Student Research Project: Proxy Statement Analysis
Topic: Kraft Heinz
Your proxy analysis should be prepared as a formal student paper following APA guidelines (7th ed.). Respond to the questions posed above within an essay format; do not simply list and answer the questions. The analysis must have a title page followed by an abstract and text with major section headings addressing each of the issues identified by the questions above. For example, the first section heading after the Abstract might be titled “Executive Compensation Philosophy.” This heading should be followed by a narrative discussion and evaluation of the “executive compensation objectives” or the “compensation philosophy of the company.” Be sure to address the questions posed above in your narrative response in each section. The paper should be double-spaced using a 12 pt font and limited to a maximum of 10 pages, excluding the title page and references. So be succinct. One page per major topic area should be adequate to ensure adequate coverage. Back up your statements with arguments, citations, and references.
For the company you select, you will analyze the company’s executive compensation program. Specific factors to be considered are presented below. Refer to materials in the Week 7 module reading “Executive Compensation Disclosure Handbook” for clarification of compensation
terms and to SEC Regulation S-K, Item 402 – Executive Compensation, for disclosure requirements. Address the following questions:
1. What are the objectives of the company’s executive compensation program? Do they appear to support the company’s business strategy? If so, how? Demonstrate the linkage.
2. On what factors is the CEO assessed? Based on what you have learned about
performance appraisal in this course, are the factors/measures used to assess CEO
performance appropriate? Are the factors used to assess the performance of the CEO adequately described?
3. What was the CEO’s total compensation ($) for the most recent year? Does this level of compensation appear to be warranted? Why or why not? Support your response with
appropriate arguments, references, or comparisons.