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VOTING ITEM 4—NON-BINDING, ADVISORY VOTE ON THE FREQUENCY OF FUTURE NON-BINDING, ADVISORY SHAREHOLDER VOTES TO APPROVE THE COMPENSATION OF NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
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At least once every six years, shareholders are entitled to cast non-binding, advisory vote on how frequently they wish to cast non-binding, advisory vote regarding executive compensation. Shareholders voted in 2017 that they would cast an advisory vote on executive compensation every year.
Accordingly, in addition to the non-binding, advisory vote on the compensation of our named executive officers, we are also seeking a non-binding, advisory vote from our shareholders as to the frequency with which shareholders would have an opportunity to provide a non-binding advisory approval of the Company’s compensation of its named executive officers. We are providing shareholders the option of selecting a frequency of one, two or three years, or abstaining. For the reasons described below, our Board recommends that our shareholders select a frequency of one year, or an annual vote, although we note that this say-on-frequency vote is not a vote to approve or disapprove that recommendation.
We believe Ball’s executive compensation program is designed to support long-term value creation, and an annual vote will allow shareholders to more frequently assess the program in relation to the Corporation’s annual and long-term performance. As described in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis section above, one of the core principles of our executive compensation program is to ensure management’s interests are aligned with our shareholders’ interests to support long-term value creation. While we acknowledge that a biennial or triennial vote is consistent with our long-term focus on performance and executive equity incentives and would allocate investors’ workload of reviewing proxies over a longer period, we believe that companies benefit from the rigor and discipline of having to annually submit their executive compensation to a shareholder vote, for the reasons outlined below.
An annual vote will provide us with the regular input required to proactively respond to shareholders’ sentiments and implement any necessary changes as soon as reasonably possible. We carefully review and evaluate appropriate changes to our program each year to maintain the consistency and credibility of the program, which is important in motivating and retaining our employees. We therefore believe that an annual vote is an appropriate frequency to provide our management and Board of Directors the ability to regularly assess shareholders’ input and to implement any appropriate changes to our executive compensation program.
We therefore recommend that our shareholders select “One Year” when voting on the frequency of future non-binding advisory votes on executive compensation. Although the advisory vote is non-binding, our Board will review the results of the vote and, consistent with our record of shareholder engagement, take them into account in making a determination concerning the frequency of non-binding, advisory votes on executive compensation. For this vote, abstentions and broker nonvotes are not considered votes for any of the three frequencies and will not affect the outcome of the vote.
The Board of Directors recommends shareholders select “ONE YEAR” on the proposal recommending the Frequency of Future Non-Binding, Advisory Votes on the Compensation of Named Executive Officers.