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Exhibit 10.18    
    

MERISANT WORLDWIDE, INC.

INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT  

        This Indemnification Agreement ("Agreement") is entered into as of the    day
of                        , 2004
by and between Merisant Worldwide, Inc., a Delaware corporation on behalf of itself and its wholly owned subsidiary Merisant Company (collectively the
"Company") and                        ("Indemnitee"). 

RECITALS  

        A.    Indemnitee
performs valuable services to the Company. 

        B.    The
Certificate of Incorporation of the Company provides for the indemnification of the officers and directors of the Company to the maximum extent authorized by the
Delaware General Corporation Law, as amended (the "Law") and authorizes the indemnification of employees and agents of the Company. 

        C.    In
accordance with the authorization provided by the Law, the Company may purchase and may maintain a policy or policies of directors' and officers' liability insurance,
covering certain liabilities which may be incurred by its officers and directors in the performance of their obligations to the Company, although the Company is under no obligation to do so. 

        D.    Such
liability insurance may not be adequate, in particular in light of the Company's contemplated initial public offering. 

        E.    The
Certificate of Incorporation and the Law, by their nonexclusive nature, permits contracts between the Company and the officers and directors of the Company with
respect to the indemnification of such officers and directors. 

        F.     The
Company desires to attract and retain the services of highly qualified individuals, such as Indemnitee, to serve the Company and, in part, in order to induce
Indemnitee to continue to provide services to the Company, wishes to provide for the indemnification and advancing of expense to Indemnitee to the maximum extent permitted by law. 

        G.    In
view of the considerations set forth above, the Company desires that the Indemnitee be indemnified by the Company as set froth herein. 

        NOW,
THEREFORE, the Company and Indemnitee hereby agree as follows: 

        1.     Indemnification. 

        (a)   Indemnification of Expenses. The Company shall indemnify Indemnitee to the fullest extent permitted by the Law if
Indemnitee was or is or becomes a party to or witness or other participant in, or is threatened to be made a party to or witness or other participant in, any threatened, pending or completed action,
suit, proceeding or alternative dispute resolution mechanism, or any hearing, inquiry or investigation that Indemnitee in good faith believes might lead to the institution of any such action, suit,
proceeding or alternative dispute resolution mechanism, whether civil, criminal, administrative, investigative or other (hereinafter a "Claim") by
reason of (or arising in part out of) any event or occurrence related to the fact that Indemnitee is or was a director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of the Company, or any subsidiary of the
Company, or is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, or by
reason of any action or inaction on the part of Indemnitee while serving in such capacity (hereinafter an "Indemnifiable Event") against any and all
expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees and all other costs, expenses and obligations incurred in connection with investigating, defending, being a witness in or participating in (including on
appeal), or preparing to defend, be a witness in or participate in, any such action, suit, proceeding, alternative dispute resolution 

 

mechanism,
hearing, inquiry or investigation), judgments, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement (if such settlement is approved in advance by the Company, which approval shall not be
unreasonably withheld) of such Claim and any federal, state, local or foreign taxes imposed on Indemnitee as a result of the actual or deemed receipt of any payments under this Agreement
(collectively, hereinafter "Expenses"), including all interest, assessments and other charges paid or payable in connection with or in respect of such
Expenses, if Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company, and with respect to any criminal Claim, had no
reasonable cause to believe Indemnitee's conduct was unlawful. 

        (b)   Reviewing Party. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) the obligations of the Company under Section 1(a) shall
be subject to the condition that the Reviewing Party (as described in Section 10(e) hereof) shall not have determined (in a written opinion, in any case in which the Independent Legal Counsel
referred to in Section 1(c) hereof is involved) that Indemnitee would not be permitted to be indemnified under the Law, and (ii) the obligation of the Company to make an advance payment
of Expenses to Indemnitee pursuant to Section 2(a) (an "Expense Advance") shall be subject to the condition that, if, when and to the extent that
the Reviewing Party determines that Indemnitee would not be permitted to be so indemnified under applicable law, the Company shall be entitled to be reimbursed by Indemnitee (who hereby agrees to
reimburse the Company) for all such amounts theretofore paid; provided, however, that if Indemnitee has commenced or thereafter commences legal proceedings in a court of competent jurisdiction to
secure a determination that Indemnitee should be indemnified under applicable law, any determination made by the Reviewing Party that Indemnitee would not be permitted to be indemnified under
applicable law shall not be binding and Indemnitee shall not be required to reimburse the Company for any Expense Advance until a final judicial determination is made with respect thereto.
Indemnitee's obligation to reimburse the Company for any Expense Advance shall be unsecured and no interest shall be charged thereon. If there has not been a Change in Control (as defined in
Section 10(c) hereof), the Reviewing Party shall be selected by the Board of Directors, and if there has been such a Change in Control (other than a Change in Control which has been approved by
a majority of the Company's Board of Directors who were directors immediately prior to such Change in Control), the Reviewing Party shall be the Independent Legal Counsel referred to in
Section 1(c) hereof. If there has been no determination by the Reviewing Party or if the Reviewing Party determines that Indemnitee substantively would not be permitted to be indemnified in
whole or in part under applicable law, Indemnitee shall have the right to commence litigation seeking an initial determination by the court or challenging any such determination by the Reviewing Party
or any aspect thereof, including the legal or factual bases therefor, and the Company hereby consents to service of process and to appear in any such proceeding. Any determination by the Reviewing
Party otherwise shall be conclusive and binding on the Company and Indemnitee. 

        (c)   Change in Control. The Company agrees that if there is a Change in Control of the Company (other than a Change in Control
which has been approved by a majority of the Company's Board of Directors who were directors immediately prior to such Change in Control) then, with respect to all matters thereafter arising
concerning the rights of Indemnitee to payments of Expenses and Expense Advances under this Agreement or any other agreement or under the Company's Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws as now or
hereafter in effect, Independent Legal Counsel (as defined in Section 10(d) hereof) shall be selected by Indemnitee and approved by the Company (which approval shall not be unreasonably
withheld). Such counsel, among other things, shall render its written opinion to the Company and Indemnitee as to whether and to what extent Indemnitee would be permitted to be indemnified under
applicable law and the Company agrees to abide by such opinion. The Company agrees to pay the reasonable fees of the Independent Legal Counsel referred to above and to fully indemnify such counsel
against any and all expenses 

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(including
attorneys' fees), claims, liabilities and damages arising out of or relating to this Agreement or its engagement pursuant hereto. 

        (d)   Mandatory Payment of Expenses. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement other than Section 9 hereof,
to the extent that Indemnitee has been successful on the merits or otherwise, including, without limitation, the dismissal of an action without prejudice, in defense of any action, suit, proceeding,
inquiry or investigation referred to in Section (1)(a) hereof or in the defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, Indemnitee shall be indemnified against all Expenses incurred by
Indemnitee in connection therewith. 

        2.     Expenses; Indemnification Procedure. 

        (a)   Advancement of Expenses. The Company shall advance all Expenses incurred by Indemnitee. The advances to be made hereunder
shall be paid by the Company to Indemnitee as soon as practicable but in any event no later than five (5) days after written demand by Indemnitee therefore to the Company accompanied by a
statement or statements reasonably evidencing the Expenses incurred or to be incurred by Indemnitee. Notwithstanding the preceding, the Company shall not be required to advance or pay any Expenses
pursuant to this Agreement unless and until the Company has received an undertaking by or on behalf of the Indemnitee to repay any Expenses advanced or paid if it shall be ultimately determined that
Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified against such Expenses. Any advances, payments and undertakings to repay pursuant to this Section 2(a) shall be unsecured and interest free. 

        (b)   Notice/Cooperation by Indemnitee. Indemnitee shall, as a condition precedent to Indemnitee's right to be indemnified
under this Agreement, give the Company notice in writing as soon as practicable of any Claim made against Indemnitee for which indemnification will or could be sought under this Agreement. Notice to
the Company shall be directed to the Chief Executive Officer of the Company at the address shown on the signature page of this Agreement (or such other address as the Company
shall designate in writing to Indemnitee). In addition, Indemnitee shall give the Company such information and cooperation as it may reasonably require and as shall be within Indemnitee's power. 

        (c)   No Presumptions; Burden of Proof. For purposes of this Agreement, the termination of any Claim by judgment, order,
settlement (whether with or without court approval) or conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere, or its equivalent, shall not create a presumption
that Indemnitee did not meet any particular standard of conduct or have any particular belief or that a court has determined that indemnification is not permitted by applicable law. In addition,
neither the failure of the Reviewing Party to have made a determination as to whether Indemnitee has met any particular standard of conduct or had any particular belief, nor an actual determination by
the Reviewing Party that Indemnitee has not met such standard of conduct or did not have such belief, prior to the commencement of legal proceedings by Indemnitee to secure a judicial determination
that Indemnitee should be indemnified under applicable law, shall be a defense to Indemnitee's claim or create a presumption that Indemnitee has not met any particular standard of conduct or did not
have any particular belief. In connection with any determination by the Reviewing Party or otherwise as to whether Indemnitee is entitled to be indemnified hereunder, the burden of proof shall be on
the Company to establish that Indemnitee is not so entitled. 

        (d)   Notice to Insurers. If, at the time of the receipt by the Company of a notice of a Claim pursuant to Section 2(b)
hereof, the Company has liability insurance in effect which may cover such Claim, the Company shall give prompt notice of the commencement of such Claim to the insurers in accordance with the
procedures set forth in the respective policies. The Company shall thereafter make commercially reasonable efforts to take all necessary or desirable action to cause such insurers to pay, on behalf of
Indemnitee, all amounts payable as a result of such action, suit, proceeding, inquiry or investigation in accordance with the terms of such policies. 

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        (e)   Selection of Counsel. In the event the Company shall be obligated hereunder to pay the Expenses of any Claim, the
Company, if appropriate, shall be entitled to assume the defense of such Claim with counsel approved by Indemnitee (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld), upon the delivery to Indemnitee of
written notice of its election so to do. After delivery of such notice, approval of such counsel by Indemnitee and the retention of such counsel by the Company, the Company will not be liable to
Indemnitee under this Agreement for any fees of counsel subsequently incurred by Indemnitee with respect to the same Claim; provided that, (i) Indemnitee shall have the right to employ
Indemnitee's counsel in any such Claim at Indemnitee's expense and (ii) if (A) the employment of counsel by Indemnitee has been previously authorized by the Company,
(B) Indemnitee shall have reasonably concluded (based on the advice of counsel) that there may be a conflict of interest between the Company and Indemnitee in the conduct of any such defense,
or (C) the Company shall not continue to retain such counsel to defend such Claim, then the fees and expenses of Indemnitee's counsel shall be at the expense of the Company. 

        3.     Additional Indemnification Rights; Nonexclusivity. 

        (a)   Scope. The Company hereby agrees to indemnify Indemnitee to the fullest extent permitted by law, notwithstanding that
such indemnification is not specifically authorized by the other provisions of this Agreement, the Company's Certificate of Incorporation, the Company's Bylaws or by statute. In the event of any
change after the date of this Agreement in any applicable law, statute or rule which expands the right of a Delaware corporation to indemnify a member of its Board of Directors or an officer,
employee, agent or fiduciary, it is the intent of the parties hereto that Indemnitee shall enjoy by this Agreement the greater benefits afforded by such change. In the event of any change in any
applicable law, statute or rule which narrows the right of a Delaware corporation to indemnify a member of its Board of Directors or an officer, employee, agent or fiduciary, such change, to the
extent not otherwise required by such law, statute or rule to be applied to this Agreement, shall have no effect on this Agreement or the parties' rights and obligations hereunder except as set forth
in Section 8(a) hereof. 

        (b)   Nonexclusivity. The indemnification provided by this Agreement shall be in addition to any rights to which Indemnitee may
be entitled under the Company's Certificate of Incorporation, its Bylaws, any agreement, any vote of stockholders or disinterested directors, the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, or
otherwise. The indemnification provided under this Agreement shall continue as to Indemnitee for any action taken or not taken while serving in an indemnified capacity even though Indemnitee may have
ceased to serve in such capacity. 

        4.     No Duplication of Payments. The Company shall not be liable under this Agreement to make any payment in connection with
any Claim made against Indemnitee to the extent Indemnitee has otherwise actually received payment (under any insurance policy, Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaw or otherwise) of the amounts
otherwise indemnifiable hereunder. 

        5.     Partial Indemnification. If Indemnitee is entitled under any provision of this Agreement to indemnification by the Company
for some or a portion of Expenses incurred in connection with any Claim, but not, however, for all of the total amount thereof, the Company shall nevertheless indemnify Indemnitee for the portion of
such Expenses to which Indemnitee is entitled. 

        6.     Mutual Acknowledgment. Both the Company and Indemnitee acknowledge that in certain instances, Federal law or applicable
public policy may prohibit the Company from indemnifying its directors, officers, employees, agents or fiduciaries under this Agreement or otherwise. Indemnitee understands and acknowledges that the
Company has undertaken or may be required in the future to undertake with the Securities and Exchange Commission to submit the question of indemnification to a court in certain circumstances for a
determination of the Company's right under public policy to indemnify Indemnitee. 

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        7.     Liability Insurance. To the extent the Company maintains liability insurance applicable to directors, officers, employees,
agents or fiduciaries, Indemnitee shall be covered by such policies in such a manner as to provide Indemnitee the same rights and benefits as are accorded to the most favorably insured of the
Company's directors, if Indemnitee is a director; or of the Company's officers, if Indemnitee is not a director of the Company but is an officer; or of the Company's key employees, agents or
fiduciaries, if Indemnitee is not an officer or director but is a key employee, agent or fiduciary. 

        8.     Exceptions. Any other provision herein to the contrary notwithstanding, the Company shall not be obligated pursuant to the
terms of this Agreement: 

        (a)   Excluded Action or Omissions. To indemnify Indemnitee for acts, omissions or transactions from which Indemnitee may not
be relieved of liability under applicable law; 

        (b)   Claims Initiated by Indemnitee. To indemnify or advance expenses to Indemnitee with respect to Claims initiated or
brought voluntarily by Indemnitee and not by way of defense, except (i) with respect to actions or proceedings brought to establish or enforce a right to indemnification under this Agreement or
any other agreement or insurance policy or under the Company's Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws now or hereafter in effect relating to Claims for Indemnifiable Events, (ii) in specific
cases if the Board of Directors has approved the initiation or bringing of such Claim, or (iii) as otherwise required under Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law,
regardless of whether Indemnitee ultimately is determined to be entitled to such indemnification, advance expense payment or insurance recovery, as the case may be; 

        (c)   Lack of Good Faith. To indemnify Indemnitee for any expenses incurred by Indemnitee with respect to any proceeding
instituted by Indemnitee to enforce or interpret this Agreement, if a court of competent jurisdiction determines that each of the material assertions made by Indemnitee in such proceeding was not made
in good faith or was frivolous; or 

        (d)   Claims Under Section 16(b). To indemnify Indemnitee for expenses and the payment of profits arising from the
purchase and sale by Indemnitee of securities in violation of Section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any similar successor statute. 

        9.     Period of Limitations. No legal action shall be brought and no cause of action shall be asserted by or in the right of the
Company against Indemnitee, Indemnitee's estate, spouse, heirs, executors or personal or legal representatives after the expiration of two years from the date of accrual of such cause of action, and
any claim or cause of action of the Company shall be extinguished and deemed released unless asserted by the timely filing of a legal action within such two-year period;  provided, however, that if any shorter period of limitations is otherwise applicable to any such cause
of action, such shorter period shall govern. 

        10.   Construction of Certain Phrases. 

        (a)   For
purposes of this Agreement, references to the "Company" shall include, in addition to the resulting corporation, any constituent corporation (including any
constituent of a constituent) absorbed in a consolidation or merger which, if its separate existence had continued, would have had power and authority to indemnify its directors, officers, employees,
agents or fiduciaries, so that if Indemnitee is or was a director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of such constituent corporation, or is or was serving at the request of such constituent
corporation as a director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, employee benefit plan, trust or other enterprise, Indemnitee shall stand in the
same position under the provisions of this Agreement with respect to the resulting or surviving corporation as Indemnitee would have with respect to such constituent corporation if its separate
existence had continued. 

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        (b)   For
purposes of this Agreement, references to "other enterprises" shall include employee benefit plans; references to "fines" shall include any excise taxes assessed on
Indemnitee with respect to an employee benefit plan; and references to "serving at the request of the Company" shall include any service as a director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of the
Company which imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary with respect to an employee benefit plan, its participants or its beneficiaries; and if
Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in the interest of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee benefit plan, Indemnitee shall be deemed to
have acted in a manner "not opposed to the best interests of the Company" as referred to in this Agreement. 

        (c)   For
purposes of this Agreement a "Change in Control" shall be deemed to have occurred if (i) any "person" (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended), other than a trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company or a corporation owned directly or indirectly by
the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of stock of the Company, is or becomes the "beneficial owner" (as defined in Rule 13d-3
under said Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing more than 50% of the total voting power represented by the Company's then outstanding Voting Securities,
(ii) individuals who on the date hereof constitute the Board of Directors of the Company and any new director whose election by the Board of Directors or nomination for election by the
Company's Board of Directors was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors then still in office who either were directors on the date hereof or whose election or nomination for
election was previously so approved, cease for any reason to constitute a majority thereof, or (iii) the stockholders of the Company approve a merger or consolidation of the Company with any
other corporation other than a merger or consolidation which would result in the Voting Securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior thereto continuing to represent (either by remaining
outstanding or by being converted into Voting Securities of the surviving entity) at least 50% of the total voting power represented by the Voting Securities of the Company or such surviving entity
outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation, or the stockholders of the Company approve a plan of complete liquidation of the Company or an agreement for the sale or disposition by
the Company of (in one transaction or a series of transactions) all or substantially all of the Company's assets. 

        (d)   For
purposes of this Agreement, "Independent Legal Counsel" shall mean an attorney or firm of attorneys, selected in accordance with the provisions of
Section 1(c) hereof, who shall not have otherwise performed services for the Company or Indemnitee within the last three years (other than with respect to matters concerning the rights of
Indemnitee under this Agreement, or of other indemnitees under similar indemnity agreements). 

        (e)   For
purposes of this Agreement, a "Reviewing Party" shall mean any appropriate person or body consisting of a member or members of the Company's Board of Directors or
any other person or body appointed by the Board of Directors who is not a party to the particular Claim for which Indemnitee is seeking indemnification, or Independent Legal Counsel. 

        (f)    For
purposes of this Agreement, "Voting Securities" shall mean any securities of the Company that vote generally in the election of directors. 

        11.   Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original. 

        12.   Binding Effect; Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of and be
enforceable by the parties hereto and their respective successors, assigns, including any direct or indirect successor by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise to all or substantially all of
the business and/or assets of the Company, spouses, heirs, and personal and legal representatives. 

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The
Company shall require and cause any successor (whether direct or indirect by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all, substantially all, or a substantial part, of the business and/or
assets of the Company, by written agreement in form and substance satisfactory to Indemnitee, expressly to assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the
Company would be required to perform if no such succession had taken place. This Agreement shall continue in effect regardless of whether Indemnitee continues to serve as a director, officer,
employee, agent or fiduciary of the Company or of any other enterprise at the Company's request. 

        13.   Attorneys' Fees. In the event that any action is instituted by Indemnitee under this Agreement or under any liability
insurance policies maintained by the Company to enforce or interpret any of the terms hereof or thereof, Indemnitee shall be entitled to be paid all Expenses incurred by Indemnitee with respect to
such action, regardless of whether Indemnitee is ultimately successful in such action, and shall be entitled to the advancement of Expenses with respect to such action, unless, as a part of such
action, a court of competent jurisdiction over such action determines that each of the material assertions made by Indemnitee as a basis for such action was not made in good faith or was frivolous. In
the event of an action instituted by or in the name of the Company under this Agreement to enforce or interpret any of the terms of this Agreement, Indemnitee shall be entitled to be paid all Expenses
incurred by Indemnitee in defense of such action (including costs and expenses incurred with respect to Indemnitee's counterclaims and cross-claims made in such action), and shall be entitled to the
advancement of Expenses with respect to such action, unless, as a part of such action, a court having jurisdiction over such action determines that each of Indemnitee's material defenses to such
action was made in bad faith or was frivolous. 

        14.   Notice. All notices and other communications required or permitted hereunder shall be in writing, shall be effective when
given, and shall in any event be deemed to be given (a) five (5) days after deposit with the U.S. Postal Service or other applicable postal service, if delivered by first class mail,
postage prepaid, (b) upon delivery, if delivered by hand, (c) one business day after the business day of deposit with Federal Express or similar overnight courier, freight prepaid, or
(d) one day after the business day of delivery by facsimile transmission, if delivered by facsimile transmission with copy by first class mail, postage prepaid, and shall be addressed if to the
Indemnitee, at the Indemnitee's address as set forth beneath his signature to this Agreement and if to the Company at the address of its principal corporate offices (attention: Secretary) or at such
other address as such party may designate by ten days' advance written notice to the other party hereto. 

        15.   Consent to Jurisdiction. The Company and Indemnitee each hereby irrevocably consent to the jurisdiction of the courts of
the State of Delaware for all purposes in connection with any action or proceeding which arises out of or relates to this Agreement and agree that any action instituted under this Agreement shall be
commenced, prosecuted and continued only in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware in and for New Castle County, which shall be the exclusive and only proper forum for adjudicating such a
claim. 

        16.   Severability. The provisions of this Agreement shall be severable in the event that any of the provisions hereof
(including any provision within a single section, paragraph or sentence) are held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, void or otherwise unenforceable, and the remaining provisions
shall remain enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law. Furthermore, to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this Agreement (including, without limitations, each portion of this
Agreement containing any provision held to be invalid, void or otherwise unenforceable, that is not itself invalid, void or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to give effect to the intent
manifested by the provision held invalid, illegal or unenforceable. 

        17.   Choice of Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and its provisions construed and enforced in accordance with the laws
of the State of Delaware, as applied to contracts between 

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Delaware
residents, entered into and to be performed entirely within the State of Delaware, without regard to the conflict of laws principles thereof. 

        18.   Subrogation. In the event of payment under this Agreement, the Company shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment
to all of the rights of recovery of Indemnitee, who shall execute all documents required and shall do all acts that may be necessary to secure such rights and to enable the Company effectively to
bring suit to enforce such rights. 

        19.   Amendment and Termination. No amendment, modification, termination or cancellation of this Agreement shall be effective
unless it is in writing signed by both the parties hereto. No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed or shall constitute a waiver of any other provisions hereof (whether or
not similar) nor shall such waiver constitute a continuing waiver. 

        20.   Integration and Entire Agreement. This Agreement sets forth the entire understanding between the parties hereto and
supersedes and merges all previous written and oral negotiations, commitments, understandings and agreements relating to the subject matter hereof between the parties hereto. 

        21.   No Construction as Employment Agreement. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be construed as giving Indemnitee any
right to be retained in the employ of the Company or any of its subsidiaries. 

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        IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written. 

	 	 	Merisant Worldwide, Inc.
 a Delaware corporation
	

 	
 	

By:	

    
 Etienne J. Veber

	
 	

 

	 	 	Title:	President and Chief Executive Officer
	 	 	Address:	10 South Riverside Plaza

Suite 850

Chicago, IL 60606
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	AGREED TO AND ACCEPTED BY:	 	 	 	 	 
	

INDEMNITEE	
 	

 	

 	
 	

 
	

    
	
 	

 	

 	
 	

 
	Address:	 	 	 	 	 

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Exhibit 10.19  

 
 

MERISANT WORLDWIDE, INC.
  
    2004 ANNUAL INCENTIVE PLAN    
    

        Merisant Worldwide, Inc., a corporation existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (the "Company"), hereby establishes and adopts the following 2004
Annual Incentive Plan (the "Plan") to provide incentive bonuses that are intended to qualify as "performance-based compensation" within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986, as amended. 

1.     PURPOSES OF THE PLAN  

The
purposes of the Plan are to provide incentive and financial rewards to executive officers of the Company and its Subsidiaries who, because of the extent of their responsibilities, can make
significant contributions to the Company's success by their ability, industry, loyalty and exceptional services. Making the executive officers of the Company and its Subsidiaries participants in that
success will advance the interests of the Company and its stockholders and will assist the Company and its Subsidiaries in attracting and retaining such executive officers. 

2.     DEFINITIONS  

        2.1   "Award" shall mean any amount granted to a Participant under the Plan. 

        2.2   "Bank EBITDA" shall mean the Company's consolidated net income before
interest expense, income tax expense and depreciation and amortization, without regard to (a) restructuring expenses not to exceed $8,000,000 in the aggregate, consisting of restructuring
expenses incurred during the 12-month period ending July 31, 2004 and restructuring expenses incurred after July 31, 2004 not to exceed $4,000,000, (b) all other
non-cash charges (excluding any such non-cash charge to the extent that it reprsents an accrual of or reserve for cash expenditures in any future period), (c) unrealized
non-cash translation losses on indebtedness denominated in euro and (d) transaction expenses relating to the Company's proposed initial public offering of income deposit securities
and related transactions that are expensed and not amortized, in each case as determined in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles and as reported on the Company's
consolidated statement of operations, notes to the consolidated financial statements or management's discussion and analysis with respect to the consolidated financial statements, for the applicable
Performance Period and as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion. 

        2.3   "Board" shall mean the board of directors of the Company. 

        2.4   "Certification" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.2. 

        2.5   "Code" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time
to time, and any successor thereto. 

        2.6   "Committee" shall mean the Compensation Committee of the Board or any
subcommittee thereof formed by the Compensation Committee for the purpose of acting as the Committee hereunder, subject to satisfying the requirements of Section 162(m) of the Code and the
regulations thereunder. 

        2.7   "Covered Employee" shall mean any executive officer of the Company or of
any Subsidiary who is, or is or is likely to be, a "covered employee" within the meaning of Section 162(m)(3) of the Code, or any successor provision thereto. 

        2.8   "Eligible Participant" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 3.1. 

        2.9   "Incentive Bonus" shall mean 1.0%, in the case of the Company's Chief
Executive Officer and Chief Operating Officer, or 0.5%, in the case of each other Eligible Participant, of the Company's Bank EBITDA, on a consolidated basis, for a given Performance Period. 

 

        2.10 "Participant" shall mean an Eligible Participant who is selected by the
Committee pursuant to Section 4.1 to participate in this Plan with respect to a Performance Period. 

        2.11 "Performance Period" shall mean the Company's fiscal year or such other
period during a fiscal year that the Committee, in its sole discretion, may establish. 

        2.12 "Proportionate Incentive Bonus" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 4.4. 

        2.13 "Subsidiary" shall mean any corporation or other entity (other than the
Company) of which more than 50 percent of its outstanding securities representing the right, other than as affected by events of default, to vote for the election of directors or other managers
of such corporation or other entity, is owned by such corporation's or other entity's parent and/or one or more of the parent's other Subsidiaries. 

3.     ELIGIBILITY AND ADMINISTRATION  

        3.1.  Eligibility.    The individuals entitled to participate in the Plan shall be the
Company's Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operating Officer, any other Covered Employee and any other executive officer of the Company or any Subsidiary selected by the Committee to participate in the
Plan (each, an "Eligible Participant"). 

        3.2.  Administration.    (a) The Plan shall be administered by the Committee. The
Committee shall have full power and authority, subject to the provisions of the Plan and subject to such orders or resolutions not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan as may from time to time
be adopted by the Board, to: (i) select the Participants to whom Awards may from time to time be granted hereunder; (ii) determine the terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the
provisions of the Plan, of each Award; (iii) determine the time when Awards will be made and the Performance Period to which they relate; (iv) affirm the Incentive Bonus formula for each
Participant in respect of Performance Periods and certify as to the amount of the Incentive Bonus for each Participant in respect of Performance Periods; (v) determine whether payment of
Incentive Bonuses may be deferred by Participants; (vi) interpret and administer the Plan and any instrument or agreement entered into or in connection with the Plan; (vii) correct any
defect, supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan or any Award in the manner and to the extent that the Committee shall deem desirable to carry it into effect;
(viii) establish such rules and regulations and appoint such agents as it shall deem appropriate for the proper administration of the Plan; and (ix) make any other determination and take
any other action that the Committee deems necessary or desirable for administration of the Plan. 

        (b)   Decisions
of the Committee shall be final, conclusive and binding on all persons or entities, including the Company and any Participant. A majority of the members of the
Committee may determine its actions and fix the time and place of its meetings. 

        (c)   To
the extent not inconsistent with applicable law or the rules and regulations of any national securities exchange or the Nasdaq National Market on which the Company's
securities are listed or qualified for trading, including the applicable provisions of Section 162(m) of the Code, the Committee may delegate to one or more officers of the Company or a
committee of officers the authority to take actions on its behalf pursuant to the Plan. 

4.     AWARDS  

        4.1.  Performance Period.    (a) Not later than 90 days after the
commencement of each fiscal year of the Company, the Committee shall, in writing, designate one or more Performance Periods for such fiscal year, provided that any Performance Period of less than one
year shall be designated no later than the date on which 25% of such Performance Period has elapsed, and shall (i) determine the Participants for such Performance Period(s), and
(ii) affirm the Incentive Bonus for each Participant for such Performance Period(s). 

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        (b)   Unless
otherwise specified by the Committee, if an Eligible Participant is selected by the Compensation Committee to be a Participant on a date that is after the date on
which the actions specified in paragraph (a) above have occurred with respect to an applicable Performance Period, such Participant shall participate on a pro rata basis with respect to such
Performance Period based upon the date on which such Participant is selected. 

        4.2.  Certification.    As soon as reasonably practicable following the conclusion of each
Performance Period, the Committee shall certify, in writing, the amount of the Incentive Bonus for each Participant for such Performance Period (the "Certification"). 

        4.3.  Payment of Awards.    The amount of the Award actually paid to a Participant shall be
any amount equal to or less than the Incentive Bonus (including zero), as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion. The actual amount of the Award determined by the Committee for a
Performance Period shall, subject to any deferral permitted by the Committee, be paid in cash to each Participant at such time as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion following the end
of the applicable Performance Period. 

        4.4.  Termination of Employment.    If a Participant dies, retires or is Disabled, or if the
Participant's employment is otherwise terminated during a Performance Period (except for cause, as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion), the Incentive Bonus for such Participant shall
be proportionately reduced based on the period of actual employment during the applicable Performance Period (such amount, the "Proportionate Incentive Bonus"), and the amount of the Award actually
paid to such a Participant shall be any amount equal to or less than the Proportionate Incentive Bonus (including zero), as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion. 

5.     MISCELLANEOUS  

        5.1.  Amendment and Modification of the Plan.    The Board may, from time to time, alter,
amend or suspend the Plan as it shall deem advisable, subject to any requirement for stockholder approval imposed by applicable law, including Section 162(m) of the Code, and may at any time
terminate the Plan. No amendments to, or termination of, the Plan shall in any way impair the rights of a Participant under any Award previously granted without such Participant's consent. 

        5.2.  Section 162(m) of the Code.    Unless otherwise determined by the Committee,
the provisions of this Plan shall be administered and interpreted in accordance with Section 162(m) of the Code to ensure the deductibility by the Company of the payment of Awards. 

        5.3.  Tax Withholding.    The Company or any Subsidiary shall have the right to make all
payments or distributions pursuant to the Plan to a Participant, net of any applicable Federal, State and local taxes required to be paid or withheld. The Company or any Subsidiary shall have the
right to withhold from wages, Awards or other amounts otherwise payable to such Participant such withholding taxes as may be required by law, or to otherwise require the Participant to pay such
withholding taxes. If the Participant shall fail to make such tax payments as are required, the Company or any Subsidiary shall, to the extent permitted by law, have the right to deduct any such taxes
from any payment of any kind otherwise due to such Participant or to take such other action as may be necessary to satisfy such withholding obligations. 

        5.4.  Right of Discharge Reserved; Claims to Awards.    Nothing in the Plan nor the grant of
an Award hereunder shall confer upon any Participant the right to continue in the employment of the Company or any Subsidiary or affect any right that the Company or any Subsidiary may have to
terminate the employment of (or to demote or to exclude from future Awards under the Plan) any such Participant at any time for any reason. Except as specifically provided by the Committee, the
Company shall not be liable for the loss of existing or potential profit from an Award granted in the event of the termination of employment of any Participant. No Participant shall have any claim to
be 

3

 

granted
any Award under the Plan, and there is no obligation for uniformity of treatment of Participants under the Plan. 

        5.5.  Nature of Payments.    All Awards made pursuant to the Plan are in consideration of
services performed or to be performed for the Company or any Subsidiary, division or business unit of the Company. Any income or gain realized pursuant to Awards under the Plan constitute a special
incentive payment to the Participant and shall not be taken into account, to the extent permissible under applicable law, as compensation for purposes of any of the employee benefit plans of the
Company or any Subsidiary except as may be determined by the Committee or by the Board or board of directors of the applicable Subsidiary. 

        5.6.  Other Plans.    Nothing contained in the Plan shall prevent the Board from adopting
other or additional compensation arrangements, subject to stockholder approval if such approval is required; and such arrangements may be either generally applicable or applicable only in specific
cases. 

        5.7.  Severability.    If any provision of the Plan shall be held unlawful or otherwise
invalid or unenforceable in whole or in part by a court of competent jurisdiction, such provision shall (a) be deemed limited to the extent that such court of competent jurisdiction deems it
lawful, valid and/or enforceable and as so limited shall remain in full force and effect, and (b) not affect any other provision of the Plan or part thereof, each of which shall remain in full
force and effect. If the making of any payment or the provision of any other benefit required under the Plan shall be held unlawful or otherwise invalid or unenforceable by a court of competent
jurisdiction, such unlawfulness, invalidity or unenforceability shall not prevent any other payment or benefit from being made or provided under the Plan, and if the making of any payment in full or
the provision of any other benefit required under the Plan in full would be unlawful or otherwise invalid or unenforceable, then such unlawfulness, invalidity or unenforceability shall not prevent
such payment or benefit from being made or provided in part, to the extent that it would not be unlawful, invalid or unenforceable, and the maximum payment or benefit that would not be unlawful,
invalid or unenforceable shall be made or provided under the Plan. 

        5.8.  Construction.    As used in the Plan, the words
"include" and "including," and variations thereof, shall not be deemed to be terms of limitation, but
rather shall be deemed to be followed by the words "without limitation." 

        5.9.  Unfunded Status of the Plan.    The Plan is intended to constitute an "unfunded" plan
for incentive compensation and deferred compensation if permitted by the Committee. With respect to any payments not yet made to a Participant by the Company, nothing contained herein shall give any
such Participant any rights that are greater than those of a general creditor of the Company. 

        5.10. Governing Law.    The Plan and all determinations made and actions taken thereunder,
to the extent not otherwise governed by the Code or the laws of the United States, shall be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware, without reference to principles of conflict of laws that
might result in the application of the laws of another jurisdiction, and shall be construed accordingly. 

        5.11. Effective Date of Plan.    The Plan shall be effective on the date of the approval of
the Plan by the holders of the then outstanding securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors. The Plan shall be null and void and of no effect if the foregoing
condition is not fulfilled. 

        5.12. Captions.    The captions in the Plan are for convenience of reference only, and are
not intended to narrow, limit or affect the substance or interpretation of the provisions contained herein. 

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MERISANT WORLDWIDE, INC. 2004 ANNUAL INCENTIVE PLAN

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