Canderel company

Merisant was formed on March 20, 2000 to manufacture and market the world’s 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, Neuchâtel, 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.

• 1965
This 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
Schlatter’s 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 1980s
As pharmacists and doctors universally applauded the health benefits of the low- calorie sweetener, the
product’s 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 continent’s
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 Equal®’s launch, the only major tabletop sweetener
product was saccharin-based. Equal®’s 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®.
• 1990
Product 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 company’s 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 Lee’s 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. Cole
• Vice 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 Kervoern
• Vice 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 McDonald’s and Ahold, with whom he established common health
& wellness platforms, and the participation to the write-up of Danone Group’s 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 Pitre
• Vice 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 Alsvig
• Vice 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 Wool
• Vice 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 that
year 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 Lee’s 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.
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• Eugene I. Davis Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of PIRINATE Consulting Group, LLC, a
privately-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.
 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 Vice-
Chairman 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.
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• Joesph M. Deignan is a Partner at Wayzata, and performs company analysis on high yield
and 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. John’s
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. Prior
to the formation of Newport Global Advisors in 2005, Mr. Langdon was a Managing Director responsible
for AIG’s distressed portfolio. Mr. Langdon joined AIG’s 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 global
manufacturer 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
 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.
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• Robert F. Waldron was appointed as Chief Marketing Officer of The Sun Products
Corporation, 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 Yoplait’s 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
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.
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• Compensation Committee
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.
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• Code of Ethics
Please click here for a PDF version of our code of ethics.

Using Equal® instead of sugar in your beverages or recipes is a small change that can make a big difference. It’s
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.
• You’ll 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 needn’t 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 it’s 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 world’s 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.