EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
THIS
AGREEMENT ("Agreement") made as of February 8, 2006, between MEDIFAST, INC.,
a
Delaware corporation with its principal office presently located at 00000
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000 ("Medifast"), and Xxxxxxx X.
Xxxxxxx, an individual presently residing in Owings Mills, Maryland (the
"Executive").
W
I T N E
S S E T H:
WHEREAS,
Medifast and the Executive desire to enter into a new Agreement regarding,
among
other things, the employment of the Executive by Medifast, all as hereinafter
set forth.
NOW,
THEREFORE, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound hereby, agree
as
follows:
1.
Employment.
Medifast hereby employs the Executive, and the Executive hereby accepts
employment with Medifast, on the terms and conditions set forth in this
Agreement.
2.
Duties
of Employee.
The
Executive will perform and discharge well and faithfully such duties as an
executive officer of Medifast as may be assigned to him from time to time by
the
Board of Directors of Medifast ("Board"). The Executive will be employed as
Vice
President of Finance of Medifast, and be prepared to assume the responsibilities
of the Chief Financial Officer of the Company at the discretion of the Board
of
Directors and will hold such other senior positions and or titles as may be
given to him from time to time by the Board. The Executive will report to the
Chairman of the Board of Medifast Inc. The Executive will devote his full time,
attention and energies to the business of Medifast and will not, during the
Employment Period (as defined in Section 3), be employed or involved in any
other business activity, whether or not such activity is pursued for gain,
profit or other pecuniary advantage; provided, however, that this section will
not be construed as preventing the Executive from (a) passively investing his
personal assets, (b) acting as a member of the Board of Directors or Trustees
of
Medifast or any other entity not in competition with Medifast (or an affiliate
of Medifast), or (c) being involved in any community, civic or similar activity.
Except for reasonable travel requirements consistent with his positions and
except as otherwise provided herein, all duties of the Executive shall be
routinely discharged at Medifast's facilities located in Owings Mills,
Maryland.
3.
Term
of Employment.
The
Executive's employment under this Agreement will be for a period (the
"Employment Period") commencing upon the date of this Agreement and ending
at
the end of the term of this Agreement on February 8,
2012
pursuant to the Terms and Conditions of this agreement, unless the Executive's
employment is sooner terminated in accordance with Section 5 or one of the
following provisions:
(a)
Termination
for Cause.
The
Executive's employment under this Agreement may be terminated at any time during
the Employment Period for Cause, by action of the Board, upon giving notice
of
such termination to the Executive at least 15 days prior to the date upon which
such termination is to take effect. As used in this Agreement, "Cause" means
any
of the following events:
(i)
the
Executive is convicted of or enters a plea of guilty or nolo contendere
to a
felony, a crime of falsehood, or a crime involving fraud or moral turpitude,
or
the actual incarceration of the Executive.
(ii)
the
Executive willfully and repeatedly fails to follow the lawful instructions
of
the Board after the Executive's receipt of written or email notice of such
instructions, other than a failure resulting from the Executive's incapacity
because of physical or mental illness;
(iii)
a
government regulatory agency finally recommends or orders in writing that
Medifast terminate the employment of the Executive; or
(iv)
the
Executive violates the covenant not to compete contained in Section 8 or the
confidentiality provisions of Section 9.
Notwithstanding
the foregoing, the Executive's employment under this Agreement will not be
deemed to have been terminated for Cause under Section 3(a)(i) or (ii) if such
termination took place solely as a result of:
(i)
questionable judgment on the part of the Executive;
(ii)
any
act or omission believed by the Executive, in good faith, to have been in,
or
not opposed to, the best interests of Medifast; or
(iii)
any
act or omission in respect of which a determination could properly be made
that
the Executive met the applicable standard of conduct prescribed for
indemnification or reimbursement or payment of expenses under the Articles
of
Incorporation or By-laws of Medifast or the directors' and officers' liability
insurance of Medifast, in each case as in effect at the time of such act or
omission.
If
the
Executive's employment is terminated under the provisions of this subsection,
then all rights of the Executive under Section 4 will cease as of the effective
date of such termination.
(b)
Termination
Without Cause.
The
Executive's employment under this Agreement may be terminated at any time during
the Employment Period without Cause, by action of the Board, upon giving notice
of such termination to the Executive at least 30 days prior to the date upon
which such termination is to take effect. If the Executive's employment is
terminated under the provisions of this subsection, then the Executive will
be
entitled to receive the compensation set forth in Section 6.
(c)
Voluntary
Termination, Retirement or Death.
If the
Executive voluntarily terminates employment without "Good Reason" (as defined
in
Section 5), retires or dies, the Executive's employment under this Agreement
will be deemed terminated as of the date of the Executive's voluntary
termination, retirement or death, and all rights of the Executive under Section
4 will cease as of the date of such termination and any benefits payable to
the
Executive will be determined in accordance with the retirement and insurance
programs of Medifast then in effect.
(d)
Disability.
If the
Executive is incapacitated by accident, sickness, or otherwise so as to render
the Executive mentally or physically incapable of performing the essential
duties required of the Executive under Section 2, notwithstanding reasonable
accommodation, for a continuous period of six months, then, upon the expiration
of such period or at any time thereafter, by action of the Board, the
Executive's employment under this Agreement may be terminated immediately upon
giving the Executive notice to that effect. If the Executive's employment is
terminated under the provisions of this subsection, then all rights of the
Executive under Section 4 will cease as of the last business day of the week
in
which such termination occurs, and the Executive will thereafter be entitled
to
the benefits to which he is entitled under any disability or other plan of
Medifast in which he is then a participant.
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4.
Employment
Period Compensation and Related Matters.
(a)
Salary.
For
services performed by the Executive under this Agreement, Medifast will pay
the
Executive a salary, in the aggregate, during the Employment Period, at the
annualized rate of $70,000, payable at the same times as salaries are payable
to
other executive employees of Medifast. Medifast may, from time to time, increase
(but not decrease) the Executive's salary, and any and all such increases will
be deemed to constitute amendments to this subsection to reflect the increased
amounts, effective as of the dates established for such increases by the Board
in the resolutions authorizing such increases.
(b)
Bonus.
For
services performed by the Executive under this Agreement, he shall be entitled
to participate in such bonus or similar award plan or program as may be
maintained from time to time by Medifast for its executive officers. In
addition, Medifast may, from time to time, pay such other bonus or bonuses
to
the Executive as the Board, in its sole discretion, deems appropriate. The
payment of any such bonuses will not reduce or otherwise affect any other
obligation of Medifast to the Executive provided for in this
Agreement.
(c)
Pension
and Welfare Benefits.
Medifast will provide the Executive, during the Employment Period, with pension
and welfare benefits (within the meaning of Section 3 of the Employee Retirement
Income Security Act of 1974, as amended ("ERISA")) in the aggregate not less
favorable than those received by other employees of Medifast.
(d)
Fringe
Benefits.
(i)
In
General. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, Medifast will provide
the Executive, during the Employment Period, with such fringe benefits as may
be
provided generally from time to time for its executive officers.
(ii)
Vacation. The Executive will be entitled to not less than three weeks of
vacation per calendar year. The right to carry over unused vacation days will
be
subject to the executive personnel policies of Medifast from time to time in
effect.
(e)
Expense
Reimbursement.
The
Executive will be entitled to reimbursement of all expenses incurred by him
in
the discharge of his duties hereunder, or otherwise in furtherance of the
business of Medifast, provided he renders an accounting of such expenses in
such
manner as may be required from time to time for employees
generally.
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(f)
Salary
Deferral.
The
Executive may request that the payment of any portion of his base salary and/or
bonus for any calendar year be deferred. Such request must be made in writing
to
Medifast before the beginning of such calendar year and must include the period
of deferral requested by the Executive (the "Deferral Period"). If the Board
approves such request, the Executive will be entitled to receive, at the end
of
the Deferral Period, the deferred portion of his base salary and/or bonus plus
interest at a compounded rate of 6% per annum. Any salary and/or bonus which
is
deferred as described herein will be credited to an account on the books of
Medifast established in the name of the Executive. However, this account will
not be funded, and Medifast shall not be deemed to be a trustee for the
Executive with respect to any deferred amount. The Executive will be a general
unsecured creditor of Medifast for any amount due him under this section.
Medifast will not be required to segregate any funds representing such deferred
amounts, and nothing herein will be construed as providing for such
segregation.
(g) Stock
Grant.
The
Executive has been granted and will receive 30,000*
shares
of Medifast, Inc. common stock to be vested over the term of this Agreement.
The
Executive will receive 5,000* shares of common stock per year over the next
six
years, providing the Executive is performing his duties in accordance with
this
Agreement. The Board of Directors reserves the right to adjust the vesting
schedule as business conditions change.
*
Amount
subject to change.
5.
Resignation
of the Executive for Good Reason.
(a)
Events
Giving Right to Terminate for Good Reason.
The
Executive may resign for Good Reason at any time during the Employment Period,
as hereinafter set forth. As used in this Agreement, the term "Good Reason"
means any of the following:
(i)
any
reduction in title or a material adverse change in the Executive's
responsibilities or authority which are inconsistent with, or the assignment
to
the Executive of duties inconsistent with, the Executive's status as Chief
Executive Officer of Medifast;
(ii)
any
reassignment of the Executive to a principal office which is more than 15 miles
from Owings Mills, Maryland;
(iii)
any
removal of the Executive from office except for any termination of the
Executive's employment under the provisions of Section 3(a) or (d);
(iv)
any
reduction in the Executive's annual base salary as in effect on the date hereof
or as the same may be increased from time to time;
(v)
any
failure by Medifast to provide the Executive with benefits at least as favorable
as those enjoyed by the Executive under any of the pension or welfare plans
(as
such terms are defined in ERISA Section 3) of Medifast in which the Executive
is
participating on the date of this Agreement, or the taking of any action that
would materially reduce any of such benefits, unless the change is part of
a
change applicable in any case to employees generally; and
(vi)
any
material breach of this Agreement by Medifast, coupled with the failure to
cure
the same within 30 days after receipt of a written notice of such breach from
the Executive.
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(b)
Notice
of Termination.
At the
option of the Executive, exercisable by the Executive within 90 days after
the
occurrence of the event constituting Good Reason, the Executive may resign
from
employment under this Agreement by a notice in writing ("Notice of Termination")
delivered to Medifast and the provisions of Section 6 will thereupon
apply.
(c)
Special
Right of Termination.
Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, but subject to the provisions
of Section 3(a), within the one-year period immediately following the occurrence
of a "Change in Control" (as defined in Subsection (d)), the Executive may
terminate his employment for any or no reason by delivering a written notice,
similar to a Notice of Termination, to Medifast; and such termination will
be
deemed for all purposes to constitute a resignation for Good Reason. In such
event, he will be entitled to the payments set forth in Section 6.
(d)
Change
in Control Defined.
For
purposes of this Agreement, the term "Change in Control" means any of the
following:
(i)
a
sale of the majority of the assets of the company or a change of control of
the
Board of Directors as a result of a third party shareholder acquiring or holding
over 10% of the common stock and attempting to nominate a majority of the Board
of Directors in favor of his/her shareholder block;
(ii)
In
the event of a Change of Control of the Company, all compensation and severance
due as a result of this agreement will become due immediately at the time of
the
change of control to a third party.
6.
Rights
in Event of Certain Termination of Employment.
In the
event that the Executive resigns from employment for Good Reason, by delivery
of
a Notice of Termination or other permitted notice to Medifast, or the
Executive's employment is terminated by Medifast without Cause, Executive will
be entitled to receive the payments set forth in this section.
(a)
Basic
Payments.
The
Executive will be paid an amount equal to one and a half times the sum of (i)
the highest annualized base salary paid to him during the calendar year of
termination or the immediately preceding two calendar years. Such amount will
be
paid to the Executive in equal monthly installments (without interest),
beginning 30 days following the date of termination of employment and commencing
on the Agreement ending date disclosed in section 19(a). Notwithstanding the
preceding provisions of this subsection to the contrary, in the event this
section becomes applicable following a Change in Control, the Executive will,
within 30 days after his termination of employment, be paid a lump sum equal
to
the present value of the amounts otherwise payable under this subsection. For
purposes of the preceding sentence, present value will be determined by using
the short-term applicable federal rate under Section 1274 of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), in effect on the date of
termination of employment. For purposes of this subsection, to the extent
relevant, base salary and bonuses with any predecessor of Medifast or an
affiliate thereof shall be taken into account.
7.
Expiration
of Agreement.
In the
event this Agreement expires by its terms in accordance with the provisions
of
Section 19(a), no additional amounts or benefits will be paid
hereunder.
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8.
Covenant
Not to Compete.
(a)
The
Executive hereby acknowledges and recognizes the highly competitive nature
of
the business of Medifast and accordingly agrees that, during and for the
applicable period set forth in Subsection (c), the Executive will
not:
(i)
be
engaged, directly or indirectly, either for his own account or as agent,
consultant, employee, partner, officer, director, proprietor, investor (except
as an investor owning less than 5% of the stock of a publicly owned company)
or
otherwise of any person, firm, corporation, or enterprise engaged, in the
continental United States ("Non-Competition Area"), in any business which at
the
relevant time during employment or at the date of termination of employment
is
competitive to any of the businesses of Medifast or any of its subsidiaries;
or
(ii)
provide financial or other assistance to any person, firm, corporation, or
enterprise engaged in any activity in which Medifast or any of its subsidiaries
is engaged during the Employment Period, in the Non-Competition
Area.
(b)
It is
expressly understood and agreed that, although the Executive and Medifast
consider the restrictions contained in Subsection (a) reasonable for the purpose
of preserving for Medifast and its subsidiaries their goodwill and other
proprietary rights, if a final judicial determination is made by a court having
jurisdiction that the time or territory or any other restriction contained
in
Subsection (a) is an unreasonable or otherwise unenforceable restriction against
the Executive, the provisions of Subsection (a) will not be rendered void but
will be deemed amended to apply as to such maximum time and territory and to
such other extent as such court may judicially determine or indicate to be
reasonable.
(c)
The
provisions of this section will be applicable commencing on the date of this
Agreement and ending as follows:
(i)
at
the termination of the payments and benefits provided under Section 6; provided,
however, that this clause will not apply in the event Executive's termination
of
employment occurs following a Change in Control;
(ii)
one
year following the termination of Executive's employment, in the case of a
voluntary termination without Good Reason; or
(iii)
in
all other cases, the date of Executive's termination of employment.
9.
Confidentiality.
(a)
As
used in this section, the term "Confidential Information" means any and all
information regarding the organization, business or finances of Medifast or
any
of its subsidiaries and affiliates, including, but not limited to, any and
all
business plans and strategies, financial information, proposals, reports,
marketing plans and information, cost information, customer information, claims
history and experience data, sales volume and other sales statistics, personnel
data, pricing information, concepts and ideas, information respecting existing
and proposed investments and acquisitions, and information regarding customers
and suppliers, but the term Confidential Information will not include
information which prior to the Executive's receipt thereof (i) was generally
publicly available, or (ii) was in the Executive's possession free of any
restrictions on its use or disclosure and from a source other than Medifast
or
any of its subsidiaries or affiliates.
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(b)
The
Executive acknowledges and agrees that his employment by Medifast will afford
him an opportunity to acquire Confidential Information and that the
misappropriation or disclosure of any Confidential Information would cause
irreparable harm to Medifast and its subsidiaries and affiliates.
(c)
During the Employment Period and for a period of two years thereafter, the
Executive will not use for the benefit of anyone other than Medifast and its
subsidiaries and affiliates or disclose any of the Confidential Information
for
any reason or purpose whatsoever except to authorized representatives of such
business entities, as directed or authorized by Medifast, or as required by
law.
(d)
With
respect to those items of Confidential Information which constitute trade
secrets under applicable law, the Executive's obligations of confidentiality
and
nondisclosure as set forth in this section will continue and survive after
the
two-year period as provided in Subsection (c) to the greatest extent permitted
by applicable law.
(e)
The
Executive will not remove any records, documents or any other tangible items
(excluding the Executive's personal property) from the premises of Medifast
or
its subsidiaries or affiliates, in either original or duplicate form, except
as
needed in the ordinary course of performing services hereunder.
(f)
Upon
termination of this Agreement, the Executive will immediately surrender to
the
owner thereof all documents in his possession, custody or control embodying
the
Confidential Information or any part thereof and will not thereafter remove
the
same from the premises on which it is located.
10.
Remedies.
Executive acknowledges and agrees that the remedy at law of Medifast for a
breach or threatened breach of any of the provisions of Section 8 or 9 would
be
inadequate and, in recognition of this fact, in the event of a breach or
threatened breach by the Executive of any of the provisions of Section 8 or
9,
it is agreed that, in addition to the remedy at law, Medifast will be entitled
to, without posting any bond, and the Executive agrees not to oppose any request
of Medifast for, equitable relief in the form of specific performance, a
temporary restraining order, a temporary or permanent injunction, or any other
equitable remedy which may then be available. Nothing herein contained will
be
construed as prohibiting Medifast from pursuing any other remedies available
to
it for such breach or threatened breach.
11.
Arbitration.
Medifast and Executive recognize that in the event a dispute should arise
between them concerning the interpretation or implementation of this Agreement,
lengthy and expensive litigation will not afford a practical resolution of
the
issues within a reasonable period of time. Consequently, except as otherwise
provided herein, each party agrees that all disputes, disagreements and
questions of interpretation concerning this Agreement are to be submitted for
resolution to the American Arbitration Association ("Association") in Baltimore,
Maryland, in accordance with the Individual Employment Dispute Resolution rules
of the Association. Medifast or the Executive may initiate an arbitration
proceeding at any time by giving notice to the other in accordance with the
rules of the Association. The Association will designate a single arbitrator
to
conduct the proceeding, but Medifast and the Executive may, as a matter of
right, require the substitution of a different arbitrator chosen by the
Association. Each such right of substitution may be exercised only once. The
arbitrator will not be bound by the rules of evidence and procedure of the
courts of the State of Maryland, but will be bound by the substantive law
applicable to this Agreement. The decision of the arbitrator, absent fraud,
duress, incompetence or gross and obvious error of fact, will be final and
binding upon the parties and will be enforceable in courts of proper
jurisdiction. Following written notice of a request for arbitration, Medifast
and the Executive will be entitled to an injunction restraining all further
proceedings in any pending or subsequently filed litigation concerning this
Agreement, except as otherwise provided herein.
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12.
Indemnification.
Medifast will indemnify the Executive, to the fullest extent permitted under
Delaware and federal law, with respect to any threatened, pending or completed
legal or regulatory action, suit or proceeding brought against him by reason
of
the fact that he is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of Medifast,
or is or was serving at the request of Medifast as a director, officer, employee
or agent of another person or entity. To the fullest extent permitted by
Delaware and federal law, Medifast will, in advance of final disposition, pay
any and all expenses incurred by the Executive in connection with any
threatened, pending or completed legal or regulatory action, suit or proceeding
with respect to which he may be entitled to indemnification hereunder. Medifast
will use its best efforts to obtain insurance coverage for the Executive under
a
policy covering directors and officers against litigation, arbitrations and
other legal and regulatory proceedings; provided, however, that nothing herein
is to be construed as requiring such action if the Board determines that such
insurance coverage cannot be obtained at commercially reasonable
rates.
13.
Notices.
Any
notice required or permitted to be given under this Agreement will, to be
effective hereunder, be given to Medifast, in the case of notices given by
the
Executive, and will, to be effective hereunder, be given by Medifast, in the
case of notices given to the Executive. Any such notice will be deemed properly
given if in writing and if mailed by registered or certified mail, postage
prepaid with return receipt requested, to the residence of the Executive, in
the
case of notices to the Executive, and to the principal office of Medifast,
in
the case of notices to Medifast.
14.
Waiver.
No
provision of this Agreement may be modified, waived, or discharged unless such
waiver, modification, or discharge is agreed to in writing and signed by the
Executive and an executive officer of Medifast, each such officer specifically
designated by the Board. No waiver by any party hereto at any time of any breach
by the other party hereto of, or compliance with, any condition or provision
of
this Agreement to be performed by such other party will be deemed a waiver
of
similar or dissimilar provisions or conditions at the same or at any prior
or
subsequent time.
15.
Assignment.
This
Agreement is not assignable by any party hereto, except by Medifast to any
successor in interest to the business of Medifast.
16.
Entire
Agreement.
This
Agreement contains the entire agreement of the parties relating to the subject
matter of this Agreement and, in accordance with the provisions of Section
25,
supersedes any prior agreement of the parties.
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17.
Successors;
Binding Agreement.
(a)
Medifast will require any successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase,
merger, consolidation, or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business
and/or assets of Medifast to expressly assume and agree to perform this
Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that Medifast would be
required to perform it if no such succession had taken place. Failure by
Medifast to obtain such assumption and agreement prior to the effectiveness
of
any such succession will constitute a material breach of this Agreement. As
used
in this Agreement, "Medifast" means Medifast as hereinbefore defined and any
successor to the business and/or assets of Medifast, as aforesaid, which assumes
and agrees to perform this Agreement by operation of law, or
otherwise.
(b)
This
Agreement will inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Executive's
personal or legal representatives, executors, administrators, heirs,
distributees, devisees, and legatees. If the Executive should die while any
amount is payable to the Executive under this Agreement if the Executive had
continued to live, all such amounts, unless otherwise provided herein, will
be
paid in accordance with the terms of this Agreement to the Executive's devisee,
legatee, or other designee, or, if there is no such designee, to the Executive's
estate.
18.
Termination.
(a)
Unless the Executive's employment is terminated pursuant to the provisions
of
Section 3 or Section 5, the term of this Agreement will be for a period
commencing on the date of this Agreement and ending on June 1,
2012.
(b)
Any
termination of the Executive's employment under this Agreement or of this
Agreement will not affect the benefit, noncompetition and confidential
information provisions of Section 6, 8, 9 or 12, which will, if relevant,
survive any such termination and remain in full force and effect in accordance
with their respective terms.
(c)
Except as provided in Section 25, nothing herein will be construed as limiting,
restricting or eliminating any rights the Executive may have under any plan,
contract or arrangement to which he is a party or in which he is a vested
participant; provided, however, that any termination payments required hereunder
will be in lieu of any severance benefits to which he may be entitled under
a
severance plan or arrangement of Medifast; and provided further, that if the
benefits under any such plan or arrangement may not legally be eliminated,
then
the payments hereunder will be correspondingly reduced in such equitable manner
as the Board may determine.
19.
No
Mitigation or Offset.
The
Executive will not be required to mitigate the amount of any payment provided
for in this Agreement by seeking employment or otherwise; nor will any amounts
or benefits payable or provided hereunder be reduced in the event he does secure
employment, except as may otherwise be provided herein.
20.
Validity.
The
invalidity or unenforceability of any provisions of this Agreement will not
affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement,
which will remain in full force and effect.
21.
Applicable
Law.
Except
to the extent preempted by federal law, this Agreement will be governed by
and
construed in accordance with the domestic internal law of the State of
Delaware.
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22.
Number.
Words
used herein in the singular will be construed as being used in the plural,
as
the context requires, and vice versa.
23.
Headings.
The
headings of the sections, subsections and paragraphs of this Agreement are
for
convenience only and will not control or affect the meaning or construction
or
limit the scope or intent of any of the provisions of this
Agreement.
24.
Effective
Date; Termination of Prior Agreement.
This
Agreement will become effective immediately upon the execution and delivery
of
this Agreement by the parties hereto. Upon the execution and delivery of this
Agreement, any prior agreement relating to the subject matter hereof, will
be
deemed automatically terminated and be of no further force or
effect.
25.
Withholding
For Taxes.
All
amounts and benefits paid or provided hereunder will be subject to withholding
for taxes as required by law.
26.
Individual
Agreement.
This
Agreement is an agreement solely between and among the parties hereto. It is
intended to constitute a nonqualified unfunded arrangement for the benefit
of a
key management employee and will be construed and interpreted in a manner
consistent with such intention.
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first
above written.
MEDIFAST,
INC.
By
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Chairman
of the Compensation Committee of the Board,
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Xxx.
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx OSA
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Xxxxxxx
X. Xxxxxxx
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("Medifast")
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(SEAL)
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