PHYSICIANS FORMULA, INC. EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
Exhibit 10.1
PHYSICIANS FORMULA, INC.
THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT ("Agreement") is made as of February 19, 2010, (the "Effective Date") by and between Physicians Formula, Inc.,
a New York corporation (the "Company") and Xxxx X. Xxxxx ("Executive").
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:
1. Employment. The Company shall
employ Executive, and Executive agrees to be employed with the Company, upon the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement for the period beginning on the Effective Date and ending as provided in paragraph 5 hereof (the "Employment Period").
2. Position and Duties.
(a) During the Employment Period, Executive shall serve as Chief Financial Officer and Secretary of Physicians Formula Holdings, Inc. ("Parent"),
the parent company of the Company, and the Company and shall have the normal duties, responsibilities, functions and authority of the Chief Financial Officer and Secretary, subject to the power and authority of Parent's Board of Directors (the "Board") to expand or limit such duties, responsibilities, functions and authority and to overrule actions of officers of Parent or the Company, as applicable. During the Employment Period, Executive
shall render such administrative, and other executive and managerial services to Parent and its Subsidiaries which are consistent with Executive's position as the Board may from time to time direct.
(b) During the Employment Period, Executive shall report to the Chief Executive Officer of Parent and shall devote his best efforts and his full business time and attention (except
for permitted vacation periods and reasonable periods of illness or other incapacity) to the business and affairs of the Parent and its Subsidiaries. Executive shall perform his duties, responsibilities and functions to the Parent and its Subsidiaries hereunder to the best of his abilities in a diligent, trustworthy, professional and efficient manner and shall comply with Parent's and its Subsidiaries' policies and procedures in all material respects. During the Employment Period, Executive
shall not serve as an officer or director of, or otherwise perform services for compensation for, any other entity without the prior written consent of the Board; provided that Executive may serve as an officer or director of or otherwise participate in purely educational, welfare, social, religious and civic organizations so long as such activities do not interfere with Executive's
employment hereunder or create a potential business or fiduciary conflict.
(c) For purposes of this Agreement, "Subsidiaries" shall mean any corporation or other entity of which the securities
or other ownership interests having the voting power to elect a majority of the board of directors or other governing body are, at the time of determination, owned by Parent, directly or through one or more Subsidiaries.
3. Compensation and Benefits During Employment Period.
(a) During the Employment Period, Executive's base salary shall be $316,368 per annum or such higher rate as
the Board (or the Compensation Committee established by the Board) may determine from time to time (as adjusted from time to time, the "Base Salary"), which salary shall be payable by the Company in regular installments in accordance with the Company's general payroll practices. In addition, during the Employment Period, Executive shall be entitled to participate in all of the Company's employee benefit programs for which senior executive
employees of the Company and its Subsidiaries are generally eligible (including, but not limited to, medical, dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurance, business travel accident insurance and the Company's Employee Assistance Program). During the Employment Period, the Executive shall be entitled to seventeen (17) days of paid vacation per calendar year (as prorated for partial years) in accordance with the Company's policy on accrual and use applicable to employees as in effect from
time to time, provided that the maximum number of vacation days that may be accrued shall be twenty-six (26) days. The Executive's participation in any benefit programs will be subject to the terms of the applicable plan documents and generally applicable Company policies. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may modify or terminate any employee benefit plan at any time.
(b) During the Employment Period, the Company shall reimburse Executive for all reasonable business expenses incurred by him in the course of performing his duties and responsibilities
under this Agreement which are consistent with the Company's policies in effect from time to time with respect to travel, entertainment and other business expenses, subject to the Company's requirements with respect to reporting and documentation of such expenses.
(c) In addition to the Base Salary, Executive shall be eligible to receive an annual bonus for calendar year 2010 at a target level of 50% of Base Salary, to be determined based upon
achievement by Executive and achievement by the Company of performance criteria and other goals established by the Board (or the Compensation Committee established by the Board), in accordance with the 2010 Bonus Plan that may be established by the Board (or the Compensation Committee established by the Board) in its sole discretion; and, thereafter, Executive shall be eligible to receive an annual bonus at a target amount to be determined by the Board (or the Compensation Committee established by the Board)
for each subsequent calendar year during the Employment Period based upon achievement by Executive and achievement by the Company of performance criteria and other goals established by the Board (or the Compensation Committee established by the Board) on an annual basis, in accordance with the Company's annual bonus plan for senior executives that may be established by the Board (or the Compensation Committee established by the Board) in its sole discretion.
(d) During the Employment Period, the Company shall provide Executive with a Company vehicle for business and personal use. Executive acknowledges that the personal use
of the Company vehicle is a taxable fringe benefit and is subject to all applicable payroll and income tax withholding.
(e) All amounts payable to Executive under this Agreement shall be subject to all required and customary withholding by the Company.
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4. Signing Bonus. Upon the Effective Date,
Executive shall be paid a bonus in an amount equal to $120,000 (the "Sign-On Bonus"), which shall be subject to all applicable payroll and income tax withholding. Should Executive terminate his employment by voluntary resignation prior to the date that is two years and six months following the Effective Date, Executive shall forfeit the Sign-On Bonus and shall be required to repay to the Company the full amount of the Sign-On Bonus upon
such termination. Should Executive terminate his employment by voluntary resignation on or after the date that is two years and six months following the Effective Date and prior to the date that is three years and six months following the Effective Date, Executive shall forfeit half of the Sign-On Bonus and shall be required to repay to the Company $60,000 of the Sign-On Bonus.
5. Term. The Employment Period shall
begin on the date hereof and, notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, expressed or implied, or Section 2924 of the California Labor Code or any similar provision of applicable law, (a) the Employment Period shall terminate immediately upon Executive's resignation, death or Disability (as defined below) and (b) the Employment Period may be terminated by the Company at any time for Cause (as defined below) or without Cause. Except as otherwise provided herein, any termination of the
Employment Period by the Company shall be effective as of the date specified in a written notice from the Company to Executive.
6. Compensation and Benefits After Termination of Employment
Period.
(a) If the Employment Period is terminated by the Company without Cause, Executive shall be entitled to:
(i) continue to receive his Base Salary
at the then-current rate, payable in regular installments, in accordance with the Company's payroll payment schedule in effect on the termination date but in no event less frequently than monthly, as special severance payments for a period of twenty-four (24) months from the date of termination (the "Severance Period");
(ii) continued use of a Company car for
the Severance Period;
(iii) a portion of the Target Annual Bonus
prorated for the elapsed portion of the year to the date of termination of employment, payable within 30 days after termination; and
(iv) continue to participate in all of the
Company's employee benefit programs for which senior executive employees of the Company and its Subsidiaries are generally eligible (except for any of the Company's equity compensation plans) for the Severance Period, at the Company’s expense.
(b) If a Change of Control shall have occurred, and within one year following the Change of Control the Employment Period is terminated by the Company without Cause, Executive shall
be entitled to the payments and benefits enumerated in clause 6(a) above, except that in lieu of 6(a)(iii) above the Executive shall be entitled to the greater of:
(i) a proportionate portion of the annual
bonus award Executive would have earned if the performance period had terminated on the date of the Change of Control, based on the elapsed portion of the year to the date of the Change of Control and achievement by Executive and achievement by the Company of performance criteria and other goals established under the annual bonus plan for senior executives over that portion of the year, payable within 30 days after termination, and
(ii) a portion of the Target Annual Bonus
prorated for the elapsed portion of the year to the date of termination of employment, payable within 30 days after termination.
(c) The payments made pursuant to Sections 6(a) or 6(b) shall
in each case be paid if and only if Executive has executed and delivered to the Company and does not revoke a general release of all claims against the Company and its directors, officers and affiliates in form and substance satisfactory to the Company (the "General Release") within 60 days of the termination date and only so long as Executive has not revoked or breached the provisions of the general release or breached the provisions of that certain
Protection of Trade Secrets, Nonsolicitation and Confidentiality Agreement, dated as of the date hereof by and between the Company and Executive (the "Nonsolicitation and Confidentiality Agreement"), and does not apply for unemployment compensation chargeable to the Company during the Severance Period, and Executive shall not be entitled to any other salary, compensation or employee or other benefits after termination of the Employment Period, except
as specifically provided for in the Company's employee benefit plans or as otherwise expressly required by applicable law (such as COBRA). Any amounts payable pursuant to Section 6 shall not be paid until the first scheduled payment date following the date the General Release is executed and no longer subject to revocation, with the first such payment being in an amount equal to the total amount to which Executive would otherwise
have been entitled during the period following the date of termination if such deferral had not been required; provided, however, that any such amounts that constitute nonqualified deferred compensation within the meaning of Internal Revenue Code Section 409A and the regulations and guidance promulgated thereunder ("Section
409A") shall not be paid until the 60th day following such termination to the extent necessary to avoid adverse tax consequences under Section 409A, and, if such payments are required to be so deferred, the first payment shall be in an amount equal to the total amount to which Executive would otherwise have been entitled during the period following the date of termination if such deferral had not been required; provided further that,
if Executive is a "specified employee" within the meaning of Section 409A, any amounts payable to Executive under this Section 6 during the first six months and one day following the date of termination that constitute nonqualified deferred compensation within the meaning of Section 409A shall not be paid until the date that is six months and one day following such termination to
the extent necessary to avoid adverse tax consequences under Section 409A, and, if such payments are required to be so deferred, the first payment shall be in an amount equal to the total amount to which Executive would otherwise have been entitled to during the period following the date of termination if such deferral had not been required.
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(d) Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, in the event the Company determines that any payment by the Company, Parent or any of its Subsidiaries in connection with a Change
of Control to or for the benefit of Executive (whether paid or payable pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or otherwise) (a "Payment") would be nondeductible by Parent for Federal income tax purposes because of Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), then the amounts payable to Executive hereunder pursuant to clauses (a) and (b) above (the "Severance
Payments") shall be reduced to the Reduced Amount. The "Reduced Amount" shall be that amount, if any, that maximizes the Severance Payments hereunder without causing any Payment to be nondeductible by Parent because of Section 280G of the Code.
(e) If the Employment Period is terminated by the Company for Cause or is terminated upon Executive's resignation, death or Disability pursuant to paragraph 5(a)
above, Executive shall only be entitled to receive his Base Salary through the date of termination and shall not be entitled to any other salary, compensation or employee or other benefits from the Company or its Subsidiaries thereafter, except as otherwise specifically provided for under the Company's employee benefit plans or as otherwise expressly required by applicable law (such as COBRA).
(f) Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all of Executive's rights to salary, bonuses, employee benefits and other compensation hereunder which would have accrued or become
payable after the termination of the Employment Period shall cease upon such termination, other than those expressly required under applicable law (such as COBRA).
(g) It is the intention of the parties that the payments and benefits to which Executive could become entitled in connection with termination of employment under this Agreement comply
with or be exempt from Section 409A of the Code. In the event that the parties determine that any such benefit or right does not so comply, they will negotiate reasonably and in good faith to amend the terms of this Agreement such that it complies (in a manner that attempts to minimize the economic impact of such amendment on Executive and the Company and its affiliates).
(h) For purposes of this Agreement, "Cause" shall mean with respect to Executive one or more of the following: (i)
the conviction of (or entry of a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to) a felony or other crime involving moral turpitude or dishonesty, disloyalty or fraud with respect to Parent or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their customers or suppliers, (ii) reporting to work under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs, the use of illegal drugs (whether or not at the workplace) or other
repeated conduct causing Parent or any of its Subsidiaries substantial public disgrace or disrepute or substantial economic harm, (iii) willful and repeated failure to substantially perform duties as reasonably directed by the Board which is not cured to the Board's reasonable satisfaction within 15 days after written notice thereof (which shall specifically identify the manner in which the Board believes that Executive has not substantially performed his duties) to Executive, (iv) a breach of Executive's
duty of loyalty to Parent or any of its Subsidiaries or affiliates or any act of dishonesty or fraud with respect to Parent or any of its Subsidiaries or (v) any material breach of this Agreement or any other agreement between Executive and Parent or any of its affiliates (including, without limitation, the Nonsolicitation and Confidentiality Agreement) which is not cured to the Board's reasonable satisfaction within 15 days after written notice thereof to Executive.
(i) For purposes of this Agreement, "Disability" shall mean Executive's inability to perform the essential duties,
responsibilities and functions of his position with the Parent and its Subsidiaries as a result of any mental or physical disability or incapacity even with reasonable accommodations of such disability or incapacity provided by Parent and its Subsidiaries or if providing such accommodations would be unreasonable, all as determined by the Board in its reasonable good faith judgment. Executive shall cooperate in all respects with the Company if a question arises as to whether he has become disabled (including,
without limitation, submitting to an examination by a medical doctor or other health care specialists selected by the Company and authorizing such medical doctor or such other health care specialist to discuss Executive's condition with the Company).
(j) For purposes of this Agreement, "Change of Control" shall mean the occurrence of one of the following events:
(i) if any "person" or "group" as those
terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (as amended, the "Exchange Act") or any successors thereto, other than any employee benefit plan of Parent or its Subsidiaries or a trustee or other administrator or fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of Parent or any of its Subsidiaries (an "Exempt Person"), is or becomes the
"beneficial owner" (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act or any successor thereto), directly or indirectly, of securities of Parent representing 50% or more of the combined voting power of the Parent's then outstanding securities; or
(ii) during any period of two consecutive
years, individuals who at the beginning of such period constitute the Board and any new directors whose election by the Board or nomination for election by Parent's stockholders was approved by at least two-thirds of the directors then still in office who either were directors at the beginning of the period or whose election was previously so approved, cease for any reason to constitute a majority thereof; or
(iii) consummation of a merger or consolidation
of Parent with any other corporation, other than a merger or consolidation (A) which would result in all or a portion of the voting securities of Parent outstanding immediately prior thereto continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the surviving entity) more than 50% of the combined voting power of the voting securities of Parent or such surviving entity outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation or (B) by which the corporate
existence of Parent is not affected and following which Parent's chief executive officer and directors retain their positions with Parent (and constitute at least a majority of the Board); or
(iv) consummation of a sale or disposition
by Parent of all or substantially all of Parent's assets, other than a sale to an Exempt Person; provided, however, that a transaction shall not constitute a Change of Control unless the transaction also constitutes a change in the ownership or effective control of the Company, or in the ownership of a substantial portion of the Company's assets, within the meaning of Section 409A(a)(2)(A)(v) of the Code and the regulations or
other published guidance promulgated thereunder.
(k) For purposes of this Agreement, "Target Annual Bonus" shall mean 50% of Executive's Base Salary in effect at the
time of Executive's termination.
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7. Executive's Representations. Executive hereby
represents and warrants to the Company that (i) the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by Executive do not and shall not conflict with, breach, violate or cause a default under any contract, agreement, instrument, order, judgment or decree to which Executive is a party or by which he is bound, (ii) Executive is not a party to or bound by any employment agreement, noncompete agreement or confidentiality agreement with any other person or entity and (iii) upon the execution and delivery of this
Agreement by the Company, this Agreement shall be the valid and binding obligation of Executive, enforceable in accordance with its terms. Executive hereby acknowledges and represents that he has consulted with independent legal counsel regarding his rights and obligations under this Agreement and that he fully understands the terms and conditions contained herein.
8. Survival. Paragraphs 5 through 21,
inclusive, shall survive and continue in full force in accordance with their terms notwithstanding the expiration or termination of the Employment Period.
9. Notices. Any notice provided for
in this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be either personally delivered, sent by reputable overnight courier service or mailed by first class mail, return receipt requested, to the recipient at the address below indicated:
Notices to Executive:
Xxxx X. Xxxxx
00 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Notices to the Company:
Physicians Formula, Inc.
0000 Xxxx 0xx Xxxxxx
Xxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Chief Executive Officer
Telecopy: (000) 000-0000
or such other address or to the attention of such other person as the recipient party shall have specified by prior written notice to the sending party. Any notice under this Agreement shall be deemed to have been given when so delivered, sent or mailed.
10. Severability. Whenever possible, each provision
of this Agreement shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect under any applicable law or rule in any jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provision of this Agreement or any action in any other jurisdiction, but this Agreement shall be reformed, construed and enforced in such jurisdiction as if such invalid, illegal
or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein.
11. Complete Agreement. This Agreement
and the Nonsolicitation and Confidentiality Agreement referred to herein embodies the complete agreement and understanding among the parties hereto and supersedes and preempts any prior understandings, agreements or representations by or among the parties, written or oral, which may have related to the subject matter hereof in any way.
12. No Strict Construction. The language
used in this Agreement shall be deemed to be the language chosen by the parties hereto to express their mutual intent, and no rule of strict construction shall be applied against any party.
13. Counterparts. This Agreement
may be executed in separate counterparts (including by means of telecopied signature pages), each of which is deemed to be an original and all of which taken together constitute one and the same agreement.
14. Successors and Assigns. This
Agreement is intended to bind and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by Executive, the Company and their respective heirs, successors and assigns, except that Executive may not assign his rights or delegate his duties or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the Company.
15. Choice of Law. All issues and
questions concerning the construction, validity, enforcement and interpretation of this Agreement and the exhibits and schedules hereto shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of California, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rules or provisions (whether of the State of California or any other jurisdiction) that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of California.
16. Amendment and Waiver. The provisions
of this Agreement may be amended or waived only with the prior written consent of the Company (as approved by the Board) and Executive, and no course of conduct or course of dealing or failure or delay by any party hereto in enforcing or exercising any of the provisions of this Agreement shall affect the validity, binding effect or enforceability of this Agreement or be deemed to be an implied waiver of any provision of this Agreement.
17. Insurance. Parent or its Subsidiaries
may, at its discretion, apply for and procure in its own name and for its own benefit life and/or disability insurance on Executive in any amount or amounts considered advisable. Executive agrees to cooperate in any medical or other examination, supply any information and execute and deliver any applications or other instruments in writing as may be reasonably necessary to obtain and constitute such insurance.
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18. Taxes; Code Section 409A.
(b) To the extent that reimbursements or other in-kind benefits under this Agreement constitute “nonqualified deferred compensation” for purposes of Code Section 409A,
(A) all such expenses or other reimbursements hereunder shall be made on or prior to the last day of the taxable year following the taxable year in which such expenses were incurred by the Executive, (B) any right to such reimbursement or in-kind benefits shall not be subject to liquidation or exchange for another benefit, and (C) no such reimbursement, expenses eligible for reimbursement, or in-kind benefits provided in any taxable year shall in any way affect the expenses eligible for reimbursement, or in-kind
benefits to be provided, in any other taxable year.
19. Arbitration.
(a) Except with respect to disputes and claims arising under the Nonsolicitation and Confidentiality Agreement
(which the parties hereto may pursue in any court of competent jurisdiction as specified below and with respect to which each party shall bear the cost of his or its own attorneys' fees and expenses, except to the extent otherwise required by applicable law), each party hereto agrees that arbitration, pursuant to the procedures set forth in the National Rules for the Resolution of Employment Disputes of the American Arbitration Association (as adopted and effective as of June 1, 1997 or such later version as
may then be in effect) (the "AAA Rules"), shall be the sole and exclusive method for resolving any claim or dispute ("Claim") arising out of or relating to the rights and obligations of the parties under this Agreement and the employment of Executive by the Company (including, without limitation, claims and disputes regarding employment discrimination, sexual harassment, termination
and discharge), whether such claim arose or the facts on which such Claim is based occurred prior to or after the execution and delivery of this Agreement. The parties hereto agree that (i) one arbitrator shall be appointed pursuant to the AAA Rules to conduct any such arbitration, (ii) all meetings of the parties and all hearings with respect to any such arbitration shall take place in Los Angeles, California, (iii) each party to the arbitration shall bear his or its own costs and expenses (including,
without limitation, all attorneys' fees and expenses, except to the extent otherwise required by applicable law) and (iv) all costs and expenses of the arbitration proceeding (such as filing fees, the arbitrator's fees, hearing expenses, etc.) shall be borne equally by the parties hereto; provided that at the conclusion of the arbitration, the arbitrator shall award costs and expenses
(including the costs of the arbitration previously advanced, the costs of mediation as set forth in subparagraph (b) below, and the fees and expenses of attorneys, accountants and other experts) to the parties hereto based upon the relative fault of each such party as determined by the arbitrator. The parties agree that the judgment, award or other determination of any arbitration under the AAA Rules shall be final, conclusive and binding on all of the parties hereto. Nothing in this paragraph
19 shall prohibit any party hereto from instituting litigation to enforce any final judgment, award or determination of the arbitration. Each party hereto hereby irrevocably submits to the jurisdiction of the federal courts (and, if jurisdiction in the federal courts is not proper, then the state courts) sitting in Los Angeles, California, and agrees that either court shall be the exclusive forum for the enforcement of any such final judgment, award or determination of the arbitration. Each
party hereto irrevocably consents to service of process by registered mail or personal service and waives any objection on the grounds of personal jurisdiction, venue or inconvenience of the forum. Each party hereto further agrees that each other party hereto may initiate litigation in any court of competent jurisdiction to execute any judicial judgment enforcing or not enforcing any award, judgment or determination of the arbitration.
(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, prior to any party hereto instituting any arbitration proceeding hereunder
to resolve any Claim, such party first shall submit the Claim to a mediation proceeding between the parties hereto which shall be governed by the prevailing procedures of the American Arbitration Association and shall be conducted in Los Angeles, California. If the parties hereto have not agreed in writing to a resolution of the Claim pursuant to the mediation within 45 days after the commencement thereof of if any party refuses to participate in the mediation process, then the Claim may be submitted
to arbitration under paragraph (a) above. Each party hereto shall bear his or its own costs and expenses incurred in connection with the mediation, and all costs and expenses of the mediation proceeding shall be borne equally by the parties hereto unless otherwise determined by the parties hereto.
20. Waiver of Jury Trial. As a specifically
bargained for inducement for each of the parties hereto to enter into this Agreement (after having the opportunity to consult with counsel), each party hereto expressly waives the right to trail by jury in any lawsuit or proceeding relating to or arising in any way from this Agreement or the matters contemplated hereby.
21. Third Party Beneficiary. The
parties agree that Parent is an intended third party beneficiary of this Agreement.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.
| PHYSICIANS FORMULA, INC. | |||
| By: | /s/ Xxxxxx Xxxxxx | ||
| Name: | Xxxxxx Xxxxxx | ||
| Its: | Chief Executive Officer | ||
| /s/ Xxxx X. Xxxxx | |||
| Xxxx X. Xxxxx | |||
| Acknowledged and Agreed: | |||
| PHYSICIANS FORMULA HOLDINGS, INC. | |||
| By: | /s/ Xxxxxx Xxxxxx | ||
| Name: | Xxxxxx Xxxxxx | ||
| Its: | Chief Executive Officer | ||
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