Table of Contents

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

x      Annual report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013

OR

o         Transition report under Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

for the transition period from                  to                .

Commission file number  0-8707

NATURE’S SUNSHINE PRODUCTS, INC.

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

2500 West Executive Parkway, Suite 100

Lehi, Utah 84043

(Address of principal executive offices and zip code)

(801) 341-7900

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: Common Stock, no par value.

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.  Yes  o  No  x.

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.  Yes  o  No  x.

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has (1) filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.  Yes  x  No  o.

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).  Yes  x  No  o

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.  o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).  Yes  o  No  x.

The aggregate market value of the voting stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant on June 30, 2013 was approximately $260,980,000 based on the closing price of $16.35 as quoted by Nasdaq Capital Market on June 30, 2013.

The number of shares of Common Stock, no par value, outstanding on February 28, 2014 is 16,179,080 shares.

EXPLANATORY NOTES

Portions of the registrant’s Definitive Proxy Statement to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission no later than 120 days after the end of the Registrant’s fiscal year ended December 31, 2013, are incorporated by reference in Part III of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Table of Contents

NATURE’S SUNSHINE PRODUCTS, INC.

FORM 10-K

For the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2013

Table of Contents

2

Table of Contents

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Certain information included or incorporated herein by reference in this report may be deemed to be “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements may include, but are not limited to, statements relating to our objectives, plans and strategies. All statements (other than statements of historical fact) that address activities, events or developments that we intend, expect, project, believe or anticipate will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. These statements are often characterized by terminology such as “believe,” “hope,” “may,” “anticipate,” “should,” “intend,” “plan,” “will,” “expect,” “estimate,” “project,” “positioned,” “strategy” and similar expressions, and are based on assumptions and assessments made by management in light of their experience and their perception of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors they believe to be appropriate. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks and uncertainties. Important factors that could cause actual results, developments and business decisions to differ materially from forward-looking statements are more fully described in this report, including the risks set forth under “Risk Factors” in Item 1A, but include the following:

·             any negative consequences resulting from the economy, including the availability of liquidity to us, our Distributors and our suppliers or the willingness of our customers to purchase products;

·             our relationship with, and our ability to influence the actions of, our Distributors, and other third parties with whom we do business;

·             improper action by our employees or Distributors;

·             negative publicity related to our products or direct selling organization;

·             changing consumer preferences and demands;

·             our reliance upon, or the loss or departure of any member of, our senior management team which could negatively impact our Distributor relations and operating results;

·             the competitive nature of our business;

·             regulatory matters governing our products, our direct selling program, or the direct selling market in which we operate;

·             legal challenges to our direct selling program;

·             risks associated with operating internationally and the effect of economic factors, including foreign exchange, inflation, disruptions or conflicts with our third party importers, pricing and currency devaluation risks, especially in countries such as Venezuela and Belarus;

·             uncertainties relating to the application of transfer pricing, duties, value-added taxes, and other tax regulations, and changes thereto;

·             our dependence on increased penetration of existing markets;

·             our reliance on our information technology infrastructure;

·             the sufficiency of trademarks and other intellectual property rights;

·             changes in tax laws, treaties or regulations, or their interpretation;

·             taxation relating to our Distributors;

·             product liability claims;

·             share price volatility related to, among other things, speculative trading.

Throughout this report, we refer to Nature’s Sunshine Products, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, as “we,” “us,” “our Company” or “the Company.”

3

Table of Contents

PART 1

Item 1. Business

The Company

Nature’s Sunshine Products, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, is a natural health and wellness company primarily engaged in the manufacturing and direct selling of nutritional and personal care products. The Company is a Utah corporation with its principal place of business in Lehi, Utah, and sells its products to a sales force of independent Managers and Distributors who use the products themselves or resell them to other Distributors or customers. The formulation, manufacturing, packaging, labeling, advertising, distribution and sale of each of our major product groups are subject to regulation by one or more governmental agencies.

We market our products in Australia, Austria, Belarus, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Czech Republic, Denmark, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Finland, Germany, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Malaysia, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, the Netherlands, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Peru, the Philippines, Poland, Russia, Singapore, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, Thailand, the Ukraine, the United Kingdom, the United States, Venezuela and Vietnam. We export our products to Argentina, Australia, Chile, Israel, New Zealand and Norway.

Business Segments

The Company has three business segments. These business segments are components of the Company for which separate information is available that is evaluated regularly by the chief executive officer in deciding how to allocate resources and in assessing relative performance. They are divided based on the different characteristics of their Distributor bases, selling and Distributor compensation plans and product formulations, as well as the internal organization of our officers and their responsibilities and business operations. Two business segments operate under the Nature’s Sunshine Products (“NSP”) brand (NSP Americas, Asia Pacific and Europe; and NSP Russia, Central and Eastern Europe) and one business segment operates under the Synergy WorldWide brand.

Product Categories

Our line of over 700 products includes several different product classifications, such as immunity, cardiovascular, digestive, personal care, weight management as well as other general health products. We purchase herbs and other raw materials in bulk and, after quality control testing, we formulate, encapsulate, tablet or concentrate them, and package them for shipment. Most of our products are manufactured at our facility in Spanish Fork, Utah. Contract manufacturers produce some of our products in accordance with our specifications and standards. We have implemented stringent quality control procedures to verify that our contract manufacturers have complied with our specifications and standards.

4

Table of Contents

Presented below are the U.S. dollar amounts and associated revenue percentages from the sale of general health, immunity, cardiovascular, digestive, personal care and weight management products for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011, by business segment. This table should be read in conjunction with the information presented in the section entitled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” which discusses the factors impacting revenue trends and the costs associated with generating the aggregate revenue presented (in thousands).

During 2013, we modified the presentation of our product lines internally as we are placing a greater focus on the launch and promotion of key products associated with the product lines presented below. The new presentation will give management greater visibility into the movement and success of key product initiatives.

5

Table of Contents

The following table summarizes our product lines by category:

6

Table of Contents

Distribution and Selling

Our Managers and Distributors market our products to customers through direct selling techniques, as well as sponsoring other Managers and Distributors. We seek to motivate and provide incentives to our Managers and Distributors by offering high quality products and providing our Managers and Distributors with product support, training seminars, sales conventions, travel programs and financial incentives.

Our products sold in the United States are shipped directly from our manufacturing and warehouse facilities located in Spanish Fork, Utah, as well as from our regional warehouses located in Georgia, Ohio and Texas. Many of our international operations maintain warehouse facilities with inventory to supply their Managers, Distributors and customers. However, in foreign markets that we do not maintain warehouse facilities, we have contracted with third-parties to distribute our products and provide support services to our independent sales force of Managers and Distributors.

As of December 31, 2013, we had approximately 334,200 active Distributors and customers worldwide who purchase our products directly from the Company. In addition, our products can be purchased directly from our Distributors. A person who joins our independent sales force begins as a Distributor. An individual can become a Distributor by signing up under the sponsorship of someone who is already a Distributor or by signing up through the Company, where they will then be assigned a Distributor as a sponsor. Many Distributors sell our products on a part-time basis to friends or associates or use the products themselves. A Distributor may earn Manager status by committing more time and effort to selling our products, recruiting productive Distributors and attaining certain product sales levels. Managers resell our products to Distributors within their sales group or directly to customers, or use the products themselves. As of December 31, 2013, we had approximately 16,900 active Managers worldwide. In many of our markets, our Managers and Distributors are primarily retailers of our products, including practitioners, proprietors of retail stores and other health and wellness specialists.

In the United States, we generally sell our products on a cash or credit card basis. From time to time, our U.S. operations extend short-term credit associated with product promotions. For certain of our international operations, we use independent distribution centers and offer credit terms that are generally consistent with industry standards within each respective country.

We pay sales commissions, or “volume incentives” to our Managers and Distributors based upon the amount of their sales group product purchases. These volume incentives are recorded as an expense in the year earned. The amounts of volume incentives that we expensed during the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, are set forth in our Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 of this report. In addition to the opportunity to receive volume incentives, Managers who attain certain levels of monthly product sales are eligible for additional incentive programs including automobile allowances, sales convention privileges and travel awards.

Distributor Information

Our revenue is highly dependent upon the number and productivity of our Managers, Distributors and customers.  Growth in sales volume requires an increase in the productivity and/or growth in the total number of Managers, Distributors and customers.

7

Table of Contents

The following table provides information concerning the number of total Managers, Distributors and customers by segment, as of the dates indicated.

Total Managers, Distributors and Customers by Segment as of December 31,

“Total Managers” includes independent Managers under our various compensation plans that have achieved and maintained specified and personal groups sale volumes as of the date indicated. To maintain Manager status, an individual must continue to meet certain product sales volume levels. As such, all Managers are considered to be active Managers.

“Total Distributors and customers” includes our independent Distributors and customers who have purchased products directly from the Company for resale and/or personal consumption during the previous twelve months ended as of the date indicated. This includes Manager, Distributor and customer accounts that may have become inactive since such respective dates.

The following table provides information concerning the number of active Distributors and customers by segment, as of the dates indicated.

Active Distributors and Customers by Segment as of December 31,

“Active Distributors and customers” includes our independent Distributors and customers who have purchased products directly from the Company for resale and/or personal consumption during the previous three months ended as of the date indicated. All of our Managers are active.

The following tables provide information concerning the number of new Managers, Distributors and customers by segment, as of the dates indicated.

New Managers, Distributors and Customers by Segment for the year ended December 31,

“New Managers” includes independent Managers under our various compensation plans that first achieved the rank of Manager during the previous twelve months ended as of the date indicated.

8

Table of Contents

“New Distributors and Customers” include our independent Distributors and customers who have made their initial product purchase directly from us for resale and/or personal consumption during the previous twelve months ended as of the date indicated.

Source and Availability of Raw Materials

Raw materials used in the manufacture of our products are generally available from a number of suppliers. To date, we have not experienced any major difficulty in obtaining and maintaining adequate sources of raw materials supply. We attempt to ensure the availability of many of our raw materials by contracting, in advance, for our annual requirements. In the past, we have been able to find alternative sources of raw materials when needed. Although there can be no assurance that we will be successful in locating such sources of supply in the future, we believe that we will be able to do so.

Trademarks and Trade Names

We have obtained trademark registrations for Nature’s Sunshine®, and the landscape logo for all of our Nature’s Sunshine Products product lines. We have also obtained trademark registrations for Synergy® for all of our Synergy WorldWide product lines. We hold trademark registrations in the United States and in many other countries. Our customers’ recognition and association of our brands and trademarks with quality is an important element of our operating strategy.

Seasonality

We operate in many regions around the world and, as a result, are affected by seasonal factors and trends such as weather changes, holidays and cultural traditions and vacation patterns throughout the world.  For instance, in North America and Europe we typically see a decrease in the activity during the third quarter due to the summer vacation season, while we see a decrease in activity in many of our Asia Pacific markets during the first quarter due to cultural events such as the Lunar New Year. As a result, there is some seasonality to our revenues and expense reflected in our reported quarterly results. Generally, reductions in one region of the world due to seasonality are offset by increases in another, minimizing the impact on our reported consolidated revenues. Changes in the relative size of our revenues in one region of the world compared to another could cause seasonality to more significantly affect our reported quarterly results.

Inventories

In order to provide a high level of product availability to our Managers, Distributors and customers, we maintain a considerable inventory of raw materials in the United States and of finished goods in most countries in which we sell our products. Due to different regulatory requirements across the countries in which we sell our products, our finished goods inventories have product labels and sometimes product formulations specific for each country. Our inventories are subject to obsolescence due to finite shelf lives.

Dependence upon Customers

As a result of our business model, we are not dependent upon a single Manager, Distributor or customer, the loss of which would not have a material adverse effect on our business.

Backlog

We typically ship orders for our products within 24 hours after receipt of payment. As a result, we have not historically experienced significant backlogs due to our high level of product availability as discussed above.

Competition

Our products are sold in competition with other companies, some of which have greater sales volumes and financial resources than we do, and sell brands that are, through advertising and promotions, better known to consumers. We compete in the nutritional and personal care industry against companies that sell through retail stores, as well as against other direct selling companies. For example, we compete against manufacturers and retailers of nutritional and personal care products, which are distributed through supermarkets, drug stores, health food stores, vitamin outlets and discount stores including GNC, Whole Foods Market, and mass market retailers, among others. We compete for product sales and Managers and Distributors with many other direct selling companies, including Amway, Herbalife, Pharmanex (NuSkin), Shaklee and USANA, among others. We believe that the principal components of competition in the direct selling of nutritional and personal care products are distributor expertise and service, product quality and differentiation, price and brand recognition. In addition, we rely on our Managers and Distributors to compete effectively

9

Table of Contents

in the direct selling markets, and our ability to attract and retain Managers and Distributors depends on various factors, including the recruitment, training, travel and financial incentives for the Managers and Distributors.

Research and Development

We conduct research and development activities at our manufacturing facility located in Spanish Fork, Utah. Our principal emphasis in our research and development activities is the development of new products and the enhancement of existing products. The amount, excluding capital expenditures, spent on research and development activities was approximately $2.0 million in 2013, $1.5 million in 2012 and $1.6 million in 2011.

Compliance with Environmental Laws and Regulations

The nature of our business has not required any material capital expenditures to comply with federal, state or local provisions enacted or adopted regulating the discharge of materials into the environment. No material capital expenditures to meet such provisions are anticipated. Such regulatory provisions have not had any material effect upon our results of operations or competitive position.

Regulation

General

In both our United States and foreign markets, we are affected by extensive laws, governmental regulations, administrative determinations and guidance, court decisions and similar constraints (collectively “Regulations”). Such Regulations exist at the federal, state or local levels in the United States and at all levels of government in foreign jurisdictions, including Regulations pertaining to: (1) the formulation, manufacturing, packaging, labeling, distribution, importation, sale and storage of our products; (2) product claims and advertising, including direct claims and advertising by us, as well as claims and advertising by Distributors, for which we may be held responsible; (3) our direct selling program; (4) transfer pricing and similar regulations that affect the level of U.S. and foreign taxable income and customs duties; (5) taxation of our Distributors (which in some instances may impose an obligation on us to collect the taxes and maintain appropriate records); and (6) currency exchange and repatriation.

Products

The formulation, manufacturing, packaging, labeling, advertising, distribution and sale of each of our major product groups are subject to regulation by one or more governmental agencies. The most active of these is the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”), which regulates our products under the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (“FDCA”) and regulations promulgated thereunder. The FDCA defines the terms “food” and “dietary supplement” and sets forth various conditions that, unless complied with, may constitute adulteration or misbranding of such products. The FDCA has been adjusted several times with respect to dietary supplements, most recently by the Nutrition Labeling and Education Act of 1990 (the “NLEA”) and the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 (the “DSHEA”).

FDA regulations relating specifically to foods and dietary supplements for human use are set forth in Title 21 of the Code of Federal Regulations. These regulations include basic labeling requirements for both foods and dietary supplements. Additionally, FDA regulations require us to meet relevant good manufacturing practice regulations for the preparation, packaging and storage of our food and dietary supplements.

On June 25, 2007, the FDA published its final rule regulating current good manufacturing practice, for dietary supplements. This final rule became effective on August 24, 2007. The final rule imposes requirements on the manufacture, packaging, labeling, holding, and distribution of dietary supplement products. For example, it requires that companies establish written procedures governing areas such as: (1) personnel, (2) plant and equipment cleanliness, (3) production controls, (4) laboratory operations, (5) packaging and labeling, (6) distribution, (7) product returns, and (8) complaint handling. The FDA also requires identity testing of all incoming dietary ingredients unless a company successfully petitions for an exemption from this testing requirement in accordance with the regulations. The current good manufacturing practices are designed to ensure that dietary supplements and dietary ingredients are not adulterated with contaminants or impurities, and are labeled to accurately reflect the active ingredients and other ingredients in the products.

10

Table of Contents

In some countries, Regulations applicable to the activities of our Distributors also may affect our business because in some countries we are, or regulators may assert that we are, responsible for our Distributors’ conduct. In these countries, regulators may request or require that we take steps to ensure that our Distributors comply with Regulations. The types of regulated conduct include: (1) representations concerning our products; (2) income representations made by us and/or Distributors; (3) public media advertisements, which in foreign markets may require prior approval by regulators; (4) sales of products in markets in which the products have not been approved, licensed or certified for sale; and (5) classification by government agencies of our Distributors as employees of the Company.

In some markets, it is possible that improper product claims by Distributors could result in our products being reviewed by regulatory authorities and, as a result, being classified or placed into another category as to which stricter regulations are applicable. In addition, we might be required to make labeling changes.

We are unable to predict the nature of any future Regulations, nor can we predict what effect additional governmental regulations or administrative orders, when and if promulgated, would have on our business in the future. They could, however, require: (1) the reformulation of some products not capable of being reformulated; (2) imposition of additional record keeping requirements; (3) expanded documentation of the properties of some products; (4) expanded or different labeling; (5) additional scientific substantiation regarding product ingredients, safety or usefulness; and/or (6) additional Distributor compliance surveillance and enforcement action by us. Any or all of these requirements could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.

In foreign markets, prior to commencing operations and prior to making or permitting sales of our products in the market, we may be required to obtain an approval, license or certification from the country’s ministry of health or comparable agency. Prior to entering a new market in which a formal approval, license or certificate is required, we work extensively with local authorities in order to obtain the requisite approvals.  We must also comply with product labeling and packaging regulations that vary from country to country.  Our failure to comply with these regulations can result in a product being removed from sale in a particular market, either temporarily or permanently.

Direct Selling

Our business practices and products are also regulated by the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”), the Consumer Product Safety Commission (“CPSC”), the United States Department of Agriculture (“USDA”) and the Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”). Our activities, including our direct selling distribution activities, are also regulated by various agencies of the states, localities and foreign countries in which our products are sold.

The FTC, which exercises jurisdiction over the advertising of all of our products in the United States, has in the past several years instituted enforcement actions against several dietary supplement and food companies and against manufacturers of weight loss products generally for false and misleading advertising of some of their products. In addition, the FTC has increased its scrutiny of the use of testimonials, which we also utilize, as well as the role of expert endorsers and product clinical studies. We cannot be sure that the FTC, or comparable foreign agencies, will not question our advertising or other operations in the future. It is unclear whether the FTC will subject our advertisements to increased surveillance to ensure compliance with the principles set forth in its published advertising guidance.

Transfer Pricing

In many countries, including the United States, we are subject to transfer pricing and other tax regulations designed to ensure that appropriate levels of income are reported as earned by our U.S. or local entities and are taxed accordingly. In addition, our operations are subject to regulations designed to ensure that appropriate levels of customs duties are assessed on the importation of our products.

Although we believe that we are in substantial compliance with all applicable regulations and restrictions, we are subject to the risk that governmental authorities could audit our transfer pricing and related practices and assert that additional taxes are owed.

In the event that the audits or assessments are concluded adversely to us, we may or may not be able to offset or mitigate the consolidated effect of foreign income tax assessments through the use of U.S. foreign tax credits. Because the laws and regulations governing U.S. foreign tax credits are complex and subject to periodic legislative amendment, we cannot be sure that we would in fact be able to take advantage of any foreign tax credits in the future.

11

Table of Contents

Other Regulations

We also are subject to a variety of other regulations in various foreign markets, including regulations pertaining to social security assessments, employment and severance pay requirements, import/export regulations and antitrust issues. As an example, in many markets, we are substantially restricted in the amount and types of rules and termination criteria that we can impose on Distributors without having to pay social security assessments on behalf of the Distributors and without incurring severance obligations to terminated Distributors. In some countries, we may be subject to these obligations in any event.

Our failure to comply with these regulations could have a material adverse effect on our business in a particular market or in general. Assertions that we failed to comply with regulations or the effect of adverse regulations in one market could adversely affect us in other markets as well by causing increased regulatory scrutiny in those other markets or as a result of the negative publicity generated in those other markets.

Compliance

In order to comply with regulations that apply to both us and our Distributors, we conduct considerable research into the applicable regulatory framework prior to entering any new market to identify all necessary licenses and approvals and applicable limitations on our operations in that market. Typically, we conduct this research with the assistance of local legal counsel and other representatives. We devote substantial resources to obtaining the necessary licenses and approvals and bringing our operations into compliance with the applicable limitations. We also research laws applicable to Distributor operations and revise or alter our Distributor manuals and other training materials and programs to provide Distributors with guidelines for operating a business, selling and distributing our products and similar matters, as required by applicable regulations in each market. We are, however, unable to monitor our Distributors effectively to ensure that they refrain from distributing our products in countries where we have not commenced operations, and we do not devote significant resources to this type of monitoring.

In addition, regulations in existing and new markets often are ambiguous and subject to considerable interpretive and enforcement discretion by the responsible regulators. Moreover, even when we believe that we and our Distributors are initially in compliance with all applicable regulations, new regulations regularly are being added and the interpretation of existing regulations is subject to change. Further, the content and impact of regulations to which we are subject may be influenced by public attention directed at us, our products or our direct selling program, so that extensive adverse publicity about us, our products or our direct selling program may result in increased regulatory scrutiny.

It is an ongoing part of our business to anticipate and respond to new and changing regulations and to make corresponding changes in our operations to the extent practicable. Although we devote considerable resources to maintaining our compliance with regulatory constraints in each of our markets, we cannot be sure that (1) we would be found to be in full compliance with applicable regulations in all of our markets at any given time or (2) the regulatory authorities in one or more markets will not assert, either retroactively or prospectively or both, that our operations are not in full compliance. These assertions or the effect of adverse regulations in one market could negatively affect us in other markets as well by causing increased regulatory scrutiny in those other markets or as a result of the negative publicity generated in those other markets. These assertions could have a material adverse effect on us in a particular market or in general. Furthermore, depending upon the severity of regulatory changes in a particular market and the changes in our operations that would be necessitated to maintain compliance, these changes could result in our experiencing a material reduction in sales in the market or determining to exit the market altogether. In this event, we would attempt to devote the resources previously devoted to such market to a new market or markets or other existing markets. However, we cannot be sure that this transition would not have an adverse effect on our business and results of operations either in the short or long-term.

International Operations

A significant portion of our net sales are generated within the United States, which represented 40.3 percent, 42.1 percent and 43.4 percent of net sales in 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Outside of the United States, no one country accounted for 10.0 percent or more of net sales revenue in any year in the last three years. As we continue to grow our international business, our operating results will likely become more sensitive to economic and political conditions in foreign markets, as well as to foreign currency fluctuations.  A breakdown of net sales revenue by region in 2013, 2012 and 2011, is set forth below.

12

Table of Contents

(Dollar amounts in thousands)

We market our products in Australia, Austria, Belarus, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Czech Republic, Denmark, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Finland, Germany, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Malaysia, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, the Netherlands, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Peru, the Philippines, Poland, Russia, Singapore, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, Thailand, the Ukraine, the United Kingdom, the United States, Venezuela and Vietnam. We export our products to Argentina, Australia, Chile, Israel, New Zealand and Norway.

Our international operations are conducted in a manner that we believe is comparable with our U.S. operations; however, in order to conform to local variations, economic realities, market customs, consumer habits and regulatory environments, differences often exist in the products that we sell and in our distribution and selling programs.

Our international operations are subject to many of the same risks faced by our U.S. operations, including competition and the strength of the local economy. In addition, our international operations are subject to certain risks inherent in doing business abroad, including foreign regulatory restrictions, fluctuations in monetary exchange rates, import-export controls, effective management and support services by contracted third-parties and the economic and political policies of foreign governments. The significance of these risks will increase as we grow our international operations.

We have international operations in Belarus and Venezuela, which are both considered to be highly inflationary economies.  Information regarding our long-lived assets by region for each of our last two fiscal years is set forth in Note 13 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 of this report.

Executive Officers

On October 2, 2013, we announced that Gregory L. Probert was appointed to his current position as Chief Executive Officer, effective October 1, 2013. He had previously been appointed by our Board of Directors as the Interim Chief Executive Officer of the Company, effective April 1, 2013, following the resignation of our previous Chief Executive Officer, and as Executive Chairman of the Board, effective January 1, 2013. In 2013, Richard D. Strulson joined the Company as Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer, and Matthew L. Tripp joined the Company as Chief Scientific Officer. The Company’s executive officers, as of the date of this report, are as follows:

Gregory L. Probert.  Mr. Probert has served as Chief Executive Officer since October 1, 2013. He had previously been appointed by our Board of Directors as the Interim Chief Executive Officer of the Company, effective April 1, 2013, following the resignation of our former Chief Executive Officer, and as Executive Chairman of the Board, effective January 1, 2013. He served as the Executive Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors from June 2011 to December 2012 and as an independent consultant to the Company from September 2010 to June 2011. Previously, he was Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Penta Water Company from 2008, President and Chief Operating Officer of Herbalife International of America, Inc. from 2003 to 2008, and Chief Executive Officer of DMX Music from 2001 to 2003. Prior to that, he held various senior positions at The Walt Disney Company from 1988. Mr. Probert received his B.A. from the University of Southern California in 1979.  Mr. Probert brings to our Board significant direct selling experience as well as extensive leadership and operational management skills in global consumer-oriented businesses, which strengthens the Board’s aptitude in these key areas.

13

Table of Contents

D. Wynne Roberts.  Mr. Roberts is the President and Chief Operating Officer of our Company. Prior to his appointment in February 2012, he served as Chairman of the Board for LifeCare Corporation, a Romanian direct selling company from May 2010. Previously, he was Senior Vice President, EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) at Herbalife Europe Limited from 2005, President, International of DMX Music Corporation from 2002, and held senior international executive positions at XE Systems Incorporated (a subsidiary of Xerox Corp.) from 1998 and NCR Corporation from 1984. He is a citizen of the U.K., and received his L.L.B., with honors, from the University of Manchester in 1975.

Steve Bunker.  Mr. Bunker is the Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of our Company. Prior to his appointment in March 2006, he served as Vice President of Finance and Treasurer of Geneva Steel Holdings Corporation from 2001. Previously, he was Corporate Controller of Geneva Steel Corporation from 1990. Mr. Bunker is a Certified Public Accountant, and worked for Arthur Andersen for six years. Mr. Bunker received his B.A. in Accounting from Brigham Young University in 1983 and his Masters of Accountancy from Brigham Young University in 1984.

Richard D. Strulson.  Mr. Strulson is the Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer of our Company. Prior to his appointment in November 2013, he served as Senior Vice President, Chief Privacy Officer, and Counsel, of Herbalife International of America, Inc., one of the world’s largest direct selling companies. From 1998 to 2004, he served in a variety of senior legal counsel positions for The Walt Disney Company and FOX Cable Networks, where he was responsible for negotiating media rights and licensing agreements. Prior to his internal legal counsel positions, Mr. Strulson was a corporate attorney in Los Angeles with Latham and Watkins from 1995 to 1998 and clerked for Chief Justice E. Norman Veasey of the Delaware Supreme Court from 1994 to 1995. Mr. Strulson received a Doctor of Jurisprudence and Masters of Business Administration from Duke University in 1994, and a B.A. in Foreign Affairs and Economics from the University of Virginia in 1990.

Matthew L. Tripp.  Dr. Tripp is the Chief Scientific Officer of our Company. Prior to his appointment in May 2013, Dr. Tripp served as Vice President, Research and Development, at Metagenics, a leading developer, manufacturer and distributor of dietary supplements and medical foods sold through health care practitioners in the U.S. and pharmacies abroad from 2000. He also concurrently served as Senior Vice President, Research and Development, at KinDex Therapeutics, a biotechnology company created by Metagenics. Dr. Tripp received his Ph.D. from Washington State University in Physiology/Microbial Genetics/Microbiology; an M.A. in Microbial Physiology/Bacterial Genetics and a B.S. in Biology both from Western Michigan University.

Employees

We employed 1,010 individuals as of December 31, 2013. We believe that our relations with our employees are satisfactory.

Available Information

Our principal executive office is located at 2500 West Executive Parkway, Suite 100, Lehi, Utah 84043. Our telephone number is (801) 341-7900 and our Internet website address is www.natr.com. We make available free of charge on our website our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, our Current Reports on Form 8-K, and amendments to those reports, filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) as soon as practicable after we electronically file these documents with, or furnish them to, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). The SEC also maintains an Internet website that contains reports, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC at www.sec.gov. We also make available free of charge on our website our Code of Conduct Policy and the charters of our Audit Committee, Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and Compensation Committee.

Item 1A. Risk Factors

You should carefully consider the following risks in evaluating our Company and our business. The risks described below are the risks that we currently believe are material to our business. However, additional risks not presently known to us, or risks that we currently believe are not material, may also impair our business operations. You should also refer to the other information set forth in this report, including the information set forth in “Business” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” as well as our consolidated financial statements and the related notes. Our business prospects, financial condition or results of operations could be adversely affected by any of the following risks. If we are adversely affected by such risks, then the market price of our common stock could decline.

Changes in laws and regulations regarding direct selling may prohibit or restrict our ability to sell our products in some markets.

Direct selling systems are frequently subject to laws and regulations by various government agencies throughout the world. These laws and regulations are generally intended to prevent fraudulent or deceptive practices and to ensure that sales are made to consumers of the products, and that compensation, recognition and advancement within the selling organization are based upon sales of the products. Failure to comply with these laws and regulations could result in significant penalties. Violations could result from

14

Table of Contents

misconduct by an associate, ambiguity in statutes, changes or new laws and regulations affecting our business and court-related decisions. Furthermore, we may be restricted or prohibited from using direct selling plans in some foreign countries. In addition, changes in existing laws or additional regulations could make it difficult to register or sell our products in the countries in which we operate. For example, in Peru, changes in local regulations have restricted our ability to sell a majority of our key products in this market through our traditional direct selling business model. In response to this change in regulations, we are currently selling our products through a wholesale channel.

Our products, business practices and manufacturing activities are subject to extensive government regulations and could be subject to additional laws and regulations.

The formulation, manufacturing, packaging, labeling, advertising, distribution and sales of each of our major product groups are subject to regulation by numerous domestic and foreign governmental agencies and authorities. These include the FDA, the FTC, the CPSC, the EPA, the USDA and state regulatory agencies as well as regulatory agencies in the foreign markets in which we operate. These markets have varied regulations which often require us to reformulate products for specific markets, conform product labeling to market regulations and register or qualify products or obtain necessary approvals with the applicable governmental authorities in order to market our products in these markets. Failure to comply with the regulatory requirements of these various governmental agencies and authorities could result in enforcement actions including: cease and desist orders, injunctions, limits on advertising, consumer redress, divestitures of assets, rescission of contracts, or such other relief as may be deemed necessary. Violation of these regulations could result in substantial financial or other penalties. Any action against us could materially affect our ability to successfully market our products.

In the future, we may be subject to additional laws or regulations administered by the FDA or other federal, state, local or foreign regulatory authorities, the repeal or amendment of laws or regulations which we consider favorable and/or more stringent interpretations of current laws or regulations. We can neither predict the nature of such future laws, regulations, interpretations or applications, nor what effect additional governmental regulations or administrative orders, when and if promulgated, would have on our business. They could, however, require reformulation of certain products to meet new standards, recall or discontinuance of certain products not able to be reformulated, imposition of additional record-keeping requirements, expanded documentation of the properties of certain products, expanded or altered labeling and/or scientific substantiation. Any or all such requirements could increase our costs of operating the business and have a material negative impact on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

We are subject to the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (the “FCPA”), which prohibits U.S. companies and their intermediaries from making improper payments to foreign officials for the purpose of obtaining or retaining business, and the anti-bribery laws of other jurisdictions. The Company expends significant resources to monitor FCPA compliance by its employees and representatives.  Nevertheless, a finding of FCPA noncompliance could subject the Company to, among other things, penalties and legal expenses, as well as reputational harm, which could have a material adverse effect on its business, financial condition and results of operations.

If we are unable to attract and retain Distributors, our business could suffer.

We rely on our Distributors to market and sell our products through direct selling techniques, as well as sponsoring other Distributors. Many Distributors sell our products on a part-time basis to friends or associates or use the products for themselves. Our Distributors may terminate their service at any time, and, like most direct selling companies, we experience high turnover among Distributors from year to year. As a result, we need to continue to retain existing Distributors and recruit additional Distributors in order to maintain and/or increase sales in the future.

Several factors affect our ability to attract and retain Distributors, including:

·                  any adverse publicity regarding us, our products, our distribution channels or our competitors;

·                  on-going motivation of our Distributors;

·                  the public’s perceptions about the value and efficacy of our products;

·                  the public’s perceptions and acceptance of direct selling;

·                  general and economic business conditions;

·                  government regulations;

15

Table of Contents

·                  changes to our compensation arrangements, training and support for our Distributors; and

·                  competition in recruiting and retaining Distributors and/or market saturation.

We cannot provide any assurance that our Distributors will continue to maintain their current levels of productivity, or that we will be able to continue to attract and retain Distributors in sufficient numbers to sustain future growth or to maintain present sales levels.

Changes in the economies of the markets in which we do business may affect consumer demand for our products.

Consumer spending habits, including spending for our products, are affected by, among other things, prevailing economic conditions, levels of employment, fuel prices, salaries and wages, the availability of consumer credit, consumer confidence and consumer perception of economic conditions. Economic slowdowns in the markets in which we do business and an uncertain economic outlook may adversely affect consumer spending habits and customer traffic, which may result in lower net sales of our products in future periods.  A prolonged global or regional economic downturn could have a material negative impact on our financial position, results of operation or cash flows.

Currency exchange rate fluctuations affect our net revenue and net income.

In 2013, we recognized approximately 59.7 percent of our revenue in markets outside the United States, the majority of which was recognized in each market’s respective local currency. We purchase inventory primarily in the United States in U.S. dollars. In preparing our financial statements, we translate revenues and expenses in foreign countries from their local currencies into U.S. dollars using average exchange rates. Because a majority of our sales are in foreign countries, exchange rate fluctuations may have a significant effect on our sales and earnings. Our reported net earnings have in the past been, and are likely to continue to be, significantly affected by fluctuations in currency exchange rates, with net sales revenue and earnings generally increasing with a weaker U.S. dollar and decreasing with a strengthening U.S. dollar. These fluctuations had a generally negative effect on our revenue in 2013 and 2012, compared to 2011, when we experienced an increase in our global net sales as a result of the U.S. dollar weakening against most major currencies.  As our operations grow in countries where foreign currency transactions are made, our operating results will increasingly be subject to the risks of exchange rate fluctuations, and we may not be able to accurately estimate the impact of these changes on our future results of operations or financial condition.

Some of the markets in which we operate may become highly inflationary.

Inflation is another risk associated with our international operations. For example, Venezuela has been designated as highly inflationary economy under generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”). Accordingly, the U.S. dollar became the functional currency for our subsidiary in Venezuela. All gains and losses resulting from the re-measurement of its financial statements and other transactional foreign exchange gains and losses are reflected in its earnings, which could result in volatility within the Company’s earnings, rather than as a component of comprehensive income within shareholders’ equity.

Some of the markets in which we operate have currency controls in place which may restrict the repatriation of cash.

The possibility that foreign governments may impose currency remittance restrictions is another risk faced by our international operations. Due to the possibility of government restrictions on transfers of cash out of the country and control of exchange rates, we may not be able to repatriate cash at exchange rates beneficial to the Company, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

For example, as of December 31, 2013, we had approximately $3.9 million in cash denominated in Venezuelan bolivar fuertes (“bolivar”). Currency restrictions enacted by the government of Venezuela require approval from the government’s currency control agency for our subsidiary in Venezuela to obtain U.S. dollars at an official exchange rate to pay for imported products or to repatriate dividends back to the Company. On February 12, 2013, the Venezuelan government announced the devaluation of the bolivar, which resulted in an official exchange rate of 6.3.  However, the Company has been unsuccessful in obtaining U.S. dollars at the official exchange rate and it remains uncertain when the Company’s applications will be approved to complete exchange transactions in the future. No assurances can be given that we will continue to receive such approval, or that other markets in which we operate will not enact similar restrictions.

16

Table of Contents

Availability and integrity of raw materials could become compromised.

We depend on outside suppliers for raw materials. We acquire all of our raw materials for the manufacture of our products from third-party suppliers. We have many agreements for the supply of materials used in the manufacture of our products in order to hedge against shortages or potential spikes in material costs. We also contract with third-party manufacturers and suppliers for the production of some of our products. In the event we were to lose any significant suppliers and experience any difficulties in finding or transitioning to alternative suppliers, it could result in product shortages or product back orders, which could harm our business. There can be no assurance that suppliers will be able to provide us with the raw materials in the quantities and at the appropriate level of quality that we request or at a price that we are willing to pay. We are also subject to the delays caused by any interruption in the production of these materials including weather, crop conditions, climate change, transportation interruptions and natural disasters or other catastrophic events.

Occasionally, our suppliers have experienced production difficulties with respect to our products, including the delivery of materials or products that do not meet our quality control standards. These quality problems have in the past resulted in, and in the future could result in, stock outages or shortages of our products, and could harm our sales and create inventory write-offs for unusable product.

Geopolitical issues and conflicts could adversely affect our business.

Because a substantial portion of our business is conducted outside of the United States, our business is subject to global political issues and conflicts. If these conflicts or issues escalate, it could harm our foreign operations. In addition, changes in and actions by governments in foreign markets could harm our business.

Our business is subject to the effects of adverse publicity and negative public perception.

Our ability to attract and retain Distributors, as well as their ability to maintain or grow sales in the future, can be affected by either adverse publicity or negative public perception with regard to our industry, our competition, our direct selling model, the quality or efficacy of nutritional product supplements and ingredients, and our business generally. There can be no assurance that we will not be subject to adverse publicity or negative public perception in the future or that it would not have an adverse or material negative impact on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Taxation and transfer pricing affect our operations.

As a U.S. company doing business in many international markets, we are subject to foreign tax and intercompany pricing laws, including those relating to the flow of funds between our parent Company and our subsidiaries. These pricing laws are designed to ensure that appropriate levels of income and expense are reported by our U.S. and foreign entities, and that they are taxed appropriately. Regulators in the United States and in foreign markets closely monitor our corporate structures, intercompany transactions, and how we effectuate intercompany fund transfers. If regulators challenge our corporate structures, transfer pricing methodologies or intercompany transfers, our operations may be harmed, and our effective tax rate may increase. We are eligible to receive foreign tax credits in the United States for certain foreign taxes actually paid abroad. In the event any audits or assessments are concluded adversely to us, we may not be able to offset the consolidated effect of foreign income tax assessments through the use of U.S. foreign tax credits. Because the laws and regulations governing U.S. foreign tax credits are complex and subject to periodic legislative amendment, we cannot be sure that we would in fact be able to take advantage of any foreign tax credits in the future. The various customs, exchange control and transfer pricing laws are continually changing, and are subject to the interpretation of governmental agencies.

We collect and remit value-added taxes and sales taxes in jurisdictions and states in which we have determined that nexus exists.  Other states may, from time to time, claim we have state-related activities constituting a sufficient nexus to require such collection.

Despite our efforts to be aware of and to comply with such laws and changes to the interpretations thereof, there is a risk that we may not continue to operate in compliance with such laws. We may need to adjust our operating procedures in response to these interpretational changes, and such changes could have a material negative impact on our financial position, results of operation or cash flows.

Our business is subject to intellectual property risks.

Most of our products are not protected by patents. Restrictive regulations governing the precise labeling of ingredients and percentages for nutritional supplements, the large number of manufacturers that produce products with many active ingredients in

17

Table of Contents

common and the rapid change and frequent reformulation of products make patent protection impractical. As a result, we enter into confidentiality agreements with certain of our employees in our research and development activities, our independent associates, suppliers, directors, officers and consultants to help protect our intellectual property, investment in research and development activities and trade secrets. We have also obtained trademarks for the Nature’s Sunshine Products name and logo as well as the Synergy WorldWide name. There can be no assurance that our efforts to protect our intellectual property and trademarks will be successful, nor can there be any assurance that third parties will not assert claims against us for infringement of intellectual property rights, which could result in our business being required to obtain licenses for such rights, to pay royalties or to terminate our manufacturing of infringing products, all of which could have a material negative impact on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Product liability claims could harm our business.

As a manufacturer and distributor of products that are ingested, we face an inherent risk of exposure to product liability claims in the event that, among other things, the use of our products results in alleged injury to consumers due to tampering by unauthorized third parties or product contamination and/or other causes. We have historically had a very limited number of product claims or reports from individuals who have asserted that they have suffered adverse consequences as a result of using our products. We have established a wholly-owned captive insurance company to provide us with product liability insurance coverage, and have accrued a reserve that we believe is sufficient to cover probable and reasonably estimable liabilities related to product liability claims based upon our history. There can be no assurance that these estimates will prove to be sufficient, nor can there be any assurance that the ultimate outcome of any litigation for product liability will not have a material negative impact on our business prospects, financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Inventory obsolescence due to finite shelf lives could adversely affect our business.

In order to provide a high level of product availability to our Distributors and customers, we maintain a considerable inventory of raw materials in the United States and of finished goods in most countries in which we sell our products. Our inventories of both raw materials and finished goods have finite shelf lives. If we overestimate the demand for our products, we could experience significant write-downs of our inventory due to obsolescence. Such write-downs could have a material negative impact on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

System failures could harm our business.

Like many companies, our business is highly dependent upon our information technology infrastructure (websites, accounting and manufacturing applications, and product and customer information databases) to manage effectively and efficiently our operations, including order entry, customer billing, accurately tracking purchases and volume incentives and managing accounting, finance and manufacturing operations. The occurrences of natural disasters, security breaches or other unanticipated problems could result in interruptions in our day-to-day business that could adversely affect our business. We have a disaster recovery plan in place to mitigate such risk. Nevertheless, there can be no assurance that a long-term failure or impairment of any of our information systems would not adversely affect our ability to conduct our day-to-day business.

In 2013, we began to significantly reinvest in information technology systems. Included within this plan is an Oracle ERP implementation program to provide the Company with a single integrated software solution that will integrate the Company’s business process on a worldwide basis. However, the unsuccessful implementation or failure of this ERP program could disrupt or adversely affect our business operations.

The Company could incur obligations relating to the activities of our Distributors and contracted third-parties.

We sell our products worldwide to a sales force of Distributors who use the products themselves or resell them to other Distributors or consumers. In addition, in certain foreign markets, we contract with third-parties to distribute our product and provide support services to our independent sales force of Managers and Distributors. Distributors and contracted third-parties are not employees and operate their own business separate and apart from the Company, and we may not be able to control aspects of their activities that may impact our business. In addition, if local laws and regulations or the interpretation of locals laws and regulations change and require us to treat our Distributors as employees, or if our Distributors are deemed by local regulatory authorities in one or more of the jurisdictions in which we operate to be our employees rather than independent contractors under existing laws and interpretations, we may be held responsible for a variety of obligations that are imposed upon employers relating to their employees, including employment related taxes and penalties. Our Distributors also operate in jurisdictions where local legislation and governmental agencies require us to collect and remit taxes such as sales tax or value-added taxes. In addition, there is the possibility that some jurisdictions could seek to hold the Company responsible for false product claims or the negligent actions of a Distributor.

18

Table of Contents

To date, the Company has had no such occurrences.  If the Company were found to be responsible for any of these issues related to our Distributors, it could have a material negative impact on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

If our Distributors fail to comply with labeling laws, then our financial condition and operating results would be harmed.

Although the physical labeling of our products is not within the control of our Distributors, our Distributors must nevertheless advertise our products in compliance with the extensive regulations that exist in certain jurisdictions, such as the United States, which considers product advertising to be labeling for regulatory purposes. Our products are sold principally as dietary supplements and cosmetics and are subject to rigorous FDA and related legal regimens limiting the types of therapeutic claims that can be made for our products. The treatment or cure of disease, for example, is not a permitted claim for these products. While we train our Distributors and attempt to monitor our Distributors’ marketing materials, we cannot ensure that all such materials comply with applicable regulations, including bans on therapeutic claims. If our Distributors fail to comply with these restrictions, then we and our Distributors could be subjected to claims, financial penalties, mandatory product recalls or relabeling requirements, which could harm our financial condition and operating results. Although we expect that our responsibility for the actions of our Distributors in such an instance would be dependent on a determination that we either controlled or condoned a noncompliant advertising practice, there can be no assurance that we could not be held vicariously liable for the actions of our Distributors.

Changes in key management could materially adversely affect the Company.

We believe our success depends in part on our ability to retain our executive officers, and to continue to attract additional qualified individuals to our management team. We have entered into employment agreements with each of our named executive officers, which we believe achieves two important goals crucial to our long-term financial success: the long-term retention of our senior executives and their commitment to attain our strategic objectives. However, we cannot guarantee the continued service of our key officers. The loss or limitation of any of our executive officers or the inability to attract additional qualified management personnel could have a material negative impact on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows. We do not carry key man insurance on the lives of any of our executive officers.

Our business is involved in an industry with intense competition.

Our business operates in an industry with numerous manufacturers, distributors and retailers of nutritional products. The market for our products is intensely competitive. Many of our competitors are significantly larger, have greater financial resources, and have better name recognition than we do. We also rely on our Distributors to market and sell our products through direct selling techniques, as well as sponsoring other Distributors. Our ability to compete with other direct selling companies depends greatly on our ability to attract and retain our Distributors. In addition, we currently do not have significant patent or other proprietary protection, and our competitors may introduce products with the same or similar ingredients that we use in our products. As a result, we may have difficulty differentiating our products from our competitors’ product and other competing products that enter the nutritional market. There can be no assurance that our future operations would not be harmed as a result of changing market conditions and future competition.

Our share price has been and may continue to be volatile.

The market price of our common shares is subject to significant fluctuations in response to variations in our quarterly operating results.  Factors other than our financial results that may affect our share price include, but are not limited to, market expectations of our performance, market perception or our industry, the activities of our Managers, Distributors and customers, and the level of perceived growth in the industry in which we participate, general trends in the markets for our products, general economic, business and political conditions in the countries and regions in which we conduct our business, currency exchange issues in our foreign markets, changes in government regulation affecting our business, political issues and conflicts, many of which are not within our control.

Unintended negative effects of Distributor promotions or compensation plans.

The payment of volume incentives is our most significant expense. These incentives include commissions, bonuses, and certain awards and prizes based on promotions and incentives. From time to time, we adjust our compensation plan to better manage these incentives as a percentage of net sales. We closely monitor the amount of volume incentives that are paid as a percentage of net sales, and may periodically adjust our compensation plan to prevent volume incentives from having a significant adverse effect on our earnings. In addition to the compensation plan, we frequently design and implement economic and non-economic incentives and promotions to motivate and reward our Distributors. There can be no assurance that changes to the compensation plan, product pricing, or promotions and incentives will be successful in achieving target levels of volume incentives as a percentage of net sales.

19

Table of Contents

Furthermore, such programs, promotions or incentives could result in unintended or unforeseen negative economic and non-economic consequences to our business, such as higher than anticipated costs.

Our manufacturing activity is subject to certain risks.

We manufacture approximately 80 percent of the products sold to our customers at our Spanish Fork, Utah location. As a result, we are dependent upon the uninterrupted and efficient operation of our manufacturing facility in Spanish Fork and our distribution facilities throughout the country. Our manufacturing facilities and distribution facilities are subject to the risk of catastrophic loss due to, among other things, fire, flood, terrorism or other natural or man-made disasters, as well as occurrence of significant equipment failures. If any of these facilities were to experience a catastrophic loss, it would be expected to disrupt our operations and could result in personal injury or property damage, damage relationships with our customers or result in large expenses to repair or replace the facilities or systems, as well as result in other liabilities and adverse impacts.

In addition, we contract with third-party manufacturers to produce some of our vitamins, mineral and other nutritional supplements, personal care products and certain other miscellaneous products in accordance with our specifications and standards. These contract manufacturers are subject to the same risks as our manufacturing facility as noted above. In addition, while we have implemented stringent quality control procedures to verify that our contract manufacturers comply with our specifications and standards, we do not have full control over their manufacturing activities.  Any difficulties, delays and defects in our products resulting from the activities of our contract manufacturers may have an adverse effect on our business and results of operations.

Failure of third party support could negatively impact our sales revenue and profitability.

We have contracted with third-parties in several of our key markets to distribute our product and provide support services to our independent sales force of Managers and Distributors. We rely on these third parties to perform various required administrative functions in support of our Managers and Distributors. Any failure of these third parties in this regard could result in the disruption of our business in these markets and adversely affect revenue and profitability.

Our failure to appropriately respond to changing consumer preferences and demand for new products or product enhancements could significantly harm our Distributor relationships and product sales and harm our financial condition and operating results.

Our business is subject to changing consumer trends and preferences. Our continued success depends in part on our ability to anticipate and react to these changes, and we may not react in a timely or commercially appropriate manner to such changes. Furthermore, the nutritional supplement industry is characterized by rapid and frequent changes in demand for products and new product introductions and enhancements. Our failure to accurately predict these trends could negatively impact consumer opinion of our products, which in turn could harm our Distributor relationships and cause the loss of sales. If we do not introduce new products or make enhancements to meet the changing needs of our customers in a timely manner, some of our products could be rendered obsolete, which could negatively impact our revenues, financial condition and operating results.

If we fail to further penetrate existing markets and expand our business into new markets, then the growth in sales of our products, along with our operating results, could be negatively impacted.

The success of our business is to a large extent contingent on our ability to further penetrate existing markets and to enter into new markets. Our ability to further penetrate existing markets or to expand our business into additional countries, to the extent we believe that we have identified attractive geographic expansion opportunities in the future, is subject to numerous factors, many of which are out of our control.

In addition, government regulations in both our domestic and international markets can delay or prevent the introduction, or require the reformulation or withdrawal, of some of our products, which could negatively impact our business, financial condition and results of operations. Also, our ability to increase market penetration in certain countries may be limited by the finite number of persons in a given country inclined to pursue a direct selling business opportunity or consumers willing to purchase our products. Moreover, our growth will depend upon improved training and other activities that enhance Distributor retention in our markets. While we have recently experienced significant growth in certain of our markets, we cannot make assurances that such growth levels will continue in the immediate or long term future. Furthermore, our efforts to support growth in such international markets could be hampered to the extent that our infrastructure in such markets is deficient when compared to our more developed markets, such as the U.S. Therefore, we cannot make assurances that our general efforts to increase our market penetration and Distributor retention in existing markets will be successful. If we are unable to continue to expand into new markets or further penetrate existing markets, our operating results could suffer.

20

Table of Contents

Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments

None.

Item 2. Properties

Our corporate offices are located in Lehi, Utah, and consist of approximately 66,000 square feet. These facilities are leased from an unaffiliated third party through a lease agreement which expires in 2017.

Our principal warehousing and manufacturing facilities are housed in a building consisting of approximately 270,000 square feet and located on approximately 10 acres in Spanish Fork, Utah. These facilities are owned by us and support all of our business segments.

We own approximately 60,000 square feet of office and warehouse space in Mexico and approximately 13,000 square feet of office and warehouse space in Venezuela.

We also own approximately 53 acres of undeveloped land in Springville, Utah, and approximately 8 acres of undeveloped land in Provo, Utah.

We lease properties used primarily as distribution warehouses located in Georgia, Ohio, Texas and Utah, as well as offices and distribution warehouses in the majority of the countries in which we do business. We believe these facilities are suitable for their respective uses and are, in general, adequate for our present and near-term future needs. During 2013, 2012 and 2011, we incurred approximately $6.1 million, $6.1 million and $6.2 million, respectively, for all of our leased facilities in lease expense.

We believe that our current facilities are adequate for our business operation and that additional space, if required, will be available on commercially reasonable terms for the foreseeable future.

Item 3. Legal Proceedings

The Company is party to various legal proceedings. Management cannot predict the ultimate outcome of these proceedings, individually or in the aggregate, or their resulting effect on the Company’s business, financial position, results of operations or cash flows as litigation and related matters are subject to inherent uncertainties, and unfavorable rulings could occur. Were an unfavorable outcome to occur, there exists the possibility of a material adverse impact on the business, financial position, results of operations, or cash flows for the period in which the ruling occurs and/or future periods. The Company maintains product liability, general liability and excess liability insurance coverage. However, no assurances can be given that such insurance will continue to be available at an acceptable cost to the Company, that such coverage will be sufficient to cover one or more large claims, or that the insurers will not successfully disclaim coverage as to a pending or future claim.

Since late 2007, the Company has administered its sales in Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Mongolia, Russia and Ukraine (the “Territories”) through an International Reseller Agreement (“Reseller Agreement”) with a third party general dealer (the “General Dealer”) based in Russia. The General Dealer administers the marketing and distribution of the Company’s products in the Territories.  The Reseller Agreement has a one-year term, which has been renewed annually by the parties, and is set to expire on November 1, 2014.  As a part of its services, the General Dealer provides certain discounts (the “Discounts”) to its network of dealers related to the costs associated with transporting the Company’s products from the General Dealer to the dealers.  In July 2013, the General Dealer began to withhold the amount of these Discounts from the funds remitted each month to the Company for the sale of the products, claiming that it is entitled to reimbursement for these costs under the Reseller Agreement.  These withholdings have averaged approximately $0.3 million per month and totaled approximately $2.0 million at December 31, 2013.  The Company disagrees with the General Dealer’s interpretation of the Reseller Agreement and disputes any and all of the General Dealer’s reimbursement claims. While the parties have attempted to negotiate a resolution to the dispute, they have been unable to resolve the matter and the Company now plans to submit a claim for payment of the withheld funds to binding arbitration in the United Kingdom, pursuant to the terms of the Reseller Agreement.  Notwithstanding the annual renewals of the Reseller Agreement, the General Dealer may seek reimbursement of Discounts with respect to the periods prior to July 2013, which would total approximately $22.0 million.  The Company believes the General Dealer’s claims are meritless and the Company intends to pursue its claims against the General Dealer.

The General Dealer is the Company’s sole general dealer in the Territories and the Company currently does not have in place any other third party or Company infrastructure capable of immediately assuming the General Dealer’s marketing and distribution obligations. Although the Company plans to continue to operate under the Reseller Agreement through the expiration of its term and is currently negotiating an extension, if the Company’s relationship with the General Dealer deteriorates or if the General Dealer ceases to provide such services in the Territories, the Company will need to identify, engage and train a new general dealer, establish its own marketing and distribution operations in the Territories, or create a hybrid model.  Any such cessation of service and subsequent transition to another third party provider, or the establishment of its own distribution operations, could result in disruption to the Company’s business in the Territories, which could have an adverse effect on the Company’s business and results of operations.  The Company is committed to its Managers and Distributors in the Territories and is actively working to ensure that they will be supported going forward.

21

Table of Contents

Other Litigation

The Company is party to various legal proceedings in several foreign jurisdictions related to value-added tax assessments and other civil litigation.  While there is a reasonable possibility that a material loss may be incurred, the Company cannot at this time estimate the loss, if any, and therefore no provision for losses has been provided.  The Company believes that future payments related to these matters could range from $0 to approximately $0.9 million.

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures

Not applicable.

PART II

Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Shareholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

Market and Share Prices

Our common stock is traded on the NASDAQ Global Market (symbol “NATR”).

The following table summarizes the quarterly high and low market prices of our common stock for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012:

The approximate number of shareholders of record of our common shares as of February 28, 2014, was 830. This number of holders of record does not represent the actual number of beneficial owners of our common shares because shares are frequently held in “street name” by securities dealers and others for the benefit of individual owners who have the right to vote their shares.

Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities

None.

Dividends

There were 840 shareholders of record as of December 31, 2013.

On March 6, 2013, the Company’s Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of $0.10 per common share in an aggregate amount of $1.6 million that was paid on March 28, 2013, to shareholders of record on March 18, 2013. On May 8, 2013, the Company’s Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of $0.10 per common share in an aggregate amount of $1.6 million that was paid on May 30, 2013 to shareholders of record on May 20, 2013. On August 8, 2013, the Company’s Board of Directors declared a special one-time cash dividend of $1.50 per common share in addition to the Company’s recurring quarterly dividend of $0.10 per common share that was paid on August 29, 2013, to shareholders of record on August 19, 2013. The amount of the cash dividend paid to shareholders was $25.6 million. On November 6, 2013, the Company’s Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of $0.10 per common share in an aggregate amount of $1.6 million that was paid on November 29, 2013, to shareholders of record on November 19, 2013.

22

Table of Contents

The declaration of future dividends is subject to the discretion of the Company’s Board of Directors and will depend upon various factors, including the Company’s earnings, financial condition, restrictions imposed by any indebtedness that may be outstanding, cash requirements, future prospects and other factors deemed relevant by its Board of Directors.

Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans

The following table contains information regarding the Company’s equity compensation plans as of December 31, 2013:

(1)         Consists of two plans:  The Nature’s Sunshine Products, Inc. 2012 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2012 Incentive Plan”) and the Nature’s Sunshine Products, Inc. 2009 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2009 Incentive Plan”). The 2012 Incentive Plan was approved by shareholders on August 1, 2012. The 2009 Incentive Plan was approved by shareholders on November 6, 2009. The terms of these plans are summarized in Note 10, “Capital Transactions”, of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8, Part 2 of this report.

Performance Graph

The graph below depicts our common stock as an index, assuming $100.00 was invested on December 31, 2008, along with the composite prices of companies listed on the NASDAQ Stock Market and our peer group. Standard & Poor’s Investment Services has provided us with this information. The comparisons in the graph are required by regulations of the SEC, and are not intended to forecast or be indicative of the possible future performance of our common stock. The publicly-traded companies in our peer group are Herbalife International, Ltd., NuSkin Enterprises, Inc. and USANA Health Sciences, Inc. We consider these companies to be our peer group as they have similar product lines and distribution techniques when compared to our business.

23

Table of Contents

24

Table of Contents

Item 6. Selected Financial Data

The selected financial data presented below is summarized from our results of consolidated operations for each of the five years in the period ended December 31, 2013, as well as selected consolidated balance sheet data as of December 31, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010 and 2009.

(Dollar and Share Amounts in Thousands, Except for Per Share Information and Other Information)

Consolidated Statement of Operations Data

Consolidated Balance Sheet Data

Summary Cash Flow Information

25

Table of Contents

Common Share Summary