Exhibit 10.5
 
SMART BALANCE, INC.
SEVERANCE AGREEMENT
 
This Smart Balance, Inc. Severance Agreement (the “Agreement”) is made and
entered into as of January 1, 2012 (the “Effective Date”) by and between Smart
Balance, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and «Name» (“Employee”).
 
Recitals
 
A.           The Employee is a key employee of the Company or a Company Entity;
 
B.           The Board of Directors of the Company (“Board”) has determined that
it is essential and in the best interest of the Company and its stockholders to
retain the services of the Employee and to ensure the Employee’s continued
dedication and efforts, without undue distraction or concern, and
 
C.           The Company and Employee are entering into this Agreement to
provide certain incentives and protections to the Employee and certain covenants
to the Company in the event of a termination of the Employee's employment with
the Company.
 
D.           The Company and Employee are simultaneously entering into a
Restricted Stock Unit Grant Notice and Agreement (the "Restricted Stock Unit
Agreement") [and a Stock Option Grant Notice and Agreement (the "Stock Option
Agreement")] to be effective as of January 1, 2012.
 
Agreement
 
In consideration of the respective agreements of the parties contained herein,
as well as the benefits and mutual covenants contained in the Restricted Stock
Unit Agreement [,the Stock Option Agreement] and for other good and valuable
consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is mutually acknowledged, it
is hereby agreed as follows:
 
1.           Term of Agreement.  This Agreement shall commence as of the
Effective Date and shall continue in effect until the fourth anniversary of the
Effective Date (the “Expiration Date”); provided, however, that commencing on
the Expiration Date and on each anniversary of the Expiration Date thereafter,
the term of this Agreement shall automatically be extended for one (1) year
following such date unless the Company or the Employee shall have provided
written notice to the other at least ninety (90) days prior to such date that
the term of this Agreement shall not be so extended.
 
2.           Definitions.
 
(a)           Accrued Compensation.  “Accrued Compensation” means an amount
which shall include all amounts earned, accrued, payable to or awarded through
the Termination Date (as hereinafter defined) but not paid as of the Termination
Date, including (a) base salary, (b) reimbursement for reasonable and necessary
expenses incurred by the Employee on behalf of the Company during the period
ending on the Termination Date, (c) accrued but unused vacation pay, and (d)
bonuses, commissions and incentive compensation (other than the Target Bonus (as
hereinafter defined)).  References to Accrued Compensation under this Agreement
shall not obligate the Company or Company Entity to pay such amounts twice
(e.g., under this Agreement and under another agreement or obligation) and such
references are meant only to clarify obligations outside the scope of this
Agreement and not to create additional rights hereunder.

 
 

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(b)           Base Amount.  “Base Amount” means the greater of the Employee’s
annual base salary (i) at the rate in effect immediately prior to the
Termination Date or (ii) at the highest rate in effect at any time during the
three (3) year period prior to the Termination Date, and shall include all
amounts of base salary that are deferred under the employee benefit plans of the
Company or any other agreement or arrangement.
 
(c)           Bonus Amount.  “Bonus Amount” means the greater of (i) the actual
bonus amount earned by the Employee under the Company’s Amended and Restated
Financial Performance Incentive Program for the fiscal year prior to the fiscal
year in which the Termination Date occurs (ii) the actual bonus amount earned by
the Employee under the Company’s Amended and Restated Financial Performance
Incentive Program for the fiscal year in which the Termination Date occurs; or
(iii) [     ]% of the greater of the Employee’s annual base salary (x) at the
rate in effect immediately prior to the Termination Date or (y) at the highest
rate in effect at any time during the three (3) year period prior to the
Termination Date.
 
(d)           Board.  “Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company as
from time to time constituted.
 
(e)           Cause.  “Cause” means with respect to the Employee any of the
following as determined by the Board, in its sole discretion, (a) fraud or
intentional misrepresentation, (b) embezzlement, misappropriation or conversion
of assets or opportunities of the Company or any Company Entity, (c) acts or
omissions that are in bad faith or constitute gross negligence, or willful or
reckless misconduct, or (d) conviction, plea of guilty or nolo contendere, or
judicial determination of civil liability, based on a federal or state felony or
serious criminal or civil offense.
 
(f)           Change of Control.  “Change of Control” means the occurrence of
any of the following: events with respect to the Company:
 
(i)           any Person (other than an Exempt Person) acquires securities of
the Company representing fifty percent (50 percent) or more of the combined
voting power of the Company’s then outstanding voting securities;
 
(ii)           any Person acquires, during the twelve (12) month period ending
on the date of the most recent acquisition, securities of Company representing
thirty percent (30) percent of Company’s then outstanding voting securities;
 
(iii)          a majority of the members of the  Board is replaced during any
12-month period by directors whose appointment or election is not endorsed by a
majority of the members of the Board serving immediately prior to such
appointment or election; or

 
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(iv)         any Person, during the twelve (12) month period ending on the date
of the most recent acquisition, acquires assets of Company having a total gross
fair market value equal to or more than forty percent (40%) of the total gross
fair market value of Company’s assets immediately before such acquisition or
acquisitions;
 
but only if the applicable transaction otherwise constitutes a “change in
control event” for purposes of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986, as amended (the “Code”) and Treas. Reg. §1.409A-3(i)(5).
 
(g)          Change of Control Agreement.  "Change of Control Agreement" means
the Amended and Restated Smart Balance, Inc. Change of Control Agreement between
the Company and the Employee, dated as of April 1, 2010.
 
(h)          Company.  “Company” means Smart Balance, Inc., a corporation
organized under the laws of the State of Delaware.
 
(i)           Company Entity.  “Company Entity” means any other entities that
along with the Company is considered a single employer pursuant to Section
414(b) or (c) of the Code and the Treasury regulations promulgated thereunder,
determined by applying the phrase “at least 50 percent” in place of the phrase
“at least 80 percent” each place it appears in such Treasury regulations or
Section 1563(a) of the Code.  The term “Company Entity” shall also include any
entity so designated by the Board for legitimate business reasons in which the
Company holds a controlling interest under Treas. Reg. § 1.414(c)-2(b)(2)(i),
determined by applying the phrase “at least 20%” in the place of the phrase “at
least 80 percent” each place it appears in such Treasury Regulation or Section
1563(a) of the Code.
 
(j)           Disability.  “Disability” means the Employee’s inability to
perform any material portion of his or her assigned duties and responsibilities,
with or without accommodation, due to a mental or physical condition that is
expected to last indefinitely.
 
(k)           Exempt Person.  “Exempt Person” means (a) a trustee or other
fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company in
such capacity, (b) a corporation or other entity owned, directly or indirectly,
by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as
their ownership of stock of the Company, or (c) any Person beneficial
stockholder or group, as defined by Rule 13d-5 of the Exchange Act, which holds
as of the date hereof securities possessing more than twenty-five percent (25%)
of the total combined voting power of the Company’s outstanding securities.
 
(l)           Good Reason. “Good Reason” means any one or more of the following
conditions, but only if (x) such condition was not consented to by the Employee
in advance or subsequently ratified by the Employee in writing, (y) such
condition remains in effect thirty (30) days after the Employee gives written
notice to the Board of the Employee’s intention to terminate his or her
employment for Good Reason, which notice specifically identifies such condition,
and (z) the Employee gives the notice referred to in (y) above within ninety
(90) days of the initial existence of such condition:
 
(i)           any material diminution of the Employee’s authority, duties or
responsibilities;

 
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(ii)           any material diminution in the authority, duties, or
responsibilities of the officer to whom the Employee is required to report,
including the requirement that the Employee report to a corporate officer or
employee rather than reporting to the Board of Directors of the Company.
 
(iii)          a material diminution of the Employee’s base compensation;
 
(iv)          a material diminution in the budget over which the Employee
retains authority;
 
(v)           a material change in the geographic location at which the Employee
must perform the Employee’s duties and responsibilities; or
 
(vi)          any other action or inaction by the Company or Company Entity that
constitutes a material breach of this Agreement or any other agreement pursuant
to which the Employee provides services to the Company or a Company Entity.
 
(m)           Person.  “Person” means a "person" as used in Sections 3(a)(9) and
13(d) of the Exchange Act or any group of Persons acting in concert that would
be considered “persons acting as a group” within the meaning of Treas. Reg.
§1.409A-3(i)(5).
 
(n)           Separation From Service.  “Separation from Service” means the
termination of the Employee’s employment with the Company and all Company
Entities, provided that, notwithstanding such termination of the employment
relationship between the Employee and the Company and all Company Entities, the
Employee shall not be deemed to have had a Separation from Service where it is
reasonably anticipated that the level of bona fide services that the Employee
will perform (whether as an employee or independent contractor) for the Company
and all Company Entities following such termination would be twenty percent
(20%) or more of the average level of bona fide services performed by the
Employee (whether as an employee or independent contractor) for the Company and
all Company Entities over the immediately preceding thirty-six (36) month period
(or such lesser period of actual service).  In such event, Separation from
Service shall mean the permanent reduction of the level of bona fide services to
be performed by the Employee (whether as an employee or independent contractor)
to a level that is less than twenty percent (20%) of the average level of bona
fide services performed by the Employee (whether as an employee or independent
contractor) during the thirty-six (36) month period (or such lesser period of
actual service) immediately prior to the termination of the Employee’s
employment relationship.  A Separation from Service shall not be deemed to have
occurred if the Employee is absent from active employment due to military leave,
sick leave, or other bona fide leave of absence if the period of such leave does
not exceed the greater of (i) six months or (ii) the period during which the
Employee’s right to reemployment by the Company or any Company Entity is
provided either by statute or contract.
 
(o)           Severance Multiplier.  "Severance Multiplier" means [1.5][2].
 
(p)           Specified Employee  “Specified Employee” means an employee of the
Company or any Company Entity who is a “specified employee” as defined in
Section 409A(a)(2)(b)(i) of the Code and Treas. Reg. §1.409A-1(i).  If the
Employee is a key Employee as of the applicable identification date, the
Employee shall be treated as a Specified Employee for the 12-month period
beginning on the first day of the fourth month following such identification
date.  The applicable identification date for purposes of this Agreement shall
be September 30 of each year.

 
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(q)           Target Bonus Amount.  “Target Bonus Amount” means with respect to
the Employee for the fiscal year during which the Employee’s employment
terminated [     ]% of the greater of the Employee’s annual base salary (i) at
the rate in effect immediately prior to the Termination Date or (ii) at the
highest rate in effect at any time during the three (3) year period prior to the
Termination Date.
 
(r)           Termination Date.  For purposes of this Agreement, “Termination
Date” shall mean (a) in the case of Employee’s death, Employee’s date of death,
(b) in the case of Good Reason, the last day of Employee’s employment and, (c)
in all other cases, the date specified in the Notice of Termination; provided,
that if Employee’s employment is to be terminated by the Company due to
Disability, such employment shall not be terminated if Employee returns to the
full-time performance of his or her material duties prior to the date specified
in the Notice of Termination.
 
3.           Termination of Employment.  If, during the term of this Agreement,
Employee’s employment with the Company and all Company Entities terminates, and
conditioned upon and subject to Employee’s execution of a release agreement
referred to in Section 14 hereof, Employee shall be entitled to the following
compensation and benefits following such termination:
 
(a)           If Employee’s employment with the Company and all Company Entities
is terminated for Cause or by Employee other than for Good Reason, the Company
shall pay to Employee only the Accrued Compensation.
 
(b)           If Employee’s employment with the Company and all Company Entities
is terminated due to death or Disability, then the Company shall pay to Employee
the Accrued Compensation, the Target Bonus Amount, and in the event that the
Employee (or his beneficiary, if applicable) makes a timely election of COBRA
continuation coverage for the Employee or his spouse or dependants under any
group health plan provided by the Company, the Company shall either pay directly
or reimburse Employee for the cost of all premiums for such coverage.
 
(c)           If Employee’s employment with the Company and all Company Entities
shall be terminated without Cause or by the Employee for Good Reason, Employee
shall be entitled to the following:
 
(i)           the Company shall pay Employee all Accrued Compensation;
 
(ii)           the Company shall pay Employee as severance pay, in lieu of any
further compensation for periods subsequent to the Termination Date, an amount
in cash equal to the sum of (A) the product of the Base Amount and the Severance
Multiplier and (B) the product of the Bonus Amount and the Severance Multiplier;
and
 
(iii)           in the event that the Employee makes a timely election of COBRA
continuation coverage for the Employee or his spouse or dependants under any
group health plan provided by the Company, the Company shall either pay directly
or reimburse Employee for the cost of all premiums for such coverage.

 
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(d)           Employee’s rights under any Company sponsored employee benefit
plan, program or arrangement or with respect to any equity based incentives
awarded to Employee shall be determined in accordance with the applicable plan
or other operative document.
 
(e)           Following the later of the Termination Date or the Separation from
Service, all cash amounts payable under Section 3(a), 3(b) or Section 3(c) shall
be paid in a single lump sum on the tenth (10th) day following the date that the
Employee has duly executed the release agreement referred to in Section 14
hereof, provided that the Employee has not revoked such agreement (or, if the
Employee is subject to the six month delay in Section 3(j) below, the date it
provides); provided further that  if the Termination Date or Separation from
Service, whichever is later, occurs after November 15th of any calendar year,
the payments shall be made on the later of (i) the tenth (10th) day following
the date that the Employee has duly executed the release agreement referred to
in Section 14 hereof, provided that the Employee has not revoked such agreement
or (ii) January 1st of the following calendar year. Reimbursement payments of
COBRA continuation premiums under Sections 3(b) or 3(c)(iii) above shall be made
in a lump sum within fifteen (15) days of the date such premiums are paid by the
Employee and in all events prior to the end of the Employee’s taxable year
following the taxable year in which such premiums were paid by the Employee.
 
(f)           The Company shall be authorized to withhold from all payments to
the Employee hereunder all amounts required to be withheld under applicable
local, state or federal income and employment tax laws.
 
(g)           The Employee shall not be required to mitigate the amount of any
payment provided for in this Agreement by seeking other employment or otherwise,
and no such payment shall be offset or reduced by the amount of any compensation
or benefits provided to Employee in any subsequent employment.
 
(h)           The severance pay and other benefits provided for in this Section
3 shall be in lieu of any other severance or termination pay to which the
Employee may be entitled under any general Company severance or termination
plan, program, practice or arrangement, but shall be in addition to any other
payments or benefits to which the Employee may become entitled (i) under any
outstanding equity award agreements the Employee has with the Company or (ii)
under the Change of Control Agreement, provided however, that in the event the
Employee receives benefits pursuant to Sections 3(a) –(c) of the Change of
Control Agreement, then Employee shall not be entitled to receive benefits
pursuant to this Agreement, except to the extent of the excess, if any, of those
benefits Employee would be entitled to receive under similar circumstances under
Sections 3(a)-(c) hereof over the benefits to which Employee is entitled under
Sections 3(a) – (c) of the Change of Control Agreement.
 
(i)           The Employee’s entitlement to any other benefits as a result of a
termination of employment shall be determined in accordance with the Company’s
employee benefit plans and other applicable programs, policies and practices
then in effect, subject to Section 3(h) hereof.

 
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(j)           Notwithstanding any other Section of this Agreement, if the
Employee is a Specified Employee at the time of Employee’s Separation from
Service, payments or distribution of property to Employee provided under this
Agreement, to the extent considered amounts deferred under a non-qualified
deferred compensation plan (as defined in Section 409A of the Code) shall be
deferred until the six month anniversary of such Separation from Service and all
such amounts that would have been paid during such period but for the deferral
shall be paid immediately upon the six month anniversary of such Separation from
Service to the extent required in order to comply with Section 409A of the Code
and Treas. Reg. 1.409A-3(i)(2).
 
4.           Restrictive Covenants.  In consideration of the rights and benefits
hereunder and the grants made to the Employee pursuant to the Restricted Stock
Unit Agreement [and the Stock Option Agreement], which grants would not have
been made but for Employee agreeing to be bound by this Section 4, the Company
and the Employee hereby agree that the Employee will be bound by the following
restrictive covenants.
 
(a)           Non-Competition.  In consideration of the rights and benefits
hereunder and as provided in the Restricted Stock Unit Agreement [and the Stock
Option Agreement], during the Restricted Period described below, the Employee
shall not, directly or indirectly, without the prior written consent of the
Company, own, manage, operate, join, control, be employed by, consult with or
participate in the ownership, management, operation or control of, or be
connected with (as a stockholder, partner, or otherwise), any business,
individual, partner, firm, corporation, or other entity in the health and
wellness sector of the packaged food and beverage industry within the United
States or Canada that competes, directly or indirectly, with the Company or any
subsidiary/affiliate of the Company; provided, however, that Employee may own
any securities of any corporation which is engaged in such business and is
publicly owned and traded, but in an amount not to exceed at any one time two
percent (2%) of the class of a publicly traded stock or securities of such
corporation.
 
The “Restricted Period” means the period the Employee is employed by the Company
plus [eighteen (18) months] [two (2) years] from the Termination Date, provided
however, that the Restricted Period shall terminate immediately upon a Change of
Control.
 
(b)           Non-Solicitation.  In consideration of the rights and benefits
hereunder and as provided in the Restricted Stock Unit Agreement [and the Stock
Option Agreement], during the Restricted Period, the Employee shall not, either
directly or indirectly, including, without limitation, by himself or by any
other entity with which he is employed or affiliated (i) hire or solicit or in
any manner attempt to influence or induce any employee or agent of the Company
or any Company Entity to leave the employment of or modify its relationship with
the Company or any Company Entity, provided however, that the foregoing shall
not prevent the Employee from (x) placing a bona fide advertisement for
employment not specifically targeted at employees of the Company or any Company
Entity  or (y) hiring any employee of the Company or any Company Entity if such
employee has been terminated by the Company or any Company Entity; (ii)
influence or attempt to influence any of the vendors, prospective vendors,
independent contractors, customers or prospective customers or agents of the
Company or any Company Entity to stop doing business with the Company or any
Company Entity or otherwise intentionally adversely affect the relationships
with any such parties; or (iii) call upon any of the customers or prospective
customers of the Company or any Company Entity or the purposes of soliciting or
providing any products or services similar to those provided at the date hereof
or hereafter by the Company or any Company Entity or which is known to be under
development or actively considered by the Company or any Company Entity.

 
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(c)              Nondisparagement; Cooperation.  The Employee shall not, at any
time during the Restricted Period, make any public or private statement to the
news media, to any Company competitor or client, or to any other individual or
entity, if such statement would disparage any of the Company, any of their
respective businesses or any director or officer of any of them or such
businesses or would have a deleterious effect upon the interests of any of such
businesses or the stockholders or other owners of any of them; provided,
however, that the Employee shall not be in breach of this restriction if such
statements consist solely of (i) private statements made to any officers,
directors or employees of any of the Company by the Employee in the course of
carrying out his duties pursuant to this Agreement or, to the extent applicable,
his duties as a director or officer, or (ii) private statements made to persons
other than clients or competitors of any of the Company (or their
representatives) or members of the press or the financial community that do not
have a material adverse effect upon any of the Company; and provided further
that nothing contained in this Section 4(d) or in any other provision of this
Agreement shall preclude the Employee from making any statement in good faith
that is required by law, regulation or order of any court or regulatory
commission, department or agency.
 
(d)              Enforcement.  The Employee acknowledges and agrees that the
provisions of this Agreement, including Section 4, are reasonable and necessary
for the successful operation of the Company.  The Employee further acknowledges
that if the Employee breaches any provision of this Agreement, including Section
4, the Company will suffer irreparable injury.  The Employee and the Company
further agree that the provisions of the covenants not to compete and solicit
are reasonable and that the Company would not have entered into this Agreement
or the Restricted Stock Unit Agreement but for the inclusion of such covenants
herein.  It is therefore agreed that the Company shall have the right to enjoin
any such breach or threatened breach, without posting any bond, if ordered by a
court of competent jurisdiction.  The existence of this right to injunctive and
other equitable relief shall not limit any other rights or remedies that the
Company may have at law or in equity including, without limitation, the right to
monetary, compensatory and punitive damages.  If any provision of this Agreement
is determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to be not enforceable in the
manner set forth herein, the Employee and the Company agree that it is the
intention of the parties that such provision should be enforceable to the
maximum extent possible under applicable law.
 
The provisions of this Section 4 shall survive any termination of this
Agreement, and the existence of any claim or cause of action by the Employee
against the Company, whether predicated on this Agreement or otherwise, shall
not constitute a defense to the enforcement by the Company of the covenants and
agreements of this Section 4; provided, however, that this paragraph shall not,
in and of itself, preclude the Employee from defending himself against the
enforceability of the covenants and agreements of this Section 4.
 
 
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5.            Successors; Binding Agreement.
 
(a)           This Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the
benefit of the Company and its successors and assigns.  The Company shall
require (i) any successors and assigns to expressly assume and agree to perform
this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would
be required to perform it if no such succession or assignment had taken place,
and (ii) the parent entity, if any, of any such successors and assigns to
guarantee the performance of any such successors and assigns hereunder.
 
(b)           Neither this Agreement nor any right or interest hereunder shall
be assignable or transferable by Employee or Employee’s beneficiaries or legal
representatives, except by will or by the laws of descent and
distribution.  This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable
by the Employee’s legal personal representatives, executors, administrators,
successors, heirs, distributees, devisees and legatees.
 
6.           Notice.  All notices, requests, demands, and other communications
hereunder shall be in writing, and shall be delivered in person, by facsimile,
or by certified or registered mail with return receipt requested.  Each such
notice, request, demand, or other communication shall be effective: (a) if
delivered by hand, when delivered at the address specified in this Section 6;
(b) if given by facsimile, when such facsimile is transmitted to the facsimile
number specified in this Section 6 and confirmation is received; or (c) if given
by certified or registered mail, three (3) days after the mailing
thereof.  Notices to the Employee shall be delivered to the last mailing address
that the Employee has provided to the Company for purposes of receiving tax
statements and other notices.  Notices to the Company shall be delivered as
follows:
 
Smart Balance, Inc.
115 West Century Road
Suite 260
Paramus, New Jersey 07625
Attn. General Counsel

Any party may change its address or other contact information for the purposes
hereof by providing notice thereof to the other party in accordance with the
foregoing provisions.
 
7.           Non-Exclusivity of Rights.  Nothing in this Agreement shall prevent
or limit the Employee’s continuing or future participation in any benefit,
bonus, incentive or other plan or program provided by the Company (except for
any severance or termination policies, plans, programs or practices as provided
in Section 3(h)) and for which Employee may qualify, nor shall anything herein
limit or reduce such rights as the Employee may have under any other agreements
with the Company (except for any severance or termination agreement).  Amounts
which are vested benefits or which the Employee is otherwise entitled to receive
under any plan or program of the Company shall be payable in accordance with
such plan or program, except as explicitly modified by this Agreement.
 
8.           No Implied Employment Rights.  The Employee hereby acknowledges and
agrees that nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to imply that his or
her employment is guaranteed for any period of time.  The Employee understands
and agrees that his or her employment is, unless otherwise specified in a
written agreement signed by the Employee and a duly authorized officer of the
Company or a Company Entity, “at will,” which means that either the Company or a
Company Entity or the Employee can terminate the employment relationship at any
time, with or without advance notice, for any reason or no reason, and with or
without cause.  The Employee acknowledges and agrees that the only way that his
or her “at will” employment relationship, if applicable, can be altered is by a
written agreement signed by the Employee and a duly authorized officer of the
Company or a Company Entity.

 
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9.           Settlement Of Claims.  Employee hereby agrees that, to the extent
permitted by law, the Company’s obligation to make payments provided for in this
Agreement and otherwise to perform its obligations hereunder shall be reduced by
any amounts owed by the Employee to the Company including, without limitation,
any set-off, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right which the Company
may have against the Employee.
 
10.         Miscellaneous.  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 Employee and the Company.  No waiver by either
party hereto at any time of any breach by the other party hereto, or compliance
with, any condition or provision of this Agreement to be performed by such other
party shall be deemed a waiver of similar or dissimilar provisions or conditions
at the same or at any prior or subsequent time.  No agreement or representation,
oral or otherwise, express or implied, with respect to the subject matter hereof
has been made by either party which is not expressly set forth in this
Agreement.
 
11.         Governing Law.  This Agreement has been negotiated and executed in
the State of New Jersey and is to be performed in New Jersey.  This Agreement
shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of
New Jersey, including all matters of construction, validity, performance, and
enforcement, without giving effect to principles of conflict of laws.  Any
dispute, action, litigation, or other proceeding concerning this Agreement shall
be instituted, maintained, heard, and decided in the State of New Jersey.
 
12.         Severability.  If any provision of this Agreement, or the
application thereof in any circumstance, is or becomes illegal, invalid or
unenforceable, such provision shall be deemed severable and the invalidity or
unenforceability of any such provision shall not affect the validity or
enforceability of the other provisions hereof.
 
13.         Entire Agreement.  This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement
between the parties hereto and supersedes all prior agreements, understandings
and arrangements, if any, whether oral or written, between the parties hereto
with respect to the subject matter hereof, including, but not limited to, any
prior severance understandings or arrangements previously entered into between
the Company and the Employee, but excluding the Change of Control Agreement or
agreements evidencing any outstanding equity awards including, but not limited
to, the Restricted Stock Unit Agreement [and the Stock Option Agreement].
 
14.         Severance and Release Agreement.  The Employee’s right to the
severance payments under this Agreement shall be conditioned upon the Employee’s
execution and delivery of a release agreement in a form attached hereto as
Exhibit A.

 
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15.           Remedies.  All rights, remedies, undertakings, obligations,
options, covenants, conditions, and agreements contained in this Agreement shall
be cumulative and no one of them shall be exclusive of any other.
 
16.           Legal Fees.  The Company shall pay directly or reimburse the
Employee for all reasonable legal fees and expenses incurred by the Employee in
disputing in good faith any issue under this Agreement relating to the
termination of the Employee’s employment, or in seeking in good faith to obtain
or enforce any benefit or right under this Agreement.  Such payments or
reimbursements shall be made within five (5) business days after receipt by the
Company of the Employee’s written request for payment or reimbursement
accompanied by such evidence of the amount of fees and expenses incurred as the
Company may reasonably request.  For purposes of this Section 16, any dispute by
the Employee shall be presumed to be in good faith unless the Company
establishes by clear and convincing evidence that the dispute was not in good
faith.
 
17.           Interpretation.  The language in all parts of this Agreement shall
be in all cases construed simply according to its fair meaning and not strictly
for or against any party.  Whenever the context requires, all words used in the
singular will be construed to have been used in the plural, and vice versa.  The
descriptive headings of the sections and subsections of this Agreement are
inserted for convenience only and shall not control or affect the interpretation
or construction of any of the provisions herein.
 
18.           Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which
together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
 
19.           Further Documents and Acts. Each of the parties hereto agrees to
cooperate in good faith with the other and to execute and deliver such further
instruments and perform such other acts as may be reasonably necessary or
appropriate to consummate and carry into effect the transactions contemplated
under this Agreement.
 
20.           Consultation with Counsel.  Employee acknowledges (a) that he or
she has been given the opportunity to consult with counsel of his or her own
choice concerning this Agreement, and (b) that he or she has read and
understands this Agreement, is fully aware of its legal effect, and has entered
into it freely based upon his or her own judgment with or without the advice of
such counsel.
 
21.           Code Section 409A.  The intent of the parties is that payments and
benefits under this Agreement comply with or be exempt from Section 409A of the
Code and the regulations and guidance promulgated thereunder (collectively
“Section 409A”) and, accordingly, to the maximum extent permitted, this
Agreement shall be interpreted to be exempt from Section 409A or in compliance
therewith, as applicable.  All reimbursements as provided herein shall be
payable in accordance with the Company’s policies in effect from time to time,
but in any event 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 Employee.

 
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22.           Coordination with Change of Control Agreement.  Notwithstanding
anything to contrary, in the event that the Employee is entitled to any benefits
under Section 3(a) –(c) of the Change of Control Agreement, Employee shall not
be entitled to any benefits under this Agreement, except to the extent of the
excess, if any, of those benefits Employee would be entitled to receive under
similar circumstances under Sections 3(a)-(c) hereof over the benefits to which
Employee is entitled under Sections 3(a) – (c) of the Change of Control
Agreement. There shall be no duplication of benefits under this Agreement and
any other agreement with the Company.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary,
in the event that Employee is entitled to benefits under Section 3(a) – (c) of
this Agreement, and the Company experiences a Change of Control within the one
hundred and eighty day (180) period following the Termination Date such that
Section 3(j) of the Change of Control Agreement becomes applicable, Employee
shall only be entitled to the benefits under the Change of Control Agreement, if
any, to the extent such benefits have not been provided to Employee under this
Agreement.  In addition, upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, Section 4
of this Agreement shall no longer apply.
 
THE EMPLOYEE ACKNOWLEDGES THAT HE OR SHE HAS READ THIS AGREEMENT AND UNDERSTANDS
ITS CONTENTS. THE EMPLOYEE FURTHER ACKNOWLEDGES THAT HE OR SHE HAS BEEN ADVISED
BY THE COMPANY OF HIS OR HER RIGHT TO CONSULT WITH LEGAL COUNSEL OF HIS OR HER
OWN CHOICE CONCERNING THIS AGREEMENT. BY SIGNING THIS AGREEMENT, THE EMPLOYEE
AND THE COMPANY AGREE TO BE BOUND BY ALL OF THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THIS
AGREEMENT.

 
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Agreement to be executed by its
duly authorized officer and the Employee has executed this Agreement as of the
day and year first above written.
 

 
SMART BALANCE, INC.
     
By:
     
«Stephen B. Hughes»
         
«Name»

 
 
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Exhibit A
 
RELEASE
 
Date:  ________________________
 
In consideration of the agreement of Smart Balance, Inc. (“Company”) to enter
into that certain Smart Balance, Inc. Severance Agreement, dated as of January
1, 2012 (“Severance Agreement”), with the undersigned and the promises and
covenants of the Company made thereunder, the undersigned, on behalf of himself
and his respective heirs, representatives, executors, family members, and
assigns hereby fully and forever releases and discharges the Company, Company
Entities, and their past, present and future directors, officers, employees,
agents, attorneys, investors, administrators, affiliates, divisions,
subsidiaries, predecessors, successors and assigns from and against, and agrees
not to sue or otherwise institute or cause to be instituted any legal,
alternative dispute resolution or administrative proceeding concerning, any
claim, duty, obligation or cause of action relating to any matters of any kind,
whether presently known or unknown, suspected or unsuspected, that he may
possess arising from any omissions, acts or facts that have occurred through the
date his employment terminates, including without limitation:
 
1.           Any and all claims relating to or arising from his employment by
Company or the Company Entities and the termination of such employment;
 
2.           Any and all claims under the Severance Agreement or any other
agreement or understanding governing the service relationship between the
Company or the Company Entities and the undersigned;
 
3           Any and all claims for wrongful discharge, termination in violation
of good policy, discrimination, breach of contract, both expressed or implied,
covenants of good faith or fair dealing, both expressed or implied, promissory
estoppel, negligent or intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligent
or intentional misrepresentation, negligent or intentional interference with
contract or prospective economic advantage, unfair business practice,
defamation, libel, slander, negligence, personal injury, assault, battery,
invasion of privacy, false imprisonment, or conversion;
 
4.           Any and all claims for violation of any federal, state or municipal
statute, including, without limitation, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of
1964, the Civil Rights Act of 1991, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of
1967, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Fair Labor Standards Act,
the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, the Worker Adjustment and
Retraining Notification Act, and all amendments to each such Act as well as the
regulations issued there under;
 
5.           Any and all claims based on the violation of the federal or any
state constitution;
 
6.           Any and all claims for attorneys’ fees and costs.

 
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The foregoing release shall not apply with respect to (i) the Company’s payment
obligations under the Severance Agreement, (ii) the Company’s payment
obligations under the Change of Control Agreement, or any other agreement
relating to a Change of Control, except as explicitly provided in under the
Severance Agreement, (iii) any obligation, whether to pay money or otherwise, of
a successor to the Company created under any agreement relating to a Change of
Control with respect to the Company, or (iv) the undersigned’s rights under any
“employee benefit plans” as that term is defined in the Employee Retirement
Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, or any award made to the undersigned
under the Smart Balance, Inc. Stock and Awards Plan, the Amended and Restated
Smart Balance, Inc. Stock and Awards Plan or the Second Amended and Restated
Smart Balance, Inc. Stock and Awards Plan.
 
The undersigned acknowledges that (i) he has been advised by Company to consult
a lawyer of his own choice prior to executing this release and has done so or
voluntarily declined to seek such counsel, (ii) he has read this release and
understands the terms and conditions hereof and the binding nature hereof, (iii)
he has had at least forty-five (45) days within which to consider the terms of
this release and executed this release voluntarily and without duress or undue
influence on the part of Company, (iv) he has seven (7) days to revoke his
execution of this release and that such execution shall not be effective until
seven (7) days following delivery to Company (“Effective Date”), and (v) he
understands that his right to receive payments under Paragraph 3 of the
Severance Agreement is subject to and conditioned on the undersigned’s signing
and delivering this release to Company.
 
Initially capitalized terms used in this release and defined in the Severance
Agreement shall have the meanings given to such terms under the Severance
Agreement.
 

     
Printed Name
         
Signature
     
Date: 
 

 

   
Notary
     
My Commission expires 
   

 
 
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