Document:

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                                                                   Exhibit 10.16

                                MERISANT COMPANY
                   KEY EXECUTIVE PERFORMANCE & RETENTION PLAN

                                SUMMARY OF TERMS

OBJECTIVES.

   -  To provide incentive to KEY EXECUTIVES to grow EBITDA and increase
      shareholder value.

   -  To provide a retention tool to retain KEY EXECUTIVES through a three year
      period of time.

EFFECTIVE DATE. September 1, 2003

ELIGIBLE PARTICIPANTS. KEY EXECUTIVES, defined as the Chief Executive Officer.

PLAN PAYOUT.

   -  Payout is based on creating SHAREHOLDER VALUE and payment under this Plan
      will only occur in the event of a sale of the business, public offering or
      other event that results in the occurrence of a Distribution Date under
      the Tabletop Holdings, Inc. (TTHI) Stock Appreciation Rights Plan (SAR
      Plan). This Plan will not be funded prior to payout.

   -  Payout under the plan will only occur if the Net Proceeds to the
      shareholders (Shareholders) of TTHI in respect of their Shares (as defined
      in the SAR Plan) (prior to payment under the Plan) exceeds $300M.

   -  Net Proceeds is defined as the sum of (1) the aggregate proceeds received
      or to be received by the Shareholders in exchange for their Shares (or, in
      the event that less than 100% of the Shares are exchanged, the aggregate
      proceeds that the Shareholders would have received had 100% of the Shares
      been exchanged at the price per Share actually received or to be received
      by the Shareholders) and (2) the amount of any Interim Distributions (as
      defined in the SAR Plan) made after the Effective Date with respect to the
      Shares held by the Current Shareholders (as defined below) exchanged in
      the transaction(s) giving rise to the Distribution Date, provided that the
      Net Proceeds shall be calculated assuming that no payment is to be made
      under the Plan.

   -  Net Proceeds beyond a $300M threshold increases the value of the
      Participant's long-term incentive award. The plan is uncapped.

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   -  The Plan pays at an increasing rate schedule as follows, with the full
      Payout Amount being referred to herein as the Payout Amount:

          $1.50 for every $100 dollars of net proceeds between $300M - $350M,

          $2.00 for every $100 dollars of net proceeds between $350M - $400M,

          $2.50 for every $100 dollars of net proceeds above $400M.

<Table>
<Caption>
NET PROCEEDS TO SHAREHOLDERS :                                              $350M        $400M        $450M        $500M
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                                        <C>         <C>          <C>           <C>
INDIVIDUAL AWARD (ASSUMING ONE SALE OF ALL OF THE SHARES):                 $ .75M      $ 1.75M      $ 3.00M       $ 4.25M
</Table>

   -  The portion of the Payout Amount that shall be paid (subject to vesting)
      to Participant with respect to any Distribution Date (Actual Payout
      Amount) is determined by multiplying the Payout Amount times a percentage
      determined by dividing the number of Shares exchanged by the Current
      Shareholders in the transaction(s) giving rise to the Distribution Date by
      the aggregate number of Shares issued and outstanding immediately prior to
      such transaction(s).

   -  As used herein "Current Shareholder" means any person or entity who is the
      holder of record of Shares on the Effective Date and any permitted
      transferee (other than TTHI) of such person or entity pursuant to Section
      3(b) of the TTHI Shareholders Agreement dated as of March 17, 2000.

PLAN ELIGIBILITY. Participant is required to be employed by the Company on
September 1, 2003 and to be continuously employed by the Company until the date
on which the Participant becomes vested, as set forth below (Plan Period).

VESTING.

   -  Participant will become fully vested with respect to 100% of the Actual
      Payout Amount, if any, at the earlier of September 1, 2006 and the date
      that is 12 months after a Change in Control (as defined in the SAR Plan).

   -  Upon the involuntary termination of the Participant's employment by the
      Company (prior to Participant becoming fully vested as set forth in the
      preceding bullet) other than for Cause (as defined in the SAR Plan),
      Participant will become vested with respect to a percentage of the Actual
      Payout Amount, if any, equal to the number of months that Participant has
      been employed by the Company since September 1, 2003 (rounded up or down
      to the nearest month if the termination is on or after the 15th of a month
      or before the 15th of a month, respectively) divided by 36 and will not be
      eligible to receive, and shall have no rights with respect to, the
      remaining portion of any Actual Payout Amount.

   -  Notwithstanding the preceding bullet, upon the involuntary termination of
      the Participant's employment by the Company (prior to Participant becoming
      fully vested as set forth in the first bullet above) other than for Cause
      during the 12 month period following a Change in Control, Participant will
      become fully vested with respect to 100% of the Actual Payout Amount.

      The Participant will not be eligible for a payment under this Plan and all
      of the Participant's rights hereunder shall terminate if the Participant
      resigns voluntarily or is terminated for Cause before the end of the Plan
      Period.

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PAYMENT OF AWARDS. Subject to the remainder of this Section, any payout
hereunder will be made promptly after the Distribution Date. For a payout to be
made, the following requirements must be met:

   -  PARTICIPANT HAS MET THE PLAN ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENT AS SET FORTH ABOVE
      UNDER PLAN ELIGIBILITY

   -  THE PARTICIPANT'S RIGHTS UNDER THE PLAN HAVE VESTED AS SET FORTH ABOVE
      UNDER VESTING

The amount of any payout under the Plan shall be the percentage of the Actual
Payout Amount with respect to which Participant's rights hereunder have vested
(as set forth under Vesting above) on the Distribution Date

If Participant's rights hereunder have not vested on a Distribution Date, there
has been a Change in Control and Participant's rights vest within 12 months
after the date of such Change in Control, then the Company shall pay the
percentage of the Actual Payout Amount relating to such Distribution Date with
respect to which Participant's rights hereunder have so vested promptly after
such vesting date, as though Participant had been so vested on such Distribution
Date.

Any payout under the Plan may be made, as determined by the Compensation
Committee in its sole discretion, either in cash, Shares or such other form of
non-cash consideration, if any, as is received by the Shareholders in the
transaction that occurred on the Distribution Date or in a combination of cash,
Shares and such other non-cash consideration.

ADMINISTRATION AND TERMINATION. The Compensation Committee of the Board of
Directors of the Company shall administer and interpret the Plan. The Committee
shall have the powers set forth in Article III of the SAR Plan with respect to
the Plan. All references hereunder to the SAR Plan and terms defined thereunder
shall be to the SAR Plan as amended and modified from time to time, provided
that no amendment or modification that adversely affects in any material way the
rights of Participant hereunder shall be effective with respect to the Plan.

TERMINATION. This Plan shall terminate upon the payout of all amounts owed
hereunder with respect to the Distribution Date after which no Current
Shareholder holds any Shares held by such Current Shareholder on the Effective
Date.

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                                                                   Exhibit 10.17

                                                                January 22, 2004

                             TABLETOP HOLDINGS, INC.
                         STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS PLAN,
                                   AS AMENDED

                                    ARTICLE I

                     ESTABLISHMENT, OBJECTIVES AND DURATION

     1.1  ESTABLISHMENT OF THE PLAN. Tabletop Holdings, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (hereinafter referred to as the "Company"), hereby establishes an
incentive compensation plan to be known as the "Tabletop Holdings, Inc. Stock
Appreciation Rights Plan" (hereinafter referred to as the "Plan"), as set forth
in this document.

     1.2  OBJECTIVES OF THE PLAN. The objectives of the Plan are to (i) provide
incentives to key employees of the Company and its Subsidiaries by giving them
an opportunity to participate in the growth in value of the Company's common
stock, (ii) reward these individuals for the successful long-term performance
and growth of the Company and its Subsidiaries and (iii) align their long-term
financial interests with those of the Company's stockholders.

     1.3  EFFECTIVE DATE; DURATION OF THE PLAN. The Plan shall become effective
as of March 17, 2000 (the "Effective Date") and shall remain in effect, subject
to the right of the Board of Directors to amend or terminate the Plan at any
time pursuant to ARTICLE X hereof, until all Grants shall have either been
terminated or paid out according to the Plan's provisions.

                                   ARTICLE II

                                   DEFINITIONS

          Whenever used in the Plan, the following terms shall have the meanings
set forth below, and when the meaning is intended, the initial letter of the
word shall be capitalized:

     2.1  "BENEFICIAL OWNER," "BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP" or "BENEFICIALLY OWN" shall
have the meaning ascribed to any such terms in Rule 13d-3 of the General Rules
and Regulations under the Exchange Act.

     2.2  "BOARD" or "BOARD OF DIRECTORS" means the Board of Directors of the
Company.

     2.3  "CAUSE" shall mean (i) "cause" as defined in a Participant's
employment agreement with the Company or a Subsidiary (subject to any applicable
cure period) or (ii) in the absence of such a definition therein or of any such
agreement, embezzlement or misappropriation of funds or other assets of the
Company or a Subsidiary, any other act deemed by the Committee in the good faith
exercise of its sole discretion to be an act of dishonesty with respect to the
Company or a Subsidiary, significant activities materially harmful to the
reputation of the Company or a Subsidiary, willful and repeated refusal to
perform or substantial disregard of the duties properly assigned to the
Participant by the Company or a Subsidiary (other than as a result

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of Disability), or material violation of any statutory or common law duty of
loyalty to the Company or Subsidiary.

     2.4  "CHANGE IN CONTROL" means:

          (a)  acquisition by any individual, entity or group (a "PERSON"),
including any "person" within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended ("Exchange Act"), of beneficial
ownership within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act,
of more than 50 percent of either (i) the then outstanding shares of common
stock of the Company (the "OUTSTANDING COMMON STOCK") or (ii) the combined
voting power of the then outstanding securities of the Company entitled to vote
generally in the election of directors (the "OUTSTANDING VOTING SECURITIES");
excluding, however, the following: (A) any acquisition directly from the Company
(excluding any acquisition resulting from the exercise of an exercise,
conversion or exchange privilege unless the security being so exercised,
converted or exchanged was acquired directly from the Company ), (B) any
acquisition by the Company, (C) any acquisition by an employee benefit plan (or
related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any corporation
controlled by the Company or (D) any acquisition by any corporation pursuant to
a transaction that complies with clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) of subsection (c)
of this Section 2.4; provided further, that for purposes of clause (B), if any
Person (other than the Company or any employee benefit plan (or related trust)
sponsored or maintained by the Company or any corporation controlled by the
Company) shall become the Beneficial Owner of more than 50 percent of the
Outstanding Common Stock or of the Outstanding Voting Securities by reason of an
acquisition by the Company, and such Person shall, after such acquisition by the
Company, become the Beneficial Owner of any additional shares of the Outstanding
Common Stock or any additional Outstanding Voting Securities and such Beneficial
Ownership is publicly announced, such additional Beneficial Ownership shall
constitute a Change in Control;

          (b)  individuals who, as of March 20, 2000, constitute the Board of
Directors (the "INCUMBENT BOARD") cease for any reason to constitute at least a
majority of such Board; provided that any individual who becomes a director of
the Company subsequent to March 20, 2000 whose election, or nomination for
election by the Company's stockholders, was approved by the vote of at least a
majority of the directors then comprising the Incumbent Board shall be deemed a
member of the Incumbent Board; and provided further, that any individual who was
initially elected as a director of the Company as a result of an actual or
threatened election contest, as such terms are used in Rule 14a-11 of Regulation
14A promulgated under the Exchange Act, or any other actual or threatened
solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of any Person other than the
Board shall not be deemed a member of the Incumbent Board;

          (c)  consummation of a reorganization, merger or consolidation or sale
or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company (a
"CORPORATE TRANSACTION"); excluding, however, a Corporate Transaction pursuant
to which (i) all or substantially all of the individuals or entities who are the
Beneficial Owners, respectively, of the Outstanding Common Stock and the
Outstanding Voting Securities immediately prior to such Corporate Transaction
will Beneficially Own, directly or indirectly, more than 50 percent of,
respectively, the outstanding shares of common stock, and the combined voting
power of the

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outstanding securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors,
as the case may be, of the corporation resulting from such Corporate Transaction
(including, without limitation, a corporation that as a result of such
transaction owns the Company or all or substantially all of the Company's assets
either directly or indirectly) in substantially the same proportions relative to
each other as their ownership, immediately prior to such Corporate Transaction,
of the Outstanding Common Stock and the Outstanding Voting Securities, as the
case may be, (ii) no Person (other than the Company, any employee benefit plan
(or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any corporation
controlled by the Company, the corporation resulting from such Corporate
Transaction, or any Person that Beneficially Owned, immediately prior to such
Corporate Transaction, directly or indirectly, more than 50 percent of the
Outstanding Common Stock or of the Outstanding Voting Securities, as the case
may be) will Beneficially Own, directly or indirectly, more than 50 percent of,
respectively, the outstanding shares of common stock of the corporation
resulting from such Corporate Transaction or the combined voting power of the
outstanding securities of such corporation entitled to vote generally in the
election of directors and (iii) individuals who were members of the Incumbent
Board will constitute at least a majority of the members of the board of
directors of the corporation resulting from such Corporate Transaction; or

          (d)  consummation of a plan of complete liquidation or dissolution of
the Company.

     2.5  "CODE" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time
to time.

     2.6  "COMMITTEE" means the committee appointed by the Board to administer
the Plan.

     2.7  "COMPANY" means Tabletop Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and
any successor thereto as provided in ARTICLE XVII herein.

     2.8  "DISABILITY" shall have the meaning (i) ascribed to such term in a
Participant's employment agreement with the Company or a Subsidiary or governing
long-term disability plan or, (ii) in the absence of any such agreement or plan,
as determined in the discretion of the Committee.

     2.9  "DISTRIBUTION DATE" means (a) the date on which Investors receive cash
or marketable securities in exchange for all or substantially all of their
Shares in a single transaction or a series of related transactions or in any
transaction which is otherwise a Change in Control under Section 2.4(a), (c) or
(d) or (b), subject to Section 6.4, a date on which Investors receive cash or
marketable securities in exchange for any of their Shares in any transaction
which is otherwise a Change in Control under Section 2.4(a).

     2.10 "DISTRIBUTION VALUE" means the quotient of (1) (A) the sum of the
aggregate Fair Market Value of the Shares in exchange for which the Investors
received cash or marketable securities on the Distribution Date and the
aggregate Fair Market Value (determined as of the date of each such Interim
Distribution) of the Interim Distributions MINUS (B) the Return

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Amount, DIVIDED BY (2) the aggregate number of Stock Appreciation Rights and
Shares outstanding on the Distribution Date.

     2.11 "EFFECTIVE DATE" shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in
Section 1.3 hereof.

     2.12 "EMPLOYEE" means an employee of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries.

     2.13 "EXCHANGE ACT" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
from time to time, or any successor act thereto.

     2.14 "FAIR MARKET VALUE" means

          (a)  with respect to the value of an interest in the equity of the
Company, the following:

               (i) for purposes of establishing the Grant Value of a Share, (A)
          the average of the high and low closing bid prices of a Share on the
          stock exchange or over-the-counter market on which the Shares are
          principally trading on the Grant Date or, if there were no sales on
          such date, on the closest preceding date on which there was a sale of
          Shares, (B) if there shall be no public market for the Shares on such
          date and there was a sale of Shares in the preceding six months in a
          bona fide arm's-length transaction, then, the sale price per share in
          such transaction, or (C) if neither of clauses (A) or (B) is
          applicable, the fair market value per Share as determined in good
          faith by the Committee in the exercise of its reasonable judgment
          based on the facts and circumstances at the time; or

               (ii) for purposes of establishing the Distribution Value of a
          Share, Fair Market Value as determined under (i)(B) above, adjusted as
          determined in good faith by the Committee in the exercise of its
          reasonable judgment based on the facts and circumstances at the time
          to reflect any assumption of the obligations under the Plan in
          connection with a Change in Control.

          (b)  with respect to the value of an Interim Distribution, the
following:

               (i) for the purposes of establishing the fair market value of any
          security received in any Interim Distribution (A) the average of the
          high and low closing bid prices of such security on the exchange or
          over-the-counter market on which the securities are principally
          trading on the date of the Interim Distribution or, if there were no
          sales on such date, on the closest preceding date on which there was a
          sale of such securities, (B) if there shall be no public market for
          the securities on such date and there was a sale of such securities in
          the preceding six months in a bona fide arm's-length transaction,
          then, the sale price per security in such transaction, or (C) if
          neither of clauses (A) or (B) is applicable, the fair market value per
          security as determined in good faith by the Committee in the exercise
          of its reasonable judgment based on the facts and circumstances at the
          time; or

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               (ii) for purposes of establishing the fair market value of cash
          received any Interim Distribution, the amount of such cash.

     2.15 "GRANT" means, individually or collectively, a grant under this Plan
of Stock Appreciation Rights.

     2.16 "GRANT AGREEMENT" means the document evidencing a Grant.

     2.17 "GRANT DATE" means the date on which a Grant is made.

     2.18 "GRANT VALUE" means the Fair Market Value of a Share on the Grant
Date.

     2.19 "INTERIM DISTRIBUTION" means any distribution or payment, by the
Company or any third party, with respect to outstanding Shares made prior to the
Distribution Date.

     2.20 "INVESTORS" means the individuals and entities identified as
"Shareholders" in the Shareholders Agreement dated as of March 17, 2000 by and
among the Company, Tabletop Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company,
the entities identified as "Mezzanine Investors" in Schedule I to such agreement
and the individuals identified as "Purchasers" in Schedule I to such agreement.

     2.21 "PARTICIPANT" means an individual who has received a Grant.

     2.22 "RETURN AMOUNT" means the amount of the aggregate initial equity
investment in the Company made by the persons who are or have been Investors
(e.g. the amount initially paid to the Company for the Shares) plus an amount
equal to a 12% compounded annual return on such investment measured with respect
to such initial equity investment to the date(s) as of which such return is
paid. The Return Amount shall not include any equity investment in the Company
made by an Investor in connection with the exercise or exchange of any warrant
to purchase Shares held by such Investor or any return on such amount.

     2.23 "RETURN DATE" means the date on which the Investors have received the
full Return Amount.

     2.24 "SHARES" means shares of common stock, $0.01 par value, of the
Company.

     2.25 "STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHT" means a right to receive a payment from the
Company following the Distribution Date equal to the amount by which the
Distribution Value exceeds the Grant Value.

     2.26 "SUBSIDIARY" means any entity that is directly or indirectly
controlled by the Company or any entity, including an acquired entity, in which
the Company has a significant equity interest, as determined by the Committee in
its discretion.

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                                   ARTICLE III

                                 ADMINISTRATION

     3.1  GENERAL. The Plan shall be administered by the Committee. The members
of the Committee shall be appointed from time to time by, and shall serve at the
discretion of, the Board of Directors.

     3.2  COMMITTEE AUTHORITY. The Committee shall have full and exclusive power
to administer and interpret the Plan, to make Grants and to adopt such
administrative rules, regulations, procedures and guidelines governing the Plan
and any Grants as it may deem necessary in its discretion from time to time. The
Committee's authority shall include, but not be limited to, the authority to (i)
select Grant recipients and determine the extent of their participation, (ii)
determine the method or formula for establishing the Fair Market Value of the
Shares for various purposes under the Plan, (iii) determine whether and under
what circumstances such Fair Market Value may be discounted and (iv) establish
all other terms, conditions, restrictions and limitations applicable to Grants
and the securities issued pursuant to Grants, including, but not limited to,
those relating to a Participant's termination of employment.

          The Committee may accelerate or defer the vesting of Grants and/or the
payment of vested Grants, cancel or modify outstanding Grants, waive any
conditions or restrictions imposed with respect to Grants or the securities
issued pursuant to Grants and make any and all other determinations that it
deems necessary with respect to administration of the Plan. The Committee's
right to make any decision or determination under the Plan shall be in its sole
and absolute discretion.

     3.3  ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN. The Committee shall have the power to (i)
prescribe and modify, as necessary, the form of Grant Agreement, (ii) correct
any defect, supply any omission or clarify any inconsistency in the Plan or any
Grant Agreement and (iii) take such actions and make such administrative
determinations as the Committee deems appropriate in its discretion.

     3.4  DELEGATION OF AUTHORITY. The Committee may at any time delegate to one
or more officers of the Company some or all of its authority over administration
of the Plan.

     3.5  DECISIONS BINDING. All determinations and decisions made by the
Committee pursuant to the provisions of the Plan and all related orders and
resolutions of the Committee shall be final, conclusive and binding on all
persons, including the Company and its stockholders and Employees, Participants
and their estates and beneficiaries.

                                   ARTICLE IV

                           SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN

     4.1  NUMBER OF SHARES AVAILABLE FOR GRANTS. Subject to adjustment as
provided in Section 4.2 herein, the number of Shares reserved for Grants shall
be 1,000,000. To the extent that Shares subject to a Grant are not issued or
delivered or are canceled or forfeited (i) by reason of termination,
cancellation, forfeiture or repurchase of any Grant or (ii) to satisfy all or a
portion

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of the tax withholding obligations relating to a Grant, then the number
of Shares that are not issued or delivered or are canceled or forfeited as
described above shall be added to the number of Shares available for Grant.

     4.2  ADJUSTMENTS IN AUTHORIZED SHARES. In the event of any change in
corporate capitalization, such as (i) a stock split, (ii) a corporate
transaction, such as any merger, consolidation, separation, including a
spin-off, or other distribution of stock or property of the Company, (iii) any
reorganization (whether or not such reorganization comes within the definition
of such term in Code Section 368) or (iv) any partial or complete liquidation of
the Company, such adjustment shall be made in the number of Shares reserved for
Grants under Section 4.1, and in the number and/or Grant Value of Shares subject
to outstanding Grants, as may be determined to be appropriate and equitable by
the Committee, in its sole discretion, to prevent dilution or enlargement of
rights; provided, however, that the number of Shares subject to any Grant shall
always be a whole number.

                                    ARTICLE V

                          ELIGIBILITY AND PARTICIPATION

     5.1  ELIGIBILITY. The Committee shall determine which Employees shall be
eligible to receive Grants.

     5.2  PARTICIPATION BY EMPLOYEES OF SUBSIDIARIES. Employees of Subsidiaries
may participate in the Plan upon approval by the Committee of the Grants. A
Subsidiary's inclusion in the Plan may be terminated at any time by the
Committee; provided, however, that no such termination shall relieve the
Subsidiary of any obligations theretofore incurred by it under the Plan, except
with the approval of the Committee.

     5.3  PARTICIPATION OUTSIDE OF THE UNITED STATES. The Committee or its
designee shall have the authority to amend the terms and conditions relating to
a Grant to the extent necessary to permit participation in the Plan by Employees
who are located outside of the United States on terms and conditions comparable
to those afforded to Employees located within the United States.

                                   ARTICLE VI

                            STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS

     6.1  GRANT OF STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS. Subject to the terms and
provisions of the Plan, Stock Appreciation Rights may be granted to Employees in
such number, and upon such terms, and at any time and from time to time, as
shall be determined by the Committee.

     6.2  GRANT AGREEMENT. Each Grant shall be evidenced by a Grant Agreement,
which shall specify the Grant Value, the number of Stock Appreciation Rights
being granted and such other provisions as the Committee shall determine.

     6.3  VESTING OF STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS. Unless otherwise specified in
the Plan or in the Grant Agreement relating to a Stock Appreciation Right, and
subject to a Participant's

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continued employment with the Company or a Subsidiary, each Stock Appreciation
Right granted under this ARTICLE VI shall vest with respect to one-third of the
Shares subject to the Stock Appreciation Right on each of the second, third and
fourth anniversaries of the Grant Date.

     6.4  PAYMENT OF STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS. As soon as practicable following
a Distribution Date under Section 2.9(a), the Company shall pay each Participant
with respect to each vested Stock Appreciation Right held by the Participant an
amount equal to the excess of the Distribution Value over the Grant Value. As
soon as practicable following a Distribution Date under Section 2.9(b), the
Company shall pay each Participant with respect to the percentage of the vested
Stock Appreciation Rights held by the Participant equal to the percentage of the
aggregate Shares held by the Investors in exchange for which the Investors
received cash or marketable securities, an amount equal to the excess of the
Distribution Value over the Grant Value. The Grant Value for purposes of
determining the amount to be paid under the preceding sentences shall be deemed
to be the Grant Value set forth in the applicable Grant Agreement less $18.713.
Such payment shall be made, as determined by the Committee in its sole
discretion, either in cash, Shares or such other form of non-cash consideration,
if any, as is received by the Investors in the transaction that occurred on the
Distribution Date or in a combination of cash, Shares and such other non-cash
consideration. Notwithstanding the foregoing, there shall be no Distribution
Date under Section 2.9(b) (and any cash or equitable securities received in
exchange for Shares will instead be considered an Interim Distribution) to the
extent that the payment of any amount to any Participant is not permitted or is
an event of default under any debt facility or commercial paper facility or
instrument evidencing indebtedness of the Company or any of its subsidiaries
(collectively, the "Instruments") or (b) after making such payment, the Company
or any of its subsidiaries would be in default under any such Instrument or
there would be a Change in Control. Nothing in the preceding sentence, or
otherwise, shall require the Company to seek any waiver or other agreement to
enable the Company to make any payment hereunder that otherwise is not permitted
under any such Instrument or would cause an event of default thereunder or to
make any payment hereunder in any particular form.

     6.5  RESTRICTIONS ON SECURITIES TRANSFERABILITY. The Committee may impose
such restrictions on any securities acquired upon the payment of a Stock
Appreciation Right granted under this ARTICLE VI as it deems advisable or as may
be set forth in a Participant's Grant Agreement.

          Any certificate for securities acquired by a Participant upon the
payment of a Stock Appreciation Right shall be subject to the terms and
conditions of any applicable shareholder's agreement and to such stop transfer
orders and other restrictions as the Committee may deem advisable under any
applicable Federal or state laws or the regulations, rules or other requirements
of any stock exchange on which the securities are listed. The Committee may
cause a legend or legends to be put on any such certificate to make appropriate
reference to such restrictions.

     6.6  TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT.

          (a)  RETIREMENT, DISABILITY OR DEATH. Unless otherwise specified in
the applicable Grant Agreement, if a Participant's employment with the Company
or a Subsidiary terminates by reason of retirement at or after age __ [and
completion of at least __ years of

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service], Disability or death, each Stock Appreciation Right held by the
Participant that is not vested shall become vested and, subject to the
Participant's compliance with any applicable noncompetition or nonsolicitation
restrictions, each Stock Appreciation Right held by the Participant shall
continue to remain outstanding until the Distribution Date.

          (b)  TERMINATION FOR CAUSE. Unless otherwise specified in the
applicable Grant Agreement, if a Participant's employment with the Company or a
Subsidiary is terminated for Cause, each Stock Appreciation Right held by the
Participant, whether vested or not vested, shall be forfeited and shall
terminate automatically on the effective date of his or her termination of
employment.

          (c)  VOLUNTARY TERMINATION BY PARTICIPANT. Unless otherwise specified
in the applicable Grant Agreement, if a Participant's employment with the
Company or a Subsidiary terminates because of his or her voluntary resignation,
each Stock Appreciation Right held by such Participant that it is not vested
shall be forfeited and shall terminate automatically on the effective date of
such termination of employment and, subject to the Participant's compliance with
any applicable noncompetition or nonsolicitation restrictions, each Stock
Appreciation Right held by the Participant that is vested shall continue to
remain outstanding until the Distribution Date.

          (d)  INVOLUNTARY TERMINATION WITHOUT CAUSE. Unless otherwise specified
in the applicable Grant Agreement, if a Participant's employment with the
Company or a Subsidiary is involuntarily terminated by the Company or Subsidiary
without Cause, a proportionate number of the Stock Appreciation Rights that are
not otherwise vested on such date shall become vested based on the portion of
the period between the Grant Date of each Stock Appreciation Right and the date
on which the Stock Appreciation Right would have otherwise become fully vested
under Section 6.3 hereof (or the comparable provision of the Grant Agreement)
and, subject to the Participant's compliance with any applicable noncompetition
or nonsolicitation restrictions, each Stock Appreciation Right held by the
Participant that it is vested shall continue to remain outstanding until the
Distribution Date.

          (e)  The Committee may, in its sole discretion, cancel the vested
Stock Appreciation Rights held by a Participant upon his or her termination of
employment for any reason other than for Cause in exchange for a cash payment to
the Participant for each Stock Appreciation Right so canceled equal to the
excess of the Distribution Value (calculated as if the date on which the
Participant's employment terminated were the Distribution Date and using the
most recent annual valuation of the equity of the Company) over the Grant Value.

     6.7  NONTRANSFERABILITY OF STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS. Except as otherwise
provided in a Participant's Grant Agreement, no Stock Appreciation Right may be
sold, transferred, pledged, assigned or otherwise alienated or hypothecated
other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution.

                                        9
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                                   ARTICLE VII

                             BENEFICIARY DESIGNATION

          Each Participant may, from time to time, name any beneficiary or
beneficiaries (who may be named contingently or successively) to whom any
benefit under the Plan is to be paid in case of his or her death before he or
she receives any or all of such benefit. Each such designation shall revoke all
prior designations by the same Participant, shall be in a form prescribed by the
Company, and will be effective only when filed by the Participant in writing
with the Company during the Participant's lifetime. In the absence of any such
designation, benefits remaining unpaid at the Participant's death shall be paid
to his or her estate.

                                  ARTICLE VIII

                               RIGHTS OF EMPLOYEES

     8.1  EMPLOYMENT. Nothing in the Plan shall interfere with or limit in any
way the right of the Company or a Subsidiary to terminate any Participant's
employment at any time, nor confer upon any Participant any right to continue in
the employ of the Company or a Subsidiary.

     8.2  PARTICIPATION. No Employee shall have the right to be selected to
receive a Grant, or, having been so selected, to be selected to receive a future
Grant.

                                   ARTICLE IX

                                CHANGE IN CONTROL

     9.1  TREATMENT OF OUTSTANDING GRANTS. Upon the occurrence of a Change in
Control, unless otherwise specifically prohibited under applicable laws or by
the rules and regulations of any governing governmental agencies or national
securities exchanges, any and all outstanding Stock Appreciation Rights shall
become immediately vested. Any good-faith determination by the Committee as to
whether a Change in Control has occurred shall be conclusive and binding upon
the Company and all Participants.

     9.2  TERMINATION, AMENDMENT AND MODIFICATION OF CHANGE IN CONTROL
PROVISIONS. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan (but subject to the
limitations of Section 9.3 hereof) or any Grant Agreement provision, the
provisions of this ARTICLE IX may not be terminated, amended or modified on or
after the date of a Change in Control to affect adversely any Grant theretofore
made, without the prior written consent of an affected Participant with respect
to his or her outstanding Grants; provided, however, that the Board may
terminate, amend or modify this ARTICLE IX at any time and from time to time
prior to the date of a Change in Control.

     9.3  POOLING OF INTERESTS ACCOUNTING. Notwithstanding any other provision
of the Plan to the contrary, in the event that the consummation of a Change in
Control is contingent on using pooling of interests accounting methodology, the
Committee may, prior to the date of the Change in Control, take any action
necessary to preserve the use of pooling of interests accounting.

                                       10
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                                    ARTICLE X

                     AMENDMENT, MODIFICATION AND TERMINATION

     10.1 AMENDMENT, MODIFICATION AND TERMINATION. Subject to the terms of the
Plan, the Board may at any time and from time to time alter, amend, suspend or
terminate the Plan in whole or in part.

     10.2 ADJUSTMENT OF GRANTS UPON THE OCCURRENCE OF CERTAIN UNUSUAL OR
NONRECURRING EVENTS. The Committee may make adjustments in the terms and
conditions of, and the criteria included in, Grants in recognition of (i)
unusual or nonrecurring events (including, without limitation, the events
described in Section 4.2 hereof) affecting the Company or the financial
statements of the Company or (ii) changes in applicable laws, regulations or
accounting principles, whenever the Committee determines that such adjustments
are appropriate in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the benefits or
potential benefits intended to be made available under the Plan.

     10.3 GRANTS PREVIOUSLY MADE. Notwithstanding any other provision of the
Plan to the contrary (but subject to Section 9.3 hereof), no amendment,
modification or termination of the Plan shall adversely affect in any material
way any Grant previously made without the written consent of the Participant
holding such Grant.

                                   ARTICLE XI

                                   WITHHOLDING

          The Company shall have the power and the right to deduct or withhold,
or require a Participant to remit to the Company, an amount sufficient to
satisfy Federal, state and local taxes, domestic or foreign, required by law or
regulation to be withheld with respect to any taxable event arising as a result
of this Plan.

                                   ARTICLE XII

                                 INDEMNIFICATION

          Each person who is or shall have been a member of the Committee, or of
the Board, shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company against and
from any loss, cost, liability or expense that may be imposed upon or incurred
by him or her in connection with or resulting from any claim, action, suit or
proceeding to which he or she may be a party or in which he or she may be
involved by reason of any action taken or failure to act under the Plan and
against and from any and all amounts paid by him or her in settlement thereof,
with the Company's approval, or paid by him or her in satisfaction of any
judgement in any such action, suit or proceeding against him or her, provided
that he or she shall have given the Company a reasonable opportunity, at its own
expense, to handle and defend the same before he or she undertakes to handle and
defend it on his or her own behalf. The foregoing right of indemnification shall
not be exclusive of any other rights of indemnification to which such persons
may be entitled under the Company's Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws, as a
matter of

                                       11
<Page>

law or otherwise, or any power that the Company may have to indemnify
them or hold them harmless.

                                  ARTICLE XIII

                     OTHER BENEFIT AND COMPENSATION PROGRAMS

          Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, Grants received by
Participants shall not be deemed a part of a Participant's regular, recurring
compensation for purposes of calculating payments or benefits from any Company
or Subsidiary benefit plan or severance program. No Employee shall have any
claim or right to receive a Grant. There shall be no obligation of uniformity of
treatment of Participants under the Plan. Further, the Company and any
Subsidiary may adopt other compensation programs, plans or arrangements as
either deems appropriate or necessary. Adoption of the Plan shall not confer
upon any Employee any right to continued employment in any particular position
or at any particular rate of compensation, nor shall it interfere in any way
with the right of the Company or a Subsidiary to terminate the employment of its
Employees at any time, free from any claim or liability under the Plan.

                                   ARTICLE XIV

                                  UNFUNDED PLAN

          Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, the Plan shall be
unfunded and shall not create (or be construed to create) a trust or a separate
fund or funds. The Plan shall not establish any fiduciary relationship between
the Company and any Participant or other person. To the extent that any
Participant holds any rights by virtue of a Grant, such rights shall constitute
general unsecured liabilities of the Company and shall not confer upon any
Participant any right, title or interest in any assets of the Company.

                                   ARTICLE XV

                              EXPENSES OF THE PLAN

          The expenses of administration of the Plan shall be borne by the
Company and its Subsidiaries. The Company may require Subsidiaries to pay for
benefits paid to their respective Employees under the Plan.

                                   ARTICLE XVI

                             RIGHTS AS A STOCKHOLDER

          Unless the Committee determines otherwise, a Participant shall not
have any right as a stockholder with respect to Shares covered by a Grant until
the date when the Participant becomes the holder of record of such Shares. No
adjustment will be made for dividends or other rights for which the record date
is prior to such date, except as provided in Sections 4.2 and 10.2.

                                       12
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                                  ARTICLE XVII

                                   SUCCESSORS

          All obligations of the Company under the Plan with respect to Grants
shall be binding on any successor to the Company, whether the existence of such
successor is the result of a direct or indirect purchase, merger, consolidation
or otherwise of all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the
Company.

                                  ARTICLE XVIII

                               LEGAL CONSTRUCTION

     18.1 GENDER AND NUMBER. Except where otherwise indicated by the context,
any masculine term used herein also shall include the feminine; the plural shall
include the singular, and the singular shall include the plural.

     18.2 SEVERABILITY. In the event that any provision of the Plan shall be
held illegal or invalid for any reason, the illegality or invalidity shall not
affect the remaining parts of the Plan, and the Plan shall be construed and
enforced as if the illegal or invalid provision had not been included.

     18.3 REQUIREMENTS OF LAW. The making of Grants and the issuance of Shares
or other securities under the Plan shall be subject to all applicable laws,
rules and regulations and to such approvals by any governmental agencies or
national securities exchanges as may be required.

     18.4 GOVERNING LAW. The corporate law of the State of Delaware shall govern
issues related to the validity and issuance of Shares. Otherwise, this Plan and
each Grant Agreement shall be construed and administered in accordance with the
laws of the State of Illinois.

                                       13

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