Exhibit








Exhibit 10.53


VITAMIN SHOPPE, INC. 
PERFORMANCE CASH AWARD AGREEMENT


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Participant:  


Grant Date:    


Value of Award:$_____________________ 


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THIS PERFORMANCE CASH AWARD AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of the Grant Date specified above, is entered into by and between Vitamin Shoppe, Inc., a company organized in the State of Delaware (the “Company”), and the Participant specified above; and
WHEREAS, it has been determined by the Compensation Committee of the Board of the Company (“Committee”) that it would be in the best interests of the Company to grant this performance cash award (“Award”) provided herein to the Participant.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and promises hereinafter set forth and for other good and valuable consideration, the parties hereto hereby mutually covenant and agree as follows:
1.Grant of Performance Cash Award.  The Company hereby grants to the Participant, as of the Grant Date specified above, the amount of the Award specified above.  


2.Vesting.  The Award subject to this grant shall vest in accordance with the terms of Exhibit A attached hereto.  


3.Settlement. As soon as is reasonably practicable following the vesting of any portion of the Award (but in any event, within 30 days), the Participant will receive the applicable portion of the Award in cash. 


4.Special Rules Regarding Restrictive Covenants.


4.1    Company Rights.  In the event that the Participant’s employment with the Company or one of its Subsidiaries or Related Companies is terminated for “Cause” (as defined below) or if Participant fails to comply with this Section 4, the Company may cancel any outstanding portion of this Award.


		
	(a)
	For purposes of this Agreement, “Cause” means any of the following: (i) theft or misappropriation of funds or other property of the Company; (ii) alcoholism or drug abuse, either of which materially impair the ability of the Participant to perform his/her duties and responsibilities hereunder or is injurious to the business of the Company; (iii) the conviction of a felony or pleading guilty or nolo contender to a felony involving moral turpitude; (iv) intentionally causing the Company to violate any local, state or 













federal law, rule or regulation that harms or may harm the Company in any material respect; (v) gross negligence or willful misconduct in the conduct or management of the Company which materially affects the Company, not remedied within thirty (30) days after receipt of written notice from the Company; (vi) willful refusal to comply with any significant policy, directive or decision of the Chief Executive Officer, any other executive(s) of the Company to whom the Participant reports, or the Board in furtherance of a lawful business purpose or willful refusal to perform the duties reasonably assigned to the Participant by the Chief Executive Officer, any other executive(s) of the Company to whom the Participant reports or the Board consistent with the Participant’s functions, duties and responsibilities, in each case, in any material respect, not remedied within thirty (30) days after receipt of written notice from the Company; (vii) breach (other than by reason of physical or mental illness, injury, or condition) of any other material obligation to the Company that is or could reasonably be expected to result in material harm to the Company not remedied within thirty (30) days after receipt of written notice of such breach from the Company; (viii) violation of the Company's operating and or financial/accounting procedures which results in material loss to the Company, as determined by the Company; or (ix) violation of the Company's confidentiality, non-compete or non-solicit requirements (including those set forth in this Agreement) or Code of Business Conduct.


4.2    Nondisclosure of Confidential and Proprietary Information.  The obligation of confidentiality by the Participant set forth in the Company's agreements(s) with the Participant or policies of the Company binding on or covering the Participant shall remain in effect for perpetuity regardless of any cessation of payment pursuant to this Agreement, such that the Participant shall not disclose confidential information of or pertaining to the Company at any time.


4.3    Non-Competition.  During the period of a Participant’s employment and for one year thereafter (or two years thereafter, in the event of a termination following a Change of Control), the Participant shall not, without the Company's prior written consent, directly or indirectly, own, manage, operate, join, control or participate in the ownership, management, operation or control of, or be connected as a director, officer, employee, partner, consultant or otherwise with, any profit or non-profit business or organization in the United States that, directly or indirectly, manufactures, markets, distributes or sells (through wholesale, retail or direct marketing channels including, but not limited to, mail order and internet distribution) vitamins, minerals, nutritional supplements, herbal products, sports nutrition products, bodybuilding formulas or homeopathic remedies (the "Competitive Products") if, except with respect to the companies listed below, the sale/distribution of the Competitive Products represent one third (1/3) or more of such business or organization’s gross sales in the proceeding twelve (12) months from the Participant’s termination of employment date (the "Competitive Business"); provided, however, that the Participant can work for a business or organization (other than the companies listed below) that sells Competitive Products that is less than one third (1/3) of such gross sales only if the Participant is not directly or indirectly involved in that part of the business or organization that deals with, or has knowledge of, the Competitive Products. Notwithstanding, and without limiting, the foregoing, the following companies constitute a Competitive Business: GNC, Rite Aid, Whole Foods, Vitacost, Walgreens, CVS, Nature's Bounty, Bodybuilding.com, Swanson, Sprout's Sunflower Markets and Vitamin Cottage. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Participant may be a passive owner (which shall not prohibit the exercise of any rights as a shareholder) of not more than 5% of the outstanding stock of any class of any public corporation that engages in a Competitive Business.


4.4    Non-Solicitation.  During the period of a Participant’s employment and for one year thereafter (or two years thereafter, in the event of a termination following a Change of Control), the Participant 











shall not directly or indirectly (i) cause any person or entity to, either for the Participant or for any other person, business, partnership, association, firm, company or corporation, hire from the Company or attempt to hire, divert or take away from the Company, any of the officers or employees of the Company who were employed by the Company during the twelve (12) months prior to the termination date of the Participant’s employment; or (ii) cause any other person or entity to, either for the Participant or for any other person, business, partnership, association, firm, company or corporation, attempt to divert or take away from the Company or its subsidiaries any of the business or vendors of the Company.


4.5    Remedies.  The Participant and the Company acknowledge that the restrictions imposed by this Section 4 are reasonably necessary to protect the legitimate business interests of the Company, and that the Company would not be willing to offer the Award pursuant to this Agreement in the absence of such agreement. The Participant agrees that any breach of this 6 by the Participant would cause irreparable damage to the Company and that in the event of such breach the Company shall have, in addition to any and all remedies of law, the right to an injunction, specific performance or other equitable relief to prevent the violation of any obligations hereunder, without the necessity of posting a bond, plus if the Company prevails with respect to any dispute between the Company and the Participant as to the interpretation, terms, validity or enforceability of this Section 4, the recovery of any and all costs and expenses incurred by the Company, including reasonable attorneys’ fees in connection with the enforcement of this Section 4. The Participant further acknowledges and agrees that any period of time during which he or she is in violation of the covenants set forth in this Section 4 shall be added to the applicable restricted period. Resort to such equitable relief shall not be construed to be a waiver of any other rights or remedies that the Company may have for damages or otherwise.


4.6    Forfeiture and Repayment.  The Participant may be required to repay to the Company the proceeds received in connection with, or return to the Company, the Award: (i) if during the course of employment the Participant engages in conduct, or it is discovered that the Participant has engaged in conduct, that is (x) materially adverse to the interest of the Company, which include failures to comply with the Company's written rules or regulations and material violations of any agreement with the Company, (y) fraud, or (z) conduct contributing to any financial restatements or irregularities occurring during or after employment; (ii) if during the course of employment, the Participant competes with, or engages in the solicitation and/or diversion of customers, vendors or employees of, the Company or it is discovered that the executive employee has engaged in such conduct; (iii) if following termination of employment, the Participant violates any post-termination obligations or duties owed to, or any agreement with, the Company, which includes this Agreement, any employment agreement and other agreements restricting post-employment conduct; (iv) if following termination of employment, the Company discovers facts that would have supported a termination for Cause had such facts been known to the Company before the termination of employment; and (v) if compensation that is promised or paid to the Participant is required to be forfeited and/or repaid to the Company pursuant to applicable regulatory requirements as in effect from time to time and/or such forfeiture or repayment affects amounts or benefits payable under this Agreement.


5.Non-transferability.  The Award, and any rights and interests with respect thereto, issued under this Agreement shall not, prior to vesting, be sold, exchanged, transferred, assigned or otherwise disposed of in any way by the Participant (or any beneficiary(ies) of the Participant), other than by testamentary disposition by the Participant or the laws of descent and distribution.  Any such Award, and any rights and interests with respect thereto, shall not, prior to vesting, be pledged, encumbered or otherwise hypothecated in any way by the Participant (or any beneficiary(ies) of the Participant) and shall not, prior to vesting, be subject to execution, attachment or similar legal process.  Any attempt to sell, exchange, transfer, assign, pledge, encumber or otherwise dispose of or hypothecate in any way any of the Award, or the levy of any 











execution, attachment or similar legal process upon the Award, contrary to the terms and provisions of this Agreement shall be null and void and without legal force or effect.


6.Entire Agreement; Amendment.  This Agreement contains the entire agreement between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter contained herein, and supersedes all prior agreements or prior understandings, whether written or oral, between the parties relating to such subject matter.  The Committee shall have the right, in its sole discretion, to modify or amend this Agreement from time to time.  This Agreement may also be modified or amended by a writing signed by both the Company and the Participant.  The Company shall give written notice to the Participant of any such modification or amendment of this Agreement as soon as practicable after the adoption thereof.


7.Acknowledgment of Employee. The award of the Award does not entitle Participant to any benefit other than that granted under this Agreement. Any benefits granted under this Agreement are not part of the Participant’s ordinary salary, and shall not be considered as part of such salary in the event of severance, redundancy or resignation. Participant understands and accepts that the benefits granted under this Agreement are entirely at the grace and discretion of the Company and that the Company retains the right to amend or terminate this Agreement at any time, at its sole discretion and without notice.


8.Governing Law.  This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware without reference to the principles of conflict of laws thereof.


9.Withholding of Tax.  The Company shall have the power and the right to deduct or withhold, or require the Participant to remit to the Company, an amount sufficient to satisfy any federal, state, local and foreign taxes of any kind (including, but not limited to, the Participant’s FICA and SDI obligations) which the Company, in its sole discretion, deems necessary to be withheld or remitted to comply with the Code and/or any other applicable law, rule or regulation with respect to the Award or the vesting of such Award.


10.No Right to Employment.  Any questions as to whether and when there has been a termination of such employment and the cause of such termination shall be determined in the sole discretion of the Company.  Nothing in this Agreement shall interfere with or limit in any way the right of the Company, its Subsidiaries or Affiliates or Related Companies to terminate the Participant’s employment or service at any time, for any reason and with or without cause.


11.Notices.  Any notice which may be required or permitted under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be delivered in person, or via facsimile transmission, overnight courier service or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, properly addressed as follows:


11.1    If such notice is to the Company, to the attention of the Secretary of Company or at such other address as the Company, by notice to the Participant, shall designate in writing from time to time.


11.2    If such notice is to the Participant, at his or her address as shown on the Company’s records, or at such other address as the Participant, by notice to the Company, shall designate in writing from time to time.


12.    Compliance with Laws.  The issuance of the Award pursuant to this Agreement shall be subject to, and shall comply with, any applicable requirements of any federal and state securities laws, rules and regulations (including, without limitation, the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, the 1934 Act and the respective rules and regulations promulgated thereunder) and any other law or regulation applicable 











thereto.  The Company shall not be obligated to issue any of the Award pursuant to this Agreement if such issuance would violate any such requirements.


13.    Binding Agreement; Assignment.  This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of, be binding upon, and be enforceable by the Company and its successors and assigns.  The Participant shall not assign any part of this Agreement without the prior express written consent of the Company.


14.    Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which shall constitute one and the same instrument.


15.    Section 409A.  This Agreement is intended to comply with Section 409A of the Code or an exemption thereunder and shall be construed and interpreted in a manner that is consistent with the requirements for avoiding additional taxes or penalties under Section 409A of the Code.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company makes no representations that the payments and benefits provided under this Agreement comply with Section 409A of the Code and in no event shall the Company be liable for all or any portion of any taxes, penalties, interest or other expenses that may be incurred by the Grantee on account of non-compliance with Section 409A of the Code.


16.    Headings.  The titles and headings of the various sections of this Agreement have been inserted for convenience of reference only and shall not be deemed to be a part of this Agreement.


17.    Further Assurances.  Each party hereto shall do and perform (or shall cause to be done and performed) all such further acts and shall execute and deliver all such other agreements, certificates, instruments and documents as any other party hereto reasonably may request in order to carry out the intent and accomplish the purposes of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereunder.


18.    Waiver of Jury Trial.  PARTICIPANT WAIVES ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY LITIGATION BASED ON, ARISING OUT OF, UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY COURSE OF CONDUCT, COURSE OF DEALING, VERBAL OR WRITTEN STATEMENT OR ACTION OF ANY PARTY HERETO.


19.    Severability.  The invalidity or unenforceability of any provisions of this Agreement in any jurisdiction shall not affect the validity, legality or enforceability of the remainder of this Agreement in such jurisdiction or the validity, legality or enforceability of any provision of this Agreement in any other jurisdiction, it being intended that all rights and obligations of the parties hereunder shall be enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law.


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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Agreement to be executed by its duly authorized officer, and the Participant has hereunto set his/her hand, all as of the Grant Date specified above.




VITAMIN SHOPPE, INC.
By: _____________________________
                    








_________________________________
Participant