Document:

Exhibit 10.1

Press release dated August 10, 2007

Aurelia Energy N.V. (the “Company”)
redeemed all its 101⁄4% Senior Notes due 2012 pursuant to their terms on
August 3, 2007, and expects to file a Form 15F with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on August 10, 2007, thereby terminating its
reporting obligations under the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange
Act”). The Company’s obligations under the Exchange Act are suspended as of
today. The Company expects that this termination of registration will become
effective 90 days after its filing with the SEC.

For information, please
contact:

Kees Voormolen

Vice President Finance & Administration

Bluewater Energy Services B.V.

Tel: +31-23-5682 972

Email:
kees.voormolen@bluewater.comExhibit
10.1

EMPLOYMENT
AGREEMENT

This EMPLOYMENT
AGREEMENT dated as of April 5, 2007, is made by and between Merisant Company, a
Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and Diana S. Ferguson (the “Executive”).

WHEREAS, the
Company desires to employ the Executive as Chief Financial Officer, Executive
Vice President, Finance, of the Company, upon and subject to the terms and
conditions set forth herein, and the Executive wishes to accept such employment
upon and subject to such terms and conditions; and

WHEREAS, it is
contemplated that the Executive will commence her employment with the Company
on April 16, 2007, or such other date as the parties may mutually agree (the “Effective
Date”).

NOW, THEREFORE, in
consideration of the promises and mutual agreements contained herein, and for
other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are
hereby acknowledged by both parties, the parties hereby agree as follows:

1.             Employment.

(a)           The Company hereby employs the
Executive and the Executive hereby accepts such employment upon and subject to
the terms and conditions of this Agreement from the Effective Date until the
third annual anniversary of the Effective Date, unless the Executive’s
employment is earlier terminated pursuant to Section 4 (such period referred to
as the “Initial Term”).  As of the
conclusion of the Initial Term, the period of employment shall automatically be
extended on the same terms and conditions as set forth in this Agreement for
successive one-year periods unless and until either: (i) a party gives the
other party no less than sixty (60) calendar days’ advance written notice prior
to the end of the Initial Term or any such one-year extension period that the
party will not further extend the Initial Term or such one-year extension
period (as applicable), or (ii) either party terminates the Executive’s
employment in accordance with Section 4. 
The Initial Term and any and all extensions thereof (or partial
extension in the event of an earlier termination pursuant to Section 4), if
any, shall be collectively referred to as the “Employment Period.”

(b)           The Executive covenants, represents
and warrants that: (i) the execution, delivery and complete performance of this
Agreement by her does not and will not breach, violate or cause a default under
any contract, agreement, instrument, order, judgment or decree to which the
Executive is a party or by which she is bound; and (ii) she is not a party to
or bound by any employment or services agreement, confidentiality agreement,
non-competition agreement, other restrictive covenant, or other obligation or
agreement that would or could prohibit or restrict her from being employed by
the Company or from performing any of her duties under this Agreement.

2.             Position, Duties and Responsibilities.  The Company shall employ the Executive during
the Employment Period as its Chief Financial Officer, Executive Vice President,
Finance, reporting to the Chief Executive Officer, and the Executive shall
serve in the same capacity for Merisant Worldwide, Inc., Merisant US, Inc.,
Whole Earth Sweetener Company LLC and Merisant Foreign Holdings I, Inc. for no
additional compensation. During the Employment Period, the Executive shall
perform the duties assigned to her hereunder faithfully, with the utmost
loyalty, to the best of her abilities and in the best interests of the Company;
shall devote her full business time, attention and effort to the affairs of the
Company; and shall not engage in any other business activities (whether or not
for gain, profit, or other pecuniary advantage) or any other actions which she
knows or reasonably should know could harm the business or reputation of the
Company or any of its affiliates or other related entities. Subject to the
powers, authority and responsibilities vested in the Company’s Board of
Directors (the “Board”) and in duly constituted committees of the Board, the
Executive shall have the authority and responsibility to direct the management
and operation of the Company and shall also perform such other duties on behalf
of the Company and its affiliates and other related entities, consistent with
her title and duties above, as the Board or Chief Executive Officer may from
time to time authorize or direct; provided, the Executive may engage in
activities involving professional, charitable, educational, religious and
similar types of organizations, speaking engagements, and management of
personal investments, to the extent that such other activities do not interfere
with the performance of Executive’s duties under this Agreement, or conflict
with the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics of the Company or violate the
terms of any of the covenants provided in Section 5 hereof.   Notwithstanding the forgoing, the Company
agrees that the Executive shall be permitted to continue to serve as a director
on the boards of directors of Franklin Electric and Integrys Energy Group to
the extent that such directorships do not interfere with the performance of
Executive’s duties under this Agreement, or conflict with the Code of Business
Conduct and Ethics of the Company or violate the terms of any of the covenants
provided in Section 5 hereof.

3.             Compensation and Benefits.

(a)         Base Salary.  During the Employment Period, the Company
shall pay to the Executive a base salary at the gross rate of $300,000 per
annum, less required and authorized withholding and deductions (the “Base
Salary”), payable in installments in accordance with the Company’s executive
payroll policy.  The Base Salary shall be
reviewed annually, at the same time as for other senior officers of the
Company, and increased, as determined by the Board in its discretion, but not
decreased except as part of an across-the-board reduction in senior officer
base salaries consistent with (on a percentage basis) reductions applicable to
other senior officers of the Company, and any such increased (or decreased)
amount shall be the Executive’s “Base Salary” for all purposes hereunder
thereafter.

(b)        Signing Bonus.  The Company shall pay to the Executive a
bonus of $150,000, less required and authorized withholding and deductions,
payable to the Executive with the first installment of the Executive’s Base
Salary immediately following the Effective Date.

(c)         Incentive Bonuses.  Subject to Section 4, commencing with
calendar year 2007 and during each calendar year of the Employment Period
thereafter, the Executive also will be

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eligible to receive an
annual cash incentive bonus in accordance with the Company’s Annual Incentive
Plan or other annual bonus plan, as applicable, as determined by the
Compensation Committee of the Board, in its sole discretion, with a target
bonus opportunity as a percentage of Base Salary not less than 100% (the “Annual
Incentive Bonus”).  Notwithstanding, the
Executive’s Annual Incentive Bonus attributable to calendar year 2007 shall be
equal to not less than the gross amount of $150,000 (“Guaranteed Bonus”), to be
paid at such time as the date on which the cash incentive bonus is paid to
other executives of the Company but no later than April 1, 2008 (less required
and authorized withholding and deductions). 
The Executive also will be eligible to receive cash incentive bonuses in
accordance with the Company’s 2007 Supplemental Incentive Plan with target
bonus opportunities of $150,000 in the aggregate (the “Supplemental Incentive
Bonus”), and shall be eligible to participate in similar supplemental incentive
bonuses in subsequent years, as determined by the Compensation Committee of the
Board, in its sole discretion.   The
Annual Incentive Bonus in respect of any fiscal year shall be paid in
accordance with the procedures specified by the Compensation Committee, but in
no event later than ninety (90) days after the end of each fiscal year.

(d)        Share Appreciation Rights Plan.  The Executive shall be deemed an eligible
participant in the Merisant Worldwide, Inc. 2005 Share Appreciation Rights Plan
(the “2005 SAR Plan”), and the Executive will be granted 108,687.38 First Level
Share Units, 111,102.60 Second Level Share Units and 165,043.75 Third Level
Share Units under the 2005 SAR Plan.   If
the 2005 SAR Plan is terminated and Merisant Worldwide or its successor adopts
a restricted stock, stock option or other equity-based incentive plan, the
Executive will receive an equivalent interest under any such successor plan.

(e)         Employee Benefits.  During the Employment Period, the Executive
shall be eligible to participate in such executive compensation and deferred
compensation plans, such employee benefit plans (including group health,
retirement and non-qualified retirement programs), and to receive such other
fringe benefits and perquisites, as the Company may make available to senior
executives generally, subject to all present and future terms and conditions of
such executive compensation and deferred compensation plans, benefit plans and
other fringe benefits and perquisites.  
The Company reserves the right in its sole discretion to alter, suspend,
amend, or discontinue any and all of its employee and fringe benefits, benefit
plans, policies and procedures, in whole or in part, at any time with or
without notice, provided that the Company will not make any change to the
Executive’s employee or fringe benefits that it does not also make on a
consistent basis for other senior executives of the Company.

(f)         Vacation.  The Executive shall receive four weeks of
paid vacation per calendar year (prorated as appropriate for any partial
calendar year).  Up to two (2) weeks per
calendar year of earned but unused vacation time may be carried over from year
to year.

(g)        Business Expenses.  The Company shall reimburse the Executive for
all expenses and disbursements reasonably incurred by the Executive in the
performance of the Executive’s duties in accordance herewith during the
Employment Period, and provide such other facilities or services as the Company
and the Executive may, from time to time, agree are appropriate, in each case
in accordance with the Company’s policies established from time to time for
senior

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officers of the Company
and conditioned upon receipt of appropriate documentation for such business
expenses.

4.             Termination.

(a)         Notwithstanding anything to the
contrary in this Agreement, the Executive’s employment shall automatically
terminate upon the Executive’s death, the Company may immediately terminate the
Executive’s employment for Cause or Incapacity (as defined below) effective
upon written notice to the Executive, and the Executive may voluntarily
terminate her employment at any time for any reason effective upon sixty (60)
days’ prior written notice to the Company. 
In the event of any such termination, the Executive shall receive her
Accrued Benefits and shall not be entitled to any other amounts from the
Company.  Executive’s “Accrued Benefits”
are (i) any earned but unpaid base salary through the last day of the Period of
Employment, (ii) any earned but unpaid annual cash bonus or other incentive
award for the fiscal year prior to the fiscal year during which the Period of
Employment ends, (iii) any accrued but unpaid vacation pay, (iv) any reimbursable
business expenses or unpaid perquisites through the last day of the Employment
Period, (v) any vested benefits, including performance awards under Company
incentive plans, through the last day of the Employment Period in accordance
with the Company’s employee benefit plans or programs and executive
compensation and deferred compensation plans, and (vi) any benefit continuation
or conversion rights in accordance with the Company’s employee benefit plans or
programs.  The Executive shall also be
paid her Guaranteed Bonus if unpaid at the time and the effective termination
date is a date after December 31, 2007. 
Executive’s Accrued Benefits shall be paid in a lump sum within thirty
days after the date of termination, except that Accrued Benefits payable pursuant
to clause (ii), and any Guaranteed Bonus shall be paid when bonuses are paid to
other senior executives, and amounts payable pursuant to clause (v) and (vi)
shall be paid in accordance with the applicable plan.

(i)          “Incapacity” means such physical or mental
condition of the Executive which renders and is expected to render the
Executive incapable of performing the essential functions of her position
hereunder with or without reasonable accommodation for 180 calendar days
(whether consecutive or not) within any 360-calendar-day period, as determined
in good faith by the Board upon consultation with Executive’s chosen physician,
and, in its discretion, a physician selected by the Board.  The Executive hereby agrees to submit to any
reasonable medical examination(s) as may be recommended by the Company’s
selected physician for the purpose of determining the existence or absence of
Incapacity.  Executive also authorizes
any physician, surgeon, or other person attending or caring for Executive to
discuss Executive’s case fully and frankly with one or more members of the
Board and to disclose to such member or members of the Board any and all
information the Board considers reasonable, necessary, or desirable to evaluate
Executive’s condition.  If Executive’s physician,
surgeon, or other person attending or caring for Executive disagrees with a
conclusion reached by the Board that Executive’s physical or mental condition
renders the Executive incapable of performing the essential functions of her
position hereunder with or without reasonable accommodation, Executive’s
physician and Board’s physician shall jointly agree on the selection of an
independent third physician to administer all reasonable medical examinations
as such third-party physician deems required for the purpose of determining the
existence or absence of

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Incapacity.  Executive hereby agrees to submit to all
reasonable medical examination(s) recommended by such third-party
physician.  If such third-party physician
and Company’s physician both render their professional opinion that Executive
suffers from Incapacity as defined in this paragraph, the Board shall be
justified in concluding that Executive is so incapacitated and shall terminate
Executive’s employment under the provisions of this paragraph.

(ii)         “Cause” means any of the following
conduct by the Executive, as determined in good faith by the Board: (I)
embezzlement, misappropriation of corporate funds, fraud, or other material
acts of dishonesty; (II) conviction of any felony, or of any misdemeanor
involving moral turpitude, or entry of a plea of guilty or nolo
contendere to any such felony or misdemeanor; (III) engaging in
illegal conduct or gross misconduct which causes financial or reputational harm
to the Company or any of its affiliates or other related entities; (IV) refusal
to perform or continued willful disregard of her duties and responsibilities
(other than due to any failure resulting from incapacity due to physical or
mental illness or injury), (V) material breach of any written policy of the
Company or a subsidiary, including the Company’s Code of Business Conduct and
Ethics, as in effect or amended from time to time; (VI) breach or threatened
breach of Section 5 of this Agreement (including without limitation any
provision of Exhibit A hereto); (VII) material breach of any other provision of
this Agreement; or (VIII) violation of any statutory or common law duty of
loyalty to the Company or any of its affiliates or other related entities.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company
shall not terminate the Executive’s employment pursuant to subparts (III),
(IV), or (VII) of this Section 4(a)(ii) unless the Company first gives the
Executive notice in reasonable detail describing the basis for such “Cause” and
a reasonable period of time, which shall in no event be less than thirty (30)
days, to cure any such grounds for termination (provided that no such notice
and cure shall be required as to any such grounds that are not reasonably
susceptible to a cure under the circumstances). 
For purposes of this Section 4(a)(ii), acts or omissions of the
Executive shall not be considered “willful” if done or omitted by the Executive
in good faith and with a reasonable belief that such conduct is in the best
interests of the Company.

(b)        Notwithstanding anything to the contrary
in this Agreement, the Company may terminate the Executive’s employment for any
reason other than Incapacity or Cause or for no reason at any time by written
notice to the Executive, at which time the Executive shall be entitled to
receive an amount (“Severance”) equal to eighteen (18) months’ Base Salary
either through salary continuation or a lump sum payment, or combination
thereof, at the Company’s discretion.  If
at the time of termination the Executive has health coverage, then the
Executive shall be entitled to continuation of her health coverage for eighteen
(18) months following the date of termination with premiums charged to her at
active employee rates, which coverage shall be concurrent with any COBRA
benefits subject to all terms and conditions of the COBRA Act.  The Executive shall receive a pro rata (based
on the portion of the year employed) target bonus under the then current annual
incentive plan for the year of termination, payable when bonuses are paid to other
senior executives.  The Executive shall
be entitled to her Accrued Benefits. 
Executive shall receive senior executive level outplacement services for
a period of twelve (12) months provided by an outplacement firm selected by the
Executive and approved by the Company (such approval not to be unreasonably
withheld) and paid for by the Company. 
The

 5
 

receipt of separation
payments by the Executive pursuant to this Section 4(b) shall be subject to
Section 4(e) herein.

(c)         Executive may terminate her employment
for Good Reason.  If the Executive should
terminate the Executive’s employment for Good Reason, the Executive will be
entitled to the separation payments set forth in Section 4(b) above. The
receipt of separation payments by the Executive pursuant to this Section 4(c)
shall be subject to Section 4(e) herein.

(i)          “Good Reason” means the occurrence of
any of the following without the Executive’s express written consent:  (i) a reduction by the Company in Executive’s
base salary or target bonus opportunity as in effect on the date of this
Agreement or, in the event of a Change in Control, as in effect immediately
prior to the Change in Control, it being understood that a change in the
performance criteria applicable under any bonus plan (provided that such
change, to the extent applicable, affects executives of the Company generally),
shall not be Good Reason hereunder; (ii) the Company’s failure to keep in
effect retirement, health and welfare benefits plans, and executive
compensation plans under which Executive is eligible to receive benefits
substantially similar in value in the aggregate to the benefits Executive is
eligible to receive under such plans as of the date of this Agreement or, in
the event of a Change in Control, the day prior to the effective date of the
Change in Control, it being understood that a change in the performance
criteria (provided such change is not applicable solely to the Executive)
applicable for awards under any incentive or bonus plan, shall not be Good
Reason hereunder, (iii) the Company’s requiring Executive to be based anywhere
more than fifty (50) miles from where Executive’s principal place of employment
is located on the date of this Agreement; (iv) any change in the reimbursement
policy set forth in Section 3(g) as in effect on the date hereof; (v) a change
in the duties or reporting responsibilities of Executive that is inconsistent
in any substantial adverse respect with Executive’s positions, duties or
responsibilities as in effect on the effective date of this Agreement or, in
the event of a Change in Control, immediately prior to the Change in Control
(including any material adverse diminution of such duties or responsibilities);
provided, however, that Good Reason shall not be deemed to occur upon a change
in duties or responsibilities that is solely and directly a result of the
Company no longer having publicly traded securities and does not involve any
other event set forth in this paragraph; and (vi) failure by Company to obtain
a satisfactory agreement from any Successor (as defined in Section 8) to assume
and agree to perform this Agreement as provided in Section 8.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Executive
shall not be deemed to have terminated the Period of Employment for Good Reason
unless the Executive gives written notice to the Company stating in reasonable
detail the events which constitute Good Reason, such notice to be given within
the later of (i) thirty (30) days of the occurrence of such event or (ii) the
date the Executive knows of the event constituting Good Reason and, if such
failure or breach is reasonably susceptible to cure, the Company does not
effect a cure within such thirty (30) day period.

(ii)         “Change in Control” means either:

(1)         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 (the “Exchange
Act”), of beneficial ownership, within the meaning of Rule

 6
 

13d-3 promulgated under
the Exchange Act, of more than fifty percent (50%) of either (x) the then
outstanding shares of common stock of Merisant Worldwide, Inc. (the “Outstanding
Common Stock”) or (y) the combined voting power of the then outstanding
securities of Merisant Worldwide, Inc., entitled to vote generally in the
election of directors (the “Outstanding Voting Securities”); excluding,
however, the following: (A) any acquisition directly from Merisant Worldwide,
Inc., if a majority of the Incumbent Board (as such term is defined below)
approves a resolution expressly providing that such acquisition does not
constitute a Change in Control under this clause (A) (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 Merisant Worldwide, Inc.); (B) any acquisition by Merisant
Worldwide, Inc., or a corporation controlled by Merisant Worldwide, Inc.; (C)
any acquisition by an employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or
maintained by the Company or any corporation controlled by Merisant Worldwide,
Inc.; (D) any acquisition by an underwriter temporarily holding securities
pursuant to an offering of such securities; or (E) any acquisition by any
corporation pursuant to a transaction that complies with clauses (x), (y) and
(z) of subsection (3) of this definition; provided further, that for purposes
of clause (B), if any Person other than Merisant Worldwide, Inc., or any
employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by Merisant
Worldwide, Inc., or any corporation controlled by Merisant Worldwide, Inc.,
shall become the beneficial owner within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated
under the Exchange Act (the “Beneficial Owner”) of more than fifty percent
(50%) of the Outstanding Common Stock or of the Outstanding Voting Securities
by reason of an acquisition by Merisant Worldwide, Inc., 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;  or

(2)         individuals who, as of the date of this
Agreement, constitute the Board of Directors of Merisant Worldwide, Inc. (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 Merisant Worldwide,
Inc., subsequent to the date of this Agreement, whose election, or nomination
for election by the Merisant Worldwide, Inc.’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; or

(3)         consummation of a reorganization,
merger or consolidation or sale or other disposition of all or substantially
all of the assets of Merisant Worldwide, Inc. (a “Corporate Transaction”);
excluding, however, a Corporate Transaction pursuant to which (x) 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 within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act (“Beneficially
Own”) directly or indirectly, more than fifty percent (50%) of, respectively,
the outstanding shares of common stock, and the combined voting power

 7
 

of the 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 all or substantially all of the outstanding stock of  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, (y) (1) no Person (other than the
Company or a corporation controlled by 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
Corporation Transaction, directly or indirectly, more than fifty percent (50%)
of the Outstanding Common Stock or the Outstanding Voting Securities, as the
case may be) will Beneficially Own, directly or indirectly, more than fifty
percent (50%) 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 (2) individuals who were members of
the Incumbent Board at the time of the Board’s approval of the execution of the
initial agreement providing for such Corporate Transaction will constitute at
least a majority of the members of the board of directors of the corporation
resulting from such Corporate Transaction; or (z) consummation of a plan of
complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company.

(d)        The Executive understands and agrees
that the termination of her employment due to the expiration of the Employment
Period following a notice by the Company pursuant to Section 1(a) that the
Company will not extend (or further extend) the Employment Period (a “Non-Renewal”)
shall not constitute or be considered a termination pursuant to Section 4(a) or
4(b), and shall entitle the Executive to her Accrued Benefits and no other
amounts; provided, if the Company gives Executive notice of Non-Renewal and
Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company on or after the resulting
expiration of the Employment Period, then Executive shall receive a pro rata
(based on the portion of the year employed) target bonus for the year of such
termination, payable when bonuses are paid to other senior executives.

(e)         Notwithstanding any of the foregoing to
the contrary, if during the period that commences upon a Change in Control and
ends eighteen (18) months after a Change in Control, the Company should
terminate the Employment Period without Cause or the Executive should terminate
the Period of Employment for Good Reason, the Executive shall be entitled to
the same separation payments and benefits as provided under paragraphs (b) and
(c) of this Section 4, subject to the following modifications: (i)  the Severance shall be paid in a lump sum
within thirty (30) days following the Executive’s termination of employment;
and (ii) the pro rata bonus referred to in paragraph (b) shall (x) be paid
within thirty (30) days following the Executive’s termination of employment and
(y) be based on the Executive’s target bonus under the Company’s Annual
Incentive Plan or other annual bonus plan for the fiscal year in which the
Executive’s termination of employment occurs. 
Notwithstanding anything in the above to the contrary, amounts shall
also be payable under this paragraph (e) if such termination occurs prior to a
Change in Control and it is reasonably demonstrated by the Executive that such
termination of employment (x) was at the request of a third party who has taken
steps reasonably calculated

 8
 

to effect a Change in
Control or (y) otherwise arose in connection with or in anticipation of a
Change in Control.

(f)         As a condition of the receipt of the
separation payments and benefits under paragraphs (b),  (c), (d) and (e) of this Section, the
Executive must execute a separation agreement, in form and substance reasonably
satisfactory to the Company and the Executive, containing provisions under
which the parties (i) release each other, including the Company, its
subsidiaries and the officers, employees and agents of Company and its
subsidiaries, from all liability arising out of, or in connection with
Executive’s employment and termination of employment with the Company and (ii)
agree not at any time to publicly denigrate, ridicule or intentionally
criticize each other including, without limitation, by way of news interviews
or the expression of personal views, opinions or judgments to the news media;
provided, however, that nothing herein shall prohibit the Company or Executive
from making disclosure to tax or legal counsel or disclosure reasonably
required under the federal securities laws and the rules of the Securities and
Exchange Commission promulgated thereunder and the rules of any stock exchange
or national securities market on which the Company’s securities are
traded.  If an arbitrator determines that
the Executive has materially breached the terms of such separation agreement,
the Company may immediately cease all payments to the Executive under this Agreement,
may seek recovery of payments received by the Executive under this Agreement
and shall be entitled to monetary damages and an injunction, restraining order
or other equitable relief restraining any such material breach.  If an arbitrator determines that the Company,
its subsidiaries or the officers, employees and agents of the Company have
materially breached the terms of such separation agreement, the Executive shall
be entitled to monetary damages and an injunction, restraining order or other
equitable relief restraining any such material breach.

(g)        Any termination of the Executive’s
employment shall automatically effectuate the Executive’s removal from any and
all officer positions that the Executive then holds with the Company as of the
effective termination date.  Any and all
payments to the Executive under this Agreement shall be reduced by required or
authorized withholding and deductions.

(h)        The Executive shall be entitled to all
benefits (including incentive awards and severance) provided to senior
executives of the Company (excepting the Chief Executive Officer) in the event
of a Change of Control.

(i)          Upon termination of the Period of
Employment, the Executive shall be under no obligation to seek other employment
or otherwise mitigate the obligations of the Company under this Agreement.  Amounts due to the Executive under this
Agreement shall not be subject to offset by the Company for any claims the
Company may have against the Executive, unless otherwise specifically agreed to
in writing by the Executive.

(j)          If the Executive incurs an excise tax
imposed on “excess parachutes payments” under Internal Revenue Code Section
4999, as defined in Section 280G of the Code or any additional tax under
Section 409A of the Code, in each case on account of any amount paid or payable
to, or for the benefit of, the Executive by the Company or its stockholders or
affiliates in respect of obligations of the Company, in each case, in respect
of this

 9
 

Agreement or any of the
Company’s incentive and benefit plans, then the Company shall pay the
Executive, within ten days prior to the date payable by Executive, an amount
equal to the sum of (x) the excise taxes (penalties and interest, other than if
caused solely by Executive’s inaction in filing or untimely payment) payable on
such excess parachutes payments, plus (y) an additional amount such that after
payment of all taxes (penalties and interest, other than if caused solely by
Executive’s inaction in filing or untimely payment) on such additional amount
there remains a balance sufficient to pay taxes actually due and payable on the
tax referred to in clause (x). References to “excise tax” and “taxes” in this
Section 4(j) shall also mean all penalties and interest thereon, other than
such penalties and interest incurred by Executive solely by her inaction in
filing or untimely payment.

5.             Confidentiality.  By her execution of this Agreement, the
Executive hereby agrees to abide by the Confidentiality Agreement attached as Exhibit
A hereto and hereby made a part of this Agreement.  In the event of any conflict between the main
body of this Agreement and Exhibit A, the provisions of the main body of
this Agreement shall control (including, without limitation, (i) that the
duration of the post-employment covenants under Section 6(a) and 6(b) shall
control over the two-year duration of such similar covenants in Exhibit A
and (ii) the limitation of the covenant under Section 6(a) to the Competitive
Enterprises in Exhibit B (as in effect from time to time) shall control
over the definition of “Competitive Work” in Exhibit A). The Executive
acknowledges and agrees that a breach of any provision of this section
(including without limitation any provision of Exhibit A) will result in
immediate and irreparable harm to the Company and its affiliates and other
related entities for which full damages cannot readily be calculated and for
which damages are an inadequate remedy. 
Accordingly, the Executive agrees that the Company and its affiliates
and other related entities shall be entitled to injunctive relief to prevent
any such actual or threatened breach or any continuing breach by the Executive
(without posting a bond or other security), without limiting any other remedies
that may be available to them.

6.             Non-Competition And
Non-Solicitation Agreement

(a)         Non-Compete.

Without the
consent in writing of the Board, during the Period of Employment and for the
period of eighteen (18) months following termination of employment, the
Executive will not permit the Executive’s name to be used by, or engage in, or
carry on, directly or indirectly, either for the Executive or as a member of a
partnership or as a stockholder, member, manager, investor, officer or director
of a corporation, limited liability company or similar entity or as an
employee, agent, associate or consultant of any person, partnership,
corporation, limited liability company or similar entity, any business in
competition with the business carried on by the Company or any of its
subsidiaries within the geographical areas in which the Company or its subsidiaries
are conducting their business operations or providing services as of the date
of the Executive’s termination of employment (a “Competitive Enterprise”). The
names of the Competitive Enterprises as of the date of this Agreement are set
forth on Exhibit B. The Company shall furnish the Executive with an
updated Exhibit B at least annually, provided, however, that in no event
shall the number of Competitive Enterprises exceed ten (10) such

 10
 

Competitive Enterprises.  Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, the
Executive shall not be prohibited from owning less than five percent (5%) of
the equity of any publicly traded entity.

(b)           Non-Solicitation.

Without the
consent in writing of the Board (which consent shall be in the sole discretion
of the Board), during the Period of Employment, and for the period of eighteen
(18) months following termination of employment by the Company without Cause or
by the Executive for any reason, or for the period of eighteen (18) months following
termination of employment for any other reason, the Executive shall not, in any
manner, directly or indirectly (without the prior written consent of the
Company): (i) Solicit any Customer to transact business with a  Competitive Enterprise or to reduce or
refrain from doing any business with the Company, (ii) transact business with
any Customer that would cause the Executive to be a Competitive Enterprise,
(iii) interfere with or damage any relationship between the Company and a
customer or (iv) Solicit anyone who is then an executive of the Company (or who
was an executive of the Company on the date of the Executive’s termination of
employment or within the prior eighteen (18) months) to resign from the Company
or to apply for or accept employment with any other business or enterprise.

For purposes of
this Agreement, (i) a “Customer” means any customer or prospective customer of
the Company or its subsidiaries to whom the Executive provided services, or for
whom the Executive transacted business, or whose identity became known to the
Executive in connection with the Executive’s relationship or continued
employment with the Company or its subsidiaries, and (ii) “Solicit” means any
direct or indirect communication of any kind, regardless of who initiates it,
that in any way invites, advises, encourages or requests any person to take or
refrain from taking any action.

(c)           Effect Of Material Breach.  In the event the Executive materially
breaches the provisions of paragraphs (a) or (b) of this Section 6, the Company
may immediately cease all payments to the Executive under this Agreement, may
seek recovery of payments received by the Executive under this Agreement and
shall be entitled to seek an injunction, restraining order or other equitable
relief restraining any such material breach, and monetary damages for such
material breach; provided, however, that nothing in the preceding shall
prohibit or otherwise impact the Executive’s right or ability to dispute that a
material breach has occurred.

7.             Notices.  Any notice, request, or other communication
required or permitted to be given hereunder shall be made to the following
addresses or to any other address designated by either of the parties hereto by
notice similarly given: (a) if to the Company, to the attention of General
Counsel, Merisant Company, 10 S. Riverside Plaza, Suite 850, Chicago, IL 60606;
and (b) if to the Executive, to Diana S. Ferguson, 270 East Pearson Street,
#803, Chicago, Illinois 60611, or at her last residence address identified on the
payroll records of the Company.  All such
notices, requests, or other communications shall be sufficient if made in
writing either (i) by personal delivery to the party entitled thereto, (ii) by
facsimile with confirmation of receipt, (iii) by certified mail, return receipt
requested, or (iv) by express courier service, and shall be effective upon
personal delivery, upon confirmation of receipt of facsimile transmission, upon

 11
 

the fourth day after
mailing by certified mail, or upon the second day after sending by express
courier service from within the United States.

8.             Assignment.  This Agreement is enforceable by the Company
and its affiliates and other related entities and may be assigned or
transferred by the Company to, and shall be binding upon and inure to the
benefit of, any parent, affiliate or other related entity of the Company or any
entity which at any time, whether by merger, purchase, or otherwise, acquires
all or substantially all of the assets, stock or business of the Company.  The Executive may not assign any of her
rights or obligations under this Agreement. 
The Company shall cause any successor to expressly assume and agree, in
writing delivered to Executive, 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, and failure to do so shall be grounds for Executive
to voluntarily terminate her employment at any time within thirty days
thereafter which termination shall be treated for all purposes as termination
for Good Reason (and other than due to Incapacity).

9.             Mediation and Arbitration.

(a)           Except for claims or disputes under
Section 5 or Exhibit A, the Executive and the Company agree that, to the
extent permitted by law, all claims or disputes arising out of or relating to
this Agreement, the parties’ employment relationship, or the termination of
such relationship that may exist or arise between the Executive and the
Company, or any subsidiary, parent, affiliate, other related entity, benefit
plan, successor or permitted assign of the Company, or any owner, director,
officer, member, employee, owner, shareholder, agent, or representative of any
of them (in their respective capacities as such) shall in the first instance be
submitted for non-binding mediation in Chicago, Illinois, in accordance with
the Employment Mediation procedures of the American Arbitration Association (“AAA”)
(as in effect or amended from time to time) not later than thirty (30) days
after any such dispute arises.  Company
and Executive agree that all applicable statutes of limitation shall be tolled
during the mediation process.  In no
event, however, shall either party be required to refrain from initiating
arbitration as detailed in paragraph 9(b) below if the parties have been unable
to arrive at settlement within thirty (30) days following the initial meeting
of the parties with the mediator.

(b)           Except for claims or disputes under
Section 5 or Exhibit A, the Executive and the Company agree that, to the
extent permitted by law, all claims or disputes arising out of or relating to
this Agreement, the parties’ employment relationship, or the termination of
such relationship that may exist or arise between the Executive and the
Company, or any subsidiary, parent, affiliate, other related entity, benefit
plan, successor or permitted assign of the Company, or any owner, director,
officer, member, employee, owner, shareholder, agent, or representative of any
of them (in their respective capacities as such) shall be submitted for binding
arbitration in Chicago, Illinois and resolved by a member of a Chicago,
Illinois arbitration panel (or by such other arbitrator or in such other place
to which the parties agree) in accordance with the National Rules for the
Resolution of Employment Disputes of the AAA (as in effect or amended from time
to time), except as set forth below. 
Claims subject to arbitration hereunder include without limitation
claims by the Executive for employment discrimination, harassment, retaliation,
wrongful termination or defamation under any federal, state, or local law,
regulation, ordinance,

 12
 

or executive order or
under common law, and further include without limitation claims under any of
the following statutes (as in effect or amended from time to time): the
Illinois Human Rights Act, the Chicago and Cook County Human Rights Ordinances,
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination in Employment
Act, the Americans With Disabilities Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act and
the Employee Retirement Income Security Act.

(c)           Notwithstanding the fact that the
Company and the Executive have entered into this individually negotiated
Employment Agreement, the cost of arbitration shall be allocated according to
the AAA’s rules for allocating the cost of arbitration pursuant to an
employer-promulgated plan. If the Executive prevails in an arbitration
proceeding against the Company instituted pursuant to Section 9(b), then the
Company shall reimburse the Executive for all reasonable legal fees and
disbursements incurred by the Executive in connection with such arbitration
proceeding promptly after receipt of reasonably detailed invoices relating
thereto.

(d)           The arbitrator shall have no power to
modify the provisions of this Agreement (except pursuant to Section 14 herein
or Exhibit A), or to make an award or impose a remedy that is not
available to a court of general jurisdiction sitting in Chicago, Illinois or
that was not requested by a party to the claim or dispute, and the jurisdiction
of the arbitrator is limited accordingly. 
The arbitrator shall apply the substantive internal law of the state of
Illinois, except as otherwise required by law. 
The arbitrator’s decision or award shall be final and binding, and
judgment thereupon may be entered in any Illinois or other court having
jurisdiction thereof.

(e)           Notwithstanding the foregoing, the
Company may in its discretion immediately pursue any and all available legal
and equitable remedies for the Executive’s violation of any provision of Section
5 or Exhibit A in any court of competent jurisdiction.

10.           Amendment And Waiver.  This Agreement may not be amended orally and
may only be amended by written instrument signed by both parties (subject to
Section 14 herein and Exhibit A). 
A waiver by either party hereto of any of its rights or remedies under
this Agreement on any occasion shall not be a bar to the exercise of the same
right or remedy on any subsequent occasion or of any other right or remedy at
any time.

11.           Governing Law. This Agreement
shall be governed by the internal laws of the state of Illinois, without regard
to its conflict of laws rules.

12.           Headings; Construction.  The Section headings used herein are for
convenience of reference only and are not to be considered in construction of
the provisions of this Agreement.  The
use of the word “including” in this Agreement shall be by way of example rather
than by limitation.

13.           Entire Agreement and Survival.
This Agreement (including Exhibit A and Exhibit B hereto)
contains the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject
matter contained herein and supersedes all prior or contemporaneous
negotiations, understandings or agreements between the parties, whether written
or oral, with respect to such subject matter. 
Sections 4 through 17 herein and Exhibit A and Exhibit B
to this Agreement shall survive and

 13
 

continue in full force
and effect in accordance with their respective terms, notwithstanding any
termination of the Employment Period or the Executive’s employment.

14.           Severability.  Whenever possible, each provision of this
Agreement will be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under
applicable law, but if any provision of this Agreement is held to be prohibited
by or invalid under applicable law, such provision will be ineffective only to
the extent of such prohibition or invalidity, without invalidating the
remainder of such provision or the remaining provisions of this Agreement.

15.           Condition Precedent.  This Agreement and the Executive’s employment
hereunder will not be effective unless and until the Board duly approves this
Agreement and each of the Boards of Directors of the Company, Merisant
Worldwide Inc., and Merisant Company appoints Executive to the position of
Chief Financial Officer, Executive Vice President, Finance of each of the
corporations.  This Agreement shall be
null and void and shall be of no force and effect in the event that the Board
does not so approve this Agreement for any or no reason.

16.           Fees.  The Company shall pay the legal fees and
disbursements incurred by the Executive’s legal counsel in connection with the
preparation and negotiation of this Agreement up to a maximum of $10,000
promptly after receipt of reasonably detailed invoices relating thereto.

17.           Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in two
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, and both of which
together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

18.           Inconsistency. In the event of
any inconsistency between this Agreement and any other agreement, plan, award
or program, this Agreement shall control.

19.           Compliance with Section 409A.  Notwithstanding any of the foregoing to the
contrary, if any payments of money, delivery of shares of Company stock or
other benefits due to the Executive hereunder could cause the application of an
accelerated or additional tax under Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code,
such payments, delivery of shares or other benefits (x) shall, if compliance
with Section 409A of the Code can be effected by delaying such payments,
delivery of shares or other benefits, be delayed until the earliest date on
which such payments, delivery of shares or other benefits may be made without
causing the application of an accelerated or additional tax under Section 409A
of the Code, and (y) if compliance with Section 409A of the Code cannot be
effected by delaying such payments, delivery of shares or other benefits, may
be restructured, to the extent possible, in a manner, determined by the Company
and reasonably acceptable to the Executive, that does not cause such
accelerated or additional tax.

20.           Indemnification.  The Company shall indemnify and hold
Executive harmless to the maximum extent provided under the Company’s charter,
by-laws and applicable law and shall enter into an indemnification agreement
applicable to its senior officers.  The
Company shall insure Executive under a policy of directors and officers liability
insurance, during and

 14
 

following termination of
employment, to the same extent as it insures the chief executive officer and
members of the Board.

The Executive
hereby acknowledges that the terms of this Agreement are subject to review from
time to time by the Company in order to comply with federal, state and tax laws
and regulations.  If it is reasonably
necessary, appropriate or convenient to amend the terms of this Agreement in
order to comply with such laws and regulations or to otherwise avoid or
mitigate a material adverse effect to the Company or the Executive under
applicable tax laws and regulations, the Company and Executive will negotiate
in good faith to amend this Agreement so long as the economic benefit or
obligations under the Agreement will be substantially similar.

 15
 

THE PARTIES ACKNOWLEDGE
BY SIGNING BELOW THAT THEY HAVE READ AND UNDERSTAND THE ABOVE AND INTEND TO BE
BOUND THEREBY AS OF THE DATE FIRST WRITTEN ABOVE:

	
  

  	
   

  	
   

  	
  MERISANT COMPANY

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  
	
  By:

  	
  /s/ Diana S. Ferguson

  	
   

  	
  By: /s/ Jonathan W. Cole

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
  Diana S. Ferguson

  	
  Name: Jonathan W. Cole

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
  Title: VP and General Counsel

  
						

 

 16

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