the Company;
(iii) The assignment of the Executive without his consent to a position that he is required to
report to any other officer or employee of the Company;
(iv) The requirement by the Company that any employee other than the Executive report directly
to the Board rather than, directly or indirectly, to the Executive;
(v) The relocation of the Company’s principal executive offices more than twenty-five miles
from its location on the Effective Date; or
(vi) The requirement by the Company that the Executive be based anywhere other than the
Company’s principal executive offices, in either case without the Executive’s consent,
provided that the occurrence of any of the foregoing events shall only constitute Good
Reason if the Company fails to cure such event within 30 days after receipt from the Executive of
written notice of such occurrence (provided that such opportunity to cure shall not apply in the
event that the Company repeatedly causes the event constituting Good Reason); provided,
further, that Good Reason shall cease to exist following the 45 days following the
Executive’s actual knowledge of its occurrence, unless Executive has given the Company written
notice thereof
prior to such date. The Company shall be deemed to repeatedly cause the event constituting Good
Reason if the Company, in bad faith, repeats the event constituting Good Reason and uses
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its cure
period in a manner so as to negate the spirit of the provisions set forth herein allowing the
Executive to terminate his employment for Good Reason.
(c) Voluntary Resignation. The Executive may terminate his employment with the
Company for any reason (or no reason at all) other than for Good Reason at any time by giving the
Company sixty (60) days prior written notice of voluntary resignation; provided,
however, that the Company may elect that the Executive’s voluntary resignation be effective
immediately upon notice of such resignation. In such event, the Company shall pay the Executive
the Owed Obligations and have no further obligation to make any other payments to the Executive in
accordance with the provisions of Section 3 or otherwise for periods after the date on
which the Executive’s employment with the Company terminates due to the Executive’s voluntary
resignation.
(d) Termination for Cause. The Company shall pay the Executive his accrued salary (as
of the date of termination), benefits (including accrued vacation) and unpaid expense
reimbursements through the date of termination and shall have no further obligation to make any
other payments to the Executive in accordance with the provisions of Section 3 or otherwise
for periods after the Executive’s employment with the Company is terminated on account of the
Executive’s discharge for Cause. For purposes of this Section 5, the Executive shall be
considered terminated for “Cause” if he is discharged by the Company on account of the
occurrence of one or more of the following events:
(i) the Executive discloses confidential information in violation of Section 4(a)
which disclosure is intended to harm the Company or has a Company Material Adverse Effect, or
engages in competition in violation of Section 4(b);
(ii) the Executive fails to follow the reasonable, lawful instructions of the Board that do
not constitute Good Reason (including any reasonable request to cooperate with an investigation by
or with respect to the Company) and fails to cure such failure within fifteen (15) days after
receipt of written notice from the Company specifying such failure and stating that such failure is
grounds for termination for Cause (provided that such opportunity to cure will not apply in the
event the Executive repeatedly fails to follow such instruction), it being understood that the
failure of the Company or Executive to achieve the results specified in instructions of the Board
(such as financial performance targets) shall not constitute Cause provided that the Executive
pursues in good faith the achievement of such results;
(iii) the Executive breaches any of the Executive’s obligations under this Agreement and fails
to cure such breach within thirty (30) days after receipt of written notice from the Company
specifying the breach and that such breach is grounds for a termination for Cause (provided that
such opportunity to cure will not apply in the event the Executive repeatedly breaches such
obligation);
(iv) the Company is directed by regulatory or governmental authorities to terminate the
employment of the Executive as a result of the acts or alleged acts of the Executive, provided that
the Company has used its commercially reasonable efforts to challenge
or avoid such direction by the applicable regulatory or governmental authority or the
Executive
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engages in activities that cause actions to be taken by regulatory or governmental
authorities that have a Company Material Adverse Effect;
(v) the Executive is convicted of, or enters into a plea of guilty or no contest to, a felony
(other than a felony resulting from a minor traffic violation);
(vi) the Executive misappropriates a material corporate opportunity of the Company or any of
its subsidiaries in the health care industry;
(vii) the Executive engages in willful or intentional misconduct, the purpose or effect of
which is to have a Company Material Adverse Effect;
(viii) the Executive commits fraud, theft, or embezzlement against the Company or any
subsidiary or affiliate thereof (other than on account of unintentional and immaterial actions);
(ix) the Executive materially breaches any material provision under the Company’s code of
ethics approved by the Board or under any similar or successor Company policy that is approved by
the Board, provided that, if such breach is curable, the Executive fails to cure such breach within
(30) days after receipt of written notice from the Company specifying the breach and that such
breach is grounds for a termination for Cause; or
(x) The Executive’s reporting to work under the influence of illegal narcotics or use of (or
testing positive for) such substances while at work or scheduled to be at work.
The Executive shall be deemed to repeatedly engage in an event constituting Cause if the Executive,
in bad faith, repeats the event constituting Cause and uses his cure period in a manner so as to
negate the spirit of the provisions set forth herein allowing the Company to terminate his
employment for Cause.
(e) Disability. The Company shall have no obligation to make payments to the
Executive in accordance with the provisions of Section 3 for periods after the date the
Executive’s employment with the Company terminates on account of disability, except payments due
and owing through the effective date of termination. For purposes of this Section 5(e),
determination of whether the Executive is disabled shall be determined in accordance with the
Company’s long term disability plan (if any) and applicable law.
(f) Death. The Company shall have no obligation to make payments to the Executive in
accordance with the provisions of Section 3 for periods after the date of the Executive’s
death, except payments due and owing as of such date.
6. Successors. This Agreement shall be binding on the Company and its successors and
assigns, and any person acquiring, whether by merger, consolidation, purchase of all or
substantially all of the Company’s assets and business, or otherwise without further action or
consent by the Executive, the Company or its successor; Executive hereby agrees, in the event of
a sale of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets, the Executive will execute an
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acknowledgment of assignment if requested to do so by the purchaser; and the Company hereby agrees,
in the event of a sale of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets, to cause the purchaser
of such assets to execute an
acknowledgement of assignment and assumption by the purchaser if
requested to do so by the Executive.
7. Nonalienation. The interests of the Executive under this Agreement are not subject
to the claims of his creditors, other than the Company, and may not otherwise be voluntarily or
involuntarily assigned, alienated or encumbered except to the Executive’s estate upon his death.
8. Waiver of Breach. The waiver by either the Company or the Executive of a breach of
any provision of this Agreement shall not operate as, or be deemed a waiver of, any subsequent
breach by either the Company or the Executive.
9. Severability. If any term or other provision of this Agreement is determined by a
court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced by any rule
of law or public policy, all other terms, provisions and conditions of this Agreement shall
nevertheless remain in full force and effect. Upon such determination that any term or other
provision is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced, the parties hereto shall negotiate in
good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the parties as closely
as possible to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law in an acceptable manner to the end
that the transactions contemplated hereby are fulfilled to the extent possible.
10. Notice. Any notice to be given hereunder by a party hereto shall be in writing
and shall be deemed to have been given when received, rejected or refused or, when deposited in the
U.S. mail, certified or registered mail, postage prepaid to the parties at the following addresses:
If to the Company, to:
NationsHealth, Inc.
00000 XX 0xx Xxxxxx
Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Chief Executive Officer
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
00000 XX 0xx Xxxxxx
Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Chief Executive Officer
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
XxXxxxxxx Will & Xxxxx LLP
000 Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
00xx Xxxxx
Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
000 Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
00xx Xxxxx
Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
| Attention: | Xxx X. Xxxxxxx, Esq. Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx, Esq. Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx, Esq. |
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
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and
Xxxxx & Lardner LLP
000 Xxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
000 Xxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
If to Parent, to:
ComVest Investment Partners III, L.P.
Xxx Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx
Xxxxx 000
Xxxx Xxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
Xxx Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx
Xxxxx 000
Xxxx Xxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
Xxxxx & Xxxxxxx LLP
000 Xxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
000 Xxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
If to the Executive to:
Xxxxx Xxxxxx
000 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Facsimile:
000 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Facsimile:
with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
Xxxxx & XxXxxxxx, LLP
0000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
Attn: Xxx X. Xxxxxx
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
0000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
Attn: Xxx X. Xxxxxx
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
11. Amendment. This Agreement may be amended or canceled by mutual agreement of the
parties in writing without the consent of any other person and no person, other than the parties
hereto (and the Executive’s estate upon his death), shall have any rights under or interest in this
Agreement or the subject matter hereof. The parties hereby agree that no oral
conversations shall be deemed to be a modification of this Agreement and neither party shall
assert the same.
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12. Counterparts and Fax Signatures. This Agreement may be executed in two or more
counterparts (including by means of fax or electronically transmitted portable document format
(PDF) signature pages), each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which together
shall constitute and be one and the same instrument; provided that fax or electronically
transmitted signatures of this Agreement shall be deemed to be originals. Counterpart signatures
need not be on the same page and shall be deemed effective upon receipt.
13. Applicable Law. The provisions of this Agreement shall be construed in accordance
with the internal laws of the State of Florida.
14. No Assignments. The Executive shall not be permitted to assign this Agreement or
any of the Executive’s rights under this Agreement without the prior written consent of the
Company. The Company may assign (but not novate) this Agreement and its rights hereunder to any
Affiliate, including Parent provided that the Company and the assignee shall be responsible for the
obligations of the Company hereunder.
15. Effectiveness. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, this Agreement
shall only be given effect upon the Closing (as defined in the Merger Agreement) (the
“Effective Date”). In the event the Merger Agreement is terminated without the Closing
having occurred, this Agreement shall be of no force or effect and the Original Agreement shall not
be terminated and shall remain in full force and effect. Effective as of the Effective Date, this
Agreement shall supersede the Original Agreement and any other prior employment agreements between
the Executive and the Company or any of the Company’s affiliates and neither the Company nor any of
its affiliates shall have any obligations under, and the Executive shall have no further rights
under, the Original Agreement or any other such prior employment agreement; provided,
however that nothing in this Section 15 shall be deemed to be a waiver by the Executive of
his rights to indemnification from the Company, to rights arising in respect of the Option or
rights under any benefit plan or insurance provided to Executive.
16. Consequences of End of Employment. Following the Employment Term, all of the
provisions of this Agreement shall terminate, except that (A) Sections 4(a), (c), (d), and (e) the
Company’s payment obligations under Section 5, and Sections 6 through 21 shall survive indefinitely
after the expiration of the Employment Term and (B) Section 4(b) shall terminate upon the
expiration of the Non-Competition Period pursuant to Section 4(b).
17. Entire Agreement. This Agreement sets forth the entire agreement and
understanding between the Company and the Executive relating to the subject matter herein and
merges all prior discussions between the parties, including but not limited to any and all
statements made by any officer, employee or representative of the Company. The Executive
understands and acknowledges that, except as set forth in this Agreement, (a) no other
representation or inducement has been made to Executive, (b) Executive has relied on Executive’s
own judgment and investigation in executing this Agreement, and (c) Executive has not relied on any
representation or inducement made by any officer, employee or representative of the Company. To
the extent there is any conflict between the terms and conditions of this
Agreement and the terms and conditions of any prior employment or consulting agreement, the
terms and conditions of this Agreement shall control.
- 14 -
18. Separation from Service. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the
contrary, the Executive’s employment will be deemed to have terminated on the date of the
Executives “separation from service” (within the meaning of Treas. Reg. Section 1.409A-1(h)) with
the Company, as reasonably determined by the Board.
19. 409A. It is intended that this Agreement will comply with Section 409A of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and any regulations and guideline
issued thereunder (“Section 409A”) to the extent that any compensation and benefits
provided hereunder constitute deferred compensation subject to Section 409A. This Agreement shall
be interpreted on a basis consistent with this intent. The parties will negotiate in good faith to
amend this Agreement as necessary to comply with Section 409A in a manner that preserves the
original intent of the parties to the extent reasonably possible. No action or failure to act,
pursuant to this Section 20 shall subject the Company to any claim, liability, or expense,
and the Company shall not have any obligation to indemnify or otherwise protect the Executive from
the obligation to pay any taxes pursuant to Section 409A of the Code.
20. Fees. The Company shall be responsible and pay for the reasonable legal fees and
costs incurred by the Executive in connection with the negotiation, execution and delivery of this
Agreement and any amendment, extension, or replacement thereof. Such fees and costs will be paid
within thirty (30) days following submission to the Company. In the event that there is any
dispute under this Agreement, the prevailing party to such dispute shall be entitled to recover
from the non-prevailing party and out-of pocket costs reasonably incurred in connection with such
dispute.
21. Indemnification.
(a) Generally. The Company will, to the fullest extent to which it is empowered to do
so under applicable law, as the same now exists or may hereafter be amended (but, in the case of
any such amendment only to the extent that such amendment permits the Company to provide broader
indemnification rights than the Company may provide immediately prior to such amendment), indemnify
and hold harmless the Executive if the Executive is a party, or is threatened to be made a party,
to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal,
administrative or investigative, by reason of the fact that Executive was employed by or acted on
behalf of the Company (including all periods prior to the Effective Date), against all losses,
damages, liabilities and expenses (including reasonable expenses of investigation and reasonable
attorneys’ fees and the reasonable fees and expenses of experts and consultants) (collectively,
“Damages”) incurred or suffered by Executive in connection with such action, suit or
proceeding; provided, however, that (unless the Board of Directors otherwise
consents) Executive will not be indemnified for any Damages incurred or suffered that are
attributable to Executive’s fraud against the Company or its subsidiaries or willful violation of
applicable law.
(b) Expenses. The Company will, to the extent permitted under applicable law, advance
to Executive reasonable attorneys’ fees, consulting and expert fees and other costs and
expenses incurred in connection with the defense of any action, suit or proceeding if the
Executive agrees in writing before any advancement that Executive will reimburse the Company for
such fees, costs and expenses to the extent that a judgment or other final adjudication adverse
- 15 -
to
the Executive establishes that such Executive’s acts or omissions were otherwise of such a
character that applicable law would require that such amounts be repaid.
(c) Non-Exclusive. The rights of Executive under this Section 21 will not exclude any
other right to which such Executive may be lawfully entitled.
(d) Savings Clause; Survival. If this Section 21 or any portion of it is invalidated
on any ground by any court of competent jurisdiction, then the Company will nevertheless indemnify
the Executive to the fullest extent permitted by any applicable portion of this Section 21 that has
not been invalidated and to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law. This Section 21 shall
survive the termination of Executive’s employment for any reason.
22. 2008 Bonus. The Executive shall be entitled to receive a bonus relating to the
Company’s 2008 Cash Incentive Program in the amount of Three Hundred Thirteen Thousand Dollars
($313,000), (a) $175,000 of which bonus shall be paid upon receipt of at least $900,000 of
insurance proceeds relating to the fire that occurred on June 8, 2008 at the Company’s facility and
(b) $138,000 of which shall be paid in six equal monthly installments beginning one month after the
Effective Date, after taking into account the cash flow needs of the Company, but in no event shall
the amounts paid under clause (a) or clause (b) be made later than ten (10) days prior to the date
in which penalties under Section 409A would be applicable.
- 16 -
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the Executive and the Company have executed this Employment Agreement as of the
day and year first above written.
| NATIONSHEALTH, INC. |
||||
| /s/ Xxxxx Xxxxx | ||||
| Name: | Xxxxx Xxxxx | |||
| Title: | CIO | |||
| EXECUTIVE: |
||||
| /s/ Xxxxx Xxxxxx | ||||
| Xxxxx Xxxxxx | ||||
