Document:

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                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.18

                                   AGREEMENT

                  AGREEMENT, dated as of November 18, 1999, between Riverwood
Holding, Inc. (formerly New River Holding, Inc.), a Delaware corporation (the
"Company"), and Stephen M. Humphrey (the "Executive").

                  The Company and the Executive hereby agree as follows:

                  1.  Supplemental Payment.

                  (a) In the event that a Change in Control occurs prior to
March 26, 2002, and provided that

                  (i) no EBITDA Shortfall shall have occurred under the Credit
         Agreement and

                  (ii)(x) the Executive remains continuously employed with the
         Company or one of the Subsidiaries from the date hereof through the
         date of such Change in Control or (y) if the CD&R Fund and, if
         applicable, its Affiliates effect a sale or other disposition of all
         of the Common Stock then held by the CD&R Fund and its Affiliates to
         one or more persons other than any person who is an Affiliate of the
         CD&R Fund and thereafter, the Executive's employment is terminated by
         the Company other than for Cause or by the Executive for Good Reason
         and such Change in Control occurs within six months of the date of
         such termination of employment,

the Executive shall be entitled to a supplemental payment in an amount equal to
the shortfall, if any, between (x) the aggregate value of any Options (as
determined by the Board as constituted immediately prior to the Change in
Control and without regard to any withholding or other similar taxes) and (y)
$10,000,000 (ten million dollars) (the "Supplemental Payment").

                  (b) Subject to Section 2, the Supplemental Payment, if any,
shall be payable in full, as soon as reasonably practicable, but in no event
later than, 30 days following the Change in Control. Payment of the amount
calculated in accordance with the preceding paragraph shall be made, in cash,
or in the discretion of or the Board (as constituted immediately prior to the
Change in Control) in connection with a transaction that is intended to be a
"pooling of interest" transaction, in shares of the stock of the New Employer
having an aggregate fair market value equal to such amount (provided that the
shares of such New Employer are publicly traded and will be transferable in the
hands of the Executive).

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                  (c) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, no
shares of the stock of a New Employer shall be delivered, (A) unless all
requisite approvals and consents of any governmental authority of any kind
having jurisdiction with respect thereto shall have been secured, (B) unless
the delivery of such shares shall be exempt from registration under applicable
U.S. federal and state securities laws, and applicable non-U.S. securities
laws, or the shares shall have been registered under such laws, and (C) unless
all applicable U.S. federal, state and local and non-U.S. tax withholding
requirements shall have been satisfied. The Company shall use commercially
reasonable efforts to obtain the consents and approvals referred to in clause
(A) of the preceding sentence and to satisfy the withholding requirements
referred to in clause (C) of the preceding sentence.

                   (d) No right to a Supplemental Payment may be assigned,
transferred, in whole or in part, and may not be, directly or indirectly,
offered, transferred, sold, pledged, assigned, alienated, hypothecated or
otherwise disposed of or encumbered (including without limitation by gift,
operation of law or otherwise) without the consent of the Board, except to a
trust, partnership, limited liability company or other entity of which the only
beneficiaries, partners or members are members of the Executive's immediate
family.

                  (e) Whenever any amount is to be paid with respect to a
Supplemental Payment, the Company may require the recipient to remit to the
Company an amount sufficient to satisfy any applicable U.S. federal, state and
local and non-U.S. tax withholding requirements where the payment is not to be
made in cash.

                  2. Automatic Offset. Any amounts otherwise payable to the
Executive in respect of a Supplemental Payment shall, without any further
action of the Company or the Executive, be applied in full or partial
prepayment of any amounts outstanding under the Promissory Note, dated as of
November __, 1999 between the Company and Executive.

                  3.  Certain Definitions.

                  As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the
following meanings:

                  "Affiliate" shall mean, with respect to any person, any other
         person controlled by, controlling or under common control with such
         person.

                  "Board" shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.

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                  "Cause" shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the
         Employment Agreement.

                  "CD&R Fund" shall mean the Clayton, Dubilier & Rice Fund V
         Limited Partnership, a Cayman Islands exempted limited partnership,
         and any successor investment vehicle managed by Clayton, Dubilier &
         Rice, Inc.

                  "Change in Control" shall mean the first to occur of the
         following events after the date hereof:

                           (i) the acquisition by any person, entity or "group"
                  (as defined in Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act), other than
                  the Company, the Subsidiaries, any employee benefit plan of
                  the Company or the Subsidiaries, the CD&R Fund, any Investor
                  or any Affiliate of the CD&R Fund or of an Investor, of 50%
                  or more of the combined voting power of the Company's or
                  RIC's then out standing voting securities;

                           (ii) the merger or consolidation of the Company or
                  RIC, as a result of which persons who were stockholders of
                  the Company or RIC, as the case may be, immediately prior to
                  such merger or consolidation, do not, immediately thereafter,
                  own, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the combined
                  voting power entitled to vote generally in the election of
                  directors of the merged or consolidated company;

                           (iii) the liquidation or dissolution of the Company
                  or RIC other than a liquidation of RIC into the Company or
                  into any Subsidiary; and

                           (iv) the sale, transfer or other disposition of all
                  or substantially all of the assets of the Company or RIC to
                  one or more persons or entities that are not, immediately
                  prior to such sale, transfer or other disposition, Affiliates
                  of the Company, RIC, the CD&R Fund or any Investor.

                  "Credit Agreement" shall mean the Credit Agreement, dated as
         of March 21, 1996, among Riverwood (as successor to RIC Holding,
         Inc.), the other borrowers party thereto, The Chase Manhattan Bank
         (formerly known as Chemical Bank), as administrative agent, and the
         lenders party thereto from time to time, as the same has previously
         been and may be amended from time to time.

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                  "EBITDA," for any period, shall, have the meaning assigned to
         such term in the Credit Agreement.

                  "EBITDA Shortfall" shall mean the failure by the Company to
         maintain the minimum EBITDA specified for any period in Section 8.1 of
         the Credit Agreement as of the same may be amended from time to time.

                  "Employment Agreement" shall mean the Employment Agreement,
         dated as March 26, 1997, by and among the Executive, the Company and
         RIC.

                  "Good Reason" shall have the meaning assigned to such term in
         the Employment Agreement.

                  "Investors" shall mean each of the investors who purchased
         shares of Common Stock or shares of Class B Common Stock of the
         Company concurrently with the consummation of the merger contemplated
         by the Merger Agreement, and their "specified affiliates," within the
         meaning of the Stockholders Agreement of the Company, as amended from
         time to time.

                  "New Employer" shall mean the Executive's employer, or the
         parent or a subsidiary of the New Employer, immediately following a
         Change in Control.

                  "Options" shall mean any and all options granted to the
         Executive to purchase shares of the Company pursuant to any stock or
         other similar incentive compensation plan.

                  "RIC" shall mean Riverwood International Corporation, a
         Delaware corporation formerly known as Riverwood International USA,
         Inc., and any successor thereto.

                  "Subsidiary" shall mean any corporation or other person, a
         majority of whose outstanding voting securities or other equity
         interests are owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company.

                  4.  Miscellaneous.

                  (a) Notices. All notices and other communications required or
permitted to be given under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be
deemed to have been given if

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delivered personally or sent by certified or express mail, return receipt
requested, postage prepaid, or by any recognized international equivalent of
such delivery, to the Company, the CD&R Fund or the Executive, as the case may
be, at the following addresses or to such other address as the Company, the CD&R
Fund or the Executive, as the case may be, shall specify by notice to the
others:

                  (i)      if to the Company, to it at:

                           Riverwood Holding, Inc.
                           Suite 1200
                           1105 North Market Street
                           P.O. Box 8985
                           Wilmington, Delaware  19899
                           Attention:  General Counsel

                  (ii) if to the Executive, to the Executive at his address
         last known.

                  (iii) if to the CD&R Fund, to:

                           Clayton, Dubilier & Rice Fund V
                           Limited Partnership
                           Foulkstone Plaza, Suite 102
                           1403 Foulk Road
                           Wilmington, Delaware 19803
                           Attention:  Joseph L. Rice, III

All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been received on
the date of delivery if delivered personally or on the third business day after
the mailing thereof. Copies of any notice or other communication given under
this Agreement shall also be given to:

                           Clayton, Dubilier & Rice, Inc.
                           375 Park Avenue
                           New York, New York  10152
                           Attention:  Kevin J. Conway

                  and

                           Debevoise & Plimpton
                           875 Third Avenue
                           New York, New York  10022
                           Attention:  Franci J. Blassberg, Esq.
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The CD&R Fund also shall be given a copy of any notice or other communication
between the Executive and the Company under this Agreement at its address as
set forth above.

                  (b) Binding Effect; Benefits. This Agreement shall be binding
upon and inure to the benefit of the parties to this Agreement and their
respective successors and assigns. Nothing in this Agreement, express or
implied, is intended or shall be construed to give any person other than the
parties to this Agreement or their respective successors or assigns any legal
or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of any agreement or any
provision contained herein.

                  (c)  Waiver; Amendment.

                           (i) Waiver. Any party hereto or beneficiary hereof
                  may by written notice to the other parties (A) extend the
                  time for the performance of any of the obligations or other
                  actions of the other parties under this Agreement, (B) waive
                  compliance with any of the conditions or covenants of the
                  other parties contained in this Agreement and (C) waive or
                  modify performance of any of the obligations of the other
                  parties under this Agreement. Except as provided in the
                  preceding sentence, no action taken pursuant to this
                  Agreement, including, without limitation, any investigation
                  by or on behalf of any party or beneficiary, shall be deemed
                  to constitute a waiver by the party or beneficiary taking
                  such action of compliance with any representations,
                  warranties, covenants or agreements contained herein. The
                  waiver by any party hereto or beneficiary hereof of a breach
                  of any provision of this Agreement shall not operate or be
                  construed as a waiver of any preceding or succeeding breach
                  and no failure by a party or beneficiary to exercise any
                  right or privilege hereunder shall be deemed a waiver of such
                  party's or beneficiary's rights or privileges hereunder or
                  shall be deemed a waiver of such party's or beneficiary's
                  rights to exercise the same at any subsequent time or times
                  hereunder.

                           (ii) Amendment. This Agreement may not be amended,
                  modified or supplemented orally, but only by a written
                  instrument executed by the Executive and the Company, and (in
                  the case of any amendment, modification or supplement that
                  adversely affects the rights of the CD&R Fund hereunder)
                  consented to by the CD&R Fund in writing.

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                  (d) Assignability. Neither this Agreement nor any right,
remedy, obligation or liability arising hereunder or by reason hereof shall be
assignable by the Company or the Executive without the prior written consent of
the other parties and the CD&R Fund.

                  (e)  Applicable Law.  THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND
CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, EXCEPT TO THE
EXTENT THAT THE CORPORATE LAW OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE SPECIFICALLY AND
MANDATORILY APPLIES.

                  (f) Section and Other Headings, etc. The section and other
headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall
not affect the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.

                  (g) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any
number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original and all
of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

                  (h) No Right to Continued Employment. Nothing in this
Agreement shall be deemed to confer on the Executive any right to continue in
the employ of the Company or any Subsidiary, or to interfere with or limit in
any way the right of the Company or any Subsidiary to terminate such employment
at any time.

                  (i) Delegation by the Board. All of the powers, duties and
responsibilities of the Board specified in this Agreement may, to the full
extent permitted by applicable law, be exercised and performed by any duly
constituted committee thereof to the extent authorized by the Board to exercise
and perform such powers, duties and responsibilities.

                  IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company and the Executive have
executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.

                            RIVERWOOD HOLDING, INC.

                            By:/s/ Edward W. Stroetz, Jr.
                               --------------------------
                             Name: Edward W. Stroetz, Jr.
                             Title: Secretary

                            STEPHEN M. HUMPHREY

                            By:/s/ Stephen M. Humphrey
                               -----------------------<PAGE>   1
                                                                  EXHIBIT 10.19

                                PROMISSORY NOTE

                  FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned Stephen M. Humphrey,
Chief Executive Officer of Riverwood International Corporation ("Executive"),
hereby promises to pay Riverwood International Corporation ("Employer"), the
principal amount of Five Million and No/100 dollars ($5,000,000), in lawful
money of the United States of America and in immediately available funds on
March 26, 2002, together with interest pursuant to paragraph 2 of this Note.
The principal sum of $5,000,000 may be adjusted from time to time as provided
below, as follows:

                  1. Repayment of Principal. The entire unpaid principal
balance of this Note shall be due and payable, together with all interest and
other charges due hereunder, on March 26, 2002 (the "Stated Maturity Date"),
unless the Note becomes (1) immediately due and payable pursuant to paragraph 4
of this Note; or (2) forgiven and not payable pursuant to paragraph 5 of this
Note.

                  2. Interest. Except as provided in the next paragraph,
interest shall not accrue or be payable on the Note, it being understood that
for federal income tax purposes interest shall be deemed to accrue at 5.49% per
annum, semi-annual compounding, which is the "short-term applicable federal
rate" (within the meaning of section 1274 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986,
as amended) and while the Note remains outstanding Executive will be deemed to
have been paid as compensation an amount equal to such deemed accrued
interest..

                  If any payment which is to be made hereunder is not paid when
due, such payment shall bear interest, payable on demand, at a rate per annum
equal to the rate set forth above plus 2 percent (2%), but not to exceed the
maximum amount permitted by law.

                  If the payment of principal or interest on this Note becomes
payable on a Saturday, Sunday or a day on which Holding is to be closed, then
such payment shall be extended to the next succeeding business day with no
additional interest due.

                  3. Voluntary Prepayments. This Note may be prepaid in whole
or in part at any time without premium or penalty, but with interest on the
amount being prepaid through the date of prepayment, with written notice to
Employer received one (1) business day prior to such prepayment specifying the
amount of prepayment. Partial prepayments of principal shall be in whole
multiples of $1,000.

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                  4. Mandatory Prepayment. In the event a "Termination Event"
(as defined below) occurs, this Note shall automatically become due and
payable, and the Executive shall be required to prepay the outstanding
principal balance of this Note in full, on the date that is no later than
thirty (30) days after the occurrence of the Termination Event. For purposes of
this Note, a "Termination Event" shall be deemed to have occurred in the event
that (a) Executive's employment is terminated by Employer for "Cause" (as
defined in the Employment Agreement, dated as of March 26, 1997, among
Executive, Employer and Riverwood Holding, Inc. (the "Employment Agreement"))
or (b) Executive voluntarily terminates employment with Employer other than for
"Good Reason" (as defined in the Employment Agreement).

                  In addition, any payments to be made under the Agreement,
dated as of November __, 1999, between Executive and Riverwood Holding, Inc.,
in an amount not to exceed the outstanding principal hereof as of the date of
such payment shall automatically be applied in mandatory full or partial
pre-payment (as the case may be) of this Note.

                  5. Forgiveness of Loan. Subject to Section 9, this Note,
together with any accrued interest thereon, shall be forgiven, and Executive
will not be required to repay the amount stipulated in this Note, if, on or
prior to the Stated Maturity Date (a) Executive's employment terminates as a
result of his death or "Disability" (as defined in the Employment Agreement;
(b) Executive's employment is terminated by the Employer "Without Cause" (as
defined in the Employment Agreement); or (c) Executive terminates his
employment for "Good Reason" (as defined in the Employment Agreement).

                  6. Defaults. If any of the following events shall occur: (1)
Executive's failure to make the mandatory prepayment required under paragraph 4
of this Note; or (2) the appointment of a custodian, trustee, liquidator or
receiver for any of the property of, or an assignment for the benefit of
creditors by, Executive; then, at the option of Employer, this Note and all
other obligations of Executive shall become due and payable forthwith, upon
declaration to that effect by Employer, with notice to Executive, anything
contained herein or in any other document, instrument or agreement to the
contrary notwithstanding. This Note shall become immediately and automatically
due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or notice of any kind,
upon the commencement by or against Executive of a case or proceeding under any
bankruptcy, insolvency or other law relating to the relief of debtors, the
readjustment, composition or extension of indebtedness or reorganization or
liquidation.

                  7. No Right to Continued Employment. Nothing in this Note
shall be deemed to confer on Executive any right to continue in the employ of
Employer or any of their

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respective subsidiaries, or to interfere with or limit in any way the right of
Employer or any such subsidiary to terminate such employment at any time.

                  8.    Costs. The party prevailing in any dispute regarding the
Employer's collection of this Note, enforcement of the obligations of Executive
hereunder or the administration, supervision, preservation or protection of
Employer's rights in connection herewith shall be entitled to reimbursement on
demand of all reasonable costs and expenses in connection therewith, including,
but not limited to, reasonable attorneys' fees and expenses.

                  9.    Withholding Taxes. Executive acknowledges that in the
event this Note is forgiven pursuant to Section 5, such forgiveness will be
treated as compensation income paid to Executive, and Employer will be required
to pay any required United States federal, state or local withholding taxes to
the proper governmental authority. Accordingly, notwithstanding anything herein
to the contrary, Executive shall not be relieved of any obligations with
respect to this Note or any accrued interest thereon unless Executive shall
have provided to Employer an amount sufficient to permit Employer to satisfy
any required withholding or other similar taxes that would arise as a result of
such Note forgiveness ("Withholding Taxes"). Executive agrees and acknowledges
that any amount due from Employer may, at the discretion of the Employer, be
reduced to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law by such Withholding
Taxes.

                  10.   WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EXECUTIVE AND HOLDING HEREBY WAIVE
THE RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING BASED UPON, ARISING OUT
OF OR IN ANY WAY CONNECTED WITH THIS NOTE OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED
HEREBY.

                  11.   GOVERNING LAW. THE PROVISIONS OF THIS NOTE SHALL BE
CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED AND ALL RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS HEREUNDER DETERMINED
IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO THE
PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICT OF LAWS.

                  12.   Advice of Counsel. Executive acknowledges that it has
had the opportunity to obtain the advice of counsel of its own choosing in
entering into this Note and the transactions contemplated hereby. Executive is
fully aware of the contents of this Note and its legal effect and is entering
into this Note without threat, coercion, fraud or duress of any kind. Executive
is not relying on any representation, statement, warranty of any party
regarding this Note or the transaction contemplated hereby.

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                  13.   Counter-Claims, Set-Off.  Executive waives the right to
interpose any counterclaim or set-off of any kind in any litigation relating to
this Note or the transaction contemplated hereby.

                  14.   Assignment. This Note shall be assignable in full or in
part by Employer without the consent of Executive. No obligation or rights of
Executive hereunder can be assigned or transferred without the prior written
consent of Employer.

                  15.   No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies. No failure on the part
of Employer to exercise, and no delay in exercising, any right, remedy or power
hereunder shall operate as waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial
exercise by Employer of any right, remedy or power hereunder preclude any other
or future exercises of any other right, remedy or power.

                  Each and every right, remedy and power hereby granted to
Employer or allowed it by law or other agreement shall be cumulative and not
exclusive the one of any other, and may be exercised by Employer from time to
time.

                  16.   Severability. Every provision of this Note is intended
to be severable; if any term or provision of this Note shall be invalid,
illegal or unenforceable for any reason whatsoever, the validity, legality and
enforceability of the remaining provisions hereof shall not in any way be
affected or impaired.

                  17.   Headings. The section headings in this Note are for
convenience only and are not intended to affect the construction of the
provisions of this Note.

                  18.   ENTIRE AGREEMENT.  THIS NOTE REPRESENTS THE FINAL
AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE PARTIES AND MAY NOT BE CONTRADICTED BY
EVIDENCE OF PRIOR, CONTEMPORANEOUS, OR SUBSEQUENT ORAL

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AGREEMENTS OF THE PARTIES.  THERE ARE NO UNWRITTEN ORAL AGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE
PARTIES CONCERNING THE SUBJECT MATTER HEREOF.

                  IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company and the Executive have
executed this Agreement as of November 18, 1999.

                  Principal Amount of Loan:  $5,000,000

                  Social Security Number of Executive: ###-##-####

WITNESS                                        Executive

By: /s/ Edward W. Stroetz, Jr.                 /s/ Stephen M. Humphrey
    --------------------------                 -----------------------
Name: Edward W. Stroetz, Jr.                   Stephen M. Humphrey

Date: November 18, 1999                        Date: November 18, 1999

                                               ADDRESS OF Executive:
                                               2660 Peachtree Road, N.W.
                                               Atlanta, Georgia 30305

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