Canderel companyMerisant was formed on March 20, 2000 to manufacture and market the worlds most popular tabletop sweeteners, Equal and Canderel, and over a dozen other products. With over 400 employees positioned globally diverse, inspired and dedicated to continuing to expand the incredible successes of these well-respected and beloved brands. From the start we have aimed to raise the bar through continued global expansion, by broadening our audience through new products, and improving productivity through technological advances. In other words, the launch of Merisant meant "sweet new beginnings" for these brands already enjoyed by millions of consumers around the world. We manufacture and sell our low calorie tabletop sweetener brands in more than 90 countries worldwide. Manufacturing sites include Manteno, Illinois and Zarate, Argentina. Merisant markets tabletop sweeteners under 19 different brand names, including our flagship brands: Equal, Canderel and Sweet Simplicity (read more about these products). We purchased the business from Monsanto in March 2000. Monsanto had acquired this business in 1985 from G.D. Searle. We are headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, with over 400 employees and offices around the world, including Buckinghamshire, United Kingdom, Mexico City, Mexico, Neuchtel, Switzerland, and Paris, France as well as a joint venture in the Philippines. As of December 31, 2007, Merisant products accounted for almost a quarter of the estimated $1.6 billion global tabletop sweetener market. Over half of our sales are outside of the United States.

1965This was the year it all began, when Dr. James Schlatter, who was doing research with amino acids, discovered the main sweetening ingredient in our leading tabletop brands. He had discovered an ingredient that is 180 to 200 times sweeter than sugar and has virtually no calories. Searle branded Schlatters new discovery "NutraSweet."

1979

After many years of testing, this sweetener was approved for consumer use in France. There, the product was marketed as "Canderel," a combination of the words "candy" and "airelle," the French word for wild cherry. Marketed only in the pharmaceutical channel at that time, Canderel took the form of a white tablet, and consumer advertising of the product was not allowed. But that would soon change.

Early 1980sAs pharmacists and doctors universally applauded the health benefits of the low- calorie sweetener, the products reputation quickly spread. By the early 1980s, Canderel was being marketed in much of Europe and its clean, sugar-like taste soon won loyal customers. Canderel became the continents leading sweetener, a position it still holds today.

In 1981, the FDA approved the tabletop use of NutraSweet and the following year, Equal was launched in the US. Equal quickly became recognized and accepted in the US and became nearly synonymous with NutraSweet. In fact, prior to Equals launch, the only major tabletop sweetener product was saccharin-based. Equals sweet, clean sugar-like taste immediately transformed the category.

Unlike its overseas counterpart Canderel, Equal was introduced in the US in the form of individual packets, or sachets, rather than tablets. To this day, the sachet remains the most common product form in North America.

1985

Monsanto acquired Searle, and took over manufacturing and marketing of Equal and Canderel.

1990Product lines began to expand to include price brands and other sweeteners.

2004

Paul Block was appointed Chief Executive Officer in November 2004 and has led an initiative to strengthen our companys core brands, improve the efficiency of our operations, reduce costs and transform our company into a sweetener and sweetened food company. Mr. Block has recruited individuals from outside our company and promoted individuals from within the organization to form a new senior management team with the goal of developing a culture of innovation with a focus on the development and launch of new products designed to revitalize the existing customer base and attract new consumers.

Today

Pure Via,the all natural zero calorie sweetener, is launched in December 2008. Pure Via is a breakthrough all natural sweetener made from the sweet leaf of the stevia plant and is a great tasting alternative to sugar and artificial sweeteners. Welcome to The Next Generation of Sweet.

Paul Block

Chief Executive Officer and President Paul Block joined Merisant as Chief Operating Officer in September 2004, and in November of that year Mr. Block became Chief Executive Officer. He was elected chairman of the Board of Directors in February 2006. Prior to joining Merisant, Mr. Block had served as president and chief executive officer of Sara Lees Coffee and Tea Consumer brand. There, he led an impressive turnaround in operating performance. Mr. Block also served as chief marketing officer and, subsequently, EVP general manager of Allied Domecq Spirits USA, where he was instrumental in the repositioning and double-digit growth of its Courvoisier brand. Additionally, while at Danone International Brands, Mr. Block launched Dannon bottled water in the United States, achieving number one market share after only eight months. He has also held various brand management, field marketing and sales positions at Guinness Import and Miller Brewing companies.

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Jonathan W. ColeVice President, General Counsel and Secretary Jonathan Cole serves as Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of Merisant Company since joining the company in April 2005. Prior to joining Merisant, Mr. Cole was counsel in the New York offices of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer and Feld LLP where his practice focused on corporate finance, restructuring and M&A transactions. Mr. Cole graduated from New York University School of Law in 1993 and the University of Chicago in 1987.

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Yann KervoernVice President, Managing Director for the Americas Yann Kervoern serves as Vice President, Managing Director for the Americas since August 2009. Prior to August 2009, Mr Kervoern served as General Manager of North America since October 2008. Prior to joining Merisant, Mr. Kervoern spent 19 years with the Danone Group where he most recently served as vice president of sales, in charge of the Quick Service Restaurant business around the world. With Danone, Kervoern lived across three continents (Asia: Singapore; North America: Chicago & New York; Europe: Barcelona & Paris), and took great professional responsibilities such as the launch of Evian Natural Spring Water across south East Asia and Dannon Natural Spring Water in the United States, the lead of Global Key Accounts like McDonalds and Ahold, with whom he established common health & wellness platforms, and the participation to the write-up of Danone Groups commercial policy. He attended Reims Business Management School in France where he earned a Master degree in Sales, Marketing & International Trade.

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Hugues PitreVice President, Managing Director for EAME Hugues Pitre has served as Vice President, General Manager for France, Belgium, The Netherlands and Luxemburg since April 2005 and assumed general manager responsibility for the United Kingdom, Ireland and South Africa starting in 2006. On September 1, 2009, Mr. Pitre became Vice President, Managing Director, EAME. Mr. Pitre joined Merisant in 2002 as Director, EAME Strategy & Marketing and became Global Vice President Marketing in 2004. Prior to joining Merisant, Mr. Pitre had worked for Johnson & Johnson Consumer France as Associate Franchise Director in Paris between 1998 and 2002 and with Bain & Company, as consultant from 1994 to 1998. Mr. Pitre graduates from ESCP-Europe (1987) and INSEAD (1994).

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Brian AlsvigVice President, Finance, Planning and Analysis Brian Alsvig serves as Vice President, Finance, Planning and Analysis. Prior to his current position, Mr. Alsvig served as Director, Global Financial Planning and Analysis from 2005 to 2008, Senior Manager, Financial Planning and Analysis from 2002 until 2005 and he had served in financial planning and controller positions since he joined our predecessor in 1995.

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Julie WoolVice President and Chief Financial Officer Julie Wool serves as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Prior to her current position, Ms. Wool served as Vice President, Finance, Controller from Jan. 2008 until Dec. 2009, Global Controller and Treasurer from 2007 until 2008, Director of Global Accounting and Consolidations from 2003 until 2007. Ms. Wool joined our company in the controller's group shortly after its divesture from Monsanto in 2000. Ms. Wool is a CPA, holds an MBA from Northwestern University's Kellogg Graduate School of Business and a BS from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana.

Paul Block joined Merisant as chief operating officer in September 2004 and in November of thatyear Mr. Block became chief executive officer. Mr. Block was elected chairman of the Board of Directors in February 2006. Prior to joining Merisant, Mr. Block had previously served as president and chief executive officer of Sara Lees Coffee and Tea Consumer brand. There, he led an impressive turnaround in operating performance. Mr. Block also served as chief marketing officer and, subsequently, executive vice president, general manager of Allied Domecq Spirits USA, where he was instrumental in the repositioning and double-digit growth of its Courvoisier brand. Additionally, while at Danone International Brands, Mr. Block launched Dannon bottled water in the United States, achieving number one market share after only eight months. He has also held various brand management, field marketing and sales positions at Guinness Import and Miller Brewing companies.

Eugene I. Davis Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of PIRINATE Consulting Group, LLC, aprivately-held consulting firm specializing in turn-around management, merger and acquisition consulting, hostile and friendly takeovers, proxy contests and strategic planning advisory services for domestic and international public and private business entities. Since forming PIRINATE in 1997, Mr.

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Davis has advised, managed, sole, liquidated and/or acted as a Chief Executive Officer, Chief Restructuring Officer, Director, Committee Chairman and/or Chairman of the Board of a number of businesses, including companies operating in the telecommunications, automotive, manufacturing, high-technology, medical technologies, metals, energy, financial services, consumer products and services, import-export, mining and transportation and logistics sectors. Prior to forming PIRINATE, Mr. Davis served as President, Vice-Chairman and Director of Emerson Radio Corp, and CEO and ViceChairman of Sport Supply Group, Inc. Mr. Davis began his career as an attorney and international negotiator with Exxon Corp. and Standard Oil Company (Indiana) and as a partner in two Texas-based law firms where he specialized in corporate/securities law, international transactions and restructuring advisory. Mr. Davis holds a BA from Columbia College, a Masters of International Affairs (MIA) in International Law and Organization from the School of International Affairs of Columbia University and a JD from the Columbia University School of Law.

Joesph M. Deignan is a Partner at Wayzata, and performs company analysis on high yieldand distressed investments and shares portfolio management responsibilities. Prior to joining Wayzata in 1997, he was a member of the Wessles, Arnold & Henderson investment banking team in Minneapolis. Mr. Deignan graduated Egregia Cum Laude with a BA in Economics from St. Johns University and holds an MBA from the Carlson School at the University of Minnesota. Mr. Deignan is a director of Atlantic Express Transportation, MCBC Holdings, Inc., and Propex Holding, LLC.

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Ryan Langdon is a co-founder and Senior Managing Director of Newport Global Advisors. Priorto the formation of Newport Global Advisors in 2005, Mr. Langdon was a Managing Director responsible for AIGs distressed portfolio. Mr. Langdon joined AIGs High Yield Group in 2002 as a senior investment analyst. Prior to joining AIG, Mr. Langdon worked at ABN AMRO as a senior high yield telecommunications and cable analyst. Mr. Langdon started his career as a Vice President and high yield investment analyst at Pacholder Associates. He received a BS in business Economics from Miami University in 1994 and a MA in Economics from Miami University in 1995. Mr. Langdon currently serves on the board of director of iPCS, Inc., Amtrol, Inc., American Blue Ribbon Holdings, LLC, Autocam Corporation, and Autocam Medical Holdings, LLC.

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William P. Murnane Operating Partner, joined Wayzata in 2008. Prior to joining Wayzata,Mr. Murnane was Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Innovex, Inc., an international manufacturer of components used in high technology electronics. Before joining Innovex in 1995, Mr. Murnane was Chief Operating Officer at Boutwell Owens & Co. and Uniform Printing and Supply, two privately held printing companies based in Massachusetts. Previously, Mr. Murnane held various engineering and management positions at United Parcel Service. Mr. Murnane received a BS in Engineering from the New Jersey Institute of Technology, an MS in operations research from the University of Maryland, and an MBA from the Harvard Business School. Mr. Murnane is a Director of Portola Packaging, Inc., Cascade Pacific Pulp, Caraustar Industries, Inc. and Atlantic Express Transportation Corp.

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Tom Paulson has served as Vice President and CFO of Tennant Company, a leading globalmanufacturer of commercial and industrial cleaning equipment, since March of 2006. Prior to joining Tennant, Mr. Paulson was a Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Innovex Inc., which manufacturers high-density, flexible circuits for electronics products. Mr. Paulson began his career at Pillsbury in 1981 as an accounting and financial analyst. Mr. Paulson left Pillsbury in 2000 after rising to Vice President, Finance of Pillsbury North America. Mr. Paulson serves on the Board of Directors of Seneca Foods, the Tennant Company Foundation and Applied Kinetics. Mr. Paulson is also the

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Chairperson of the United Way Leaders in Giving. Mr. Paulson earned a BA in Finance from the University of St. Thomas and an MBA also from the University of St. Thomas.

Robert F. Waldron was appointed as Chief Marketing Officer of The Sun ProductsCorporation, a leading provider in North America of laundry detergent, fabric softeners and other household products, in November 2009. Prior to joining Sun Products, Mr. Waldron was a Senior Vice President at General Mills Inc. and President of the Yoplait Operating Division. As President of Yoplait, Mr. Waldron oversaw a doubling of the business to $1.7 billion in net sales and was charged with maintaining Yoplaits critical operating cash flow growth, organization development, and international franchise relationships. Prior to joining the Yoplait Operating Division in 2002, Mr. Waldron was the Vice President of Shelf Stable Meals and Strategic Growth Channels from 2001 to 2002 and oversaw a diverse portfolio of brands including Hamburger Helper, Betty Crocker Potatoes, and BacOs, with the additional responsibility to coordinate strategy for all division products in strategic growth channels. Mr. Waldron was also tasked with reversing the decline of General Mills Hamburger Helper brand as Marketing Director of Hamburger Helper and Betty Crocker Sides. In that position, Mr. Waldron successfully reversed an eight quarter decline. Mr. Waldron was Co-Chair of the National Yogurt Association, a Board Member of the Milk Foundation, and Board President of Athletes Committed to Educating Students. Mr. Waldron holds a BS in Industrial Management and Mathematics from Carnegie-Mellon University and a MBA from the Chicago Booth School of Business.

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Audit Committee

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The Audit Committee recommends the firm to be appointed as independent registered public accounting firm to audit financial statements and to perform services related to the audit, reviews the scope and results of the audit with the independent registered public accounting firm, reviews with management and the independent registered public accounting firm the year-end operating results, considers the adequacy of the internal accounting procedures and approves all audit and non-audit services to be provided by the independent registered public accounting firm. The audit committee operates under a written charter adopted by the Board of Directors.

Compensation Committee

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The Compensation Committee reviews and recommends the compensation arrangements for all executive officers and directors and administers and takes such other action as may be required in connection with certain compensation and incentive plans. The compensation committee operates under a written charter adopted by the Board of Directors.

Code of EthicsPlease click here for a PDF version of our code of ethics.

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Using Equal instead of sugar in your beverages or recipes is a small change that can make a big difference. Its completely safe, too. The sweetening ingredient in Equal (aspartame) is used by millions of consumers every day for over 25 years, and has been proven safe by over 200 independent studies. A convenient packet of Equal is perfect for coffee, iced tea and other drinks. Equal's sweetening ingredient is aspartame, which breaks down to components commonly found in milk, meats, fruits and vegetables. Aspartame has been in use for twenty-five years. Each zero-calorie packet quickly dissolves in hot or cold drinks and sweetens like two teaspoons of sugar.

Youll find Equal packets on the table at your favorite restaurants and coffee shops, and at grocery, drug or club stores. Equal is appropriate for diabetics because it does not affect glucose or insulin levels. It is recognized as an acceptable part of a diabetes meal plan by both the American Diabetes Association (ADA) and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF). Equal has an indefinite shelf life if stored away from heat and humidity. However, to ensure the highest quality product, all Equal products are now produced with a Best By date stamped on them.

Eating a balanced diet neednt be boring. In fact, Canderel makes eating well and managing your weight easier easy, and delicious. Canderel contains very few calories and because it is very sweet, only a tiny amount provides the same sweetness as sugar. And the ingredients in Canderel are digested by the body just like other foods.

Canderel's main sweetening ingredient is aspartame* Canderel has less than a third of a calorie per tablet, and less than two calories per teaspoon. In comparison, a teaspoon of sugar contains 20 calories. Canderel is available in tablet and granulated forms and can be used in cooking, sprinkled on cereals, desserts and fruit, as well as in hot drinks

Granular Canderel can be used for cakes, cookies, muffins, pies and pastries, brownies and cheesecake, frostings, icing, glazes, bakery fillings and toppings plus dishes that need a little sweetness like dipping sauces, sweet and sour and tomato pasta sauce. Canderel is suitable for diabetics because it does not affect glucose or insulin levels. Canderel is suitable and safe for children and infants, however, it is not recommended for children under the age of three because growing children need carbohydrates, including sugar, for healthy growth and development. Canderel is safe for pregnant women and nursing mothers. Canderel is Kosher, GMO-free, and suitable for vegetarians and people with gluten intolerance.

Pure Via is a great tasting all natural alternative to sugar and artificial sweeteners. It is made using an innovative proprietary formulation with only ingredients found in nature. You can use Pure Via like sugar, as a great way to add natural sweetness to your hot or cold beverages or to sprinkle on your favorite foods.

Pure Via is made from the pure sweet extract of the stevia plant Stevia, an herb in the Chrysanthemum family, has been used as a natural sweetener in South America for hundreds of years. Today, stevia is used to sweeten foods and beverages in countries throughout the world. Pure Via is suitable for individuals with diabetes and people watching their sugar intake. Pure Via is certified Kosher Parve Pure Via is not genetically modified

With 450 plus employees globally, and a diverse employee culture, working at Merisant can offer you an exciting international career. We feel its important our employees not only deliver excellent results, but also have fun doing it.

We believe attracting and hiring high performing employees that will contribute to our desired culture is important. Our goal is to have a strategic long-term view in our hiring practices to recruit employees who meet the needs of our company today, tomorrow and beyond.

Working at Merisant

The insights we get from people of different cultures, backgrounds and walks of life is the secret to our success. As a Merisant employee you will be privileged to work as part of a global team with great working conditions, benefits and the opportunity for continuous development and training. In return, you are expected to work according to our longstanding principles of hard work, honesty and trustworthiness.

If you feel that you have the qualities required to add to the Merisant team, to help us move forward as one of the worlds leading tabletop sweetener companies, then we want to hear from you. Benefit plan

Merisant employees rely on our excellent total compensation and benefits package, including competitive salaries, bonus programs and broad health and medical plans. Our benefit programs are tailored to the needs and requirements of the countries in which we operate. Opportunity

Merisant encompasses guidelines which constitute a sound basis for efficient and effective HR management in the Merisant group globally. Our policies in essence are flexible and dynamic and may require adjustment to a variety of circumstances. Therefore, it's implementation will be inspired by sound judgment and compliance with local market laws. As Merisant is operating on a global basis, it is essential that local legislation and practices be respected everywhere. Should any HR policy conflict with local law, local law will prevail.