Exhibit 10.8
CONTRACT COMPLETION AGREEMENT
CONTRACT COMPLETION AGREEMENT dated as of June 1, 2003 between
Merisant Company, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
("Xxxxxx").
WHEREAS, the Company is engaged in the business of developing,
manufacturing, marketing, distributing and selling tabletop sweetener products
to consumer end-users and establishments serving or selling such products to
consumer end-users;
WHEREAS, Xxxxxx was previously employed by the Company as its Chairman
and Chief Executive Officer under an Employment Agreement dated as of March 17,
2000 (the "Employment Agreement");
WHEREAS, the objectives of the Employment Agreement have been
accomplished;
WHEREAS, the parties desire to terminate the Employment Agreement and
provide for the satisfaction of their respective remaining obligations
thereunder, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual
agreements contained herein, the parties hereby agree as follows:
1. TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
The Employment Agreement is terminated effective as of May 31, 2003.
2. COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
(a) DEFERRED COMPENSATION. Xxxxxx shall be entitled to receive the
remaining deferred compensation payments (the "Deferred Compensation") pursuant
to the obligation that was assumed from Monsanto in the following amounts to
correspond with the end of the calendar years immediately preceding the payment
dates noted:
(1) $535,000 payable on or before the date during each of
2004 and 2005 on which the Company pays any annual bonus
for the preceding year to its executive officers; and
(2) $1,000,000 payable on or before the date during each of
2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010 on which the Company
pays any annual bonus for the preceding year to its
executive officers.
In the event that any Deferred Compensation amount referenced in
Sections 2(a)(1) or 2(a)(2) above is not paid on or before January 31 of the
applicable year, whether or not annual bonuses for the preceding year are paid
to executive officers on or before such date, such
Deferred Compensation amounts shall accrue interest at the prime rate referenced
in The Wall Street Journal (Central Edition), as that rate may vary from time to
time, or if that rate is no longer published, a comparable rate, from and
including February 1 of the applicable year until such amount (plus any such
accrued interest) is paid.
(b) DEFERRED PAYMENTS. Xxxxxx shall be entitled to receive deferred
payments (the "Deferred Payments") in settlement of the Company's obligations
under the Employment Agreement, in the following amounts:
(1) $1,500,000 payable in 24 equal monthly installments of
$62,500 at the end of each of the first 24 months
beginning on or after June 1, 2003, or upon a "Change in
Control" (defined below), whichever is earlier; and
(2) $1,500,000 payable on June 1, 2006, or upon a "Change in
Control" (defined below), whichever is earlier.
"Change in Control" means:
(I) acquisition by any individual, entity or group (a "PERSON"),
including any "person" within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended ("Exchange Act"), of beneficial
ownership within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act,
of more than 50 percent of either (i) the then outstanding shares of common
stock of Tabletop Holdings, Inc. (the "OUTSTANDING COMMON STOCK") or (ii) the
combined voting power of the then outstanding securities of Tabletop Holdings,
Inc. entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (the "OUTSTANDING
VOTING SECURITIES"); excluding, however, the following: (A) any acquisition
directly from Tabletop Holdings, Inc. (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
Tabletop Holdings, Inc.), (B) any acquisition by Tabletop Holdings, Inc., (C)
any acquisition by an employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or
maintained by Tabletop Holdings, Inc. or any corporation controlled by Tabletop
Holdings, Inc. or (D) any acquisition by any corporation pursuant to a
transaction which complies with clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) of subsection (III)
of this definition; provided further, that for purposes of clause (B), if any
Person (other than Tabletop Holdings, Inc. or any employee benefit plan (or
related trust) sponsored or maintained by Tabletop Holdings, Inc. or any
corporation controlled by Tabletop Holdings, Inc.) shall become the beneficial
owner of more than 50 percent of the Outstanding Common Stock or of the
Outstanding Voting Securities by reason of an acquisition by Tabletop Holdings,
Inc., and such Person shall, after such acquisition by Tabletop Holdings, Inc.,
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;
(II) individuals who, as of March 20, 2000, constitute the Board of
Directors of Tabletop Holdings, Inc. (the "INCUMBENT BOARD") cease for any
reason to constitute at least a
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majority of such Board; provided that any individual who becomes a director of
Tabletop Holdings, Inc. subsequent to March 20, 2000 whose election, or
nomination for election by Tabletop Holdings, 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 Tabletop
Holdings, Inc. 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;
(III) consummation of a reorganization, merger or consolidation or
sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of Tabletop
Holdings, Inc. (a "CORPORATE TRANSACTION"); excluding, however, a Corporate
Transaction pursuant to which (i) all or substantially all of the individuals or
entities who are the beneficial owners, respectively, of the Outstanding Common
Stock and the Outstanding Voting Securities immediately prior to such Corporate
Transaction will beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 50 percent
of, respectively, the outstanding shares of common stock, and the combined
voting power of the 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 which
as a result of such transaction owns Tabletop Holdings, Inc. or all or
substantially all of Tabletop Holdings, Inc.'s assets either directly or
indirectly) in substantially the same proportions relative to each other as
their ownership, immediately prior to such Corporate Transaction, of the
Outstanding Common Stock and the Outstanding Voting Securities, as the case may
be, (ii) no Person (other than: Tabletop Holdings, Inc.; any employee benefit
plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by Tabletop Holdings, Inc. or
any corporation controlled by Tabletop Holdings, Inc.; the corporation resulting
from such Corporate Transaction; and any Person which beneficially owned,
immediately prior to such Corporate Transaction, directly or indirectly, more
than 50 percent of the Outstanding Common Stock or the Outstanding Voting
Securities, as the case may be) will beneficially own, directly or indirectly,
more than 50 percent of, respectively, the outstanding shares of common stock of
the corporation resulting from such Corporate Transaction or the combined voting
power of the outstanding securities of such corporation entitled to vote
generally in the election of directors and (iii) individuals who were members of
the Incumbent Board will constitute at least a majority of the members of the
board of directors of the corporation resulting from such Corporate Transaction;
or
(IV) the consummation of a plan of complete liquidation or dissolution
of Tabletop Holdings, Inc.
(c) EMPLOYEE BENEFITS. During the 24-month period beginning June 1,
2003, Xxxxxx shall be entitled to the same level of health, life and disability
insurance coverage as he currently enjoys under the Company's employee benefit
plans (all such benefits being hereinafter referred to as the "Employee
Benefits"). In the event that such benefits are subject to less favorable tax
treatment than would have applied if Xxxxxx had continued as an active employee
of the Company, the Company shall make a tax equalization payment to Xxxxxx in
an amount
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sufficient to pay the increased income and employment taxes imposed on Xxxxxx as
a result of such less favorable tax treatment.
(d) STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS. The stock appreciation rights granted
to Xxxxxx under the Tabletop Holdings, Inc. Stock Appreciation Rights Plan shall
be fully vested, subject to the terms and conditions of such plan.
(e) SUPPLEMENTAL LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN. Donald's awards under the
Merisant Company Supplemental Long-Term Incentive Plan shall be fully vested,
subject to the terms and conditions of such plan.
(f) DEATH. Upon Donald's death, Donald's estate or his beneficiaries,
as the case may be, shall be entitled to the present value (calculated using the
Applicable Federal Rate for a short-term loan, compounded semi-annually, as such
"Applicable Federal Rate" is defined in Section 7872(f)(2)(A) of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code")) of any unpaid installments of the
Deferred Compensation and Deferred Payments and of any amount payable to Xxxxxx
under the Merisant Company Supplemental Long-Term Incentive Plan.
(g) TAX ON EXCESS PARACHUTE PAYMENTS. If any payment or benefit (the
"Payments") which Xxxxxx is entitled to receive from the Company hereunder would
be subject to the tax imposed by Code Section 4999 and reduction of the Payments
to the amount necessary to avoid the application of such tax would result in
Xxxxxx retaining an amount that is greater than the amount he would retain if
the Payments were made without such reduction but after the application of such
tax, the Payments shall be reduced to the extent required to avoid application
of such tax. Xxxxxx shall be entitled to select the Payments to be reduced in
accordance with the preceding sentence. Determination of whether the Payments
would result in the application of the tax under Code Section 4999, and the
amount of the reduction that is necessary so that no such tax is applied, shall
be made by the mutual agreement of the Company and Xxxxxx or, in the absence of
such agreement, by a mutually selected independent certified public accounting
firm, retained at the Company's expense.
3. FEDERAL AND STATE WITHHOLDING
The Company shall be entitled to deduct from the amounts payable to
Xxxxxx pursuant to this Agreement the amount of all required federal, state,
local or other withholding taxes and all applicable federal employment taxes.
4. ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION
Any dispute or controversy between the Company and Xxxxxx, whether
arising out of or relating to this Agreement, the breach of this Agreement, or
otherwise, shall be settled by arbitration administered by the American
Arbitration Association ("AAA") in accordance with its Commercial Rules then in
effect and judgment on the award rendered by the arbitrator may be entered in
any court having jurisdiction thereof. Any arbitration shall be held before a
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single arbitrator who shall be selected by the mutual agreement of the Company
and Xxxxxx, unless the parties are unable to agree to an arbitrator, in which
case, the arbitrator will be selected under the procedures of the AAA. The
arbitrator shall have the authority to award any remedy or relief that a court
of competent jurisdiction could order or grant, including, without limitation,
the issuance of an injunction. However, either party may, without inconsistency
with this arbitration provision, apply to any court having jurisdiction over
such dispute or controversy and seek interim provisional, injunctive or other
equitable relief until the arbitration award is rendered or the controversy is
otherwise resolved. Except as necessary in court proceedings to enforce this
arbitration provision or an award rendered hereunder, or to obtain interim
relief, neither a party nor an arbitrator may disclose the existence, content or
results of any arbitration hereunder without the prior written consent of the
Company and Xxxxxx. The Company and Xxxxxx acknowledge that this Agreement
evidences a transaction involving interstate commerce. Notwithstanding any
choice of law provision included in this Agreement, the United States Federal
Arbitration Act shall govern the interpretation and enforcement of this
arbitration provision. The arbitration proceeding shall be conducted in Chicago,
Illinois or such other location to which the parties may agree.
5. NOTICES
All notices and other communications required or permitted hereunder
shall be in writing and shall be deemed given when (a) delivered personally or
by overnight courier to the following addresses of the other party hereto (or
such other address for such party as shall be specified by notice given pursuant
to this Section) or (b) sent by facsimile to the facsimile numbers of the other
party hereto specified by notice given pursuant to this Section, with a
confirmatory copy delivered by overnight courier to the addresses of such party
pursuant to this Section:
If to the Company, to:
Xxxx Xxxxxx
Merisant Company
Xxx Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
With a copy to:
Xxxxx X. Uri
Pegasus Capital Advisors, L.P.
00 Xxxxx Xxxx
Xxx Xxx, XX 00000
If to Xxxxxx, at his most recent home address and/or
facsimile number on file with the Company.
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6. SEVERABILITY
Whenever possible, each provision of this Agreement shall 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 invalid, illegal or
unenforceable in any respect under applicable law or rule in any jurisdiction,
such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect the validity,
legality or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement or the
validity, legality or enforceability of such provision in any other
jurisdiction, but this Agreement shall be reformed, construed and enforced in
such jurisdiction as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision had
never been contained herein.
7. ENTIRE AGREEMENT
This Agreement, and the agreements referenced herein, constitute the
entire agreement and understanding between the parties with respect to the
subject matter hereof and supersede and preempt any prior understandings,
agreements or representations by or between the parties, written or oral, which
may have related in any manner to the subject matter hereof.
8. SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS
This Agreement shall be enforceable by Xxxxxx and his heirs,
executors, administrators and legal representatives, and by the Company and its
successors and assigns. Any successor of the Company shall assume the
liabilities of the Company hereunder.
9. GOVERNING LAW
This Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in
accordance with the internal laws of the State of Illinois without regard to
principles of conflict of laws.
10. AMENDMENT AND WAIVER
The provisions of this Agreement may be amended or waived only by the
written agreement of the Company and Xxxxxx, and no course of conduct or failure
or delay in enforcing the provisions of this Agreement shall affect the
validity, binding effect or enforceability of this Agreement.
11. BENEFICIARIES/REFERENCES
Xxxxxx shall be entitled, to the fullest extent permitted by law, to
select and to change a beneficiary or beneficiaries to receive any compensation
or benefit hereunder following Donald's death, by giving written notice to the
Company. In the event of Donald's death or a judicial determination of his
incompetence, references in this Agreement to Xxxxxx shall be deemed, where
appropriate, to refer to his beneficiary, estate or other legal representative.
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12. HEADINGS
The headings of the Sections contained in this Agreement are for
convenience only and shall not be deemed to control or affect the meaning or
construction of any provision of this Agreement.
13. COUNTERPARTS
This Agreement may be executed in two counterparts, each of which
shall be deemed to be an original and both of which together shall constitute
one and the same instrument.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as
of the date first written above.
MERISANT COMPANY
By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx XX
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Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx XX
Title: VP, Secretary & General Counsel
/s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
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Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
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